August 2013

....the only other thing of real interest was a small group of Cowbirds I saw yesterday. Now usually these birds are a pure white color but this group of about 8 had a yellow main color with the inner portion of their wings being a dark red and/or black maybe. I haven't seen any to match these here abouts. I've seen lots of the white ones though and they feast on the bugs which live on the cows' backs, and I've seen them flying in sequential groups of 8-10 as the go one direction (north east) in the mornings and then return heading south west in the evening. The return trip is awesome to view for the sky has turned darker and their white plumage is such a stark contrast. It's actually breath-taking.

The weirdest incident I've encountered with these birds happened a couple of times right here with me looking out the window in the morning. As I was waking up for work I noticed outside on the huge lawn, something moving, like as if the ground itself was moving. I began to notice it was a huge flock of these crane-like birds. They has settled, probably after dark, on this lawn within the confines of the double barbed-wire fence. When the sun began to announce the daybreak, the birds would move outward from their previously crowded nesting spot. And this was the really erie sight as they slowly crawled out to the point where one by one they arose into their take-off position and then did take flight! I've asked around and no one else seems to have witnessed this but me. Isn't that something?

10 September 2013

Birds, pigeons even!

Have you ever noticed how sure a bird appears in its element? For being the smallest of most creatures these chaps have the confidence of mountains. True there are those watchful skittish movements they all tend to make. But all in all I sense that birds know they with the exception of another quicker bird there aren't many things of which they cannot just flap away from.

Now the pigeon, that is the most pompous of all birds. What other bird dares to strut amongst us as if it were tending to our needs. I know no other.

Yes, if ever I was given the option of occupying another animal's body, it would definitely be a bird. But an eagle for sure, not a sparrow or a wren, and definitely not a pigeon.

13 August 2013

....while we were in the okra patch I heard a concerted squawking from overhead. I looked up and there were about 9 large crane-like birds flying towards the north, sort of. These were birds I'd never seen before. They closely resembled the big white cowbirds I've told you of but these were an ochre color (yellowish brown) and the inside edges of their wings were solid black.....

...Of course I saw at least one small rabbit and several field mice. Have I told you of the little Downy Woodpecker I see every morning as we leave out from the road at the back gate? There is a line of electric poles at this road right outside the back gate and on the top of one of one resides at least one Downy Woodpecker. These are the ones that are the size of a robin (maybe slightly smaller) and are black and white. This being a creosote soaked high line pole, the bird doesn't peck or hunt for insects on the pole. It just seems to be living atop the pole. Rather strange I think unless he or she just uses this place as an interim jump-off spot. I know it flies to the nearby tree line, so that's possibly where it lives.......

image from allaboutbirds.com

3 August 2013

...a sparrow baby, which really looked to be quite old enough to fare for itself, was squawking quite adamently and flapping its not fully extended wings as its mother feverishly tried to keep enough bits of food transferring from her to the mouth of the babe's. After a bit the mom flew off, I suppose after more food, or possibly to encourage the baby to join her. The babe can fly, 'cause it flew to the sill it was perched upon. But after a bit the mom hadn't returned and the youngster was sitting, waiting, looking about, and every now and again a little peep was heard. Then all at once the mom returned and that baby went balistic, squawking like it was trying out a newly discovered voice. But that's how it is, at least for sparrow young, they will continue to let themselves be fed until their mom just wont any more. You know, that's not so strange is it after all, we all have probably returned to the roost a couple times for a good square meal. Some have never left....

Photo © Pheanix300

Thursday 11 July 2013

..... only a mouse or two, plus the buzzards I see every day when we are at the gardens. I've not seen any snakes yet this year except the harmless little grass snakes. Oh but we have seen lots of Black Widow spiders recently, especially on and near the tomato and pepper plants. I keep my gloves on just so I don't get a needless bite from one or from ants too. I read somewhere that these fire ants have been pretty instrumental in causing the widespread demise of the rattlesnake in particular and other snakes as well. I suppose they get into the snakes' dens and kill and eat the eggs.

We see deer on average of 2 or 3 days but only far off in the distance as we are approaching the garden entrance.

It's not exactly wild wildlife, but just a bit ago I saw a male sparrow doing its courting dance and song. The poor guy went on for quite a time before the female who had been preening herself just up and flew off. It really is quite a show that the male sparrows put on for their potentials. I guess birds are the most animals I see these days. The swallows that used to come here seem to have left. It's just been too dry I suppose. But I do notice some stragglers flying up near the tops of these high mast lights when we go out in the morning. And the other place I still see swallows is at a single tree that is just inside the garden gate but before we get down to the fields. This big old oak tree is also the site of the Scissor Tails I've told you of......