[Birdtalk] Successful UOS trip

[Steve Carr]

We took a very impromptu UOS Quick Chase yesterday afternoon and today to find the Scaled Quail.  We followed Dennis Shirley's excellent directions from January 11 (check the BirdNet for the directions), and were able to spend an hour before it got dark.  Did not see the quail last night.

This a.m., we got to the site at 7:45 a.m., had no luck till 10 a.m., when Pat Jividen heard one clucking - then we all heard the unmistakable calls.  He was also able to find the covey, all 3 birds still present.  The weather was cool but not really cold.

A couple of observations about the site, etc.  The directions that mention the white water mark directly west of the entrance to the wide canyon is the one to see.  When we couldn't see the birds at that site, which happens to be dry now, we went another 300 yards farther SW to the head of the box canyon and found another seep with the white stains, and this one had water.

But, the birds were found at the first, now dry, seep, with the huge rectangular block of stone standing on its end in front of the seep.  The birds did not answer to our ipod calls, although, when we finally did see them, they perked up their crests when they heard our calls.  Present were Pat Jividen, Bob Bradley, and Steve Carr

Also, the mention of the road numbers to keep track of your directions -- 206 and 146 are San Juan County roads, not state roads.  The are designated with little, tiny signs.

--Steve Carr
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