Today I am taking a mental health break and just having fun outside. I spent a really long time this morning watching the edge of the woods to figure…
Sparrows of Hermits’ Rest
I just thought y’all might enjoy this blog.
Sparrows of Hermits’ Rest
Category: Nature Observations
Don’t Tread on Me
by Donna Lewis
I decided to go look at our pond to see if the water level had come up. I took my camera in case I saw something interesting. And lo and behold, there was a gorgeous Red Admiral butterfly nectaring on an elm tree just off the pond area.
So I very slowly worked my way around the tree near a ravine and stopped in front of a pile of limbs. Just as I looked down at my footing I just about had a stroke!!! Probably 24 inches from my hands holding the camera was a large snake lying on top of the limbs. It was fat, oily, and waiting for a meal…
I am not scared of most snakes, but when you are not expecting one, it can be scary! Luckily I was able to get a photo before I slowly backed away and went on my way.
As soon as I got back to the house I started trying to identify this snake. I had not seen this particular one before. I find it hard to look at a guide book to correctly identify a snake. So, I sent the photo off to Dr. Crump ( TPWD Herpetologist ) and our own Linda Jo Conn(the celebrated iNaturalist expert) to find out what it was.
Dr. Crump responded really fast and informed me that it is a diamondback water snake. Its scientific name is Nerodia rhombifera rhombifera. Gotta love these long names.
So this baby is a water snake and has an extraordinary ability to stink! They call that a musking ability, but you know what I mean. Thank goodness it is a non-venomous snake, but it will bite if threatened. It likes to eat frogs and carrion. Oh my.
I won’t be trying to pick it up anytime soon. It’s hard to say who would be more frightened, the snake or the human? Live and let live, I always say! All creatures have their place in nature.
As the sun set later on, I said goodbye to my new friend, and hoped he went to visit someone else.
Flying Spiders and Other Arachnid Tales
by Eric Neubauer
Flying Spiders
A while back a friend directed me to an article suggesting that spiders use the electrical gradient in the atmosphere to become airborne. When they produce silk, it has a charge and is attracted upward. Enough silk, and they’re up and away. So, the thing that causes lightning can also be used by spiders to fly.
After I read the article, I’ve wanted to see a flying spider. Yesterday, I was lucky and saw one go by at about 5 mph and 6 feet above the ground. I saw the spider, one of my guests saw the silk thread it was suspended by. Unfortunately it went by too quickly for either of us to see what was at the other end of the thread.
Whether it is pure instinct or involves some thought, the spider is purposefully flying. By dropping down on the thread, the spider can land at will. I have seen what I take to be silken spider balloons lying on plants.
I’ve also wondered how those silken threads that span the tall grass on either side of the driveway got there. It would be tedious for the spider to go down, across, and up while risking the thread getting entangled along the way. They probably simply fly it across. I’ll be looking for more flying spiders.
Additional information from Sue Ann
I’m busting in on Eric’s article, because this is also one of my interests. I found on Wikipedia that this is called ballooning. Apparently lots of spiders and some other organisms do this, and yes, it’s electrical!
I’ve also read that the wolf spiderlings are blown out of their nests on these little parachutes of silk, which is how they disperse. Here’s a close-up I found. At some times of the year at our ranch, they are everywhere. I can remember getting covered by the sailing webs while driving in our utility vehicle.
Are spiders disgusted by humans?
As the season winds down and the avian predators clean up the last of the grasshoppers, the mating season of Eastern Harvestmen (and women) is in full swing. Perhaps because of this they seem to be very curious.
Twice I’ve had them come to investigate while I was fussing around with something. Rabid Wolf Spiders also do this, but I figured in their case they were hoping for a meal like the swallows that appear when you’re out on a lawn tractor.
The funny thing was when I stuck my finger out to see what the Harvestmen would do with it, they turned tail and ran away immediately upon contact. It seemed as if they had the same gut reaction that some people have when they see a spider. It also suggests they have really poor eyesight and are probably as comfortable in total darkness as they are in light.
I later had another encounter with a harvestman. I kept my finger still as it approached. As soon as its leading foot touched me, it turned and ran. Primatephobia at its best!
Central Texas “Snow”
by Carolyn Henderson
Central Texas received its first notable “snow” this morning. It was very pretty, but also disruptive. It started with my daily trip to check my CoCoRAHs rain gauge. It was frosted over inside and out, and I did not have on gloves. The frost did not melt when I removed the lid to get out the gauge so I could see it.
It was quite white on all surfaces that were not shaded by trees, and it was lovely to look at this morning. Of course, you all know it’s not snow, but it is often as close as we get around here.
After seeing news footage of what hit New England yesterday, that’s a good thing, really. Also on the bright side, my son has finally agreed that the tomato plant that wouldn’t stop has finally stopped, and I can remove it.
The Last Bumblebee for Autumn
By Donna Lewis
The last week in November, I found this bumblebee on a fall aster in my garden.
After looking at the bee chart, I believe it to be a Bombus variabilis.
If someone is better at identifying bees, let me know if I am incorrect.
I asked it to move its wings so I could look at its body, but I guess I can’t speak bee language. Anyway, it was a beauty as far as bees go.
It has since gotten cooler, so I am only seeing honeybees right now. I have been putting out some sugar water for them, since there are no flowers still in the pasture or my garden. They are also in need of water, since we are still in a drought.
All creatures need water. So just the simple act of keeping water out can help our nature friends. We are all charged with caring for the wild things.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 