More Lubbock Wildlife 4-25-20

Spring is definitely here. My birdhouse architect/builder and friend - otherwise known as Lyle - advised me to keep an eye on Clapp Park this month to see a great variety of birds migrating through town. It was very good advice.

A yellow (maybe a pine) warbler - my first of two birds I'd never seen in person (or is that in bird?)

A mockingbird shopping for hardware

Yesterday I grabbed a bike, a camera, and a powerful desire to see some natural beauty and took off pedaling.

Amphibian Break

Bullfrogs, represent! (two)

A trio of white-wing dove

Mallard

Let's Break for Flora

(I wasn't the only one there with crazy hair yesterday)

Back to the Birds

A male redwing blackbird talking

A female blackbird...

...takes flight

A lovely shorebird

Mammal Break

Squirrels being squirrels

And the other bird I'd never seen in person/bird

The official coolest sighting of the day - an osprey

This is a bird I've wanted to see for at least forty years - and to see one less than a mile from home was downright blissful. I'm still stoked and excited to share it here.

The rear view

This bird was pretty unconcerned about me, so I took about 100 photos. I was able to hear its surprisingly delicate vocalizations and able to watch it dining on a carp.

The eating-a-carp view

It was a great day out!

This post was brought you by...

Canon, Huffy,

my  talented friends at Yellowhouse Coffee, Lyle, and Lubbock Parks!

May you find wonders nearby, may you be well and healthy, and may you be thankful for all you have.

Earth Day at 50: Have you met...Project Drawdown?

Find it here

Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a local CCL event that highlighted Project Drawdown - and I have been much more excited about our future since then.

Project Drawdown is a very comprehensive plan to slow down, stop, and reverse carbon release levels in the next 30 years. Essentially, they started looking at all of the top 100ish sources of earth-choking carbon release and looked at the best approach(es) to each. They list them in order in the Table of Solutions and they also divide them out into sectors in case you want to narrow it down a bit. (If you click only one link in this post, please make it the Table of Solutions!)

Find the sectors here too! (same link as the first)

Find Food, Agriculture, and Land Use here

Find Electricity here

Find Transportation here (Woohoo! Bicycles top the list!)

One of the most eye-opening is Health and Education

Find all Drawdown events - including these three Earth Day events - here

This Friday, check out Lubbock's own Dr. Katharine Hayhoe here

(At The Smithsonian Earth Optimism Summit)

If you're a person who sees good stewardship of every blessing as a core value and goal for life, the Drawdown list is a spotlight letting each of us know how and where we can get involved and make a difference. If you're looking for some hope and direction in saving the earth for future generations, Project Drawdown is a great place to start.

Find Last year's Mesquite Hugger Earth Day Post here

( I was looking for an excuse to get the 1970 Earth Day poster in.)

As always, thank you for reading, friends! May you be well, healthy, and striving for better.

A Few More Bits of Spring Backyard Phenology! (plants and birds)

Two backyard plants popped out leaves the week.

The pomegranate

I never noticed how similar in color the two plants are. The pomegranate generally produces very little fruit. This year I need to look into caring for it a little better. If anyone has any advice, let me know.

The pomegranate is an unruly beast. My wife is not fond of it, but the flowers are amazing and the sparrows think it the greatest place around.

The crepe myrtle

We have three crepe myrtle on the north facing wall. They are outside the bedroom and bathroom windows and they are my favorite weather vane. They let me know if we've had moisture overnight and they let me know how hard the wind is blowing - the wind is always blowing. I am thankful the previous homeowner chose them.

Easter lily on the kitchen table this week. Thanks, Granny!

Not pictured are the 4 O'clocks that have just started popping up. More of them to come!

Redwing Blackbird at Clapp Park

Not a lot of bird photos this week, but I've seen a lot more house finches and the town seems to be covered in mockingbirds. There's a male grackle who perches each day on top of the tallest tree around and chatters all day. The reeds at the park have thrived this year and they're covered in redwing blackbirds. I started to say that they are some of my faves, but they all are. The older I get the more I love birds.

The baby squirrels are growing fast. Their tails are now bushy and they are venturing wildly all over the two big elms.

Yes, I've been lonely for family, friends, and my work family, but all the creatures and plants have been amazing. I'm very thankful to have them.

May you be blessed, well, healthy, joyful, and thankful.

Thanks for stopping by!

Squirrelitos!

In my office at work, there is no window. It once was a closet, but it's been converted into a pretty nice office with two doors, two desks, and zero windows. As spring has approached, it's been a little tough staring at walls and doors and desks.

During this time of social distancing, however, I am working at home. At home I have a window facing the backyard. In the backyard is an old elm with a cavity that usually holds nesting birds, but this year the squirrels moved in first.

Ever been mooned by a squirrel?

Initially, I noticed a little face and thought it was an owl, so I grabbed the camera, zoomed in a bit, and then realized it was a squirrel face. A few minutes later, another face appeared. So my wife and I set up camp and came to realize there were four. By the next day, they were venturing out a bit and we realized there were six.

My wife took these pics - she's a much better photog than I.

For those of you who just can't get enough, here is a video of the little rascals venturing out onto the branch for (what we think was) the first time.

 

 Six little squirrels for six minutes

Yep, that's it. I just wanted to share a little fun, natural beauty.  May you know health, wellness and a little peace in these unsettling times.

Thanks for stopping by!