DSC_6727b.jpgThe first bird we managed to get a photo of was this male Painted Bunting at Lake Elmer Thomas dam. |
DSC_6730b.jpgHe did sing for us. |
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20210609_112812b.jpgAt Lake Elmer Thomas dam, we heard, but didn't see many birds. Mary got a photo of this damsel fly. |
PXL_20210609_161210733b.jpgSea oats? |
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PXL_20210609_162508207b.jpgWavyleaf Thistle
We used the iNaturalist app to ID some of the plants. |
PXL_20210609_162817175b.jpgDiamond-flowers |
PXL_20210609_162942992b.jpgFalse Goldenaster |
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IMG_5586b.jpgMary found lots of wildflowers to photograph along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area. |
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20210609_123422b.jpgAt 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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IMG_5595b.jpgStanding Cypress, along the road through the Mt Scott picnic area |
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DSC_6737b.jpgIn the Mt Scott picnic area, we saw this male Summer Tanager. |
DSC_6745b.jpgIn the same area, this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was catching insects, perhaps for nestlings. |
DSC_6753b.jpgBlue-gray Gnatcatcher |
DSC_6757b.jpgAs 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. |
PXL_20210609_180646589b.jpgHedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. baileyi), among the grasses and rocks behind the Holy City gift shop |
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IMG_5624b.jpgMary and I took nearly identical photos of the cacti. |
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IMG_5627b.jpgMary got a variety of views of the yellow-blooming stonecrop. |
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IMG_5634b.jpg...and Shelly among the wildflowers. |
DSC_6759b.jpgOn a power pole behind the Holy City gift shop, this male Red-headed Woodpecker posed for a photo. |
DSC_6760b.jpgI'm not sure what this oddly-posed bird is. |
DSC_6762b.jpgWe 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. |
DSC_6773b.jpgAfter we had walked all around the Holy City gift shop, this male Black-chinned Hummingbird finally made an appearance near the feeders. |
DSC_6790b.jpgBlack-chinned Hummingbird, on a low branch near the feeders outside the Holy City gift shop |
DSC_6795b.jpgAs we left the Holy City area, we spotted this Dickcissel on the wire. |
DSC_6798b.jpgNear the Dickcissel was a Barn Swallow. |
PXL_20210609_180811505b.jpgDYC - we learned later that these difficult-to-ID flowers and their ilk are called "Darn Yellow Composites"
In the Holy City area |
PXL_20210609_185043828b.jpgTexas Prairie Parsley
Polytaenia texana
Near parking lot at Lake Quanah Parker dam |
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IMG_5640b.jpgTexas or Indian Paintbrush |
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IMG_5644b.jpgWildflowers, near Lake Quanah Parker |
IMG_5646b.jpgShelly |
IMG_5647b.jpgShelly, among the wildflowers near Lake Quanah Parker |
IMG_5648b.jpgShelly and Mary took turns taking photos of each other while Steve stalked the background. |
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IMG_5661b.jpgFleabane
Near Lake Quanah Parker |
PXL_20210609_185454888b.jpgWe took a group selfie on the Quanah Parker dam. |
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PXL_20210609_192951455b.jpgAmerican Basketflower
Along the side of the road, as we were leaving Lake Quanah Parker dam |
PXL_20210609_203025116b.jpgPost Oak, along the trail at the Environmental Education Center |
DSC_6807b.jpgMale Painted Bunting, at the Environmental Education Center |
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DSC_6816b.jpgDragonfly |
DSC_6821b.jpgFemale Summer Tanager, along trail at Environmental Education Center |
DSC_6824b.jpgFly |
DSC_6825b.jpgCarolina Chickadee |
DSC_6829b.jpgDragonfly |
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DSC_6834b.jpgEastern Phoebe |
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PXL_20210609_211230172b.jpgUpright Prairie Coneflower
After leaving the EEC, we went to the Sunset picnic and trail area. |
PXL_20210609_212908269b.jpgMeadow Pink |
PXL_20210609_212929325b.jpgWe hiked up the trail, where Shelly and Mary stopped at the little dam beside the trail. |
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PXL_20210609_213416594b.jpgMore DYCs |
PXL_20210609_213458638b.jpgWooly Lipfern, maybe |
PXL_20210609_213522123b.jpgSneezeweed |
PXL_20210609_213626754b.jpgRocks and wildflowers |
PXL_20210609_214943287b.jpgMore Meadow Pink |
PXL_20210609_215313992b.jpgWe saw several Eastern Collared Lizards (state lizard of OK) along the trail; Mary and I took lots of photos. |
PXL_20210609_221849501b.jpgWestern Horsenettle |
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IMG_5663b.jpgAnother Collared Lizard, or Mountain Boomer, as it is also known |
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IMG_5682b.jpgSteve, near the top of the lower section of trail |
DSC_6863b.jpgMary 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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DSC_6870b.jpgThen I noticed this female closer to me. I thought she and the male were considering each other. |
DSC_6880b.jpgThen another female came up behind the male. |
DSC_6883b.jpgHe went down to her to get a closer look. |
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DSC_6887b.jpgBut apparently the chemistry wasn't there. |
DSC_6889b.jpgThe other female didn't seem to be impressed either; she stayed where she was. |
DSC_6892b.jpgThe male went back to his post. |
IMG_5684b.jpgMeadow Pink |
IMG_5687b.jpgWhen we got back down the trail, we spotted what seemed to be the same lizard we saw on the way up. |
IMG_5688b.jpgMale Eastern Collared Lizard |
DSC_6893b.jpgFemale Eastern Collared Lizard |
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DSC_6910b.jpgWe stopped at the Sunset parking lot to look for the hawk again, but found a Painted Bunting again. |
DSC_6915b.jpgAs we headed back east on the main highway, we saw this Northern Rough-winged Swallow. |
DSC_6922b.jpgAnd another Dickcissel, singing |
DSC_6925b.jpgAnd a Mississippi Kite |