LCBC autumnal equinox birding trip Monjeau Road on Sept 14, 2019

"A perfect bird-y day," exclaimed members of Lincoln County Bird Club (LCBC) as they began their annual fall equinox field trip along Monjeau Road on a recent sunny September Saturday. In the first  quarter-mile they observed  acorn woodpeckers, common ravens, turkey vultures, as well as hummingbirds, sparrows and doves. A mule deer doe with a two spotted fawns ambled ahead of a squirrel as yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, green-tailed towhee, MacGillivray's warbler, Steller's jay, Western bluebird, female Western tanager, Wilson's warbler, lesser goldfinch, olive-sided flycatcher, orange-crowned warbler flew overhead. 

details of a four o'clock blossom as seen
 through a macro lens. Image by Ron Hagquist

Wildflowers still bloomed in abundance: scarlet gilia, mountain daisies, box elder, coneflowers, Hooker's evening primrose, cowpen daisies. One birder pointed out a snag into which woodpeckers flew in and out. "Granary tree," she noted, "where the woodpeckers will store food for the winter and raise their young."

Ripe elderberries are a mid-September
 treat found  in abundance along
 Monjeau Road. Image by Yvonne Lanelli

A Scottish harebell blossom seems to heavy for
such a delicate stem. Image by Yvonne Lanelli

At what another member refers to as "Elderberry Turn," they pulled over and spent nearly a half hour observing into the vast open spaces. Many turkey vultures soared overhead with red-tailed hawks, common ravens and an American kestrel. One birder tried out his new macro lens on closeups of late summer wildflowers: goldenrod, mountain asters, mountain daisies, skyrocket gilia, Mexican hat coneflowers, yarrow, locoweed, Apache plume and wild roses with rosehips. Another member collected ripe elderberries, anticipating elderberry pancakes.

Further uphill,  two ravens harassed two Northern goshawks in a dead tree.  Goshawk sightings are rare, according to "Sibley's Guide to North American Birds." A Northern flicker and chipping sparrows flew past.

At Skyline Campground, they observed a red-tailed hawk atop a dead tree, turkey vultures, green-tailed towhees  in elderberry bushes, red-backed darkeyed juncos, Western bluebirds, more warblers, white-breasted nuthatches, and acorn woodpeckers. Photographers imaged sulfur flowers, also known as buckwheat, New Mexico vervain, Scottish harebells, locoweed, fleabane, yellow cinquefoil, dayflowers, mountain iris, sage, cranesbill geranium, cosmos, four o'clocks, brown-eyed Susans, cowpen daisies, wild roses with rosehips and nodding onion.

The trip concluded at the trailhead of Crest Trail #25. As they scanned the high altitude skies, a red-tailed hawk soared above the canyon yet at eye level. A last bit of sun illuminated its plumage. "A fitting conclusion to our trip," they agreed.

At a different meeting, the Lincoln County Bird Club enjoyed a visit to the Capitan Public Library to view the artwork of fellow bird club member, Greg Haussler.  His artwork is on display at library until Oct. 15 

LCBC meets every month at locations around the area to plan field trips and discuss birding opportunities. They next gather at Sacred Grounds Coffee and Tea House on Sudderth Dr. in Ruidoso at noon on Thursday, October 24. For information, contact LCBC President Jim Edwards, 575-937-5416 or trailsnail1@gmail.com.

This booklet written by Carol Keys and illustrated by Greg Haussler resonated a calling (cawing?) for a full publication in the blog. See Greg's artwork at CPL until Oct. 15

"Got my seal of approval!"
The raven is CPL mascot.

Artwork of Greg Haussler on display at library until Oct. 15

(Please note - Greg's paintings on display at the library are not for sale - but if you see something you like, call Greg at 575-354-2746 and discuss having a giclee made from his original artwork.)

Greg Haussler retired in 2003  from the Upper Hondo Soil & Water Conservation District/Natural Resources Conservation. He took painting lessons from local artist, Lorene Caywood.  He soon found that watercolor was his medium of choice.

One painting on the wall is not Greg's.  Sharing wall space with his grandpa is Greg's
 grandson, Russell Grant Allen, an aspiring artist

Greg's wife, Carol Keys, is an artist in her own right.  She  authored the family's personal story, Behind Her Smile: A Mother's Walk Through Her Daughter's Anorexia, and co-authored Sharing Moments Over Tea: The Journeys of Four Women.

Greg and Carol collaborate to create booklets for each of their grandchildren. Carol writes the story line and Greg illustrates.  They shared these booklets, which a few have been chosen to share with the public in this blog. 

 Below is an excerpt from a story in Vamonos/Ruidoso News 2010 written by Carol about Greg and his journey to becoming an artist.

A Mature Perspective  by Carol Keys

Barefoot and tanned to the color of dirt, a young boy skittered and slithered along the creek banks of rural Nebraska chasing butterflies and, sometimes, catching them in those long, hot  summers.  Occasionally, he would sketch these memories.  This child's name was Greg Haussler and he grew to young adulthood in the staked plains region of West Texas.

Greg was able to attend college at Texas Tech in Lubbock because the school was within walking distance of his house.  Like most freshman he had no clue what he wanted to major in, but knew that his heart lay in the mountains and hills with his beloved butterflies and birds.  

Perusing the college catalogue and knowing that his love was biology, but not teaching or research, he gravitated towards range management.  This is where he stayed, earning a degree in that area. 

His first job landed him in the mountains of Utah and, later, in northern New Mexico at Mora.  With an emerging career as a range conservationist and a wife and baby, there was no time for sketching, but still some time for bird watching and butterflies.

As the years blew by, Greg did find time to pursue his love of nature, hiking on ranches, farms, and federal land of New Mexico and other western states.  After 36 years with the Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service), Greg retired in 2003 in Lincoln County, expecting to relax, maybe watch a few birds from his deck and encourage butterflies to frequent his Capitan garden.  Of course, there was travel, and volunteer committees for church and the local hospital, but other than a little horseback riding and hiking, not much pressure.  

Then came the phone call. "Hello, Carol? This is Lorene (Caywood, a local art teacher).  I have an opening in my art class and wondered if Greg wanted to come?"

"Of course he does, Lorene," I gloated.  You see, I had been trying for years to get Greg to reconnect with his art.  Christmas and birthday gifts of art lessons went ignored and unused.  Now there was no choice.

Calling out the door, I reported, "Lorene just called and wants you to call her to say which day you want to take art lessons.  She has an opening.  And, oh yes, you probably need to see what she needs you to bring."  (Greg can be single-minded when pursuing his outdoor interest, but that definitely got his attention.)

Now, after years of art lessons, countless watercolors painted for friends and family and a few art shows, Greg is much more comfortable with his craft.  No surprise, he prefers nature scenes with a building or two thrown in. 

XXX 

$5 a bag book sales

Saturday, September 7⋅10:00am – 2:00pm

On the 1st Saturday of every month. Fill a bag for $5 from our book sales room.

Book club discussion Sept 5

Book Club - Thursday, Sept 5 at 10 am @ the library

Set in 1960's London, Funny Girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young Sophie Straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingenue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. 

Insightful and humorous, Nick Hornby's latest does what he does best: endears us to a cast of characters who are funny if flawed, and forces us to examine ourselves in the process. (From the publisher.)

Reminder - sign up for village-wide yard sale

Village Wide Yard Sale

Register your Yard Sale at Capitan Public Library for a nominal  fee of $5 that covers area advertising in Newspapers/Online  publications. Yard Sale signs are the responsibility of the  resident. Direction maps will be available, 2 days prior to the  14th, at the library.