Kudos

Kudos to frequent oasis visitor, Matt Walter, whose oasis photo of a Gray Fox graced the front page of the local newspaper, The Big Bend Sentinel, today.

Hard copy

Online copy

My back seems a bit improved, so I'm optimistic, although I'm sure I'll need to be real careful henceforth, and not lift anything over ten pounds. Birding is pretty boring lately, in spite of the continuing hybrid Anna's x Rufous Hummingbird here in town.

Bathing

Earth oven construction

Now that my creative son is living almost full time at the oasis, he decided to make a pizza oven (horno or earh oven).  It's a lot of hard work. Here's a link to a short video of him making the clay coating from the clay on our big hill. (I think you can click side arrows to see more of them.)

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMgboVZ6Iy-eF-Rgp4TXXa-X6llm_FTbW3JT-sKCVcANbjVAx5JezMoiJoCUIU5aw/photo/AF1QipOjVtkDqsICJ3K-CWwDlhluzjWUb95wM-suM4pY?key=SnFKMlBkTHBzUVlvR2RDOEFRckVQSkNuRERBa3NR

I know nothing about earth ovens. I hope it works good for him. It's not done yet, but here's how it looked when I last saw it. I'll post photos of it when it's done and in use.

The hybrid Anna's x Rufous Hummingbird is still visiting my feeders in Alpine, going on two months now. Otherwise, nothing going on. Might be a long winter ahead if wintering birds avoid this drought-ridden region.

Drought

In 2011 we had our dryest year ever, with only 2.25" of rain for the year. This year is shaping up to be the second dryest year. So far we're at 2.89" and likely won't get any more rain this year, although I'm always hopeful.

Yesterday, I went down and frugally watered trees. Not much bird activity to entertain me.The best photo I took for the day was of this Black-throated Sparrow. No matter how often I see or photograph them, there's something irresistible about them. Maybe it's that tuxedo look.

The biggest surprise of the day was a California Spreadwing. I hadn't see one since early July. Not only that, but it was the only ode I saw all day. Hopefully, when it rains, there'll be a population of them here like there was a couple of years ago.

Of course, the Lucifers are gone, and of course, I miss them! Life is good, so not complaining!