Saw this big guy crossing the path as we were headed to the chicken coop. It was about an inch and a half long. My eldest snapped a picture, then was incredulous when I snapped a picture and the beetle stopped and posed for me (because the first thing we both do is whip out our phones and take pictures of new creatures!) iNaturalist identified it as a Horned Passalus Beetle. Neat.
I checked my chicken cam in the morning and there was a tiny glint of light in the foot bath in the coop. Then the light blinked and became two glints of light in the darkness.
Apparently the coop resident gulf coast toad decided that the inside foot bath was preferable. Or he just got stuck in there when the doors closed for the night and made due with the situation. The back porch toad invited himself in this week. Door opened, he hopped in, in the blink of an eye.
This is a photo of the sky above the coop. Spiders have made canopies spanning between the trees. It is a little intimidating walking to the coop and seeing these hunting trapeze artists suspended overhead, but I have to say that our fly population is low. Good for the spiders, good for us, good for the chickens. May have nightmares.
According to herpsoftexas.org, Gulf Coast Toads can grow up to 4 inches in length. So this must be a grandmother toad, as she is at the top end of her growth. (I’m not actually sure she is a she, but I thought in toads, females are larger.)
I can’t believe she just let me put my hand that close for a picture. But then again, I’ve had others of this species sit on the door sill as if they are waiting to be asked in for tea. She probably wouldn’t wait, she would come in and help herself!
We have so many beautiful dragonflies around our house. Probably because of the pond next door, but I love that they are here. I dragged my good camera out of hiding because this dragonfly was perched in the late afternoon sun, and I couldn’t resist. I’m posting this picture because it seems unusual in the lineup of dragonfly pictures, with the coloring and composition, but I like the detail of the wings.
Critters and Craft 