Nalle Bunny Run 2018-07-21

Six people joined me this morning for the monthly group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve. When I arrived at the preserve a little before 7:00 I heard a Painted Bunting singing nearby and I was able to get a couple photos. Here it is at the top of a Cedar Elm tree:

Painted Bunting - 2

Unfortunately when we started the walk with the group, we heard this bird a few times but were unable to see it. We heard many more birds that we actually saw this morning, but we saw plenty of cool stuff. On our way down the hill we found a pair of Lesser Goldfinches, and I briefly saw the female go to a spot where I heard juvenile begging. And after looking closely I realized it was a nest! (See the attached observation.)

At the spring I found this feather that really puzzled me for awhile. I consulted @davescott who co-wrote this great field guide to feathers, and his opinion is that it's from a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. Also at the spring @natashahaggard found this Texas Cave Scorpion! So cool, and a first for the Nalle Bunny Run!

Down on the sandy prairie we got to watch a (probable) family group of five or six Western Kingbirds. Here's one of them:

Western Kingbird

Insects and plants were much easier to observe this morning. Some of the plants the group enjoyed seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting included Mustang Grape, Toothache Tree, Camphor Weed, croton, Gum Bumelia, Anacua tree, Kidneywood, and Blackjack Oak.

Cool insects included a lifer dragonfly for me, this male Five-striped Leaftail we found down by the Chimney Swift tower:

Five-striped Leaftail - 4

Four-striped Leaftails are much more common, and @greglasley has this great web page explaining the difference. Look at those blue eyes!

See the attached observations for a few more cool things, including a very scary robber fly.

Here's our complete bird list on eBird.

Here are my photos on Flickr.

And here are all the observations Natasha Haggard made this morning. Thanks Natasha!

Posted on 21 de julho de 2018, 11:14 PM by mikaelb mikaelb

Observações

Fotos / Sons

What

Bútio-Ruivo (Buteo lineatus)

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 08:43 AM CDT

Descrição

I'd love to get some help identifying this feather. It's a primary flight feather from some kind of hawk I think. So far my best guess is Broad-winged Hawk. But nothing I compare it to seems to have as much reddish brown or the same very sparse pattern of stripes in the lower half.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 10:00 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

Looking closely at the stripes on the thorax, I think this is the first Five-striped Leaftail I've ever seen! (The very similar Four-striped Leaftail is much more common.)

Fotos / Sons

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 09:03 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

This butterfly had seen better days when the group stumbled upon it. Look how much of its wings are missing!

Fotos / Sons

What

Pintassilgo-Pequeno (Spinus psaltria)

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 08:29 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

We saw a male and female Lesser Goldfinch in this tree, and I heard juvenile begging and saw fluttering wings at this spot . The female went right to this spot and then left. After closer inspection I could see a nest.

Fotos / Sons

What

Mariposa-Arco-Íris (Passerina ciris)

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 07:26 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

Seen before the group arrived. After the group walk started we heard this guy singing a few times but never saw him.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 10:18 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

This robber fly was so large and bulky I initially thought it was carrying prey when I saw it flying. But after it perched we saw it was just a big animal!

Fotos / Sons

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 09:55 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

Fotos / Sons

What

Suiriri-Ocidental (Tyrannus verticalis)

Observador

mikaelb

Data

Julho 21, 2018 09:07 AM CDT

Descrição

Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve.

This is one of five or six Western Kingbirds that was probably a family.

Comentários

Awesome photos!

Publicado por natashahaggard mais de 5 anos antes

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