rockshins Posted May 31, 2024 Share Posted May 31, 2024 1 hour ago, hurronnicane said: After a lifetime of hearing Chuck-will’s-widow calls, but never getting a decent look at one They are super camouflaged and come out at nightfall, never seen one myself! Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted May 31, 2024 Share Posted May 31, 2024 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted May 31, 2024 Share Posted May 31, 2024 8 hours ago, hurronnicane said: After a lifetime of hearing Chuck-will’s-widow calls, but never getting a decent look at one I’ve been seeing them frequently, though unable to get a decent photo with my phone. One was nesting right next to one of my trails. And on a ride yesterday evening I saw two of them in a different area. Also saw a beautiful tarantula scooting through the woods. Are those eggs just on the ground? Can't believe nothing has eaten them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurronnicane Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 14 hours ago, GFisher said: Are those eggs just on the ground? Can't believe nothing has eaten them. Yes. They are! The adult sits on them to incubate them and is incredibly well camouflaged. Here are two admittedly poor photos of the mother(?) on the “nest”. I initially found the nest while using the chainsaw to clear a Red Oak that had blocked the trail. When I came back a few days later I was reluctant to get very close since I had scared her off the nest earlier. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 I had to dig up a picture of one so I can try pattern recognition to find it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurronnicane Posted June 2, 2024 Share Posted June 2, 2024 I promise I will quit talking about this bird soon, but I have one last update. Today I got off my bike and snuck up to the nesting site, slow and quiet. After a few minutes of eye strain I was finally convinced that the bird was gone and the nest is unoccupied (no eggs). I lingered a few minutes thinking about the eventual trail re-route around a fallen red oak tree and all of a sudden the mama bird comes flying out of the brush about 10 feet from where the nest had been. She then does the elaborate broken wing, flailing-on-the-ground act as she limps away trying to get me to follow her away from the (just guessing here) newly hatched chicks. I quickly moved away from there and slunk away, sorry about having disturbed her again. A few minutes later and 75 yards from there I saw what I’m guessing was her mate checking to make sure I was really leaving. This critter sighting just won’t end! On a less fun note, it appears to be horsefly season. Not a fan, though it is satisfying to smack one of those suckers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted June 3, 2024 Share Posted June 3, 2024 17 hours ago, hurronnicane said: I promise I will quit talking about this bird soon, but I have one last update. Today I got off my bike and snuck up to the nesting site, slow and quiet. After a few minutes of eye strain I was finally convinced that the bird was gone and the nest is unoccupied (no eggs). I lingered a few minutes thinking about the eventual trail re-route around a fallen red oak tree and all of a sudden the mama bird comes flying out of the brush about 10 feet from where the nest had been. She then does the elaborate broken wing, flailing-on-the-ground act as she limps away trying to get me to follow her away from the (just guessing here) newly hatched chicks. I quickly moved away from there and slunk away, sorry about having disturbed her again. A few minutes later and 75 yards from there I saw what I’m guessing was her mate checking to make sure I was really leaving. This critter sighting just won’t end! On a less fun note, it appears to be horsefly season. Not a fan, though it is satisfying to smack one of those suckers. Awesome on the birds, not so much on the horsefly. I killed one in my garage this weekend. It landed on my blue Miata. Supposedly they're attracted to this. I have a tub of tanglefoot and some blue solo plates I want to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 3, 2024 Share Posted June 3, 2024 19 hours ago, hurronnicane said: On a less fun note, it appears to be horsefly season. Not a fan, though it is satisfying to smack one of those suckers. I love them and their dirty little mayfly cousins. Those little dragon bastards are welcome to consume all all the mosquitos they want. Have at it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted June 12, 2024 Share Posted June 12, 2024 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted June 12, 2024 Share Posted June 12, 2024 One of my favorites from a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted June 18, 2024 Share Posted June 18, 2024 Our backyard friend is back. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted June 18, 2024 Share Posted June 18, 2024 Is it at least paying rent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted June 21, 2024 Share Posted June 21, 2024 On 6/3/2024 at 12:33 PM, Barry said: I love them and their dirty little mayfly cousins. Those little dragon bastards are welcome to consume all all the mosquitos they want. Have at it! Are you perhaps thinking of dragon flies and not horse flies? (reply to a horse fly post): On 6/2/2024 at 4:43 PM, hurronnicane said: On a less fun note, it appears to be horsefly season. Not a fan, though it is satisfying to smack one of those suckers. Horse flies suck (literally) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabanidae 2 of them got into my garage while I was working on my bikes and they kept biting me...through my shirt!. I managed to kill one with brake cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 21, 2024 Share Posted June 21, 2024 27 minutes ago, AntonioGG said: Are you perhaps thinking of dragon flies and not horse flies? (reply to a horse fly post): That's a funny little Berenstain Bears moment for me. I distinctly remember reading dragonflies! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted June 22, 2024 Share Posted June 22, 2024 19 hours ago, AntonioGG said: I managed to kill one with brake cleaner. You need one of these! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted July 2, 2024 Share Posted July 2, 2024 It works if you rotate 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted August 14, 2024 Share Posted August 14, 2024 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted August 15, 2024 Share Posted August 15, 2024 Crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpope Posted August 15, 2024 Share Posted August 15, 2024 19 hours ago, Sluggo said: It’s a walking stick Crisco party! No wonder I’ve seen so many on the greenbelt this summer. Between those and Giant Texas katydids it’s been a weird summer for bugs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted August 16, 2024 Share Posted August 16, 2024 Third one in 3 weeks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted August 16, 2024 Share Posted August 16, 2024 Give it a wide berth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted August 19, 2024 Share Posted August 19, 2024 On 8/14/2024 at 6:11 PM, Sluggo said: pick'em up sticks! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARR Posted October 22, 2024 Share Posted October 22, 2024 (edited) Peddlers east of Parmer and west of the concrete. Second time I have seen this one and the first time I could get a pic of him. Easily 4' long. Edited October 22, 2024 by ARR Typo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted December 7, 2024 Share Posted December 7, 2024 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted December 24, 2024 Share Posted December 24, 2024 Don't see enough of these alive. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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