Rains, Wildflowers and Birds

We have been getting some much needed rain recently - a little over 5 inches for the year - last year out total was 12 inches.  Lately it has been more mist that respectable rain, but any time we can keep the ground damp is a positive for the flora.

Speaking of flora, the Agarita (Berberis trifoliata)is in full bloom - maybe we will have a good year and the plants will produce lots of berries for our jelly making.  The Elbow Bush (Forestiera pubescens) are leafing out and will be in bloom and produce the purple berries for the birds and can be eaten with chewing gum to make bubble gum.  No sign of flower on the Texas Redbud, but I have seen Henry Elfin's around so they will be blooming soon.  The ranch is covered in wildflower rosettes.  As long as we continue to get rain, it will be another year of the ranch covered in wildflowers.

The only sign of spring was a sighting of three Purple Martin last week that have not returned.  I have finished setting my bird nest boxes, and a Bewick's Wren has already will the box almost to the top with sticks.  Black-crested Titmice are testing the boxes with small amounts of lichen in the bottom of a few boxes.  Still need to set three more new boxes and I will have 20 out.  Yesterday while sitting in the Great Room, a saw the front yard feeder area explode with birds and one male Cardinal hit the front window, landing on the porch.  While it looked to have had a serious hit, suddenly a Cooper's Hawk swooped in and carried the still stunned Cardinal off.  More Pyrrhuloxia are showing up - had three yesterday.  And just a few minutes ago a Sharp-shinned Hawk scattered the birds.