Joann Merritt's Essays

Mustang Draw Field Trip
October, 2003

Light rain followed by a double rainbow in the western sky heralded the Midnats arrival at Mustang Draw on October 4th. While walking through the damp grass that grew in open areas between trees we caught brief glimpses of a bird - or was it a mouse? - as it led us in a game of follow me if you can. This skulking mouse like bird scuttled through dense clumps of Alkali Sacaton, teasing us by letting us see where he was before scuttling off again so quickly we were never able to observe any field marks. It made one short low flight when crossing the fence into a meadow and that’s the last we saw of the mystery bird of Mustang Draw. However, I have no doubt it was the best bird we NEVER saw.

Habitat and behavior brought to mind the Henslow’s Sparrow that Tommy Anderson and I found in November of 1980 when Cassidy, Gun Club and Soda Lakes were real lakes filled with runoff rainwater that come down Monahans Draw. On the west side of Gun Club Lake we followed our sparrow through the grass until it finally stopped on a small caliche rock where we could see its olive green head and all other field marks as well. Immediate identification was not made; that occurred after returning home to study the few books I had at that time and consulting with Frances. In National Geographic’s Song & Garden Birds of North America the text and drawings on pages 354 and 355 left no doubt Tommy and I had found Henslow’s Sparrow.

In 1831 Audubon named this sparrow for John Stevens Henslow, an English Professor of botany at the University of Cambridge. He said “In naming it after a gentleman so well-known in the scientific world my object has been to manifest my gratitude for the many kind attentions which he has shown towards me.” Now that’s a proper “Thanks, John!”

Another light shower dampened our jackets/shirts but not our spirits for when the rain stopped a flock of small active birds kept our eyes and ears on the alert. We saw many Ruby-crowned Kinglets, two Orange-crowned Warblers and a Bewick’s Wren, also Hermit Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Cardinal and a Barn Owl who flew from a Salt Cedar tree. A grasshopper Sparrow appropriately hopped out of the grass and perched in a mesquite tree affording us a satisfying look while Turkey Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Merlin sailed in different speed zones overhead. Returning to our vehicles we walked along a fence bordering an open meadow dotted with multi-purpose piles of brush that Clay-colored Sparrows, Canyon Towhees and Curve-billed Thrashers were using. A Loggerhead Shrike watched for prey from a highline and I pray he didn’t catch our mystery bird thinking it was a mouse.

Mustang Draw provides a variety of habitats and consequently several new or very rare plants for Midland County were identified during our field trip. In a gully with exposed lichen-covered boulders and rocks a Bumelia tree bearing sweet ripe fruit excited the senses of native plant enthusiasts while nearby waxy red berries called our attention to a Carolina Moonseed vine. An oil well location yielded one very large yellow Rocky Primrose and an interesting look-but-don’t-touch flower called Stinging Cevallia - so named for good reason! Littleleaf Sumac and Juniper were no less special because they had been seen on the previous trip. Feather Dalea shrubs that grew from rocky soil still sported a few blooms even if it was October.

Cloudy damp conditions kept butterflies to a minimum but with different plants growing here there’s a chance of finding new butterfly species. If spring rains follow this fall’s moisture, Mustang Draw should come alive with birds, butterflies, wildflowers, shrubs, vines, trees, grasses and Midnats! I plan to be there.