2019 Daily Photos

Ring-Necked Duck

12-15-2019....Yesterday afternoon in east Austin. The ring-necked duck is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes. The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin collaris, "of the neck" from collum, "neck". Wikipedia

Hood Ornament

12-14-2019....This is the way they used to make cars. From Heights Car Show in Richardson, Texas.

Roadrunner

12-13-2019....Yesterday morning at Lady Bird WFC. It was 34-degrees and this guy was trying to stay warm.

Pelican Landing at WRL

12-12-2019.....American White Pelican landing at White Rock Lake in Dallas.

Traffic - Coming and Going

12-11-2019....Pennybacker Bridge in Austin. More commonly known as the "360 Bridge," the contract for the bridge was let in late 1979 and major structural steelwork was finished by July 1982. The bridge was dedicated officially November 29, 1982 by Austin mayor Carole McClellan and other public officials and opened for traffic December 3, 1982. The bridge is named for Percy V. Pennybacker Jr., who designed bridges for the Texas Highway Department and was a pioneer in the technology of welded structures.

Milkweed Seed Pod

12-10-2019....Found this last Thursday on our weekly Fauna Survey that we do at Lady Bird WFC. Thought it was interesting.

Path to Family Garden

12-9-2019....This past weekend we did Luminations at Lady Bird WFC. It was a festive night.

Blue Lapis Dance Team

12-8-2019....Same dance team as yesterday’s posting, but this time in different light. They are performing the first 2 weekends in December at Lady Bird WFC in Austin.

Blue Lapis Performance

12-7-2019....Blue Lapis performing at the Great Hall (Lady Bird WFC, Austin). Blue Lapis Light is a site-specific aerial dance company founded by Artistic Director Sally Jacques in 2005. Jacques’ earlier works encompassed social, political, and spiritual themes. These performances have evolved to explore movement through the air. The company has danced on federal buildings, a power plant, inside and outside, bungee jumped over water, and on columns under on the IH35 bridge, on hotels, a bank and on 120’ stacks.

Luminations

12-6-2019....Last night was Opening Night for Luminations at Lady Bird Wildflower Center in Austin. It is a magical event that runs for first 2 weekends in December. BTW....Athena (our Great Horned Owl) has her nest directly above the letter “s” in the word Luminations. She should be back by 1st week in February.

Snow Geese

12-5-2019....Snow Geese at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in North Texas. The Ranger told me they had about 7,000 Geese this year.

Reflections

12-4-2019....Hike & Bike Trail that goes around Lake Lady Bird in Austin.

Great Blue Heron

12-3-2019.....Great Blue Heron fishing at Hagerman NWR in North Texas.

9/11 Memorial - Texas State Cemetery

12-2-2019....Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a memorial in the Texas State Cemetery honoring the Texans who were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and in the military action in Afghanistan that followed. The monument was designed by architect Bob Ogorzaly of O'Connell Robertson and Associates of Austin and paid for with private funds. It features two beams recovered from ground zero at the World Trade Center. The steel beams are each at least 8 feet long and weigh about 1,400 pounds.

Piano Bridge - Dubina, Texas

12-1-2019....This fine old iron bridge was built in 1885 by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Called the “Piano Bridge,” some say the name was derived from the twanging sound made while driving over it. Technically the sound was due to the piano-wire truss design. NOTE: I think bridge designers in 1885 never dreamed of SUV’s driving across this bridge.

The Rower

11-30-2019....Single rower at White Rock Lake in Dallas.

Bath Time

11-29-2019....Black Crested Titmouse taking a bath at Pedernales Falls SP in Texas. Taken at the bird blind they have at park.

Light a Candle

11-28-2019....HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Bigtooth Maple

11-27-2019....Seen at Lady Bird WFC in Austin. Bigtooth maple is one of the most attractive and interesting Texas trees. Native to the sheltered canyons of the Edwards Plateau (these are the maples of Lost Maples State Park), the Lampasas Cut Plains and the high country of the Trans-Pecos, it is a small tree up to 50 feet tall.

State Highway in Texas State Cemetery

11-26-2019....The Texas State Cemetery (TSC) is a cemetery located on about 22 acres (8.9 ha) just east of downtown Austin, the capital of the U.S. state of Texas. This is a state maintained highway through the cemetery. It is 1-lane wide, runs from 7th Street to 11th Street, and speed limit is 10 MPH.

Stephen F Austin Grave

11-25-2019....Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas", and the founder of Texas,[1][2] he led the second, and ultimately, the successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States to the region in 1825.

Grave Marker - Texas State Cemetery

11-24-2019....The Texas State Cemetery (TSC) is a cemetery located on about 22 acres (8.9 ha) just east of downtown Austin, the capital of the U.S. state of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War. Later it was expanded again to include the graves and cenotaphs of prominent Texans and their spouses. It is a popular tourist attraction and colloquially referred to as the "Arlington of Texas" because of the notoriety of those interred and proximity to the seat of government.[1]

American White Pelican has Landed

11-23-2019....Another American White Pelican has landed at White Rock Lake in Dallas.

Mallard Liftoff

11-22-2019....Mallard taking flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas