The Creek Journal: Eastern Phoebe

Not a true duck, this noisy black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) and its mate have been staying close by the Creek for most of the month.

We've had several cold mornings recently, with stern ice on the windshield and roof of the pickup this morning (April 20). But the sunshine along the waters has been beautiful. Even if the quality of the video isn't:

Rabbitfoot Grass in Morning Light

One of the lessons of the Tao is that some things just should not be commented upon. Words fail us. And that's all I will say about a rain lily in April.

Note the small red dot on the main limb in the upper center of this image.

This fine live oak below the boulders of Whitman's Rough hosts mosses, lichens, ferns, and at least two species of cactus.

Under the roof of our back porch, a pair of eastern phoebes have built a nest and hatched out several young.

And we've gotten back in the bee business.

Leaves of a recently planted bald cypress in our backyard

Artichoke

More Monet scenes (water penny-wort in the Creek)

April 19, 2013

Here's what we've been hearing many of the early mornings and evenings. If I am wrong in calling this an Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio), just let me know. I've learned that the bird has plenty of calls (barking, screeching, tremolo, whinny--depending on its location, sex, threat level, nesting status, etc.). This individual appeared to have been in the large oak tree.

Here are two of dozens of sites with an incredible variety of screech owl sounds:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/sounds
http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php