derrell_d's Journal

I spent this past week in Ft. Davis.

I bounced between the Davis Mountains SP and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.

I enjoyed watching the birds at the State Park...Acorn Woodpeckers, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays and one Summer Tanager to name a few.
The two bird blinds were active!

The plants were wonderful to view while hiking on the Nature Center Trails.

Looking forward to my next trip!

I watched (3) Queens flying about 6' beside me in a straight line formation..
Graceful, beautiful, majestic...They are a sight to see.

Sunflowers are plentiful in the Park.
I stop and check them for insects at least once while on a trail.
I usually find something to admire and photograph.

I almost stepped on a Long-nosed Snake three feet from the parking lot at the end of my hike.
The snake paid no attention to me; its head was in a hole as I walked around it.
Highlight of the day.

I hiked several trails this morning at PDSP, and one late afternoon, with a fully charged cellphone(camera). :)

Nothing noteworthy to report, except grasshoppers, lots and lots of grasshoppers!

Joanne Toler led our Texas Master Naturalist Training Class on a plant identification adventure north of Medipark in Amarillo today.
I took several pics of blooming plants and uploaded into iNat, although not my main purpose during the class.
Joanne identified many non-blooming plants with ease.
Where I saw brown grass, brown twigs, and spent brown flowers, Joanne saw something else. :)

Dan Porter led our afternoon session on Mammalogy.
Dan pointed out mammals of interest in the Texas Panhandle
A very informative and enjoyable presentation.

note...
We did see a walking stick. However, between its camouflage and my picture-taking(ugh), I could not make his head and shape out on my phone when I reviewed the pic later. :)

My cellphone camera fussed at me several times this afternoon..."too much heat, turn me off!
So, I put it in my pocket and hiked a bit, not my main purpose.
Temp at the Trailhead...95F.

I also, had trouble focusing on objects held by my hand, such as seed heads and leafs.
Windy day...ugh!

and lastly, cellphones work better fully charged...nuff said.

Take aways:

1) check cellphone charge before leaving the apartment.
2) deal with the wind as in...lower your expectations. plants and insects don't pose on demand.
3) the heat: avoid midday forays.

Most of my pics today were not good.
However, I posted a few observations for review anyway.

Time in Palo Duro Canyon...never disappointing. :)

Recorded a few observations today SE Park.

Hot, sunny summer day...

Need to work on technique....light, angles, distance, etc...

I attended a TMN Training Session earlier today regarding citizen science, interpretation and the iNaturalist app. Craig Hensley presented and Melissa Shaver moderated. Thanks to both.

I'm looking forward to my next hike at Palo Duro Canyon.

Will put the presentation points into practice.

Let the journey begin...