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.

Back home with lots of lifers

I still don't have all my photos ID'd so not sure how many lifers I got this weekend, but I'm a happy camper. Especially fun was finding my lifer Blue-faced Ringtail by myself.

Although without a team effort I would never have found it. I wouldn't even have any clue where and how to look for one. We all started searching the likely areas for it and after a couple of hours Desha thought she saw a threadtail I needed. She called me over and while looking for the potential threadtail (never was relocated) I saw the above ringtail and said, "What's that?" Another oder was nearby. He was already familiar with the species. It was only a lifer for me. Immediately after saying that, I added, "Oh, I think it's just a Western Pondhawk." It hadn't yet landed, and female W Pondhawks have green thoraxes and black and white striped abdomens. About the time it landed, I got a better look and said, "No, it's different and smaller than a W Pondhawk." About then, Troy Zurovec spotted it and said, "It might be a female of the one we're looking for [Blue-faced Ringtail]." About a split second before he said that, the thought crossed my mind. Yup. I settled for a female and left for home shortly thereafter. I could joyously have stay all day, but didn't want to get home late at night.

I'm really tired so will post more lifers tomorrow. Just want to thank everyone who tirelessly helped me search for lifers, especially Tripp Davenport. I had spent two days packing for the trip, determined I'd have everything along I could possibly want. It turned out that I didn't use a few things I had packed, but didn't forget anything either. If I had it to do over again I'd have packed another pair of jeans and socks. A lot of time was spent wading and I would have liked to drive home today in dry pants, but no biggee. I'm pretty sure there were no chiggers there. I was well-protected, but no one else was, and they didn't get any. 

Desha found me my lifer Long-tailed Skipper. Between butterflies and odonates, I know I got at least a dozen lifers.

Having a super time in Uvalde

Wow, I have such awesome friends! Can't say enough good about Tripp Davenport, who showed me his stomping grounds today, provided me with a perfect guesthouse to stay in, and took me around to gather lifer odes and butterflies all day long. In spite of the overcast skies, we did good. Saw some of the most gorgeous scenery. And Tripp is a fount of information. I learned so much. Have to get off to the next, and last, stop of my trip (Gonzales) for the rare Blue-faced Ringtail, so must be brief for now. Here's my lifer Laviana White-Skipper.

And my first look at a creek we oded along for hours on a fabulous 9,000 acre ranch. Forgot the name of the creek, but it ended up in a tunnel/cave where it gushed out of the Edwards Aquifer. I drank from it, of course.

Looking out from the tunnel.

And two quick lifer odes before I head to Gonzales. This is a newly emerged Jade-striped Sylph drying its wings.

And my main target ode for going to Uvalde, Coppery Dancer. Got a pair even. Doesn't get better than that.