Outside the Window

[Old Timer]

I recently returned from a trip to visit my son in West Texas. He lives on a ranch that usually is teeming with wildlife. On this trip however critters were pretty scarce. Here are some of the smaller creatures that ventured into his front yard. All these images were taken trough the window while sitting at the kitchen table. (I am omitting the picture of the rattler he killed on the back porch the first night we were there.)

[AmberC]

Oooh I love the jack rabbit shot and the red eye on that bird is pretty! Great shots!

Amber

[SenorNikonMan]

Nice shots! I guess you used the house as a photo blind then. I've done that too.

That bird with the orange eyes is a Thrasher. They make their nests in prickly pear cactus patches. I guess the thorns don't bother them. We have them here in South Texas too.

I like the jackrabbit shot too. Too bad you didn't see any jackalopes.

[Old Timer]

Thanks guys. I know these aren't up the N&W forum standards but they are what I came home with and wanted to share. Thanks also for the bird ID. I had no idea what it was.

[WesternGuy]

Great images OT. Can you tell me what kind of bird is in the first one? I don't think I have seen anything like that before, at least not around my part of the Great White North. Thanks.

WesternGuy

[SenorNikonMan]

Great images OT. Can you tell me what kind of bird is in the first one? I don't think I have seen anything like that before, at least not around my part of the Great White North. Thanks.

WesternGuy

That's a roadrunner (beep, beep).

[Old Timer]

Great images OT. Can you tell me what kind of bird is in the first one? I don't think I have seen anything like that before, at least not around my part of the Great White North. Thanks.

WesternGuy

The Texan got it right it's a Road Runner. Here is another one that was with it the same day.

[jgredline]

All I want to say is ....Great work!!!!!!!!

[Sushigaijin]

Love the jackrabbit!

As for the rattler killed, any idea on species? western diamondback I hope?

[Old Timer]

No not for sure abut I think we were a little far east for the Western. You snake guys will have to help me on that.

[Speed]

Looks like you did alright for pretty scarce!

Great shots OT. I love the roadrunner (those suckers are fast), and the jackrabbit.

[Old Timer]

Looks like you did alright for pretty scarce!

Great shots OT. I love the roadrunner (those suckers are fast), and the jackrabbit.

Thanks Robert. I wish I had more opportunity to shoot wildlife, but just don't seem to get (or take) the time to put myself in the right situations.

[Sushigaijin]

No not for sure abut I think we were a little far east for the Western. You snake guys will have to help me on that.

can't help ya without a picture

Western diamondbacks are the most common rattlesnake through most of texas, and the populations are healthy enough to sustain some commercial use and human persecution. The only real threat to WDB is den destruction, either by encroachment or intentional destruction (gasoline is popular). Some of the other rattlers have more tenuous grips on existance, but the land-use laws in texas prevent any kind of real protection for snakes.

I'll save the "don't kill snakes!" lecture since it was on his back porch - i can certainly understand why non-snake people would be a bit hasty about removing or killing them, and that wouldn't be a problem if some residents in texas weren't going out of their way to totally eradicate every snake they see. I've seen texans swerve over the median into oncoming traffic on a four lane highway to intentionally run over a snake.

[Knight]

All from behind a window eh , you scared you might meet up with one of those rattlers lol Good series OT

PS : i don't like snakes so i would have been behind the window my whole time there

[paulnj]

Very nice Larry!

BTW, your thrasher is a curve billed thrasher which is a very nice find!

[Old Timer]

Very nice Larry!

BTW, your thrasher is a curve billed thrasher which is a very nice find!

Thank you Paul. I just knew that it was a bird we didn't have here in KY.