Comanche Lookout Park, Comanche Loop Trail

Friday, January 27, 2012

Today's photos:

The Comanche Loop Trail at Comanche Lookout Park circles the base of the hill for which the park is named. The peak of the hill is the fourth highest elevation In Bexar County. This trail primarily passes through a dense ashe juniper (mountain cedar) and yaupon woods.

More Birds Along the Medina River Greenway

Thursday, January 26, 2012

One thing I have realized that should have been obvious all along is that it is somewhat easier to photograph the smaller woodland birds in winter when the trees and brush are bare. While the birds are still quite active and tend not to remain perched in one location for very long, at least it is easier to see and follow them as they move among the branches.

There were numerous birds along the Medina River Greenway this past Monday. Here are a few photos that I didn't include in my January 23rd post:

Field Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Black Vulture

Black Vulture

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

American Robin

American Robin

White-crowned Sparrows

White-crowned Sparrow

I think this is an American Pipit, but I'm not certain.

This is the same bird as in the previous photo.

This looks to me like a female Ladder-backed Woodpecker, but again, I'm not certain .

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Brackenridge Park, A Day Following a Storm

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Today's photos:

It was a dark and stormy night. Okay, that isn't the best literary opening (It never worked for Snoopy in the cartoon series), but it really was a dark and stormy night last night. Twelve hours later when I arrived at Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio River was still above bankfull. It had obviously been much higher earlier in the day.

South Texas weather has accurately been characterized as perpetual drought periodically broken by torrential rain. More than three inches of rain had fallen on the river's watershed overnight. The rain is something to celebrate.

The White Checkered-Skipper Butterfly

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Butterflies are one of the few insects that are still active here in South Texas this far into winter. On my walk yesterday (Monday, January 23) there was a white checkered-skipper taking its time feeding on the nectar of the bastard cabbage (that really is the common name of the plant) growing beside the path: