Didn’t have my big camera.
I did not heed my iNat Rule #2. Went outside without a camera and this guy was sitting on top of the fence. Held my breath until I returned with camera in hand. The owl was still there.
First Bald Eagle nest in Milam County documented on iNat. Thanks to Catherine Johnson @catsanddogs, fellow ECRTMN, who has watched this nest for 5 years and showed it to me today. Nest with adult and chick.
Found at base of this dead standing old oak or cedar Elm? Too dead to tell
At the alternate trail down to the salt lake Ann and I visited Thursday morning, we made another investigation and explored further, saw the lake of salt and other interesting things.
A highlight of the visit. Fellow salt lake visitors sharing the sighting of the feeding peccary with others and all quietly viewing the event. Awesome. The peccary was the star of the day!
Unusual visitor to the empty seed feeder outside my kitchen window.
2023 TX Pollinator BioBlitz Sunday Oct. 8 - Challenge B: Picture of a pollinator predator. These birds eat seeds and berries and a wide variety of insects.
Took the long way home from a Texas Watershed Steward workshop in Giddings to check on the status of a King's Highway historical marker and drive over the Middle Yegua bridge on CR 326 near my house. A stop on the way.
Zoomed in from a distance. I could not see the stock tank behind the trees from the road, but it is shown on Google Maps.
ECRTMN Mothing Event at Bird and Bee Farm to celebrate National Moth Week 2023.
Found at the rear entrance of my dentist's office.
When we relocated this snake away from the house (and grandkids) it did as my snake book stated: hissed, flattened out, coiled it's tail, regurgitated a frog, turned upside down with its mouth open and played dead! We had a good science lesson with the grandkids!
BioBlitz with some iNat folks.
On Ambrosia psilostachya
"Cases" appear to be empty.
Great Texas Wildlife Trail - Brazos Loop: Rosebud City Lake. "A small reservoir just outside the town of Rosebud provides easy access to wetlands and open grassland."
Drove over to west Milam County to visit the site on this Great Texas Wildlife Trail site with my granddaughter, even though the website said it was temporarily closed. It was open to the public, however a hot morning to visit.
My granddaughter and I thought this was a moth in the truck grill at first. When she removed it, it was still alive and not until several moments later we noticed the characteristic legs of a grasshopper. Colorful wings fooled us.
I took a trip down a side road on the drive to Kountze.
Another stop on the drive home from Rockdale to investigate the roadside flowers.
Blooms waning.
I have followed this plant since December 12 of last year.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102980874
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103453220
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104244652
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104246548
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104246548
Attended the Old Settler's Park Winter Tree Walk with Williamson Co. Native Plant Society members, Texas Master Naturalists and iNaturalists.
At seed feeder outside kitchen window.
Male
I added the pictures of the flowering of the Roughleaf Dogwood from my April 28th Observation. There is a small grove in a ditch.
Lone individual , dropped down to the ground in search of a bone
Noticed this wasp after we took the siding off our house.
My "new" cat met one of the resident raccoons today on the porch. She hissed at the raccoon, but it was obviously not at all intimidated.
Cleaning up the uneaten cat food. When I opened the door, I startled him, but for only a second. Went right back to eating.
Day Two of the El Camino Real TMN Winter Seasonal BioBlitz.
At the bird seed feeder outside my kitchen window.
Observed flora/fauna along Mustang Creek as part of the ECRMN Winter bioBlitz
Day One of the El Camino Real TMN Winter Seasonal BioBlitz.
Substrate: Dead oak twig
Interesting. Eye-catching. Alas! Photos did not turn out well.
Visited the Old Rockdale City Cemetery today for my first time ever. Old graves. Lots of sandy soil with sparse vegetation. Lots of lichen. This specimen on an iron gate post around a family plot.
Let's Get Outside ECRTMN weekly incentive - Visit a historic cemetery.
Yank the Bastard Cabbage project. Yanked 190 plants today at the Indian Camp Creek historical marker on south Hwy 77 entering Lexington. Location was former site of a former picnic/rest area.
First Day Hike @ Birch Creek Unit Lake Somerville State Park
Made a solitary visit to the park as a part of our mega-physically distanced ECRTMN chapter's endeavor "Let's Get Outside!" It was a great day to be outside but would have been better with a few nature-minded companions at a safe distance.
Thought they were sparrows until I cropped the photos! Lots of them visiting the water puddle.
Project Feeder Watch 2020-21
Photo taken from my kitchen window.
El Camino Real TMN members met for a physically-distanced wildlife survey of several Rockdale city parks in the afternoon after it warmed up a bit. Last night was the first killing freeze of the year.
Several El Camino Real TMN members visited Sumuel Park in Rockdale for a "Physically-distanced" as opposed to "Socially-distanced" survey of the wildlife in the city park.
Stopped driving when I saw a hawk on the barb wire fence. Before I could get camera, he flew up to power line. Got a few shots before he dove after something on the ground. @mammelton provided our November El Camino Real TMN meeting program last Thursday but I sadly did not retain all the knowledge she shared with us on IDs. It was a great presentation.
Left porch light on when I left house this evening. When arrived home at dark, took a moment to see what had been attracted to the LED light.
On an El Camino Real TMN (socially distanced) excursion to iNat while investigating the physical status of the ECR wildscape and surrounding public area at the Milano Junction Memorial Garden with Catherine and Eric.
I read that the host plant for this butterfly species is Passiflora. The wildscape is engulfed by rampant passion vines to the detriment of other wildflowers.
Made a store trip to Caldwell this afternoon. Hadn't driven this road lately.
The only photo of this individual taken several years ago. Possibly G. externus?
Did not see the fly until I uploaded the photos. I ruined this guys dinner, I suppose.
My last addition to the 2020 Virtual Nature Venture challenge. I am just about iNat-ed out. Will probably wait till Monday to begin the NPSOT 2020 BioBlitz.
At seed feeder outside kitchen window.
Outside kitchen window near seed feeder.