June 2014 Activity

Week 23.  Grass is looking good from the recent rains.  Food for wildlife should be adequate, but still keeping water troughs filled with just enough water to avoid getting full of algae.
Observed 6 deer today, along with the fawn.  One deer looks bigger than the rest, might be a buck, but can't tell from a distance.  All the vegetable gardens are now temporarily fenced, but the deer appear to be reaching over, trimming the tomato plants.  Not feeding.  Note:  we walk a fine line between feeding the deer when necessary and yet not making pets of them.  Still they like to hang around the house it seems.
Week 24.  Another 1.5 inches of rain.  Plenty of raccoons showing up at the birdbath for water each night.  Observed two rock doves, noted for their under wing colors.  Interesting observation of a mockingbird.  He was hovering over the ground and it turns out that he was harassing a snake, and eventually ran him off the edge of the mowed area into the cactus.  No wonder the Mockingbird is called the junk yard dog of birddom.
Week 25. Visitors all week, no activity
Week 26.  Another bit of rain; 0.9 inches.  Three deer observed passing through the tract on the way to the north.

Summary of bird observations, year to date:

• Cardinal
• Mockingbird
• Carolina Wren
• Lesser Goldfinch
• Titmouse
• Rock Dove
• Bobwhite Quail
• White Winged Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Vulture
• Owl 
• Red Tailed Hawk
• Chickadee
• Painted Bunting
• Eastern Phoebe
• Road Runner
• Scrub Jay 
• Purple Finch