Misty Drizzle Gems

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Misty drizzle may not amount to much in the rain gauge, but it works miracles for a multitude of plants:

Velvet Leaf Senna is just one of the numerous native plants benefiting from the damp weather we have had here this year. The misty drizzle falling during a walk one recent afternoon left liquid gems shimmering on the leaves.

These photos were taken on a walk along Alpine Dr in Brackenridge Park on Wednesday, March 30, 2016

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One Critical Thing These Three Share

Thursday, March 31, 2016

A good question to ask a class to begin a discussion might be: "Which of these species is not like the other two?"

The most obvious answer would be the turtles. But, among many other things, the Red-shouldered Hawk has a different way of catching its prey than the Red-eared Slider turtles and the Snowy Egret. So, there really isn't one simple answer to the question: which of these is not like the other two?

There is, however, one thing in particular that all three species share in common: the river. All three depend on the riparian habitat of the river for food, water, shelter and space: for survival.

These photos were taken along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River upstream from the upper Mission Road trailhead to just past the pavilion on Monday, March 14, 2016.

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Springing Up Along the River

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

This is just a small assortment of wildflowers springing up along the river:

The American Basketflower with a bud that looks like a basket is just beginning to set flower buds. The Texas Yellowstar, False Dayflower, Baby Blue-eyes, Pink Evening Primrose, Southern Dewberry and Bluebonnets are in full bloom.

And a Common Buckeye butterfly was fluttering along the trail. Hopefully with an abundance of wildflowers this Spring, the butterflies will also flourish.

(A side note for gardeners who haven't quite caught on to how nature works, no caterpillars equals no butterflies. Please don't use insecticides on flower gardens. Any leaves caterpillars eat will grow back when the caterpillars have finished feasting.)

These photos were taken on a walk on the Acequia Park loop trail along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

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Riparians

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Apparently, the soft-shelled and Red-eared Slider turtles came together for an afternoon convention on the top of Espada Dam this particular afternoon. I can only imagine what topic they discussed. It may have had something to do with the current state of the river, or perhaps the state of the river current. Who knows what turtles think about and silently discuss as they bask in the warmth of the early Spring sun?

Meanwhile, the Creeping Opposite-leaf Spotflower is flourishing along one portion of the river bank and the Great Egret, living a territorial solitary life, isn't about to become involved in any turtle conference:

These photos were taken on a walk on the Acequia Park loop trail along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

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Dandelions Are Not All Created Equal

Thursday, March 24, 2016

There are dandelions and then there is the native Texas Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus paucifloras):

The winter rain has begun to work its magic. Wildflowers are blooming in abundance throughout South Texas. Among the more well known Bluebonnets and Pink Evening Primrose, Texas Dandelion standout because of their bright, almost neon, yellow color.

I find it particularly interesting that when this very bright yellow Texas Dandelion is used to make a natural dye for wool and many other fibers, it typically produces a University of Texas burnt orange dye.

These photos were taken on a walk on the Acequia Park loop trail along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

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Accurate Indirect Indicators

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

As I have mentioned in several previous posts, one way of measuring the success of the ecosystem restoration along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River is by the increase in the diversity of bird species and the overall number of birds that inhabit this section of the river.

There is also an accurate indirect indicator of the quantity and health of the fish population in the river without actually having to do a catch and release count. It takes a fairly large number of fish to maintain a population of fish eating birds, so the more fish eating birds in permanent residence along the Mission Reach, the more fish there are living in the river.

The most common permanent, year round resident fish eating bird here is the Cormorant and they are abundant:

These photos were taken along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River upstream from the upper Mission Road trailhead on Monday, March 14, 2016.

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