Pics of the Day

The yard is full of the young hummingbirds, chasing around and generally harassing all other forms of life nearby. Today we get to see the developing bling on the throats of the Black-chinned as well as the Ruby-throated.

 Juvenile male Black-chinned, showing the beginnings of his purple throat.

 Sun declining, providing good angle for fully lit capture.

 Tried to give my fire bush as much light as possible this year. You can see them coming on in the background of this pic.

 Just wait til next year, I'll show ya some bling!

 The purple cone flower still draws 'em in.

 Late day sun lit up this fellow's back.

Parting shot; Ruby-throated juvenile male, peeking around and 

showing his developing ruby throat.

Pics of the Day

The days of rain have brought in some seasonal visitors, and increased the sightings of the various Herons around the pond. The hummingbirds are maturing, and getting even feistier around the feeders. Enjoy the offering of the day.

 My morning glorys have never experienced rain in August, and their owner doesn't even remember the last time that happened either!

 I remember the first time I spied a Blue-gray Gnat-catcher in the yard here. Now the look and the sound are unmistakable.

 He wheezes and flits about looking for gnats and small insects.

 Surprised by the visiting Yellow Warbler, pleasantly so.

 I keep telling you about the Green Herons chasing about the pond.

 This morning actually captured a little of the chase.

 Fine and good, but what if you catch her?!!

 Young female Painted Bunting and young male Cardinal. The parents said they couldn't date!

 Frustrated Green Heron.

The young male Ruby-throated will develop a few red throat feathers his first summer. By next summer, he'll be all ruby-red.

 Blue-gray Gnat-catcher back in the Lady Banks Rose.

 Same thing with the young male Black-chinned hummer. A few blue chin feathers his first summer. He is very aggressive around the feeders.

But not as aggressive as big daddy Ruby!

Pics of the Day

Quite a variety on a very warm Central Texas day. Yet, there was a different feel in the air this morning, and some different birds in the yard and on the pond.

 The last two mornings there have been multiple large birds on the pond, including two Great Blue Herons, two Green Herons, and a single Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

 The Red-shouldered Hawk is always observing, and we have also been visited by a Cooper's Hawk.

 And lookie here, Ruby's back in town.

 I've been hearing a Summer Tanager in the woods, but this was a rare visit by a female to our yard.

 The other Great Blue up in the tree on the other side of the pond.

 Gulf Fritillary in  the zinnia.

 Sulfur butterfly also at the zinnia.

And we close with a gaggle of female Painted Buntings crowding the feeder, and not a male in sight!