A grackle was there to greet customers this morning at HEB in Taylor.   When I parked, she was perched on a cart return.   When finishing my store errand, she was in the same place, scanning the parking lot for someone who might leave behind a treat.    I have a memory of pulling in there a few years ago, noticing a massive swarm of grackles busy at work, raiding the bed of a pickup truck.   The shoppers had  left some food items back there.   Grackles know this stuff.   It’s beyond me why people would leave unattended groceries in the back of a truck.   Grackles would be designated the Texas state bird if I had a vote.   They’re bothersome in a very cool way.  

This morning I was at Berry Springs Park & Preserve, where Friends of Berry Springs Park conducted a session on rehabilitating wild birds.    The event was led by Cedar Park resident Ed Sones, who has helped wildlife through hard times for over three decades.   Sones was joined by others who help bring the birds return to wellness.   If they aren’t able to live on their own, these fine folks provide a safe place to live.   Observed: a Screech Owl named Ariel, a Swainson’s Hawk named Willy, a Mississippi Kite named Beau, a Red-Shouldered Hawk named Deuce, a Red-Tailed Hawk named Cairo, a Barn Owl named Jet and a Great-Horned Owl, Moxie.  All the caretakers were inspiring, but the lady in the ball cap was truly a whisperer.   She opens this post.

A  Friday evening stroll on a hill in Coupland.   Note the bird in the tree at right.   I’m fairly certain it’s a Great Egret.   When enlarging the image, it was too light in color  to be a heron.

A few months ago a Taylor arts group asked area artists to adornold upright pianos  with their  own artistic expressions, to be displayed in the downtown area.  Most of the entrants are still here.  You can stop by and tickle their ivories if you like.    While I’ve not taken the time to offer anything here, the light on a piano and bench at 2nd and Main Streets tonight  caught my eye.  While it doesn’t show the work of the artist, I liked how the light graced the surfaces near sunset.  

These are from another visit to Georgetown’s Berry Springs Park & Preserve.   I’ve looked a few places for butterfly photos, but not finding much.   The park’s caretakers think it may be the lack of rain to explain their absence.   But it’s not good to go to a place without finding something to photograph.   There was a quick little hummingbird, another one taking a rare flying break.   While there, I observed a photographer at work under park’s pecan grove, taking a quick photo from a distance.   It’s not good to interrupt someone’s photo session.  It was well past sunset before I left, but couldn’t leave without some blue light imagery.   It’s a good place, but butterflies will have to wait.

At 18.9 % visibility, a Waxing Crescent moon glows over a field tonight on the Blackland Prairie in East Williamson County, Texas.

There’s a tree a little north of Thrall I’ve had my eye on for several years, but last evening that tree had residents, two Crested Caracaras perched on its decrepit-looking branches.   The warm late-afternoon light was also a plus.   Until a few months ago, when a friend mentioned one nesting in a tree near house, I’d never heard of a Crested Caracara.  Now I’m always on the lookout for them.    The birds, members of the falcon family, have a long history in Central and South America, and Mexico, often referred to as Mexican Eagles.    In recent years, they’ve migrated north.   They’re relaxed creatures.  I watched them for several minutes, never seeing them move more than their heads.   This was a good opportunity to document not just a tree, but also some mighty interesting birds.  For closeups, I’d suggest doing a Google search.   This photo was taken with about 500mm of lens power.   I couldn’t get closer, but again, I like the tree’s nomenclature, too! 

The last time I stopped to photograph Locklin Cemetery in Milam County was August 2021.   If possible, I try not to repeat myself too often.    The site dates to 1844, but as with most old sites, finding the first burials there proved difficult.    As they age, inscriptions on gravestones become virtually unreadable.    It’s still a peaceful place to take a few photos near the end of a day.   When visiting 19th Century burial sites, I’m always moved by the number of children interred.  It was a different time,  when medical breakthroughs were less common.   The cemetery is surrounded by many acres of farmland, far enough away from development (hopefully) to remain pristine for a while.  

Something from Taylor’s Murphy Park tonight.  A Waxing Crescent moon, 5.3% visibility, made its presence known.  The last photo includes no hint of moon, but it suits my mood.

At certain times of day prairie grass becomes a tapestry of gold.   Combined with grazing cows near Coupland, it merited a photo.    I often get too wordy, but will leave right here tonight.