I had never seen a hummingbird take a bath. For that matter, I had never seen a Black-Chinned Hummingbird in my life. Yesterday this “lifer” for me gave quite the show. While a hummingbird feeder was near by, I ignored it to watch some running water. In the Texas Hill Country, the “almost desert environment” means water attracts.

It took a few seconds for my brain to register that a hummingbird was hovering above the water. Then to my delight, it repeatedly made bathing trips followed by grooming in a tree. Here is a sequence of images … in a sense … a double lifer event!

Not sure about this bird’s name … its throat looks metallic purple to me!

Black-Chinned Hummingbird Taking a Bath

Scored the trifecta … biking, birding and boozing! The weather has been perfect since Molly and I arrived in the Hill Country. Yesterday I cycled 31 miles and my camera was always present. One stop was the Chisholm Trail Winery where we had a nice cool glass of Pinot Grigio! As much as a second glass of vino might have tasted wunderbar (or even a third), one is our limit when on the bicycle. For those of you who live in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area (I don’t), there is a monthly beer and birds get together!!!

While leaving the winery I saw this Crested Caracara taking supper home to the spouse!

In the morning, I bicycled over to Lady Bird Johnson Park and hiked along Live Oak Creek which is where I found these birds, and of course … Bluebonnets!

Mockingbird

Cardinal

Field Sparrow

White-Winged Dove