Sunday, June 23, 2013

Late Spring Regulars

The last week of Spring sees us settling into the Texas summer heat pattern, and fighting to keep the plants from wilting in the heat. The morning porch continues to be wonderful, and I enjoy camping there trying to catch a few good shots. Enjoy this week's offering.

 This juvenile Titmouse was hanging out at the office water dish, striking a pose.

When the juvies bathe, they make a mess!

This one doesn't quite have his black crest yet, but still standing proud.

One of my many Carolina Chickadees at the feeder just off the porch.

Have to laugh! No, it's not hurt. Just a young'un spreading out for warmth or drying. A juvenile Carolina Wren.

You might remember the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that came around recently. Here is a juvenile, with a funny smile. Wonder what he knows!

The Cardinals fill my yard every day.

 The Great Blue Heron has been very elusive for quite a while. This morning, he was too intent on the hunt to bother with me.

He snatched up one of those giant crawdads our pond boasts.

 Another morning I caught this pose.

Looks happy to me!

 The Green Herons spend their time on the waters edge, looking for the minnows, frogs and crawdads. But sometimes, they fly into the nearby trees, and this day, he picked mine!

Then he took a stroll down the branch, checked out the action, and took off.

 Not sure what was going on with this hummingbird. It was a windy day.

 Seconds later everything looked normal; maybe it was a hummingbird morphing! Or maybe a combination bad hair day/indigestion!

At the house, Jan's zinnias are blooming, and the hummingbirds are interested.

 Shoot, they are even interested in the lantana!

Been workin' hard to catch me some Black-chin purple. This is my best offering for this round.

 Rare and uneasy truce at the feeder.

There's another waiting in the wings to disrupt this tense balance!

The female Painted Bunting joined the male House Finch at the office feeder.

The Buntings have been gracing us in the evenings at our feeder close to the porch.

Can't be too sure, but it looks like the Wesley's Bunting is back, or maybe an offspring. Last year we had a fellow with a yellow bib, and prominent ornithologist Lucy Sansom tagged him 'Wesley's Bunting'. (It is MY blog, so I CAN make this stuff up!)

We'll wrap this week up with the Bluebells I discovered on the other side of the pond while running the brush mower. They are glorious, YES!


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