Visitors and Weather

We saw one of these guys at our bird bath the other day. He was looking a little haggard and thin, not so fine and robust as the one in this picture. A painted bunting showed up in '09, 11 and now in 13. What's interesting is that all three times they appeared in July.

Their range is southern and eastern Texas, so seeing one in the the Hill Country is a little uncommon.

I imagine the drought is making some animals travel outside their comfort zones as they search for food and water.

Ah yes, the drought. This is the third year. We had a long, pleasant spring, nor has this summer been as hot as it was two years ago, for which we are grateful. But still there has been no significant rain. We need 23 to 25 inches, now, today, to bring our creeks and rivers up to normal levels.

Look at it this way. Texas has 254 counties, the most of any state in the union. 200 of those counties are experiencing severe drought conditions. The average rainfall for our area is between 30 and 31 inches. In 2011, the driest year on record, we had only 13.1 inches of rain. Last year we got all the way up to 25.04. So far this year we're up to 14.5 with the hottest part of summer looming ahead of us.

Sigh... Send us your extra drops. Pray for rain, help us with a rain dance.

I leave you with this, the sounds of a Texas downpour. Music I would love to hear.


How's the weather been in your part of the world?

Walk Like an Egyptian

A lot of migratory birds pass through Texas on their way south in the winter and north in the spring. Some years are better than others. In our area, when there's been rain we see robins. But it's been so dry the past three years robins have by-passed us.

Every year, for who knows how many, at least one  Rufous-sided Towhee has spent the winter in our yard under the ligustrums and the cedar elm. One year there were five. But mostly it's been a solitary male. Then every spring, sometime between February and March he disappears. It couldn't possibly be the same bird could it?

Rufus at the frozen bird bath.

Last month for a couple of weeks we had a Philadelphia Vireo feeding at the suet. We'd never seen anything like this plain little bird before and struggled to make an identification. Apparently it's kind of rare for it to be seen this far west and at this time of year.

Many years ago, before digital cameras, I got pictures of this pretty duck. I have yet to be able to identify it.

Which brings me to... Friday was a beautiful day so we decided to take a drive in the '57 Chevy. While out and about we came across these guys. They have a mask over their eyes and a spot in the middle of their chests.

 And pink legs!

What an odd looking goose.

A little research and I find out they're Egyptian geese, native to the Nile valley, imported into the states. There's an article about them HERE. They are actually a cross between a goose and a duck. No wonder they look kind of confused or surprised.

One never knows what one will see off one's back porch or while taking a Sunday drive on Friday. Do you bird watch or notice the animals and insects that inhabit your yard?