Congratulations Bill. What a great story and what a fun accomplishment. I hope
to bird all 254 counties when I retire and also read a historical marker in
each one as well. Maybe I should start a list of birds seen while stopped at
historical markers? Maybe I too will join the century club while in the process.
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.com
-----Original Message-----
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 7:22 PM
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [texbirds] 100 counties with 100+ species
Ninety-seven months ago, when I started the Texas Century Club challenge at age
70, I did not know if my health would last long enough or even if I would live
long enough to make. But thanks to the Lord and a lot of helpful birders,
yesterday, I finished up county #100, Grayson County.
I have uploaded a map showing the 100 counties to the Texas Century Club
facebook page. I have tallied a total of 420 different species in the
100 counties, and 10,438 county ticks. 97 of the counties are contiguous,
stretching along I-10 from Orange to Kendall; along US90 west to Val Verde.
along US59 from Webb to Nacogdoches, and 15 out of the 19 counties I35
traverses. The non-contiguous counties are Brewster, Kimble and Harrison. The
closest county to my home in Houston in which I have not seen 100 or more
species is Newton, a county that could get more birder attention. I have birded
all 254 counties in Texas.
Seen in all 100 counties were: Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Mourning Dove,
Northern Mockingbird, and Northern Cardinal. The duck seen in the most counties
was Gadwall in 87; Pied-billed Grebe in 89; Double-crested Cormorant in 90;
Great Blue Heron in 98; Red-tailed Hawk in 97; American Coot in 90; Killdeer in
97; Ring-billed Gull in 66; Yellow-billed Cuckoo in 60 and Greater Roadrunner
in only 42; Red-bellied Woodpecker in 72; Eastern Phoebe in 91; Loggerhead
Shrike in 86; White-eyed Vireo in 85; Blue Jay in 77; American Crow in 75; Barn
Swallow in 91; Carolina Wren in 92; Ruby-crowned Kinglet in 92; Eastern
Bluebird in 83; European Starling in every county except Starr; Yellow-rumped
Warbler in 93; and as Steve Gross told us at the west Houston TOS meeting 11
out of 10 sparrows you see are Savannahs -- I saw Savannah Sparrows in 83 of
the counties; Great-tailed grackle in 95 counties; American Goldfinch in 69;
and finally House Sparrow in 98 (no HOSP in Kenedy or McMullen).
I have enjoyed birding in a lot of unique places in Texas.
Bill Wright, Houston
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