Red-bellied Woodpecker clinging to the side of a small blue bird feeder, stretching its beak toward a seed port, with green foliage blurred in the background.

An Acrobat at the Feeder

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In my ongoing struggle to keep squirrels off a bird feeder (yeah, probably a lost cause), I can report that for four days now I have not seen a squirrel attacking the feeder in its new location. Instead, I have … Read More

Female Smoky Rubyspot damselfly with a metallic green thorax and blue-green abdomen perched on a pale twig at Hornsby Bend, Austin, Texas.

Two Sides of the Smoky Rubyspot

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On Sunday morning, I met some master naturalist friends at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Our intent was to photograph birds, but we got sidetracked by the insects. In a couple of different locations during our walk, we saw several Smoky … Read More

A single Gulf Fritillary photographed from above with its bright orange, black-marked wings fully spread across a large orange zinnia.

Front-Porch Fritillaries: Orange on Orange

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When we visited East Texas a few years ago, we stayed in a place with a front garden full of flowers. Sitting on the porch each morning, we were always delighted by the constant traffic of butterflies. One in particular … Read More

A Striated Heron stands on wet, leaf-strewn mud at the water’s edge, its gray-and-cream streaked plumage and yellow legs catching the light as it fixes on the shallows. Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo, Brazil, 2023.

The Same Heron, Two Continents Apart

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Back in December 2023, I wrote about my first Striated Heron, spotted while we walked through Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo. On weekends, the park’s 390 acres (158 hectares) fill with thousands of people, so I was surprised to find … Read More

Close-up of a Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) flower cluster, its red-violet disc florets forming a fuzzy tuft of curled, thread-like styles, with a tightly scaled bud visible at the edge against soft green foliage.

A Fuzzy Purple Surprise — Western Ironweed Along the Trail

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A couple of weeks ago, I went on a short bike ride around my neighborhood. There are always interesting and sometimes unexpected things to observe. On this ride, I noticed several Western Ironweed bushes growing along one section of the … Read More

A Green Heron stands in shallow water at the edge of an algae-covered pond, its neck drawn low against its body in a classic crouched hunting stance. Morning light reveals the bird's iridescent green back and rust-colored neck. Teravista, Round Rock, Texas.

Two Years by the Pond: A Green Heron on Alert

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It has now been two years since we moved to Teravista in Round Rock, Texas. It has been full of good mornings on the deck overlooking our natural pond — some spent in quiet meditation, many more just watching whatever … Read More

Cobblestone boardwalk trail winding beneath a dense green forest canopy in Parque do Cocó, Fortaleza, Brazil.

An Urban Oasis: Fortaleza’s Parque do Cocó

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When we were in Fortaleza in June 2026, one of the things we wanted to do after spending time with family was explore parts of the city we hadn’t visited before. Since this is my hometown, there wasn’t much left … Read More

A collage of six backyard birds — Northern Cardinal, Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, Eastern Phoebe, Green Heron, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and Yellow-Crowned Night Heron — all photographed at the same pond within one hour.

One Hour, A World Apart

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Lens-Artists Challenge #402: Looking Back at #1 – Wonder Most mornings, I meditate on the deck facing the pond behind our house. It’s become a quiet anchor to the day — the water, the light shifting through the trees, whatever … Read More

Wide-angle view of the ornate interior of Teatro José de Alencar in Fortaleza, Brazil, with rows of cane chairs, sweeping iron balconies, and a painted ceiling converging in perfect symmetry toward the proscenium arch stage.

Guided by the Frame: Compositional Tools in Fortaleza

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Lens-Artists Challenge #401: Focus on the Subject with These Essential Tips A photograph is more than the sum of its subject. The best images are built and constructed with intention before the shutter is ever pressed. As my followers are … Read More

Scrapbook-style collage of four nature photographs set at slight angles with white borders and soft shadows: three Brown Pelicans on a beach, three Great Blue Herons atop a coastal shrub, three Blue Curls flower clusters, and three orange beetles on a pink thistle.

If Two Is Company, Is Three Perfection?

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Lens-Artists Challenge #400: Rule of Three Photography has so many rules that anyone trying to learn composition can feel overwhelmed. Others simply trust their intuition. This week, Tina covers a rule that not many people may have heard of: the … Read More

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