Brown Recluse Spider

Sherry called me in to the bath to get rid of a spider. After seeing it was one of the cobweb spiders, I decided to capture it in a small magnifying cube (1"x1") and study it.

Upon close examination I was able to the key diagnostic of a Brown recluse Spider - the Violin shaped figure on the upper surface of the head.

Take a close look and remember this....

New Amphibian for Ranch

This afternoon as I stepped out onto the porch, I found this little guy all bunched up against the door jam. After taking a couple of pictures I decided there must be a better place for a Gray Treefrog to hang out so I moved it to the bird water drip station. I believe this to to be Cope's Gray Treefrog, but impossible to separate it from the Gray Treefrog.

Waiting on Fall

This morning it was 61 degrees at the ranch house. Sherry thinks Fall must be close because they are playing football. Looking outside I only see dead or dying vegetation.

So far this month we have had "0" inches of recordable rainfall. So it's not as hot or as dry as last year, but if you consider how dry it was last year and add this year's rainfall to it, then we are still in a drought here. None of this year's rainfall was greater than 2" on any given day so there has been little really deep soil watering penetration.

Some of the Hackberry trees are starting to lose leaves and as I recall during last year's drought I lost several of them. I had to water my Oaks out in front yesterday to make sure they continue to grow during the season as I need a some more high branches to shade our front porch in the morning.

Lots of tropical activity, but none doing us any good...

Summer Time in the Hill Country

These last few days of August can turn the landscape brown with the intense heat, cloud free sky and strong south west desert winds. As the wildflowers go to seed and the grass sends its roots deeper searching for moisture, the risk of grass fires increase so much that much of my time is spent mowing the tall dead vegetation down and building a barrier away from the ranch house and out-buildings.

Our rainwater supply remains high and the well continues to give me water for irrigation. We drink, bath and wash with the rainwater that contains no minerals and has no taste. The well and rainwater also serve as our emergency fire water.

In mid-September the first front will push through and hopefully deliver some rain and cooler weather.

Last Male Painted Bunting Departed

This past year we had at least 4 pair of nesting Painted Buntings on the ranch. Yesterday was the last day for Sherry and I to see the remaining male coming to the feeder.

The story is that male Painted Buntings depart south Texas on or before August 8. However I was also told that birds on the EP may remain a little longer.

With the last of our adult males gone, the feeder is now overflowing with the juvenile Painted Buntings - at least 6 to 8 birds.

Checkered Garter Snake

I was surpried this after noon when I stepped out the back door and watched this beautiful little Checkered Garter Snake go slithering across the porch just under my feet.