Lucky to be alive!

I went to the oasis last night so I could get an early start on watering this morning. Once there, I took down and washed the dirty hummingbird feeders. 

This morning, as soon as there was enough light to where I felt I could see to hook up the hoses, I loaded up the clean feeders and carried them in two trips into the potty shed where I store them on shelves. While in there, I decided to use the potty. From it, I headed to the door. A round spot beside my foot looked out of place, when suddenly I realized it was a rattler (Black-tailed), not 2" from my foot. Luckily, it was a cool morning and the snake was cold, or if I had actually stepped on it, I surely would have been bitten, . Yikes! I was overcome with gratefulness!

Matt Walter took this photo of the Green Heron that's been hanging out at our ponds here in Alpine. Thanks for sharing, Matt!

This next photo, sent to me by Melody Lytle, was taken at the oasis, and appears in the Oct issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Thanks, Melody!

A few migrants kept me entertained while watering trees this morning, including a couple of Dickcissels. This one was bathing in the sprinkler.