There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when the sun hits the water at just the right angle, turning a river into a basin of liquid gold. It’s in these quiet, shimmering moments that the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) … Read More

In mid-January 2025, I went hiking with a couple of friends at Williamson County’s largest park. River Ranch County Park opened to the public in July 2023. Its website says the park has “1,354 acres of meadowlands, woodlands, hills and … Read More

The Travis Audubon Society has just named the Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) its 2026 Bird of the Year. This small and mighty backyard bird, weighing barely as much as two small, empty soda cans, shows a rich cinnamon plumage. Its … Read More

Earlier this month, I spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) on an oak tree outside our bedroom window. A few days later, as I was finishing my morning meditation on the deck, another woodpecker stopped by again. I was able … Read More

“Splish-splash, I was taking a bath.”Bobby Darin I keep our three bird baths filled with fresh water. I have seen wildlife using them for drinking and bathing. The morning I captured these images, I had heard the Blue Jays (Cyanocitta … Read More

And the Oscar for Best Fake Injury goes to: Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). These are not your typical shorebirds, as Killdeers can also be found in parking lots and golf courses. This is a very artistic bird. When a predator is … Read More

The wait is over! It has been three years since I wanted to photograph a kingfisher. I had chased one near a pond close to our old house, but all I heard was its call. This month, I got a … Read More

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is known as one of the feistiest hummingbirds in North America. I should know that well because on our recent trip to Colorado, I tried to photograph this tiny bird in flight, but I was … Read More

Every summer, the skies in Round Rock witness hundreds of thousands of Purple Martins (Progne subis) gathering in parking lots. These birds create a massive, swirling roost every evening around sunset. People flock to see these wonderful birds as they … Read More

As I was looking out the dining room windows a couple of hours ago, I saw a Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) fly to the ground. I grabbed my camera off the dining room table and went outside to the deck. … Read More