Dahlstrom Ranch Tour

This morning I was happy to be able to tour the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin with Hill Country Conservancy's EPIC group. Here are a few photos I took:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikael_behrens/albums/72157659119977966

Bird highlights included seeing 5 species of hawks soaring overhead from one spot, including south-bound migrating Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Broad-winged Hawk. I also was happy to see my first American Kestrel of the season, a returning winter resident. Here's my eBird list:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25207475

There were many dragonflies in the air, mostly Common Green Darners and Black Saddlebags. There were also a few Wandering Gliders, Red Saddlebags, and Roseate Skimmers. By a couple ponds Twelve-spotted Skimmers were common, and I found one Blue Dasher.

A zebra was an exotic surprise at the end. You never know what you'll see on these central Texas ranches! (A couple years ago I saw a Wildebeest here!)

Attached are my iNaturalist observations.

Posted on 27 September, 2015 23:53 by mikaelb mikaelb

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 10:37 AM CDT

Description

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 10:54 AM CDT

Description

This female was the first American Kestrel I've seen this season, a returning winter resident in central Texas.

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 11:18 AM CDT

Description

Female.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 11:41 AM CDT

Description

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 12:00 PM CDT

Description

Male, with Bitterweed (Helenum amarum) in the background.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 12:03 PM CDT

Description

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 12:35 PM CDT

Description

Male.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lindheimer's Senna (Senna lindheimeriana)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 12:48 PM CDT

Description

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 12:49 PM CDT

Description

Female or teneral male.
Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

Photos / Sounds

What

Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

September 27, 2015 01:05 PM CDT

Description

I swear you never know what you're going to see on these central Texas ranches!

Taken during a Hill Country Conservancy EPIC group tour of the Dahlstrom Ranch just south of Austin.

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