Bleakley Ranch Campout with Hill Country Conservancy 2016-06
I was lucky to be able to join another Hill Country Conservancy EPIC campout last weekend on June 11 and 12, 2016. It was on one of their conservation easement properties, the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs. Attached are my observations.
When I visited last October everything was so dry. It was exciting to see the place transformed by all our recent rain! There was a flowing creek with a handful of beautiful holes like this one fed by small waterfalls.
Here are my eBird checklists:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30189631
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30180501
A few more photos are here.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
These Blanchard Cricket Frogs and katydids vocalized all night long.
Photos / Sounds
What
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
This was one of two juvenile Killdeer whose parent alarmed and tried to lead us away from when we approached it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Texas Creeping-Oxeye (Wedelia hispida)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Female.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
I was excited to find Banded Pennant dragonflies on the ranch, a species I've never seen. The females like this one were much more colorful than the males.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Lark Sparrows were a common breeder on the ranch. I ran across one family group of parents and fledglings, and got this photo of one of the fledglings.
Photos / Sounds
What
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male. Halloween Pennants were also a pretty common dragonfly, named for their black and orange colors.
Photos / Sounds
What
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Female.
Photos / Sounds
What
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male.
Photos / Sounds
What
Saddlebag Gliders (Genus Tramea)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Male. This is either a Red Saddlebags or a Carolina Saddlebags. But the distinguishing dark patches on top of the tip of the abdomen are not visible in my photo.
Photos / Sounds
What
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
A species more common in central Texas during the winter, it was fun to hear and see a few breeding Field Sparrows on the ranch.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
This individual had what looked like some pretty extensive damage to its right eye.
Photos / Sounds
What
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Photos / Sounds
What
Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC campout on the Bleakley Ranch just west of Dripping Springs, TX.
Armadillow tracks can look like fat bird tracks. On the leftmost track you can see the tips of two additional toes that registered.
Photos / Sounds
What
Acmaeodera obtusaObserver
mikaelbDescription
This observation is for the insect.
Comments
Looks like a blast -- great observations! :)
Add a Comment