Friday Afternoon Salado Saunter

Friday, November 2, 2012

Salado Creek Greenway, Robert Tobin Park Trailhead downstream

Today's photos:

As I began walking along the trail today, it was looking like this would be another walk dominated by wildflowers and butterflies. And there certainly is nothing wrong with that. But I have learned to expect the unexpected.

The very large white-tailed buck was quite unexpected as I rounded a bend in the trail. I don't think he was expecting to see me either. White-tailed deer are very plentiful in the upper Salado Creek watershed, so it was not a complete surprise, but this is the first time I have encountered one this far downstream.

Walking With Butterflies

Monday, October 15, 2012

Leon Creek South Greenway, Pearsall Park Trailhead to the 1 mile marker

Today's photos:

When I first arrived at Pearsall Park about noon today, I had planned on walking the nature trail loop, but it was closed for construction. So, I walked about a mile of the Leon Creek  South Greenway trail.

Butterflies, butterflies, butterflies (no monarchs)... There were countless butterflies of many different kinds fluttering and swirling and perching everywhere. I was wearing a green plaid shirt and butterflies would occasionally perch on my shoulder.

Of course, there were many other things to see as well. Above is but a small sample of the many photos I took today.

The Little Things Often Overlooked, Part 2

Friday, October 5, 2012

This is the third of four sets of photos from my walk in the Olmos Basin this past Wednesday, October 3, and is a continuation of the theme from yesterday's post. The fourth set of photos have a somewhat different theme and will be published sometime this coming week.

I probably should mention, the mockingbird in the first photo isn't exactly a "little thing often overlooked." They generally aren't the least bit shy (sometimes downright aggressive) and are very easy to see. This particular mockingbird was very well fed, feasting on the abundance of little things in the open field:

The Little Things Often Overlooked

Thursday, October 4, 2012

This is another set of photos from my walk in the Olmos Basin yesterday. All of these are relatively small. The Live Oak acorn, the Grey Hairstreak and the Reakirt's Blue butterflies are maybe an inch (2.54 cm) across, if that big. The flowers are only slightly larger.

These are only a few of the little things people can't see driving past a field in a car, or even riding a bicycle for that matter. The casual observer will likely come to the conclusion there is nothing worth seeing as they pass by. It takes a much closer examination to realize "that empty lot" is teaming with the beauty of nature:

Empty fields are only empty to those who do not look close enough.