Sunday, March 18, 2012

doeskin, march 2012




















It looks like the whole western side of the reserve burned during last year's wildfires, but it's recovering nicely. Bren and I got to spend a few beautiful hours hiking together on a cool, overcast spring day. Doesn't get any better than that.

The last shot is of a ranch along the way near Liberty Hill.

black and white warbler


We were stalking golden-cheeked warblers today. I've been trying to get a picture of one for several years. This one fooled me - I thought it was a female golden cheek, but it's a male black and white warbler. Maybe next year! (The golden-cheeked warblers only come to Texas for about three weeks to breed, and then return to Mexico and Central America shortly after the babies fledge. There are thought to be fewer than 4,000 remaining.)

Friday, March 16, 2012

field notes, iii-xvi-xii

A bag of popcorn is a good thing to have on hand when someone rings the doorbell or knocks unexpectedly. I tossed a handful into the bedroom and closed Ondine in with it, then put Aries through a series of six or seven sit-and-catch sessions. They both totally forgot someone was at the door.

A good training exercise. But here's the fun part: after watching Aries catch six or seven pieces without missing any, I tossed several in the air for myself. I too, caught them flawlessly. I haven't tried that for years, decades even, but watching Aries do it must have activated my sympathetic nervous system. It was uncanny and fun.

Thursday, March 15, 2012