Killed myself yet again

Through the years I've constructed many water features and drips, etc. For one reason or another they never work out. Today Mac and I constructed a bird bath/drip. Hope it works out because it was a killer for me to do, even with Mac's help.

Hopefully, javelina won't destroy it. Originally, I had a drip going into the grotto I built behind this water feature, but vegetation grew there and obscured the view totally, so I quit using it. The water feature didn't originally leak, but now it does, so in order to keep water in it, it needs a drip. I don't mind the leakage because it waters the trees around it. And now that I have more water security with my new tank, I'm not as paranoid about spending a little water either.

Since putting a drip in it, I was always arranging and propping the hose etc, to make it look and work better. Then while I was in town for three days, Mac started arranging rocks around the drip for better photos. I knew it was time to bite the bullet. Today was the day. So many things to consider too. Not only aesthetics, but functionality. And even how the drip sounds. And maneuvering my crippled body in ways it doesn't want to go. And making the concrete stick where and how I want it to. We still need to do some tweaking on it.

Birds prefer a water feature in the shade but that's not as good for photography. But since that's where the birds come, that's where the photographers go, regardless. Not many days ago Mac got a great shot of a Black-capped Vireo there, so that's encouraging.

The main reason most of the others didn't work out was because they needed a recirculating pump and filtration system. Too difficult to maintain. This one doesn't need anything. Just comes from the hose I use to water with.

The project took us the better part of the day. Tomorrow we're going to the park for awhile. Hopefully, it'll rain so I don't have to water again. Misses me every day.

Marathon park again

I rode along with Mac this morning to help him find the Yellow-green Vireo. As it turned out, there were quite a few other birders there enjoying the vireo, so he wouldn't have needed my help. That bird is voraciously defending his territory. He constantly attacks other birds, especially the Western Kingbirds.

Bullock's Oriole seems to be feeding nestlings. It's that time of year.

Here's Mac's great shot of the vireo.

Made the rounds today

Started at CMO where I finished watering. Photographed a lovely Theona Checkerspot there. Many butterfly species are quite variable and this one looked so different from other Theonas I've seen that I didn't recognize it as a Theona until I consulted my guide book.

Then went to Lajitas to see if any Mexican Amberwings were there in the afternoon. To my surprise, I didn't see one single amberwings. Photographed a pair of Desert Firetails, and that's about it. It was really hot and I was tired.

By the time I got to Alpine it was windy. Saw a white variation of Bordered Patch before the wind drove me indoors.

Doing my thing

Came to CMO to water today and tomorrow. No longer able to do it all in one day. Photographed this nice and cooperative Saltbush Sootywing.

Also added a couple of ode species to my May list. 

Great Pondhawk

Neon Skimmer

Alongside a path I walk down into the arroyo at the oasis I've been constantly flushing a female Scaled Quail. So I peaked under a clump of tall grass and found her nest. It looked like it had about 20 eggs in it. I didn't want to push the grass aside for a photo lest it expose the nest to predators, so this is the shot I settled for.

That spot has been known to flood during monsoon season but I'm sure her brood will be gone by then. A Western Coachwhip snake has been hanging around near there. Sure hope it doesn't find them.

For years I've said I like Chisos Rosewood (Vaquelinia angustifolia) because it's evergreen, drought resistant, and has no insect problems. In fact, my only complaint was that it didn't attract butterflies. But this year the blooms are attracting butterflies. Don't know why, but I'll take it.

Black Swallowtail 

The Western Soapberry is blooming profusely too. I keep looking for a Soapberry Hairstreak in one, but so far, no luck.

Easy birding excursion

Hazy skies due to the park's fire

Today I resolved to get to Post Park near Marathon early this morning in order to get a photo of a Yellow-green Vireo reported from there yesterday afternoon. One was there last September but I was unsuccessful in getting anything other than a quick glimpse of it. (See post from 9-6-18)

As it turned out, I heard it singing when I got out of my car, and quickly located it.

Only then did I realize that my sister-in-law, Dale Ohl, and I had seen and heard one singing in the same tree many years ago when we were still fledgling birders. As I recall, we couldn't identify it. I don't think we carried cameras in those days, perhaps 20-25 years ago. I asked her about it and she doesn't remember, but if she had been there today I think it would have jogged her memory, like it did mine. I have seen the species in E TX before, so it wasn't a lifer. Just didn't have documentation of it in the Big Bend. And now I do. Normally I just photograph butterflies, odes, and flowers these days so don't mind not being able to take sharp photos of distant birds with my Lumix, but today is one of those days it would have been nice to have my Canon.

I wanted to look for odes and butterflies while I was there, but it was too early. Nothing was flying.

Stopped by Gage Gardens. Enjoyed the beauty, but too early there too.

So much for reality TV

I've watched "Naked and Afraid" for years. Found it entertaining even though some aspects stretch credulity too far. For example, no matter what country they're in, I hear Elf Owls calling in the background. At least what sounds to my ears like an Elf Owl. Very annoying.

Tonight was the last straw for me. Can't watch it anymore. If you've ever watched it, you've surely noticed how they're starving and need protein to make it through extraction, and then they make a kill at the last hour, so to speak. Well, on this episode I just watched, they were in Namibia, Africa. On the day before extraction, we see a bird go into their trap, trip the trigger, and get caught.

I don't know African birds, but it's possible that it's a protected species. The show producers never tell us what they're allowed to kill and what they aren't. In the next scene we see the ecstatic pair practically doing a happy-dance as he wrings the bird's neck. Except that the bird whose neck he wrings is some kind of game bird, like a guinea fowl.* Not the black and white bird that we saw the trap fall down upon. Even a non-birder would have to notice that.

I won't be able to find the program entertaining any more. And naturally it makes me suspect other reality shows that I've heretofore enjoyed. My husband reads fiction all day long, but I don't like fiction. Feels like a waste of my valuable time.

Here's a real photo I found online of a kestrel with a dragonfly. Just think, 300 million years ago dragonflies were the same size as this American Kestrel is today. There was more oxygen in the atmosphere in those days. Boggles the mind.

Photo by Georges Kleinbaum, taken in Oregon

Just found out Mac shot this photo of a Black-capped Vireo at the oasis yesterday. Awesome! May be nesting here. Many years ago an interviewer asked me what my goals for the oasis were. I said, "to have suitable habitat for Black-capped Vireos to nest here." That was before the oasis became a birding hotspot for the world. If asked that question today, I'd say, "to provide a great birding experience for birders." Maybe achieving both. Good work, Mac!

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I did a bit of online sleuthing and think the fowl was a Red-billed Spurfowl. As for the bird that got trapped, perhaps a babbler type bird.

Another outing, another fall

I got behind on all the photos I wanted to post so will try to catch up some today. Went to Lajitas this morning and hadn't been there thirty minutes in my clean white clothes before I slipped in mud and went crashing down hard on my hip. Nothing broken, and not too sore....yet. If my hip was ever going to break, it would have then, I think. But what's the alternative? A wheelchair? No thank you.

Here's where it happened. The ground was all wet this morning from having had sprinklers on it. There were patches without grass. I walked on the patches repeatedly, and wasn't paying that much attention (obviously), and one of the patches sloped somewhat. Oops! My sleeve got muddy too but probably protected my arm from damage. I took the above shots of myself so couldn't do so good. By that last shot the mud had dried.

The place was very birdy today, perhaps because of the fire in Big Bend National Park. The birds had to evacuate to somewhere else. This is all that's left of the visitor's center at Castolon.

Saw a nice Phaon Crescent. A species I don't see all that often, and not in S Brewster Co. before.

Here's a lovely photo of the Rio Grande River that I've been meaning to share with you.

Photo by Rajesh Jyothiswaran

The camera crew is set up just inches from the Elf Owl cavity. It was pretty dark out when I shot this, so I had to lighten it a lot in photoshop to be able to see it. 

Last night Mac and I helped them catch scorpions. They're aiming at training the owl to eat the ones they put out so they can get footage of it catching a scorpion. Probably footage of me catching one would be more exciting. LOL

Here is a photo of a Lucifer Hummingbird taken at the oasis yesterday. It appears to have something wrapped around its leg and tail. I have no idea what!

Play day

Since I found out I had an extra day, I decided to mostly play and rest today. Eager to go to Lajitas odeing tomorrow though. Haven't been there yet this year. Enjoyed watching this Western Wood-Pewee foraging.

Path toward back water feature

Path in arroyo through soapberry thicket

Blooming Chisos Rosewood (Vaquelinia angustifolia)

Cactus Wrens are busy feeding nestlings.

Before that one adult left the hole, the other adult showed up with more food.

Meanwhile, Mac was busy photographing the American Kestrels. Gonna fledge any hour now.

Three hungry babies. One larger and more dominant.

Lizard for breakfast.

Still hungry.

This mule deer seemed to find relief in the big tank when the temperature was over 100° this afternoon. She's obviously pregnant.

Got my days mixed up

I knew I had to be back in town on Thursday, and thinking today was Wednesday, I thought I had to get everything watered today if I wanted to go odeing at Lajitas tomorrow before heading to town. So I tortured myself trying. Almost made it, then I discovered today is Tuesday. So that gives me an extra day. Tomorrow I'll hang out at the oasis and finish watering. The soapberry trees are blooming, so I'd like to look in them for butterflies. Too windy today.

Empress Leilia in Soapberry

Thought I had a new ode species for the oasis today, but I checked and I had it here once before. Totally did not remember that. Four-spotted Pennant.

The Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata) is blooming too.

Here's a photo taken by Mac recently at CMO. 

House Finch, subspecies San Luis (Haemorhous mexicanus potosinus)

Barefoot in the bog

OMG! I'm getting too old for these dumb adventures. It started out well enough. I went to Balmorhea where a Tezpi Dancer (damselfly) had been seen yesterday along FM 1832 (Boy Scout Ranch road) . A lifer for me! No hiking. Piece of cake!

Promptly got the Tezpi.

Figured it was my lucky day, so why not go for another lifer. After driving that far, no need wasting the afternoon, I reasoned. A Paiute Dancer had been photographed below the dam at Lake Balmorhea in the bogs there. I thought long and hard about going, and was really on the fence about it. Those bogs are tough. What I didn't realize is, I'm about 10 years older than the last time I entered that area. I parked on the far (west) side of the dam and began walking below toward the main watercourse. I made it about two-thirds of the way before I just got too exhausted and short of breath, so headed back. I estimate that I endured about a mile of bog slogging in all. It sucked my shoes off with every step, until I just ended up going barefoot. I didn't even want to think about the nasty stuff in the water. That area is loaded with cattle. The bulls scare me, and it was getting ridiculously windy too.

Small stream that runs through the bog toward the main watercourse.

No lifers from the bog area. Took some photos though. Here's an Aztec Dancer. 

And a couple more from FM 1832.

Hackberry Emperor

Cardinal Meadowhawk

The minute I got to Alpine I took a bath with a liberal amount of Tea Tree oil. Hopefully, no chiggers or parasites in that stagnant, manure-infested water. Needless to say, not doing that again!