12:00 p.m. — 1:08 p.m.: After thirty minutes communing with a fussy wren, I finished a brief field observation with a walk up Salt Creek about one-tenth of a mile. I logged tadpoles, frogs, wrens, bluejays, heard the cry of the red-tailed hawk or the Harris hawk, photographed a turkey vulture (not included herein) and saw the owl (unidentified) fly into the grove away from my hike. Back at the ranch house, I identified the wren that had chattered at me — a Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii). I saw numerous tracks in the mud.
I counted two monarch butterflies within the cool willows of the water cache — see photograph below for the Salt Creek water cache with sky blue.
Salt Creek water cache with sky blue (October 15, 2011).
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds states that Bewick’s Wren prefers drier conditions to its resemblance, the Carolina Wren. Bewick’s Wren has certainly enjoyed dry conditions throughout the summer.
I liked this photograph of the prickly-pear cactus with the willow and pecan trees in the background. It describes in essence what this part of Texas and my ranchito is all about — wet and dry, green and brown, cactus and pecan, things-that-stick-you and things-you-eat.
Fox I did not see. I did not expect to see any, but one never knows. My friend, Wild Bill of Wild Ramblings Blog, suggested that I get a animal call tool that sounds like a wounded rabbit to attract the fox. I think I shall because I want to see fox again. Cougars and bobcats have been sighted in our area, so I shall be cautious. I don’t want my day spoiled by predators of that size taking me from behind. We have a saying out here, “If it doesn’t sting or bite you, it will stick you!” I’ll take the stinging and sticking anytime over the biting. Now, where are my field catalogs?
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 
Don’t worry about calling in larger predators. I do it all the time and haven’t been eaten yet! HA! Also, don’t forget the trail camera idea, place it where you have been seeing all those tracks! You’ll get a lot of photos!
That’s good to know. If you haven’t called in larger predators, I am relieved.
Hello Jack!
A cougar, maybe it has seen you, but is too shy……….or not hungry!!!
I love that little fine bird, the Bewick’s wren. We have got a wren, we call it a gærdesmutte, and it so funny and quick with that little tail sticking up in the air. And it makes a lot of noise!
I had to google bobcat, and out came links to digging machines called bobcat, but there was a wiki too! So the bobcat is a lynx! It’s a beautiful creature. There is lynx in Sweden and Norway, but not here. Last week was a lynx free in a wood about 8 km west of here; no one knew where it came from, and they couldn’t catch it. It seemed hungry and might become aggressive, and this wasn’t good near the village. Fortunately the police and the rescue service got a hold of it without shooting it.
I’ve just looked now to see what they did about afterwards. Well, there was a private owner, and now the lynx is back with her. She says it’s tame. I don’t think it’s good for a lynx to be shut up in a private home. It is a wild animal, and I don’t know where the h… she’s got it.
I think it is a wonderful place you live, Jack, it is so exciting to hear about what you see and experience . Thank you for sharing. Take care of the cougar !! He’s watching you!!
Grethe `)
Grethe, I will take care about the cougar. I am so against the shutting up of wild animals in the cage or houses. Terrible for the wildlife and much against the natural process. So, you have the Bewick’s wren too. We have much more in common than I thought. Thanks for your comments, Grethe, for they are always a pleasure to read and learn from.
Pingback: Walking with Great Blue Herons | Sage to Meadow