FOS – first of season Northern Harrier for me! Hope one sticks around this winter in our field. Last winter they were scarce in our field. Also got nice looks at a meadowlark and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  This is what is left from the mushroom that was on the dead Blackjack (Quercus marilandica) log a few…

All the leaves are gone on my Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). I have been waiting for them to get ripe. Unfortunately, most of fruit is out of my reach ;-(  But finally the fruit is ready to eat! It is so deliciously sweet. However I will warn you that before they are ripe, the fruit makes…

The leaves were falling in the wind this morning. The trees are almost bare in our woods now. Sachem was quite cooperative this morning! Side view My most interesting find today. This millipede (Aniulus species) was chomping down on this mushroom. I had never witness this before. Keep looking!  

Chrysolina auripennis is in the Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) family. With so many beetles in the world it is not surprising that most do not have a common name. I brought it inside for a photo shoot. It was about 8mm(3/8″). Split-beard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) often are found together. That old…

Harvestman or Daddy Short-legs(Eumesosoma roeweri) Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in my backyard with the Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) in the background. The Sweetgum is one of the host plants for Luna moths.   One fresh and two old and used up ones of the Lycoperdon species of puffballs.  These are the Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) which are from Brazil….

Be sure to wear your hunter orange if you are on the LBJ National Grasslands! Check TPWD for a complete list. Crambid Snout Moths (Crambidae) have 860 species in 10 subfamilies.  This one was on Palafoxia (Palafoxia callosa). Green lacewing (Chrysopidae) on Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)   . Shiny mushroom on a fallen Blackjack (Quercus marilandica) Keep looking!  

  My morning started off with this pretty Mint-loving Pyrausta (Pyrausta acrionalis) moth. Only about about 8mm (5/16″). Here are two millipedes. They crossed paths but went on their separate merry ways. The small one is in the class of  Millipedes (Diplopoda) The bigger one I got to order Flat-backed Millipedes (Polydesmida). An example of  a House Centipede( Scutigera coleoptrata) courtesy of Judy. It…

Yesterday was a nice day to be at the grasslands. Cow patty mushrooms. That’s what I call them. Underside. Plenty of petrified wood. Cool rock embedded in the sand. Big piece of petrified wood  More petrified wood and little pebbles This round rock was on a pedestal of dirt. It was so perfect! The gullies…

This handsome and looks-very-fresh Bull Snake came by around noon today.   Four and half to five feet long!   Missouri Basin Goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) Another view of the seed heads. I believe they are as pretty as the flower. Another awesome sunset tonight. Five minutes later. Keep looking!

Red Oak These feathers were stuck in some grass. Not sure what kind of bird, but possibly a roadrunner. Can you find the Green Lacewing?  It moved when I took the photo and I thought I didn’t even get a shot.  Rose hip  of the White Prairie Rose (Rosa foliolosa) Slender one-seed Copperleaf (Acalypha monococca)….