Winter Vetch

A legume native to Europe and Asia, farmers in the US plant it in between crops.

Wikipedia explains that the crop can balance nitrogen in the soil.

Archer County.

Hawk and Nest

A young Red-tailed hawk works on her nest.

View Wikisource's article by John James Audubon for more information about Red-tailed Hawks.

Great Egret

     See Wikipedia's article to read about interesting information about the Great Egret. I particularly enjoy the image below for the presence of the female mallard swimming in the middle of the scene. This is a composite image of the same egret, who stood patient as can be while an awkward human stumbled under the brush across the pond, attempting to approach (stealthily) for a a closer snapshot.

Bullock's Orioles and Nest

 

 
    Very nice article written for Wikipedia about the Bullock's Oriole. Spotted nearby, the Baltimore Oriole, too. Archer County.

Bobwhite and Flower

Green Heron Nesting

     Green herons are quiet, nocturnal (unless feeding their young) creatures of God, preferring to spend time by themselves. They have been seen dropping insects on the surface of the water to attract fish, which they then attempt to catch. Nice article in Wikipedia about them. Archer County.

Ibises

   
    The White-faced Ibis nests in marshes with dense growth. After a drought, this marsh in Archer County flourished with various invertebrates and crayfish, providing a good nesting site.
 
     I love the colors of this image.

Lark Buntings

    They gather in large flocks in prairies, meadows, and around cattle pens and ponds.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology mentions that it is the only sparrow that changes its plumage from winter to breeding. Archer County.

Purple Bloom Cactus

Young Bluebird

    Spotted among the brushy plants, juvenile bluebirds (Eastern). In flashes of brilliant blue reflecting under the sun, adult bluebirds flew above us and past us.
    The juvenile bluebirds are distinctive in their spotted chest and back, with the one pictured above showing a bit of blue emerging on his tail.

Garlic Blooming

Fly on a Passionflower

Bee on a Holly Hock

Mourning Doves at Noon on a Fence

Cliff Swallow in a Nest

Turkey Vultures

Great Horned Owl Family

Upland Sandpipers

Dickcissels Everywhere

     Prolific along Britton Lane, common as pig tracks, as they used to say. Loud, constant, everywhere, their song skeedles chis chis chis played all around me.

Update: More pictures.

Poppy Mallow

     In her book, Wildflowers of Texas, Geyata Ajilbsgi writes that Native Americans cook the root of the poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), as a source for food. In addition, the root, when burned to create smoke, could be inhaled to relieve symptoms of a head cold.