May 28 2012

• Watered yard
• Saw Texas Spiney Lizard

Posted in Census, 2012 Journal, Water

April 20 2012

• Refreshed all Hummingbird feeders
• Heard Chuck-wills Widow
• Saw 2 Monarch Butterfly caterpillars
• Saw 20 Gulf Fritilary caterpillars
• Saw 5 Leopard Frogs in small pond near house
• Continued to remove muck and invasive plants from large pond, rescued tadpoles
• Saw Painted Bunting
• Saw a large variety of Butterlies and caterpillars: Admirals, Gulf Frtitilary, Monarch, Checkered Skipper, Pipevive Swallowtail, Dainty Sulpher, Painted Ladies, and Common Buckeye
• Saw 2 Garter snakes on road near front gate
• Eastern Phoebe building nest on back porch

Eastern Phoebe nest on top of a pipe along the wall on the back porch.

Posted in Census, 2012 Journal, Food, Water

April 12 2012

• Saw Hummingbird collecting Bushy Bluestem grass seed heads for nesting material.
• Very many insects, worms, caterpillars and butterflies
• Refreshed all Hummingbird feeders
• Saw a Hawk
• Saw 2 Red-striped ribbon snakes
• Treated multiple Fire Ant mounds
• Planted 2, 4 inch pots of Blackfoot Daisy
• Planted 1/4 pound of Native Texas Seed mix from Native American Seed Company
  :Indian Blanket, Black-eyed Susan,Clasping Conflower,Mexican Hat,Prarie Coneflower, Plains Coreopsis,Blubonnet, Lemon MInt
• Got four new native Texas water plants that can be used in either the small or large pond.

: Eel grass, Najas-Guadalupe water nymph, Yellow Water lilly and Horsetail

Eel Grass and native Water Lilly in containers and placed in pond.

Posted in Census, Habitat, Predator, Food, Water, 2012 Journal

April 03 2012

• Saw many Bluebonnets blooming
• Saw many Mayfly insects mating dance, flying in a vertcial pattern
• Saw many Butterflies
• Refreshed Hummingbird feeders
• Saw Rock Squirrel
• Saw Eastern Gray Squirrel
• Saw Raccoon
• Saw Possum
• Saw Deer
• Continued to remove invasive pond plants using a broad fork and the tractor
• Saw a Bee on Passion Vine flower

Using a broadfork pulled by the tractor to remove large sections of invasive pond plant.

The invasive plant is Brazilian Egeria, it is similar to hydrilla in its growth and damage.

It is commonly sold in pond supply stores, but is NOT advised for a natural setting where it could be washed down into the river system in heavy rains.

Posted in Census, Habitat, Food, Water, 2012 Journal

January 06 2012

• Visitor caught 1/2 foot long Catfish in Blanco River
• Continued hunting, shot 1 Doe, 2 years old, 100 pounds
• Shot Doe, 1 year old, 80 pounds
• Saw ten Wild Turkeys, three Toms and seven hens

Northern Cardinal at watering drip from water hose

Posted in Census, 2012 Journal, Habitat, Water