Good advice is to always try to be aware of your surroundings. Most critters will avoid you if they can of course. Indeed lucky for me I have mostly been lucky except for a bee or wasp sting a few times.
No worries with thistles except for a minor poke from the bristles. Wavy-leaf Thistle (Cirsium undulatum) coma (ie fluff) in the front. Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum) in the rear. A Sachem was coming in for a landing on the Texas Thistle. In fact you will just have to take my word on that was what it was. 🙂
Now this is a crazy coincidence as Kathy a few days ago shared a fly she had found with me. INat identified as Tangle-veined Fly (Nemestrinidae). Furthermore the species Neorhynchocephalus volaticus is only one recorded for Texas. The Nemestrinids are known for keeping grasshopper populations in balance. In Borror and Delong it said its members are relatively rare with only six species in three genera. This is Kathy’s photo. Thanks Kathy!
Here is my photo from a frame from my movie. Looks like the same critter to me.
So I was able to capture a movie of it with its loud buzz. I threw caution to the wind and tried to catch it. But that didn’t work out. LOL Indeed, it was too fast.
The Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens – tentative ID) was cautious and tried to avoid my closeup shot. It was inside the house and got a nice meal! So I say yeah for spider!
Of course caution is advised when you open a nest box!
Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus or P. leucopus). My Kaufman mammal book says the tail can help with distinguishing the two species. Additionally, the habitat also can rule out others. I could not see the tail so perhaps one species or the other based on the habitat.
Indeed what a stunning metallic green critter, the Bumelia Borer (Plinthocoelium suaveolens). “Members of this genus in the tropics give off an alarm pheromone when disturbed (e.g. when collected) causing conspecifics in the vicinity to take flight.” Texas Beetle Information
On our morning walk, a bit of black and white color caught my eye near the edge of our path.
Poor critter looked like it might have had a case of mange. 🙁
Poor skunk. You captured the characteristic warning scratch movement though.
On the fly, yes that buzzing is what caught my attention to mine. Quite loud and made me cautious the first few times I heard it.
I had a Bumelia Borer fly through my plant corral on Monday but just identified it last night. Went back in the blog posts to see if I had missed any and what a surprise to see the Bumelia Borer you saw also. When I was out there I noticed the Gum Bumelia was dropping blossoms. Then read the borers are attracted to the flowers.
This and the fly coincidence reminds me of the year we both saw a Lazuli Bunting, on the same day in our separate parts of the state.
Looks like the same fly to me too – and such a close call on the skunk!
Poor skunk. You captured the characteristic warning scratch movement though.
On the fly, yes that buzzing is what caught my attention to mine. Quite loud and made me cautious the first few times I heard it.
You must seen your share of skunks closeup eh.
Wow, what an amazing coincidence that you and Kathy both saw that fly! Very cool!
Paula saw one too in Montana!!
Crazy eh!
I had a Bumelia Borer fly through my plant corral on Monday but just identified it last night. Went back in the blog posts to see if I had missed any and what a surprise to see the Bumelia Borer you saw also. When I was out there I noticed the Gum Bumelia was dropping blossoms. Then read the borers are attracted to the flowers.
This and the fly coincidence reminds me of the year we both saw a Lazuli Bunting, on the same day in our separate parts of the state.
Crazy how we do that. 😂