The thick brush in deep South Texas seems nondescript. Seen from the road at highway speeds, the brush appears monotonous. In reality there are dozens if not hundreds of brushy plant species. I can identify many of these brushy plants, but not all. Most have significant thorns.

One of my goals this past year was to capture various bird species on pretty brushy perches for a photo contest. The earlier drought and then the hard freeze in Texas in February 2021 impacted the flowering of the brush during my photoshoot period. Nevertheless, I still acquired hundreds of shots like the following. These are all of Northern Cardinals.

I hope you enjoy these images, particularly you folks dealing with low temperatures at this time of year.

Bubba

This is from the first night and the male lion we saw after dark. I have never heard a lion full on let out a roar from 20 or so feet away.
It is something I will never forget! Then another answered far off in the distance. Later that night in my tent I was awakened and it sounded like Mr Lion was right under the tent. Tents here were on stilts and my tent was last in the well spread out row of tents and the gal who took me to my tent said many of the animals will pass under to go to the water hole which was just off the deck. Mr Lion was not under the tent I don’t think, but he certainly was close. Then the other replied and it was like that several times during the night. I did not mind being woke up for roaring lion. The elephants were not to be outdone and they had a lot of trumpeting and rumbling to go along with Mr Lion! It sounded very much like a wild kingdom just outside the tent!

So, I would have to say it was close to if not the highlight of the trip.
I have never done photography where they put a bright spot light on the animals. I think these turned out rather well for my first time!