predator
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Finch Nest Update
Unfortunately, this post does not have a happy ending. Since the House Finch eggs hatched on June 24-28, 2025 I was periodically observing them with a stick mirror. On July 3 I caught my first glimpse of a baby chick from the ground without the mirror. There was one little beak visible at the front Continue reading
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Trauma At The Barn Swallow Nest
There has been some traumatic event at the barn swallow nest, which now appears to be abandoned. Here’s where I wish I had installed a camera to watch it so I’d have more information. As it is, I can only look at the evidence and deduce a hypothesis. Here’s a timeline: In the last part Continue reading
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Another Spider Breakfast
I was just walking beside the house yesterday and happened to notice a Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera) spider hanging from a single thread from the eaves. No big deal. But suddenly there was frantic activity as a dragonfly appeared tangled in the thread. After some wrestling, which quickly subdued the dragonfly, the spider hoisted its Continue reading
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A Spider And Its Breakfast
I half walked through a spider’s web one morning before I noticed it. I caught enough of the web to lay it to one side and watch, because clearly I had interrupted a food-wrapping project. The two objects (one spider and one partially wrapped victim) were several inches apart after my blunder, but the spider Continue reading
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A Lacewing Breakfast Companion
I try to eat as many meals as possible outdoors. I can choose my location, front or back, depending on the time of day and whether I want sun or shade. On this crisp December morning I was joined on the porch bench by a Green Lacewing (Genus Chrysoperla, exact species unknown). Here’s a closer Continue reading
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Streaktails Are Predators Of Aphids
This tiny visitor to my Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba) this week might look at first glance to be a bee because of its coloring, but it’s actually an Oblique Streaktail (Allograpta obliqua), which is a common species of hoverfly. These are beneficial visitors to the garden, not only because the adults act as pollinators, but Continue reading
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Robber Fly!
This fierce looking critter (with a body over an inch long) was resting on my new Mexican Olive tree. At first glance I thought it was a spider, but there are only six legs. After iNaturalist ID’ed it as a Robber Fly (genus Diogmites), I had to look again to see the wings which I Continue reading
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Wasp Nests
Now that the wasps here have finished raising their young, I’ve removed any nest that I could find. There were a couple in the front porch, one on the back patio, and several inside the garage near the door opening. I found two kinds of nest: one for Paper Wasps and several for Mud Dauber Continue reading
About Me
Nature Lover.
Inquisitive Observer.
Student Gardener.
I invite you to join me on my journey to convert my sterile (from a nature point of view) new house lot to a healthy and diverse ecosystem, as I make discoveries, mistakes, and hopefully progress. I am not an expert or professional. The project started in February 2023 and the location is Seguin, Texas, USA.
Rewilding My Lot 