Lies

The "real" Davis Mts post hasn't happened yet; I apparently lied about that. In the meantime, have a lovely Tantilla spp from a house (yes, inside) west of Alpine!

Davis Mts Preserve Teaser

...this weekend was an open weekend at The Nature Conservancy's Davis Mountains Preserve. Here's your teaser until a real post is assembled: 

(Black-necked garter snake)

Streaky

I was enthralled with Common Streaky Skipper the first time I saw it; a tiny, dark blur that finally landed... If rainbows were sepia, this insect would fit the bill. If fireworks were subtle shades of nuanced earthy browns, well, I think you get the idea. I REALLY like Common Streaky Skippers. This one is from early July, just west of Alpine. Mmmm, shoddy phone pics....

Guest Sightings: Davis Mts

Slightly adapted from an email sent by Bill Sain of Alpine, TX:

(From Sunday, July 6, 2014)

No Montezuma Quail at Davis Mountains State Park this morning but I did see a pair on the road three miles from the picnic area [LE Woods picnic area, past the McDonald Observatory - h].  I did see a Hepatic Tanager at DMSP.  There appears to be nesting Cooper's Hawks at the picnic area.  There were five teachers from Weslaco camping there and they were asking me about a hawk they kept seeing.  Sounded like a Coopers to me (poor photos also showed a Coop) but one was adamant it was a Peregrine.  The other folks looked at their bird book and agreed that they had seen a Coopers.  I walked along the road and flushed an unknown hawk from a tree.  It did not go far so I searched the area and found a young Coopers in the tree the first hawk flushed from.  I don't know if the flushed bird was an adult or another juvenile.  The hawks were in the area where I saw Plumbeous Vireo last year...didn't see or hear any vireos there this year.  No Gray Flycatchers either.  Both the park and the picnic area were extremely busy today...it was not easy to bird there dodging people, cars, and noise.  Three year birds for the day, the quail, tanager and the Western Wood-Pewee.

***

While we are in limbo, emailed reports of all kinds are appreciated!

 

House Guests

The big puppy has not been feeling well, so the back door has been propped open - day and night - to ease his discomfort. Unfortunately, cone-nosed beetles, mosquitoes and a few other guests have invited themselves in... 

Like this female rhinoceros beetle.