Damn the wind.
Thanks to an Arctic front that came blasting down out of Canada, along with some type of air pressure that brings wind, the wind was howling like a werewolf convention today. Driving to school wasn't bad as I was going with the wind. Driving from school was an adventure as I drive a brick with wheels which was constantely buffeted by the wind. My arms got tired of trying to correct the steering. The wind chill was hovering in the 20's all day, but I didn't mind that.I even decided to go bang through a field and see what I could see. I walked a hedge row by myself that I hadn't walked yet. It was a short hedge, not even a quarter of a mile long. I decided to walk on the east side, out of the wind which was still gusting from the NNW. That way, I would at least be able to hear the birds if they were running.
I noticed a balloon with a tag in the hedge, so i picked it up. Apparently, our school district let tagged balloons go one day and several came down in this hedge. I was about to pick up balloon number 3, when I heard quail squeaking and running in front of me. I couldn't see them because of the hedge being too thick. I got near the end and was a bit frustrated because I couldn't kick up the birds.
The tree line ended and there were some tall weeds just past the tree. As I move up on the weeds, I hear the whirring of quail wings but I couldn't see it. At the same time, I just happened to see two roosters come bailing out of the same area but by the time I identified them, they were in afterburner mode thanks to the wind. I'm pretty sure the one was flipping me off though. I went ahead and walked another half of a mile by myself, and broke yet another covey of quail. This time I shot one and actually felt satisfied.
Now tomorrow, I have to call the school and tell them I found balloons.
My total for the day:
1 male quail
7 deflated balloons.
It's a new record for balloons.
posted by Rusty @ 8:10 PM
Comments: 0
