Once again it’s time for you to test your bird identification skills by answering the question in the caption on the photo. Clues to use: I am a bird of the marsh. I, my brethren and cousins, form huge flocks in winter. I am the name and mascot of a minor league baseball team whose major [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for August, 2011
Irene Birds
August 30th, 2011Well, Irene has come and gone, but it did little to refresh the water of the Wetlands. Besides the water, I had hoped that we might see a few new species of bird (for the Museum) blown in to our little sanctuary (see here), but although a few out of place birds were seen at local [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Crab Spider w/prey
August 30th, 2011Crab Spiders (Thomisidae) typically conceal themselves within the petals, seeds, or leaves of a flowering plant, waiting in ambush for insects to come along. They quickly lurch out to capture any unsuspecting insect that happens by. Prey rarely escape the clutches of these bold little spiders. The spiders get their name from their superficial resemblance [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Green Heron Update
August 26th, 2011Yesterday I noticed a young Green Heron fishing just feet from the Main Wetlands Overlook. I assumed it was the same heron that has been seen in our Wetlands all summer long. I’m not so sure. I saw three different Green Herons yesterday, two immatures and an unknown aged bird (I only saw the latter bird’s [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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If you haven’t heard yet…
August 25th, 2011Ranger Sara is leaving us for new adventures in the Land of Enchantment, the home of the Roadrunner, the headwaters of the Pecos River, Tony Hillerman country, and she’ll be right down the road from the first discovery of the Clovis Point*. I’m bummed, but I’m also happy, and a little bit jealous. I’m bummed because [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Water needed! Or is it?
August 24th, 2011The water in the Wetlands is as low as it’s been for more than four years. Normally, most of the Wetland’s stumps and snags are not apparent, being covered by the water. But each day more and more water is lost to evaporation. The low water level is both good and bad. The lower water [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Marmots in the Grass!
August 20th, 2011The handsome brute above was seen feeding on spilled sunflower seeds in Catch the Wind. We’ll be seeing more Woodchucks, marmots, or whatever you wan to call them, as the season moves along, the air cools, and they feel the urge to fatten up for the big sleep. There are at least six different groundhog [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Walking Crawfish
August 15th, 2011It has rained the past two weekends. After a rainfall the Wetlands’ crawfish get up and have a walkabout. I’m not quite sure what the reason is for these expeditions, although I believe it to be a search for new areas to colonize by the crawfish. Since their gills need to stay wet in order [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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What is that!
August 12th, 2011I look forward to my weekly walks with the Outdoor Summer Campers. We always find something interestng. Certainly, as the season progresses new plants come into flower, seed, or fruit, birds move forward in their nesting or migrations, and insects continue their emergence and growth. This past Wednesday we found evidence of the latter part of [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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