June Bioblitz @ Timberlake Field Station

My greatest fear is having to cancel yet again...but it's a risk I've got to take!

@alflinn329, @amzapp, @annikaml, @aprilsee, @austinrkelly, @bacchusrock, @baxter-slye, @benjamindurrington, @beschwar, @bosqueaaron, @brentano, @briangooding, @catenatus, @centratex, @clairesorenson, @cmeckerman, @connlindajo, @donovanmoxley, @elytrid, @ecarpe, @eric_keith, @galactic_bug_man, @gcwarbler, @gwaithir, @hydaticus, @jcochran706, @jeffmci9, @jgw_atx, @knightericm, @jwn, @k_mccormack, @k8thegr8, @kayakqueen, @kimberlietx, @lovebirder, @mikef451, @molly_burke, @nanofishology, @oddfitz, @pynklynx, @rkostecke, @rymcdaniel, @sambiology, @shaunmichael, @tadamcochran, @tweedledee, @wildcarrot, @zdufran

I've got it penciled in!

I'd like to attend; may only be for one night...heading back from FL during that time. I have moth gear too.

I'll try to make it for Saturday during the day and moth on Saturday night, but will probably take off after that.

Reserve me a place in the bunkhouse. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Dr. Pfau, I would like to attend. At this point, I don't know if it will be for all three days or not, but I will be tent camping. Thank you !

Unfortunately I'll be in the field most of June and can't make this one. :-(

Tentative yes for the new dates. I don't yet know when my lab is wanting to start summer field season so I will confirm as soon as possible. Thanks for putting this opportunity back on the table, really excited about it!

I can't believe I finally get to type this.... I'll be there! (Well, unforseen life events permitting.) I'll need a spot in the bunkhouse. Am I able to collect plant specimens? Specifically looking for Triodanis sp.

I'm in, thanks!

Sorry I cannot make this. I'm triple-booked in most of June. Please keep me on the list for future opportunities!

@connlindajo I hope so too, I think I should be able too but unsure just yet. I missed meeting you (and too many others) on the Elephant Mountain trip - I was out too often looking at all the cool new plants/animals/etc!

I'm in! I'll bring a tent.

I’ll try to make it there with @dbaxter and Chloe! Also, @j_ashman is interested.

I'm a maybe. Have to look at some other travel plans I have for the summer and see if I can make it work. Really hope to make it. If so would likely come down Sat morning and camp that night.

I'll be in Colorado for those dates, but looking forward to next time!

Looking at the long-term weather forecast for next weekend.....who knows! It changes daily! But fingers crossed for good weather. There are still several beds available in the bunkhouse. I'll be providing loaded baked potatoes for omnivores and herbivores one evening (either Friday or Saturday--depending on which evening most people will be in attendance. I'm trying to keep track of people's expertise, interests, and affiliations in the journal post--so please provide anything there that might be missing or incorrect. Feel free to send a last minute invite to anyone you know who might want to attend.

I haven't been feeling great this week, but getting better. Allergies. If I make it, it will be Saturday or Sunday. I sure hope I can!

@lulubelle

You can put me down as an eager plant novice. Plan to arrive Friday afternoon.

Okay I think I should be good to go! I'll take a bed in the bunkhouse since there are still some available. I'll aim for arriving Friday evening or so and of course I'll update if anything changes.
I have a Bachelor's in Entomology, but you can also just put me down as loving bugs and nature in general.

Primarily interested in odonates and birds of which I have a rudimentary but evolving knowledge base.

I'm sure excited about this! Oh and @clairesorenson , if you bring any sort of extra food, we would totally love it. :) I remember trying to live off of PBJ sandwiches for three days the last time, and I ended up eating ALL of the salsa that @annikaml brought. :)

Curious about the roads -- do you think they'll be alright for a low clearance car? I remember last time that there were a few iffy places, so I'm curious if the recent rainfalls have made those... iffier. :)

@clairesorenson, how about salad? I'll bring potatoes, black beans, chili, cheese, vegan sour cream, and green onions. Someone definitely needs to bring lots of salsa for Sam and I both. The sausages that someone brought last time were good, also.

I bet the roads will be about the same--I don't expect them to be worse.

Barring unforeseen events I should be there. Either tenting or in the car. My other travel plans never really materialized.

OK, we will provide a salad.

@clairesorenson, I know there's a standard outlet and outside faucet at the bunkhouse.

Everyone: At the pavilion there will be a guest book--please sign in when you arrive. There will also be maps of the property that you can take with you. I have a couple of new favorite spots (scenic, variety of habitats) that I've discovered since the last bioblitz. For those that want to, I can show you where they are.

I can feel the anticipation of a grand time!

@kimberlietx :-D

Hey Guys.. Looks like I can make it this time. I've not been there so excited to see a new place. I'm Master Naturalist - Blackland Prairie Chapter. My interest are Insects with specialist in Butterflies so hoping for a sunny day. I'll bring some food as well. My plan is to sleep in my car with my new LUNO car mattress I bought. Very excited to try this low maintenance camping out. I plan to be there Friday .

I will be there, will need a bunk if available (I'm vaccinated), will be arriving with @kimberlietx on Saturday.

I won't be able to make it this time as I'm going to be doing some prairie visits with NPAT, but hope you guys find lots of awesome stuff! Maybe even some of those weird ants I found last time :D

I'll try to arrive around 6:30 Friday, but I might be a little later depending on travel time. I can bring some chocolate muffins or other dessert stuff to contribute. (Store-bought, I'm not a good cook). I should also mention I'm fully vaccinated, and I'll bring a mask as well. Can't wait to see you all there! :)

I've never had a problem with service (AT&T).

I've been trying to figure out who all will be there Fri and Sat...and I think more folks will be there Saturday than Friday. So, I'm planning on the potato dinner Saturday.

I have the following folks down for the bunkhouse...but the bunkhouse got double booked (there's another group doing research this weekend that I didn't know about): @kimberlietx, @elytrid, @connlindajo, @birdsandbugs27, @bacchusrock. There's still room for 5 people, but if anyone has an air mattress, you might want to bring it just in case I'm miscounting a mattress in the bunkhouse. @connlindajo, you might not get your "suite" this time :(

I'll be there Friday afternoon.

Warm indeed! I already miss the cold, rainy weather that I was complaining about the past two months. For folks that don't like to sleep in a tent or car on a warm, muggy night, and have a pad or air mattress, there's plenty of floor space in the air conditioned classroom building.

For help with navigation once you're on the Timberlake property, I'll have purple "Tarleton Event" signs marking the way to the headquarters.

I'll be there at like 4 or 5 or so (depending on how many stops I made along the way!).

Also, I plan on bathing in OFF -- I predict that mosquitoes and ticks will be....present.

A little late but i am going to make it for sure. Be there mid morning on Saturday. Looking forward to it.

Thanks for everything! Take care:)

Thanks for inviting us. The place is gorgeous and so nice to finally put some faces to names and meet in person.

Yes, thank you so much for gathering everyone and accommodating us! I had the time of my life being able to experience the nature and see so many cool things. And it was fantastic to be able to meet everyone!
Also a huge thank you to everyone who helped point me to some amazing beetles! I have quite a lot to upload, so I'll try to get as much as I can tomorrow and hopefully carve out some time to help ID what I can as well. :D

It was a great trip! Many thanks for organizing, Russell. The company was great and there was so much nature fun and education in one place.

Had a great time and got quite a few pollinators on the last day and some more butterflies. Only had a slight delay trying to leave as I tried to figure out how to get the cows to move lol. Excited to see what new species were found on the property.

Ditto what everyone else has said. It was awesome, Russell!

Now to filter through the 2900+ photos I took and hoping I have some decent ones to post. Saw some new to me species!
Looking forward to the next time we cam be together.

Russell: thank you so much for granting us access to Timberlake. What a beautiful place you all have at your disposal. Everyone: it was so nice to see you again. You're all so awesome and have inspired me to hit up the iNat merch site for new apparel. Moths and insects: thank you for making up for Elephant Mountain and visiting our bug stations.

So sorry to have missed out - more than I could pull together logistically on the home front - but grateful for the invitation. Next time I hope. Thanks for updating with tidy links to follow along with what you found.

Last night I finally added my last observation from Timberlake to iNat. Now I am working on the drive from the entrance to the highway.

Glad things good on your home front.

I have some places I want to explore, assuming we have another opportunity to visit the place. Got the lay of the land figured out now.

BTW, remember your cap story and the mower. I was driving on a back road and saw a small shovel laying on the edge. Stopped and picked it up, but maybe should have left it there. Anyway, you were gone by the time I got back to camp and I actually forgot it. My son asked me last night what the shovel was doing on the back of my truck. I will return it later, or drive up there this week if necessary.

Finally found the ID for one of my tiny beetles from the trip, looks like another rarely seen species: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83308141

For those interested, propose some dates that might be good for a Fall Timberlake Bioblitz--giving wide berth to Gus Engeling, Richland Creek, and Neches River events (October 1 - 3). Our last fall Timberlake event was October 4-6. So I'm thinking, perhaps Oct 16 or 23?

Yes I am virtual MN annual state meeting attendee 22nd and 23rd. 10/16 works best for me.

October 16 is best for me, too. Had a great time at the last one here. So much stuff to see!

Ah, Timberlake - such a beautiful place. The 16th works. Let's keep the opossum away from the trash can this time.

@lorimalloy

Hopefully things will work out.

On the calendar!

Official Timberlake post for weekend of October 16th
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/pfau_tarleton/56878

Woah! What a cool document, Russell!

That's such a neat compilation of the observations!

Well that was fun to look through. A great way to present the results. Thank you.

Agree that this is an impressive compilation. It looks like it would have been a lot of work. Much appreciated.

Wish it could "automagically" upload and ID my observations.