Nalle Bunny Run Group Walk 2022-06-26

Out of ten people who signed up, only four actually showed up for a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife refuge this morning that I co-led with HCC staff member Carolyn Stephens. Here are some highlights.

We never know what we'll find when we open the lid covering the natural spring on the property. This morning there were half a dozen little snakes! All but one were these Western Ribbonsnakes. (I'd love to know if they are actually the Orange-striped Ribbonsnake subspecies!) My guess is that they were all siblings.

Orange-striped Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus ssp. proximus)

The other snake was this stunning Black-necked Gartersnake, that we didn't even notice for a few minutes despite its bring colors!

Black-necked Gartersnake - 1 - 2

A few weeks ago Carolyn briefly saw a male Painted Bunting on the preserve, so I was keeping my eyes and ears open for one. On the sandy prairie area I started to hear one, and we briefly saw it and a female foraging low near the lake. But they both left the immediate area and seemed to ignore my playback of recorded songs trying to bring the male back into view. But a few minutes later when we'd moved on a bit, I started hearing the male singing again. I spotted it and we all got distant but fun binocular views of him singing at the top of a grape-vine-covered hackberry!

Painted Bunting

We got some good close looks at dragonflies this morning as well. My favorite was probably this female Checkered Setwing we saw while making our way across the sandy prairie before we headed back into the woods.

Checkered Setwing

I recorded 25 species of birds and here's my eBird checklist.

All my iNat observations are attached below, and here are the same photos on Flickr.

Posted on June 26, 2022 06:58 PM by mikaelb mikaelb

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 08:26 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

Neon Skimmer female

Photos / Sounds

What

Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 08:27 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-necked Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 08:36 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

When we lift up the lid of the spring box, we never know what we'll find. Today it was about half a dozen little snakes!

One was this stunning Black-necked Gartersnake.

Photos / Sounds

What

Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus ssp. rubrilineatus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 08:36 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

When we lift up the lid of the spring box, we never know what we'll find. Today it was about half a dozen little snakes!

Most were Orange-striped Ribbonsnakes that I bet were all siblings. Here are two of them, one with its tongue out!

Photos / Sounds

What

Sonoran Bumble Bee (Bombus sonorus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 09:07 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

American Bumblebee on American Germander

Photos / Sounds

What

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 09:25 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

It's always fun to hear and then finally see a male Painted Bunting. We got distant looks at this one, and for some folks on the walk it was their first time to see this amazing bird through binoculars!

Photos / Sounds

What

Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 26, 2022 09:43 AM CDT

Description

Taken while leading a group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve in Travis County.

Checkered Setwing female

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