We acquired several benches and chairs from Marketplace for the Wildscape and delivered them at noon, which is not as hot as later in the day. Many pollinators were flying around, including hummers.
Kim Summers and I went back late evening to water and stayed until 8:00 pm, resting by the big fountain in the shade, while Cindy Rek told us about the Rio Grande Turkeys being delivered to Bird and Bee Farm, where our projects are located.
Pictured are the new pathways in the birding station that Gene Rek has been working on. We also placed 100-year-old furniture in the Bird Station, which Ann Collins chose.
Pictures also show new beds, which will allow native birds to enjoy plants that are watered by a drip system.
We are excited to be viewing all at our full moon Wildscape Celebration later this month: Monday, August 19, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Guests are welcome.
This summer hasn’t been as bad in the heat and rain department as last summer, so I’m not complaining one bit. But there sure have been some interesting developments in the sky, many directly over my head.
Some overhead things are cool, like this Red-tailed Hawk I got to listen to yesterday.
I’ll start with the most interesting one. For the past week or two I’d been noticing a lot of honeybees around my legs. It seemed like the earth was buzzing. Upon closer examination, I saw dozens of bees crawling on the tiny blossoms of the grass (I think it’s Dallis grass) that is blooming now. The bees were all very busy, zipping from flower to flower (not leisurely sipping as they usually do), and they were loaded with pollen.
My lame attempts at photographing zippy bees.
This went on for a few days. Yesterday, there was no buzzing as I walked along the field in my daily bird-watching patrol. Then, late in the afternoon I was over by the trees listening to a Yellow-billed Cuckoo when I heard something that sounded like one of those annoying drones people fly these days. I looked up and didn’t see a drone. I saw a large mass of tiny things moving along at a rapid clip. It was hundreds and hundreds of bees swarming. I guess they were moving on to better pastures. I’m not sure where their hive was before, because I hadn’t heard one in a couple of years. I hope they find a nice new dead tree!
FAKE NEWS! The blog software generated this image when I asked for “swarm of flying bees.” I don’t think they actually swarm in a giant ball.
Moving along, I’ve also been dealing with birds overhead, specifically the beautiful but omnipresent Barn Swallows. Now, normally they hang out on our porches, building mud nests, raising babies and pooping. They also eat numerous insects, so they get to stay (also it’s ILLEGAL to mess with a nest of wild birds; you can ask Mike Mitchell about it if you don’t believe me). We coexist just fine, looking into or out of the windows at each other, and enjoying the swimming pool area.
Swallows on the pond.
However, lately, the little darlings have not been at all happy with me. They aren’t nesting anymore, just flying around the ponds and in the air catching food. They are always there, and for some reason they resent my presence. When I go for my morning or afternoon walks, I often hear a very loud CHIRP, with a Doppler effect as the chirper moves away. The swallows ambush me from behind, for the most part, but occasionally they fly right at me and veer off just before they make contact with my head.
There are so many!
I have absolutely no clue as to why they are dive-bombing me. I’ve had Mockingbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds do this when they are nesting nearby. But, hey, do they think I want to home in on their mosquitos?
Creepy? Why, yes, it is. Never trust AI to draw an insect. Or a horse. They always have five legs.
Other things in the sky have been more benign. I was a bit surprised to see both Black and Turkey Vultures in the air and in my trees until I realized the Mighty Hunter (Goldie the Great Dane) had eliminated yet another armadillo that had wandered into the fenced-in area. I wish they’d read my signs that say “Armadillos and Possums: Keep out! Killer Dog! This means YOU!”
All real vultures in real trees and the real sky. Left is Black Vulture looking like it’s skulking, middle are Turkey Vultures pretending to be Christmas ornaments.
Other flying friends include the usual Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets, along with some hardy butterflies and a smaller-than-usual number of dragonflies. I’m going to pretend the flying Differential grasshoppers don’t exist.
Great EgretFemale Roseate SkimmerVariegated Fritillary
Yep, the skies around here are busy. Always look up in case bees or swallows are coming for you!
I decided to let Barn Swallows build another nest on the upper deck of my house this year. One group of three successfully flew away and stuck around as seen in the pictures of them on the power ines. We were hoping we could clean the deck as it also holds my daughter’s mini greenhouse and a seating area.
Mom had her second batch in a few days as seen in up close pics. We hope to install a swallow nesting structure, but nothing will be safer than where they are. We did add a fan that blows air under the nest.
Mom and Dad fed the first bunch on the power lines until they began to fly out to meet the parents and take the food. Then they hunted for short periods low to the ground and one day they flew away to find, I believe, the nearby pond. They are back now with their parents overlooking the siblings and the new colony.
Once again, we are breaking records for the heat here in Texas and the world.
I think that this is the new normal. My opinion…
So, there are a few simple things we can do for the wildlife.
One, we can provide water for them. It can be more important than food.
Containers that are not too deep are best. Place the containers under some shade if possible. Dump old water out as often as you can, and put fresh water in. That will keep the mosquitos to a minimum.
Birds need a perch of some kind to feel safe. There are lots of things you use for this. You can use cow panels, trellis, and old tree limbs. Be creative.
Here are a few photos of water containers I use.
I also put the sprinkler on for about 30 minutes each day. They love that.
You will find many birds, mammals, and reptiles drinking from the water you provide.
More good stuff outside. Grab your camera and go look.
I had just put out some bird seeds for the squirrels and the Doves. I put some for them on the ground to keep them from crowding the bird feeders.
I don’t know if you are aware of it, but White-tail bunnies (cottontails) like bird seed! I was surprised also. But they do. They come every day now. I had a hard time getting a photo though, because they wanted to run if I got too close. Sometimes there is a fight between everyone wanting the seeds, including Doves, Cardinals, Blue Jays, squirrels, and many others.
Also, on our front porch is a nest full of baby Phoebes just about ready to leave the nest.
Here’s one of their parents watching them dutifully from our doggie yard.
Then while on my walk, I found a Red-eared Slider laying eggs down by our front gate.
What a Spring and Summer we are having. The rains have produced abundant field grass and insects. Eat up my friends. And please, eat all the mosquitoes you can!
Nature Along the El Camino Real 