The rains that have been good for the flowers are inevitably a bit problematic. A few days back, just as we were settling in to sleep, one of our number noticed a miniature tsunami flowing downhill towards the bunkhouse. In a matter of seconds the water started flowing over the porch. With hastily thrown on raingear and bare feet, we started digging a trench with bare hands and broken traps, building up a levy around the porch. Not exactly in the job description, but we managed to divert the runoff, therefore avoiding flooding in the house itself. It was such an absurd situation we had to laugh at it (there were some Monty Python and the Holy Grail references being thrown about).
Dennis, there's some lovely filth down here!
Besides getting totally drenched a few times though, its been pretty fair weather, with highs in the 80s with good breezes. Was able to make a trip to Laredo a couple days ago, which did not produce the desired object (new flip flops to replace those destroyed during the mud dam competition) but did give me a rare steak dinner and time to wander around an actual mall. Pretty scenic drive with all the wildflowers, and also a glimpse of some people I suspect were illegal immigrants. The hint was that they were walking in the middle of nowhere and hid as I drove past. Not exactly rare around here: the ranch we work on definitely has its share of foot traffic. Anyway, curiousities abound.
Hopefully we'll get to read our birding protocol soon, and actually figure out what we'll be doing for April through June. In the mean time, I can play horseshoes.
New species: Texas toad (Anaxyrus speciosus), hooded oriole (Icterus cucullatus), lesser goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria), American badger (Taxidea taxus), least shrew (Cryptotis parva)
Undocumented immigrant count: 6
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