What an amazing summer it has been! I have been pursuing Wildlife photography for over ten years now, and I am still making new and exciting discoveries. What a wonderful hobby this is!

This summer has been special with sights and sounds like few others. The long hard drought of 2012 through 2014 is now just a distant memory. The heavy rains of the past two springs and the resulting flooding has changed the landscape in dramatic way. The dynamic was different out in the field this summer. The deck had been reshuffled.

Let’s take a look at some of the rare, unusual, and interesting wildlife that can be found right here in the heart of the DFW Metroplex—the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The Month of May

Piebald Fox Squirell - Carrollton, Texas
Piebald Fox Squirell – Carrollton, Texas
Grass Carp spawning in the shallow waters along the shore of Lewisville Lake.
Grass Carp spawning in the shallow waters along the shore of Lewisville Lake.
Clockwise starting at the top—Franklin's Gull, and early summer Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and a Snowy Egret—Hickory Creek, Texas.
Clockwise starting at the top—Franklin’s Gull, and early summer Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and a Snowy Egret—Hickory Creek, Texas.
Red-bellied Woodpecker with juvenile, Canada Goose with goslings, and a Black Vulture—Hickory Creek, Texas.
Red-bellied Woodpecker with juvenile, Canada Goose with goslings, and a Black Vulture—Hickory Creek, Texas.
Sunrise over Lewisville Lake.  Canada Geese with goslings in shilouette.
Sunrise over Lewisville Lake. Canada Geese with goslings in shilouette.
Texas Spiny Lizard—Carrollton, Texas.
Texas Spiny Lizard—Carrollton, Texas.
White-tailed Deer—Hickory Creek, Texas.
White-tailed Deer—Hickory Creek, Texas.
Wild Turkey—Lewisville Lake.
Wild Turkey—Lewisville Lake.

June and July—You’re getting Warmer

Yellow-crowned Night Herons feeding on prairie crayfish brought to the surface by heavy rains—Carrollton, Texas.
Yellow-crowned Night Herons feeding on prairie crayfish brought to the surface by heavy rains—Carrollton, Texas.
A Fox Squirrel trying to find relief from the summer heat—Carrollton, Texas.
A Fox Squirrel trying to find relief from the summer heat—Carrollton, Texas.
A pair of Bobcat kittens emerging from a storm drain in a Carrollton subdivision.  Their sudden appearance was very upsetting to the resident American Crows.  Mom Bobcat showed up just before sunset.
A pair of Bobcat kittens emerging from a storm drain in a Carrollton subdivision. Their sudden appearance was very upsetting to the resident American Crows. Mom Bobcat showed up just before sunset.
Cooper's Hawks in Carrollton, Texas.  Clockwise from the top—Mom and newly fledged juvenile, the juvenile Cooper's Hawk, the adult male.
Cooper’s Hawks in Carrollton, Texas. Clockwise from the top—Mom and newly fledged juvenile, the juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, the adult male.
A Red-tailed Hawk family in Richardson, Texas.  The two adults are on the left.  The juvenile is on the right.
A Red-tailed Hawk family in Richardson, Texas. The two adults are on the left. The juvenile is on the right.
A pale-colored Red-tailed Hawk—Richardson, Texas.
A pale-colored Red-tailed Hawk—Richardson, Texas.
A whole nest full of baby Scissor-tailed Flycatchers—Lewisville, Texas.
A whole nest full of baby Scissor-tailed Flycatchers—Lewisville, Texas.
Mom flycatcher was keeping a close eye on things from a nearby sign.
Mom flycatcher was keeping a close eye on things from a nearby sign.
A male Wood Duck in Richardson, Texas...
A male Wood Duck in Richardson, Texas…
...and his female companion.
…and his female companion.
American Alligator—Lewisville, Texas
American Alligator—Lewisville, Texas
Many American Alligators call North Texas home.
Many American Alligators call North Texas home.
Barn Swallows collecting nesting materials—Carrollton, Texas.
Barn Swallows collecting nesting materials—Carrollton, Texas.
An American Beaver harvesting a willow branch—Dallas, Texas.
An American Beaver harvesting a willow branch—Dallas, Texas.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks—Dallas, Texas.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks—Dallas, Texas.
A Coyote stopping for a drink on a hot July afternoon—Lewisville, Texas.
A Coyote stopping for a drink on a hot July afternoon—Lewisville, Texas.
Black-crowned Night Herons swimming like Ducks—Dallas, Texas.
Black-crowned Night Herons swimming like Ducks—Dallas, Texas.
Black-crowned Night Heron in flight—Dallas, Texas.
Black-crowned Night Heron in flight—Dallas, Texas.
The Cicada Killer—the three inch long wasp.  Lewisville, Texas
The Cicada Killer—the three inch long wasp. Lewisville, Texas
Sunset over the Trinity River.
Sunset over the Trinity River.
Dead Grass Carp below the Lewisville Lake spillway.
Dead Grass Carp below the Lewisville Lake spillway.
A hatchling Green Anole... maybe two inches long, including the tail.  Carrollton, Texas.
A hatchling Green Anole… maybe two inches long, including the tail. Carrollton, Texas.
A Green Anole snoozing after dark—Carrollton, Texas.
A Green Anole snoozing after dark—Carrollton, Texas.
Little Blue Heron—Lewisville, Texas.
Little Blue Heron—Lewisville, Texas.
Mallards over Lewisville Lake.
Mallards over Lewisville Lake.
Least Tern over Lewisville.  One of my favorite sightings of the summer.
Least Tern over Lewisville. One of my favorite sightings of the summer.
This Least Tern somehow manages to pluck TWO little fish from the water in one dive!
This Least Tern somehow manages to pluck TWO little fish from the water in one dive!
Juvenile Least Terns and a pair of adults (bottom left).  Lewisville, Texas
Juvenile Least Terns and a pair of adults (bottom left). Lewisville, Texas

Least Terns according to Wikipedia

The least tern (Sternula antillarum, formerly Sterna antillarum) is a species of tern that breeds in North America and locally in northern South America. It is closely related to, and was formerly often considered conspecific with, the little tern of the Old World. Other close relatives include the yellow-billed tern and Peruvian tern, both from South America.

It is a small tern, 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) long, with a wingspan of 50 cm (20 in), and weighing 39–52 g (1.4–1.8 oz). The upper parts are a fairly uniform pale gray, and the underparts white. The head is white, with a black cap and line through the eye to the base of the bill, and a small white forehead patch above the bill; in winter, the white forehead is more extensive, with a smaller and less sharply defined black cap. The bill is yellow with a small black tip in summer, all blackish in winter. The legs are yellowish. The wings are mostly pale gray, but with conspicuous black markings on their outermost primaries. It flies over water with fast, jerky wingbeats and a distinctive hunchback appearance, with the bill pointing slightly downward.

It is migratory, wintering in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. Many spend their whole first year in their wintering area. It has occurred as a vagrant to Europe, with one record in Great Britain.

The least tern arrives at its breeding grounds in late April. The breeding colonies are not dense and may appear along either marine or estuarine shores, or on sandbar islands in large rivers, in areas free from humans or predators. Courtship typically takes place removed from the nesting colony site, usually on an exposed tidal flat or beach. Only after courtship has confirmed mate selection does nesting begin by mid-May and is usually complete by mid-June. Nests are situated on barren to sparsely vegetated places near water, normally on sandy or gravelly substrates. In the southeastern United States, many breeding sites are on white gravel rooftops.[7] In the San Francisco Bay region, breeding typically takes place on abandoned salt flats. Where the surface is hard, this species may use an artificial indentation (such as a deep dried footprint) to form the nest basin.

The nest density may be as low as several per acre, but in San Diego County, densities of 200 nests per acre have been observed. Most commonly the clutch size is two or three, but it is not rare to consist of either one or four eggs. Both female and male incubate the eggs for a period of about three weeks, and both parents tend the semiprecocial young. Young birds can fly at age four weeks. After formation of the new families, groupings of birds may appear at lacustrine settings in proximity to the coast. Late-season nesting may be renests or the result of late arrivals. In any case, the bulk of the population has left the breeding grounds by the end of August.

Pinkie Norway Rats—Carrollton, Texas.
Pinkie Norway Rats—Carrollton, Texas.
Paper Wasp in Lewisville, Texas.
Paper Wasp in Lewisville, Texas.
Raccoon—Lewisville, Texas.
Raccoon—Lewisville, Texas.
A Raccoon family patrolling Lewisville, Texas.
A Raccoon family patrolling Lewisville, Texas.
Juvenile Raccoons playing in the water.
Juvenile Raccoons playing in the water.
Red-winged Blackbird—Lewisville, Texas.
Red-winged Blackbird—Lewisville, Texas.
White-tailed Deer&mkdash;Lewisville, Texas.
White-tailed Deer—Lewisville, Texas.
Fence jumping deer.
Fence jumping deer.
A heron roost in Lewisville, Texas with a bit of a surprise...
A heron roost in Lewisville, Texas with a bit of a surprise…
...a rare White-faced Ibis in the mix.
…a rare White-faced Ibis in the mix (top).

The really oppressive heat of a normal North Texas summer left us for good in mid-August—the result of a series of truly unusual weather patterns. In its wake was a short pre-autumn season of beautiful and accommodating weather. I love that hint of fall in the air—you feel it when the sunlight is still strong, but the air around you has cooled and is no longer stifling. Its a magical time of the year, and we got it early this season—a kind of reverse indian summer. The result was a season full of wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. It was as good as it gets!

An August Cool Down

Migrating Black Terns—Lewisville, Texas.
Migrating Black Terns—Lewisville, Texas.
Black Terns flying with the Lewisville Least Terns.
Black Terns flying with the Lewisville Least Terns.
A huge Black and Yellow Garden Spider—Dallas, Texas
A huge Black and Yellow Garden Spider—Dallas, Texas
Black-necked Stilts with a Great Egret—Dallas, Texas.
Black-necked Stilts with a Great Egret—Dallas, Texas.
Migrating Common Nighthawks over The Colony, Texas.
Migrating Common Nighthawks over The Colony, Texas.
A Feral Hog with a pair of Great Egrets.  The hog is being followed by a group of White-faced Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
A Feral Hog with a pair of Great Egrets. The hog is being followed by a group of White-faced Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
A family of Feral Hogs working their way along the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
A family of Feral Hogs working their way along the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
Green Tree Frog—Dallas, Texas.
Green Tree Frog—Dallas, Texas.
Roseate Spoonbills conducting a downtown Dallas flyby.
Roseate Spoonbills conducting a downtown Dallas flyby.
Roseate Spoonbills feeding with White Ibis and a Tricolored Heron.  Dallas, Texas
Roseate Spoonbills feeding with White Ibis and a Tricolored Heron. Dallas, Texas
A Roseate Spoonbill in the midst of a congregation of hundreds of Great Egrets.  Dallas, Texas
A Roseate Spoonbill in the midst of a congregation of hundreds of Great Egrets. Dallas, Texas
Roseate Spoonbills joined by a lone White Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
Roseate Spoonbills joined by a lone White Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
Roseate Spoonbills in flight over Dallas, Texas.
Roseate Spoonbills in flight over Dallas, Texas.
Look at all that pink!
Look at all that pink!
White Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
White Ibis—Dallas, Texas.
One adult and two juvenile White Ibises—Dallas, Texas.
One adult and two juvenile White Ibises—Dallas, Texas.
A nice mix of exotic birds...  White Ibises (left), White-faced Ibises (right), and Great Egrets (foreground).  Dallas, Texas
A nice mix of exotic birds… White Ibises (left), White-faced Ibises (right), and Great Egrets (foreground). Dallas, Texas
An American Avocet in front of a large congregation of wading birds—Dallas, Texas.
An American Avocet in front of a large congregation of wading birds—Dallas, Texas.
Pileated Woodpecker in the Trinity River bottomlands.
Pileated Woodpecker in the Trinity River bottomlands.

The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is rich with surprisingly unique, exotic, and interesting wildlife. In spite of the ever increasing urban sprawl, there has been a counter-intuitive increase in the number and variety of wild animals over the last several decades.

What accounts for this amazing change? There are a number of important factors. Attitudes about urban wildlife are different now. Acceptance and tolerance have replaced “Let’s shoot it” as our first best option. That alone is an important step forward.

Changes in land use have also occurred. Ranches and farms are giving way to suburbia, but in many municipalities, certain parcels are being set aside as parks or allowed to remain wild. This is a magnificant development!

Finally—and possibly most importantly—people in urban areas surround themselves with abundance. Our native wildlife gladly leverages this bounty for its own good. Many urban animals live longer healthier lives and produce larger and more successful litters than do their more rural cousins.

In 1968 the land north of Lewisville Lake along US380 was mostly an open floodplain with forested areas generally confined to proximity with the river.  Today the entire area is covered in dense forest and wetland vegetation.
In 1968 the land north of Lewisville Lake along US380 was mostly an open floodplain with forested areas generally confined to proximity with the river. Today the entire area is covered in dense forest and wetland vegetation.
Here's hows things look on the ground.
Here’s hows things look on the ground.
Denton wetlands.
Denton wetlands.

The crosstimbers of urban North Texas call to me like no other place on the map. These forests can be sparse and they can be dirty. They always reflect the close proximity of humanity—there is always sign to be sensed. Discarded or lost trinkets. Trash—bottles and plastic bags. Jet airliners over head or the constant drone of automobiles on the highway. But there is much more to these woods than this.

I don’t know exactly why, but I love the forest and wild places around the metroplex. There are places in this city that are isolated and forgotten. These woods are rarely visited by the presence of people even though they are surrounded by millions. These are the special places—true wildernesses with unbelievably amazing things to be found within. There is a bounty and richness of wildlife in the woods of North Texas that would surprise most. The most exotic wildlife in all of Texas can be found right here in Dallas/Fort Worth!

September Surprises

Male and female American Kestrels—Richardson, Texas.
Male and female American Kestrels—Richardson, Texas.
White-tailed Deer with fawn in Denton, Texas.
White-tailed Deer with fawn in Denton, Texas.
Denton Deer
Denton Deer
A second fawn.
A second fawn.
Fleeing for the woods!
Fleeing for the woods!
Phil standing in a spot where the deer had been bedding in the tall, soft grass.
Phil standing in a spot where the deer had been bedding in the tall, soft grass.
Feral Hog skull—Denton, Texas.
Feral Hog skull—Denton, Texas.
Feral Hog piglets.  Mom fled when she was flushed leaving these four little guys behind momentarily.  They soon followed after her—Denton, Texas.
Feral Hog piglets. Mom fled when she was flushed leaving these four little guys behind momentarily. They soon followed after her—Denton, Texas.
Hundreds of egrets following the Trinity River at dawn.  Dallas, Texas
Hundreds of egrets following the Trinity River at dawn. Dallas, Texas
Sunrise over the Trinity River bottoms.
Sunrise over the Trinity River bottoms.
Early morning starts reward you with sights like this one.  Dallas, Texas
Early morning starts reward you with sights like this one. Dallas, Texas
River Otter—Dallas, Texas
River Otter—Dallas, Texas
A few of the 400 plus Wood Storks that spend late summer along the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
A few of the 400 plus Wood Storks that spend late summer along the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
An adult Wood Stork (left) with a juvenile (right).  Dallas, Texas
An adult Wood Stork (left) with a juvenile (right). Dallas, Texas
Southern Copperhead—Dallas, Texas
Southern Copperhead—Dallas, Texas
Exotic wading birds of the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
Exotic wading birds of the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.
Great Blue Herons sparring over a fish—Dallas, Texas.
Great Blue Herons sparring over a fish—Dallas, Texas.
A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron swimming like a duck.  Cormorants in the background.  Dallas, Texas
A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron swimming like a duck. Cormorants in the background. Dallas, Texas
Crested Caracara—Dallas, Texas.
Crested Caracara—Dallas, Texas.
Roseate Spoonbills in a lake full of wading birds.  Dallas, Texas
Roseate Spoonbills in a lake full of wading birds. Dallas, Texas
Roseate Spoonbills
Roseate Spoonbills
One adult and two juveniles.
One adult and two juveniles.
Roseate Spoonbills just a few short miles from downtown Dallas.
Roseate Spoonbills just a few short miles from downtown Dallas.
A pair of Northern Two-striped Walking Sticks.  The male is decidedly smaller than the female.  Dallas, Texas
A pair of Northern Two-striped Walking Sticks. The male is decidedly smaller than the female. Dallas, Texas
Sunrise in the Great Trinity Forest—Dallas, Texas.
Sunrise in the Great Trinity Forest—Dallas, Texas.
A rare Three-toed Box Turtle found in Lewisville, Texas.
A rare Three-toed Box Turtle found in Lewisville, Texas.
A September sunset in Richardson, Texas.
A September sunset in Richardson, Texas.

There is no more appropriate way to end a summer of extraordinary wildlife observations than with a sighting of the extremely rare Swallow-tailed Kite. My good friend, eagle-eyed Phil Plank, made this exciting discovery in Flower Mound, Texas—a place where these kites have never before been documented. A rare bird seen in an unexpected location—it doesn’t get any better than that if you ask me! Nice work, Phil!

Phil Plank's exciting find—A Swallow-tailed Kite over Flower Mound, Texas.
Phil Plank’s exciting find—A Swallow-tailed Kite over Flower Mound, Texas.

A few days later I managed my own shots of this wonderful bird, including this sequence of the kite snatching a dragonfly out of midair. Awesome!

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swallow-tailedkite06

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Here’ is how Wikipedia describes the wonderful Swallow-tailed Kite…

The swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) is an elanid kite which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. Most North and Central American breeders winter in South America where the species is resident year round. It was formerly named Falco forficatus.

The species is 50 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 1.12–1.36 m (3.7–4.5 ft). Male and female individuals appear similar. The body weight is 310–600 g (11–21 oz). The body is a contrasting deep black and white. The flight feathers, tail, feet, bill are all black. Another characteristic is the elongated, forked tail at 27.5–37 centimetres (10.8–14.6 in), hence the name swallow-tailed. The wings are also relatively elongated, as the wing chord measures 39–45 cm (15–18 in). The tarsus is fairly short for the size of the bird at 3.3 cm (1.3 in).

Young swallow-tailed kites are duller in color than the adults, and the tail is not as deeply forked.

Swallow-tailed kites inhabit mostly woodland and forested wetlands near nesting locations. Nests are built in trees, usually near water. Both male and female participate in building the nest.

Sometimes a high-pitched chirp is emitted, though the birds mostly remain silent.

The swallow-tailed kite feeds on small reptiles, such as snakes and lizards. It may also feed on small amphibians such as frogs; large insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets; small birds and eggs; and small mammals including bats. It has been observed to regularly consume fruit in Central America. It drinks by skimming the surface and collecting water in its beak.

Mating occurs from March to May, with the female laying 2 to 4 eggs. Incubation lasts 28 days, and 36 to 42 days to fledge.

Swallow-tailed kites are not listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government in the United States. They are listed as endangered by the state of South Carolina and as threatened by the state of Texas. They are listed as “rare” by the state of Georgia. Destruction of habitats is chiefly responsible for the decline in numbers. A key conservation area is the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.

4 Replies to “A Summer of Extraordinary Urban Wildlife – 2016”

  1. WOW! I was riveted by every photo. Wonderful! I came down to The Colony from the shoreline of SE Connecticut 10 years ago by myself, and I have missed living, as i did, by a small woods and seeing countless varieties of birds that entranced me. Could you share how to access locations where some of these DFW photos were taken? I very much want to see these avians and mammals for myself; there is so much beauty and wonder out there…. Thank you so much.

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