Praying for Snakes and Birds

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Tina

As the days shorten and cool, it’s once again a pleasure to be out-of-doors. In my spare time, I’m re-configuring parts of my garden (when am I NOT re-configuring parts of the garden?), and enjoying the seasonal change from summer to autumn.

In my compost area, I was wrangling rogue fallen leaves and when I peeked into an empty bin, discovered this slithery fella.

A young Texas Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri, I imagine it’s the offspring of a adult snake that I saw in June. Several times, the Blue Jays were yelling at something in the back corner of my garden. I’d investigated, assuming that they were screaming at an owl, but they were looking down at the ground and not up into trees. After several inspections driven by the jays’ caterwauling, I finally I saw a bit of a good sized snake. The snake was mostly nestled under groundcover, but enough was visible showing a circumference several inches, meaning that the snake is most likely 5-6 feet long. I left the snake alone, not out of fear, but because rat snakes are good predators to have in the garden.

The Blue Jays were quiet after that, but a few weeks later I heard the alarm calls of a crowd of Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, and Black-crested Titmice as they fluttered around my back neighbors’ large elm tree. The little birds were inspecting something in the crotch of large limbs, and only once I grabbed my binoculars could I see that it was several bits of shed snakeskin hung on the bark of the tree. Rat snakes can climb trees, so I was certain the skin was the remains of my snake. I emailed the neighbors and they were excited about the find, but never saw the live snake.

Fast-forward through summer and I suppose eggs were laid and snakes were hatched.

Once I snapped photos of the binned beauty and dragged the Hub out to see our slinky friend, we deposited the little reptile in a different part of my garden. I hope it eats lots of rats and mice, but not the various birds that are around. Alas, birds and their eggs (remember, rat snakes climb!) are part of rat snake diets.

Predators eat.

After checking the honeybee hives recently, I spied this smaller, but no less deadly, predator hanging out near our hive, Scar.

“Arms” held aloft, perhaps this adult Praying mantis, Stagmomantis sp. is praying for me to go away so that it can continue its dinner hunt.

Mantids eat a variety of things, most of which are smaller than themselves, including honeybees. Flies, butterflies and moths, as well as other insects are also on the mantid menu. When I checked the next morning, the mantid was gone from this spot, but is probably nearby.

Fall bird migration is underway as they travel from their northern breeding grounds to winter in Mexico, Central and South America. I’ve seen a Nashville Warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla, on several occasions, finally catching it still enough for a couple of shots.

Actually, I have no idea if this is the same warbler I’ve spotted several times, or simply another Nashville sojourner, though all the ones I’ve seen have been male. Nashville Warblers breed in Canada, migrating southward through a wide swath of the United States, and wintering in Central America. I’ve seen individuals of this species in my garden before during spring migration, but never during fall.

The only other migratory bird in my garden has been a Yellow Warbler, flitting late one afternoon around the pond. Their flashing sunshine yellow feathers are hard to miss. I also saw a magnificent hawk at my pond, but I had bumbled noisily out the back door and so startled it, causing it to take flight immediately. When will I learn to first look through the glass to check out the surroundings before I open the door and scare everyone away?

There’s never a dull moment in the garden–one just needs decent observation skills and to practice quiet, subtle movements.

I guess I have some work to do.

Knock Wood

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Tina

In a quiet part of an afternoon, I watched a male Downy Woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens, as he rested in foliage shade.

I thought he might be waiting for the right time to pop down to the peanut feeder, which hangs just below where he perched. But he didn’t want peanuts, he seemed content to sit, and like me, watch.

Until this past spring, I enjoyed only fleeting glimpses of downies in my garden. Typically they’ve visited during winter months, in bare trees, and as pairs. Always they were up high in those trees and constantly in motion, brief black and white visages until gone from my sight. In April (or so) I placed a peanut feeder in the garden and since then, the downies are regular visitors, though summer saw a downturn in downy activity.

Mr Downy’s red cap is a head turner that will surely attract a mate, if it hasn’t already.

I wonder if this is Daddy Downy who visited regularly last spring with his mate and offspring? Or perhaps this is the offspring? Though I originally thought baby downy was female, I could be wrong. Downies know better about these things than birding gardeners.

Birds are less active in my garden during the summer months. The resident birds are around, feeding, bathing, and harassing one another, but mostly done with chick-rearing and not yet interested in mate-finding. The migratory birds are long gone north for nesting adventures. Hummers hunt nectar from the plants and disappear in flashes.

I’m tickled that a new birding season has already begun. Migrating birds from breeding grounds in far North America are appearing in my garden as they make their way to wintering homes in Mexico, and Central and South America. The resident birds and winter visitors will settle in for the next breeding season, preening new plumage and pairing for new progeny. With good luck–and plenty of peanuts, black-oiled sunflowers, and food from native plants–this backyard birder will relish the autumn, winter, and spring bird bonanza.

Predator and Prey

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Tina

As I hand watered a dry patch of garden, two simultaneous movements caught my attention. One was an earth-colored action along the bed, rustling garden detritus. Another, a flash of green down the edge of a trellis.

The predator enjoyed the advantage of height and dashed toward the prey, grabbing it out of sight from this observer. Sprinting back the way it came, the predator stopped to rest, and maybe, to gloat over its catch.

No worries, buddy. Though I’m impressed with your focus, eyesight, and hunting ability, I’m not interested in your catch; it’s a pasta with grilled veggies dinner for me.