A day trippin' road trip was in store for me the other day. I decided to take a drive along the desolate county roads again to get out of the house and still be 'quarantined' inside the car all the time. I had in mind maybe seeing some hawks or the like, but to my surprise, I sighted two very elusive bird species I haven't seen in decades. Or at least so it seems. Yes, it has been a long time since I saw either. And they were both spotted within 10 minutes of each other, and on the same gravel road. I was excited to see them, and even MORE excited to get some good photos of them...they are both very skittish and swift to disappear from sight. Most times, even before anyone has a chance to get the camera's viewfinder up to start focusing in on them. I will have photos of both birds [and others] shared this week on my bird photo blog...I'd Rather B Birdin'. Just click on the link above the photo at the top of Hootin' Anni's.
In the meantime, this is part of what else I saw while driving in my captivity-mobile...
Some roads are lined with cotton fields on both sides, while other roads, on one side it's sorghum and the opposite side is cotton. During Spring when fields are freshly plowed and on the verge of growing planted crops, the birds seen are more raptors, as the crops mature, the wildlife [and birds] change drastically to seed eaters, etc. Deer can be seen during the year in some remote areas, while in other areas, coyotes, javelinas and small critters like skunks and raccoons are found. Burrowing owls can be found if lucky, in the barrow ditches near the openings of the culverts, while other owls are seen in silos and quonset huts used to store grains [or when opened, storing farming equipment] because of the rodent population. It just depends. But, no matter what time of year, it's always a goodly chance of seeing something. It's quiet, hardly any traffic on the back roads, and the pristine atmosphere and changes in store are always a good way of getting away while still remaining safe from the virus. Heck, even BEFORE the virus hit.
Other areas, there are newly developed subdivisions, and large, vast ranch houses where cattle are raised [and some horse farms]. Turf farms. Yet on other roads, the oil wells and pumps prevail. Along the main highway #70 that takes you to interstate 69 to go either to Houston or Brownsville, Texas there are many wind generator farms and cotton gins, a diverse area of south Texas....
...then, there is a chance of wildlife in the quiet, unpopulated areas!
right: a roadrunner on the post seen in my rear view mirror.
