ACTIVITY BY MONTH AT DOS VENADAS

JANUARY
Weather will be cool to cold, with occasional hot days. This is a good time for raptors, mammals and winter birds. Resident and winter birds will be present and in good winter plumage. Some snakes and reptiles will be found on sunny days. Bucks will be in hardened horns and still have swollen necks, but this is the end of the rut and broken horns will be common. There will be some residual rutting activity in the first part of the month. Mammals have their best hair coats in the winter months. Great horned owls are nesting.

FEBRUARY
Weather is variable, usually cool to cold, with occasional hot days. Vegetation is sparse and deer are in their worst body condition of the year. Bucks still have horns, but they are usually bleached and white by now. Resident and winter birds will be in good plumage. It is still too early for most reptiles and amphibians except on sunny days. Yuccas will begin to bloom now and continue through March.

MARCH
March can be quite windy. Days are still cool at times, but warm days are more common. Some wildflowers are emerging. The landscape is beginning to green up and deer are regaining body condition. Bucks are shedding horns and some one-horn deer will be seen. Deer are starting to shed their winter coats and look pretty ratty. The spring migration will be starting, thus there can be an overlap between winter and summer birds.
It is still a little early for reptiles and amphibians. Some brush species will begin blooming in March.

APRIL
The spring green-up is in full swing, with lots of wildflowers and blooming brush. April is usually partly-cloudy and windy, although occasional still and beautiful days do happen. Reptiles and amphibians are beginning to be seen. Insects are more prevalent.

Almost all of the bucks have shed their horns and some early antler growth may be seen. Mid-April to mid-May is the peak of spring migration. Most winter birds are gone. Mammals are shedding or have their summer coats. Some mating activity is being seen. Spring rains are expected in April and May. Prickly pear cactus is in full bloom.

MAY
Does are beginning to look pregnant and bucks are in early antler growth. Coyotes and bobcats may have young by now. Spring migration is still under way in the first part of the month. Summer and resident birds are establishing territories and vocalizing. Some baby birds will already be present. Vegetation is green and some species are still blooming. Insect activity is considerable. Reptiles and amphibians are much more prevalent. Cacti of various types will be blooming. Tarantulas and tortoises are moving.

JUNE
The weather is quite warm by June. The reptiles and amphibians are active. Resident and summer birds are nesting. Predators have their summer hair coats. Many species of plants have fruit now. Bucks are well into antler growth. Insects are active. Skies are less cloudy in June than they were in the spring. The waterholes are very active. June is one of the best photography months of the year.

JULY
We are in full summer now. It will be very hot days from now until the end of September. Water hole photography is at its very best in these months. Bucks have summer hair coats (redder than the winter coats) and are well along on their antler growth. Fawns will be born in July and early August. Many mammals have young now. Fledgling birds are showing up and second nesting attempts starting. Shorebirds may start fall migration in July. Reptiles and amphibians are active. Insect life is abundant. Bird plumage is beginning to look ratty, as post-nuptial molt has started.

JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER IS A VERY HOT TIME IN SOUTH TEXAS. TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 105º WITH HIGH HUMIDITY AND LITTLE WIND. THESE CONDITIONS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND EXTRA CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO AVOID HEAT STROKE!!

AUGUST
Bucks are peaking out in their antler growth. Spotted fawns are becoming active now and will be seen with their mothers. Resident and summer birds are active. Some are raising second broods. Juvenile birds are common. Tortoises are mating. Most vegetation is becoming dry and parched, unless we have rain. Cactus fruits are becoming ripe and offer photo opportunities. Post-breeding dispersal can occur, with unusual bird species showing up at times. Cactus usually still has ample tunas.

SEPTEMBER
Bucks have finished their antler growth and may begin shedding velvet by the end of the month. Fawns are growing and quite active. Most still have spots. Birds are still in molting condition. Butterfly activity is picking up. Fall migration is not as concentrated as spring migration, as they do not have the urgency which characterizes spring migration’s rush to the breeding grounds. Once again, there can be overlap between late-departing summer birds and early-arriving winter birds. Reptiles and amphibians are still quite active. Temperatures are hot.

OCTOBER
This is the peak butterfly month. Most bucks will shed their velvet early this month and fawns will lose their spots. Winter birds will be arriving in large numbers. Not all birds are in full plumage yet. Reptiles and amphibians are still active. Mammals are beginning to grow their winter coats. Deer are shedding their summer coats and beginning to darken in color. Occasional days will have a hint of fall in the air. Some brush species will bloom in the fall, especially following rains.

NOVEMBER
The days are cooler and shorter. Deer have their dark winter coats and bucks are beginning to show signs of neck swelling. Rubs are showing up on trees. Resident and winter birds are active and in great non-breeding plumage. Water hole photography is still good. Most tortoises have denned up, although they may still move around on warm days. Many snakes are still active. Lizards are not as common as they were earlier. Butterfly activity is diminishing.

DECEMBER
Bucks have swollen necks and are beginning to make scrapes. The rut will usually occur in the last 2 weeks of the month and into early January. This is the best month for buck photography and the time to rattle up bucks. Birds are active. Predators are at their very best. Reptiles are only seen on occasional warm days. Horned owls begin nesting. Barn owls nest all year.