[texbirds] Brewster Co. Townsend's Solitaire (yesterday) and musings
- From: Heidi Trudell <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:55:13 -0600
Apologies for the belated post; after splitting with Harry and Matt
yesterday morning at the cemetery in Alpine, I had a largely
productive day that involved zero birds or birding. After all of that
nonsense I made it south of Alpine several miles with a friend around
4:30 pm... and of all ridiculously cool things to point out to a
non-birder, a Townsend's Solitaire spent about 30-45 mins working
through the junipers on her place. It started as a horribly back-lit
speck beyond the fence line but eventually circled us while
flycatching, juniper berry snacking, and muttering quietly to itself.
It wasn't fully singing, but perhaps rehearsing under its breath. Said
friend is taking Ornithology this semester, so at least she has a fun
start to her field notes and yard list!
Today I did more of that 'productive' nonsense around Marathon and
upon discovery that my vehicle's transmission was not actually blown,
I took it for a celebratory lap to Post Park. Target birds were
American Coot and Golden-fronted Woodpecker, which were both
heard-only for the first 10 mins or so. Between some remarkable gusts
and some folks fishing, it took a while for the coots to get out in
the open... this patch birding challenge makes for some bizarre wish
lists. I'd not made it to Post at all this month, so it was well
overdue. The park itself was quiet, but I did kick up my
first-of-patch-for-year Ferruginous Hawk on Post Road, soaring
incredibly high. Very boldly marked individual above - I almost got my
hopes up for caracara. Nothing else terribly out of the norm to report
- Red-breasted Nuthatches are still around in town, Eastern and
Western Meadowlarks are both starting to try their songs for the
season and I need to get out more.
Happy trails!
-h
Heidi Trudell
Marathon, TX
--
Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary
necessities. - Mark Twain
Big Bend Birds & Nature - http://www.bigbendnature.com
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