Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Texas Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, February 9 at 02:40 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	American Woodcock,©Barry Kent Mackay

9 Feb eBird Report - Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Feb 9, 2012 [Mark and Joanie Hubinger ] 8 Feb Nice Great Horned Owl Encounter - San Marcos [Stephen Ramirez ] 8 Feb Baytown Nature Center [Ray Porter ] 8 Feb Scoter, Etc near Corpus [Jon McIntyre ] 8 Feb No Glaucous Gull at Monument Inn [paul sellin ] 8 Feb Breeding Bird Survey Volunteers Needed [Brent Ortego ] 8 Feb Fox sparrow [Eaton Hill Wildlife ] 7 Feb Corpus Christi notes [Clay Taylor ] 7 Feb Austin Purple Martin [Jake McCumber ] 7 Feb Kerr County Poorwill [tony gallucci ] 7 Feb Tuesday morning birding, Hagerman NWR [Jack Chiles ] 7 Feb Santa Ana NWR/ e-bird report [] 7 Feb Update on birds seen today at Estero [] 7 Feb The Big Year [John Ribble ] 7 Feb Harris's Sparrow, Rare for trans-Pecos, continues in Marathon. [Matthew York ] 7 Feb Rivery walk [Jim Hailey ] 3 Feb Austin Cacophony [Ted Eubanks ] 7 Feb Leucistic meadowlark & other yard birds - Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas [Mt Woman ] 7 Feb baytown nature center [Ray Porter ] 7 Feb Lewis's Woodpecker at Junction [Rhandy Helton ] 6 Feb San Ygnacio White-Collared Seedeaters [Joel Ruiz ] 6 Feb Rare Bird in Texas - Common Redpoll [Les Stewart ] 31 Jan Birding in Texarkansas Area [Ken Wilson ] 3 Feb Golden Crowned Warbler this a.m. at Frontera Audubon [Sarah Williams ] 3 Feb Whooping Cranes - Williamson County [Sally Velasquez ] 3 Feb Brant in Canyon, Tx [Benji Brooks ] 3 Feb Greetings Texas Birders! [Keith Alderman ] 3 Feb Green Parakeets in Harlingen [Sarah Williams ] 4 Feb Bald Eagle near Brookshire [judy bell ] 6 Feb Gulls In Roger's Pond at Brazoria NWR (53 Lesser Black-backs) [Ron Weeks ] 6 Feb Salineno-Brown-Jay [Cheryl Longton ] 6 Feb Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Resaca de la Palma State Park - photos [Sherry Wilson ] 6 Feb Wintering Hummingbirds 2/6/12 [David Hanson ] 6 Feb Ooh, ooh, ooh, what a little water will do oo oo [Judy Kestner ] 6 Feb Texas Whooping Cranes [Patricia Wight ] 6 Feb Santa Ana NWR/ e-bird report [] 6 Feb Male Wilsons Warbler [Charmaine Ganson ] 6 Feb Corrected days and dates: Katy Prairie (Waller Co) Short-eared Owl 31Jan/1Feb2012 et al [Bob Honig ] 5 Feb Fw: eBird Report - Bamberger Ranch Preserve (Selah), Feb 5, 2012 [Georgina Schwartz ] 5 Feb Big Bend birds & lions [Isaac Sanchez ] 5 Feb Travis, Williamson and Bell Co today: Prairie Falcon, Burrowing Owl, etc. [Sam Fason ] 5 Feb House Finches Anzalduas [] 5 Feb Owl etc edit II [Cameron Carver ] 5 Feb Fox Sparrow Variation in Lubbock [Anthony Hewetson ] 5 Feb Aplomado Falcon off 511 adjacent to Palo Alto Battlefield near Los Fresnos Texas Cameron County [Terry Fuller ] 5 Feb Green-tailed Towhee Addick's Reservoir [Stephan Lorenz ] 5 Feb Neal's Lodges: Uvalde County: Lark Buntings; Golden-crowned Kinglets; Spotted Towhee; Eastern Screech Owl [] 5 Feb Feeding the "chickens for the evening. [Brush Freeman ] 5 Feb belated report - Common Redpoll in Tarrant County, 29 Jan - 1 Feb [Eric Carpenter ] 5 Feb Katy Prairie (Waller Co) Short-eared Owl 31Jan/1Feb2012 et al [Bob Honig ] 4 Feb More Brazoria County Gulls [Ron Weeks ] 4 Feb Owls ...etc edit [Cameron Carver ] 4 Feb Owls and Hawks and Brants, Oh MY [Cameron Carver ] 4 Feb Rusty Blackbirds continue at Hornsby Bend 2/4/12 [Tim Fennell ] 4 Feb Chihuahuan Raven and others at Bahia Grande, South Texas [Laguna Atascosa ] 4 Feb Waller Co. ducks, rain, and lark buntings [Harvey Laas ] 4 Feb Laguna Gloria Birdwalk and Sunset Valley Sage Thrasher 2-4-12 [Sam Fason ] 4 Feb Spotted Towhee at Valley Nature Center, 2/4/12 [Dan Jones ] 4 Feb Mustang Island State Park [ ] 4 Feb Panhandle Birding, Brant, SE Park, Canyon [Barrett Pierce ] 4 Feb Mountain Bluebird,Hooded Mergansers continue at Santa Ana NWR [Mark and Joanie Hubinger ] 4 Feb Fwd: eBird Report - Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Feb 4, 2012 [Mark and Joanie Hubinger ] 4 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach ["Joe Dorn, W5VEX" ] 31 Jan Bell County Townsend's Solitaire & Hutton's Vireo, 31 Jan 12 [David Pinkston ] 3 Feb Webberville Eagle directions [Brush Freeman ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Ted Eubanks ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Janet Rathjen ] 3 Feb Fw: [texbirds] Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Joann Thompson ] 3 Feb Common Redpoll in Nacogdoches county [peter barnes ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Thomas Riecke ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Don Richardson ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Brush Freeman ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [Marilyn Kircus ] 3 Feb request for opinions - Caldwell County Owl (?) call [Chris Harrison ] 3 Feb Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach [David Hanson ] 3 Feb Austin Cacophony [James W Kessler ] Subject: eBird Report - Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Feb 9, 2012 From: Mark and Joanie Hubinger <mjhubrr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:29:55 -0600 Good afternoon Texbirders...sorry for the late post...a bit of an email glitch. Some rain and mud did not stop a few hardy birders this morning and they were rewarded by a few good birds...in the parking lot and garden areas...NORTHERN-BEARDLESS TYRANNULET and GRAY HAWK. In Pintail Lakes...a BUFFLEHEAD. So...come out and join us tomorrow at 8:30 AM for a birdwalk! Mark & Joanie Hubinger USFWS Volunteers Alamo, Texas Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Hidalgo, US-TX Feb 9, 2012 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) 45 species Gadwall 20 Mottled Duck 4 Blue-winged Teal 6 Northern Shoveler 20 Northern Pintail 6 Ring-necked Duck 1 Bufflehead 1 Ruddy Duck 3 Plain Chachalaca 4 Least Grebe 15 Neotropic Cormorant 4 Great Blue Heron 1 Harris's Hawk 2 Gray Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 30 Killdeer 1 Black-necked Stilt 20 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 8 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Least Sandpiper 6 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 Wilson's Snipe 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Kiskadee 7 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Green Jay 10 Black-crested Titmouse 6 Carolina Wren 2 Northern Mockingbird 2 Long-billed Thrasher 1 European Starling 20 American Pipit 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 6 Common Yellowthroat 3 Olive Sparrow 3 Red-winged Blackbird X Great-tailed Grackle X Altamira Oriole 1 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Nice Great Horned Owl Encounter - San Marcos From: Stephen Ramirez <stephenramirezzz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 22:00:15 -0600 I haven't really been all that "birdy" so far this year, I am trying to focus less on how many species I can find and just enjoy being outdoors and the birds around me. Well, tonight it was quite enjoyable. I've been hearing some owls around Blanco Shoals park in San Marcos, and a couple of days ago had some crows chase one right up to me, but I didn't have my camera that day. Today I was prepared, and long story short, I tracked down an owl, and ended up finding a second one that was half way between me and the first one! There was a perfect berm to lay on the ground and snap pictures and videos of the two. They came out rather well so I wanted to share with everyone. Great Horned Owl Videos http://youtu.be/bfxAgmoTbtA http://youtu.be/U5zRoMBcgnM A few pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinpurse/6844598907/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinpurse/6844596099/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinpurse/6844590329/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinpurse/6844585279/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinpurse/6844574309/in/photostream Oh! On a different note, my bird blind project at the nature center is coming along well, once it's up and running I'll share more information with everyone. Happy Birding, Stephen Ramirez San Marcos, TX www.birdsiview.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Baytown Nature Center From: Ray Porter <ray.porter314 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 18:58:27 -0600 hilites: juvenile reddish egret continues what appeared to be a mallard x gadwall ray porter highlands texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Scoter, Etc near Corpus From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:48:31 -0600 Today I found a female White-Winged Scoter along the Corpus Christi Causeway. The bird was hanging out with some redheads and red-breasted mergansers. On the beach between the Padre Island Nat Seashore and Bob Hall Pier I had a couple Northern Gannets, 27 Piping Plovers, and 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls. Jon McIntyre Port Aransas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: No Glaucous Gull at Monument Inn From: paul sellin <pjsellin AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:09:05 -0800 Scoped the beach behind Monument Inn at the Lynchburg Ferry landing for about one hour yesterday afternoon, 7-Feb. No Glaucous or Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Five American Avocets in the San Jacinto Battlefield Park, at the SE end of Park Road 1836. Say's Phoebe at the gazebo at El Franco Lee Park at 3:45 PM. Paul Sellin SW Houston TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Breeding Bird Survey Volunteers Needed From: Brent Ortego <brentortego AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 08:47:38 -0600 21 routes are currently vacant. At this time, all vacant routes are north of I-10. Brent Ortego 361-576-0022 BREEDING BIRD SURVEY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This is my annual request for volunteer sign-up to conduct roadside breeding bird surveys (BBS) in Texas during 2012. For those not familiar with the survey methodology, the BBS is the national survey which is the primary source for breeding bird population trends in the nation. This survey has about 3000 randomly located routes across the United States. Each route is 24.5 miles long with 50 stops spaced 0.5 miles apart. At each stop during a 3 minute period, the observer tallies all birds seen within ¼ mile and all birds heard. The route lasts from 30 minutes before sunrise until you finish which is normally about 11 a.m. The route needs to be run ONCE each year during the months of May or June; exact dates vary with each route. It might require a pre-survey scouting trip just to familiarize yourself with the route, and a little paper/computer work after the route is done. The observer needs to be able to identify most of the birds along the route by call and all by sight. Along routes in agricultural areas, this might only mean about 20 species by call, but in more complex forested areas it might mean 70 species. National and local conservation organizations very regularly use BBS data (see www.stateofthebirds.org) in their analysis. They focus very strongly on breeding bird population trends generated by YOUR DATA, and also used bird density data extensively. Partners In Flight has developed models to estimate breeding density and distribution for all species they are tracking with BBS data. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has used the data when they developed a statewide conservation plan for birds (see http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_pl_w7000_1187a/) . Conservation “Joint Ventures” across the nation regularly use BBS data as they implement their new “All Birds” management goals. It has been very satisfying seeing the product of our works being used to influence national and local decisions on avian conservation. Texas has 196 BBS routes and 19 vacancies. The National Office has started listing routes as vacant when they have not received data from a volunteer for two years. If you see your route listed as vacant, check your files and resubmit your data because the national office has not received it. This seems like a lot of routes, but it is not for a state our size. Due to the variability of the data, we are trying to run at least 14 routes per ecological area and there are 10 ecological areas in Texas. This should provide us a statistically valid sample of population trends of birds breeding near highways. We are getting close to obtaining this sample size in every bird region except for the Panhnadle and West Texas. We have problems getting qualified birders to do routes in the more rural parts of the State. While there are plenty of good birders in Texas, the birders are concentrated in urban areas and the birds are spread throughout the State causing logistics problems of running routes in remote parts of the Texas. A classic example is West Texas and the Panhandle, lots of country and few birders. When you volunteer, I will need your name, mailing address, e-mail, telephone number and route of interest. I am listing below vacant routes by geographic areas. Those areas with the largest numbers of vacancies are the areas needing the most help. If you are interesting in helping, or would like more information, reply to this e-mail. PANHANDLE Route 093 Lamesa Dawson County Route 100 Channing Hartley County Route 103 Pantex Carson County Route 104 Booker Lipscomb County Route 105 Miami Roberts County Route 107 Hackberry Cottle County Route 369 Claytonville Swisher County Route 370 Friona Parmer County Route 374 Twichell Ochiltree County Route 376 Cactus Moore County WEST TEXAS Route 083 Black Gap Brewster County Route 091 Cornudas Hudsbeth County Route 099 Slaughter El Paso County NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS Route 060 Ola Kaufman County Route 065 Graford Palo Pinto County Route 078 Grayback Wilbarger County NORTHEAST TEXAS Route 159 Chandler2 Henderson County Route 358 Gambil Refuge Lamar County SOUTHEAST TEXAS No vacancies. Congratulations! COASTAL PRAIRIE No vacancies. Congratulations! SOUTH TEXAS No vacancies. Congratulations! CENTRAL TEXAS Route 141 Manor Travis County Route 237 Carlos Brazos County Route 336 Bonner Freestone County http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/results/routemaps/routeMapStatic.html location of route maps http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/ raw data online retrieval system link provides location of species totals by route by year http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/participate/training/ BBS procedures and quiz Brent Ortego 202 Camino Drive Victoria, TX 77905 361/576-0022 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fox sparrow From: Eaton Hill Wildlife <eatonhill AT SONORATX.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 08:11:50 -0600 Yesterday we had what may be our first documented fox sparrow on Eaton Hill. He was out with a Lincoln eating seed. Not much time to bird lately but we did have American goldfinches and sighted the rock wren that seems to reside near the Nature Center. Delyse Jaeger Eaton Hill Nature Center Sonora, Texas 325-387-2615 eatonhill AT sonoratx.net TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Corpus Christi notes From: Clay Taylor <Clay.Taylor AT SWAROVSKIOPTIK.US> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 23:52:36 -0500 Hi all - I am finally back home after a LOT of travel. A friend from RI is staying with us for the week, and also met some birders from N.C. at Hazel Bazemore. H.B. did not disappoint - Green-tailed Towhee at the seed / water drip by the Hawk Platform, later a point-blank Olive Sparrow singing in front of the platform, White-throated Sparrow and a surprise White-tipped Dove. Well, no surprise that it was there, but pleasantly surprised that it let itself be seen.... An Anna's Hummingbird was defending a small hummer feeder hung at the platform - no surprise there. However, the bird it repeatedly chased was a male hummer coming into adult plumage. I think it might be a Broad-tailed Hummingbird, but am not sure. If others can check it out, that would be great. The pond saw lots of ducks, and a small flock of Stilt Sandpipers - my favorite shorebird. No Green Kingfisher, though. At Tule Lake, we saw a gorgeous Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and 80 American Avocets - 79 were normal, one was VERY leucistic. It was late in the day, and the light was poor, so I hope to return and digiscope it tomorrow. The King Rail did not answer a playback. Back at home, the yard is hosting 3 Anna's Hummingbirds (down from 7 a month ago), at least one Rufous, and one (possibly two) Buff-bellied Hummers. The 40+ goldfinches are about a 50 / 50 mix, the Spotted Towhee and the White-throated Sparrow put in an appearance each, I now have THREE Field Sparrows (cool!), and all 5 Pyrrhuloxias are still present. The funniest moment was when I was trying to point out the Buffie as it was hovering and dancing in the middle of the Upper Mesquite tree. That's when I realized that the Buffie was harassing a beautiful, red-eyed adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk that was trying to remain motionless within the tree, doubtless hoping a few unwary Sputzies ventured too close. Nice try, dude.... Clay Taylor TOS Life Member Calallen (Corpus Christi), TX Clay.taylor AT swarovskioptik.us TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Austin Purple Martin From: Jake McCumber <jake_mccumber AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 20:16:03 -0800 I was surprised and excited to find my personal FOS Purple Martin in central Austin today (NW corner of UT campus).  It was a lone male circling about.  Looking in eBird there are a few other central TX reports from within the last five days or so, primarily around San Antonio. Cheers, Ja TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds ke McCumber Austin .............................................. Subject: Kerr County Poorwill From: tony gallucci <hurricanetg AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 20:44:07 -0600 on a short venture this evening to see if Western Screech-Owls have begun singing in west Kerr County, i struck out, but did have a Common Poorwill singing at dusk . . .tony gallucci ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas hurricanetg AT hotmail.com http://tonygallucci.dAportfolio.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Tuesday morning birding, Hagerman NWR From: Jack Chiles <chilesjack AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:11:43 -0800 Well believe it or not the lake level is now actually a little above normal. For the last couple of weeks we have been seeing Bald Eagles pretty regularly. The geese come and go. Sometimes they are feeding off the refuge and you hardly see any. We enjoyed another great day of birding for a period of the year that can at times be slow. Snow Goose 2800 Ross's Goose 600 Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 75 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 40 Northern Shoveler 20 Northern Pintail 150 Green-winged Teal 30 Canvasback 3 Redhead 9 Ring-necked Duck 200 Lesser Scaup 2 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Great Blue Heron 8 Black Vulture 4 Turkey Vulture 15 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 9 American Kestrel 5 American Coot 50 Killdeer 25 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Least Sandpiper 9 Dunlin 1 Wilson's Snipe 4 Ring-billed Gull 4 Forster's Tern 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 Mourning Dove 5 Inca Dove 1 Greater Roadrunner 2 Great Horned Owl 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 4 Eastern Phoebe 1 Loggerhead Shrike 1 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 40 Carolina Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 Carolina Wren 1 Marsh Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 8 American Robin 200 Northern Mockingbird 4 European Starling 25 Cedar Waxwing 12 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Spotted Towhee 3 Chipping Sparrow 1 Vesper Sparrow 8 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 8 Harris's Sparrow 35 White-crowned Sparrow 25 Dark-eyed Junco 30 Northern Cardinal 15 Red-winged Blackbird 250 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Western Meadowlark 1 meadowlark sp. 148 Brown-headed Cowbird 30 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 1 Jack Chiles Volunteer Hagerman NWR TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Santa Ana NWR/ e-bird report From: Ayissa_Sandoval AT FWS.GOV Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:06:08 -0700 Here is list of birds that were since this morning on the 8:30am Bird Walk at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Please feel free to come visit us anytime & join any of our walks, info below!!We have just added bird walks at 8:30am on Tuesdays & Wednesdays here at the refuge! SPECIES: Cinnamon Teal Bufflehead American Kestrel American Avocet Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Dunlin Golden-fronted Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Great Kiskadee Loggerhead Shrike Green Jay Black-crested Titmouse House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Orange-crowned Warbler Gadwall American Wigeon Mottled Duck Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ruddy Duck Plain Chachalaca Least Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk Harris's Hawk Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Black-necked Stilt Solitary Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Inca Dove White-tipped Dove Ladder-backed Woodpecker Tree Swallow Cave Swallow Carolina Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Northern Mockingbird Long-billed Thrasher Common Yellowthroat Yellow-rumped Warbler Olive Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Sparrow Stilt Sandpiper Common Ground-Dove Mountain Bluebird Weekly Walks for January & February: Tuesdays,Wednesdays,Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays- Bird Walks 8:30am Tuesdays- Wildlife Photography Walks 9am Wednesdays- Butterfly Walks 10am Ayissa Sandoval Park Ranger U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Santa Ana NWR 3325 Green Jay Rd Alamo, TX 78516 956.784.7500 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Update on birds seen today at Estero From: imhuck3 AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 16:57:54 -0500 Howdy Texbirders, Some of the birds that have been reported to us, that have been seen today include Brown Creeper, Pine Warbler, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Wilson's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Audubon's Oriole, Yellow-throated Warbler, Verdin, Cinnamon Teal, Canvasback, Wood Duck to name a few of our many species of birds that are here at the present. Have not heard as of yet today on the Rose-throated Becard or Black-headed Grosbeak. Will go our into the Tropical Area in just a few minutes to see if I can locate them. I made a round out into the wetlands, sparrow fields, Camino de Aves and had about 70 species just from that area. Lots of Black and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Ringed Kingfisher and of course our Common Pauraques continue to be the most photographed bird in the park. OK, gotta get back out there because there just might be a first U.S. record bird to make a visit from other parts of the earth, and I might miss it if I'm sitting here at the computer. Remember to----- Bird for your health, Forget your worries, You'll be happier. Huck Hutchens, Park Host, Estero Llano Grande SP/WBC Weslaco, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: The Big Year From: John Ribble <johnribble AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:25:49 -0600 I was able to rent a DVD of The Big Year at Blockbuster last weekend. It seems to have just come out. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am sure it is more enjoyable to birders since they can recognize the birds and can recognize some of the locations at least by name. Be sure to watch the credits and after. Also I have about two dozen Lesser and American Goldfinches coming to the feeders. JR, Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Harris's Sparrow, Rare for trans-Pecos, continues in Marathon. From: Matthew York <mwayork AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:13:17 -0600 A single Harris's Sparrow has been at Gage Gardens, here in Marathon (Brewster Co.) for most of the winter. It would be an excellent bird to pick up for your Brewster Co. list. http://bigbendtx.blogspot.com/2012/02/rare-for-trans-pecos-sparrow-continues.html -Matt York Marathon -- Sent from my Laptop. http://bigbendtx.blogspot.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Rivery walk From: Jim Hailey <irasciblej AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:30:25 -0600 Today, while doing my weekly bird survey of Rivery Pond & Trail here in Georgetown, I had a total of 39 species. The most unusual species included 4 Wood Ducks, 3 Redheads, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, a Canyon Wren and 3 Swamp Sparrows. I was also impressed by a conservative estimate of 1000 American Robins and at least 500 Cedar Waxwings. The day was cool in the beginning and turned warm by the time I finished. Northern Cardinals were ever present singing to mark their territories. It appear that spring is in the air. Jim Hailey Texas Ornithological Society President Elect Field Trip Chairman & Field Trip Leader mailto: irasciblej AT gmail.com Blog http://irasciblej-alongthetrail.blogspot.com/ 110 Lavaca Lane Georgetown, TX 78628 Home: 512-591-7616 Cell: 361-522-3522 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Austin Cacophony From: Ted Eubanks <tedleeeubanks AT FERMATAINC.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:53:47 -0600 This morning I awoke to a cacophony of bird songs and sounds. The trees behind my house were swarming with cedar waxwings and American robins. They were feeding on Chinese ligustrum and cherry laurel fruit. I estimated several hundred of each species. Both began to arrive in my neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, but this morning's flock well exceeded all that I had seen to date. Ted Eubanks Austin, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Leucistic meadowlark & other yard birds - Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas From: Mt Woman <mtwoman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:07:50 -0600 A leucistic meadowlark has been hanging around with a good-sized flock of Meadowlarks at the homestead here lately. It sure stands out! Here are some pics: http://www.pbase.com/mtwoman/leucistic_meadowlark Other yardbirds lately: Cardinals Bluebirds Chickadees Redtail Hawk Kestral Crows White-crowned sparrows White-winged Dove Killdeer Flycatcher (no spec ID) Great-Horned Owl Barred Owl Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Turkeys Blue Jays Red-fronted & Downy WPs Great Blue Heron We haven't put seed in the feeder at all this Winter...it's gotten expensive and beyond our budget...so it's been interesting to see what has stayed around and what hasn't. The House/European Sparrows have not been here at all and the Cardinals come & go, as do the Chickadees. They all check out the feeder...in hopes, I guess. It's been an interesting Winter...very little freeze time and VERY little moisture. I shudder to think what this coming Summer will be like. Tzila "Z" Duenzl Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas, USA TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: baytown nature center From: Ray Porter <ray.porter314 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:41:57 -0600 hilites were a juvi bald eagle flyby and a reddish egret ray porter highlands texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Lewis's Woodpecker at Junction From: Rhandy Helton <rjhelton AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:15:18 -0600 This great bird is still around the Junction Fairgrounds (Rodeo grounds) adjacent to the South Llano River, just as he has been for over a month now. Several of us viewed the bird yesterday on a cold, windy day. He wasn't flying much in the a.m. so we were fortunate to pick him out from the top of one of his favorite perches. Myself, and the San Antonio Audubon group, will be looking this morning. There was some issue re: access to this property, hence I have not been posting updates (that and I have been having trouble getting through on Texbirds). I thought this was county property, it's not. The property is owned by the Kimble County Fairgrounds Association and they have rightly been concerned about trash dumpers. If you have been to the site you know what I am talking about. No one has been asked to leave the property but several were questioned. The Association is aware that birders are using the area so I will say that if you have binoculars, photographic equipment in your possession you should be ok. They know the group will be on the property today and have no problem with that. If the situation changes I will inform Texbirders of that immediately. The bird can be viewed, at certain times of the day, without going on to the Fairground Association property but I are Mickey Casaday would probably have to guide. We are not always available. Rhandy J. Helton TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Junction, Tx. Subject: San Ygnacio White-Collared Seedeaters From: Joel Ruiz <datlax AT SC2000.NET> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:46:08 -0600 Greetings Birders; I have good news that our special bird, the White-Collared Seedeater, is making its appearance again at the San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary. The two that were seen are still somewhat elusive; but the best times are around 0900 and at about 1500 hrs.(3 P.M.)when they are foraging. Visitors from throughout the U.S, Canada, and England were able to get a good view on two of them. The Sanctuary now belongs to Zapata County thanks to a Birding Philanthropist that has made it possible for it to continue in perpetually. Thanks Dick Spight. The Sanctuary is recovering slowly after the flood of July 2010. It destroyed most of the Seedeaters habitat. Enjoy! Joel Ruiz P.O. Box 100 San Ygnacio, TX l78067 Tel. 956-763-1320 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Rare Bird in Texas - Common Redpoll From: Les Stewart <stewart54321 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:48:26 -0600 A Common Redpoll was recently discovered and photographed by Nacogdoches County resident David Wolf in late January this year in Nacogdoches County. I have been told that the Common Redpoll has only been found a handful of times in Texas since records have been kept. It was found hanging out with Goldfinches and Sparrows on the ground below a feeder just outside my sister's bedroom window. She was a little uncomfortable waking up to a group of birders with high powered optics staring her way every morning but has proven to be a good sport. Her husband, however, has threatened to give everyone a "real show" of his early morning attire or lack thereof ! :-) The bird was not visible from any public area and my sister requested that numbers of viewers be extremely limited. It showed up regularly most mornings for about a week but has not been seen for a few days now. I was lucky enough to be with David at the time he found the bird. Some of David Wolf’s pictures are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/106520936287543804269/albums/5706183096956628625 -- Les Stewart Nacogdoches, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Birding in Texarkansas Area From: Ken Wilson <kenwilson59 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:18:20 -0800 I'll be visiting the Texarkansas area in a few weeks and was wondering besides the two lakes that are in the general area, is there any decent birding opportunities and sites in the area. Looking at the reporting from there on ebird.org, not many reports are generated from the area. During my visit I'll look for raptors and woodpeckers in particular and all birds in general. If you have any suggestions I'd appreciate your input. Thanks, Ken Wilson Pleasanton, CA TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Golden Crowned Warbler this a.m. at Frontera Audubon From: Sarah Williams <fronteraaudubon AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:09:43 -0600 We are still seeing the Golden Crowned Warbler here at Frontera. I saw it this morning just inside the gate before the first junction on the left. This morning I was also greeted at the front feeder by a female Rufous hummer. We had 24 participants on our A.M. bird walk with Dave Pollock. They spotted: Black-Throated Green Warbler, Ruby crowned Kinglet, Altamira Oriole, Green Jays, and just the usual...Great day so far! Come visit, and better yet, come lead a bird walk if you'd like to support Frontera. Sarah Williams (Executive Director of Frontera Audubon Society) 1101 S. Texas Blvd. Weslaco, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Whooping Cranes - Williamson County From: Sally Velasquez <svelasq AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:29:24 -0600 Textbirders: A friend of mine was able to capture a good photo of the Whooping Crane at Granger Lake 2/2/12. Many tourists are attempting to see this species and have been limited. Note the details to the success of this viewing. Sally Velasquez, Austin, Tx Svelasq AT aol.com 512/913-2223 From: "Glenn S. Davis" > Date: February 2, 2012 11:01:00 PM CST > To: Sally Velasquez > Subject: Whooping Cranes > > Thought you might like this photo. In the fog and rain, I took my > little one person boat out there this morning and searched them out. > If you look at Google Maps (satellite view) you'll see Sore Finger > Park. There's a long thin peninsula on the SE corner that points > towards the boat ramp across the lake at Friendship. The cranes hang > out on both sides of that peninsula, up in the coves...it only shows > on the satellite view. > > They were VERY skiddish, probably from all of the people messing > with them. I managed to get within 100 yards (in full camo) and that > was about it. > > Glenn S. Davis - Georgetown Tx > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Sent from my iPhone Subject: Brant in Canyon, Tx From: Benji Brooks <benji_13_54 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:16:26 -0600 There is a Brant located at South East Park in Canyon, Tx. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Greetings Texas Birders! From: Keith Alderman <keithalderman AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 20:10:19 -0700 Hello TexBirders! I joined the TexBirders group because I love birding here in Colorado, but I also love my trips south to Texas as well. The year before last I spent a week birding Corpus Christi, Mustang Island and Paradise Pond, and loved every minute of it. This year (in just a couple of weeks), I'll be birding the LRGV/Brownsville area for 10 days. Can't wait. My background is Wildlife Biology, and the reason I was moved to message the group is the current discussion related to conservation biology, hunting, and ethics. Aldo Leopold's work is definately worth a look. His book (1949!) A Sand County Almanac and Leopold's Land Ethic are both excellent. A Sand County Almanac: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sand_County_Almanac Leopold's Land Ethic: http://www.aldoleopold.org/about/LandEthic.pdf I'm very much looking forward to my trip to Brownsville and the LRGV! Keith A. Alderman Frederick, Colorado TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Green Parakeets in Harlingen From: Sarah Williams <fronteraaudubon AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:02:39 -0600 On my way home from work at Frontera Audubon in Weslaco, I spotted about 40 Green Parakeets perched on a power line at the Whataburger at 1605 Harrison (next to EZ Pawn) in Harlingen (not far from Bus Hwy/83). Sarah Williams, Weslaco, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bald Eagle near Brookshire From: judy bell <jfyebell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 17:56:41 -0800 Observed bald eagle "eating lunch" Friday, Feb.4th about 10:35 a.m. near Woods Road where it turns to Jordan Road, south of I-10.  Bald eagle was sitting on "dam" of flooded rice field enjoying lunch while a red-shouldered hawk closely watched.  After ~20 minutes another red-shouldered hawk joined the group and bald eagle took off with remaining lunch, flying toward FM 359.  Today around 3:00 p.m. bald eagle was observed on pole approximately 1 mile south of I-10 on Woods Road.  Only able to observe eagle for several minutes before he disappeared over the flooded rice fields. Great treat:  2 sitings in 2 days.  Life is good. Judy Bell TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds near Katy Subject: Gulls In Roger's Pond at Brazoria NWR (53 Lesser Black-backs) From: Ron Weeks <ronweeks AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:08:35 -0800 Roger's Pond on the end of the tour loop at Brazoria NWR h TexBirders, Roger's Pond on the end of the tour loop at Brazoria NWR has been spectacular for gulls staging before they go to roost in the Gulf or nearby bays.  On Friday, I had about 600 non-Laughing Gulls including 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Tonight, about 5:30PM I had about the same number of big gulls including 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a first-winter Thayer's.  The evening light is perfect for viewing these gulls - it is quite a sight and great place to look for something unusual. Seems like not many years ago, a single Lesser Black-backed was TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds noteworthy. Good gulling, Ron Weeks Lake Jackson Subject: Salineno-Brown-Jay From: Cheryl Longton <Birdnut35 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:56:36 -0500 Brown-Jay-came-in-once-today-at-11;00-AM.-Saw-Pine-Siskins-and-Spotted-Towhe e. Cheryl TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Salineno-volunteer Subject: Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Resaca de la Palma State Park - photos From: Sherry Wilson <rollingsoles AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 14:12:14 -0700 A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was by far the best find of the morning! It put in an appearance at the Kiskadee Deck area 9 - 9:30 AM and cooperated somewhat for pictures. https://picasaweb.google.com/rollingsoles/201226?authuser=0&feat=directlink Wilson's Warbler also was a bit more cooperative today. From the Ebony Deck, best of the morning included a Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush and Hermit Thrush. Resaca de la Palma State Park is open seven days a week. On Monday and Tuesday the Visitor Center is closed and the tram is not running but visitors are most welcome to use the selfpay station and walk. Maps are available at the entrance. -- Sherry Wilson Resident Park Host Resaca de la Palma State Park 1000 New Carmen Road Brownsville, TX 78521 956-350-2920 Bird Walks every Saturday - 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Butterfly Walks every Sunday - 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Night Hikes every Friday (must RSVP by 5:00 p.m. Thurs) - small fee Nature Tram Rides - Thursday thru Sunday http://www.facebook.com/resacadelapalma DIRECTIONS: The main entrance to Resaca de la Palma State Park is located on New Carmen Blvd. From Expressway 77/83, exit at Olmito, take FM 1732, follow for 2.5 miles; turn left at New Carmen Road; follow for 1.5 miles; shortly after the gravel hump in the road, turn left to enter the park. *Learn how you can help Texas State Parks:* http://bit.ly/sVdilb 38 species Gadwall 36 American Wigeon 1 Mottled Duck 14 Blue-winged Teal 4 Northern Shoveler 16 Least Grebe 5 Pied-billed Grebe 4 White Ibis 1 Turkey Vulture 8 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Merlin 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 White-tipped Dove 2 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 4 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 6 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 6 Great Kiskadee 5 White-eyed Vireo 3 Green Jay 21 Black-crested Titmouse 6 Carolina Wren 3 House Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Hermit Thrush 1 Northern Mockingbird 2 Long-billed Thrasher 6 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 15 Common Yellowthroat 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Wilson's Warbler 1 Olive Sparrow 5 Northern Cardinal 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Altamira Oriole 2 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Wintering Hummingbirds 2/6/12 From: David Hanson <DHanson139 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 11:47:50 -0500 This is an update on the hummingbirds here at the house. We have at least 3 remaining here. One is the juvenile Allen's banded here on Jan 15 th. One is a Rufous/Allen's juvenile looking bird and the other is the male juvenile Rufous Hummingbird. I finally got some decent pictures of him this morning. The male Rufous has been hard to get good looks at until this morning where he visited our front yard feeder several times and offered some photo ops. Female Allen's: _http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984249&k=nN4HfxX_ (http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984249&k=nN4HfxX) Female Rufous/Allen's: _http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984249&k=nN4HfxX_ (http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984249&k=nN4H fxX) Male Rufous: _http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984984&k=SgRzpzC_ (http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1700984984&k=SgRzpzC) On another note I just talked to my friend in East Texas and he tells me the two Leucistic Eastern Bluebirds I reported earlier in the fall are still there and he is hoping they will nest in the area. _http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBN QB#!i=1537215199&k=Lfkjj9s_ (http://hansonnaturephotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Texas-Birds/17293655_vKBNQB#!i=1537215199&k=Lfkjj9s) David Hanson TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Baytown/Mont Belvieu Area Subject: Ooh, ooh, ooh, what a little water will do oo oo From: Judy Kestner <jkestner AT STX.RR.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:49:17 -0600 On Sunday after the very successful Laredo Birding Festival I left that city for the 2.25 hour drive back to Corpus Christi and decided to bird the Jim Wells County Road 320 that runs from the big town of Alfred, on Hwy. 359 north of Alice, east to FM 70 in Nueces County. Well.... it took me 4.5 hours to get home. I traveled about three quarters of a mile on CR 320 and found a very birdy location where I identified about 35 species in a 30 square yard area. And what great birds they were! The habitat where I stopped was a wooded area with some nice tall trees near a stream and lots of Spanish moss hanging from the branches. The stream has been a dry swale for some time as you can imagine, but over the weekend this area was treated to about 3-4 inches of rain so not only was the stream running (lovely sound, that) but the shallow ditches on either side of the road were full and of course the floor of the woods was wet. I can imagine that it was covered with little insects trying to escape the flood and seeds that were softening in the bath and maybe even some small succulent shoots of grass or other tasty vegetation. Among the species I saw were Pyrrhuloxia and their Northern cousins, Swamp, Field, Lincoln's, Chipping, Vesper, White-crowned, Olive and Savannah Sparrows, Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees (the latter sang for me), Black-crested Titmice (mouses?), Cooper's Hawk, a fresh, bright Blue-headed Vireo (yeah, Glenda!) and two female Bobwhite Quail simply wallowing at the buffet. My notes say, "Joyous songs from the woods!" Judy Kestner Calallen (NW Corpus Christi) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Texas Whooping Cranes From: Patricia Wight <pcwight AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:41:25 -0600 Hi All, While I was in Rockport this past weekend, I participated in a field trip with The Aransas Bird and Nature Club on Tommy Moore's Skimmer. Our group observed a Whooping Crane finding and eating a small snake. Some lucky folks got great photos. I also participated in a walk at the state park (Goose Island S.P.) where I heard some 3rd hand reports passed along about what is happening with the Whooping Cranes. Next Saturday at noon, there will be an expert giving a talk on Whooping Cranes at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I plan to attend to learn firsthand whatever factual information is available; however, I found several recent articles with updated information. Following is a link to the short article from the Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Short-count-of-whooping-cranes-puzzles-officials-3006163.php On Sunday, we received close to 2 inches of rain on the Lamar Peninsula; hopefully the refuge received a similar amount, although at this point, it may be too little too late. Pat Wight Rockport (& Houston) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Santa Ana NWR/ e-bird report From: Ayissa_Sandoval AT FWS.GOV Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:27:39 -0700 Here is list of birds that have been seen in the past 2 days at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Please feel free to come visit us anytime & join any of our walks, info below!! SPECIES: Gadwall Mottled Duck Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Ruddy Duck Least Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Spotted Sandpiper Inca Dove Belted Kingfisher Green Kingfisher Golden-fronted Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Great Kiskadee Green Jay Yellow-rumped Warbler Altamira Oriole Hooded Merganser American Avocet Mountain Bluebird Green-winged Teal White Ibis Red-tailed Hawk Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Carolina Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Olive Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird House Sparrow Northern Pintail Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk White-eyed Vireo Black-crested Titmouse Long-billed Thrasher Great-tailed Grackle American Goldfinch American Wigeon Cinnamon Teal Lesser Scaup Osprey Cooper's Hawk Harris's Hawk Gray Hawk American Kestrel Black-necked Stilt Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Loggerhead Shrike Tree Swallow Cave Swallow Clay-colored Thrush Northern Mockingbird Common Yellowthroat Mallard Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Western Sandpiper Mourning Dove White-tipped Dove House Wren Field Sparrow Weekly Walks for January & February: Tuesdays,Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays- Bird Walks 8:30am Tuesdays- Wildlife Photography Walks 9am Wednesdays- Butterfly Walks 10am Ayissa Sandoval Park Ranger U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Santa Ana NWR 3325 Green Jay Rd Alamo, TX 78516 956.784.7500 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Male Wilsons Warbler From: Charmaine Ganson <cgtimes2 AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:41:34 -0600 We had a male Wilson's Warbler in the back yard here in Katy yesterday afternoon. I had seen him for a couple of days 5 weeks ago. I guess he over wintered. I doubt he is a new arrival. The 2 dozen Chipping Sparrows are still here also. Also had our Great Horned Owl visible all day in the Pine tree out front. Usually we hear him only. It was interesting to note that after he flew in and settled down from being mobbed, the area birds would come and harass him only occasionally to let him know they were aware he was still there. I assume he is a male because he is not huge like the females can be. Charmaine Ganson Katy, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Corrected days and dates: Katy Prairie (Waller Co) Short-eared Owl 31Jan/1Feb2012 et al From: Bob Honig <mandrhonig-lists AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 07:59:10 -0600 Seems as if I typed either the wrong date or day of the week on most of my observations in my recent posting. I've made the corrections below in UPPER CASE. My apologies. --Bob=!= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This past TUESDAY, 31-Jan-2012, my wife Maggie saw a Short-eared Owl (SEOW) just after sunset fly in from adjacent Katy Prairie Conservancy property to harass a Great Horned Owl (GHOW) that was perched on the fence post marking the SE corner of our 10 acres on Hebert Rd, 1 mi E of FM 362 in Waller County. The GHOW was a member of a pair that had just attempted copulation, but it might not have been successful. This likely is the same GHOW pair the female of which we had seen on nest but abandoned after the strong 25-Jan rainstorm. The following day, WEDNESDAY, 1-Feb, Maggie and I both saw a SEOW just before dark flying N to S across Hebert Rd about 0.25 mi E of Penick Rd. About 250 Long-billed Curlew were in the grassy fields on the E side of Pattison Rd roughly 1.5 mi S of Hebert Rd. on Sunday, 29-Jan late morning. You definitely can't count on this – I've been by there may times recently, and that was the only time I've seen them; but the habitat sure is right. Also a Western Meadowlark was singing at that time and location. In the brush on the E side of on Pattison Rd between Hebert Rd and Live Oak Creek: 1 Fox Sparrow, Friday, 3-FEBRUARY; 1 Green-tailed Towhee, Saturday, 4-FEBRUARY. Lots of fields flooded in this area after the recent rains, attracting ducks and shorebirds. Still very much hit or miss for geese, but we're seeing more than before the recent rains – so don't count on seeing any big flocks, but your chances are better. Last evening good numbers of geese and Sandhill Cranes were moving in this area around sunset – it sounded like the cranes may have been roosting in the field on the S side of Hebert just W of Penick Rd, but we didn't get there with enough light to see for sure. Bob Honig, Waller Co., TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Bamberger Ranch Preserve (Selah), Feb 5, 2012 From: Georgina Schwartz <gbird AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 22:13:27 -0600 Just a hint from the Bamberger Ranch today. It was 38 degrees and windy. About 10 ,it began to rain. We stood under the roof at the dinosaur tracks place and it had quit when we left there. Thanks to David Bamberger and Marsha May for a well-organized trip. This is just our section list. total species was 46, low for the season. Georgina Schwartz ----- > Bamberger Ranch Preserve (Selah), Blanco, US-TX > Feb 5, 2012 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 3.0 mile(s) > Comments: part of the seasonal count > David Bamberger's section > Observers: Georgina, Mr Bamberger, Harris Greenwood, Brandon and > Margaret McCullens > Cold: 38 degrees and windy! > 1 purple martin seen by Mr. Greenwood. > 15 species (+1 other taxa) > > American Wigeon X > Ring-necked Duck X > Wild Turkey 2 > Red-tailed Hawk 3 > Crested Caracara 1 > Western Scrub-Jay 3 > Common Raven 2 > Carolina Chickadee 12 > Black-crested Titmouse 8 > Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 > American Robin 9 > Northern Mockingbird 2 > Spotted Towhee 2 > Chipping Sparrow 10 > Northern Cardinal 21 > meadowlark sp. 12 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 > (http://ebird.org) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Big Bend birds & lions From: Isaac Sanchez <sanchez AT CHE.UTEXAS.EDU> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 21:19:08 -0600 We have spent the last 2 days in Big Bend NP during what the locals call a "wind storm." For the last 48 hours the winds have howled steadily at about 20-25 miles/hr with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Nevertheless, we have seen and photographed some good birds. Some highlights include Mountain Bluebird, Lark Bunting, Sage Trasher, and Brown Trasher. I'll be sending photos later including some photos of a female Montezuma Quail we saw on our way to BBNP. We are staying at the Chisos Lodge and this evening we had dinner in the lodge dinning room next to a family of 4 with 2 young sons that looked about 5 & 7. They finished dinner about 10 minutes before my wife and I did and left with some left over food that the boys didn't eat. As we were leaving the lodge to return to our room, the family came up to us screaming that they had been attacked by a mountain lion. As we backed into the lodge, we could see clearly that the older boy had been attacked as he was bleeding with a clear puncture wounds to his face. EMS arrived and the boy will be OK although he will probably need some stitches. Anyone familiar with BBNP knows that mountain lion attacks are a rarity. However, earlier today another family, hiking the "Windows Trail," with young children was aggressively approached by a juvenile lion and ended up snatching one of their backpacks. Later the family recovered the shredded backpack on the trail and saw the young lion with a full grown adult that ignored them. I don't know if this story has a moral other than be careful when hiking in areas where lions and bears are on the prowl. Isaac Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Travis, Williamson and Bell Co today: Prairie Falcon, Burrowing Owl, etc. From: Sam Fason <scfason AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:57:14 -0600 Today, Tony Gallucci and I birded Hornsby Bend (Travis) Granger Lake and Area (Williamson, Bell), and Lake Belton (Bell) We started and Hornsby Bend, and immediately located 11 Rusty Blackbirds in the CER parking lot. We heard the Sora calling in the reeds, but couldnt get the Virginia to call. A Male Cinnamon was present at the NW corner of 1W, and a Merlin came zooming through at that same time, scaring up some ducks and all the peeps in the area. Nothing too unusual of pond 1E or 2, but a Merlin (looked different, but could be the same one) was perched up in a tree on the east side, where pond 2 and 1E meet. photos of the merlin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826814077/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826805103/in/photostream/ We then headed north to Granger Lake, where out first stop was a long alligator road, where we saw the Burrowing Owl with ease. with all the wind and cold temps, he was reluctant to flush, so we got relatively close. photos of him here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826808407/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826810289/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826810997/in/photostream/ We then headed to CR 356, where the burrowing owl wasnt visible on his concrete pile, but i suspect he was down further in a little opening, seeking shelter from the wind and rain. 30 so lark buntings were a nice consolation prize on 360, we only had McCown's Longspurs. however, we say a Prairie Falcon flying north in the field directly to the north of the CR 360 and CR 359 junction. We then headed to Friendship park where we saw the Whooping Cranes in the distance. Only Ring-billed Gulls, no Bonapartes. As we drove out, on the east side of Granger near the cemetary we came across a beautiful Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826811889/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826811995/in/photostream/ Then we headed even farther north to BLORA (Belton Lake Outdoor Rec. Area) too look for the Hutton's Vireo and Townsend's Solitaire. No signs of either, but we did see some nice birds, including 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, several Cassiar-type Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 Horned Grebes, and huge numbers of Forster's Tern, Bonaparte's Gulls, and Ring-billed Gulls that followed around a raft of cormorants. Horned Grebe: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826812191/in/photostream/ Bonapartes Gulls: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826813369/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826812967/in/photostream/ part of the raft: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/6826812849/in/photostream/ We made a quick stop on the way back to Austin at Stillhouse Hollow, nothing noteworthy, but we were able to tack on Chipping Sparrow and Bewick's wren to the day list. A great day of birding, more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/sets/72157629194214859/ Happy Birding, Sam Fason, Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: House Finches Anzalduas From: MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:31:07 -0500 Hi, all! That was the main highlight today, as again I dipped on the reported rarities I chased, but managed to bag a bunch of year birds by surveying the Sparrow Road Route (THAT was an adventure...) and then checking out Anzalduas, Santa Ana, and Frontera. The Golden-crowned Warbler apparently HAD been seen earlier in the day, just not by me... :-P 71 species on this cold, blustery day ain't bad! Full report and photos are posted here: _http://miriameaglemon.com/Big%20Year%202012/February/February%205%20-%20Spa rrow%20Road.html_ (http://miriameaglemon.com/Big%20Year%202012/February/February%205%20-%20Sparrow%20Road.html) ...and i don't know if anyone else is having this problem, but it always takes Quicktime awhile to kick in when I click on the sound recordings for me... Enjoy! MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Owl etc edit II From: Cameron Carver <c.o.carver AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 18:57:07 -0600 It came to my attention that the Brant photo link was broken. Here is the link: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/27110190 AT N06/6819936593/ Also, many Texbirds posts are not getting through, showing up in the archives, and not in my spam. Problem with Texbirds? Cameron Carver Lubbock, TX Sent from my iPhone TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fox Sparrow Variation in Lubbock From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:18:44 -0800 I wanted to clarify one sentence in my post regarding t Greetings All: I wanted to clarify one sentence in my post regarding the January highlights in Lubbock.  I meant to say "full range of variation' within the Red Fox Sparrow" not to imply that we had western and eastern subspecies (species according to some).  In some winters we get a few birds that almost completely lack the reddish crown and red face patch of the classic Red Fox Sparrow - with the red in the wings somewhat reduced and the breast spots/streaks more of a reddish-brown than a brick-red.  These birds are not, I think - despite what some think when they first see them, Slate-colored Fox Sparrows as the spotting on the breast still has a reddish cast and close looks at the face will show some red tinting in the cheek.  Their wings are also much too red to be Slate-colored Fox Sparrows.  They simply aren't the classic eastern-most form of the Red Fox Sparrow. Some authorities, I believe, already recognize four species of Fox Sparrow (Sooty, Thick-billed, Slate-colored, and Red) and have argued for recognition of either strong clinal variation (my leaning) or valid subspecies (not my leaning) within the Red Fox Sparrow. Should that transpire, I strongly suspect we will get a few valid Slate-colored Fox Sparrows in the Trans-Pecos region but, so far as I have seen, all the birds in my region fall within the variation shown by Red Fox Sparrows. Anthony 'Fat Tony' H TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds ewetson; Lubbock Subject: Aplomado Falcon off 511 adjacent to Palo Alto Battlefield near Los Fresnos Texas Cameron County From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 17:33:30 -0600 Aplomado Falcons Cameron County TX along 511 and Old Port Isabel Road I saw a pair of Aplomado Falcons fly over my car on Hwy 511 adjacent to the Palo Alto Battlefield property south of Los Fresnos Cameron Co Texas. I has not seen them in this location which is further west than the more typical site at Old Port Isabel Road The new constuction makes access to this road a little more tricky. Going east you have to pass by the road and come back around to the exit. The road is Caliche to the shooting range and beyond with a nest site at the curve before the shooting range. There is a pair in this area. The 511 pair I mentioned would be difficult to locate from the road which is busy without a good or safe place for viewing. Still it is a new pair for me. Might be interesting to try to get it from the battlefield pathways, though other areas higher yield -- Terry W Fuller Terrywfuller AT gmail.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Green-tailed Towhee Addick's Reservoir From: Stephan Lorenz <slorenz AT MAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 17:54:28 -0500 The theme of GT Towhees continues with a bird at Addick's Reservoir among Harris's and Song Sparrows. Record photo here plus details on the weekend: http://birdsonashoestring.wordpress.com/ Stephan Lorenz Houston, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Neal's Lodges: Uvalde County: Lark Buntings; Golden-crowned Kinglets; Spotted Towhee; Eastern Screech Owl From: bobolink AT STX.RR.COM Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 22:45:18 +0000 took a nice Sunday drive from Uvalde to Concan and Neal's Lodges. I Haven't been here for a while and I wanted to talk to Dallas how things were doing and what she had planned. I was glad to see Cattle Guard had a water drip going...Helen need to get one started at Cabin 61 and the Pecan Grove has a water drip going. Cattle Guard has some new touches too.. http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/141319980 On the way to Neal's I did find some Lark Buntings... http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/141319970 also I saw my Dark Phase Red-tail... http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/141319948 Also I had Golden-crowned Kinglets at the store... Spotted Towhee at the Golden-cheeked Trail... Western Scrub Jays up the trail too... I was walking with my Dog Cinderella when a Eastern Screech Owl flew close to us and flew up to tree...I wasn't sure I got him on camera but look at picture...can you pick him out? http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/141320303/original Looks good for Spring...I feel we will have and early migration with the Golden-cheeked listed in February this year...get out early Helen :) Have a Super day... Bob Rasa Uvalde County Reporting (830)279-4416 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Feeding the "chickens for the evening. From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:37:55 -0600 I do it in the mornings and and again in the evenings, I know a lot of folks think I'm smoking dope when I make the claims, but this is just at one of 3 feeders in the yard after putting out evening chow and ~3-4 minutes after clinking the cans together for chow call. How many can you count? Then multiple that by 3 and that is what is here now and likely more.....Early spring is starvation time for resident birds, especially after a drought. https://picasaweb.google.com/104451252411753205600/20120205#5705783162725163202 -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: belated report - Common Redpoll in Tarrant County, 29 Jan - 1 Feb From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 15:17:47 -0600 It has definitely been a winter to watch the backyard bird feeders. In addition to the Common Redpoll coming to a private location in Nacogdoches, a different bird was well documented coming to feeders at a private location in Colleyville, Tarrant County from 29 Jan to 1 Feb (and no longer present). The Colleyville location is just a couple miles away from the yard in Southlake where a Common Redpoll was seen/photographed on 7 & 10 Jan, so it could very well be the same bird. Regardless, something definitely seems to be up with this species this winter so folks should be keeping their eyes open and their feeders full. -- Eric Carpenter Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Katy Prairie (Waller Co) Short-eared Owl 31Jan/1Feb2012 et al From: Bob Honig <mandrhonig-lists AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 14:08:05 -0600 This past Wednesday, 31-Jan-2012, my wife Maggie saw a Short-eared Owl (SEOW) just after sunset fly in from adjacent Katy Prairie Conservancy property to harass a Great Horned Owl (GHOW) that was perched on the fence post marking the SE corner of our 10 acres on Hebert Rd, 1 mi E of FM 362 in Waller County. The GHOW was a member of a pair that had just attempted copulation, but it might not have been successful. This likely is the same GHOW pair the female of which we had seen on nest but abandoned after the strong 25-Jan rainstorm. The following day, Thursday, 1-Feb, Maggie and I both saw a SEOW just before dark flying N to S across Hebert Rd about 0.25 mi E of Penick Rd. About 250 Long-billed Curlew were in the grassy fields on the E side of Pattison Rd roughly 1.5 mi S of Hebert Rd. on Sunday, 29-Jan late morning. You definitely can't count on this – I've been by there may times recently, and that was the only time I've seen them; but the habitat sure is right. Also a Western Meadowlark was singing at that time and location. In the brush on the E side of on Pattison Rd between Hebert Rd and Live Oak Creek: 1 Fox Sparrow, Friday, 2-Feb; 1 Green-tailed Towhee, Saturday, 3- Feb. Lots of fields flooded in this area after the recent rains, attracting ducks and shorebirds. Still very much hit or miss for geese, but we're seeing more than before the recent rains – so don't count on seeing any big flocks, but your chances are better. Last evening good numbers of geese and Sandhill Cranes were moving in this area around sunset – it sounded like the cranes may have been roosting in the field on the S side of Hebert just W of Penick Rd, but we didn't get there with enough light to see for sure. Bob Honig Waller Co., TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: More Brazoria County Gulls From: Ron Weeks <ronweeks AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 17:58:53 -0800 A number of us got some special access to our local land TexBirders, A number of us got some special access to our local landfill and spent the day watching gulls picking at garbage on Friday.  We had Glaucous, a couple more Thayer's-type gulls and some other interesting ones that left us scratching our heads.  Some pictures and a summary of our day can be found on my blog at brazoriacountybirding.wordpress.com  This blog is roughly modeled after Stephan Lorenz's excellent blog will feature some of the birds and locations of Brazoria County (due south of Harris County & Houston). Good Birding, Ron Weeks TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Lake Jackson Subject: Owls ...etc edit From: Cameron Carver <c.o.carver AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 19:51:36 -0600 Cool tidbit would be all 6 goose species we had. I apparently don't know how to count. Cameron Carver Lubbock, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Owls and Hawks and Brants, Oh MY From: Cameron Carver <c.o.carver AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 19:47:55 -0600 Greetings, Steve Collins and I took a whirlwind trip around the northwestern south plain and the souther panhandle in search of birds. We started at Muleshoe NWR to look for Long-eared Owls and whatever else may be around. Started out with a few thousand cranes and anice chat with a photographer from upstate New York. At the HQ we found continuing Fox Sparrow and Sage Thrasher. At another location within the refuge we had Say's Phoebe and then eventually four Long-eared Owls. South of Muleshoe (the city) we found 2 Common Ravens fraternizing with a Chihuahuan Raven. Then we got lost and found a Scaled Quail! Eventually we ended up in Dimmit where the first bird to greet us was a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, what an amazing bird. We then tallied 10 Wood Ducks and an injured Ross's Goose at the City Park. We got to Southeast Park in Canyon at about 3:50. It took us a while to find the Brant. A group of geese flew and I was able to pick out the Brant out of the group, but Steve didn't see it. For a while I thought maybe I was making stuff up, but eventually we were able to find and photograph the Brant on the water. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27110190 AT N06/6819936593/Cool tidbit is that we had all 5 goose species at the park. Pretty good day. Cameron Carver Lubbock, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Rusty Blackbirds continue at Hornsby Bend 2/4/12 From: Tim Fennell <tfennell AT FLASH.NET> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 16:22:52 -0800 At least 7 Rusty Blackbirds continue to be present in the blackbird flock around the CER parking lot at Hornsby Bend (Austin) this morning. At least two more were present in the NE corner of Pond 1 West. A female Greater Scaup was on Pond 2. Cheers, Tim Fennell Round Rock, TX Travis Audubon Society TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Chihuahuan Raven and others at Bahia Grande, South Texas From: Laguna Atascosa <laguna.atascosa AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 17:52:09 -0600 The following species were seen on our public bird tour at the Bahia Grande unit of Laguna Atascosa NWR on Thursday, Feb 2: 4 Double-crested Cormorant 15 American White Pelican 14 Brown Pelican 8 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 1 Reddish Egret 3 Turkey Vulture 5 Osprey 2 White-tailed Kite 1 Harris's Hawk 1 White-tailed Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Crested Caracara 3 Black-bellied Plover 4 Willet 9 Long-billed Curlew 6 Caspian Tern 5 Forster's Tern 1 Common Ground-Dove 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 Chihuahuan Raven 1 Cactus Wren 17 Northern Mockingbird 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Savannah Sparrow 27 Eastern Meadowlark Check out the website below for upcoming programs! Marion Mason, Ranger Laguna Atascosa NWR Los Fresnos, TX 956-748-3607 -- www.friendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Waller Co. ducks, rain, and lark buntings From: Harvey Laas <hlaas AT CONSOLIDATED.NET> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 16:49:02 -0600 With the recent rains - 3.2 inches this week 3.7 the week before, etc. ducks have certainly dispersed. The two biggest lakes on our place had zero ducks yesterday. I found a single BW teal today. The world outside is wetter than it has been in quite some time. The flock of roughly 100 lark buntings is still around. I noticed today that 2 or 3 of the males are already showing a few more black feathers. Harvey Laas 10 miles N of Brookshire Relearning how to walk in mud. Not that I'm complaining. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Laguna Gloria Birdwalk and Sunset Valley Sage Thrasher 2-4-12 From: Sam Fason <scfason AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 15:30:28 -0600 Today i led the TAS monthly birdwalk at Laguna Gloria. A bit slow going, but Laguna didnt fail to surprise me, with a 1st year male (or a very drab adult female) Pine Warbler, the only Pine Warbler i have seen this winter. Other nice birds were a red-shafted Northern Flicker, Two buffleheads in the lagoon, and an Orange-crowned Warbler. Stan VanSandt, Kenny Bader, and I then went from laguna to sunset valley, and, after a long search, refound the Sage Thrasher in the mesquite grove behind city hall. It was a brief look, and a mockingbird chased it off soon after i spotted it. So it's still in the area! Also we saw several Fox and Harris's Sparrows, as well as 3 Least Grebes that are still in the retention ponds behind Petsmart. Happy Birding, Sam Fason, Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Spotted Towhee at Valley Nature Center, 2/4/12 From: Dan Jones <antshrike1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 15:09:36 -0600 After missing Spotted Towhee at Frontera, Estero and Quinta, I decided to make an attempt to get it for my county year list at the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. Raul Jr. told me to look along the Butterfly Trail and I found one of the two present with little effort. Also present on this warm afternoon ahead of the cold front were four Clay-colored Thrushes and a Verdin. The VNC is really looking great and deserves a visit. The native plant nursery is looking great also. Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Inca Dove 2 White-tipped Dove 5 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Great Kiskadee 1 Black-crested Titmouse 3 Verdin 2 Clay-colored Thrush 4 Long-billed Thrasher 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Northern Cardinal 2 House Sparrow 30 Dan Jones, Weslaco TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Mustang Island State Park From: Mike Mullenweg - Park Interpreter <mike.mullenweg AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 14:19:40 -0600 I'm always amazed at what people will do to go birding. The visibility was about 25 yards due to fog and there was a storm front coming down from San Antonio. I was sitting at the jetties at 8:30 waiting to cancel the birdwalk this morning due to rain when 8 people came strolling down the beach. We spent about and hour and a half walking around the jetties looking for birds and sea beans. About 10:30 the front rolled in and everyone dashed back to their cars and campsites. What a great morning! Brown Pelican Great Blue Heron Snowy Egret Black-bellied Plover Willet Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Forster's Tern Royal Tern Savannah Sparrow TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Panhandle Birding, Brant, SE Park, Canyon From: Barrett Pierce <bpierce AT RIOPETRO.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 13:28:27 -0600 The Brant continues at SE Park in Canyon, Randall Co TX Saturday through 1:30 pm. Barrett Pierce Amarillo, TX Sent from my iPhone TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Mountain Bluebird,Hooded Mergansers continue at Santa Ana NWR From: Mark and Joanie Hubinger <mjhubrr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 12:53:54 -0600 A report from late morning birders...the female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, along with American Avocets, continue at Cattail Lakes. The 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS were seen at Willow Lakes late morning as well. Mark & Joanie Hubinger USFWS Volunteers Alamo, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Feb 4, 2012 From: Mark and Joanie Hubinger <mjhubrr AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 11:55:25 -0600 Hi Texbirders...Pintail Lakes seemed to have the most species for our 10 guests today...our highlights were CINNAMON TEAL, LESSER SCAUP, GRAY HAWK, and bathing CLAY-COLORED THRUSH. The kingfishers were MIA today. We noticed a large # of Eastern Phoebe today, some in small flocks...early migrants? A Tuesday birdwalk will be offered by volunteers, Don & Cheryl and we will return next Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Birdwalks start at 8:30 AM. Come out and enjoy your NWR (and keep warm & dry!) Happy Birding! Mark & Joanie Hubinger USFWS Volunteers Alamo, Texas Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059), Hidalgo, US-TX Feb 4, 2012 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) 55 species Gadwall 25 American Wigeon 2 Mottled Duck 10 Blue-winged Teal 30 Cinnamon Teal 15 Northern Shoveler 40 Northern Pintail 12 Green-winged Teal 40 Lesser Scaup 1 Ruddy Duck 6 Least Grebe 30 Turkey Vulture X Osprey 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Harris's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Gray Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Common Gallinule 1 American Coot 50 Killdeer 6 Black-necked Stilt 30 Spotted Sandpiper 4 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Greater Yellowlegs 20 Lesser Yellowlegs 20 Least Sandpiper 20 Stilt Sandpiper 3 Long-billed Dowitcher 40 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 6 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 4 Eastern Phoebe 12 Great Kiskadee 8 Loggerhead Shrike 1 White-eyed Vireo 4 Green Jay 6 Tree Swallow X Cave Swallow X Black-crested Titmouse 8 Carolina Wren 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Clay-colored Thrush 2 Northern Mockingbird 2 Long-billed Thrasher 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Common Yellowthroat 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Olive Sparrow 4 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird X Great-tailed Grackle 1 Altamira Oriole 2 American Goldfinch 8 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: "Joe Dorn, W5VEX" <jbdvex AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 11:27:06 -0600 I am not nor have ever been a duck hunter but I maintain membership in 'Ducks Unlimited' because of their wetlands preservation efforts. I recommend joining. I do hunt cowbirds, coyotes and poachers... Joe B. Dorn 7969 West FM 93 Belton, Texas 76513   Home Phone: (254) 939-5918 Cell Phone:(254) 721-0829   Member: NAS TOS NPSofTx Ducks Unlimited -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of David Hanson Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 4:26 PM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: Re: [texbirds] Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach I could not help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and in some of the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. We all might want to remember that hunters were the original conservationists and indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the Wildlife refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year to hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards purchasing and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of the birds we all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the official Federal Waterfowl Stamp site if you would like to educate yourself more _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) Texas Refuges Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps Click below to view refuge profiles: TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bell County Townsend's Solitaire & Hutton's Vireo, 31 Jan 12 From: David Pinkston <drpinkston AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:10:20 -0800 Today around 4 p.m. I found a Townsend's Solitaire and Hutton's Vireo at BLORA (=Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area) in Bell County.  Both birds were found in a small woodlot behind the Pecan Pavilion.  Both were highly responsive to an agitated screech-owl recording. Randy Pi TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds nkston Temple, Bell County   Subject: Webberville Eagle directions From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:50:50 -0600 Over the past week plus there have been several request for the nest location, some have said they have gone and could not find it. I could guess on a Google image but there are other factors First go completely thru Webberville if coming from Austin, there is a Little Webberville Park but it it not there....Drive a few miles past Webberville and you'll see the Travis Co. park sign...Turn right and go to the park (opens around 8A)....drive thru the park until you come to the restrooms, Park here somewhere. Walk out behind the restrooms to the the volleyball court and then directly to the transmission lines overhead and a bit beyond to a weak fence line....Look a bit to your right across the big field (private) from here and note a orange earth moving machine...Look to the left of this a little in the distant trees and you should easily see the huge nest. A scope is pretty much the ticket but with 8-10X bins an adult bird can be usually seen sitting in the nest...If the chicks have not already grown too large...Check the tree line if not there as they have favorite perches. Hope this helps and sorry for those that drove out and missed finding it. The nest can also be seen from Post Oak road nearby -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Ted Eubanks <tedleeeubanks AT FERMATAINC.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 20:09:49 -0600 David, I would suggest that you study the origins of the conservation ethic in this country. Read Rothrock, Pinchot, Grinnell, Dock, Goddard, etc. Watch this video http://youtu.be/vgb5yOhE90o It is important to understand the forces that influenced conservation in this country, a uniquely American endeavor. This deserves more than a flippant "it is all about hunting" retort. Ted Eubanks Austin, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Janet Rathjen <j.rathjen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:06:46 -0800 Today I went to the Clear Lake boat ramp to due my regular survey of the gulls and terns there.  There have been 150-200 Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Capian Terns, Royal Terns and Forter's Terns there for the last few weeks since I started keeping track.  This time a large area of the parking lot was covered with white feathers.  These feathers were not there when I checked last week.  The gulls and terns are molting.  Even one of the Caspian Terns now has a completely black cap.  The feathers are gathered in and near the area where most of the gulls roost.  Judging by the quantity of feathers shown in photograph, the feathers could be coming from the gulls and terns using the beaches now. Janet Rathjen Houston (Clear Lake City), TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fw: [texbirds] Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Joann Thompson <joann510 AT ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:46:14 -0600 GREAT POST! Joann Thompson SWHouston ~..~ ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Hanson" To: Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 4:25 PM Subject: Re: [texbirds] Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach >I could not help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and > in some of the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. > We > all might want to remember that hunters were the original > conservationists > and indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the > Wildlife > refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters > over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year > to > hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards purchasing > and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of the birds > we > all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the official Federal > Waterfowl Stamp site if you would like to educate yourself more > _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) > Texas Refuges Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps > Click below to view refuge profiles: > > * _Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/AnahuacNWR.htm) > * Aransas National Wildlife Refuge > * Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge > * _McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/McFaddin-TexasPointNWR.htm) > * Muleshoe National Widlife Refuge > * _San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/SanBernardNWR.htm) > * Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge > * Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge > * _Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/TrinityRiverNWR.htm) > > > > In a message dated 2/2/2012 8:20:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, > josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM writes: > > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Common Redpoll in Nacogdoches county From: peter barnes <pbarnes123 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:33:12 -0600 A Common Redpoll was found by David Wolf and is coming to a feeder in Nacogdoches county. Unfortunately, the location is not accessible to birders. Nevertheless, those in north-east and north-central Texas might want to keep their eyes out for unusual winter finches. Peter Barnes Tylert TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Thomas Riecke <riecket13 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:02:55 -0800 There are very few, if any, waterfowl hunters that hunt offshore or in the surf on the Upper Texas Coast. No one hunts the Gulf, they hunt the inner bays and marsh. I would assume these feathers are the result of normal molt of a variety of species, with a cruise ship pillowfight as a second guess. This is the end of the pertinent information in this post.   Since its inception, the Federal Duck Stamp has funded the acquisition of 5,000,000 acres of our 150,000,000 million acre (3.3%) NWR system, I ass-u-me that the rest was purchased with general tax dollars (which hunters obviously also pay). Pittman-Robertson (11% hunting excise tax) and Dingell-Johnson  (10% fishing excise tax) funds are distributed to the states, where they have contributed to the acquisition of 4 million acres of public land (typically WMAs), and contribute to the management (for hunting) of wildlife on 40 million acres of private land. To conclude, public land purchased by hunters makes up 1.4% (9,000,000 acres) of total American public lands (643.2 million acres).   The amount of public land purchased with excise taxes levied at birders is unfortunately still . . . 0 acres.   And to Brush, airboats are the single most effective method for applying bands and radio and satellite transmitters to black-necked stilts, mottled ducks, teal, alligators, and whistling-ducks on the Chenier Plain. I'm assuming you're referring to their use by hunters, but they do good things too.   Going home and hoping Sarkozi doesn't suspend my account again for stirring the pot,   Thomas Riecke Naco TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds gdoches, TX Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Don Richardson <donrich514 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:45:26 -0800 Brush, you are right. There were no "negative undertones" in any of the notes about the feathers on the beach. Hunting stamps and fees do support lots of wildlife. I noticed the number 98% in another note a moment ago. It's interesting how people toss around numbers with such apparent precision. Hunters, I thank you but let's keep it real.  Don Richardson Pearland Texas ________________________________ From: Brush Freeman To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Fri, February 3, 2012 5:10:27 PM Subject: Re: [texbirds] Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach David...Since I am the only that mentioned hunters to any degree I must assume you mean me...You need to go back and read my note carefully as there is ZERO in there that denigrates duck hunters in any form or fashion.  I stated what is a common practice with duck hunters and how they clean often ducks at boat launches etc. and I have seen it many times in many places..It is not illegal just messy at times...I think the world of duck hunters and what they ....I just hate airboats . Or maybe someone else blasted them but if they did it did not come to my machine. Brush Freeman Former Duck hunter On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 4:25 PM, David Hanson wrote: > I could not  help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and > in some of  the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. > We > all might  want to remember that hunters were the original conservationists > and  indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the Wildlife >  refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters > over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year >  to > hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards  purchasing > and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of  the birds > we > all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the  official Federal > Waterfowl Stamp site if you would  like to educate yourself more > _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) > Texas Refuges  Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps > Click  below to view refuge profiles: > >    *  _Anahuac  National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/AnahuacNWR.htm > ) >    *  Aransas National Wildlife  Refuge >    *  Big Boggy National  Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR  Profile) >    *  Brazoria National Wildlife  Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) >    *  Laguna Atascosa National  Wildlife Refuge >    *  _McFaddin  National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( >http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/McFaddin-TexasPointNWR.htm >m > ) >    *  Muleshoe National Widlife  Refuge >    *  _San  Bernard National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( >http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/SanBernardNWR.htm >m > ) >    *  Santa Ana National  Wildlife Refuge >    *  Texas Point National  Wildlife Refuge >    *  _Trinity  River National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( >http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/TrinityRiverNWR.htm >m > ) > > > > In a message dated 2/2/2012 8:20:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, > josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM writes: > > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas TEXBIRDS help file TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:10:27 -0600 David...Since I am the only that mentioned hunters to any degree I must assume you mean me...You need to go back and read my note carefully as there is ZERO in there that denigrates duck hunters in any form or fashion. I stated what is a common practice with duck hunters and how they clean often ducks at boat launches etc. and I have seen it many times in many places..It is not illegal just messy at times...I think the world of duck hunters and what they ....I just hate airboats . Or maybe someone else blasted them but if they did it did not come to my machine. Brush Freeman Former Duck hunter On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 4:25 PM, David Hanson wrote: > I could not help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and > in some of the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. > We > all might want to remember that hunters were the original conservationists > and indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the Wildlife > refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters > over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year > to > hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards purchasing > and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of the birds > we > all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the official Federal > Waterfowl Stamp site if you would like to educate yourself more > _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) > Texas Refuges Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps > Click below to view refuge profiles: > > * _Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/AnahuacNWR.htm > ) > * Aransas National Wildlife Refuge > * Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge > * _McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/McFaddin-TexasPointNWR.htm > ) > * Muleshoe National Widlife Refuge > * _San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/SanBernardNWR.htm > ) > * Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge > * Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge > * _Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/TrinityRiverNWR.htm > ) > > > > In a message dated 2/2/2012 8:20:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, > josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM writes: > > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: Marilyn Kircus <mbkircus AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:02:05 -0800 I heartedly concur with this message. You might think about buying a duck stamp for all your friends and relatives for Christmas, as well as for yourself. Ninty-eight cents of every dollar goes for the purchase of land or habitat improvements - putting the land back into a condition and with the plants needed for local wildlife. And all prey animals need to be harvested for them to stay in balance with their environment. Hunters help fulfill this requirement, while making sure the species continues. Marilyn Kircus Currently volunteering at Sacremento NWR* *Adventures of a Vagabond Volunteer On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 2:25 PM, David Hanson wrote: > I could not help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and > in some of the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. > We > all might want to remember that hunters were the original conservationists > and indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the Wildlife > refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters > over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year > to > hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards purchasing > and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of the birds > we > all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the official Federal > Waterfowl Stamp site if you would like to educate yourself more > _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ > (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) > Texas Refuges Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps > Click below to view refuge profiles: > > * _Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/AnahuacNWR.htm > ) > * Aransas National Wildlife Refuge > * Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge > (see San Bernard NWR Profile) > * Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge > * _McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/McFaddin-TexasPointNWR.htm > ) > * Muleshoe National Widlife Refuge > * _San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/SanBernardNWR.htm > ) > * Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge > * Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge > * _Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge_ > ( > http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/TrinityRiverNWR.htm > ) > > > > In a message dated 2/2/2012 8:20:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, > josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM writes: > > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > -- *Marilyn * Adventures of a Vagabond Volunteer TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: request for opinions - Caldwell County Owl (?) call From: Chris Harrison <crharrison AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 16:54:12 -0600 Texbirders, I was out in Caldwell County (roughly 16 miles NNW of Luling) recording some frog call activity two nights ago. While I was standing by the road recording a group of Spotted and Strecker's Chorus Frogs, I happened to record a single call of what I think is an owl. I am familiar with the calls of our normal, resident owls (Great Horned, Barred, Screech, Barn) but this one didn't match those to my ear. I thought I would post it here to see if anyone else thinks they can ID it. I will leave my opinion to myself for the moment so as not to contaminate your perceptions. The call can be heard a few seconds into this short mp3 recording - http://www.birdsandherps.com/frog_calls/mystery_call.mp3 The bird only called once (assuming it is even a bird??). I recorded the frogs for a while before and after this at the same location and heard no other calls like it. Any opinions? Chris Harrison San Antonio TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Mass Quantities of Feathers on Bolivar Beach From: David Hanson <DHanson139 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:25:47 -0500 I could not help but read this thread about the feathers on the beach and in some of the posts the negative undertone towards "waterfowl" hunters. We all might want to remember that hunters were the original conservationists and indeed have been all or partially responsible for many of the Wildlife refuges we all enjoy. Many people do not realize that waterfowl hunters over 16 years of age are required to purchase a $15 duck stamp each year to hunt waterfowl and that 98 Cents of every dollar goes towards purchasing and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges that benefit many of the birds we all enjoy not just waterfowl. Here is the link to the official Federal Waterfowl Stamp site if you would like to educate yourself more _http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Texas.htm) Texas Refuges Funded in Part by Federal Duck Stamps Click below to view refuge profiles: * _Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/AnahuacNWR.htm) * Aransas National Wildlife Refuge * Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (see San Bernard NWR Profile) * Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (see San Bernard NWR Profile) * Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge * _McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/McFaddin-TexasPointNWR.htm) * Muleshoe National Widlife Refuge * _San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/SanBernardNWR.htm) * Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge * Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge * _Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge_ (http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/states/Texas/Profiles/TrinityRiverNWR.htm) In a message dated 2/2/2012 8:20:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM writes: . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Austin Cacophony From: James W Kessler <jkessler AT KTC.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:10:16 -0600 We have the same situation here in Kerrville with Cedar Waxwings and American Robins eating Chinese ligustrum and cherry laurel fruit. I have also noticed the robins eating fermented berries from Chinaberry trees. A few years ago American Robins ate so many Chinaberry tree berries that many of them became drunk and crashed into cars, buildings and other objects and sometimes flew so erratically that they missed the limb they were attempting to perch on. That year we counted over fifty that had been killed by cars. Belted, ringed, and green kingfishers were observed today along the Guadalupe River in Louise Hays Park here in Kerrville. Jim Kessler Kerrville, Texas TOS and ABA life member since 1976 -------------------------------------------------- From: "Ted Eubanks" Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 1:53 PM To: Subject: [texbirds] Austin Cacophony > This morning I awoke to a cacophony of bird songs and sounds. The trees > behind > my house were swarming with cedar waxwings and American robins. They were > feeding on Chinese ligustrum and cherry laurel fruit. I estimated several > hundred of each species. Both began to arrive in my neighborhood a couple > of > weeks ago, but this morning's flock well exceeded all that I had seen to > date. > > Ted Eubanks > Austin, Texas > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds