[texbirds] Granger CBC preliminary results - 130 species

From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2012 23:18:26 -0600
The 8th Granger CBC was held today (29 December) and it was, as
always, a great time with some cool birds.  Rather cold temperatures
started us off this morning with a low reading of 24 degrees that
would rise only to just above 50 on a day when there was a near
constant overcast and light (at least for the Granger area) north
winds.  Water levels on Granger Lake were higher (no significant
shoreline exposed) than the past couple of years and the drought was
still in evidence in the woods and fields around the lake with normal
volumes of regular species hard to find.  The time spent scouting this
year was also, overall, less than in the past few years.

Still, as seems to happen in some drought years, the number of species
was up, with a new preliminary count-day record of 130 (plus 3
count-week birds) raising the bar for future counts.  The Whooping
Cranes that showed up the previous fall/winter returned earlier this
fall and were still present with 5 birds counted.  Mountain Plovers
were found in a couple areas though some of the other prairie
specialties proved elusive with no count day Burrowing Owl (count-week
- yes) or Sprague's Pipit (missed for the count for the first time).
Four Eastern Screech-Owls in addition to the regular (and usually the
only one detected on the count) stake-out on the south side of the
lake were either previously over-looked/over-listened or perhaps signs
of a local movement. Good numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen
by most/all groups (only seen in one prior year) reflecting this
year's impressive irruption.  Other highlights of less-than-annual
count birds included American Woodcock, Green Kingfisher, Red-headed
Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, and
Pine Siskin (also reflective of strong irruption).  Completely brand
new to the count were a Nashville Warbler and an adequately described
Dickcissel.  Access to two new areas on opposites sides of the count
circle also proved worthwhile and something that we hope to repeat in
the coming years.

Hats off to all the participants and especially the area leaders (Tim
Fennell, Shelia Hargis, Laurie Foss, Ed Fair and Dan Calloway) for
helping out and making it another great count!

--
Eric Carpenter
Austin
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[texbirds] Granger CBC preliminary results - 130 species

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