Catching Up

Pretty mourning dove

I may not have been telling you about it, but I have been birding. Not as much as I would like, but it is July in Texas, so neither the birds not I are all that keen to spend a lot of time in the heat.

I was at 3 Rivers Ranch with some Texas Master Naturalists a couple of times in the last few weeks. The first time, we were looking for horned lizards, although nothing says you can't look for birds at the same time. I went with a group again last week. The rest of the group went out to look for more lizards and I stayed to do some much needed weeding in the pollinator garden we have there (and did see a horned lizard while doing so).

Horned lizard

Between the two trips, I saw/heard the following birds: killdeer, red-tailed hawk, mourning dove, Eurasian collared dove, ladder-backed woodpecker, golden-fronted woodpecker,  common nighthawk, bobwhite, barn swallow, dickcissel, mockingbird, eastern phoebe, painted bunting, blue grosbeak, roadrunner,  Bell's vireo, northern cardinal, yellow-billed cuckoo, scissor-tailed flycatcher, great crested flycatcher, brown-headed cowbird, lark sparrow, house sparrow.

I also visited Copper Breaks State Park. It doesn't get enough attention. It's well worth a visit. I was again there to look for horned lizards, so wasn't focused on birding, but did see a few birds. Burrowing owl, mourning dove, Eurasian collared dove, turkey vulture, bobwhite quail, roadrunner, ladder-backed woodpecker, Bewick's wren, cardinal, mockingbird, scissor-tailed flycatcher, painted bunting, lark sparrow, and brown-headed cowbird.

I also went with a group to do a quail call survey in Wilbarger County. In addition to some quail, we did see some other birds. Among them cattle egret, killdeer, mourning dove, cliff swallow, painted bunting, dickcissel, cardinal, yellow-billed cuckoo. red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, lark sparrow, eastern meadowlark, western meadowlark, and Cassin's sparrow.

Good birding!

Like to Be Outside?

 

Do you like to walk and perhaps learn about nearby places  you haven't been to? If so, the Rolling Plains Chapter Texas Master Naturalist is sponsoring monthly hikes for the public throughout their 10-county area.

So far, the chapter has sponsored hikes in Wichita, Archer, Clay, Foard, and Wilbarger counties. Next month will be Hardeman County at Copper Breaks State Park on August 2. Copper Breaks is a pretty park that tends to be overlooked because of its location near Quanah.

The hike is free, although participants will need to pay the park entrance fee (13 and up $3; children under 13, free). The hike is scheduled for 4 hours, beginning at 8 AM. Generally, the hikes aren't difficult and the pace is slow, allowing everyone the opportunity to look at and learn more about the flora and fauna seen. Several Texas Master Naturalist members will be available to answer questions about what participants see. Depending upon the temperature, it is possible participants may see some Texas horned lizards during the hike.

Since it will be the height of the summer, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, and water are highly recommended.

The town is named after Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Chief, and those interested in history will find a couple of small local museums of interest after the hike.

Sign up through Eventbrite. There is no cost, but it helps to know how many plan to attend. Here's the ticketing link.

If you are interested in the upcoming hikes, more information is on the group Facebook Page as well as on Eventbrite.