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.