[texbirds] Birding at COTA - springtime

From: Clay Taylor <Clay.Taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:37:26 -0400
Hi all -
In addition to giving digiscoping workshops at Warbler Woods last weekend, I 
managed to sneak up to Elroy to watch the Moto GP (motorcycle races) at the 
Circuit of the Americas race track.   This was my first time there in the 
spring, and it was very flowery and pretty birdy!    The Bluebonnets were 
gorgeous all around the track, and I saw about a dozen butterfly species 
without even trying.

The "best" bird I had was a singing Grasshopper Sparrow in the big 
flower-filled field immediately adjacent to Parking Lot T.   He was singing a 
lot, but would not tee-up, so it took me a while to spot him as he shifted 
position in the field.  While I was watching for him, I heard Upland Sandpiper 
call from above, and then a few minutes later four Uppies dropped down into the 
middle of the field, immediately swallowed up by the grasses and flowers.

There were scads of Savannah Sparrows all around the perimeter of the track in 
the General Admission area, and I saw what looked like a Vesper Sparrow flying 
away.  American Pipits were usually heard on the wing, as were Lesser Goldfinch 
and House Finches.   Two years ago at the F1 race we were entertained by a 
Red-tailed Hawk that perched on the guardrails of the track as the cars whizzed 
by, but none this year.  However, I did see a nice adult Swainson's Hawk 
cruising about.   Vultures were omnipresent.

The most frequent bird sighting was Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - there were 
dozens of them swooping about.  Some were doing courtship or territorial 
flights, others seemed to be moving about in little groups.   I looked hard for 
a little black & white one, but no joy there.

COTA has a couple of fenced-off areas with signage proclaiming "Blackland 
Prairie Restoration Area", and they were very lush.  One also has a pond - 
likely man-made.    I did not see or hear any significant species in them, but 
it was nice to see that they resisted the urge to fill in and pave those areas.

I do not know if the management at COTA has any contact with the local bird or 
conservation groups, but it would be nice to hear that they did.  I would like 
to go up and bird the whole facility sometime.


Clay Taylor
TOS Life Member
Calallen (Corpus Christi), TX
Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



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[texbirds] Birding at COTA - springtime

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