A few surprises at the feeders

When we returned home from Disneyworld our feeders were empty and there were very few birds around.  After taking the feeders down to clean them as we got about 0.85 inches of rain that clog the feeders with wet food, they are again full and more birds are showing up as the hours past bye.

Then this morning I checked and the Fox Sparrows, that had stayed until we left, had not returned.  However they have been replaced with a pair (male & female) Pyrrhuloxia.  Also by the end of the day the ground was once again covered in White-crowned, Chipping and Field Sparrows along with Bewick's Wren working over the suet and Spotted Towhee's flashing their white tail spots.

Male

Female

Male



Back from Disneyworld and Universal Studios

My son and his family plus his wife's family along with Sherry and I spent 5 days at Disneyworld's 4 parks and 2 days at Universal Studios' 2 parks in Florida.  Its been years since I walked that much, stood in line that much and dodged that many people while navigating through the thousands of bodies there.  Sherry with the two grand kids (Trent 12 & Lucy 15) managed to ride every single "you gotta be kidding me" thrill rides that I watched from ground level.  The fun rides rides for me integrated 3D animation along with physical g-force moves.  Those that allowed you to participate in the ride like Toy Story and MIB where you are competing to either ZAP a villain or score points were fun too.  My favorites were the real live active stunt acts - Indiana Jones and Car race in a city with a shoot out. 

Just glad to be back home...

Sherry and me on Main Street with the Disney Castle in the far background.

Lucy, Trent, Francy and Greg

The main reason this family trip took place was so Sherry and Lucy could see and ride the new Harry Potter adventure.  In fact it had to be the highlight for Sherry and Lucy as they didn't want to leave when we finally got there on day 6.

 Sherry and Lucy ready to board the Hogwart's Express.

Hogwart's School

Trent, Lucy and Sherry toasting their adventure with some Butter Beer.

New Ranch Hummingbird

The last few days have been full of little surprises.  For the past week plus we have seen a hummingbird with such brief views we could not even put it in a family.  Yesterday and today got some better views and it appears to be an adult female Anna’s Hummingbird - A year round hummer of the California coastal zones and very rare hummer for this area.  We have seen them over the years when we lived on the UTC (Upper Texas Coast) where we had them a few times in the winter at our home.  This is a large chunky hummer that is fairy dingy below.  Bill is medium length that appears straight. She has a green back and no visible tail spots. She is showing a fairly strong central area in the throat of rose red spots.  While feeding she holds her tail still and in line with her body.  Lockwood lists the Anna’s Hummingbird as Accidental: 1-2 records every ten year for the months Sep-Dec.  I’m not sure what she is living off of as she is a very irregular visitor to our front flower bed where she feeds on the salvia still in bloom.

Another new visitor has been a first of season female American Goldfinch that feeds along side the solitary Pine Siskin and the 15 to 20 Lesser Goldfinches.  A Fox Sparrow is still present among all the ground feeding White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and Field Sparrows.

Butterfly number are still high for such cool weather – Dainty Sulphur (20), Orange Sulphur (3), Sleepy Orange (2), Variegated Fritillary ( 3), Common Checkered-Skipper (2) plus lots of bees.  The 5 Monarchs that were here have moved on.

The 1 inch of rain we got has jump started a lot of forbs.  For the year were are at a little over 8 inches…hopefully the rains predicted for this weekend will come too…25,000 gallons of drinking water in our tanks…

Yesterday Sherry had oral surgery to start the process to replace the tooth she lost when she fell in September. Doctor cut a bone from her chin (inside lower lip) and screwed it in the spot where her tooth came out.  She is on pain pills and antibiotics.

Target Practice

Last year we gave our grandson Trent a .22 cal rifle for target practice here on the ranch.  He has become an expert shot.

Hiking Love Creek Preserve

We had a lot of family get together's over Thanksgiving - my son and his family came down from Richardson and I took them hiking at Love Creek Preserve.

The Red Oaks and Big-tooth Maples were a little past the best colors, but still beautiful.

The recent rains have helped keep the springs running.

New visitor to Oasis flushed all the birds

We have been seeing this Sharp-shunned Hawk around the ranch and it has now found the Oasis.  While I am feeding the birds coming to my feeders, I am also feeding the Sharp-shinned Hawk as it darts into our feeding stations chasing any slow leaver and stops occassionally to get a drink.

Sage Thrasher, Fox Sparrow, and Big Axis

We had our second record for a Sage Thrasher on the ranch and later in the day a 3rd record found down on the SE end of the ranch.  There appears to be several out of normal range records of Sage Thrashers this year perhaps due to the drought and fires out west.

The really well marked Fox Sparrow we first saw when we returned from Brazil is showing up from time to time.

Walking into the living room one early morning and looking out into the front yard we were a little surprised to see this pair of Axis Deer.

My friend helped me load the deer feeder with corn and we plan to put some alfalfa out too.  We did a deer stand watch after we filled the feeder and counted around 40 Axis and 15 White-tailed Deer - mixed bucks and does.  The Axis were on the property next door, but the often cross the fence and visit the ranch too.

Cold Air and Little Rain

While we were gone on our trip to Brazil, folks helping to watch the ranch recorded .48 and .98 inches of rain on the 8th and 9th of October.  Both rain water tanks overflowed. 

The native flower garden that I protected from the deer with a 6 foot steel wire fence held and most of the plants are in full color.  The deer did find most of the plants outside the safe zone and ate all the leaves off a Mountain Laurel, Yellow Bells and several of the Mexican Sage.  The deer I saw today showed much of their rib cages - many will die soon as the little rain we got didn't produce any forbs and since White-tailed Deer do not eat grass, there is now almost no food left fro them to browse.

The high temperature was 88 this afternoon, but a cold front has blown in and current temps are 48 F and still dropping.  This front was supposed to bring rain, but now the weather folks are saying just a few light showers possible.  Will be in the 30's Friday night.  Time for some chili, beans and corn bread.  Maybe even the first fire of the season...

Ole-Ole-Ole-Olee - Brazil- Brazil

Just returned from a birding tour to Brazil - We saw around 400 species with about 210 lifers - met some wonderful folks on the trip and we both came home exhausted, but still feeling the excitement of seeing our first Jaguar!!!!

I plan to post a few of the 900 pictures I took during the trip as soon as I have time to select some of the better shots.

When we arrived home we found the White-crowned Sparrows had returned along with the Spotted-towhees.  We spotted  a couple of new species for the Oasis - Vesper and Fox Sparrows - certainly not as exotic as many of the Brazilian birds, but they are our birds in our home country so we can enjoy them as much as one of those skulking Antbirds of the tropics...

Vesper Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Orioles, Orioles, Orioles

The past several days we have seen from solitary to small flocks of Baltimore and fewer Orchard Orioles.  Today I had 3 males at once in the small pool, followed by several females and then more males.  Testing out my new P500 Nikon CoolPix camera on these bright subjects.

Migrants All Day

It was a busy day at the Oasis.  3 American Robins, Savannah Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, , Yellow, Nashville, Wilson's, and Black-throated Green Warbler (new ranch species) and Great-creasted Flycatcher  kept me from many of my ranch duties as I watched this continued movement of species.

Dickcissel

All spring and summer I never saw or heard a Dickcissel.  In the past they have nested on the ranch, but this year's drought has kept many species aways.  For the past few days this lone Dickcissel has remained close to the feeders and Oasis.

Day of the Vulture

A Raccoon died of unknown causes about 100 feet from the ranch front steps but out of sight until the vultures started showing up.  At full count there were 15 Black and 8 Turkey Vultures plus two very aggressive Crested Caracara's that dominated the feeding site until they left.

Soon after the Raccoon was nothing more than a few strands of fur, several Vultures decided to pay the Oasis a visit.  What a sight as you can see them first parading over, then drinking from the little pool.

Twelve Spotted Skimmer

This is a new species for the ranch and Sherry and I.  It has taken up residence over the pond so I stuck a stick in the rocks and that is where its sets when not patrolling the area.  A second 12 Spotted Skimmer showed up later and they chase each other about.

The name comes from the 12 black spots on the 4 wing surfaces.  It used to be called a 10 spotted when the white spots were counted.  Why not a 22 Spotted Skimmer????

Hot Birds

For the last 3 days the Kerrville area is setting new high temps. For us humans we have air conditioning, but for the birds all they have is our little Oasis and their own way to cool off.  It appears wing spreading and bill wide open are two methods other than a cool bath.  This is the first time I have observed a Greater Roadrunner assuming this spread wing and tail pose.

Cooling off with bill open must help some.

What is this?

I was out watering the native garden when I hear a funny call and looking over to my right about 8 foot off sits this brightly colored parrot looking bird on the water fall top rock. I knew it was a member of the Love Bird genus, so moving away as quietly as possible and then dashing around the garage into the house, I grabbed my camera and got off a few shots.

After a quick Google search, I turned up the name (s) - Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus), also called Masked Lovebird or Eye Ring Lovebird, is a monotypic species of bird of the lovebird genus in the parrot family. They are native to northeast Tanzania, and they have been introduced to Burundi and Kenya.  Probably not a future Invasive and its future is in doubt.

What next?

Northern Bobwhite Feeder

We have 1-2 covies of Northern Bobwhite on the ranch. Some 3 years ago they disappeared during that drought. However a few months ago while I was busy in the house I looked out at the Oasis and 4 Bobwhite appeared - 2 males and 2 females.

They continued coming in either the 4 or occasionally a pair. Later on during the breeding season while walking up to the barn, I interrupted a pair with 4 or so chicks all dashing in different directions while the parents were making assaults upon my hiking shoes. I retreated to the house to give them some space. Several days later I observed a pair with one larger chick. I suppose the others failed or this could have been the other pair with a single chick. Since that time I have not e seen any young or immature birds.

I did have one day where there were 5 birds - perhaps one of the female looking birds was one of the chicks that had reached a molt stage difficult to separate from an adult. However, I fear the worse as there was limited grasshopper food that the adults use to feed the young.

Anyway, I decided to build a Bobwhite feeder. After some research I discovered a YouTube video produced my Dr. Dale Rollins, Professor & Extension Wildlife Specialist, Texas AgriLife Extension. Dr, Rollins is a specialist on Northern Bobwhite. His video described how to build a low cost simple feeder.

1. Acquire a 5 to 10 gallon metal pail.

2. Drill 9/16 holes about 1 inch about the bottom all around it.

3. Using a screw driver,, stick it it the hole and push down causing the hole to have a lip below to allow the kernels to easily fall out.

4. Place the bucket on 3- 6 inch blocks above the ground.

5. Fill with Milo.
6. Cover and stabilize it so deer, cattle or raccoons cannot knock it over.

He failed to mention how to train the quail to learn how to figure out how to get the Milo kernels out by pecking a them.

So I couldn't find a 5-10 gallon metal bucket, but I did find a 10 gallon oval metal bucket at Tractor Supply that works fine. Drilled and shaped the holes, filled with Milo and set it out close to the house so I could observe and photograph. Very quickly the White-wing Doves, Fox Squirrels and Cardinals learned how to use the feeder while the Quail just stood around and scratched the soil find kernels that the other critters were releasing.

I was about to give up, when finally I saw one of the Quail pecking at the holes - Finally success. Now if he will just teach the rest of the covey.




Quail feeding on their own

More new Oasis Visitors and a Birthday Party

Today as I walked out into the Great Room and looked out into the Oasis, there sat two American Robins - but before I could get my camera they flew off - so I put my camera down and then a third bird that was under the water fall flies off. Really unusual time to find American Robins. Then a few minutes later a Morning Warbler drops in for a quick drink and before I can focus on it, off it flies. Two strikes...

Well last Sunday on Marcelo's Birthday we had another visitor that was easy to photograph - Louisiana Waterthrush. It hung around all day even as the grand kids played outside it sat off to the side in a tree and then into the flower bed given its typical loud chip call.

Marcelo turned 4 years old

Flycatchers

It's that time of year when the flycatchers start showing up around the ranch - I usually first hear their whit and chip calls - we had one new ranch species and a repeat species show up at the Oasis - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was new and a Least was seen for the 4th year in a row.

Drought and Exotics

As we enter August the drought is taking its tole on the plants and animals. The White-tail Deer are starting to starve and many of our trees are looking badly. The Carolina Buckthorn are dying, Hackberry Trees are dropping leaves, and Texas Red Oak are turning red way too early.



Yesterday Sherry took this picture of an Axis Deer buck in our front yard. Later in the day while I was taking a load of water down to some trees we planted I encountered over 100 Axis Deer in a herd that crossed the ranch road in front of me. The herd of exotics from India were composed of mostly females, many fawns and about 15 bucks - a couple of the bucks were getting close to the trophy size with antlers reaching a lenght of over 30 inches. The Axis will browse and eat grass unlike the White-tailed Deer that need to browse. With no forbs and few trees having leaves they can reach, the White-tailed Deer are in serious shape and even if we did get rain, it would not help much as we are out of the growing season.

The Axis are nomadic and travel in large to medium size herds. The Hill County is overrun with exotic animals, the Axis probably being the most numerous.

Another new ranch butterfly species

Today I saw this large bright sulphur working the flowering shrubs in the front yard. After several attempts at getting a picture, I finally was able to get this one shot. I sent it to my butterfly expert and he confirmed my ID that it is a Orange-barred Sulphur. This is a rare stray from the Valley and possibly a new county record as I will submit for a record.

Water is KING

Latest visitors to the water have been Black-and-White Warblers, Golden-Cheeked Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Bell's Vireo, Red-tailed Hawk and this pair of Yellow-breasted Chats. Total bird species seen at the water is over 50 and still growing...

Married 46 Years

Today Sherry and I celebrated our 46th year of marriage. It has been a great life - 2 wonderful children and 4 beautiful grand kids. Our ranch is paid for - no serious medical issues and we are in the planning stage for a next adventure - Brazil...Life is good here on the ranch...Just could use a little rain...but since the rest of the country is recovering from tornado's, wildfires, floods our little dry land is just fine...

Time to update my Blog - recap the last 8 months

Well sometimes there is more to do than the good lord has allocated us mere folks time on the earth to accomplish.

1. After the big storm, life settled down to the routine of the ranch. Putting seeds out for the birds, keeping the water sources clean and full, and repairing what the storm broke and the animals weekly re-arrangements.

2. I should have spent more time preparing for the winter we had one of our coldest - extended days of freezing - so that several of my trees planted this year were frozen back to the ground - mulch - mulch - mulch then water water water.

3. The year had started out with good rainfall, lots of wildflower - in fact the best we have ever had - and then the rain stopped or almost stopped.

4. It was late winter time that I started working on a plan to finish landscaping the front of the ranch house. My nephew, Bobby Barclay owns and runs a Landscaping Company that specializes in building rock features. In addition to building a large front rock wall flower bed I wanted to have water features. I designed the big picture and let Bobby and his crew do the rest. It has been one of my best investments on the ranch - especially the water features.

5. The water feature needs its own line. I decided I wanted some water falls, streams, pools and a pond. We started out with a large pond (about 10 feet in diameter and 3- 1 foot deep). It had to be excavated using a Bobcat with a jackhammer to bust the solid rock base 6 inches below my black dirt surface. A water fall was constructed next to the patio, the water falls out of and over some large rocks into two pools that drain out through the rock wall dropping about a foot to a stream that runs about 10 feet to the big pond. A second water fall was constructed under the trees that lightly falls over some large ranch rocks into a pool that drains into a small shallow stream that runs slowly through Hill County river rock into the big pond too. An amazing number of birds - 45 + have been photographed using the feature. Plus several mammal and herps (Frog, snake and lizard). Visit the link below to see the visitor to our water feature.

https://picasaweb.google.com/pipilofuscus/CollinsWaterFeatureVisitors?authkey=Gv1sRgCMyN6v-RrKC3lgE&feat=directlinkauthkey=Gv1sRgCMyN6v-RrKC3lgE&feat=directlink

6. The rock walled bed was filled with good top soil and I contracted over 100 native plants to be set in the beds. It has been mulched and watered once a week.

7. In April Sherry and I had the chance to help with Nature Quest in Uvalde County. I gave a program on Hill County Butterflies and we both took advantage of some of the field trips. This event is trying to regain its image as it lost lots of energy when funding was cut off. LeAnn And her husband Anthony Sharp did a very good job of re-starting the festival and hopefully it will rebound.

8. Recently I have had the opportunity to assist in the Love Creek Nature Conservancy Preserve breeding point counts. Love Creek is in Bandera County and has a wonderful diversity of bird species. The preserve was laid out in a grid with 120 points each at least 300 meters apart. Several TNC biologists and myself did each point counts - each point being visited 3 times during the spring (April-May-June). As I will not disclose what and the number of species seen until the TNC folks have made that data public, I will only comment that it is a very rugged place to work requiring GPS and a lot of care in navigating across the canyons and juniper thickets. My personal case involved a very bad fall that resulted in a large contusion on my left leg that is still swollen after 2 months.

9. On June 1st I gave my Hill County Butterfly Program to the Master Gardeners.

10. In early June Sherry and her sisters held a family reunion for all the family members of the 4 sisters families - Lawyer Clan.

11. Did I mention it was dry? Well to date this year I have recorded a little over 3inches of rain. 100 degree days are already occuring and we still have 5 days to the start of summer.