The yearly quail survey has started again on the LBJ NG! What will this year bring for our favorite quail, the Northern Bobwhite in the grasslands? My shorten name for them will be Bob. 🙂
The survey starts at sunrise. Protocol says to be finished by 8am. Yesterday we started on unit 71. If it is completely overcast I can not proceed. However, I could see breaks in the clouds. So onwards we went.
Our last stop was at unit 29. During the two hours we saw various breaks in the sky. And a bit of blue was always seen at each location somewhere in the sky. No Bobs were heard the first morning. 🙁 However I am hopeful that we will hear them this season. Furthermore on this unit, most years I have heard them here at least once in the six survey days.
We did find this female Rainbow Scarab (Phanaeus vindex) that had drowned in the above tank. 🙁 Sure was pretty tho.
Now since it was relativity cool morning we went exploring further. Additionally the clouds seemed be moving on.
Checking the spines of Prickly Pear for eggs on the spines. As I mentioned in the Summer Has Arrived post the eggs of the Cactus Coreid (Chelinidea vittiger) can be found there. Nope none today.
The Meadow Pink (Sabatia campestris) fills the prairie!
However large patches the Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var pulcherrima) are some the brightest flowers now. And easier to see than the Meadow Pinks. They are taller. LOL.
A Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var pulcherrima) tipped with white!
The Scarlet-pea (Indigofera miniata) will require you to look closer among the grasses and forbs. Still a delight to find!
Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea angustifolia) are making seed now.
First of the season, Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii)!
In plain sight on Horsemint (Monarda citriodora). Well maybe not. LOL.
Indeed what an awesome part of nature, the Ambush Bug (Phymata)!
Clouds had moved back in when we concluded our day. It had been a great day with the cooler temperature. So perhaps tomorrow’s survey will bring a Bob out singing for us. Fingers crossed.
I would never have seen that ambush bug. What great camouflage.
Actually Jeanne found that Ambush biug. 😊
That ambush bug is wonderfully unique.
Gorgeous day on my favorite unit!!
Mine too!
I’ve always loved the rainbow scarab, but now I have a new favorite… ambush bug!
👏🏻😀
Before our kidneywood died in the 2021 deep freeze, Jagged Ambush Bugs loved to hunt there. What a great common name.
Agreed!