Drought will not let go of SE Texas

This stagnating drought is taking its toll.  Despite a few occasional respites, the dry is soaking into everything.  I had stopped by a pond a few years back to take a shot during a former drought and I was devastated by the drying and dying I saw.


So, I thought I would check out another near by pond (one I had not yet explored). It was much the same story this year.  The heat-soaked mud bottom was exposed and the cracks were opening deeper and deeper. Maybe some cooler weather will help that a bit. but, today was not that.  With the temperature scorching to the upper 90's again, it feels like summer has a dug its claws into Southeast Texas and is going for the kill.


Please, somebody tell the weatherman that summer is over! 
It doesn't take a weatherman to know when to call off a drought. Enough, already.


Tomorrow -- the colors of drought.

Eye-catching Northern Cardinal pays visit

This very healthy looking and brilliantly marked Northern Cardinal cam visiting the other day.   He was hard bird to take a photo of -- every time I would step out side he would fly to the trees behind our house.Finally I set up my tripod right next to the door and tried shooting by just slipping my arm out the door.  It worked on the third try.

Hummingbird dictator may be vulnerable?

What's wrong with this tough guy that is terrorizing the other humming birds in my back yard? 

He has been claiming the fount of eternal elixir (otherwise known as the hummingbird feeder) as his sole  and exclusive property for several weeks now. He fends off any claim by intruders with an aerial battle that rivals F-16s. 

That has been going on for a while.  

But now, he perches there with his mouth wide open in some kind of "spiking the football" gesture. I don't know if he got into a testosterone-spiked flower or he is just into the super macho kind of the elixir thing, Rambo-style. 

It's fun to watch, but the other hummingbirds I am sure are not enjoying it. I have heard talk of a coup.

I may join the conspirators -- this guy is just relishing his role too much. What if I put the other hummingbird feeder on the other side of the yard? Could Mr. Macho defend that much territory?

A lone Hummingbird fends off a flock of frenzied flyers

This little Hummingbird is creating quite a stir in our backyard -- he has decided that the nectar is all his.  My wife, Linda, went and bought a second feeder.  Our flying defender then decided both  feeders were his and chased any other fellows of the feather away when ever they ventured near.  

I decided to move the two feeders further apart to see if that would get his generous juices flowing. It did not work.  It just made him have to work harder -- defending a larger perimeter.  In this photo after fending off an frenzied attack by a squadron of feathery flyers, he ruffles his feathers.  I am not sure if he is trying to enlarge his stature or just trying to refresh himself for the next assault on his flavory fluid.

Lurking lizard nets nothing

The stealthy hunter has a problem on his hands er, pads.  The lurking lizard is stalking the insect that can just barely be seen on the right (the black triangle).  Problem is, the lizard is on the other side of the netting and he can't figure that out.  I watched the scene play out for about 20 minutes.  The insect would move every once in a while, but never fly away. The lizard's best lurking did him no good for his breakfast this day, though I suspect the practice was very valuable.

The flower subs for shade

The sunlight was coming through the base of this flower in my back yard as it hung down after several days of no rain.  That didn't stop the bees and the Hummingbirds from finding what they wanted.

Hummingbird Heaven

The Hummingbirds have been hanging around our house a lot lately.  They actually started coming before we put the feeder up.  There have been as many  as nine at a time.  It's fun to watch their antics over the feeder.  One takes a sip and then flies to the top to play guard.  If another Hummingbird comes up for a sip, it chases him away.  While those two are off playing chase, another will come up and get a sip.