atomiclauren's Favorites

wide black and white bands on tail; "pointedness" of wing-tips; lack of white barring/checkering on primaries; more solid coloration on upper breast giving way to fairly thick bars on belly (visible in 4th pic)

The native Texas Lantana is a common "understory" shrub in the thorn brush of this region. Blooming abundantly in late October and an important nectar plant for many butterflies.
UPDATE: Added a 4th image to show the spatulate bractlets under the flowers/fruits.

A female was laying eggs in a nest on the side of the house. She laid two eggs on the patio, possibly because we startled her when we went outside. We left her alone once we realized what was happening, and later saw that she had completely covered the nest.

Why No, I'm Not Eating The Cat Food, Why Do You Ask?
I was checking to see if the cat was done eating so I could put the food bowl back up & caught a baby possum helping itself. Got a camera with flash & took a few shots. Here he is caught red handed (red mouthed?)

Nighttime Drama Queen
Photo 1:
Playing Possum
While taking out recyclables at night, I heard something in my backyard. Got my camera, turned on the flash and discovered a small possum foraging in the leaves. I said hello as I took this shot & it promptly fell over and played dead. Complete with the mouth held open in a "death rictus"
Photo 2:
Is She Buying It?
I stayed still & quiet and soon the possum cut its eyes over at me like it was checking to see if I was buying its act.
Photo 3:
Cautiously Getting Up
Very slowly the possum started to get back on its feet.
Photo 4:
Still Showing My Teeth Just In Case
As it began to sit up, the possum kept the death grin going, just in case there was still a threat out there.
Photo 5:
And....I'm Dead Again!
I made the mistake of saying "it's ok baby, I'm not going to hurt you" & the possum promptly flopped over and froze. "Dead" once again. I was chuckling as I went back inside so the little drama queen could go about its business.

One or two Ringtails are frequent visitors to the bird bath at night. I end up with multiple images of them almost every night. They probably have a den in one of several small crevices or caves in the nearby limestone bluff.

While we were away camping at Lost Maples SNA, this mammal was documented on our trail camera back at home on Salton Drive. I'm pretty sure this is a Porcupine. It's bristly and much larger than any of the skunks, opossums, and other small critters that show up at the bird bath at night. First for Salton Drive.

Reminder: This is well within the city limits of Austin in a built-out subdivision with a perennial creek about 30 yards from this site. The species is occasionally seen in urban Austin. Compare the body and facial shape with this observation from South Austin about 5 years ago:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4425987