https://www.conservationbigyear.com/a-day-in-the-wichita-mountains/ Mon, 25 Feb 2019 11:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.41 https://www.conservationbigyear.com/a-day-in-the-wichita-mountains/#comment-129 Thu, 02 May 2013 13:25:57 +0000 http://www.conservationbigyear.com/?p=259#comment-129 Hi Laura, we almost cross paths again. I was scouting Black-capped Vireos on the Refuge the day before and checking up on the Cave Swallow colony. Wonderful post. If I may, the beetle is a “Fiery Searcher” AKA Caterpiller Hunter. They are on the move right now in good numbers, though exactly what drives them eludes me. Everything is a little behind as April was the 3rd coolest on record for southwest Oklahoma. I witnessed pair-bonding in the vireos at Sunset Picnic Area, while a male at French Lake stripped material off a juniper for a nest, only to take it to a bachelor pad (false nest). Only one Cave swallow has returned to the French Lake site thus far, but on the 30th, just down the road (Rt. 62) a piece, I locate another site with several birds in attendance.

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