July in the Davis Mountains

For the last three years, my wife and I have gone to the Davis Mountains of west Texas for a week-long summer retreat.  While the temperatures hovered close to 100-degrees in south Texas, the mountain air was refreshingly cool throughout the July trip.  Of course, I had my camera gear along and used it every day to capture hummingbirds, foxes, mountains scenes and wildlife.

Here are several images I hope you will enjoy.  Don’t forget to click on an image to make it enlarge and sharpen for better viewing.

Aoudad Sheep, ewe on hillside near Fort Davis, Texas
Aoudad Sheep, ewe on hillside near Fort Davis, Texas

While eating breakfast one morning and watching for wildlife on the hills out the back window, I spotted a herd of approximately 13 aoudad sheep ewes and lambs grazing on the mountainside.

Aoudad Sheep, ewe on Davis Mountain hillside near Fort Davis, Texas
Aoudad Sheep grazing near several sotol plants.

By adding a 1.4 X tele-extender behind my 500 mm IS lens, the magnification was improved significantly for the sheep photos.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, male feeding at salvia flowers, Davis Mountains, Texas
Black-chinned Hummingbird, male feeding at salvia flowers, Davis Mountains, Texas
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird male with purple gorget.

Although there were only about 8 hummingbirds around the house, most were males and I had a lot of fun working them at the multi-flash setup.  All the birds were black-chinned hummingbirds.

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird male in flight.
Full moon and agave
Full moon and agave

Century plants (agaves) were in full bloom at mid-July.

Agaves in bloom, Davis Mountains, Tx
Agaves in bloom, Davis Mountains, Tx.

Just after sunrise, I captured this scene with clouds and century plants (agaves) along the roadside near McDonald Observatory.

Davis Mountains and agave in bloom, Texas, July
Davis Mountains and agave in bloom, Texas, July

I used HDR toning while processing the photo above.

Scott's Oriole, male in agave flowers, Davis Mountains, Texas
Scott’s Oriole, male in agave flowers, Davis Mountains, Texas

This Scott’s Oriole fed among the agave blooms for several days at our residence near Fort Davis.

Scott's Oriole, male on agave bloom.
Scott’s Oriole, male on agave bloom.

Alerted by this bird’s distinctive call (the windows were always open so we could enjoy the cool breeze), I simply sneaked out of the house and photographed him from under the edge of the porch roof.

Gray Fox strolling across the hillside behind the house where we stayed.
Gray Fox strolling across the hillside behind the house where we stayed.

A long-time resident pair of gray foxes came by the house each afternoon at sunset, looking for a handout (usually weenies).

Gray Fox, Davis Mountains
Gray Fox, Davis Mountains

The 70-200 Canon lens with 1.4 tele-extender on the Canon 1D Mark IV body, hand held.

Gray Fox in grassland, Davis Mts, Texas
Gray Fox in grassland, Davis Mts, Texas
Gray Fox in side oats gramma grassland, Davis Mountains, Texas
Gray Fox appears from behind the sideoats grama, Davis Mountains, Texas.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the chance to do this again next year.

Larry