Amethyst-throated Mountain-Gem

A first US record, no less! In the Davis Mountains yesterday. Didn't stick around long but I was fortunate to be able to get there in time, and be allowed to see and photograph it. I drove really fast.

If I had been at the oasis, chasing the bird would not have been doable. As it was, I had to turn off supper cooking on the stove, grab my camera, and run out the door. By the time I got there, there was no sunshine, and fading daylight. But for a lifer, any shot is better than none. Kelly had already gotten excellent photos a little earlier, so he didn't even bother to take any while I was there. 

And check out Cornell's cam video. It's awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAAXKSsKKPk&feature=youtu.be

Back in town I've been staying indoors trying to get well enough for my upcoming valley trip. But I saw a few butterflies on the patio's potted flowers. Here's a Clouded Skipper on "amethyst-throated" flowers (Vinca).

Tomorrow I'm going on a little excursion to the Ruidosa/Candelaria area. Haven't ever oded there so it might be interesting.

Photos by family

On my sister's 75th birthday celebration two of her children went up her mountain trail with her, and then down my side on the trail I made. Too bad I've been too sick to go up the mountain recently. But I have their photos. And one is of a butterfly that I've never seen, a Fulvia Checkerspot. (Photo by my niece, Julia Green.) Of course I'm very envious! Fulvia's host is paintbrush. I'm sure there's plenty of that on the mountain these days.

Here's Ann with her son and daughter at a cave near the top of the pouroff.

And next is a photo showing the big hill on my road from above.

This next shot is of them making their way across the top of the mountain (no trail) to the saddle where they picked up my trail. You can see the tip of W Corazone Peak showing through the saddle.

Finally, a photo I took today at the oasis while I was watering. One of these days I'll get the weeds pulled. The red flowers are Flame Acanthus.

Old age and treachery

I suppose I should give the credit to antibiotics, but I like old age and treachery better.

Came down to CMO and watered a little, but just couldn't hold myself back from Lajitas. It was a gorgeous day, too. I tried to pace myself, and did do better than I normally do. But I was determined to find amberwings and that meant getting wet. No pain, no gain. Here's the results of my quest. I think it's a Mexican Amberwing, but need experts to be sure. Will update when ID'd.

So tomorrow I'll finish watering. And find something awesome to photograph.

UPDATE: Experts not 100% positive on the ID. Seems where both Eastern and Mexican Amberwing ranges overlap there may be some hybridization occurring. More research needs to be done. 

Medical update

Been staying in bed the last few days but had enough of that. Going to Lajitas tomorrow.

I finally got pressured into taking antibiotics.  Diagnosed with bronchitis. What happened was my lungs were inflamed from the pollen, then I overstressed my body with one thing and another to where I was susceptible to viruses. Got a cold that morphed into bronchitis, heading toward pneumonia. But my chest x-ray turned out great, so it's just a temporary situation. Next allergy season I need to start taking stuff before it gets out of control.

Meanwhile, I realize I'm not out of the woods yet. But I'm going to have fun tomorrow. Can't stand any more bed rest. Laying in bed gives me a headache.

Not all better

Still sick. Had a bad night. Pollen may have inflamed my lungs some weeks ago, but it has almost surely morphed into pneumonia at this point. Just going to ride it out. Not going to go get antibiotics.

Meanwhile, I made reservations for my Rio Grande Valley trip. Hoping the enthusiasm will help speed my recovery. Gonna tent camp there at a place that has water and electricity. Sounds luxurious after all the camping I've done without either. And I'll even have cell service there.

I took this photo in the back yard with my new camera. Male Vermilion Flycatcher. It's hard to resist photographing something so beautiful.

All better

Crashed early last night. Didn't even process all the pictures I took in Lajitas yesterday. Woke up fine except with a headache. Finally, this afternoon enough was enough and I took an aspirin. Now I'm good. And while processing my photos I discovered I had photographed a Striped Saddlebags,  which is rare in the Big Bend area. (I had one at the oasis a couple of years ago.) Unfortunately, this one was high in a tree with bad light so I didn't get decent shots, but IDable.

I'm excited to go back Tuesday when the temperatures will be back up in the 90's.

Here's a Fiery Skipper from Lajitas yesterday. A common species.

No bullet dodged

After comprising my immune system with steroids, then getting four hours of sleep Saturday night and six hours Sunday night, I was very concerned. I took my last steroid pill Tuesday and by Wednesday noon, I was plenty sick. So I stayed in bed Wednesday and Thursday. Thought I was recovering so determined to go to Lajitas today looking for Mexican Amberwings. October is the only month I've seen them there. No one else has ever seen them there at all. Well, I knew a cold front was headed our way but figured Lajitas would be fine. The first hour was. Then cold and windy. My plan is to go back next week after the front passes. Meanwhile, I'm sick. Fever, vertigo, weak, shortness of breath. Off and on headachy.

I went to CMO after Lajitas to service my feeders. Found my first Black Swallowtail caterpillar on my rue plant. Very exciting.

                                        

Rambur's Forktail has been documented at the oasis, but I had never photographed one there until today. 

Going to spend tomorrow in bed. Then Tuesday or Wednesday will be great weather in Lajitas. The season is winding down for the year so I have to make the most of it. That's the plan anyway.

Plotting my next trip

I'm just dreading winter. It's like, for the next six months there won't be any butterflies or odes to speak of. That's why I'm considering going to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in a few weeks. I suffer from cabin fever real bad when I'm stuck indoors, or there's nothing interesting outdoors. It's not so much to go for the lifers as it is to get away from the blahs here. It's six months of my life I can never get back.

(Photo from ranch's online website)

Tripp sent me a couple of pictures he took for me when I was in the Uvalde/Leakey area. I only had my big long lens when we walked upstream, so couldn't do the scenery justice. These were taken at Big Springs Ranch where Big Springs Creek emerges from the Edwards Aquifer. Thanks, Tripp.

Not too puny today

Unless it hasn't hit me yet, I survived my high energy, sleep-deprived weekend OK. Tired and hoarse, but nothing else YET.

I try not to overdo on the kids/grandkids talk, but just can't resist mentioning that my son in Austin, who just started his own sign company, did a metronome sign for a client. He had never done anything like it before. I think it's pretty cool. Hopefully, this video clip will play here.

Here's a pic of him that I really like.

And here's Scarlet Musk-flower (Nyctaginia capitata) I found blooming along Snake Road going to CMO. Maybe better known as Devil's Bouquet.

Trip tally

All photos ID'd. I got 7 lifer odes, and 10 lifer butterflies. Not too shabby for a weekend jaunt. Saw a few other things but couldn't get photos and don't want to count without photos. I'm barely counting this Orange-striped Threadtail because I only got really bad shots. On the first one (think microscopically small) it landed with me having to look into the sun. So I snapped a couple, then circled around to get the sun behind me. As I struggled to get a clear shot of it between the grasses, it flew. This is all I got.

Another lifer that I didn't get a decent shot of was this Slough Amberwing. Luckily, an expert was able to confirm the ID from my photos. I shot it with both of my cameras, plus Desha took what I thought were good photos, so I didn't dream when everything got downloaded this was as good as we got. I had even waded into the water. Don't know what went wrong.

Did a little better on my lifer Tropical Checkered-Skipper.

My old Lumix arrived today at my granddaughter's in Oklahoma. Batteries fine. It'll be a learning curve for him, but this young generation is growing up with technology and seem to pick it up quickly.

Went down to CMO this afternoon and watered and serviced hummingbird feeders, so I'm pretty much caught up now.