Winner: Spider
I’ve been talking a lot about the nature of nature lately, and yesterday the garden presented me with yet another example, again making me ponder my emotions in relation to what happens in “the real world.”
As excited as I’ve been watching the dragonflies and damsels zoom about my garden, I had mixed feelings about seeing this Spotted Orbweaver, possibly a Western Spotted Orbweaver, with its captured prize, a female Common White dragonfly. Two predators, both beneficial in a garden, but only one could win. And the truth is, the dragonfly didn’t have a chance, with her wings caught in the spider’s web.
Am I sad? Absolutely. But am I okay with it? Absolutely. I just wish the timing hadn’t been right after I happily followed dragonflies around for decent photos. I guess the spider was showing me how to really stalk dragonflies.
By the way, believe it or not, there is an animal in nature that does get me a little squeamish. But I’ll save that post for another day, hee hee.
I find it interesting that the damselflies linger around the pond far more than the dragonflies do. The dragonflies like to perch on branches, rocks, broken sticks, and the top of the cattle panel I use to keep the dogs off some seedlings. I don’t ever see them just resting around the pond.
The damselflies, on the other hand, find the pond their favorite resting spot, be it on lily pads, Horsetail, or the surrounding limestone. Here’s where my confidence in IDing the little but mighty predators goes to nill, other than to call them damselflies because their wings align with their body at rest.
One morning, and a fine one at that.
If this really is an owl couple we’ve got occupying our two owl houses, then it supports the idea that having two houses is more likely to attract owls sooner. It sure worked in our case.
But today the sun is back, and though the wind is exceptionally gusty and cool, the plants look happier. I know my husband will be happy to stop having to move plants into the garage with more cold weather.
— Northern Cardinal couple
Titmouse
I’ve only seen one dove make it in, and it didn’t seem very comfortable. Mostly the doves have been content to search for extra seeds in the leaves below.
I’ve heard all about the wonderful Cedar Waxwings, but until today I hadn’t seen them in my own yard. We’ve had a giant Yaupon in front of our house since we moved here, so I figured this had more to do with me not being around when the birds were migrating, rather than their actual absence from our property each year. 
This afternoon, I was on my way out the door when I saw them. And I dropped everything and ran back into the house for the camera. For the next 20 minutes I delighted in capturing picture after picture of these gorgeous birds, and I enjoyed watching their antics.
For one thing, they truly are birds of voracious appetites. When one talks about someone who eats like a bird, most likely they aren’t referring to these gluttons. They feasted on berry after berry as a group, flew off to a nearby oak to sing and digest a bit, and then flew right back to the yaupon for more fruity treats.
A few would gather on a berry-laden branch all together, hanging upside-down and enjoying the branch swing until it slowed enough that more berries could be wolfed down.
I’m truly amazed out how gorgeous these birds are. I had no idea. The yellow belly and yellow-tipped tail blend beautifully with their graceful tan, brown, and black feathers, and that mischievous black mask made us tease them about stealing our berries.
They didn’t mind us around at all, and they completely ignored the cat, who had slipped outside when I rushed in for the camera. In fact, they seemed a very curious, gregarious bunch. I read that these bold birds will even grab a bit of human hair while building nests in the north. Sometimes they get so intoxicated on the sugary berries that they’ll fly drunk and do a bit of a stagger walk — I was watching, but my birds apparently held their own quite well.
By the time I returned home today, the birds were gone. I hope another flock will pass through soon!
