That habit paid off beautifully yesterday morning when I spotted this Barred Owl looking back at me from about 30 feet.
Good morning!
Is it morning already?
Barred owls are distinguished from spotted owls by the stripes on their front. They are common in Eastern North America and into Eastern Texas and their habitat extends from Mexico to Canada. We are just west of its typical habitat which might be why we don't see them often. They are quite sedentary and rarely migrate far from their territory. Interestingly, the Great Horned Owl is their predator and we have seen plenty of those over the years.
Fascinating way to begin the day and just in time for Wildlife Wednesday where bloggers are encouraged to join Tina at "My gardener says..." in posting wildlife in their gardens.
It appears to have taken a bath in the large water bowl we keep out for wildlife and is now fluffing and preening, even checking its feet. Usually quite wary, it didn't mind I was standing right in front of it taking photos though most birds are reluctant to fly when their feathers are wet. This show went on for about 15 minutes.
The most distinctive butterfly in the garden lately is the Zebra Long Wing. Not hard to see why Zebra is part of the name. According to Butterflies and Moths of North America, the Zebra Long Wing is found all year in South Texas and South Florida and Passion Vine is their favorite larval plant. We have a large stand of Passiflora incarnata or Maypop across the creek to keep them busy and they are partial to lantana for nectar so we have them covered on both counts here. This Yellow Cestrum seemed to also do the trick for nectaring.
Those white stripes are actually a pale yellow.
They are quite flitty and hard to catch even with the long lens so these took quite a while and a lot of snapping.
The praying mantis continues to be a commonly spotted insect around the deck. One of the few insects that can swivel its head to look over its shoulder at you.
Nicely posing against the white ceramic fox. Its prey include crickets and butterflies. Hope its diet is full of crickets as I prefer to keep the butterflies going.
The deer still gaze longingly through the new fence. The garden (and gardener) are much happier.
We leave water outside the gate for them. This fawn wonders why there's no water in the bucket. Hmmm, guess it's time to set the bucket upright and fill it again.
The bucks are growing antlers and soon they will form bachelor herds to begin the mating process all over again.
More deer are just what our neighborhood needs!
Be sure to check out Tina's blog for more wildlife in the garden posts.
Good morning!
Is it morning already?
Barred owls are distinguished from spotted owls by the stripes on their front. They are common in Eastern North America and into Eastern Texas and their habitat extends from Mexico to Canada. We are just west of its typical habitat which might be why we don't see them often. They are quite sedentary and rarely migrate far from their territory. Interestingly, the Great Horned Owl is their predator and we have seen plenty of those over the years.
Fascinating way to begin the day and just in time for Wildlife Wednesday where bloggers are encouraged to join Tina at "My gardener says..." in posting wildlife in their gardens.
It appears to have taken a bath in the large water bowl we keep out for wildlife and is now fluffing and preening, even checking its feet. Usually quite wary, it didn't mind I was standing right in front of it taking photos though most birds are reluctant to fly when their feathers are wet. This show went on for about 15 minutes.
The most distinctive butterfly in the garden lately is the Zebra Long Wing. Not hard to see why Zebra is part of the name. According to Butterflies and Moths of North America, the Zebra Long Wing is found all year in South Texas and South Florida and Passion Vine is their favorite larval plant. We have a large stand of Passiflora incarnata or Maypop across the creek to keep them busy and they are partial to lantana for nectar so we have them covered on both counts here. This Yellow Cestrum seemed to also do the trick for nectaring.
Those white stripes are actually a pale yellow.
They are quite flitty and hard to catch even with the long lens so these took quite a while and a lot of snapping.
The praying mantis continues to be a commonly spotted insect around the deck. One of the few insects that can swivel its head to look over its shoulder at you.
Nicely posing against the white ceramic fox. Its prey include crickets and butterflies. Hope its diet is full of crickets as I prefer to keep the butterflies going.
We leave water outside the gate for them. This fawn wonders why there's no water in the bucket. Hmmm, guess it's time to set the bucket upright and fill it again.
The bucks are growing antlers and soon they will form bachelor herds to begin the mating process all over again.
More deer are just what our neighborhood needs!
Be sure to check out Tina's blog for more wildlife in the garden posts.
Oh the zebra long wing is gorgeous! Love the owl too - and the expression on the deer's face. Wildlife Wednesday is a great idea. I will definitely take a look at other bloggers' posts.
ReplyDeleteMostly Texans so far, but it would be even more fun to have other parts of the world join in.
DeleteAll so nice! What a treat the owl was to see--a great way to start the day, I think. I also had one (one!) Zebra Longwing--yesterday, in fact, but it never landed anywhere. I had to be content to watch it flit through the garden. Praying mantises are fascinating. I haven't had one in a long time, but I love them. And your deer, of course--so darling--BEHIND the fence. Thanks for participating.
ReplyDeleteThe Zebra Longwing was a challenging assignment to say the least. Tons of fuzzy photos to delete. It was amazing to see the owl just sitting, they don't usually sit around posing like that!
DeleteWhat a nice way to start the morning! I hear owls periodically but the closest I've gotten to seeing one up close was as a shadow in the evening light sitting in the tree outside my office window - and he (or she) flew off as soon as I got close to the glass.
ReplyDeleteThey are generally quite shy and a glimpse is mostly what we see too.
DeleteI've never seen a zebra butterfly in my garden. What a fashionista!
ReplyDeleteThe owl is a beauty too. Deer ate my tomato plants' tops recently, so I won't praise it!
Thank you Shirley!
That is such a cute word for them, I love seeing them. They have a limited range so we get to keep them to ourselves!
DeleteDeer are pests in the garden that's why we fenced them out.
Shirley, the owl sighting is so cool! I've never seen a barred owl before and will be on the look-out for one. The other morning I went out to drink my coffee on the patio early and saw a Great Horned Owl fly onto the cedar arbor and look around the yard. I normally see a pair on the utility pole and enjoy them hooting back and forth to one another. Thanks for a great post, as always!
ReplyDeleteThey are magnificent birds too. The Great Horned Owl is much more common so I was surprised to see an entirely different owl back there.
DeleteI miss seing zebra longwings. I saw them all the time in FL but don't see them often here in my neck of Texas.
ReplyDeleteLove the owl! Great find! We put up owl boxes because we hear them but they just haven't recruited to our yard yet.
I have wildlife envy big time now. Your patience certainly paid off - that last shot of the Zebra longwing is especially stunning, though that owl is so stuffy and charming simultaneously with the preening and the fluffing. And I deeply appreciate your updates via deer shots - that is just the way I prefer to see them - through a fence. We are urban enough here the bucks are quite shy until rut begins, so I'm well warned to expect their especially crashing/thrashing kinds of damage to begin out front. What a wonderful way to start MY day - great post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome owl! I've never seen a wild one in person; it must be quite a thrill. It's nice that you can admire the deer and they your garden from a distance!
ReplyDeleteLovely wildlife captures. How wonderful to see the owl outside your window in the morning. I know how difficult it can be to capture the Zebra Longwings from my stay in Florida in February and March. They're beautiful to watch in flight, too, because their wings create a sort of moire pattern as they fly. :)
ReplyDeleteYour wildlife photography is always so brilliant. What a treat to see these critters -- the butterfly, the deer, well everything.That owl is especially beautiful. And how did you ever spot the praying mantis? wow
ReplyDeleteYour owl is just lovely! I know we have them but I've yet to see any. Great shot of the praying mantis. I don't think I've seen these since I was a kid (along with walking sticks). It's nice to see that they're keeping company with someone. Stunning photos of the deer -- thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI know there is an owl nearby because I can hear him. Never had a sighting though. You get such wonderful shots of bugs and critters.
ReplyDeleteWow - such interesting wildlife! The barred owl is stunning! What a treat to see out in the yard. I have yet to spot any owls in my yard over the last couple of years (though I do hear them from time to time). I put up a screech owl/kestrel box last winter, but that only attracted squirrels and starlings. Maybe next season. Those zebra wings are beauties! I keep meaning to plant some passion vines to host them - another item to add to the garden to-do list. And those mantises - such crazy cool looking insects!
ReplyDeleteThe insect shots are amazing...ones we don't have. But the owl...the way it blends into the tree bark so well. I consider myself lucky I used to hear them and saw one flying about.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing each morning but have never seen an owl...they are here and there but rare. Our deer are missing this year too which is so odd....I have long admired the zebra butterfly...what a beauty!
ReplyDeleteAnd how soon until the bucks are rubbing their antlers against our agaves and palms, I wonder. Sigh. But your owl capture is marvelous, Shirley. What a special treat to see it!
ReplyDelete