A Greater Roadrunner stands tall and alert in a sun-drenched meadow of Indian Blanket wildflowers, gazing skyward with a composed, slightly regal expression. Soft golden light and a painterly blur of red and gold blooms surround the bird. Likely the female.

Love Dance

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I was out walking and photographing wildflowers at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park when a movement in the grass caught my eye. A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) — not an unusual sight on the Texas trails I frequent — but … Read More

Side profile of a Crested Caracara walking through a green field, showing its hooked bill with an orange base and pale blue-gray tip, black crest, pale barred neck and breast, dark brown wings and long tail, and bright yellow legs.

Carcará in Texas: Meeting the Crested Caracara

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During a recent walk at Berry Springs Park & Preserve in Georgetown, Texas, one of my friends pointed out this Crested Caracara in a distant field. That was a lifer for me. I had heard about this bird of prey … Read More

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) perched on a bare branch against a pale sky, showing rufous wing and tail feathers, buffy underparts, and raised crest — National Butterfly Center, Mission, Texas.

A Flash of Yellow in the Canopy

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“It’s not what you look at that matters,it’s what you see.” — Henry David Thoreau Spring migration through South Texas brings surprises, and this Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) was one of the first birds to greet me during my … Read More

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 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 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

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

Silhouette of a great blue heron standing in shallow water against a shimmering golden surface, photographed from a distance at golden hour.

Standing in Gold: A Great Blue Heron Moment Worth Stopping For

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There are wildlife encounters that stop you in your tracks — and then there are the ones that make you forget to breathe. These two frames of a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) wading through golden, sunlit shallows are exactly … Read More

A Great Blue Heron stands upright on a muddy bank at the water's edge, its long neck extended and orange-yellow bill pointed forward, reflected in warm amber and gold autumn-toned water.

Too Hot to Handle: How Great Blue Herons Keep Their Cool

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When most people think of a Great Blue Heron, they picture a stoic figure standing at the water’s edge. But sometimes that stillness gives way to something unexpected: a wide-open bill aimed skyward, holding perfectly still. It looks like a … Read More

A Pyrrhuloxia perched on an Ocotillo branch, bathed in warm golden hour sunlight. The bird displays its distinctive gray-brown plumage with red accents on its wings and tail, prominent red face mask, and curved yellow bill, set against a soft blue sky background.

The Desert Cardinal: A Hidden Gem of the Chihuahuan Desert

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There’s something magical about the Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)—often called the “Desert Cardinal”—that makes encountering one feel like discovering a well-kept secret of the American Southwest. For me, this was the first time seeing one. With the right camera settings, I … Read More

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