My Favorite Things through the Four Seasons: Autumn

Autumn 2024

John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019

For me, in my youth, I always began thinking of autumn as something in relation to football and Thanksgiving. Now as an adult and birder, the season begins with migration in August. On the morning of the 16^th a steady stream of Upland Sandpipers called above on their journey south. It was as if they were attempting to pull the sun lower in the sky and shorten the days toward autumn behind each subsequent wave.

Then as October hit its mid-point, it seemed everyday was near a record high temperature and summer’s firm grip would not relinquish. Then on the morning of the 25^th, after a front, the sky before sunrise had that clearer hue that seems to accompany the clearer and dryer air. Leaves were falling in their last living act which would serve to give life to others below. Sitting on the granite rocks at Oak Point with Jess, we felt the warmth of the sun off the rocks and the cool air over the water. Was autumn here?

As the month ended, it was the hottest on record and 9^th driest. October is usually cooler and has the second highest amount of precipitation on average. It was hard to believe that it was autumn when it did not feel like it. One must also await that period between the start of meteorological and astronomical winter before the landscape dresses accordingly for autumn.  Whatever the season may feel and however tardy it may be, these are some of my favorite things from autumn 2024.

9/27/24- Dotted Gayfeather at sunrise at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. It peaks from August-October.

11/24/24- I attempted to capture the autumn color on this leaf multiple times in the image through various methods. I think I just got lucky with a .5 second shutter speed and a big gust of wind at the right moment. Russell Creek Park in Plano.

11/26/24- While visiting my sister around Thanksgiving, we visited the Waco Wetlands where we got a lifer with the Lark Buntings.

11/28/24- While on a walk with Jessica on Thanksgiving we saw this white-tailed buck in McKinney.

12/1/24- A Great Egret with the sunrise reflecting the autumn color on the water at Russell Creek Park.

12/2/24- Bald Cypress seed pods at Russell Creek Park.

12/3/24- Unfortunately, I was not able to capture any ducks this year with the autumn color reflection. However, I did manage to capture this American Coot at Russell Creek Park.

12/3/24- Eastern Bluebird at Russell Creek Park.

12/8/24- After the rain around home.

12/8/24- A Red-shouldered Hawk at Bonnie Wenk Park in McKinney.