[texbirds] Granger Lake Area -- Thursday 26th

From: Elliott Gordon <tengalloncat@xxxxxxxxx>
To: TexBirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 17:08:06 -0600
Ebird says 68 species for one heck of a morning! 2013 has been an amazing
avian year for me, no small part due to the Local Patch Challenge but just
meeting and learning from many talented birders from around Austin.
Dark and cold as I drove 971, hoping for a Short-eared Owl but no luck
there. I met Scott Rubio at Friendship Park. A pair of Great Horned Owls
were calling to each other. A swarm of RIng-billed Gulls headed NE, and a
few stayed on the buoy but no other species found. Northern Harrier gave
great looks, a Song Sparrow sat up for ID by the water. Highlight here was
Harris' Sparrow, one seen but possibly more singing with the White-crowned
Sparrows.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16081431

We drove up CR 358 and in a counter clockwise loop around the "megafield"
via CR 360, Alligator Road, and CR 352. No longspur flocks or Mountain
Plovers found, but good duck variety at a few ponds (Gadwall, Wigeon,
Shoveler, and Green-winged Teal). Very few Vesper Sparrows observed but
Horned Larks were seen twice. Sandhill Cranes, Crested Caracara, and a
Great Blue Heron also on the route. At CR 356, the Burrowing Owl was in a
culvert of the driveway not far from CR 352 (Scott took pictures) and a
Sprague's Pipit was on the opposite side of the road. Lots of Turkey
Vultures towards the Sore Finger Unit.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16081516

I stayed to bird along the San Gabriel River, walking west from the
primitive boat launch off CR 347. The woods were loaded with woodpeckers (5
species including Red-headed), Carolina Chickadees, Myrtle's Warblers, and
Northern Cardinals. Waves and waves of Common Grackles flew over and some
on the edge of the adjacent fields were very loud. Other highlights were a
male Spotted Towhee (Eastern would be nice) and Winter Wren. It is worth
noting that hunters were active in the area, however the activity level was
surprisingly high during my whole walk.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16081644

Elliott Gordon
Austin, TX


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[texbirds] Granger Lake Area -- Thursday 26th

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