New Escort–June 27, 2013
Just when I’ve convinced myself this is an immature male red wing blackbird, I re-read the description and study the photos and suddenly I’m convinced it’s a female. Immature males have a small rust colored patch on their wings in the same area where the adult males have the tell-tale red and yellow patch. 
Neither of my photos show a brown patch. Regardless, whether male or female, the bird joined the two adult males today to escort me along the path, loudly chattering the entire time. That again makes me think it may be an immature male. It seemed as if the young bird was being encouraged and urged on by the two adult males; as though it were learning proper techniques to protect one’s territory. Needless to say, it was a noisy walk, and a delightful one.
The temperatures have been stiflingly hot these last couple of days, near triple digits. I go to the peninsular around six o’clock in the evening. There is most always a breeze, but the sun is still hot, and there is little wildlife activity. As the sun drops lower in the sky and it begins to cool, the wildlife stirs. This only makes sense. 
Lay low during the day when it is oppressively hot, and come out in the evening when the temperatures are more bearable. We, humans, would do the same if it weren’t for A/C. In fact, if it weren’t for A/C, we probably wouldn’t even be in Houston. I have read that the city began to flourish with the arrival of central air. Oh, and freeways.
Who’s that on the roof? Not Santa, for sure. 
One of the yellow-crowned night herons found a good vantage point to survey the territory.
Update to yesterday’s post: there was not a single sign left of the snake reported on yesterday. Amazing how quickly it disappeared.
Green Thought: Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. – John Muir
