Greetings All:
I got to Clapp Park at about 9:00 this morning and, though passage
through the arboretum was slow bird-wise, things started kicking when
I got on the berm trail between the playas. The first goodie was a
Blackpoll Warbler. My first attempts at getting photographs were
dismal so I reached out to Brad Shine (who lives close to the park and
had the species on his wish list) and Jennifer Miller (who I thought
might be in the mood for a rarity chase) and asked for a) more
eyeballs and b) to get the sighting on the internet.
At that point, I thought photographs were going to be hopeless (the
birds was being very evasive) and I wanted some multiple observer
support. The Blackpoll Warbler eventually became incredibly
photo-friendly and, as some of the eBird reports will show,
photo-documentation was not a problem.
Brad showed up pretty quickly and while he was trying to relocate the
Blackpoll Warbler I tumbled on a Plumbeous Vireo (another critter on
his wish list). I yelled Plumbeous in his direction and we were able
to get on it and get pictures. I think it was after that that we
relocated the Blackpoll Warbler and both got more pictures. Then
Jennifer showed up and things became a bit of a blur when I heard and
briefly saw a Tennessee Warbler, then Jennifer found a Northern
Parula, Brad got us on a Swainson's Thrush, we got on a second
Swainson's Thrush, we all got on two male Black-headed Grosbeaks
(eating mulberries up in the canopy), there was a mix of other
warblers (Nashville, MacGillivray's, Yellow) about (Drew located an
American Redstart and several folk got on a Common Yellowthroat) and,
eventually a mix of other birders (the entire Cochran horde, Drew
Harvey, Holly Bundock, Skyler Parks) about. At least a couple of us
got on a Yellow-breasted Chat in the portion of the park known as
Shrubhenge.
Hopefully, everybody will post eBird reports and I will, eventually,
be able to sort out who saw what.
On the way out, Drew Harvey and I picked up a Cassin's Sparrow (good
for in town) and a Western Wood Pewee.
Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock
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