SPRING 2018 MOUNTAIN QUAIL OUTINGS, March 31 & April 1
Looks like we’ll have to keep doing these, as they fail to produce those quail about half the time, and we’re getting a backlog of people who have tried and failed.
On our first dawn visit to Mary Hrudkaj’s house on the Tahuya peninsula on March 31st, the first of our two cars flushed a couple of quail as we drove up to her house. Car #2 didn’t even get that brief look. We did see lots of other good stuff at Mary’s, but not as much as we’d hoped due to a sweep of the area by a resident Sharp-shinned Hawk, one who had just finished off a quail a couple of days earlier. She had her house set up as a little theater again with chairs facing the picture window out to the feeding area that the Quail frequent.
Teri, Carolyn, Wayne, Margie, and in foreground Mike waiting for quail (not pictured – Art)
When we finally gave up, we traversed several known areas for quail on the way down her mountain, and 3 were seen on the side of the road running into the undergrowth. Again car #2 didn’t even get that poor look.
The Band-tails came in on Sunday, bolder than Saturday
Mourning Dove chowing down at Mary’s (photo/Richard Smethurst)
Steller’s Jay cracks a hard nut (photo/Richard Smethurst)
On our second visit to Mary’s the very next day (set up to accommodate a long wait list), we got there a little earlier, but cooler weather and a sharp breeze seemed to keep the quail in their dens. No sightings, either at Mary’s or on the road, but Band-tailed Pigeons, Mourning Doves, Varied Thrush, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Towhees, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet trying to convince us it was a vireo, both hummingbirds, Steller’s Jays, and a FOY (at least for me) Turkey Vulture, kept the time from being tedious.
Mary’s indoor cat enjoying the company
Douglas Squirrel at the bird feeder
One of Mary’s indoor cats and two cheeky Douglas squirrels kept the entertainment level pretty high.
Our hostess Mary with field trip leaders Diane and Faye, showing our little gift (Photo/Art Wang)
Although this is a good time of year to catch these quail due to setting up breeding territories and calling back and forth, we may try again in the last summer when their numbers are swollen by young. Stay tuned to ABC for more info as that approaches.