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Borrego Springs, CA
Showing posts with label Skillern tract. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skillern tract. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Moist soil units

I kept the kitchen faucet dripping last night, but temps didn’t quite go below freezing.  I wish I could say the same for the next two nights.  :(  I think I’ll have both faucets dripping tonight.  The wind blasted us out of the north today, so Emma and I waited until the clouds cleared in the afternoon to visit some of the refuge’s moist soil units.  So, tonight’s pictures are brought to you thanks to one of the moist soil units in the Skillern Tract.

_MG_8429 _MG_8426

Some of these moist soil units are former rice fields.  Various units are flooded by the refuge at different times to provide habitat that is attractive to shorebirds that winter on the refuge.  You can see that the water isn’t very deep, but it provides an abundant food source for these birds.  One of the most abundant species on the refuge is the killdeer.  I like that little red ring around their eyes.

_MG_8412Some of you might think this is a sparrow, but it is an American pipit.

_MG_8406 _MG_8407

It walks and flits around looking for insects and seeds.

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These birds nest up in the tundra, so they’ve come a long way to enjoy the Texas coastal regions.  I guess they’re really snow birds!

 

I’m going to have to really bundle up for tomorrow’s bird count, but at least it’s not supposed to rain, or snow.  I really got a kick out of some of your comments on last night’s post.  It’s always good to start the day off with a chuckle.  :)  I’ll surely be watching for those hummingbirds tomorrow!

_MG_8415                                                                    THE END!!

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy