We had perfect weather for a nature study day, so we ditched the books and took advantage. With boots, picnic lunch, field guides and binoculars we were off. We disturbed cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) resting near the edge of the stock tank. These medium-sized white herons often hang around our cows. 
Next, the boys discovered a beautiful black mushroom. My close-up didn't turn out, but you can see it in the center of the photo. Anyone know of a great mushroom ID site to help us name beauties like this?
We did a little more birding, then practiced our tree ID until we discovered the creek is full of all kinds of frogs. That kept us busy until lunch. 
We ended the exploration by checking out the pools that collect at the base of our bluff. We've had good rains this month, so they are full of water right now. They are also teeming with tadpoles of all shapes and sizes! We carefully collected all kinds of pond life. It is an amazing little world of activity.
Whew. Tired kids. Exhausted mama. Muddy laundry. Jar of green, slimy water on my dining table. A possible case of poison ivy.
By all accounts, a great day.
2 comments:
Have you seen the book "Pets in a Jar"? It is one of our favorites for collecting and caring for outdoor critters. You are lucky to have all of that wildlife right out your backdoor!
No, I haven't seen that one, Jeanne. Sounds good. I am currently trying to figure out how to care for a bullfrog, a tree frog, an anole, and our little tadpole pond in a jar. We also had a skink, but made a note to ourselves that bullfrogs apparently like skinks.
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