Hershey Ranch - Labor Day 2019

Erin and I spent part of the Labor Day Weekend working out at the ranch to wrap up deer surveys, advance some reading and writing projects, and to just plain relax. While out there, I decided it was long past due to create a dedicated Hershey Ranch location on iNaturalist and to also do a better job of documenting the plant and wildlife that occur there. I was happy to see that the location shape for the ranch automatically grabbed some of my previous observations and synced them to the Hershey Ranch list. With only a dozen or so observations, there is a lot of room for improvement.

My inspiration to take a stab at this comes from my friend @mikaelb who has done some great stuff using this platform as a means of modern day naturalist journaling.

My first observation over the weekend came from a Nutria seen hanging out on the side of one of the ponds. Even at 200 plus yards, it didn't like me spying on it and reluctantly entered the water. These exotic invasive aquatic rodents are seen regularly on the ranch, primarily in the large soil conservation lake. Our management paradigm is remove as many exotic species and promote natives as best as possible. However, we haven't paid much attention to the nutria since our management objectives largely emphasize range restoration and health - combined with extremely limited capacity. Until we get an indication that there presence is interfering with a ranch management objective - either ours or a neighbors - they'll likely remain.

Erin and I took a quick cruise around the ranch before dark. Not much was moving but we did see this hatchling Texas Spiny Lizard.

My friend and deer survey member Lee joined us at dark. As we caught up outside the Little House we were serenaded by a pair of Eastern Screech-owls - possibly the first I've observed at the ranch (I'll need to check on that). I'm not sure if it was aggression or coincidence but one of the owls dove out of the canopy and within a foot or so of my head on its way to a tree just behind me. It was a cool experience and I was happy it didn't take off with my hat! Before we left, we documented two additional critters: Coast Toad and Blackberry Looper Moth

The deer survey was consistent with the previous iterations from August. We counted nearly 90 deer along our 6+ mile spotlight route. These results are encouraging and, coupled with the previous surveys, suggest an improving trend in buck to doe ratios and increasing fawn production/survivability at Hershey Ranch.

During the survey we saw a number of non-target wildlife including Armadillos, Grey Fox, Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Raccoons, bats, a roosting Red-tailed Hawk, and two Great Horned Owls.

Late the next morning Erin and I took another tour around the ranch and added a few bird observations.

We also noted a wonderful stand of Big Bluestem growing along a stretch of gentle ravine. This is the first I have observed at Hershey Ranch during 5 plus years. My gut tells me that it is likely in response to a combination of a recent prescribed burn, complete rest from grazing, and a wet spring. I hope to see more of this grass in the future.

During our tour, Erin and stopped at another gentle ravine that was wet and abuzz with flying insects. I've recently taken to studying dragonflies - I'm a complete noob at this point - so with zoom camera in tow, I got to work documenting all I saw at this point. I'm seriously enjoying the color and diversity of these creatures! Each of these is technically a lifer - yes, that's how noob I am. I was especially excited about the Roseate Skimmer since seeing a photo in my dragonfly ID book. The Twelve-spotted Skimmer was what originally caught my eye with its impressive pattern and large size.

Overall - a wonderful weekend and great way to re-charge the batteries while getting little work and play done.

Publicado el septiembre 3, 2019 02:54 MAÑANA por romeyswanson romeyswanson

Observaciones

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Coipo (Myocastor coypus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 1, 2019 a las 06:51 TARDE CDT

Descripción

edge of drying pond

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Blanca de Lydia (Plathemis lydia)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:27 MAÑANA CDT

Descripción

observed lit on buttonbush at shallow wet tributary that held water within banks - extremely dry conditions throughout ranch

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Rosácea (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:28 MAÑANA CDT

Descripción

observed lit on buttonbush at shallow wet tributary that held water within banks - extremely dry conditions throughout ranch

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Lagartija Espinosa del Noreste (Sceloporus olivaceus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 1, 2019 a las 07:00 TARDE CDT

Descripción

hatchling

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Polilla Zarzamora (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 1, 2019 a las 09:23 TARDE CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Sapo Nebuloso (Incilius nebulifer)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 1, 2019 a las 09:23 TARDE CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Búho Cornudo (Bubo virginianus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 1, 2019 a las 11:56 TARDE CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Pato Silbón de Ala Blanca (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 10:58 MAÑANA CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Correcaminos Norteño (Geococcyx californianus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:06 MAÑANA CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Verdugo Americano (Lanius ludovicianus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:11 MAÑANA CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Gorrión Arlequín (Chondestes grammacus)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:11 MAÑANA CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Pasto Tallo Azul (Andropogon gerardi)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:13 MAÑANA CDT

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora de Doce Manchas (Libellula pulchella)

Observ.

romeyswanson

Fecha

Septiembre 2, 2019 a las 11:27 MAÑANA CDT

Descripción

observed lit on buttonbush at shallow wet tributary that held water within banks - extremely dry conditions throughout ranch

Comentarios

Nice write up of what sounds like a fun holiday weekend! Are Lark Sparrows there year-round?

Publicado por mikaelb hace más de 4 años

@mikaelb I took a look back at my notes and see them present during lists from late fall, winter (Jan and Feb), and spring. Sparrow diversity at the ranch is generally pretty good.

Publicado por romeyswanson hace más de 4 años

Cool! So maybe this one is a fall migrant, not necessarily a bird that bred there?

Publicado por mikaelb hace más de 4 años

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