brazos county

Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea: Libellulidae) This beauty measures 4.3-5.1 cm (1.7-2.0 in) long. Hudson Trail Park, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Carter Creek riparian (flood plain) dominated by hackberry/elm/yaupon at ca. 88 m (290 ft) elevation.

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea: Libellulidae) Male, species sexually dimorphic. 4.6-5.5 cm (1.8-2.2 in) long. Photographed in Camelot Park, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Open park setting with scattered oaks, pecan and juniper at ca. 94 m (310 ft) elevation; adjacent to a small...

Pipe-vine Swallowtail (Battus philenor: Papilionidae) Wingspan 7.0-10.2 cm (2.75-4.0 in). Nectaring a cultivated Verbena. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum.

Common Oblique Syrphid Fly (Allograpta obliqua: Syrphidae) This hoverfly measure 6.0-8.5 mm (0.24-0.33 in) long. Photographed perched on Asparagus (Asparagus officials: Asparagaceae). Garden at Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum.

Green Anole also known as the Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis: Dactyloidae) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Males are 15% larger but one needs both sexes side by side to tell this (lol). The male dewlap (throat fan) is three times as large as the females. The males dewlap is pink to...

Southern Grass Leafhopper (Cuema costalis: Cicadellidae) Length 7.7-9.6 mm (0.30-0.38 in). Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum at ca. 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) The smaller male is on the left and top. Just east of Thomas Park, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Riparian dominated by Cedar Elm of a small un-named tributary at ca. 78 m (256 ft) elevation.

Coreid Bug (Hypselonotus punctiventris: Coreidae) Size: 1.0-1.5 cm long. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum at ca. 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Mexican-hat (Ratibida columnifera: Asteraceae) This perennial herb grows to 1.2 m (47.2 in) tall. Ray florets are 1.0-2.0 (-3.5) cm (0.39-0.79 [-1.4 in]) long. Photographed near Milican, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cleared elm/hackberry/oak woods for pastureland around a man-made pond at ca...

Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica: Apidae) Male, species sexually dimorphic. The beige plate between its eyes marks it as a male. They range in size from 1.9-2.3 cm (0.75-0.91 in) long. Guarding its territory from other Carpenter Bees. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County...

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) Just east of Thomas Park, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Riparian dominated by Cedar Elm of a small un-named tributary at ca. 78 m (256 ft) elevation.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens subsp. virescens) Photographed at John Crompton Park, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Remnant riparian dominated by elm/hackberry/yaupon with a small man-made pond Elevation ca. 91 m (300 ft).

Horsefly-like Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tabaniformis subsp. parkinsoniae: Apidae) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Ca. 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long. Visiting Salvia in a garden at Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) First year male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in my backyard, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Open manicured area with Post Oaks (Quercus stellata) at ca. 101 m (330 ft) elevation.

Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oilers: Hesperiidae) Wingspan 2.5-3.5 cm (1.0-1.4 in). Garden at Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Planted garden in surrounding arboretum.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus subsp. vociferus) Sexes similar. This precocial youngster was photographed at Veterans Park, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Open bermuda grass fields (atheletic fields) at ca. 72 m (237 ft) elevation.

Two-faced Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota subsp. ganieri) Bridge over US 290 near Millican, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Peach Creek bottomlands, Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area at ca. 250 ft elevation. Millican April 2016

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota subsp. ganieri) Bridge over US 290 near Millican, Peach Creek bottomlands, Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area at ca. 76 m (250 ft) elevation. Milican, Brazos County, Texas, USA. April 2016

Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicolllis: Arctiidae) Wingspan 3.0-3.7 cm (1.18-1.46 in). Garden at Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation. Photographed on Greggs Mist Flower.

Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica: Apidae) They are sexually dimorphic but you have to see their face to tell, the girls are prettier (lol). Males have a beige plate between their eyes. They range in size from 1.9-2.3 cm (0.75-0.91 in) long. Foraging on Greggs Mist Flower. Garden at...

Happy birding for 2016! I hope you have a healthy, prosperous, and fun 2016. Thank you for viewing and commenting on my posts!!! I know I enjoyed viewing all of the fabulous posts during 2015. Green Metalic Sweat Bee (Agapostemon splendent: Halctidae) 1.0-1.1 cm long. Foraging on a native...

Six-spotted Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus sexmaculatus: Lygaeidae) 1.1-1.3 cm (0.43-0.51 in) long. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Photographed on Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica: Asclepiadaceae). Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

White-tailed Robber Fly (Promachus bastardii: Asilidae) 2.2-2.9 cm (0.87-1.1 in) long. Photographed along Carter Creek Nature Trail, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Carter Creek riparian at ca. 88 m (290 ft) elevation.

Flower Fly (Toxomerus marginatus: Syrphidae) 5-6 mm (0.20-0.24 in) long. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Photographed on Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum: Asteraceae) a low growing native. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.

Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans: Apidae) 1.5-1.9 cm (0.55-0.75 in) long. Male, species sexually dimorphic. Brazos Valley Arboretum, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Cultivated flower garden at ca 91 m (300 ft) elevation.