Confessions of a Nature Lover

Early Bloomers

2010-03-26T11:27:00.006-05:00

I took a short walk this cool March morning and found a few early bloomers....

Goodbye Winter Birds

2010-03-22T08:20:00.011-05:00

My blog entries indicate that I am most excited by the prospect of changing seasons. But when the change occurs it is often tumultuous and jarring. Part of me regrets enjoying the comforts of my indoor space while nature was left out there, unexplored. What glorious winter experiences have I missed because of this seasonal aversion? Another part longs for sunshine and sweat, shorts and watermelon slices.

I do know that I will miss the winter birds. I will miss the gregarious cedar waxwing's winter berry indulgences, the incessant chirps of the yellow-rumped warbler, and the cautious but inquisitive swamp sparrow. Happy migrating, little birds!

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Swamp Sparrow

Winter Birding

2010-02-14T14:46:00.006-06:00

I've decided to come clean with you, dear reader. Winter birding is just not for me. Here's what I mean:

From this graph you can see as the temperature rises I tend to enjoy birding much more. However, enjoyment tends to level off in the 70º to 90º range, and sharply declines at temperatures above 100º. It's all very scientific, really. And it explains my long period of zero blog entries.

I'd like to be outside more often, but I'm afraid this isn't going to happen until the weather begins to cooperate. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from the last few months....

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-09T09:33:00.001-06:00

Another Quote, If I May

2009-12-07T21:12:00.005-06:00

"Watch any plant or animal and let it teach you acceptance of what is; surrender to the now. Let it teach you being. Let it teach you integrity, which means to be one, to be yourself, to be real."

~ Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now

Giving Thanks

2009-11-25T20:33:00.005-06:00

"If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends, and nature; and the greatest of these, at least the most constant and always at hand, is nature."

~ John Burroughs

Something New

2009-11-15T05:45:00.020-06:00

Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla

A foggy Friday morning. Binoculars cleverly harnessed. Camera slung shoulder side. Pen and waterproof notepad in hand.

Lengthening my inhalations and exhalations, I gaze out onto a small pond. The tall marshy green and brown reeds contrast with the dark unbroken surface of the water. The stillness is mesmerizing. Just how I like it.

Softly walking, I listen. Lured by sounds, I push further, into undergrowth. A dainty deer trail emerges and I find myself next to a body of water I've never noticed before. Surrounded on all sides by dense foliage, I feel a sense of complete isolation. Bird sounds are all around me now; I firmly grasp my binoculars as I whip my head around trying to see them all. Then I gasp. A black-crowned night heron -- a lifer!

Species List

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Black-crowned Night Heron*

Black Vulture

Accipiter sp.

American Coot

Killdeer

Least Sandpiper

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

American Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

European Starling

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Common Grackle

House Finch

House Sparrow

Dew

2009-11-06T09:54:00.012-06:00

Glittering across the landscape,

like 10,000 tiny fallen stars.

Clinging, clinging, clinging.

Like time and life, evaporating.

Dew drenched web

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata

Sleepy Orange - Abaies nicippe

A feeling.

2009-11-03T19:17:00.003-06:00

Red-bellied woodpecker perched.

Red-bellied woodpecker fleeing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I did yoga twice yesterday. I haven't had to do that in a while. I know when I need to. Something inside me commands it. And I listen.

As I write this I hear soothing acoustic guitar chords floating up from a nearby patio. This is the first time I've heard this here. I enjoy it. I'm doing yoga to the sound of the music now. And somehow this feeling is identical to being sheathed in nature, enveloped in trees and grass, covered by water.

Rich

2009-11-02T20:47:00.011-06:00

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things

which he can afford to let alone."

~ Henry David Thoreau

Isn't it interesting how nature takes only what it needs, and nothing more.

It doesn't resist. It flows effortlessly.

I respect that.

White-tailed deer

Lincoln's Sparrow

Little Blue Heron

2009-10-25T16:06:00.009-05:00

Sunrise over Pond 1 East

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea

Friday morning found me making another trip to Hornsby Bend. This time I spent about 4 wonderful hours looking for birds and wildlife. It was a gorgeous morning and I ended up with a nice list of species, including some lifers*!

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-breasted Cormorant

Great Egret

Little Blue Heron

Cattle Egret

Turkey Vulture

Accipiter sp.

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Killdeer

American Avocet

Least Sandpiper

Rock Pigeon

Morning Dove

Northern Flicker*

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Easter Phoebe

Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet*

Eastern Bluebird

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler*

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

House Sparrow

Birds and Spiders

2009-10-20T08:47:00.011-05:00

Spent a little time yesterday evening enjoying the birds and spiders at Hornsby Bend....

Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia

Northern Shoveler and American Coot

Orbweaver

Birds Seen or Heard:

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Pied-Billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Cattle Egret

White-faced Ibis

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Crested Caracara

American Coot

Killdeer

American Avocet

Spotted Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Carolina Chickadee

European Starling

Northern Cardinal

Great-tailed Grackle

Changes

2009-10-18T12:00:00.019-05:00

Brushy Creek Lake Park is more ordinary these days. The flood gauge shows a drop of 10 feet from 6 days ago. Unfortunately, the likelihood of prehistoric crocodiles emerging from the bloated waters has declined as well.

Double-crested Cormorants have replaced Great Egrets as the most prevalent bird on the water. The large flocks of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers seem to have moved on. Beautyberries are bursting with purple fruits. Cool southeast winds pull brown leaves from trees. Far away planets hurdle elliptically through space.

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos

American Beautyberry - Callicarpa americana

Tricolored Heron, juvenile - Egretta tricolor

The Big Sit

2009-10-13T09:38:00.008-05:00

Big Sit in the Cold Wind on Flickr

Taken by Henry Kight

The Big Sit was a Big Success! The weather was cold and rainy, but that didn't stop our team from enjoying each other, the birds, and being outdoors. 12 people were in the circle throughout the day and we tallied a total of 45 species. Here's our list:

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

Chimney Swift

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Cave Swallow

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Black-crested Titmouse

Carolina Wren

House Wren

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Lark Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Indigo Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Television

2009-10-12T06:46:00.001-05:00

"When I was a child, more than seventy years ago, there was no television and

no internet to trap me in front of electronic screens. Instead I spent hours

watching birds and insects in our garden, and reading books."

Jane Goodall ~ Hope for Animals and Their World

Bird Watching the Lazy Way - Join Us!

2009-10-09T09:32:00.018-05:00

This Sunday I'll be sitting in a collapsable chair inside a 17 foot circle watching and listening for birds. Our team will be keeping track of all the birds we see and hear, just like dozens of teams around the world. This annual event is called The Big Sit, and it's been likened to a tailgate party for birders.

The object is to sit inside the circle for 24 hours and tally as many bird species seen or heard as possible. Anything seen outside the circle doesn't count. In order to see a high number of birds, the circle should ideally have views of different types of habitat. My boyfriend has picked a great spot for his neighborhood circle, and you can read more about the event on his blog.

Please feel free to join us if you are in the area. We'll have some light refreshments and plenty of bottled water.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk seen in the area of our circle

Flooding

2009-10-05T14:57:00.009-05:00

I went to jog early yesterday morning and found my neighborhood trail completely submerged. The change was quite shocking, almost jurassic. I fully expected a nothosaur to waddle out of the water. Or a dive-bombing pterodactyl. Instead I found a few people blankly staring at the deluge, perhaps also contemplating the mercurial aspects of nature.

I wonder if it will keep raining. I wonder how high the creek will rise. I wonder if dinosaurs lived here once.

Big Bend and the Chisos Basin

2009-10-03T21:08:00.019-05:00

This was the first of many collared peccaries, or javelinas, we spotted on our trip. The hairy beast seemed to hardly notice our presence but eventually must have picked up our scent -- the hair on its back started to rise.

Dickcissel found on Highway 118 on the way to Terlingua.

View from our Chisos Basin camp in Big Bend National Park.

The Sierra del Carmen white-tailed deer are found no where else in the world. We found a few grazing in the Chisos Basin campground.

We discovered lots of Black bear scat on the Window Trail. Two groups of hikers reported bear sightings on the trail the same day we hiked, but we weren't as fortunate.

A Blue Grosbeak is chased by a hummingbird on the Window Trail.

Hal, the Carolina Anole

2009-09-30T08:34:00.006-05:00

The Anolis carolinensis, also known as the Carolina anole, green anole, American anole, or red-throated anole, is native to North America and chooses to reside in the southeastern parts of the continent. Hal chooses to reside on my balcony.

Healthy anoles are bright green and Hal is in very good shape. For several minutes I watch him lithely court a giant fly. I admire his tiny body, the way it moves, the many postures it takes. Every action seems purposeful, authentic, efficient.

Next time I'll invite him in for tea.

Easy Morning

2009-09-25T14:23:00.003-05:00

Made a quick trip to Champion Park this morning to enjoy the cooler weather everyone has been talking about.

Great Egret

Ashe Juniper berries

Black-crested Titmouse

Cottonwood Campground

2009-09-20T09:30:00.015-05:00

Cottonwood Campground is a relaxing shady area near the Rio Grande on the west side of Big Bend National Park. It has a reputation among birders, and for good reason. The birds were very active the morning we visited and it was an exciting experience. We heard a Grey hawk vocalize several times and followed it as it flew from tree to tree. Wilson's warblers and Black-throated sparrows were also quite abundant.

Grey Hawk - Buteo nitidus

Wilson's Warbler - Wilsonia pusilla

Black-throated Sparrow - Amphispiza bilineata

Cedar Breaks Park

2009-09-18T14:09:00.013-05:00

Cedar Breaks is a scenic park in south Georgetown. It boasts many trails, including a 16 mile wooded trail thickly flanked by Ashe Junipers. Breaks in the trees along the trail reveal shear cliffs and views of Lake Georgetown. The area was used by Native Americans frequently, and flint tools such as knife blades, dart points, and scrapers are common. Several native plants were found along the trail including American Beautyberry, Yaupon Holly, Shin Oak, and Texas Persimmon.

Texas Spiny Lizard

Gulf Fritillary

Moss on Limestone

Pine Canyon Trail

2009-09-17T07:39:00.010-05:00

My favorite trail is Pine Canyon in Big Bend National Park. Accessed only with 4 wheel drive or a high clearance vehicle, requiring a strenuous uphill hike, inhabited by bears and rattlesnakes, charred by intense desert heat, it is not for the faint of heart. But the ending is worth the wait, the pain, and the mental anguish.

The pictures below don't begin to express the beauty of Pine Canyon. I've included no views of the wonderful spill-off the hike leads to. It was here that we spotted a Blue-throated hummingbird, Townsend's warblers, and Wilson's warblers. You'll have to make the trek to see the ending.

View from the beginning of Pine Canyon trail

Tree Lizard

Bug on Broom Snakeweed

Acorn woodpecker

Tree filled with cached acorns left by Acorn woodpeckers

Ruby-throated

2009-09-15T18:35:00.003-05:00

My balcony door is open and fresh cool air fills my house. Ever so often I hear the chirps of a male ruby-throated hummingbird that has set up his territory around my feeder. Up until recently I had seen mostly female black-chinned and ruby-throated defending the feeder. Now a male seems to have taken it over. Several noisy confrontations occur every hour as he protects his nectar bounty.

Owl House

2009-09-14T20:12:00.003-05:00

I found this owl house in Champion Park tonight. It was the first time I had noticed it, although I've walked the trail several times. I stood around for about an hour, hoping for something to emerge. I had to leave just before dark so I could find my way back to my car. I plan on returning with a flashlight and a chair later this week.

Morning

2009-09-05T21:29:00.006-05:00

Early morning sun peeks through dense overcast skies. Cool air ushers me along the trail. So many neat birds this morning: Bell's Vireo, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Solitary Sandpiper, Least Flycatcher.

Solitary Sandpiper

Least Flycatcher

Least Sandpipers, Lesser Goldfinch, and a Bird List

2009-08-31T19:50:00.010-05:00

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~ John Muir

Male Lesser Goldfinch

Wilson's Phalarope and a Black-necked Stilt

Least Sandpipers

On a recent walk in a nearby park I saw and/or heard:

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Green Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Mississippi Kite

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Rock Pigeon

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Chimney Swift

Hummingbird Species

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Least Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Cave Swallow

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Startling

Yellow Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Dickcissel

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Orchard Oriole

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Textures

2009-08-23T09:21:00.009-05:00

On nature walks I'm astounded by the beauty and intensity of plant textures, shapes, and colors. I love to see sunlight falling on them at different times of day, to watch them moving in the wind, and to just see them sitting quietly. A gentle touch and a deep breath helps me know each one individually.

When I'm in a hurry I have to remind myself to slow down and look closer. To kneel down and examine the tiny ecosystem surrounding each plant. I feel my perspective change knowing there are so many minuscule events occurring all around me every day. And somehow things that once seemed important become pleasantly mundane.

An Excerpt

2009-08-17T07:00:00.007-05:00

"We are a society of reasons. If we aren't talking, we are usually thinking. And with our thoughts we build elaborate barriers between ourselves and our experience. Some people cannot look at a waterfall without calculating its height, how many gallons per second are flowing over the lip, and how many other waterfalls in the world are larger or smaller. Some people no sooner sit down by a pondside than they begin to wonder why they are there and what the worth of it is. The comparison, the analysis, the reasons -- all are walls that fence us off from a deeper reality. Experience nature without analyzing. See it without labels. Only that way will you begin to experience the beauty that is without words."

Tom Brown Jr. in his Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking

Tracks

2009-08-12T18:32:00.018-05:00

As I watch a soft rain fall outside my window, I know I have to go out into it. To experience it. To welcome it. I can almost hear nature sigh as each drop touches the hot, dry ground. My own body softens like the plants and earth around me as I step outside with my camera.

Thinking about the book I'm reading, The Tracker, I walk towards a marshy area with a silty bank to look for tracks. I find dozens: assorted bird feet, larger deer hooves, and canine paws. The tracks curve in all directions, like brushstrokes in the sand. I smile as I think about all the animals that visited this spot before me.

Standing on the bank, I quietly watch the tiny fish as they dart in and out of the moss. I find the longer I stand without movement, the more activity there is around me. The fish are less reclusive, the little blue heron across the bank begins to hunt, the insects in the grass start their raspy calls, and the spiders resume jumping around my feet. I realize that nature can best be observed through stillness and I wonder what other things in life are like that.

Spearmint

2009-08-04T09:02:00.030-05:00

Today I walk slower then usual, gently putting each foot in front of the other. I am aware of the bending grass and earth underneath my feet, of the mint scented air brushing against my face, of the soft gurgling song of the creek next to me. I feel them permeate me completely; I don't resist.

Time doesn't exist here. Mind clutter doesn't exist here. It reminds me of:

Since before time and space were,

the Tao is.

It is beyond is and is not.

How do I know this is true?

I look inside myself and see.

~ Tao Te Ching, Ch 21

Spearmint - Mentha spicata

Inland Sea Oats - Chasmanthium latifolium

Black and Yellow Garden Spider - Argiope aurantia

Eastern Pondhawk - Erythemis simplicicollis

Champion Park

2009-07-29T17:20:00.005-05:00

Sky and I explored Champion park Wednesday morning for about 45 minutes. The park is quite close to my house and I was anxious to see if it was a good place to view birds. Within the first few minutes I found: Eastern Wood Peewee, Barn Swallow, Snowy Egret, American Crow, Painted Bunting, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, Northern Cardinal, and Lesser Goldfinch. This is definitely a place I'll be checking out more often!

Snowy Egret - Egretta thula

Bewick's Wren - Thryomanes bewickii

Texas Prickly Pear Cactus - Opuntia engelmannii

Juvenile Cardinal Learns to Fly

2009-07-29T13:32:00.024-05:00

On Tuesday I headed out to Riata Pond to watch the sunrise and to catch the birds in their early morning activities. I arrived at twilight and enjoyed a light breakfast on a bench overlooking the pond. It was quite cool, the air very still. In the first faint light of the sun I noticed a Great Blue Heron and several Cave Swallows. My intention was to take some pictures of the sunrise, but I was happily distracted by the birds.

The sun continued to rise and soon I was walking on trails flanked by business complexes and residential areas. Riata pond is surrounded by development, but there are still quite a few interesting birds in this area. The Travis Audubon Society leads occasional monthly bird walks here.

The gravel trails crunched under my feet as I came upon a very dense area of Cypress and Juniper trees. They were covered in Mustang grape vines. I stopped to listen. Immediately I heard the angry fussing noise of several Carolina Wrens. I grabbed my binoculars and was startled to see a Painted Bunting perched in a small tree. But by the time I had my camera it was gone.

I turned to ensure I wasn't missing something special behind me. Just as I did a juvenile Cardinal dove from a high tree branch right at my head. We both reacted quickly enough, and no collision occurred. I'm still not sure if he was intentionally dive-bombing me, or if it was just part of learning to fly.

When I turned back around I found what the wrens had likely been fussing at: a family of 4 raccoons. I watched them slowly climb down the tree, their bodies mostly concealed by thick branches and leaves.

Twice on my walk I came upon a Red-bellied woodpecker. Here is one of them.

A Blog Award!

2009-07-27T09:53:00.011-05:00

I was recently honored to receive the "I Love This Blog" award by a fellow blogger and excellent photographer Kelly Ricetti. You must check her out blog: Red and the Peanut. She always amazes me by the fabulous bird photographs she captures, like this Ruby-throated hummingbird sitting on her nest.

In the tradition of blog awards, I'd like to pass this award on to some of my favorite bloggers:

Vickie of Vickie Henderson Art

Mikael of Birding on Broadmeade

Alan of Birds 'N Such

Turkey Vulture

2009-07-26T09:15:00.005-05:00

I enjoyed a relaxing bird walk early yesterday morning. The sky was clear and the air was unseasonable cool again. We saw a total of 37 species, including 3 red-tailed hawks. We also saw several perched Turkey and Black Vultures and a male Widow Skimmer.

Turkey vulture - Cathartes aura

M ale Widow Skimmer - Libellula luctuosa

Red-tailed Hawk and Juvenile Western Kingbirds

2009-07-23T07:25:00.019-05:00

Tuesday morning I eagerly headed out to enjoy birds and the unexpected cooler weather. The sky was nicely overcast, which seemed to make the colors in the plants and birds appear brighter and more vivid. The most delightful breeze accompanied me as I walked, bringing back memories of late October days, crispy red leaves, and bright orange pumpkins. My annual yearning for autumn had begun.

I saw a total of 3 Red-tailed hawks. This one was sitting on a snag by a large pond. It flew away shortly after I approached.

As I made my way over a small foot bridge I heard loud begging noises to my left. I found two juvenile Western Kingbirds expressing their hunger as one parent watched from a nearby tree. A bit later the other parent arrived with a beak full of sustenance.

I also found some of the first migrating shorebirds birds this season: a Spotted Sandpiper and a Solitary Sandpiper. I was excited to find them and for the opportunity to perfect my shorebird identification skills. Here is a total list of birds seen or heard:

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Green Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Hummingbird species

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Western Kingbird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Blue Jay

Cliff Swallow

Cave Swallow

Barn Swallow

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

House Sparrow

Song: House Finch Vs. Painted Bunting

2009-07-20T07:37:00.031-05:00

As a new birder I've noticed that at least 50% of birding is recognizing bird songs. In an attempt to become more familiar with them I recently picked up Donald Kroodsma's book "The Singing Life of Birds". I highly recommend it. Donald effectively analyzes bird songs using sonograms, a technique that provides a graphic illustration of rhythm and frequency. His extensive research on bird sounds is astounding, and the information he provides is unsurpassed. And it comes with a CD!

I heard about David Kroodsma and a sonogram application called RavenLite in the March 2008 episode of the podcast "This Birding Life". I downloaded RavenLite and put it to work analyzing the calls of the Painted Bunting and the House Finch, using calls from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs CDs.

House Finch

What I found was very interesting. The calls are quite similar, but there are some subtle differences that the sonograms allow you to see clearly.

First, the lower frequency portion of the House Finch song is slightly louder, as indicated by the somewhat darker marks in the lower half of the sonogram.

Next, the House Finch has a 4 to 5 second series of notes while the Painted Bunting only sings for about 3 seconds before pausing. They both sing for a proportionally longer period toward the end of their call, the House Finch for about 7 seconds and the Painted Bunting for about 6 seconds. But I imagine these times can vary on the bird as well.

Finally, some of the notes of the Painted Bunting reach a higher pitch than those of the House Finch. This can be seen in the numerous vertical marks that extend from 10 kHz into the 20 kHz range.

Painted Bunting

White-eyed Vireo, Cardinalis cardinalis, and Hummingbird

2009-07-14T12:56:00.008-05:00

This Tuesday I took a relaxing walk on my old neighborhood trail. The birding there is so good, I just couldn't help myself. A short way into the walk I heard a white-eyed vireo. I spent about 10 minutes snapping pictures as it bounced around the branches.

White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus

Being satisfied with 47 white-eyed vireo pictures, I walked on. A female northern cardinal landed on a branch over my head. I stepped back and began to snap pictures of her.

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis

I was startled when a hummingbird landed on the same tree, just a few branches above the cardinal. I immediately adjusted the manual focus and started taking pictures of the female hummingbird. The photo below is somewhat blurry. It's difficult to get good pictures when you're quivering with excitement. The dragonfly was an added bonus I only noticed when I uploaded the pictures later that day. I'm not sure what species of hummingbird this is, but it is most likely a Ruby-throated or Black-chinned.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

2009-07-14T07:42:00.010-05:00

Saturday I participated in the monthly bird survey at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Typical Texas summer weather prevailed: hot sticky humidity. Despite the weather our group enjoyed ourselves, spotting a total of 50 species.

About halfway into the walk we heard both a red-shouldered hawk and a red-tailed hawk very close. We passed a clearing of cedars to find an adult red-tailed hawk being dive-bombed by a juvenile red-shouldered hawk, apparently in some sort of territory battle. Soon the defeated red-tailed hawk flew off to a distant power line.

A little while later we ran into this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. It lay sprawled out in the middle of the trail, motionless. We jumped back rather quickly and began to take pictures and marvel at the danger we narrowly escaped.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrax

Towards the end of our walk, we found a pair of Texas spotted whiptails. At one point, the male had his arm around the female. It was quite romantic. Here is the male.

Texas Spotted Whiptail - Cnemidophorus gularis

Prothonotary Warbler

2009-07-04T10:13:00.025-05:00

July 3, 2009. 7 am found us at Webberville Park, 135 acres of Blackland Prairie habitat along the Colorado river. After resolving a minor gate access issue, we were off in search of birds.

We decided to follow the tree line towards the boat ramp, where several Prothonotary Warbler nest boxes were erected. The dry grass made loud crunching noises under our feet as we walked. The air was still and humid, and a curious odor of dog food seemed to permeate the air. Since there were no dogs or dog food around, I assured myself it was only my imagination.

We reached the boat ramp area and immediately heard the Prothonotary Warbler's song. Anxious to see the bird, we hiked down towards nest box #1. Silent waiting, listening. Suddenly a Prothonotary Warbler appeared before us, perching on a small branch about 10 feet away. It enjoyed the branch and attached spider web for what must have been 10 minutes before finally gliding off towards the river.

Later, amid pecan trees and playgrounds, we discovered several Eastern Bluebirds, including an inhabited nest cavity.

After two hours of walking we decided to lounge on one of several available concrete picnic tables, where we spotted a Summer Tanager, Eastern Kingbirds, and several other birds. Here is the complete list of those seen or heard:

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Green Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Chimney Swift

Hummingbird Species

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Black-crested Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Bluebird

Northern Mockingbird

Prothonotary Warbler

Summer Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Painted Bunting

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Highlights from the Dallas World Aquarium

2009-07-04T09:39:00.009-05:00

This past Tuesday Mikael and I went to the Dallas World Aquarium in Dallas, Texas. This was my second trip there, but the place never ceases to amaze me. The following pictures are some highlights:

Red-footed Tortoise - Geochelone carbonaria

Red-capped Manakin - Pipra mentalis

*Click this to watch a really neat bird video!*

Panther Chameleon - Furcifer pardalis

Jabiru Stork - Jabiru mycteria

Guira Cuckoo - Guira guira

Crested Oropendula - Psarocolius decumanus

Widow Skimmer et al.

2009-06-27T13:48:00.036-05:00

I had the opportunity to take a bird walk this morning on Lake Creek Trail. It was very enjoyable and we ended up seeing or hearing over 30 species of birds, in addition to many other types of wildlife.

I really enjoyed taking pictures of this female Widow Skimmer. We noticed brilliant golden flecks in her wings. This is what Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States says about the Widow Skimmer:

"This widespread species is found nearly everywhere in North America except along the Gulf Coast of the southeastern United States and the Great Basin. It is an active flier around nearly any still body of water, or creek or stream, where males may be seen regularly battling over territories. Females rhythmically dip their abdomens to the water while flying just above the surface, unaccompanied by, but occasionally guarded by, the male."

Red- eared Slider ~ Trachemys scripta elegans

Cottontail

Birds seen or heard:

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Turkey Vulture

Red-shoulder Hawk

Killdeer

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Chimney Swift

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Bewick's Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Norther Mockingbird

European Starling

Northern Cardinal

Painted Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Eastern Eyed Click Beetle

2009-06-25T13:38:00.011-05:00

My friend Jonathan found this bug right outside his front door and he asked me to identify it. Turns out it is an Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. They are pretty common in this area and all across Eastern and Central North America. Adults eat plant juice and nectar, while the larvae are predatory and dine on grubs found in soil and decaying wood.

They receive their name for the clicking sound they make when they flip themselves over. And of course for the eerie false eyes on the top of their heads. Those are my favorite part!

Eastern Eyed Click Beetle - Alaus oculatus

Jonathan says, "It looks like a beetle with the head of a catfish." Well put. They are pretty strange looking. But isn't it great!?

Austin Zoo

2009-06-25T12:11:00.021-05:00

Wednesday I headed up to our small local zoo. Austin Zoo started out as a goat ranch and eventually became what it is today by taking in rescue animals. Now they home over 300 animals, including many large cats, monkeys, and birds.

These little peacock chicks were the first things I noticed as I entered the zoo. There were two broods; one was slightly older than the other. This was the older group.

This was one of the peacock chicks from the younger group. The mother was doing her best to hide these little chicks underneath her. You can still see the fine downy feathers.

I found several male peacocks around too.

The Austin Zoo has several species of exotic game birds. This is a Helmeted Guineafowl.

This was one of several large land tortoises in the zoo. This is a Glapagos Tortoise. I also found a female digging a large hole in another area, looking to bury some eggs I imagine.

Towards the end of my visit I stopped by the African lion cage and only noticed one lazy cat panting on the ground near the fence. I snapped a few pictures of her, then stopped to stand near her and listen to the sounds of the zoo. I wanted to know what these animals hear everyday, what their experience of this zoo life was like. I closed my eyes and listened: squawking South American birds, hammers beating nails, flies buzzing, high-pitched kid screaming. There was very little silence between these noises and I felt sad. These animals would never know the true experience of being wild, the peace and non-commercial noise of their native Africa.

I started to slowly walk away and looked up to find another larger female lion sprinting towards me. She slowed as she got near the fence, but I can only imagine what life would have been like for me at that moment should the fence not have been there. So maybe silence isn't a requirement for wildness. This is her staring at me hungrily.

Hornsby Bend Birding

2009-06-21T09:46:00.022-05:00

Saturday I visited Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory for the first time. We arrived early; the air was breezy and cool. Starting off by the large ponds with the scope, we spotted Black-necked Stilts, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Green Herons, a Cattle Egret, a Great Blue Heron, and a male Painted Bunting. We heard a Common Moorhen several feet away from us, but it remained hidden in thick undergrowth. Here are some other highlights:

Superb Green Cicada - Tibicen superba

Hackberry Emperor - Asterocampa celtis

Hornsby Bend greenhouse - Previously used as the final stage in wastewater treatment at the facility, now it is an abandoned home to toads and moss, among other creatures.

White-eyed Vireo Nest

Seen or Heard:

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Wood Duck
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Moorhen
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Rock Pigeon
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Inca Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Black-crested Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Summer Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird

Great Egret and Live Oak

2009-06-18T08:08:00.004-05:00

A Great Egret hunting. It stood motionless like this for at least 4 minutes.

Tree gall or disease on a Live Oak tree outside my apartment.

Great Egret Roost

2009-06-15T21:16:00.005-05:00

My dog and I took a bird walk this evening. My intention was to follow the water's edge and look for shallower areas or some sort of shorebird habitat. I walked quite a distance along the bank, but eventually came to an impenetrable wall of forehead high grass. I considered trudging through, but thought better of it.

There were many cliff swallows flying all around us, so I decided to check out the overpass and try to find their nests. Jackpot! I found at least 40 nests, several with little fledglings peeking out. The overpass led me back to the water, and I found a beaver - like animal swimming about. It looked like a beaver, but I didn't get a great look at it.

Heading back, I spotted 5 Great Egrets preening in a snag above the creek. Several minutes later, 5 more flew in and landed in the same tree. 10 Great Egrets in one tree! There were also 2 more Great Egrets in another tree, and a Great Blue Heron on the bank.

Blue Jay - 1

Cliff Swallow - 30

Turkey Vulture - 3

Eastern Phoebe - 1

Western Kingbird - 2

Northern Cardinal - 1

Great Egret - 12

Great Blue Heron - 1

American Coot - 1

Mourning Dove - 4

Common Grackle - 3

Barn Swallow - 1

House Sparrow - 5

Brushy Creek Trail

2009-06-12T06:30:00.008-05:00

I recently moved near Brushy Creek Lake Park and I've been really impressed with the trails. There are a variety of habitats that I hope will eventually yield many new bird sightings for me. The trail begins in a large open field and leads to Brushy Creek, which is mostly deep water with a few shallower edges. There are dense oaks and cedars, tall cypress trees, and native grassy patches. A nearby overpass is home to many cliff swallows. The following list is from a bird walk I took about a week ago:

Domesticated Mallard - 2

Snowy Egret - 1

Turkey Vulture - 7

Killdeer - 1

White-winged Dove - 1

Mourning Dove - 2

Western Kingbird - 1

American Crow - 3

Cliff Swallow - 20

Barn Swallow - 6

Tufted Titmouse - 2

Northern Mockingbird - 3

European Starling - 15

Common Grackle - 14

Great-tailed Grackle - 5

Libellula luctuosa - Widow Skimmer

There were many of these dragonflies out on the trails that day.

Battus philenor - Pipevine Swallowtail

Notice how this butterfly differs from the Black Swallowtail I blogged about last week. The thorax of the Pipevine Swallowtail is blue while the Black Swallowtail is black with white spots. You can't see it in the above picture, but the upper surface of the hindwing is iridescent blue while the Black Swallowtail has a black hindwing.

Fledgling House Sparrow

2009-06-09T09:46:00.010-05:00

I took a walk this morning. A nice breeze ran through the trees, but there was an energy of apprehension in the air. A feeling that any moment the brunt of summer would overtake us, forcing everything into a catatonic state. I love Austin and I love Texas, but summers in this area are blistering.

Bringing myself back into the present moment, I realized there was a cool breeze all around me. Summer was not here yet, and I sighed with relief. I walked further along the trail and heard begging sounds from a nearby tree. I looked around to see this little fledgling. I think it is a female house sparrow.

Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes

2009-06-09T09:29:00.010-05:00

Papilio polyxenes

I've recently become more interested in identifying butterflies and plants. I snapped a picture of this butterfly several weeks ago and just recently decided to research it. A friend of mine introduced me to Butterflies and Moths of North America. This site is really informative. You should check it out!

Baby Killdeer

2009-06-09T09:13:00.005-05:00

I went on a neighborhood bird walk on Saturday. We spent time not only birding, but identifying native wildflowers and butterflies. It was a lot of fun. We spotted some baby killdeer in a large gravel area near the parking lot.

Great Blue Heron

2009-05-30T20:59:00.006-05:00

I walked the trail this evening and was enjoying the waterfall when I turned around to capture pictures of the moon above me. It was a first quarter moon and quite beautiful. I looked down to start my ascent back to the trail and something caught my eye. This great blue heron was but 25 feet away. It stood motionless, its steely gaze quite intent on me. I was delighted to get an opportunity to photograph it as such a short distance.

The Beauty of House Sparrows

2009-05-27T11:10:00.018-05:00

On recent walks through the neighborhood I've enjoyed stepping off the trail to visit an area that seems particularly attractive to wildlife. The photo above is the small creek before it feeds into a deeper area which then drops about a foot, creating a small waterfall. I've seen snakes, fish, butterflies, deer, and of course many birds here.

House sparrows love catching bugs in this area. Several times I've seen one sparrow with a tasty insect prize being chased by several other sparrows. It's very funny to see them bouncing and flying about, hunting bugs and trying to steal them from their friends.

Their antics remind me to slow down, to appreciate the beauty of the simple and common things around me.

Yellow-crowned Night Herons and Red-shouldered Hawk

2009-05-26T05:55:00.007-05:00

Thunderstorms swept Austin all day last Saturday. Sunday evening I had a chance to walk along the trail, enjoy the breeze and look for birds. I found 8 yellow-crown night herons in the creek. These below had their crests raised and seem to be dancing together at one point.

I also spotted 2 red-shouldered hawks on the power lines above the creek. In this picture you can see the red shoulder quite nicely.

The Water Snake and the Pewee

2009-05-23T15:10:00.009-05:00

The water snake and the pewee. It's not one of Aesop's fables, but a bird walk I went on this morning. A very relaxing and interesting bird walk actually. I saw 20 recognizable species of birds along with 3 unidentified ones. I also spent some time photographing this snake as it swam.

I found several Eastern Wood-pewees along the trail. This one landed on a branch nearby and did a complete 360 photo shoot for me. He was very kind.

Other birds sighted:

Bewick's Wren

Snowy Egret

House Sparrow

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

Blue Jay

White-winged Dove

Eastern Wood Pewee

Starling

Killdeer

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Lesser Goldfinch

Northern Cardinal

Carolina Chickadee

Green Heron

Common Grackle

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Red-winged Blackbird

Mockingbird

Mourning Dove

Wild Basin

2009-05-20T16:03:00.034-05:00

This morning I took a trip to Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. It had been several months since I visited the preserve, and I was struck by its beauty and purity. This area was truly unspoiled: dense trees, fresh earthy air, and solid limestone beneath my feet.

I found myself going downhill, across rocky outcroppings and native grass fields, towards water. I could hear the birds singing just out of sight. I walked slowly, tuning into the nature around me. Soon, the sound of sycamore leaves and rushing water guided me to the waterfall.

A Carolina Wren sang loudly, its mouth wide open towards the sky. As I raised my camera, the bird flew off to a distant tree. I sighed as a sudden peace fell over the area.

Continuing uphill, the trail became wider and the sun felt hot on my face. Bird songs were all around me but they remained out of sight. Two cottontail rabbits disappeared into the underbrush as I hiked. A group of Carolina Chickadees argued high in the tree tops.

Climbing rocky steps, I found a lizard in a hollowed tree stump. It sat quietly while I snapped pictures. When I approached to get a closer look it quickly ran for cover.

Finally I reached the summit. The green expanse around me was huge, and I understood why this place should be kept sacred. I wondered what wildlife was like here 100 years ago? And for some reason I yearned to see the basin like it was back then.

First Fresh Veggies

2009-05-20T15:49:00.003-05:00

I harvested my first yellow squash and zucchini a few days ago. I steamed them lightly, then drizzled them with olive oil. Wow, they were delicious. This is the first time I've ever tasted my own home grown vegetables. I can't wait for my green beans, which should be ready in a few weeks.

Bug Hunt

2009-05-18T06:19:00.091-05:00

Sunday I hunted bugs. Not with the intention of harm, but of quiet appreciation. I have often wondered what made some bugs inherently 'good' and some 'bad'. I was determined to find unique and beneficial qualities for every bug in my garden.

My quest began with the squash. I had often seen bees deep inside the blossoms and knew it would be a good place to start. Sure enough, I discovered many bees gobbling up the pollen and nectar. Engrossed in their task, they were oblivious to the outside world. Was their intention to pollinate? Or were they merely there to enjoy good food and drink? Either way, I admired their importance as major pollinators in my yard and the environment.

Something oddly white caught my eye. I turned toward my bell pepper plant to see an alien-like white blob waddling along the stem. It slowed to a crawl as I crept close to it. I felt myself being watched. So this was the creature sucking the life blood from my poor bell pepper! Or maybe it was the hero who was preventing the world from bell pepper takeover?

Mealybugs like this dine on plant juices, but they also provide valuable food for other bugs, such as birds, mealybug destroyers, and pirate bugs. Nature is quite skilled in the art of balance.

Distracted by a sharp pain I looked down just in time to see this insect doing a deep dive on my shin. A tiny predator made prey of an animal easily 1000 times it's size, just as it had been doing for millions of years. I'm ashamed to say the horror of the moment took over as my hand came down to smack the poor thing out of existence.

The persistence of the mosquito demands respect. They've been drinking blood for over 150 million years...long before pesky Homo sapiens started swatting them. So while their occupation is rather alarming, their perseverance must be celebrated (albeit with a can of OFF nearby).

Just as swarms of mosquitos gathered around me I crossed the yard to turn over some rocks. I bent down and cautiously overturned a large flat rock. A small insect peered out from a tiny indention in the earth's surface, surprised by the sudden daylight. It remained perfectly still as I approached.

The cricket's brown body glinted with a strange beauty. Nocturnal creatures have always mystified and delighted me. Crickets feed on dead and decaying plant material, and are food sources for many birds, reptiles, and amphibians. I thanked him for his service in my yard as I carefully lowered his stone roof.

Continuing through the garden I noticed a small flying insect land on a large leaf. On closer inspection I saw it was a shiny green fly taking a break from its liquid meals and reproductive tasks.

It looked so content perched on the leaf and I wondered what it would be like to live only 3 weeks. Would I do things differently? Would a sense of urgency propel me forward? Or would I also find time to just sit like this fly?

After the Rain

2009-05-16T21:07:00.012-05:00

I walked the trail near my house this evening. The creek was swollen with the recent rains, the air cool and sweet smelling. There was an energy of movement and change that flowed in the water and wind around me. But in that movement was a deep peace. I could have easily stayed there all day, absorbed in the nature around me.

The rustling of leaves roused me from my meditation. I quickly grasped my binoculars to find a female American Redstart flaring her tail. And so the walk began. Here is what I found:

American Redstart - 1

Northern Cardinal - 2

White-winged Dove - 2

Yellow Crowned Night Heron - 2

Eastern Phoebe - 2

Starling - 1

Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1

Blue Jay - 2

Common Grackle - 4

Yellow Warbler - 2

Mockingbird - 2

Carolina Chickadee - 5

Western Kingbird - 4

Red-winged Blackbird - 2

Great-tailed Grackle - 2

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1

Cliff Swallow - 2

Peaceful Evening

2009-05-15T06:30:00.015-05:00

I was anxious to try out my new camera so decided to go out for a late walk yesterday evening. It was so peaceful, and the weather was perfect. Shortly into the walk I came across a white-tailed deer drinking from the creek.

I walked on further and noticed a turkey vulture dining on a dead raccoon and a turtle crossing a rock. I got a good shot of the turtle.

I need a bit more practice with the camera, but I'm really enjoying it.

Sightings

2009-05-14T17:31:00.015-05:00

I took a walk with my friend Barbara yesterday in our neighborhood. We have a nice undeveloped area that is home to many different types of birds. The air was quite thick and uncomfortable, so our walk ended up being rather short. We spotted a total of 12 species:

Great Egret - 1

Snowy Egret - 3

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers - 4

Common Grackle - 4

Great Blue Heron - 1

White-winged Dove - 7

Mourning Dove - 5

Killdeer - 2

Solitary Sandpiper - 1

Green Heron - 1

Northern Cardinal - 2

Unidentified Duck - 1 (It was black with a white beak, about Mallard size. Head was a bit darker than body, but entire bird looked black. Some white tail parts on mostly black tail. Any ideas?)

Today, was a very beautiful day in Austin. I took a break at 1:00 p.m. and decided to hang out in my yard to enjoy the birds. Since I've made my backyard into a Certified Wildlife Habitat, I've had so many birds around. When I walk out my back door, all I can hear is their wonderful songs. I found 12 species in my backyard today:

Carolina Wren - 5

House Finch - 4

Blue Jay - 1

White-winged Dove - 2

Northern Cardinal - 2

Cliff Swallow (flying overhead) - 2

American Redstart (A first for my yard!) - 1

Starling - 1

Common Grackle - 1

Mourning Dove - 1

Female Common Yellowthroat - 1

House Sparrow - 2

I snapped a lot of pictures with my inferior digital camera, and only managed to get this somewhat blurry photo.

The good news is that I just got a new Canon Digital Rebel SLR 12.2 MP! I may have to get a telephoto lens soon too. But now I have the tools to take some really great wildlife pictures, which is really exciting.

Bird Walk

2009-05-12T10:32:00.018-05:00

I started at 7:30 am and walked about 2.5 hours today. The birds were really active and I ended up seeing a total of 25 species.

I got a really good look at an immature northern cardinal being chaperoned through the trees by its parents. Its coloring was similar to a female northern cardinal but with a black beak. I saw about 8 northern cardinals today. They seemed to be following me as I walked. At one point I was surrounded by three males. It was almost creepy if they weren't so cute.

I spotted several Eastern Wood Pewees throughout the walk. They were acting in typical flycatcher fashion, and were fun to watch.

About halfway into the walk a black vulture landed on a telephone pole next to me. I was able to get some really good looks at it in my binoculars, and snapped a few pictures as well. This time I used my digital camera, which is still inferior but better than the iPhone camera (sorry Apple).

Species List:

Northern Mockingbird - 3

White-winged Dove - 3

Blue Jay - 2

Cardinal - 8 (1 immature)

Common Grackle - 11

Turkey Vultures - 7

Cliff Swallow - 5

Great-tailed Grackle - 13

House Sparrow - 5

Yellow Warbler - 3

Eastern Wood Pewee - 3

Common Yellow Throat - 3

Great Blue Heron - 2

Green Heron - 2

Red-winged Blackbird - 1

Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 1

Snowy Egret - 2

Black Vulture - 1

Killdeer - 1

House Finch - 2

Rock Dove - 1

Black and White Warbler - 1

Yellow-breasted Chat - 1

Barn Swallow - 3

Starling - 1

Snakes in my Yard

2009-05-12T06:54:00.034-05:00

Snakes. I love to see them. The majority of them are completely harmless and very good for your garden. I love to go looking for them, turning over rocks and such. I don't disturb them; I just peek to see if they are there.

Since moving to my current home, I've seen 3 types of snakes in my backyard. I really hope to add to this list as time goes on, because I love to see wildlife in my own backyard. I am always thrilled to see something new.

Roughneck Earth Snake

These snakes are small, rarely exceeding 10 inches in length. They are brown or gray, and mostly unmarked. Earth snakes prefer forests, ground cover, and cultivated gardens. They typically live underground, dining on earthworms and other insects.

These snakes are commonly found under rocks, leaf piles, or logs. I have always found these snakes under rocks in my yard.

Texas Blind Snake (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

This little snake is one you definitely want around. Its favorite meals are ants and termites. With an average length of 6 inches, it resembles an earthworm in appearance. If you look closely, you'll notice a slight iridescence.

The Texas blind snake also lives underground. The one I found under a log in my backyard was much smaller than this picture, and very fast!

Checkered Garter Snake

Garter snakes are very common in gardens and there are many different types. A full grown checkered garter snake is typically about 30 inches long. They prefer moist habitats, and are seen more commonly around water. They dine mostly on frogs, earthworms, and fish.

The checkered garter snake I found was hiding in a patch of St.Augustine sod that we had been watering for weeks but decided to discard. This snake was particularly slow moving, even in the heat.

All of these snakes serve a purpose in our yard and in our ecosystem. There are dangerous snakes, and these should be avoided. As a general rule, any snake with a triangular head is most likely highly poisonous. You can find more information on identifying snakes in the Central Texas area at Austin Reptile Service.

Squash and stuff

2009-05-11T07:23:00.014-05:00

My vegetable garden is looking very good this year. My yellow squash and heirloom zucchini are blossoming nicely, and have several fruits on them. The basil and cilantro are going to seed, but the dill and parsley seem quite happy in the dappled shade. My red bell is dropping fruit, and I'm not sure why. The Cal Wonder orange bell is doing very good, although it has set no fruit yet.

The Blue Lake beans I planted March 21st have pretty purple flowers. I should be harvesting beans within the next few weeks. I have several tomato varieties: Early Girl, Beefsteak, and Cherry. These are quite bushy and happy and I have a lot of tomatoes coming my way soon.

Next season I'm going to space everything out a bit more. My space is smaller than I thought. I want to plant some kale and miniature pumpkins this fall. Next year I will plant some eggplant.

Sunday Bird Walk

2009-05-10T21:56:00.015-05:00

Today around 7 pm I walked my neighborhood and the little trail we have. I found 18 species of birds, and had a few interesting moments.

About 30 minutes into the bird walk I spotted a red-shouldered hawk on a telephone line. I got some good views of it with my binoculars, but it flew away when it was spooked by some other hikers. Then a short while later, I spotted a second red-shouldered hawk on a light post near the baseball fields. It was soon mobbed by a pair of killdeer and flew for cover into the dense underbrush of the park.

I quickly followed the hawk into the brush. A white tailed deer ran from her hiding spot. Walking deliberately, carefully, I got my third view of this awesome bird. It was perched in a cypress tree, surrounded by three loud and angry blue jays. I snapped a few pictures with my iPhone before the bird flew south. Determined to see the bird again, I walked towards the irate mobbing sounds. This time mockingbirds were sounding alarm calls as they dive bombed the raptor. This poor bird didn't seem to get a minutes peace. I knew mobbing occurred, but for some reason I never realized that everywhere a hawk went it was mobbed. It was like Brittany and the paparazzi.

After a few minutes of harassment, the red-shouldered hawk flew off again. I walked back towards the main trail. Later I transfered the pictures of the hawk to my Macbook. I got a really good picture of a raisin on a twig. There was no hawk to be found. I really need a good camera. Ugh.

Here is my species list for this trip:

Blue Jay - 5
Northern Cardinal- 6
Mockingbird - 9
Great Tailed Grackle - 4
White Winged Dove - 3
Barn Swallow - 7
Common Grackle - 2
Great Blue Heron - 1
Green Heron - 1
Killdeer - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
American Crow - 1
Red-Winged Blackbird - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 6
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Western Kingbird - 1
Hummingbird (didn't get a good look to identify) - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Snowy Egret - 1

Get Wildlife Certified!

2009-05-10T09:48:00.006-05:00

I recently certified my backyard with the National Wildlife Federation. The program ensures that your backyard habitat has all the necessary components to attract and benefit local wildlife. There are only four basic requirements to turn your backyard into a wildlife oasis. And it's a fun and rewarding process.

Food

To get certified, your backyard needs to supply food for wildlife. Food can be offered from feeders, but native plants and trees are also very important and required. I have several types of feeders in my yard: 2 hummingbird feeders, a platform feeder with peanuts, sunflower seeds and non-greasy kitchen scraps, and a tube feeder with safflower seeds. Safflower seeds are eaten by many songbirds, but grackles, starlings, and squirrels find them bitter.

Native plants providing berries, nuts, fruit, sap, nectar, or foliage are also a must for attracting and feeding wildlife. Look for a list of natives in your area. A list of Austin and Texas natives can be found on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's site.

Water

The next essential ingredient for a successful wildlife habitat is water. All animals, insects, reptiles, and birds need clean water. Probably the most elaborate water feature is a pond, but a small bird bath or mister works well too.

The most important aspect of providing water is keeping it fresh and clean. You should replace the water in your bird bath at least 3 times per week. I prefer to change it everyday, since it is used daily by bathing birds. You want to avoid green, algae-laden water, which creates an ideal mosquito breeding area. Birds will not visit a dirty bird bath.

Cover

Another important factor in attracting wildlife is having a place for them to hide. Cover provides safety from predators and protection from the elements. It also creates a perfect place to raise young. The best type of cover for birds is dense foliage in the form of thick vines, hedges, and tall native grass lawns. Brush and rock piles are also used by wildlife, including birds, snakes, lizards, and insects. Birdhouses, bat houses, and toad houses can also be used to attract wildlife to your yard. A greater variety of wildlife creates a healthy and natural ecosystem.

Be Green

Your native habitat needs to be environmentally sound. Having all of the above requirements is a good start, but if you use harmful pesticides or herbicides, wildlife will not flourish. The main problem with these chemicals is that they are not specific. They kill both beneficial insects and problem bugs. They also leach into our lakes and streams, killing fish and other aquatic life.

Conserving water is another essential ingredient for a green yard. The best ways to conserve water are xeriscaping, utilizing rain barrels, mulching, and reducing lawn areas.

Xeriscaping is a low maintenance approach to gardening using drought-tolerant native plants. It is used primarily in the dry southwest but is very common in Austin and around Texas as well.

Rain water collecting is an easy way to conserve water, and is becoming much more popular. If you live in Austin, you can receive special rebates on rainwater harvesting equipment from the City of Austin.

Mulching not only conserves water, but reduces weeds, and adds nutrients to the soil. The best mulch for our area is made right here in Austin: Dillo Dirt. You can find Dillo Dirt at most hardware and garden stores around the Austin area.

Replacing lawn areas with native wildflowers and grasses provides shelter for wildlife to live and reproduce. Lawn requires regular maintenance, fertilizers, and a large amount of water. Reduction of lawn translates into a savings of both time and money.

Once you've made over your yard, you're ready for Certification through the National Wildlife Federation. Texas Parks and Wildlife offers a similar Texas Wildscapes Certification that you may also be interested in. The requirements are similar, although TPWD requires your yard to contain at least 50% native plants and has a more detailed application process. Good luck and have fun!

Purple Martin Houses

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I've always loved the cute and whimsical Purple Martin house, perched tall above the ground. Even if the house is inhabited by other bird species, they do much to keep pesky insects at bay. Particularly the mosquito, whom I much despise even with my nature loving ways.

I recently went searching for the perfect Martin abode for my backyard. I had to make a decision: the gourd house or the high rise condo. I like the natural look of the gourd house. But the cute condos are quite nice and spacious. Perhaps I could find one with granite countertops and central A/C?

I found many styles of condos, each with a particular charm. The rural John Deere design was functional and unostentatious.

This quaint and modest white condo was quite appealing, and at $29 was also very reasonable. It boasts a sloping roof design that prevents water from entering the units and balconies. All metal construction keeps out squirrels and other predators.

Of course, no house could top the French Chalet. This whimsical

cottage boasts a new stone

fireplace, a spacious upstairs deck, beautiful garden windows, and even a dog house for the Purple Martin pet owner. Although no pictures of the interior were included, I am certain it has hard wood floors and a garden tub.

Then I turned my attention to the purple martin gourd houses. I had no idea the Amish were professional gourd bird house makers. Their website contains detailed instructions for creating your own gourd purple martin house.

Suddenly I wanted to create my own bird house! What better way to spend a weekend then creating a house for my favorite feathered friends. I found gourd seeds at my usual vendor, Seeds of Change. I'm going to plant some ornamental gourds soon and use them to create my very own purple martin houses. Stay tuned for updates on this project.