This morning I was happy to be able to tour the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin with Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC group. Here are a few photos I took:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikael_behrens/albums/72157659119977966
Bird highlights included seeing 5 species of hawks soaring overhead from one spot, including south-bound migrating Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Broad-winged Hawk. I also was happy to see my first American Kestrel of the season, a returning winter resident. Here's my eBird list:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25207475
There were many dragonflies in the air, mostly Common Green Darners and Black Saddlebags. There were also a few Wandering Gliders, Red Saddlebags, and Roseate Skimmers. By a couple ponds Twelve-spotted Skimmers were common, and I found one Blue Dasher.
A zebra was an exotic surprise at the end. You never know what you'll see on these central Texas ranches! (A couple years ago I saw a Wildebeest here!)
Attached are my iNaturalist observations.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
This female was the first American Kestrel I've seen this season, a returning winter resident in central Texas.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Female.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Male, with Bitterweed (Helenum amarum) in the background.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Male.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Female or teneral male.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
I swear you never know what you're going to see on these central Texas ranches!
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.
Comments
Add a Comment