Quick Note

I got home late tonight -- around 8:15. Walking out to my mailbox I saw 2 Chimney Swifts flying low like they often do in the evenings. Then I heard a Northern Mockingbird scolding across the street. I looked up to see it chase a Red-shouldered Hawk out of my neighbor's tree and down the street. After dinner I was out on the patio and heard an Eastern Screech Owl in the distance.

Flycatchers and Hike & Bike Trail Progress

I spent about 2 and a half hours birding the neighborhood this morning. There were several Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers where the 2 creeks meet at the end of Meadowheath. This picture of one of the Western Kingbirds shows its characteristic flycatcher shape and black tail with white outer tail feathers. Nearby I also got a picture of 2 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and 1 Western Kingbird on the same bush. (The kingbird is on the lower right.) Notice how similar these species are to each other. Especially since the scissor-tails are young birds whose tails are not very long yet.

I went onto the flood plain property for the first time in weeks. Our wet summer has made that place extremely muddy and overgrown. But it was worth dealing with the tall grass, mud, and mosquitos. I found a tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- the first one I've seen in the neighborhood since spring migration. There was also a Ladder-backed Woodpecker and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. I was also pleased to see that the county has started work on the hike-and-bike trail. There is a newly bulldozed path starting from the end of Braes Valley that follows the creek almost to where it meets the tributary. I think it's about 3/4 done. They are following an existing old truck trail so not many trees had to be disturbed. You can see in this picture how it even goes underneath a bit of canopy. I can't wait to see how the development progresses!

House Sparrow and Only 1 Martin

After a long work week of rainy commutes I got out for about an hour of neighborhood birding tonight. I love these gaps between rainstorms -- the air is so clear and the clouds are so interesting. On the new partially finished hike and bike trail through the T&C playing fields I saw this female House Sparrow. Two things I noticed were its lack of a tail and the relatively large grasshopper it was trying to eat. The grasshopper was so big that the sparrow had to grab it and shake pieces off to swallow. The missing tail could be from molting or from a close call with a predator.

Last Saturday I estimated 385 Purple Martins in this area but tonight I could only find 1. I got there a little later, so they might have already passed through for the day.

I can't resist taking pictures of the sun when it's low in the sky.

Post-rain Purple Martins

After all the rain today I finally got out to bird the T&C playing fields around 6 PM. There were hundreds of Purple Martins! I estimated 385 on the power lines by the Meadowheath parking lot and on top of the soccer field lights. These birds are staging for migration. I saw them between 6:00 and 7:00 but when I returned around 8:00 they were gone, heading south I assume. Here's a picture of a few on a wire. I also managed to find one Bronzed Cowbird in a huge flock of European Starlings on one of the soccer fields. Unfortunately it didn't let me get close enough for a picture. I came across a Ladder-backed Woodpecker too, which is unusual for the neighborhood.

It sure was humid but the temperature was pretty comfortable. (What a mild summer we've had so far!) I ended up walking past the playing fields and following Lake Creek all the way to the Parmer bridge. On my way back from the bridge the sun was lower in the sky and I took this picture.

July NASWC Bird Walk

It was a cool, overcast morning for the July NASWC Bird Walk. Four of us had a pleasant walk around the T&C playing fields and found 30 species of birds. The highlight was getting 2 great looks at a Bronzed Cowbird. We clearly saw the bronzy color, puffed out neck feathers, and bright red eyes. This bird has been expanding its range northward from south Texas over the years. We also saw Snowy Egrets, American Robins (mostly juveniles), Eastern Phoebes, and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. At the eastern-most creek crossing I took this picture of a family of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. The adults were making forays out to catch bugs and then delivering them back to juveniles, who could fly on their own but were still getting fed by their parents.

At the same spot we found this soft-shelled turtle. Look at the snout on that thing. What a beast!