Close-up of a male Red-Winged Blackbird perched beside a green wire suet feeder at Garey Park in Georgetown, Texas, his glossy black body filling the frame and a flash of red and yellow showing on his folded shoulder.

Wings of Fire: A Red-Winged Blackbird in Full Display

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Since I first spotted a Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) many years ago, I have always wanted to see one with its wings thrown wide — shoulders flared, the scarlet epaulets blazing in the sun. It was not until last month, … Read More

A Tricolored Heron stands in shallow water with its slate-blue wings fully outstretched overhead, forming a shadowy canopy on the surface as it hunts for fish below.

Where Words Meet Wings

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Lens-Artists Challenge #396: Pick a Favourite Quote and Illustrate It. “Stillness is what creates love. Movement is what creates life.” — Rumi The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) hunts using a remarkable technique called canopy feeding: it stretches its wings overhead and … Read More

A male Golden-Fronted Woodpecker perched on a mossy mesquite branch, body turned upward and beak tilted toward the sky, showing its bright golden-yellow forehead, buff-colored breast, and finely barred black-and-white back, framed by feathery green leaves.

Wearing the Sun: Meeting the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker

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My visit to South Texas continues to be a source of never-ending pleasures. Whether photographing the flora or fauna, there were plenty — and I mean plenty! — of observations to use. So much of what I captured was first-time … Read More

A Great Blue Heron stands tall in shallow rippling water, its long neck stretched upward and rust-tinged thighs visible above the surface; warm golden light backlights the bird and the green mangrove along the bank behind it.

Stillness on the Water: A Quartet of South Padre Herons

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Lens Artists Photo Challenge #395: Looking Back to #155 On the Water Last week, I spent five days in the South Padre Island area with three friends who are photographers. Before reaching the island, I made a one-day stop at the … Read More

A Green Jay with a lime-green back, lemon-yellow belly, and blue-and-black head forages along the forest floor among fallen twigs and leaf litter at the National Butterfly Center.

A Green Jay for Earth Day: Treasures of the National Butterfly Center

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I spent five days around South Padre Island and Mission, Texas, last week. One place I wanted to visit was the National Butterfly Center. I was not sure what I would find, but knowing the Center is right on the … Read More

Two Common Green Darner dragonflies (Anax junius) mating in a heart-shaped “wheel position” on a reed stem, their reflections mirrored in the still water below, at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.

Lucky Shots: Caught in the Act

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Lens-Artists Challenge #393: Lucky Shot Patience is unlikely to be what one relies on for lucky shots. Rather, you need to be in the right place at the right time. All the shots here were unexpected captures. I’ll tell you … Read More

Close-up of a White Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba) flower bud tightly wrapped in bright green sepals, with soft pink and white petals just beginning to emerge, photographed at ground level at Berry Springs Park & Preserve, Texas.

A Cup of Morning

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On a recent morning walk through Berry Springs Park & Preserve, I kept stopping in my tracks. Scattered across several open areas of the park, clusters of White Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba) were putting on a quiet, understated show … Read More

Panoramic view along FM 170 in Big Bend Ranch State Park showing a vehicle on the road in the middle ground, colorful mineral-rich mountain faces displaying yellows, greens, and rust-orange tones, the dramatic Flatiron peaks rising in the background, and sparse Chihuahuan Desert scrub in the foreground beneath a bright blue sky with wispy high-altitude clouds.

Nature’s Own Wall: The Case Against a Border Barrier in Big Bend

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The plans for a border wall across Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park continue to face strong opposition in Texas. The project has encountered significant resistance from residents, landowners, and both Democratic and Republican officials in … Read More

Sunlit woodland trail at Copperfield Nature Trail in Austin Texas framed by large tree trunks in the foreground, winding dirt path and footbridge in the middle ground, and bright open forest clearing in the background.

Foreground to Horizon: Layered Nature Photography

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Lens-Artists Challenge #392: Framing Your Shots: Exploring the Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background When Patti set the theme for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, I wanted to capture new photos that put her excellent guidance to the test. She wrote, “This … Read More

A Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) stands alert in shallow marsh water surrounded by aquatic vegetation, its gray plumage and distinctive yellow-and-black crown visible as it slowly advances toward better fishing ground.

Stalk, Strike, Swallow — Twenty Minutes with a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

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A few days ago, I headed out to Berry Springs Park & Preserve with a couple of friends to photograph birds and wildflowers. The wildflower blooms were a little sparse this trip, but the birds more than made up for … Read More

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