Richard Moore Outdoor Report: 19th Annual Nature Photography Day

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — South Texas sunrises beckon, from twilight surf flowing inexorably shoreward to ranch country windmill silhouetted as a silent sentinel against burnished sky while coyote chorus greets dawn.

It has been said that life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but rather by those moments that take your breath away…and those breathtaking moments in nature await your appreciation in the wildlands of deep South Texas.

Great blue heron sweeps low across misty waters as aplomado falcon languorously stretches her wings before soaring on morning’s hunt

Every day spent in the outdoors is unique, and there is always something to surprise you, from the magical moment a majestic buck materializes in first light to or thunderous roar of a bull alligator announcing his fearsome presence.

You could spend a lifetime in the Rio Grande Valley wildlands and never see everything nature has to offer. Each day is a gift, with every sunrise offering promise and every moonrise a joy to behold.

Words cannot describe the primordial scene as hundreds of sandhill cranes lift off at sunrise from a sacred sanctuary and clamorous calls of waterfowl boisterously return to ancestral wintering grounds in the land of the yucca.

The remarkable parade of South Texas wildlife is fascinating throughout the year, and you might marvel at a tropical pixie butterfly glistening in rich morning light or see a ground squirrel’s countenance covered in purple prickly pear tuna juice like a kid with a raspa on a hot summer’s day.

Sunday, June 15, is the 19th annual Nature Photography Day, sponsored by the North American Nature Photography Association, and it also happens to be Father’s Day.

Whether it’s in your backyard, a local wildlife refuge, or a park…take a camera to pause and explore your natural world, and you just might experience one of those breathtaking moments.