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Steve Davis | profile | all galleries >> Wildlife >> Wildlife Travel >> Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, June 9, 2021 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, June 9, 2021

We went to the WMWR with our friend Shelly to look for birds and see the wildflowers. We stopped at the Lake Elmer Thomas dam, Mt Scott picnic area, Holy City, Lake Quanah Parker dam, Environmental Education Center, and Sunset picnic area and trail.
The first bird we managed to get a photo of was this male Painted Bunting at Lake Elmer Thomas dam.
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The first bird we managed to get a photo of was this male Painted Bunting at Lake Elmer Thomas dam.

He did sing for us.
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He did sing for us.

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At Lake Elmer Thomas dam, we heard, but didn't see many birds. Mary got a photo of this damsel fly.
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At Lake Elmer Thomas dam, we heard, but didn't see many birds. Mary got a photo of this damsel fly.

Sea oats?
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Sea oats?

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Wavyleaf Thistle
We used the iNaturalist app to ID some of the plants.
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Wavyleaf Thistle
We used the iNaturalist app to ID some of the plants.

Diamond-flowers
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Diamond-flowers

False Goldenaster
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False Goldenaster

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Mary found lots of wildflowers to photograph along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area.
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Mary found lots of wildflowers to photograph along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area.

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At Mt Scott picnic area, Mary caught Shelly looking for one of the Black-capped Vireos that kept eluding us most of the day.
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At Mt Scott picnic area, Mary caught Shelly looking for one of the Black-capped Vireos that kept eluding us most of the day.

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Standing Cypress, along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area
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Standing Cypress, along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area

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In the Mt Scott picnic area, we saw this male Summer Tanager.
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In the Mt Scott picnic area, we saw this male Summer Tanager.

In the same area, this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was catching insects, perhaps for nestlings.
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In the same area, this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was catching insects, perhaps for nestlings.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

As I was walking back to where we'd parked the car at the picnic area, I saw a pair of Northern Cardinals and got a photo of the male.
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As I was walking back to where we'd parked the car at the picnic area, I saw a pair of Northern Cardinals and got a photo of the male.

Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. baileyi), among the grasses and rocks behind the Holy City gift shop
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Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. baileyi), among the grasses and rocks behind the Holy City gift shop

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Mary and I took nearly identical photos of the cacti.
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Mary and I took nearly identical photos of the cacti.

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Mary got a variety of views of the yellow-blooming stonecrop.
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Mary got a variety of views of the yellow-blooming stonecrop.

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...and Shelly among the wildflowers.
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...and Shelly among the wildflowers.

On a power pole behind the Holy City gift shop, this male Red-headed Woodpecker posed for a photo.
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On a power pole behind the Holy City gift shop, this male Red-headed Woodpecker posed for a photo.

I'm not sure what this oddly-posed bird is.
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I'm not sure what this oddly-posed bird is.

We had hoped to see a Zone-tailed Hawk that had been reported in the area, but that had to wait for our third trip to the area; today we only saw Turkey Vultures.
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We had hoped to see a Zone-tailed Hawk that had been reported in the area, but that had to wait for our third trip to the area; today we only saw Turkey Vultures.

After we had walked all around the Holy City gift shop, this male Black-chinned Hummingbird finally made an appearance near the feeders.
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After we had walked all around the Holy City gift shop, this male Black-chinned Hummingbird finally made an appearance near the feeders.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, on a low branch near the feeders outside the Holy City gift shop
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Black-chinned Hummingbird, on a low branch near the feeders outside the Holy City gift shop

As we left the Holy City area, we spotted this Dickcissel on the wire.
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As we left the Holy City area, we spotted this Dickcissel on the wire.

Near the Dickcissel was a Barn Swallow.
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Near the Dickcissel was a Barn Swallow.

DYC - we learned later that these difficult-to-ID flowers and their ilk are called Darn Yellow Composites
In the Holy City area
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DYC - we learned later that these difficult-to-ID flowers and their ilk are called "Darn Yellow Composites"
In the Holy City area

Texas Prairie Parsley
Polytaenia texana
Near parking lot at Lake Quanah Parker dam
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Texas Prairie Parsley
Polytaenia texana
Near parking lot at Lake Quanah Parker dam

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Texas or Indian Paintbrush
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Texas or Indian Paintbrush

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Wildflowers, near Lake Quanah Parker
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Wildflowers, near Lake Quanah Parker

Shelly
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Shelly

Shelly, among the wildflowers near Lake Quanah Parker
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Shelly, among the wildflowers near Lake Quanah Parker

Shelly and Mary took turns taking photos of each other while Steve stalked the background.
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Shelly and Mary took turns taking photos of each other while Steve stalked the background.

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Fleabane
Near Lake Quanah Parker
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Fleabane
Near Lake Quanah Parker

We took a group selfie on the Quanah Parker dam.
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We took a group selfie on the Quanah Parker dam.

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American Basketflower
Along the side of the road, as we were leaving Lake Quanah Parker dam
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American Basketflower
Along the side of the road, as we were leaving Lake Quanah Parker dam

Post Oak, along the trail at the Environmental Education Center
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Post Oak, along the trail at the Environmental Education Center

Male Painted Bunting, at the Environmental Education Center
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Male Painted Bunting, at the Environmental Education Center

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Dragonfly
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Dragonfly

Female Summer Tanager, along trail at Environmental Education Center
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Female Summer Tanager, along trail at Environmental Education Center

Fly
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Fly

Carolina Chickadee
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Carolina Chickadee

Dragonfly
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Dragonfly

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Eastern Phoebe
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Eastern Phoebe

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Upright Prairie Coneflower
After leaving the EEC, we went to the Sunset picnic and trail area.
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Upright Prairie Coneflower
After leaving the EEC, we went to the Sunset picnic and trail area.

Meadow Pink
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Meadow Pink

We hiked up the trail, where Shelly and Mary stopped at the little dam beside the trail.
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We hiked up the trail, where Shelly and Mary stopped at the little dam beside the trail.

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More DYCs
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More DYCs

Wooly Lipfern, maybe
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Wooly Lipfern, maybe

Sneezeweed
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Sneezeweed

Rocks and wildflowers
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Rocks and wildflowers

More Meadow Pink
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More Meadow Pink

We saw several Eastern Collared Lizards (state lizard of OK) along the trail; Mary and I took lots of photos.
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We saw several Eastern Collared Lizards (state lizard of OK) along the trail; Mary and I took lots of photos.

Western Horsenettle
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Western Horsenettle

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Another Collared Lizard, or Mountain Boomer, as it is also known
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Another Collared Lizard, or Mountain Boomer, as it is also known

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Steve, near the top of the lower section of trail
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Steve, near the top of the lower section of trail

Mary and Shelly took the direct route back down the trail while I tried what I thought might be a short-cut. It may have been, but I got distracted by 3 Collared Lizards, a male and 2 females. I first spotted the male, who seemed to be surveying his domain from the top of a rock above me.
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Mary and Shelly took the direct route back down the trail while I tried what I thought might be a short-cut. It may have been, but I got distracted by 3 Collared Lizards, a male and 2 females. I first spotted the male, who seemed to be surveying his domain from the top of a rock above me.

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Then I noticed this female closer to me. I thought she and the male were considering each other.
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Then I noticed this female closer to me. I thought she and the male were considering each other.

Then another female came up behind the male.
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Then another female came up behind the male.

He went down to her to get a closer look.
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He went down to her to get a closer look.

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But apparently the chemistry wasn't there.
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But apparently the chemistry wasn't there.

The other female didn't seem to be impressed either; she stayed where she was.
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The other female didn't seem to be impressed either; she stayed where she was.

The male went back to his post.
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The male went back to his post.

Meadow Pink
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Meadow Pink

When we got back down the trail, we spotted what seemed to be the same lizard we saw on the way up.
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When we got back down the trail, we spotted what seemed to be the same lizard we saw on the way up.

Male Eastern Collared Lizard
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Male Eastern Collared Lizard

Female Eastern Collared Lizard
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Female Eastern Collared Lizard

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We stopped at the Sunset parking lot to look for the hawk again, but found a Painted Bunting again.
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We stopped at the Sunset parking lot to look for the hawk again, but found a Painted Bunting again.

As we headed back east on the main highway, we saw this Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
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As we headed back east on the main highway, we saw this Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

And another Dickcissel, singing
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And another Dickcissel, singing

And a Mississippi Kite
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And a Mississippi Kite