Timothy Stark Raisbeck

Taken 30 minutes ago at sunset. Rain most of the day and then a looseness about people and wildlife when the sun showed itself. This beautiful animal was fun to watch as it sat atop our Jungle Jim preening itself with little care for anything else. Such a lovely animal. The colors were mainly blues and whites. Watching for the short time I did, this bird went through a whole repertoire of actions: preening, swallowing, flapping its wings, itching and it seemed to be quite aware of me as it spent considerable time staring my way.

I had no idea the variety of fresh water life that we had in Bessie’s Creek until I experienced some of the turtles that live there. I assumed turtles populated the creek but didn’t realize the size that some of these turtles can reach. I happened to be sitting on the roadway bridge that overlooks the creek taking pictures of a squirrel sitting on a fence post when I heard noise below me. I looked down and happened to shoot a quick picture of the turtle that you see in the image. As a matter of fact there were two of the turtles but I was only able to get a picture of the one. Not knowing which variety of turtle I had seen, a little research led me to the “Chicken Turtle” which is quite common in Texas ditches, creeks, bogs, etc.

The Chicken Turtle has a beautiful reticulated shell and vertically striped rump. Its good looks along with its attentive nature are some of its endearing qualities. The name ‘chicken turtle’ unfortunately comes from the early days when these turtles were eaten in very large numbers throughout the southeastern United States. They are said to be quite good, tasting “like chicken.”

Chicken turtles are good captives. They are baskers, very shy and alert, plopping into the water at the approach of their keeper. They will soon become tame and though they will dive off into the water, they will quickly re-surface to see if any food has been offered. They do get larger than most first-time pet buyers realize however, with adult females reaching 11-12” inches within five or six years.

Indian Paintbrush making their “final stand” before the summer heat brings on their demise. Taken a week ago not far from our house. I have researched the purple flowers shown in the image but haven’t come up with anything. If you know what they are please share your knowledge.

I couldn’t let another day go by without posting this image of the rosebush in our backyard. The image doesn’t do it justice. Christy and I haven’t really done much in the way of maintenance with it over the years. A little cutting back of the branches every couple of years and re-anchoring it to the fence periodically. It was there when we moved in, planted by the former owners of the house. The roses have the deepest, richest red to their blooms. The number of blooms is so impressive, the branches seem to tire from the additional weight. The blooming rose bush tells us that the heat of summer is not far off.

Sun hitting a Pecan tree at just the right time, produces beautiful depth with the shadows on the front of the hay barn.

The day may have been misty and overcast but I couldn’t resist stopping and taking a picture of this Red-Tailed Hawk next to the road. Not the best picture but a certain “winterish” feel to the scene. The hawk tends to meld into the background but without leaves on the tree, one can see the size and feel the weight of such a bird.

I love the hawk. For me they are one of the most fascinating birds that God put on the Earth. Such a majesty and grace about them. They seem to be quite a “loner” but in reality they are very devoted to their mate and only leave the relationship if the mate dies. At that point they go in search of another.

The Red Tailed Hawk typically weighs from 690 to 1600 grams (1.5 to 3.5 pounds) and measures 45–65 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110 to 145 cm (43 to 57 in).

It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Because they are so common and easily trained as capable hunters, the majority of hawks captured for falconry in the United States are Red-tails.

In flight, this hawk soars with wings in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy. Active flight is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground. When soaring or flapping its wings, it typically travels from 20 to 40 mph (64 km/h), but when diving may exceed 120 mph (190 km/h). When the Red-tailed Hawk walks, its steps are slow and awkward.

Because of its robust crispness, a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is a cliché cinematic sound effect. This high, piercing scream is often featured in the background of adventure movies to give a sense of wilderness to the scene. However, the cry is often inaccurately used for the Bald Eagle, whose own vocalizations are quite different and less robust.

Snow came to our little town on December 04. Depending on where you were you might have had up to 3” worth of the new fallen blanket.

On the average our area receives snow every 7 years. I believe it has been about 5 or 6 years since the last snow fall and that was on Christmas Eve, which made it even more special. The snow never sticks around long but to most people it is always a joy to see. We have hot and humid weather for so much of the year that for many it is a welcome change.

Having grown up in the midwest, seeing a little snow fall always brings back memories. Our house was situated at the top of the street so when the snow came my brother and I were poised to throw on our winter gear, grab our sleds and head for the hill. A little bit of ice made the runs even faster.

We co-exist with many varieties of birds on our ranch. Birds of prey are very common. I happened to shoot this video the other day as a Mississippi Kite was perched high overhead at the top of a Pecan tree.

INTERESTING FACTS:
The body length and wingspan of the Mississippi Kite and Peregrine Falcon are similar, but the Peregrine Falcon can be 3 times heavier. Lightweight bodies give kites a buoyant flight.

The male and female Mississippi Kite share the incubation duties. Each bird usually feeds itself when it is not incubating the eggs. In contrast, many female raptors provide most of the incubation, while the male supplies her with food at the nest.