fishing expedition

The insects are out for sure. The mosquitoes bite in the evening and the flies buzz in the afternoon. Of course, before they buzz, they have to warm up. Here is a specimen near a horse farm that is not quite ready for the day yet...

There are many small lizards out in the evenings now. They like hanging around septic tanks which are cool, moist and attract bugs... Most are either ground lizards that race or fence lizards, like this one that specialize in hiding.

Many nestlings die in the arduous process of learning to live. Here, a couple fell out during some high winds and were scavenged by next morning. I think they are robins. Luckily, there are many more hidden nests growing their precious cargoes out in the trees. In the coming months were will see many more helpless birds on the ground braving this thing we call life.

I have trouble believing this, but my phone app lists this little tyke as a "Barbarian grasshopper" I feel he should have a little helmet with horns, maybe some furs across the shoulders. Wait, it looks like he does have that part of the costume...

There were many mammals tracks in the dust beside the ditches, many birds too. Some are easy to identify, but most I don't bother. It is pretty startling how easier it is to read the story of the tracks in the early morning or late evening when the sun is shining across them and enhancing the shadows.

 
I just found out this spider's name is "ghost spider" pretty fancy. Look closely and you can see the midge that keep his attention long enough for me tom take the picture. There doesn't seem to be huge numbers of bugs out at night right now. Wondering if that has anything to do with the hummingbirds that have just moved into the area? While hey are known for being nectar drinkers, they also take a large number of small bugs.

I take MILLIONS of pictures of bullfrogs. I notice the eyes are brown in the morning and more green by afternoon. This male has a beautiful radar dish of an ear behind that golden eye. The evening is filled with the sounds of insects, like crickets and amphibians calling. But by morning most activity has ceased. I get pretty excited by nearby amphibians calls; Woodhouse toads, mostly but a few bullfrog. Next chance for rainfall is may 10, when we might have the monsoon start.

This is a carp and she is spawning. There is a collection of 1-3 males following her, ready to release milt on the eggs she periodically releases. Usually that happens when she gets hung up on some shallow mud, or water weed. Makes quite a splash too, these are powerful fish. Unfortunately for the anglers lining the banks, these fish are not interested in eating at the moment...