Joann Merritt's Essays

Birding Rocky Sock Ridge
October, 1995

Rocky Sock Ridge, known henceforth as RSR, was formed during the Great Road Construction Age of the 1960s. Caliche for use as road bases was being excavated from Adams Quarry when Midland’s 1967 flood filled (yea, overflowed!) the quarry with rainwater which halted work until the water could be pumped out. To prevent a recurrence of this problem, a dam which is now known as RSR was constructed.

Looking south while standing on RSR the view is of the Gallinule Pond and overflow area where there are large native willow and salt cedar trees while looking north the view is a veritable forest of elm trees. The understory of this forest was perfect habitat for the male American Redstart who helped deplete the insect population in May 1994.

In rainy years water stands in the overflow area and from our vantage point on RSR we have seen Wood Ducks swimming quietly in the shallows. For several weeks by cautiously peeking over the ridge we could watch a Sora pick its way along the water’s edge.

The only recorded Clark’s Grebe for Midland County was found in Gallinule by Don and me while on RSR. Being camouflaged by the trees enabled us to observe the grebe without causing it to take flight. We slowly walked back down RSR then hurried the rest of the way home to call fellow birders. Night Herons have startled us and vice-versa as they noisily exited the elm trees where they had been sleeping. One spring day as we neared the west end of RSR a male Parula Warbler flew into view displaying his breeding plumage to perfection and this September we found two Townsend’s Warblers busily gleaning insects from the elms. Our elevated view permits us to see field marks other than the underside of birds as they feed high in the trees.

Pity the poor Long-eared Owl who thought he was secure from prying eyes as he roosted high in the tree. On the approximately 10' high RSR we came EYEBALL to EYEBALL with this magnificent owl. He blinked first before we did, then flew away.

In 1992 RSR was inaccessible for many weeks because of heavy rains that produced huge weeds and innumerable mosquitoes. This statement was assumed to be true until a Warbling Vireo was heard singing in that location. His song lured Rose Marie, Frances and me to the west end of RSR where we tromped our way through weeds that were over head high. Don used a long handled pair of nippers and even a machete in an attempt to clear a trail from the most heavily overgrown east end. By Golly, we walked that ridge and we found that vireo, later confirming the first nesting record of a Warbling Vireo for Midland County. Inaccessible? Nonsense!!

The canary grass that grows in the overflow area has up to 5" long heads that are filled with small black seeds. From atop RSR we can observe Lazuli, Indigo and Painted Buntings as they feed on these seeds which by chance, or by nature’s plan, mature just in time for these birds’ spring migration.

Rocky Sock Ridge is the northern boundary of The Pits (the old Adams Quarry) which is a familiar location to most Midnats. The ridge is so named because 8 years ago our seven year old grandson Rocky ripped off his sock’s raveled cuff because it was bothering him, and threw it into a tree beside the path. His sock, which still adorns this tree, hung there a year or so before we coined the phrase "Rocky Sock Ridge." The name seems to make it a bit more fun to walk and bird there.

Come get high with us, bird Rocky Sock Ridge!