Nature Haikus – Winter
Red House Lake
By Young Naturalist C
Winter
Snow laden branches
Hide secrets in the forest
Waiting to be found
House Finch
House Finch
House Finch was all over the Ranch while visiting Texas last December. They are easily ignored but they really are pretty birds.
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Western Bluebirds
Western Bluebird in Mistletoe
One of the most unexpected finds while at the Texas Ranch was the discovery of Western Bluebirds (CHECK Lifer). We only saw the bluebirds on the last two days in Texas but they were sure there in numbers.
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Featured Blog on Nature Blog Network
Cedar Waxwing with Honeysuckle
The Nature Blog Network made the Monarch Nature Blog the Featured Blog of the week!! Wren was able to get a few details about me that I don’t normally talk about! Be sure to check it out!!
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Valentines Day Love
If you haven’t noticed yet! I am in love!
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Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
I have many Mourning Doves around my home but it takes a trip to Texas to capture my best Mourning Dove photos ever!!
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Southern Outdoor Experience
Patty Self Portrait in the Blind
Our Texas trip originated after Patty won a hunting trip for two at the 2009 Deerassic Classics Outdoor Expos last summer. I remember walking by the booth and seeing the Southern Outdoor Experience logo saying “Out of all the hunting shows on TV, this is the one show that I actually remembered watching ”!! We decided to stop at the booth to chat with the producers and I decided to purchased one of their hats. Southern Outdoor Experience had an amazing raffle for a 3 days trophy hunt for two in Texas, to get completely outfitted (clothing), a new riffle and scope. I noticed Patty and her mother were quickly filling their names on a few raffle tickets.
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Deformed Antler
White-tailed Deer
Each spring the male White-tailed Deer will grow a new set of antlers and throughout the summer the antlers will continue to get larger depending on the bucks diet. By fall the highly vascular tissue (Velvet) will dry up and peel off leaving a hard bone behind. The remaining velvet will be removed by the deer rubbing his antlers on a small tree (deer rub). This all happens because of the bucks’ testosterone levels increasing in preparations for the rutting season. By late December early January the buck will loose his antlers and the whole process will repeat itself the following spring.
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My Texas Deer
White-tailed Deer
The White-tailed Deer and Axis Deer were the primary deer species found on the Canyon Ranch in Sonora, Texas. During our visit the White-tailed Deer were in rut (mating season) and we had many opportunities to find bucks sparring (fighting) each other over different female territories. Watching these bucks were absolutely amazing and you could easily observe which deer were higher up in the pecking order. When a dominant buck walked into a feeding station, you would find all other deer backing away from the feeders.
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Jack Rabbit [Wordless Wednesday]
Jack Rabbit
I would sneak up on this rabbit in Texas on the ranch and take a few pictures before it would run away. Sneak up on it again . . . . it happened multiple times!! Happy Wordless Wednesday!!
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Groundhogs Day 2010
Marshmallow the Albino Woodchuck
To all my Blogging friends; I Allegany Tom on the 2nd of February 2010 did not see my shadow when I woke up this morning. I predict that spring will come early this year!! I just love this holidays and on a side note . . . . Punxstawney Phil did see his shadow this morning! He is predicting that there will be “six more weeks of winter”!!
Lark Buntings in Texas
Lark Bunting
Found this Lark Bunting in its basic plumage which has a “sparrow-like” appearance to it. This wasn’t an easy bird to identify and I spent more time studying the pictures of these birds than any other birds on my Texas trip. Lark Bunting – LIFER (CHECK)!!
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Woodpeckers on the Ranch
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
The first morning on the Texas Ranch was exciting and after lunch everyone was chatting about the animals that were found around the hunting blinds. A few of us were sitting under this large tree in the back yard when Patty asked about woodpeckers . . . . . most specifically the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. We were using our BirdsEye application (on our iPhone) and noticed it had been seen recently within the area. Then within 15 minutes I said “Patty come look at this bird . . . . I think this is your woodpecker”!! Sure enough the Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Lifer –CHECK) made an appearance as if to say “here I am”!!
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Bewick’s Wren Misidentification
Bewick’s Wren
Thanks to Nick from Biological Ramblings in helping me add another bird to my life list!! I was a little careful in my identifications and should have more closely investigated my “Carolina Wren” that was actually a Bewick’s Wren. I missed the obvious rust-brown underparts in the Carolina Wren and the white-edged tail with dark bars on the Bewick’s Wren. I was anticipating the Bewick’s to be more Gray than brown and just didn’t spend the time at home identifying it like I should have done. Anyways . . . . . Bewick’s Wren (CHECK)!! Thanks Nick!
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My Blunch Lifers
Prickly Pear
After breakfast I was walking around with Patty and her brother who were telling me about the deers they encountered that morning. I noticed this large bird in the distance and quickly pulled the binoculars up . . . could it have been?? (more…)
Friendly Wren
Carolina Bewick’s Wren
The first morning on the ranch brought us an amazing sunrise and an outstanding day to be out looking for lifers! I didn’t know what to expect and found myself trying to carefully analyze each bird encounter. Are those House Finch really House Finch?? . . . . . then using my field guide and iPhone app . . . what other options could this bird be??
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Texas Sunrise [Wordless Wednesday]
Sunrise started with a purple sky!
I have never seen such an amazing Sunrise as I did the first morning on the Ranch!!
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We make it to the Ranch
Windmill
After a quick Dairy Queen visit we finally arrived at Rocksprings to meet our 3 guides who would be taking everyone around for the next few days. The vehicles got filled up with gas and Patty headed over to the local grocery store for her hunting license. We then drove northwest . . . . drove some more. . . and drove a little longer than expected . . . . everyone showed great calmness as soon as we turned into the Canyon Ranch gate. We couldn’t believe our eyes and this ranch was more beautiful than we had ever imagined it being.
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First findings in Texas
Northern Mockingbird
We arrived in Waco Texas around 2am in the morning and we had not seen our first Texas bird until we woke up that morning. Patty said “can you hear the birdies outside??” . . . . scratching my head and not knowing the bird dialect that I was hearing. I walked outside and found this Northern Mockingbird outside mimicking Texas birdies that I did not know!! We also found Starlings, House Finch, House Sparrows, Rock Pigeion. . . etc. . . we added these to our trip checklist!!
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Road trip to Texas via my iPhone
Dinosaur World
Everything started with Patty winning the Southern Outdoor Experience hunting trip at the 2009 Deerassic Classic Outdoor Expo this summer. Being a birdwatcher . . . my mind was spinning with the thoughts of finding “Texas LIFERS”!! We had 5 months to plan this trip to the Canyon Ranch in Sonora Texas with the Southern Outdoor Experience film crew. The time finally came to make the adventure!
Nature Haikus – Seasonal Fun
By Young Naturalist C
Seasonal Fun
Winter has arrived
Skiers and snowboarders slide
Down snow covered trails
Happy Holidays 2009
Patty and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We will do our best to update everyone on our trip that we are taking to Texas this week! Until then . . . have a safe holiday season!
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Lycopodium
Lycopodium
by Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr.
They are the elves’ Christmas trees
Grandfather would say
of Ground Pine and Cedar
Once in the sun I laid on snow
eye level to see colored lights and bulbs
the size of frozen dew drops
They are lycopodiums, he’d say
teaching me again to pronounce the name
because scientific words have the sounds of poetry
Lie-ko-po-dee-um
You’ve got it, he’d laugh
his hearty red face broadening behind his white beard
his abundant frame rollicking
When I return home for the holidays
I always walk back to our woods
think of Grandfather assuring a small boy
Yes,I’ll see that the elves have a happy Christmas
I am glad lie-ko-po-dee-um is evergreen
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