El Paso: Two Stalkers at a Park

 

A park stalker, in hiding. Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

August 2017

In late evenings, still daylight, I went to Upper Tom Lea Park to try and capture the resident roadrunner in a photo. That mission failed, but one evening, I did happen upon a lovely butterfly, which I proceeded to stalk, as you can see in this video:

"Stalking" is such a harsh word. Let's call it a patient shadowing of a painted lady butterfly. Should you feel so inclined to skip toward the end, you'll see the beautiful detail of its underwing and fluffy, bird-like head, and long, elegant antennae.

Oh yeah, there were ants, too. And did you notice the big E on the mountain?

Here's a fine photo of a painted lady from someone else:

Painted lady butterfly. Credit: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos

As is always the case at Upper Tom Lea Park, there were other things to see, too. Knowing I'd have to say goodbye to one of my favorite El Paso spots soon, I took a couple of pictures of the views looking north instead of my usual south.

Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

Turning south again, I saw that El Paso High School had repainted its athletic field for the coming school year.

View of El Paso High School from Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

View of El Paso High School from Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

And a loving so-long to El Paso's downtown skyline, the Mexican Red X, stacking clouds, and the wide, flat basin that holds millions of families in the sister cities:

View from Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

View from Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

View from Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.

And, oh yes. A second photo of the other patient shadower in the park:

Upper Tom Lea Park, El Paso, Texas. August 2017.