This was the last quail survey morning! And we were lucky to hear one Bobwhite on a different unit than previous days today. So this means we heard four bobwhites in three different locations on the grasslands for this year’s survey effort. That is pretty darn nice!
This was the first survey point and where we heard the Bobwhite!When we reached the second location, we had these fabulous streaky sunrise! No Bobwhite here this morning, but in the past we have heard them here. So I am happy we had a great showing from the Bobwhite this year!Our work done, it was time to just to hunt for the Pilostyles in the prairie. No luck today for the plant, but plenty of fun stuff!A straw colored walkingstick (Phasmida) blended in nicely! I do not know the species of this one. However, a common species in Texas is the Prairie Walkingstick (Diapheromera velii). All walkingsticks are herbivorous. Amazingly some species do not need a male to reproduce. In addition, some species’ eggs even take two years to hatch. (Common Insects of Texas, John and Kendra Abbott)This particular area had a fair amount of the White Compass Plant!We found a happy green-eyed yucca friend! Ok, you caught us, we made a friend. LOL The eyes were cedar berries and the the mouth was a Two-leaf Senna seed pod. 🙂 More tomorrow, on other prairie friends!
Your green-eyed yucca is a charmer. So sad about the monarchs. As a child visiting my grandmother in Farmersville (1962), I remember thousands of monarchs roosting on our neighbor’s four small trees during their migration. Unforgettable.
Many years ago when Gary & I primitive camped in eastern OK in the Ouchitas we found early fall was not the time to be out. the Walking Sticks were in such huge numbers that you could never stand still without one walking up your leg. Not very relaxing when you have to keep marching in place and never sit down.
And you had to keep your cup of drink and plate of food covered. They climbed up in the trees then deposited their eggs. The eggs then would fall to the ground which included our drinks and food. Really disgusting! Think some was poop too. We decided we needed to not go until November because they were so bad each year in fall.
Quail. Yay! The sunrise was nice today. Poor monarchs. I think everything is endangered except humans who should be.
I don’t know about that…humans seem to have blinders on and headed down that path right behind all the endangered species in my opinion.
Haha nice friend. Glad your found a few!
Your green-eyed yucca is a charmer. So sad about the monarchs. As a child visiting my grandmother in Farmersville (1962), I remember thousands of monarchs roosting on our neighbor’s four small trees during their migration. Unforgettable.
I guess it a similar thing like us not seeing the passenger pigeons or the bison thundering across the plains. So sad those sights are gone. 🙁
Quail – nice! I love your yucca root friend too!
🙂
Many years ago when Gary & I primitive camped in eastern OK in the Ouchitas we found early fall was not the time to be out. the Walking Sticks were in such huge numbers that you could never stand still without one walking up your leg. Not very relaxing when you have to keep marching in place and never sit down.
And you had to keep your cup of drink and plate of food covered. They climbed up in the trees then deposited their eggs. The eggs then would fall to the ground which included our drinks and food. Really disgusting! Think some was poop too. We decided we needed to not go until November because they were so bad each year in fall.
Wow Kathy! What an interesting story. I have never seen so many walkingsticks before. Cool story! Thanks for sharing!