Joann Merritt's Essays

Harris’ Tank
September, 1988

Harris’ Tank is a wonderful birding oasis on the “Spraberry Desert.. It was a lucky day for the Midnats when we received permission to enter this place. The dirt tank is surrounded by a Buttonbush, some small shrubby plum trees and two huge cottonwoods that have probably been there since the first settlers came. To the west of the tank is a Vitex tree, also elm. pecan, western willow and mulberry trees. To the north is a pecan orchard and to the south is a mesquite thicket.

On September 23rd, 1984 the Andersons and Merritts made the first trip there and found 40 species of resident, summer nesting and migrating birds. In the ensuing years 80 additional species have been observed for a total of 120. This includes very few water birds since there is no permanent lake or playa. We have seen a pair of Blue-winged Teal swimming in the tank, and a Belted Kingfisher perched on a tree limb above the water. One April morning we looked up just in time to see Franklin’s Gulls flying overhead. Nine species of warblers have graced this oasis during spring and fall migration.

A new addition to the Midland County list, a Red-naped Sapsucker, was found last October. Also, this is the county’s only place where Golden-fronted Woodpeckers are known to nest.

Eastern and Western Bluebirds are on our list. On a November trip Mountain Bluebirds entertained us by flying from the mesquite to the fence, across the road, and back again. Upon arriving at the tank, we found a rare Winter Wren who was searching for insects around the exposed roots of a dying cottonwood tree.

Springtime brings the migrants and sometimes you need many pairs of eyes to see all the birds - Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanager, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Swainson’s Thrush, Eastern Phoebe, Western Wood Pewee and the beautiful Vermilion Flycatcher. The Pecan orchard shelters Barn and Great-horned Owls until the leaves fall. Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Summer Tanager have been found there. Last year Monarch Butterflies stopped to rest in the trees on their migration south.

White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos have led us on a chase from the trees around the tank into the mesquite thicket where we also chase Green-tailed Towhees, Fox Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, and numerous winter sparrows. Don’t forget to look up for hawks, ravens, vultures, Sandhill Cranes and swallows. Maybe someday we’ll sight a Golden Eagle soaring overhead. Our 6 year old grandson said “If you stay on our Nature Trail a few hours you can see - almost see - a Horny Toad.” I feel that way about the eagle, I can see - almost see - a Golden Eagle!

While atlasing the pastureland last July we found Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissels, Common Nighthawk nest with two eggs and later the two chicks, Brown Towhees feeding their young, and tiny fluff balls following their parents, Scaled Quail.

If birds are scarce there’s always wildflowers, grasses or butterflies. We have tallied 83 species of wildflowers and 18 species of butterflies. Indian Mallow, and Ironweed are new plants for Burr’s county list. Heath Aster (I think Prairie Aster is a better name) is unusual as are the Mountain Pinks that grow in a caliche pit (Pit Pinks?). One of the white fleabane daisies that grows on the ranch was called “Kiss-me-and-I’ll-tell-you” by Grandmother Harris. After good rains the spring Winecups (Cowboy Roses) and Engelmann Daisies greet you by nodding their heads in the cool breeze as you enter the ranch. There’s romance on this ranch with flowers such as Cowboy Roses, Kiss-me-and-I’ll-tell-you, Love Vine, Angel Trumpets and Love-in-the-mist growing there. No Baby Blue Eyes or Baby’s Breath tho!

We’ve never been there at night. Could there be Poor-wills calling and coyotes howling? Would it be a good place to view the wonders of the night sky with no light pollution from town? We still have things to explore, we’re not through yet!

The Midland Naturalists are very grateful to David and Cathy Harris for permitting us to enjoy their ranch. Yes, that day was very lucky for us.