Gnats
Gnats anyone?

Gnats anyone?

Love these colorful, chunky grasshoppers in Davis Mountains this time of year. They’re called Plains Lubber Grasshoppers. Also a couple of young birds for someone to ID.
I enjoyed the sunrise at Cedar point on Lake Buchanan yesterday and with the approaching Festivus season (“the festivus for the rest of us”) it was nice to find many of these beautiful Axarus festivus (as I’m told by iNat) a variety of midge.
Started off my morning here in Davis Mountains with some bad iphone pix of Montezuma Quail. Then did a walk on roads south of Davis Mountains — glad to hear lots of singing birds and see water where I’ve not seen it before!!! And finally I thought these (tentatively IDed) Velvet Mites were interesting and…
In addition to birds, photography of insects has greatly enhanced my NEDs (nature exploration days)!! Was pleased to find 6 examples of my favorite beetle yesterday!
Just back from several days in Terlingua, Fort Davis, Big Bend area. Saw about 60 bird species, but overall low in numbers. Best bird probably Townsend Solitaire. Here’s some cool non bird animals we saw — the “B” trifecta — Black Witch, Badger & Bear. That black blob is the bear. We pointed it out…
Just back from a few days at Fort Davis. Stopped in at Sandia Wetlands (a nice stop just off I10) and Lake Balmorhea and had 9 species of shorebird. Killdeer, BN Stilt, Avocet, Wilson’s Phal, Spotted Sand, Western Sand (flyby), Upland Sand (several flyovers), Greater yellowlegs and my fav: fly right over the head 12…