Special Moments in Nature I pull out onto the highway from a dirt road. In front of me, a single black crow feather spirals slowly down from the sky. The suspended feather spins like a tiny dirt devil as I leave it behind. I step outside to watch for a late delivery truck.Continue reading
Tag: Bastrop wildlife
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Special Moments in Nature–A Lucky Witness
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Ten Reasons Life is Never Boring in the Country
Some people get bored in the country. Not me. Ever. Here Are Ten Reasons Life Is Never Boring In The Country -One- Because you never know who’s going to stop by for a drink. -Two- You are never alone. -Three- You will hear plenty of free outdoor music. -Four- Family time is plentiful.Continue reading
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Partially Leucistic Female Cardinal Joins Flock
She’s Still Here! I’m happy to say that this pale beauty appears to have made Little Piney her home. The partially leucistic female Northern Cardinal seems comfortable vying for feeder space with the Chipping Sparrows and her own kind today in the front yard oak. She first appeared at Little Piney last week, and itContinue reading
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The Gray Palette of Winter
The Gray Palette of Winter at Little Piney As the golden tones of autumn fade, the gray palette of winter is pleasingly rich and textured. Here is a collection of photos highlighting both warm and cool shades of winter gray.
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Knock-Knock–Who’s There?
Pileated Woodpecker We always know when the Pileated Woodpecker is hungry. His distinct and resonant hammering sound is the loudest of the wood-pecking birds at Little Piney. No matter how many times I see a Pileated Woodpecker, it’s always a thrill. At 15-19 inches tall, with a brilliant red crest, shiny black back, pure whiteContinue reading
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Nature Writes Her Own Story
Red Shouldered Hawks Last Sunday, I planned to spend the morning discovering fall migrants–the warblers, orioles, hummingbirds, etc. that birders all over Texas reported daily for the past week. I didn’t have much luck with that plan, though. Instead, Sunday’s story was about larger birds. Red Shouldered Hawks patroled at Little Piney all day. I saw themContinue reading
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Home to Little Piney
Return to Little Piney After being away for a month, I was happy to be heading home to Little Piney, and anxious to see what the 100+ temperatures and scarce rain had wrought. As I pulled up to the house in hot mid-afternoon, Little Piney was silent and still except for three squawking crows.Continue reading
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Bluebird Nest Boxes for Total Beginners
How to Install Bluebird Nest Boxes Little Piney hosts a healthy population of Eastern Bluebirds. They are encouraged to settle here by good habitat and available real estate. We have 7 bluebird nest boxes put in place several years ago by previous owners. Recently, I removed all nest boxes for cleaning and fresh paint,Continue reading
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Slash: A Mixed Use High Rise Development for Birds
What is Slash? When our wildlife plan suggested we create brush piles and maintain “slash” I had no idea what slash meant. Well, below is a photo of slash, an architecturally stunning, mixed use high rise for birds in a prime location in the Little Piney area of the Lost Pines, Bastrop, Texas! Maintaining slashContinue reading
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Butterflies at Little Piney
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear You’re a butterfly And butterflies are free to fly Fly away, high away, bye bye –Elton John and Bernie Taupin, 1975 I love how much I’m learning at Little Piney! With every butterfly, wildflower, bird, bug, and animal I discover at Little Piney, I find out more aboutContinue reading