Listing Through Life

antilocapra americana

Saturday, April 7, 1984 — 9:20 am

Oldham County, Texas — Interstate 40 just east of New Mexico line

We drove from Tucumcari, New Mexico to Arkansas. Shortly after we started out, we crossed into Texas. I was watching for Pronghorns and soon saw about 10 of them standing in a short-grass field with scattered small bushes. They were well off the highway and just barely identifiable.

About a quarter mile later, I saw five more grazing right up against the fence along the westbound lane. Since we were in the eastbound lanes and there was nowhere to turn around, we didn’t stop. I expected to see more, but we never did.

odocoileus hemionus

Friday, April 6, 1984 — 2:20 pm

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

On the way from Tucson to Albuquerque, my family and I stopped briefly at Bosque del Apache to look for the Whooping Cranes that wintered there. We drove the loop trail and were heading out of the refuge when I spotted these deer. They were standing in tall brush near some ponds about 40 yards off the road. One was browsing. The other one stared at us. After a few minutes, both wandered off into the brush.

aechmophorus (from aichme, a spear, and phoros, bearing) clarkii

Friday, April 6, 1984 — 2:00 pm

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Four Clark’s Grebes were swimming in a brush-edged pool.  At the time, they were just a light color phase of the Western Grebe.  Fortunately I knew enough to check which color phase they were.

I saw the grebes about two-thirds of the way around the auto tour route.  We passed a narrow channel through the brush that ran at a right angle to the road.

pelecanus (pelican) erythrorhynchos (from erythros, red, and rhynchos, beak)

Friday, April 6, 1984 — 1:45 pm

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

We saw the American White Pelicans closely packed together on a small mud flat in the middle of a large, shallow slough. Occasionally one would stand up and flap its wings. The slough was surrounded by miles of desert scrub, none of which grew to a height of more than 15 feet.

anas (duck) cyanoptera (from kuanos, blue, and pteron, wing)

Friday, April 6, 1984 — 1:35 pm

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Almost as soon as I saw the American Avocets, I saw the Cinnamon Teals. They were swimming in a shallow pool near the headquarters building. Occasionally, one would dip end-up in the water. The pond was surrounded by dry scrub.