Turkey Lurkey and someone new

Our neighbhood wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) has become a regular in our Wildscape. We're not sure yet if it's a male or female. I'm guessing an immature male. Amid the brown grass and burnt vegetation, the goofy bird is a welcome addition to our wild kingdom. The other evening, I was sitting on our rock patio, and here came Turkey Lurkey. It strolled down our garden paths, visited a bird bath or two, and scratched in the flower beds. Then along came a territorial mockingbird. That tough guy dove and chased the turkey until it gave up and jumped the fence into the front yard. Later, I saw the turkey way high in an oak, getting ready to roost for the night.

 

Earlier this week, we also had a juvenile green heron (Butorides virescens) visit our Wildscape. From my office window, I watched it practice its fishing skills...in our very shallow bird bath! That was a hoot. We didn't realize our pretty those little herons are, especially their sage green legs and feet.

Since I had my long lens out, I shot a few images (not great) of other visitors at the bird bath outside my office window...

Northern cardinal (female)

Inca dove

House finch (male)

Titmouse

Texas bluebells

Last week, I was on assignment near Meridian northwest of Waco. On my way home, I passed by a large patch of blue flowers. I did a doubletake, then I turned around and went back. Could those have been bluebells? Sure enough, I was right! A whole field of Texas bluebells! They were blooming right off Highway 22 behind a fence, not far from the city limits signs (north side of Cranfills Gap). I only saw one more group of them on the road home, and now I can't remember where those were (I'm old). But aren't they just beautiful?

June 2011 in our Wildscape

Turkey time!

This pretty gal started appearing in our neighborhood several weeks ago. She hung out mostly across the street in our neighbors' yard. Then she mosied across the street and visited our Wildscape. Yesterday, we spotted her in the back yard. This morning, she showed up again. And there she was at dinner time, too! We figure this awful drought has forced her to move "inland" to find food and water. I just hope the local dogs don't find her! (Or kids with pellet guns)

Happy birthday, Peyton!

Happy 12th Birthday today to my bug buddy/special neighbor, 

Peyton (pictured right)! 

He just came over with his friend, Isaiah, so I could give him a little gift this morning. It's a copy of Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars of North America. "She knows I love caterpillars!" he told Isaiah, grinning. Then off they went. "We gotta get to school!" Peyton exclaimed as they bounded back out our kitchen door. 

Hope you have a great day, Peyton!

After-dinner guest

"What's THAT?" James asked, pointing to our stove in the kitchen. Naturally, I'm thinking "spider" before I even turn for a look.

Not this time! Instead, I found a small beetle, her legs splayed out in all directions. "Think she got cooked?" James joked. Earlier, I'd had the oven on so I could bake my squash casserole. She was sitting right in front of the oven vent. HOT place to be! Sad to say, but yeah, I thought she was a goner.

I poked a leg...she MOVED! The little beetle was still alive! AND she'd found a bit of casserole on my finger. I'd been washing out the pan when James first spotted her. Darn if she didn't eat the whole, soggy crumb. So I scooped her up another helping. She ate her fill, then pushed back and cleaned up her face. Awhile later, I took her outside and released her.

So what beetle species is she? My friends at Bugguide.net say: Kern's flower scarab (Euphoria kernii).

A few blooms and seedheads...

 My shasta daisy that I planted from seed last year is blooming for the first time!

Our heartleaf scullcap is also blooming for the first time.

Texas thistle is going to seed...

But it's still blooming too....

The purple milkweed vine has a cool seedhead.....

Antelope horns, which is also in the milkweed family, has a similar seedhead.

Meet Malta star-thistle (Centaurea melitensis), a wicked looking plant from Europe and a member of the thistle family (Wildflower.org lists it with the aster family).

Mexican hats are blooming now, too.