Birding On a Shoestring: Texas Hill Country and Upper Rio Grande Valley

                                                           Black-chinned Hummingbird

                                                                             Ditto

                                                         White-crowned Sparrow


04-21-19
Inks Lakes SP, Burnet, TX

All the above were taken at Inks Lakes, which boats nine miles of hiking trails.  However,  in transit to the Upper Valley, Pecan Flats was much more doable for a shorter period of time.  Since the sun was on high, you'll have to believe when I tell you that the Crested Caracara riding thermals is a very beautiful bird with white fingers, white head, and white tail.  If you do a search on this site, you can actually find the bird of which I speak.  Additionally, the juvenile is brown, the adult is black, and the facial skin coloration can change rapidly from blue to pink or red.

There were also Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Cardinals, Inca and Ground Doves, and many others.  Though not able to get to the water, there were no doubt water- and shorebirds available.

                                                        Egyptian Goose and Goslings

                                                       Muscovy Duck with Ducklings

                                                                 Turkey Vulture


04-22-19 Johnson Park in Marble Falls, TX
0720-0830, partly cloudy

This is a second visit to Marble Falls, a good stopping point in transit to the Upper Rio Grande Valley.  The last time I was there, I took an award-winning photo of two Great Horned owlets in their nesting cavity.  The same tree is still standing, but it was unoccupied on this date, though there were many changes and improvements to the park, including structures.

The Egyptian Geese and Muscovies are a new addition, along with many Black and Turkey Vultures.

It was impossible to resist the little ones, who enjoyed posing for photo ops.

                                                Texas Blackbuck Antelope (Exotic)

                                                            Ditto (Note Colorful Male)


04-22-19
Harvey Lane at Gillespie County Line, Texas

These domestics were an interesting find that could not be passed.


       

                                                                       Red Spotted Frog

04-23-19

The above red spotted frog was found at the first private ranch that was toured.  It was not an active ranch, yet the owners have been working very hard to have native plants, trees, and grass to be enjoyed by the wildlife there.  The ranch is five thousand acres with both breeding endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers and the recently delisted Black-capped Vireo.  My first Golden-cheeked Warbler was viewed at this ranch, which is also bisected by the West Nueces River and has a cliff face with the first Canyon Wren that I have seen.  This lovely property hosts the endangered Texas snowbell (native flower) and Tobusch fishhook cactus.

The family that owns the ranch personally toured us.  They also manage white-tailed deer and also host both wild and exotic game.

I personally wish to thank the family who wish to remain nameless.  They were wonderful hosts and very generous with both their time and welcoming nature.  Kudos to you both, Mr. and Mrs. S, I will never forget your kindness and the time that you spent!  You deserve an award for educating the public and helping the natural world proliferate.

                                                             Orange-crowned Warbler

                                                                     Armadillo


Kickapoo Cavern SP
04-23-19

Wonderful hiking, birds, a LIVE armadillo, a nice bird blind with assorted sparrows, a Spotted Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, and several other birds primed us for even greater adventure.
Kickapoo Cavern also hosted Mexican freestyle bats after dinner, a Red-tailed Hawk eyeing the bats, and a wonderful talk about the million bats exiting the bat cave.  The photo shoot wasn't as good as it could have been, but amazing things are held in my memory banks as a result of this after dinner fare.

We also observed countless birds prior to this treat, including the rarer Varied Bunting.
                                   

Wichita Mountains NWR Starring the Black-capped Vireo

                                                                 Longhorn Steer

                                                                Longhorn Steer

                                                               Black-capped Vireo

                                                               Black-tailed Prairie Dogs


04-20-19
80s-1030-1430 hrs-partly cloudy

Prior to the Upper Rio Grande Valley jaunt, half a day was spent at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Comanche county at Little Baldy.  My target bird was the recently endangered Black-capped Vireo, which was delisted about nine months ago.  The better part of the time at Wichita Mountains was spent trying to obtain a photo, which fortunately was successful.  This vireo had been very susceptible to predation by the Brown-headed Cowbird, an obligate brood parasite.  Biologists worked with keeping the cowbird away from the nesting Black-capped Vireos here at the Wichita Mountains NWR, which is why they were removed from endangered status.  As long as this has a long-term effect, the species will be more successful, just like the Kirtland's Warbler was able to do with the Brown-headed Cowbird.

Also discovered were longhorn steer and the black-tailed prairie dogs, all five of which are young animals.

Also observed were Cliff and Barn Swallows, as well as nesting Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Mourning Doves, Black-chinned Hummingbirds,  Turkey Vultures, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice,  Carolina Wren, and the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle).
                                                 

Migrant and Nesting Birds of the Southern Great Plains

                                                                       Green Heron

                                                                   American Robin

                                                                    Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                                 Great-tailed Grackle

                                                             Yellow-headed Blackbird

                                                                   Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                               Harris's Sparrow

                                                                 Western Kingbird

                                                                Mallards in Flight



04-15 through 04-19-2019

Migration is and has been very good this year due to plenty of natural resources for all animals.  The bottom photo of the Mallards included some very unusual activity with these migrant birds, who wheeled around the sky over a dozen times before they settled in a private spot just north of Heron Cove.  While the males exercised their breeding behavior and aggressive nature due to raging hormones, the female kept away from the pack.

This was one of the early Western Kingbirds, who normally grace a telephone pole across from Kicker.  There is what appears to be at least one pair in this vicinity.  As we recall last year, most of this species settled in my own residential area permitting me wonderful viewing of the young birds as they made their way around the local skies.

The youthful Harris's Sparrow is receiving its basic adult plumage.  The senior adults have more black upon their heads than the subadults.

Several Lincoln's Sparrows have been located around the area, usually around riparian and quiet areas.

Two male Yellow-headed Blackbirds were a real treat, usually remaining upon the ground seeking insects.  The two later took to the trees to survey the area and call while they preyed upon the delicacies on the cottonwoods.  They will gather in reeds and around cattails in more suitable habitat unless they are around dairies to take advantage of the insects that cattle stir up for them.

Many individuals consider the Great-tailed Grackle a pest, but they also travel in icteric packs, so it is best not to judge all "black birds" as one.  Many times the Brewer's and Rusty Blackbird will be mixed in, so scan those flocks.

The American Robin is usually in the area during the spring raising young.  Not all of them are created equally, especially those that are nesting for the first time.  An experienced robin will build a weak nest that might fall apart while it is being observed.

Green Heron came to Heron Cove, but as we recall, last year they vacated the area six weeks early.  Perhaps the best way to handle this is to nest early before the oppressive heat arrives like it did last year when young perished in the nest.  Hopefully, the colony will not leave the area.

042119 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-birds-help-with-our-survival/article_e5d8398a-9c10-59bb-9457-37565b168760.html

042119 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-birds-flocking-south-due-to-winter-weather/article_ff7b3294-db18-5f41-9aa1-7e4faa11c24f.html

Boomer's Late Winter-Early Spring Bird Bash

                                                          Red-breasted Mergansers

                                                                         Ditto
                                                               

                                                                       Ditto

                                                         Northern Shovelers in Flight

                                               Assorted Ducks in Flight, Including Scoters

                                                                    Song Sparrow
                                   

                                                                        Killdeer

                                                         Male Brown-headed Cowbird

                                                       Canada Geese Effecting Landing

                                                   Baird's and Single Pectoral Sandpiper

                                                               Juvenile Bald Eagle

                                                                         Ditto

                                                                    Adult Bald Eagle

                                                                    Eastern Phoebe

                                                            Irruptive Cedar Waxwings

                                                                  American Robin

                                                       Dark-eyed Junco (slate colored)

                                                                      Song Sparrow

                                                   Northern Mockingbird Mating Dance

                                                                 Bonaparte's Gull

                                                                               Ditto


mid-March/April 2019

Apologies are in order for such a late posting, but due to a challenging work schedule, it is the best that I could do.

Winter was somewhat difficult with lower and sometimes higher temperatures, and Mother Nature
did not give us expected birds at any given time.  This meant that there were sleepers, like a both the White-winged and Surf Scoter.  They can both be seen in the rear portion of the assorted ducks in flight photo above.

We also had late-arrival Bonaparte's Gulls in April and late Song Sparrows have also been located in assorted Payne county locations.  Both their song and chunky countenance will keep them from being confused with the more normal and thinner Savannah Sparrow in mid-April.

The Northern Mockingbird is quite an interesting bird for its behavior, which can include sounding just like other birds, as well as wing-flashing to confuse insects with what they might consider nightfall.  They also have a very entertaining dancing ritual during mating season, which can be difficult to photograph but most interesting to observe.

Many irruptive birds came to visit over the winter, including quite normal groups of Cedar Waxwings as well as Purple Finches and Red Crossbills.  Don't be surprised if the list of crossbill subspecies keeps growing due to the fact that harsh winters send them to assorted locales for food.  They will develop better attributes over short periods of time to assist them in gleaning cone crops depending upon where they hang their hats and coats over bitter and snow laden winters.

Over the past few years, it had come to my attention that our local Payne County Bald Eagle pair raised young more than once.  This three-year-old youngster pictured above was in the company of an adult over Boomer Lake in early April, which was my first actual time to see it, let alone photograph it.  I apologize for the poor quality, but we must take what the birds give us.

Shortly after the northern winter storm Wesley arrived, some shorebirds did a reverse migration right around this time.  Subsequent birds took a more eastern transit to their breeding grounds, but those that we hosted had to do their best under more trying circumstances, like many shorebirds and swallows.  Luckily, I was able to capture a Pectoral and a few Baird's Sandpipers in one photo.  Some of the birds spent several days on Boomer Lake to gain strength to enable them to move onward to the breeding grounds.

Many ducks also were a little late in coming though like the ducks pictured above.  Several varieties will actually breeding in the northern parts of the south, but the Red-breasted Mergansers shown were in high breeding plumage and most anxious to continue on to do their duty.  Unfortunately, weather events like we will only experience more in the future, will hinder breeding birds and make some of them miss insect crops to feed young.  However, most ducks will avoid this situation due to their nature.