I got to the WMA and headed out, intending to hit up a couple ponds along the way, to water them off. Hadn't been there in months, so I was also looking to see the changes that had been made. We were about 10 minutes in when we hit our first watering hole. I was trying to get a photo of the 2 dogs in the water, when a duck took to the air in front of my older dog. It always amazes me how this little mudpuddle holds ducks.
The next behavior I'd never seen before, and that was what appeared to be a hen mallard, circling us multiple times...and I wondered about ducklings. Probably just 60 seconds elapsed from that hen taking off, and my older dog going to get back in the water, and a separate hen dove in front of her. I thought it might turn into a never ending duck chase or search, but I was able to get them called off and back into the uplands. Meanwhile the hen circled low, with Brandi mistakenly thinking she might have a chance at it, at one point.
Our 2nd watering hole was a huge disappointment, having dried up to about 1/3 of it's normal size. I could hear water running out, and while it was in the weeds, it appeared the overflow was a good 1-2' above the water line. Not sure if there's a leak or if they are draining it for a purpose. I was too chicken to get close to the water, in the tall weeds, to check the overflow out.
A minute later, and 100' from the shoreline, I saw a piece of plyboard lying flat next to a marker post. I wondered if maybe it had writing on it and had blown over, so not having the aforethought to be chicken at that moment
, I picked it up to discover a snake in hiding. We don't have much for poisonous snakes here, so I wasn't scared, and my first thought was to get a photo.
Just a scenic shot.
A new surprise, as last years bean plot had been tilled up for sunflowers. Unfortunately it appeared the weeds out number the sunflowers significantly.
This morning, July 24th, we headed out again to the same WMA. We hit up the same little mudhole 1st, with no ducks this time, and headed up the next hill. Brandi was acting a little goofy, but then started rolling in something. Roxi was doing her own thing and I looked over to see her on point. She can be a naughty little mouse pointer, but I was pretty sure her head was up too high for that. She held steady, and soon enough a little hen bust from the cover off of her right flank, and I managed to get a shot...a camera shot that is. Half a minute later, a young rooster rose a ways in front of me, in an area I knew Brandi had made it too. I have a good feeling the youngster birds had been together and parted ways, trying to make a run for it.
Birdwork is hot work in this weather.
You will never see a dog that loves water more than Roxi...except when it comes to baths.
Brandi giving me the evil eye for snapping yet another photo. I think she's also wondering when the new Garmin will arrive, and we will combine everything on one collar. :roll:
So not a bad start to the scouting season, and we did see one more rooster flush wild, while we were afield. It's good to be back and hope you enjoy!
