Bird Migrants

I was able to enjoy the wonderful weather and travel down to Galveston at Lafitte's Cove. Now this place is cool because it gives the migrants the opportunity to rest up. The reason why the birds choose this location is because it has a stand of trees. Pretty much the only stand of trees in the area. Well if this attracts birds it also attracts the birders. It was crowded! It was also crowded with mosquitoes. I think I lost a pint of blood just because of the mosquitoes.

Anyways it was a productive day for birding and I was able to add two birds to my list. The first was hooded warbler. It was funny because there were two other birders looking for something... As they were looking one way a hooded warbler sat right next to them. I couldn't get a great picture because of the shade of the trees but here's a picture of him. See if you can find him.

Hooded Warbler, Photo by Shaun Owen

After a watching this little guy for a while we decided to wander down the path and got a blue gray gnatcatcher. There were a few of them in the tops of trees with their scratchy songs. The song is soft, warbling, complex series of rambling jumbles. Call a thin, nasal "spee."

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Photo by Shaun Owen

Until next time, Happy Birding.

Current Moderate Year Bird Count - 122 Species
Recently added - Scissor tailed flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Scissor tailed flycatcher

I know I haven't been on in a while... I actually have been very busy. I haven't even been able to bird. Although even on my travels I have been able to do some roadside Birding and ony way back from San Antonio I was able to spot a Scissor tailed flycatcher on the utility wire.

Yay... Going out today. I will try to post later. Happy Birding

Alvin was a bust

I woke up very earyl this moring to get my bird on. I went down to a greenway in Alvin, TX. First of all Alvin is dirty... This stream running through the middle of town was disgusting. I wish people would take better care of their surroundings. The only thing I got out of the trip was a good look at a red shouldered hawk.

Red Shouldered Hawk

I think I actually interrupted their breakfast... My bad hawk... So after a depressing birding trip I traveled up to my usual spot trying to get a look at the Merlin that I always miss. And yippee I got it.

Merlin

Merlin is a small raptor much like the kestrel but is much darker. I was also able to see a royal tern from a distance. So that was two additions to my bird list just from my usual spot. Very cool.

Before I left I got a great picture of a Caracara bringing dinner home. If you look closely you can definitely see it.


Crested Caracara

The folks at the park were also putting up this sign. I guess I should be more careful.

Until next time, be careful and happy birding.

Current Moderate Year Count - 119 Species
Recently Added - Royal Tern, Merlin

North Houston

I needed to take Meghan to the airport so I decided to take advantage of the trip up north for a little birding. It worked out to my advantage.

I went to an arboretum and nature center near Bush Intercontinental Airport and that place was noisy! Tons of birds and for a Thursday afternoon the actual nature walk wasn't that crowded. I was able to sit and see an Eastern Box turtle and tons of birds including an American Pipit. (new bird)

The entrance of the nature center has some wonderful flowers. They even have a natural wildflower center. It was wonderful.

Well when I started walking around I didn't get fifteen feet away from the main area when the birds were calling. I was able to get a good picture of this guy. I thought I had him earlier in the year but now I definitely have him on my list.

Orange Crowned Warbler

This is a good picture that I really enjoy. Each time I look at it all I can think to myself is, "What does that bird think when he looks back at me?" I was also able to get a Pine Warbler. This one isn't as good of a picture but he's definitely there.


Pine Warbler

Tomorrow the plan is to get up early and take a trip out so I can be back before lunch and I will have a full new blog to update and hopefully a ton new birds. So until then, Happy Birding!

Current Moderate Year count - 117
Recently Added Species - American Pipit, Orange Crowned Warbler, Pine Warbler

Double the trouble...

I am going to catch up and write two blogs in one... I have gotten behind and with my plan to take a long birding trip this weekend I hope to have alot more to write about...

Well first I ended my trip to San Antonio with a visit with a friend. She has a wonderful set up behind her house with some wonderful birds. She also has some wonderful stories, including a scary northern harrier.

Before I get to the cool picture I picked up at her house I was able to get some birding in down at Hardberger park. This place is pretty cool but the place where I was able to find more birds was at the Salado Creek greenway. I was able to get a golden crowned kinglet. He was cruising around with some tufteds and I definitely saw the golden crown on top of his head. I couldn't get a good picture of him but I did get a great picture of a carolina wren.


Carolina Wren

On the way there and the way back there was a Lesser Goldfinch hanging out in the trees. Not a great picture but one more addition to the list.


Lesser Goldfinch

One thing I did notice is that they are going into breeding plummage much earlier than their counterparts the american goldfinch. This brings me to my picture I was able to get out at the family friend's house. Here is an american goldfinch that was just hanging out right outside her window. It was lovely but as you can see he is just starting to turn golden.



American Goldfinch

And off I went... Traveled back to Houston. Hoping to have an even better Spring Break down here (with the birds of course).

Here are a few pictures that I was able to get on the way home. Just of the countryside.

Until next time... Happy Birding! Which should be in about 30 minutes
Current Moderate Year Count - 114
Recently added species - Spotted Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, Golden Crowned Kinglet

Adding the usuals...

Grandma's house has a plethora of birds. Now they really aren't anything spectacular but they are still countable birds. So I decided to sit out and watch a few perch and eat off of her feeder. Had to scare away the squirrel a few times but finally got him to stay away. It is funny to see this never ending battle between Grandma vs. Squirrel - Good vs. Evil. I feel many birders that set up feeders have this constant battle and most of the time the squirrel wins.

I did finally get some birds a few feet away from me which allows for some good pictures.

House Sparrow

White winged Dove

So here I was able to add two new birds just sitting there. I had seen them previously but just figured I'd add them at a later date. Well a new post will show up later this week. I have already gone birding since then but I'll post that trip in a different blog post. Until then Happy Birding.

Current Moderate Year Count - 111 Species
Recently added - White winged dove, House Sparrow

It's Spring time...

For spring break I am taking a trip through Central Texas to visit family and see more birds. It has been a very productive trip and has only been two days. We started in New Braunfels and worked our way towards Bulverde. Even before we could get into the car to drive to the first birding location I was able to see a beautiful House Finch in breeding plummage. Yes, Spring is here.

We that's one to tally up. We drove on down towards Canyon Lake where we went up to the look out. There were more mockingbirds than one could count. We were able to see some black crested titmouse and got a look at a chipping sparrow. (That's second new one of the day.)

Chipping Sparrow

We continued to walk along. Texas Parks and Wildlife said there were kingbirds in the area so that's what we looked for. Every mockingbird was a decoy to distract us. We did not see one but did see this large shape on the ground...

Greater Roadrunner

At first I thought it was a hurt baby vulture or something like that but it ran off when we walked a little closer. It definitely was a roadrunner. I felt very happy about the entire trip at this point.

We decided to move on down the road and I was able to share some cool birds with Meghan. Yellow bellied sapsucker, American Goldfinch, and Canyon Wren (heard it only and it's a new bird).

Of course had to get a picture of a butterfly for Meghan.

I would have to say that so far this has been a productive trip. Heck I would be happy with half of the birds that I saw. Until next time happy birding.

Current Moderate Year Count - 109 Species
Recently added - Canyon Wren, House finch, Chipping Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner

Last Weekend trip

Last weekend I took my students down to Galveston to help with a dune restoration project. This project was to help repair the damage done by Rita and Katrina hurricanes. When they hit the Texas coast they tore up much of the grasses that helped protect the dunes. The grasses help keep the dunes in place. This in turn gives sea turtles a place to nest. So my students, Meghan, and myself helped plant local dune grasses.

Did I mention it was cold?

I did get some good pictures of some herring gulls and laughing gulls. They allowed us to walk right up to them.

Herring Gull

Laughing Gull

I did get to add two birds to the list but I did not get any good pictures of them. The first was barn swallows. They are starting to migrate and since the weather was very windy they had a hard time flying around. The random addition was when we stopped by Petsmart and randomly in the parking lot was an Eurasion Collared dove.

This next week is Spring Break for me so hopefully I will be able to add a few central Texas birds from my trip to San Antonio. And until next time happy birding.

Current Moderate Year Count - 105
Recently added species - Barn Swallow, Eurasian Collared Dove

It's been a while...

Yes I have realized it has been a while... Now it is eating me up. I really want to go bird ALL the time! It is hard not to drop everything and just go.

Two things have stopped me from going out birding. Work! I have had tons to do. Secondly, rain. It has been nasty around here. In order to get the best pictures it's hard to go out when it is rainy. Plus I would rather not mess up my camera.

Back to birding...

Some roadside birding allowed me to add a bird to the list. On my way home from work I noticed a flock of cattle egrets. Thats a new one on the list... No picture though... :(

I went out to El Franco Lee today and was able to see... well not much. Here's usually the start of my walk.

I walked down the path and was able to get a look at a noisy Loggerhead and few active Phoebes. I also saw a common yellowthroat but couldn't seem to get a picture of them. They are very quick and shy.

Loggerhead Shrike

Eastern Phoebe with a meal

I went back to the gazebo and got a few good pictures of a black crowned night heron. Their red eyes are very cool against a black head.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Same Picture just not cropped

This weekend I am taking students to participate in a dune restoration project in Galveston. I hope I can add a few birds to my list. Who knows? Maybe if I'm lucky. Until next time happy birding!

Current Moderate Year Count - 103
Recently Added - Cattle Egret