Bluebonnets

Bluebonnets, originally uploaded by Rob Zabroky.

A field of Bluebonnets along the Texas Hill Country Escarpment (Edwards Plateau) near San Antonio.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

White-winged dove.....deep in South Texas the white-wing fly by the thousands during that last hour of sunlight. Native to the American Southwest and Northern Mexico.

A Sea of Colors

A Sea of Colors, originally uploaded by Rob Zabroky.

Along the coastal plains of South Texas....spring has sprung for miles and miles!

Ally

Ally loves the South Padre Island dunes.


Photo captured 14 Mar 10

Floating the River

Sunset this evening on the Guadalupe River. Celebrated St Patrick's day chasing green fish from the kayak.

Enjoying the beautiful early spring weather..... hawks and buzzards soaring thermals overhead, fish popping the river's surface, whitetail feeding along the river's banks.....the upper Guadalupe River valley.

Photo captured 17 Mar 10

Spring Wildflowers

This year's spring colors are folding in with vibrant gusto!

I'm out of here!

Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) bracing together against a strong Northwest wind along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline - Padre Island National Seashore Texas.

Surfs Up!

After a 2 day onshore blow, Saturday's mid-day cold front shaped the surf nicely along Padre Island National Seashore. Enjoyed a few hours of surf today...in spite of a cold brisk NW wind, the Gulf waters were nice and warm.

Photo captured 20 Mar 10

North American Raven (Corvus corax)

Much larger than the American crow, the Raven is more angular with a hooked beak. The average wing span of the American crow averages 2.5ft where as the Raven averages 4ft and weighs nearly 4 times more.

Ravens are predators and are very adaptive, preferring sheep carrion, a livestock industry alive and well in the Texas Hill Country.

Chilly Guadalupe River Morning

Forty degrees this morning.....the Guadalupe River steaming at sunrise.

Working the Fenceline

I caught this old boy working the new spring sprouts along a fenceline. He was cautious, majestic and simply beautiful! From a quick whitetaiil review, from someone who spends hours afield watching these animals, he is about as healthy as a whitetail buck in post winter conditions can get! Note his extra weight, belt busting fat, near his loins. This old boy is literally carrying a small pouch of fat...telling me he has done well through our recent winter "open range" conditions.

Two thumbs up folks!!!!

The Right Strut

Well today , the wild turkey kingdom finally kicked off! Caught a group of hens feeding in this freshly clear cut timber edge. I started panning around and sure enough, a pair of wild Rio Grande gobblers were strutting their stuff! This is what drives me..so many hours afield for moments like this. Who needs TV? :)

Turkey Vulture - Buzzard

An overcast day.....I suppose running into this guy simply fits the mood of the day. Even Mr. Buzzard looks a little blue. Come on Spring!

Arizona Desert - Redoux

Out deep in the Eastern Arizona desert. I rolled around some small sendero (small path) and caught the sunset.

Approaching Front - Seek Shelter

Clear to the South and absolutely nasty to the North......time to GO!

Wintertime Flock

Well I found the local fellas along their favorite stream. Today's weather was snow and cold blustery winds. Here they are, gathered together contemplating their next move....crossing the stream.

Gobbler Candid

Finally on the other side of the stream. This wild turkey pair are slowly working over to their favorite nightly roost, high up in the upper branches of an old oak tree. It snowed today, much of it melted but the temps are still chillingly cold and damp.

A Natural Blonde

A Natural Blonde, originally uploaded by Rob Zabroky.

Dark eyes and blonde hair....hmmmmm? :)

Showers on the High Plains

Fill-Er Up - Cluck!

Nothing like hitting the gas station and dodging livestock. Just another scene from Texas near home.

Vanity

Some girls simply think they are beyond the others.

Texas Snow

Texas Snow, originally uploaded by Rob Zabroky.

It doesn't happen often down here....kinda glad too!

Feeling Good!

A cool winter evening stroll...these wild Rio Grande Gobblers are slowly working toward their nightly roost. They roost near a spring fed stream, high in several old oak trees. These turkeys are now getting vocal, mating season is right around the corner, they feel spring's calling.

In Roughly One Month

These wild Rio Grande gobblers will kick-off their yearly spring mating rituals. They will become vocal, dramatic, visible and extremely CRAZY in pursuit of their female hens. I will cover this year's wild turkey scene as well as I can.....it's always a joy to watch them!

I caught this group edging along a fenceline enroute to a spring fed stream. Once they realized I had them covered with my lens, they simply held here never attempting to fly across the stream. Darn the luck.....I had hoped to catch a few in-flight as they winged over. Tough shots to pull off...these old boys are cautious and have excellent hearing and vision. Maybe next time.

High Plains

The high plains of New Mexico....miles and miles of prime grazing country!

Well Hello Young Fella!

After an active fall - early winter rut, this young whitetail buck is healthy and fit. I mosied out into my favorite whitetail scene this evening, many does feeding throughout the open fields but the bucks simply didn't show. I finally picked this young buck up working into the field edge. He's cautious and keenly watched me at distance before moving on.

As it is during late winter, the scene is literally all brown, overcast skies didn't pop much color. Never the less, I always enjoy these encounters....many of them never even allowing me a shot with the lens. Ghosts...they simply drift in.

Elk at Sunset

Mr. Majestic on his feed along a small lake edge.

Busted up Elk

A young North American bull elk. At one time, they roamed the entire lower 48 States of the United States. Due to land fragmentation, hunting pressure during the 1700 - 1800s and cattle operation expansion, they have now been reduced to the western quadrant of the country. In spite of this.....they are thriving within their respective regions due to well managed Federal & State Wildlife Management programs.

The Guadualape River on Roar

After a long day, the loud roar of the Guadalupe River simply soothes the soul.

During the Depression

My Grandmother sewed with this old Singer sewing machine. Well over 80 years old now.

Killing Fields

The sad result of oak wilt. Oak wilt is a fungal disease, originating in Eastern Russia, spreading to North America via human trade. The number one tree disease in North America. Infected trees block their cambial tissues (the vascular core) in a defensive measure to control further spread throughout it's tree system. The blocking move cuts off nutrients and water, eventually killing the tree from the top, working down through the trunk into it's root system.

Rapa Nui - Easter Island - The Texas Hill Country?!?!?!?

The artist "Al Shepperd's" work near Hunt Texas USA. Just a touch of life out here near home.....far away from urbanization, chaos, politics, fast food....well you get where I'm coming from.

Y'all don't need a flight to some far off place to enjoy living.....just drop on in to the Lone Star State sometime and tool the backroads will Ya - SON! :)

The Brush Country

Full of thorns, rattlesnakes, mountain lions and big whitetail....heaven! :)

Señor Javelina

A javelina cruising through the brush - South Texas

South Texas Cardinal

Vibrant colors in the brush country.

Green Jay

In the South Texas, Northern Mexico region. Beautiful colored birds....I do believe they handily beat the BlueJay down in spades!

Jump Buck Jump!

I caught this young buck leaping a fence in South Texas.

Endangered Species - Peyote Cactus

I found a pile of peyote cactus growing wild in the brush country of South Texas. I photographed several specimens and found one that was un-earth and growing side-ways. Very resilient plants, from a completely uneducated observation, but to survive with a lot of it's root system exposed....tough plants.

Classified an endangered species here in Texas, left them undisturbed as found.

South Texas Sunset

Photographed near the Texas/Mexico border deep in the South Texas brush country.

The Morning Paper

Same routine - new medium.....as the clock ticks forward.

Home From Work

The Southwestern skies over the Texas Hill Country near my home.......solitude, peace and reflection, I hate urbanization.

Good Morning!

24 degrees.....just a beautiful cool Texas Hill Country morning!

Him & Her on a wintery Hill Country mesa

Wintertime Whitetail

This young buck is an offspring of an old majestic buck I've named High Hat. High Hat was no where to be seen but his son's ghosted out of the mountain junipers paralleling their fathers habit.

Feliz Navidad from San Antonio's Riverwalk

Beth

Loves her chicken!

Fish On!

Padre Island National Seashore....one of the many surf fishing safaris.

All Ok Left

All Ok Right

Got Wet Hen?

A cold rainy Hill Country afternoon, the ladies opt to linger under the cedar canopy out of the rain.