Greetings All:
With four BBSs left to go, several weekend days lost to adverse winds or
rains, and no guarantee that the remaining four weekend days remaining
would be any better, I am taking a little vacation time to knock them off
during what is anticipated to be a straight shot of four dry and relatively
wind-free days.
I started out this morning with the Plains II survey which stars in Yoakum
County, at a point north of Plains, and continues, generally northward into
Cochran County, to a point west of Lehman. I will put out a full report -
eventually - but decided to throw some highlights out while they were still
fresh in my heart.
I had no avian highlights on the way over though I was heartened to see a
live American Badger crossing a dirt road (I have seen several dead ones
this year; a live one was a bit of a relief).
Yoakum County highlights were - running northward along the route: 1 Scaled
Quail, 2 Scaled Quails, 2 Scaled Quails, 1 Scaled Quail, 1 Ring-necked
Pheasant, 1 Scaled Quail, and 4 Scaled Quails.
Cochran County highlights were - running northward along the route: 2
Ring-necked Pheasants, 1 Scaled Quail, 1 Scaled Quail, 2 Scaled Quails, 1
Scaled Quails, 3 Scaled Quails, 4 Scaled Quails, 1 male Bronzed Cowbird, 2
Scaled Quails, and 2 Scaled Quails.
The sole highlight on the way home: 1 male Bronzed Cowbird in Lehman
(Cochran County).
To folk wondering why Scaled Quails, seemingly common along this route,
would be considered a highlight, a reminder that the species declined
precipitously during the drought and is still in recovery. There were
years where finding just a few along this route was considered a joyous
experience; tagging almost thirty was wondrous!
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock
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