Always Bring A Camera

I was driving to town the other day, and as is my nature, I was scanning everything around me. Suddenly, to my right, in a field, just a few miles from town, I spotted a flock of Curlews. I had only ever seen one in the past, and I really wanted to get a picture of these beauties! No camera.

There were between twenty and thirty of these curious birds in plain view. I quickly got on the phone and tried to encourage some friends to meet me there with a camera. Nothing doing.

So, I drove to the Sibley Nature Center, picked up my friend Richard with his camera, and we headed back out to try and get some shots. As you have probably guessed, they were gone when we got there. We drove around for thirty of forty minutes trying to find them, but the opportunity was lost. However, as we returned to town, I had to stop and point out a beautiful Mule Deer Buck on the side of the road on South County Road 120. Mule deer? Right here in Midland? Yes! (Richard has the picture.)



Wouldn't you know it, the very next week I was headed to town again, when I saw four wild turkey in a field not one mile from town. Wild Turkey, not just in Midland County, but less than a mile from the city limit. Yes, as you can see, I had my camera with me!

Two toms and two hens between the Midland Fire Department Training area and the tank farms along Fairgrounds Rd. I watched them for a few minutes in fascination as the Tom would lift up a sprig and try to strip the grain from the end. (See the first picture)

I find this amazing. It amazes me because as a child growing up in Odessa, I never expected to see much more than jackrabbits and cotton tails around here. As I have become more and more involved as a naturalist, I find more and more critters in the immediate vicinity. Growing up, it seemed like the only birds were sparrows, the only snakes were rattlers, and the only things growing outside of town were weeds.

As a matter of fact, as I have become more sensitized to what is around me, I have often pulled to the side of the road to take a picture. I feel sure that as time goes by, I will find more and more interesting things right here in Midland County. I try to keep my camera with me, but sometimes I just forget. I've earned that right, along with the gray hair. But I do my best to remember.

And then there was that time I saw a mountain lion on top of a neighbor's house. Another story for another time!