As I walked in the warm, gray air, I thought I saw an eastern bluebird, in vigorous song. When I came closer,
I saw instead a painted bunting.
He sang for fifteen minutes or more as I watched, permitting me to see him exquisitely well through my binoculars, and take photographs which came out less well.
The lateness of the Spring rains deprived us of our usual Texas wildflower explosion, but today the Engelmann daisies were out in suitable profusion:
The scissortailed flycatchers hovered at low altitudes, chasing insects. This picture fails to show their vivid frontal color:
.The modest hills permitted a near-panoramic greenery view:
I enjoyed the pleasant mix of trees and flowers:
As imminent inclement weather hovered in the immediate future, it surprised me a bit that so many people and their charming canines were in attendance. Still, this park always has tons of places to seek secluded vistas:
Creeks that will later dry were watery today.
I watched a small bullhead catfish navigate a shallow section of creek.
Lots of verbena was in bloom:
No nature scene would be complete, of course, without the ubiquitous grackle:
I walked around in a hazy state of wonder, just enjoying everything I saw:
Afterwards, I bought used books. After I reached home, the rain came down in vivid sheets. I was glad to get a great walk in this morning before the thunderstorm arrived.
My modest bird list:
red-bellied woodpecker
mockingbird
cardinal
painted bunting
great blue heron
great-tailed grackle
scissor-tailed flycatcher
blue jay
American crow