Critters Around the Water Hole

I bagged some great images on my last trip to south Texas.  With the dry year, all the creatures are congregating close to water making for some great shots...and also making it a little easier to find them.  Click on any image to start a slideshow...

It's all about the water!  The critters below were all photographed within close range of windmills - the only source of water on many south Texas ranches.  During drought conditions, they rely exclusively on windmills for the precious water they need to survive.

Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) - Although jackrabbits get most of their water from the plants they eat, during extremely dry years they need supplemental water and can be seen regularly close to windmills.

Texas Indigo Snake (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) - Juvenile indigo snakes are often seen close to water and love feeding on other snakes and frogs.  This one was crossing the road within a few yards of a windmill trough.

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) -  I saw a number of Harris's hawks hanging around in the shade near water.  They seem to like the convenience of being close to water and likely catch unsuspecting prey coming to drink as well.  They are often observed hunting in pairs or groups, flushing prey out to one another and taking turns chasing it.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - A small white heron often seen with cattle or horses.  They seem to be more at home on pastures and roadsides than in water, but I've observed them preying on frogs near water tanks and ponds.  

Overall...great June trip to south Texas.  I got a ton of work done at the ranch and had some time to shoot a few photos while I was riding around.  Things were drying up and temps were hitting triple digits, but rain showers in the weeks before my trip had kept things greener than expected.  And, although drought conditions are stressful on wildlife, it sometimes makes finding and photographing them easier.  Knowing where to find subjects during seasonal shifts in range can be invaluable for a wildlife photographer.

I'll be shooting around my home in Oregon for the next couple weeks, and then heading back to south Texas...so I hope to have more photos to post soon.

Until next time...

Randomness...

I thought I'd post a few photos from the last couple months.  My mind is feeling a bit random today...so there's not really a theme...other than I like these!

 Scissor-tailed flycatcher focused on a beetle

 Song sparrow on flowering red currant

 Tulips down the street from my house

 Awesome grass with seeds in a field

New life after the fires in Circle D

Until next time...

Back to Bastrop

Well we haven't been to Bastrop in a while.  Last time I helped my mother-in-law clean up her burned home!  The fires were devastating to the area...but many folks are rebuilding and moving on.  I'm anxious to see the site where our home once stood and to see the new life I know is sprouting from the ashes by now.

Burned Mary Jpeg - Shot this last time I visited my mother-in-laws place.  This statue was one of the only things left standing at the property.  The photo captures the eeriness I felt going back for the first time after the fires.