Half the year is gone and the long, hot panhandle summer has settled in. The heat is not quite as hellish as it was last week, but it still pretty warm and very dry. We’re supposed to get a break next week–hope it pans out.

I’ve been out birding daily except for the two days a week that I have to be at work early. I’ve seen and photographed lots of birds, but unfortunately, nothing new since the Spotted Sandpiper and the Black-crowned Night-Heron in early June. We’re going to North Texas next week for a reunion. Maybe I’ll be able to get some new photos there. I’ve not had a bad year, though. I’ve counted 137 different species of birds, most of them in Hutchinson County.

Here’s a few pics from the last week. I’ve included a few of some of the wildflowers that grow around here.

A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher eyeballs breakfast.

Ash-throated Flycatcher.

Green Heron

Blue Grosbeak

Peek-a-boo with a Northern Cardinal

Juvenile Orchard Oriole

Common Yellowthroat

A Painted Bunting singing to the morning.

Wildflowers

Bird food

More photographs in the galleries