Busy days

There were four parties of birders visiting CMO today. No Lucifer Hummingbirds put in an appearance. Buntings are starting to arrive. Everyone got good looks at a male Varied Bunting coming to the thistle feeder. Late this afternoon I saw this Lazuli Bunting. I guess it's a 1st year male. Not sure.

Lots of Chinati Checkerspots around. I thought this one in among the flowers was pretty. Forgot what the flowers are. (Update: Someone told me they think the flowers are Blackfoot Daisies)

The bees are gone. Here are a few pics of the process. I wasn't here at the time (yesterday) so these photos were taken by Tanya. They said it's a new hive and probably hadn't been there more than a week.

Chuck Reburn (niece Tanya's husband) getting his smoker ready

Ready for transport to Austin

 My friend, Bonnie Wunderlich, kindly allowed me to share her photos of this interesting ocotillo blooming. Seems to be some sort of albino mutant. Taken near Big Bend National Park. Thanks, Bonnie.

Close up from same ocotillo

This is probably as intense as my rue (Ruta Graveolens) is going to bloom but I'm just happy it's alive.

And although I have a lot more photos from today, I'll just add one more. Right before dark an Elf Owl dove into this agave stalk. All I had on me was my little Lumix camera so a bad photo. I should have gone and got my Canon but it looked sharp through the camera lens so I thought it would be. Lesson learned.

Lots more people coming tomorrow. Lots more pics, I'm sure.