April 2025 – Page 2 – Nature Along the El Camino Real

by Donna Lewis

Recently I had several large flocks of these very sleek looking birds in my oak trees.

These beautiful migratory birds, Cedar Waxwings, like to stay in flocks and will go all the way to Canada during the warmer months.

A sleek crest with a black mask and red wax-looking tips on their secondary wings make these birds easy to identify. The feathers on their chests are short and look slicked down.

They mostly eat fruit, berries, flower petals, some insects, and occasionally sap.

I love the fact that when they are courting male and females will sit side by side and pass flower petals back and forth, share a meal and rub beaks. How romantic! The babies are even fed by both parents.

They will drink from bird baths and sometimes eat raisins from bird feeders. But more often Cedar Waxwings keep to the wild things for food.

If you see some birds with a crest and look like Zorro, then they’re probably Cedar Waxwings.

Remember who you garden for.

by Pamela Neeley

As usual, I was walking around the outside of the house checking flower bed for upcoming Spring cleaning, and I was wearing capris, flip-flops and no gloves. My friend pulled me back while saying, “Snake!”

Big, fat, black water Moccasin was right in front of me, but heading away from us. (Solid color usually indicates mature snake. Patterns refer to young or juveniles. ID can be confusing because of the patterns.)

It’s been awhile since I’d spotted a viper. I used my single-shot shotgun and missed at less than 6 feet (?) and I couldn’t remember how to release the safety on the other. So, I called my neighbor, who was at home, and asked him to dispatch this cottonmouth.

One shot from his pistol. He says he keeps snake shot handy just for me! I believe this.

I hung it on the fence, to alert other snakes. Legend has it that snakes will continue moving until sundown.I don’t know. It wasn’t on the fence when I looked. I didn’t go search for a moving, dead snake, either.

Cautionary tale: It is Spring and suddenly moist. The frogs are back. Cottonmouths, or water moccasins, are very nasty-tempered poisonous vipers. It will stand its ground, and possibly move toward you if you disturb it. They will try to stare you down, and possibly chase you – not a myth. Both on land and in the water.

The frogs have returned and are a favorite food. Flowerbeds often have mulch. Texas is famous for drought. The cement slab houses have to be kept moist around the base, about 18″ from base of house, and create a perfect environment for meal-seeking snakes.

Wear protective clothing. Review use of firearms. Although poisonous, infection is common because their mouths are nasty and full of exotic bacteria, etc.

There is a viper antivenom, CroFab antivenom (Wikipedia). I do not know if local medical facilities have this in stock.

Month: April 2025

Cedar Waxwing Visitors

Water Moccasin Alert