Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Sunrise Revelations

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — You just never know what sunrise will reveal in the South Texas ranch country, or which sendero to take with dawn’s first light.

Following the call of bobwhite quail sounds like a good plan, and this pair starts the day with a leisurely drink from a favorite pond.

Nearby, two ground doves soundlessly slip in for an early morning sip, their soft brown feathering blending in with moist earth and reflected in copper-hued tranquil water.

With slightly quivering ears alert for any hint of danger, this cottontail rabbit eagerly laps tepid water while keeping constant vigil.

Suddenly, the bunny scampers away as just across the pond crouches a bobcat with searing yellow-gold eyes.

With the feline’s departure, wildlife begins returning and as this mourning dove surveys its surroundings with a glistening dark eye another boldly bathes, stretching wings skyward while savoring cooling dampness.

Meanwhile, sequestered in cloaking shadows at the pond's edge an impressive stack of leopard frogs voices their contented croaking, that is until a great egret arrives and begins stalking the suddenly silent froggy lair.

Throughout the day, a parade of wildlife flows to and from the ranch country oasis, and this doe and fawn emerge in the late afternoon to slake their thirst before venturing out for evening browse.

As shadows lengthen, there’s still time for a leisurely bath, and this painted bunting refreshingly adds a splash of color to the old waterhole as does a bright orange hooded oriole and then a final sip for quail.

The evening oasis now belongs to a squadron of collared peccaries as a dozen thirsty javelinas jostle for position.

From collared peccaries to painted buntings, sooner or later all wildlife ventures to water, and depending on what road you travel and what oasis you visit, you might encounter six feet of slithering diamondback slipping in to set up pond side for a nocturnal ambush.