North Erath County, Texas, 32.43 lat., -98.36 long. Elev. 1,086 ft. Turkey Creek Quad.
Windy from north, intermittent slight snow mist, 34 deg. F. Heavy rain last night. Rain gauge not measured.
Drove DX-55 tractor to arena area. Slippery, used four-wheel drive. Walk to grove revealed no track. Camera tucked under zipped field coat.
Hawk sighted, soaring low from north to south along pasture. No definite typing. Voice resembles a high-pitched shrill pweeeeeee; diminishing (see Peterson, A Field Guide to Western Birds, p. 68, under Broad-Winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) [2nd ed., 1969]). Tailbanding verification is ambiguous.
Deer track found on north side of The Grove, near corn site. No corn set out for five days. One deer track. Mature. Headed southwest.
Deer Track North Side Grove, March 20, 2010 (approx. 2.5 in. length, click to enlarge)
Deer Track North Side Grove Large View, March 20, 2010 (click to enlarge)
Scouting to creek area revealed no deer track. Creek running high at approx. three (3) feet above normal.
Salt Creek After Rain, March 20, 2010 (click to enlarge)
Upon returning to house, deer track discovered along Poprock Hill Pasture, near the Blue place pond. This indicates the one deer is still browsing between Blue’s pond, our pasture and the grove area. No track emanates from Hall place to the southeast, as it used to. Note: talk to Blue and verify continued support of brush growth around his pond.
One or two deer, not fifteen.
Returned to house at 11:15 a.m.
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 