I was surprised to find a Black-billed Cuckoo today while atlasing in Jackson County (Milrock-Baldwin block - 425) because the habitat suggested it would be unlikely - a farm implement dealer on one side, corn and bean fields on three sides, and a sparse line of trees and shrubs between the fields. While I was watching the cuckoo, I was further surprised to see a Badger came out of large pile of large tree branches. It didn't seem to notice me at all, 30-40 feet away, as it was meandering in my direction, until I vocalized my presence, and then it scurried for the safety of the branch pile. A den under the pile?
Last week at the McGowan Recreation and Wildlife Area next to Bloomfield, in Davis County, I was walking the trails and saw a feline bound into the undergrowth of the woods. It was light brown, had long legs, black and white markings on the back of its ears and white on the back/underside of its tail - a Bobcat. I wasn't sure of it at first but when I got back to my car I met the Park Manager who didn't have a mammal field guide but had a better source - a taxidermied Bobcat in the park office. I've since consulted my Peterson mammal guide and one thing doesn't mesh - the tail of the cat I saw was about four times longer than it should be which makes me think it might have seen a Bobcat-domestic cat hybrid. Walt Zuurdeeg Davenport --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
