[texbirds] Brazos County Harris's Hawk and other goodies

From: Darrell Vollert <dvollert1967@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:41:24 -0700 (PDT)
Hello Texbirders,
This morning and early afternoon I birded a privately-owned property in the 
Peach Creek Community in southern Brazos County. The bird of the day was a 
Harris's Hawk. The hawk flew directly over me giving me a view of the white 
base on the tail and white on the tip of the tail. Later on in the morning I 
obtained a side view of the hawk in flight and saw it perched on a dead tree. 
The chestnut-colored patches on the shoulders and brown coloration on the 
underside was very visible in the sunlight. This is the first Harris's Hawk 
that I have seen in the Central Brazos Valley. 
In the neighborhood of 22 American White-Pelicans were observed flying just 
above the treeline shortly after I began birding the riverbottom portion of the 
property. Another new species for the property list.
Two Yellow-crowned Night Herons were observed. They were FOS birds for me. 
A pair of Eastern Phoebes are building a nest in a shed on the property. The 
nest is affixed to an electrical plug. A pair of House Finches appear to be 
building a nest under the eaves of another building.
Two Sedge Wrens were observed singing amongst the sedges and rushes. I found 
one Winter Wren calling on this visit.
Brown Thrashers are singing on the property. I spotted 3 thrashers. Thrasher 
numbers have been very low in the Central Brazos Valley this winter.
I observed one Louisiana Waterthrush, heard one Black-and-white Warbler 
singing, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 5-6 Common Yellowthroats, only two Northern 
Parulas singing, and 10+ Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Two Spotted Towhees were observed and heard in a yaupon thicket. Chipping, 
Field, Song, Lincoln's, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows were all singing on 
the property this morning.
At least 6 Pine Siskins were observed overhead and two perched briefly. Another 
new bird for the property list.
A species that we did not want to add to the property list is House Sparrow. 
House Sparrows have taken over a Purple Martin house. Until today, I had not 
observed a House Sparrow in the 7.5 years that I have been birding the 
property. Civilization is encroaching on the property from the north and west.
An adult male Indigo Bunting continues to be observed at my residence in 
Chappell Hill in Washington County. The bunting has been here since February.
Best regards and good birding,
Darrell Vollert
Chappell Hill
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[texbirds] Brazos County Harris's Hawk and other goodies

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