A cruise around Uvalde County (lots of pics)

[jasonp]

It rained most of the day today but between the showers, there was a little sunshine and some good opportunities for photos. First early in the AM right after a little downpour some flowers that have come up on my place. I didn't plant them they volunteer every year.
A Western Spiderwort:

and a False Dayflower:

Next, I took a cruise over to a local wetland called Cooks Slough. We didn't walk far from the car because of some serious looking clouds over head and I didn't want my 40D and lenses to get soaked so within 100 yards of the truck:
a little Jumping spider:

and a ladybug larvae (ugly suckers no?):

Next, we drove down to a location on the Leona River near Batesville Texas and I shot two birds that I've been trying to shoot for a long time. First a Great Kiskadee:

&

Next I found my favorite Texas bird, a Loggerhead Shrike AKA The Butcher Bird or what I like to call them, the serial killer birds :)

Also fairly close to the river, we saw this Swainson's Hawk that had just caught a meal. When I zoomed in, the best I could tell was a small/juvenile tortoise Gopherus berlandieri maybe? If so, that's unfortunate, but that's nature I guess. You can see it in his left talon.

Lastly, I found this American Kestral sitting on a fence post just outside Batesville, Texas:

All in all not a bad day for frequent showers. It's raining here in Uvalde as I type this. We still need more though to fill our rivers.
Jason

[lhdvies]

Very nice series Jason! Really like that 2nd flower shot a lot!!

[houtex01]

Always enjoy your post Jason...such variety...like the Kiskadee...keep cruisin' and shootin'...

Ron

[dtran]

Really nice series, Jason!

[Tim T]

Very nice series Jason. Great variety of shots. Good work.

[wapiti]

Very well done, Jason. Wonderful images.

[PhotoByLeal]

Awesome shots!

[Antonio Lopez]

Excellent series Jason.

[Al Buckner]

Jason... WOW, you got some great shots for a rainy day.

We got flooding that day just a little north in western Bandera County.

[jasonp]

Thank Al...as much rain as we've received, the Nueces still looks pathetic. We needs LOTS more. It's still not running at highway 90. a few small puddles is all and not many of them.