Bluebonnets, Birds and Baby Calves

It is early April, and spring has officially arrived.  A couple of weeks ago, we saw our first bluebonnets at the farm. 

They bloom there a little later than the ones here in the Austin area, where there were plenty on the Turkey Creek Nature Trail. 

East of town, toward Elgin where Rue and I take herding lessons, there were not only plenty of bluebonnets,

but glorious fields of Indian paintbrush as well.  

Rue agreed to pose for me, but she was really more interested in looking for sheep.

At the farm, another new calf has appeared.  B1, the cow that was responsible for my colorful “shiner” last month, presented her new baby bull calf.  He's a cute little fellow, and will soon be as big as his brother, shown behind him.

And, our birds are back.  I’ve been excited to hear the calls of black-and-white warblers and golden-cheeked warblers on the mountain southeast of the farm house.  The birds aren’t so much shy as they are quick.  

A black-and-white warbler appeared for just a couple of seconds, blending in with the branches of the surrounding trees and darting away before I could capture an image.  The golden-cheeked warbler males sing each morning, staking out their nesting territories.  They often come when they hear the recorded calls from the Audubon app on my cell phone, flitting in to sing a few bars, then sailing off again.  Many photos I am able to capture are just blurs of movement, and when they do sit still for a few seconds my perspective is often just the bottom of a bird.

I have been able to capture a few recognizable images, though. 

Maybe next week I’ll catch one singing from a nearby treetop instead of viewed through the branches.

March was a good month for other birds, however.  A couple of weeks ago when Rue and I were on our way to our herding lesson, this young roadrunner came trotting right down the middle of Honey Tree Lane (where our destination is Michele McGuire's Paws for Ewe Farm.)  

He uttered funny guttural chirps and clicks while he pecked around in the road and in the neighbor's yard.  And, he gave me a good opportunity to capture several nice images before we concentrated on herding sheep.  It's a good reminder never to leave home without the camera...I could never have captured these images with my phone.

This week we also paid a quick visit to Fredericksburg to meet friends Rick and Linda Lorentz, who have been wintering in Rockport and are headed north for the summer months.  Lunch at Altstadt Brewery was delightful, 

The brewery itself was shiny and most impressive,

And the downstairs bar was especially inviting.

Then we shared a glass of wine at Grape Creek Vineyards before returning to Austin.  

Rick and Linda are dear friends.  We wish them safe travels and look forward to catching up with them in September when we return to Custer, SD.