Jan 17
Posted: under Activities, Land, Plantlife, Water, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, beauty, butterflies, census, new species, photography, Weather January 17th, 2010
We’d had some sprinkles, but the first real rain came Thursday & Friday, about two inches, and set the secondary drainage flowing across the near meadow again. Creek was up and a little turbid, but the flow in the grass was crystal clear. Today, I finally photographed a common (supposedly) species of butterfly around here, […] [...more]
We’d had some sprinkles, but the first real rain came Thursday & Friday, about two inches, and set the secondary drainage flowing across the near meadow again. Creek was up and a little turbid, but the flow in the grass was crystal clear. Today, I finally photographed a common (supposedly) species of butterfly around here, which I’d never been able to catch in the lens.
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Dec 27
Posted: under Activities, Plantlife, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, beauty, bird behavior, native plants, natural water, photography December 27th, 2009
We had clear dry weather today to get some work done, and no choir duties. Our first chore was moving water iris taken from the lily pond (which had overgrown with them) out onto the land, to see if they’ll naturalize in some of the temporary pools. We were successful with a few transplants a […] [...more]
We had clear dry weather today to get some work done, and no choir duties. Our first chore was moving water iris taken from the lily pond (which had overgrown with them) out onto the land, to see if they’ll naturalize in some of the temporary pools. We were successful with a few transplants a few years back.
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Dec 10
Posted: under Activities, Water, Weather.
Tags: Activities, natural water, photography December 10th, 2009
Every day brings changes to the land–the seasonal changes being among the most obvious–but from year to year we see changes–both desired and undesired–as a result of what we, our neighbors, and the weather do. [...more]
Every day brings changes to the land–the seasonal changes being among the most obvious–but from year to year we see changes–both desired and undesired–as a result of what we, our neighbors, and the weather do.
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Nov 25
Posted: under Activities, Update.
Tags: Activities November 25th, 2009
There’s a new page at this blog that will explain the “activities” tag to readers not familiar with the Texas law on conversion of agricultural land to wildlife management. I’ve outlined some of the things we do to satisfy the requirements of each of the seven listed activities. [...more]
There’s a new page at this blog that will explain the “activities” tag to readers not familiar with the Texas law on conversion of agricultural land to wildlife management. I’ve outlined some of the things we do to satisfy the requirements of each of the seven listed activities.
Nov 25
Posted: under Activities, Mortality, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, wildlife management November 25th, 2009
Wildlife managers know that in natural systems (few of which still exist) there’s a reasonable balance between predators and prey, so that the prey don’t degrade the resource (plants and water) they need. In nearly all managed lands in the US, large predators have been eliminated or reduced to the point where predators cannot effectively […] [...more]
Wildlife managers know that in natural systems (few of which still exist) there’s a reasonable balance between predators and prey, so that the prey don’t degrade the resource (plants and water) they need. In nearly all managed lands in the US, large predators have been eliminated or reduced to the point where predators cannot effectively control prey population. Thus the grazers and browsers can grow in numbers to the point where they are on the edge of starvation.
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Nov 12
Posted: under Activities, photography, Water, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, beauty, butterflies, native plants, photography, water resource management November 12th, 2009
Two years of drought followed by heavy rains in a warm fall has produced bursts of spring flowering and some spring butterflies even as it’s produced sudden fall color…a very odd combination. [...more]
Two years of drought followed by heavy rains in a warm fall has produced bursts of spring flowering and some spring butterflies even as it’s produced sudden fall color…a very odd combination.
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Nov 07
Posted: under Activities, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, bird behavior, census, observation, photography, wildlife management November 7th, 2009
Forgot to mention yesterday that though I had heard a White-crowned Sparrow call in the yard a few days ago, I hadn’t spotted one until yesterday evening, up in the dry woods. I came into the south end of the dry woods trail and startled some White-winged doves, who flapped off with their usual noisy […] [...more]
Forgot to mention yesterday that though I had heard a White-crowned Sparrow call in the yard a few days ago, I hadn’t spotted one until yesterday evening, up in the dry woods. I came into the south end of the dry woods trail and startled some White-winged doves, who flapped off with their usual noisy behavior, but one smaller bird just hopped to the top of a cactus and sat there.
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Nov 06
Posted: under Activities, photography, Plantlife, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, beauty, butterflies, census, native plants, photography, prairie restoration November 6th, 2009
Some grasses should be planted just for the way they look with sunlight slanting through them in the fall. This is one. It’s one of the Muhlys, but I don’t know which. [...more]
Some grasses should be planted just for the way they look with sunlight slanting through them in the fall.
This is one. It’s one of the Muhlys, but I don’t know which.
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Nov 06
Posted: under Activities, photography, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, census, insect, new species, observation, photography, wildlife management November 6th, 2009
Our on the land with visitors yesterday, I spotted a new fly (new to me): That spotted abdomen was very obvious with the naked eye. It’s a similar pattern to a spotted jumping spider we have (also white spots on black) and until I saw it fly I was thinking “There’s another P. audax, never […] [...more]
Our on the land with visitors yesterday, I spotted a new fly (new to me):
That spotted abdomen was very obvious with the naked eye. It’s a similar pattern to a spotted jumping spider we have (also white spots on black) and until I saw it fly I was thinking “There’s another P. audax, never saw one on heath aster before.” The “face” and antennae are the same golden color as the wings.
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Oct 30
Posted: under Activities, Plantlife, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, beauty, dragonfly, native plants, natural water, photography October 30th, 2009
Instead of raining yesterday as the front came through, the sky slowly cleared from the west, and today dawned chilly and clear. While Richard worked on fence, I put on rubber boots and went out to see if anything’s drying out yet. [...more]
Instead of raining yesterday as the front came through, the sky slowly cleared from the west, and today dawned chilly and clear. While Richard worked on fence, I put on rubber boots and went out to see if anything’s drying out yet.
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