Wandering around Sunday evening, I stopped on a quiet country road, noticing a hawk looking a bit stressed high up in a tree.   The reason for her stress soon became known when another bird decided to take over that space.   After a couple of minutes that frustrated hawk decided to seek other hunting territory.    The dark bird moved at warp speed, not allowing an opportunity to determine what it was!   At first I thought it was a vulture, but the head doesn’t look right.   It was far too large to be a grackle.   Let’s hope my smart birding friends can solve this mystery.   I’m sure they can.   Nature can be interesting.

This was what I saw during a morning walk in Taylor  around 8a.m.  The sun fought to stay visible behind a bank of clouds.   It did rain, but hours after the solar eclipse.   The eclipse was grand.   And so is rain.

Honestly, I thought the total solar eclipse chances here were slim.   Rain chances were high.   And believe me, we need the rain.   Remarkably, the skies cleared enough while I was at an eclipse viewing event at Southwestern University in Georgetown.   Eclipse photos are included, but as always, I like the people, particularly the gentleman in the opening photo, who traveled from Maryland to see this.    The rain did come about three hours after the eclipse.   It’s all good.  Happy faces are good. 

From a few outings on the Blackland Prairie.   Folks are rightfully excited about Monday’s total solar eclipse, but feeling angst because of the likely presence of clouds in our area.  Whatever happens is whatever happens.  Even if rain and clouds prevail, the skies will still get dark for a short while just after 1:30pm.   But remember, we live in an area decimated by drought.    These fields embrace whatever drops of rain come their way.

A day filled with mostly dull clouds came to a close with a hint of color near sunset this evening. I was happy to see it.   This is a scene from a friend’s beautiful farm near Walburg, Texas.

A sunset photograph taken Friday evening in Taylor.   I was going to pass this one by, but with clouds and rain forecast through Tuesday, recording this seemed like a good idea.   Imagine all the people headed to Texas for an eclipse, finding clouds and rain instead.   If you haven’t firmed up plans to come here, change them.

Once again, some early-morning photographs, taken on this Friday morning.   A Waning Crescent moon, at 14.9% visibility, hovered over grain elevators (and a Texas flag) at Williamson County Grain in Taylor.   From there I wandered east toward Noack.   It’s been a while since making photos of Christ Lutheran Church.   Driving into the community before sunrise, I liked the pond nestled in the foreground, adding to the sense of place.  Sunrises are often subtle and soft.  This one, however, came up harsh and hot.   It brightened as it rose.   Remembering I had my solar filter nearby, I slapped that baby onto a lens and continued.   That’s the last one in this group.   Getting some use out of that solar filter seemed like a good idea.   Rain chances are high on Monday.  The filter might not be needed.   We’ll see.

Light continually evolves, more so at the end (or beginning) of a day.   There’s this little grove of trees a few minutes from home that I’ve photographed for about a decade.   Most of the time I just pass them by, but at times the quality of the sun’s rays gives pause, as it did last evening.   Thanks to years of heat and drought there are less trees in this grove, but a few hold onto life. These photographs were taken from 7:25-7:40pm.   Right after taking the last photos the sun dipped below the horizon.   The light became dull, pedestrian.   But for a few minutes it was playing my song.

Even without the rookery, Taylor has its share of birds.   On daily walks I’ll take a few seconds to stop and take a photo.   Most are foraging for food.  A Great Blue Heron was having a great day.  

A few years ago, when working on a story about wheat harvest, I was riding in a combine when it seemed like a good idea to step out into the field for another view.   The farmer questioned that idea, but I did go out into the field.   The dust created was overwhelming to my allergy-laden senses.   Good photos were taken, but at a cost.   These days I photograph wheat in a safer environment.   These photos are from recent ventures on the prairie.   Wheat is a most elegant crop, a food source that’s also beautiful to behold.