After several days of rainy and soggy weather we had a chance to venture out yesterday in the afternoon to mark some trees to move for this weekend Arbor Day work party. Please feel free to join us. Extra trees will be sent home with anyone that wants them. As we were noting where to put which tree in the parking lot two Sprague's Pipits flew over. These were the first for me in the park as well as for Kendra Kocab. They had been recorded several years ago on two different November days by Darrell Vollert when he heard them flying over. This is the third park record. This morning we had a chance to get out and found the bird watching to be most interesting. A Bonaparte's Gull flew over the farm clearing about 9:00 AM. A new bird for the park for Kendra and the first I had seen here since adding the species to the park list in Nov. 2005. Second park record. The feeders near the nature center are loaded with American Goldfinches, a few Pine Siskins (5 this morning) a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches, and assorted more common species. The often retreat to the big Schumard Oak by the barn. This morning I spotted a bird I thought could be a female Purple Finch so we began to play the call. Very soon a bright male responded and gave his distinctive tick call and moved in fairly close. As soon as he saw the I-phone he retreated to the top of the oak and joined the female. We were able to study both birds for maybe four minutes before they flew off to the north. We have a safflower feeder out hoping to entice them along with black oil and Nyjer. We hope they return to enjoy our offering. This morning between about 9 and 11 we recorded 42 species. Fred Collins (281) 357-5324 Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Commissioner Steve Radack Harris County Precinct 3 www.pct3.hctx.net<http://www.pct3.hctx.net> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner