A lot going on

More birders are trickling into the oasis and the traffic on Highway 118 seems back to normal for this time of year.  The weather has been cooler. I'm hoping the first Pacific storm (Amanda) will bring some much needed rain to the area. Had a Killdeer at the big tank today. Rarely get that species at the oasis so always a treat.

I watered yesterday at the oasis. Had birders there yesterday and today, then came to town today. The Trumpet Vine in town is looking good these days.

I went out back to the ponds to see if all four ducklings were still there but they're no longer staying with the mother, and are so all over the place that it's hard to tell. They hide so well. I for sure saw 3 and no reason to think there aren't still 4. The lotuses are so big now that even an adult duck could easily hide in them. I'll check again tomorrow.

Finally made me a couple of face shields to wear until I get the one I ordered online. By the time the virus reaches Alpine I should have protection down pat. (My neck isn't splotchy. Just the light reflecting on the plastic.) I'm tired of wearing a mask that doesn't protect me as much as it protects the person that refuses to wear a mask. Plus, I can't tolerate having a mask against my nose. This should be better protection and no itching. Bad selfie of me. I got into dust today and my eyes and nose got a bit irritated, but it gives you the shield idea. I figure I'll be wearing them for a long time to come.

Here's the one I ordered online.

Oasis watering day

Once again watered the trees. Here's a late migrating female Wilson's Warbler taking advantage of the hose watering a tree. Not dirty pond water for her. Nope. Fresh from the new tank.

Photographed this Blue-ringed Dancer quite a ways out in the big tank. Was surprised to get this good a photo at that distance. Credit my new, albeit very slow, camera. Usually by the time I turn it on, check settings, zoom it out, and focus it, my subject has gone. Once in a while I get lucky.

Very little is blooming these days but a big Feather Dalea by the big tank is blooming and covered with Reakirt's Blues.

Need rain bad

Once the monsoons start... if they start... things will get lush. Meanwhile everywhere you can see right through the trees. I hate that.

There is no longer any doubt in my mind that a Groove-billed Ani has visited the oasis. I'm not positive which day, but it had to have been the 25th or 26th. I watered half one morning and half the other morning. But what really blew my mind was, already knowing that's what I saw and heard, a while ago I decided to listen to recordings of the ani calls and see if I could jog my memory further. And boy did it! I played a recording of it that I hadn't played before and I thought, wow, that sounds a little like a whippoorwill. And then it hit me! The day I heard that unfamiliar bird calling, I had thought it sounded "a little like a whippoorwill, but wasn't, and a whippoorwill wouldn't be calling loudly from the oasis in the middle of the morning," I had reasoned. I totally forgot about thinking that at the time until I played one particular recording.

So now that I know 100% for sure, I regret being so ignorant at the time. Why didn't I record the call?  DUH! Bird calls have always been a weakness for me. Some people can memorize hundreds of bird calls and remember them forever after. Not me. It sure makes the oasis more special to me, if that's possible, now that I've seen and heard an ani in it. I think of it as a tropical bird, like a trogon. I'm so hoping it'll come back. I'm familiar with the species but it's been many years since I'd seen or heard one so I didn't remember what they sounded like. And that day I had long forgotten about it by the time I got to the house after watering, and could have played an ani recording. If Lee Hoy hadn't had one at his place my sighting would've been lost. It sort of is anyway since I have no documentation.

New Terlingua Ranch bird species

Lee Hoy, a local bird guide, found a Groove-billed Ani at his place on Terlingua Ranch. I've seen many of them, mostly in Mexico, and a couple in Big Bend National Park as well. I never expected I could ever have one at the oasis, so when I saw a black-colored bird there a few days ago (not sure when. I don't keep track of time well which is why I write stuff down) my mind went to Ani, but I immediately dismissed it as not an option. I told myself it must have been a grackle and forgot about it. Didn't get a diagnostic look. So busy with watering and so much other stuff. I even heard a bird call I didn't recognize, but that happens occasionally. Not too alarming. Then when I heard of Lee's sighting, I looked up the Ani's sound and it sure sounded like it. But not counting it until I get a photo of one there. Meanwhile, here's Lee's. His place is probably about 5 miles from the oasis, in the direction of the Terlingua Ranch Lodge.

He said it's been there at least two days so it would be strange if it hadn't been to the oasis. I just wish I had more time to spend there. Normally there would be lots of birders around to help document stuff, but with this pandemic and all...... not so much.

A while ago I went to our ponds here in town to see if all four ducklings were still there. I didn't see them, but did flush several wild Mexican Ducks. Still looking, I walked around the perimeter of the ponds. When I got to the south side of the east pond I accidentally flushed the four, yes still four, babies. I guess they had been in the grass at the edge of the pond, not sure. But they tore out squawking across the pond like lightning, frantically flapping their wings as they skimmed the water's surface. The mother was in the middle of the pond totally unperturbed. They didn't slow down until they approached the safety of the willow tree hanging over the water. So cute to see!

I read that Big Bend National Park is opening in a few days. I'm going to make myself a face shield. I'm tired of protecting people that refuse to wear masks. Gonna focus on protecting myself. Besides, a mask over my nose causes it to immediately itch... maddeningly. I don't know why. Doesn't matter what material it's made of.

I came across this in eBird online. I thought it was interesting that the oasis is #4 on the Brewster County species totals. 

Since Big Bend NP is a rather general area that includes #1 and #3, technically the oasis should be #3, not far behind Cottonwood Campground.  I'm really surprised that the oasis is that close.

Slow Alpine day

I took an easy day of little work in town, staying indoors mostly. Nothing of interest to report. The bougainvillea is outdoing itself this spring.

Getting ready for monsoons

No rain is forecast but it's getting closer to monsoon season. I got tired of procrastinating so today I plumbed the inlet going into the new tank. I had filled the tank via a temporary pipe when it was installed. No need to get it plumbed to add water when it's been full since November 2018. But now I'm using the water and need to be ready to fill it when we get our first flash flood. Occasionally that happens in June. The curved pipe going into the top of the tank wasn't there until today. That flat blue hose laying on the ground is what I'm using to take water out of the tank when I water. Like tomorrow. The tank is less than half full now. (Big pipe in foreground is overflow)

In order to fill the tank again I'll run a nearby gas pump and take water from the leaky stucco tank when a monsoon fills it. I'll hook up the pumps outflow to a hose and fasten it to this plumbed in pipe. Quick and easy.

Next I made sure the oil was clean in all the gas pumps. And finally I tackled the hex tiles that I bought with money leftover from the go-fund-me tank project. They've proven to be very disappointing. I think I purchased around 1000 floating tiles for around $1 each. Soon they started sinking, one by one. So I'm taking out the water-logged ones. Don't know if I can patch them or not. Probably not. Most just have pinhole leaks at the corners. Maybe from rubbing against the concrete tank wall. I was too exhausted to finish today. Tomorrow I have to water trees but maybe I can work on the tiles some. Getting the heavy water-filled tiles out of the tank in 100° heat wore me out. I'd say at least a third of them leak. Here's the worst one I've encountered so far.

I'm proud of this photo taken by a visitor to the oasis two days ago. It's a Giant Darner. I usually get at least one every year. They don't stay long and they don't perch, so it's hard to get a decent photo. This one is by Nancy Norman. Way better than any in-flight shots I've gotten of that species.

Big babies

These day the ducklings are so big they're more likely to lead the mama duck around than vice versa.

 

I guess a 50% survival rate is good for ducks. I read this online: 

"Hatch approximately 12 ducklings and usually only 2 survive until fledging. Nature has planned for this attrition and this is why the Mallard begins with so many babies. Young ducklings can feed themselves as soon as they reach water, but must learn what is edible."

Our Bougainvillea is looking lovely these days.

Tomorrow it's time to go to the oasis and start watering again. May is almost always the hottest driest month. The exception is a severe drought like in 2011.

Hotter and drier

I water everything one day and the next day it looks bone dry and desperate for water. Sure hope we get rain soon. Today it got above 100° but every day recently has been about the same. Probably won't change until the monsoons start, hopefully in June.

Today I saw a Spotted Ground Squirrel. First one I've seen for several years. They're probably around and I just haven't seen them.

It's hard to resist taking photos of Varied Buntings.

Fender bender

I've never had a wreck so I guess I was due, but I really hate it. I was driving at an intersection in Alpine where I had the yield sign, heading into pre-sunset bright sunlight with a big black pickup parked blocking the view of oncoming traffic. This is a quiet residential neighborhood.

As I entered the intersection slowly I couldn't see anything coming until I got into the intersection past the black pickup. A small car was speeding toward me. I should have stepped on the gas like he expected me to do, but being a little old lady, I froze. He, thinking I would continue on through the intersection, swerved toward my tail end to avoid hitting my front end as he would have if I hadn't stopped. Had I stepped on the gas when I saw him, he would therefore have missed me. Or had he expected me to stop when I saw him, he could've passed in front of me and missed me. On my mind was yielding the right-of-way to him. He never hit his brakes. He seemed like a really nice guy. I felt sorry for him. He said his car was old and he'd been wanting a new one. Maybe he'll get it now thanks to my insurance company.

A witness told me the guy was speeding, but the cop said it didn't matter, he had the right-of-way. The cop didn't take it very seriously. He didn't give either of us a ticket. Haven't told my husband yet. He goes to bed at 6 PM. Nothing he can do anyway. So that's my day.

Hot and hotter

When I arrive at the oasis I always feel so exhilarated, and when I leave to come to town I feel a heaviness. Today was especially hard because I had hoped to relocate the Blue-winged Warbler, but not to be. At least by not being at the oasis all the time I really appreciate it when I'm there. And every day is over 100° these days so very little time to enjoy. It makes me want to water things constantly and that's a lot of work, not to mention using up the precious water supply.

Pictures from the oasis this morning include this Variegated Meadowhawk that I'm not sure if it's emerging from its chrysalis or eating a spider or what.

Next is a Bell's Vireo sitting on its nest.

While I was running water into the stucco tank a little blind snake was getting drowned so my visitor went and rescued it. It sure looks like an earthworm to me, but he knows his snakes.

  

Back in Alpine, I checked on the ducklings. They've survived a week now, so I'm optimistic that they'll make it. I don't think we've ever lost ducklings after the first week. I guess by now they've learned all they need to know to survive. Hope so anyway.

Surprise lifer today!

Late this afternoon I decided to go check out the oasis one last time. It had cooled off from the high of 97° today. When I saw a Blue-winged Warbler foraging in an oak tree I knew right away what it was just from seeing photos of one all my life. I really feared I wouldn't get a diagnostic photo with it moving so fast and me so slow at focusing my new camera. After about 30 minutes of trying, I got a couple of shots that are at least diagnostic. I'll settle for that.

If the bird is still around in the morning, I'll try again, but I'm a happy camper. It's a species I never thought I'd see.

Earlier in the day, I photographed a perched dragonfly that I needed help to ID. It's a Wandering Glider. Not new or rare or anything, but at least it sat still for a photo.

Aoudads

I really hate Aoudads, not only because they out-breed and out-compete our native Bighorn Sheep, and probably other species, but they strip the land bare of any and all vegetation. My mountaintop used to be lush with lovely bushes and rare flowers. Now, for the most part, it looks like a trampled stockyard pen. There's a program in Big Bend National Park to eradicate them, but it won't work any more than they've been able to get rid of feral cattle at Black Gap WMA, or feral hogs anywhere else.



A visitor to the oasis set up a black light to look at moths but the wind raged and I don't think any came to it.

I guess because Blue Grosbeaks are so common at the oasis I don't appreciate them enough, but they really are lovely.

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UPDATE:

After I posted this I got curious as to what might be on the black light screen so I went to the oasis at around 11 PM to look. It was really disappointing, not worth missing sleep over. Just the most common stuff I can see any time, day or night. Curiosity satisfied.

Post-mortem

All day yesterday there were six ducklings at the ponds so I figured they were out of the woods, so to speak. This morning I could only count 5, but they were all healthy and vivacious. Then an hour or so later I could only find four, and saw the fifth one floating dead. I fished it out and cut into its crop to see if it had eaten and choked on corn, but couldn't find anything. So, don't know. Just nature, I guess. Or maybe one of the adults drowned it.

Going to oasis tomorrow for a couple of days or so.

And then there were six...

Down to six ducklings this morning. (Nine eggs were incubated. Eight hatched.) There's another adult hanging out with the mother and babies, but from all I can tell she's just trying to be helpful.

I wish I could monitor them more closely but I had to go to the oasis today to service feeders. Things were good at the oasis. Rain from the last few days totaled .44," so I didn't water.

I had forgotten about the plaque when I drove up, so encountered it more objectively this time. I was impressed. Maybe it'll be an historical site someday. I see a lot of improvements that could make it look better, but I know it's not going to happen. That ship has sailed.

I managed to get a photo of an elusive Common Yellowthroat at the back water feature.

And an ovipositing (egg laying) darner. Not sure if it's a Common Green Darner or a Giant Darner. It was way out in the middle of the big tank so I couldn't get as sharp a photo as I would have liked.

Duckling update

AM: I was thrilled to find all eight ducklings this morning. Seems lessons are over. Momma duck sat on the bank watching like a hawk. For a while I only saw seven and was worried, but then the eighth ducking came scooting toward the others from across the pond, lickety-split. By now, I'm sure that's the one I consider the eldest. I swear they're all bigger today.

The other adult ducks seem to be keeping a safe distance away. I think the longer that goes on, the more likely they'll be to accept the babies. I sure hope so. It was heartbreaking to watch some years ago when they killed the babies. That was the reason we took the nest tube down. If some of these ducklings survive to adulthood I'll remove the nest tubes. The ponds aren't big enough to support a large population.

PM: Around midday the mother duck took the brood from the lotus pond over to the larger pond. Thereafter, I only saw seven ducklings. I figure the precocious one was overdue to get taken, but sad anyway.

The mulberry trees are still dripping with berries. No telling what all birds are in them if I took the time to watch. Here is a Western Tanager in one of the nearly dozen loaded trees.

Eight ducklings have arrived

Last evening before dark I saw one duckling clamoring all over the mother, but too dark and hidden to get a decent photo. Early this morning it was pretty chilly outside. I saw the mother fidgeting in the nest as if trying to keep her babies warm and perhaps subdued.

Awhile later I went and checked again. It was warming up. I spied one duckling swimming around near the nest tube. That was probably the same precocious duckling that had been climbing around inside the nest tube yesterday. Maybe it hatched a bit earlier than the other.

Another while later when I checked, the momma duck was in the water with eight babies. She clucked at them a lot and tried to keep them nearby.

And she was obviously showing them how to forage. The other adult ducks weren't foraging so it was just her showing them. And they picked it up quick. When the first one was out of the nest alone, it didn't forage. Probably didn't know how. 

I notice some of the ducklings have a black cheek spot and some don't. I have no idea if that means anything. I'll update this post before dark if anything changes. I'll be surprised if all eight make it through the night. I don't know how she'll keep them safe. I doubt they can climb back up into the nest tube. Feral cats and snakes prowl. And there are hawks.  Maybe they'll stay in the water. So far the other adult ducks are leaving them alone anyway. That was my main fear, and still is.

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UPDATE: I was so curious to know how they were going to spend the night that I went out to check shortly after 7 PM. The mother was at the edge of the water fanned out on top of the ducklings. She was very vigilant. I presume in case of danger she'll get them into the water ASAP.  Any slow ones will be ... nature's way. If I recall, with our last breeding experience years ago I had a ramp going up into the nesting tube and they used that the first night. All day today she kept the babies foraging nonstop. She knows they have to eat and grow fast.