Thanks for the notes and comments, Christian. It is good to see that messages
to TexBirds can be longer than 140 characters. Please keep it up!
Clay Taylor
TOS Life Member
Calallen (Corpus Christi) TX
Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
401-965-9064
-----Original Message-----
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Christian Walker
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 10:45 PM
To: TexBirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [texbirds] St. Edward's Park (NW Austin) - migrants, residents
Hello,
I've been birding here every day in April except the weekends and a Monday or
two because of work. First day birding was on 3/31/17 - I'm usually able to
bird from around 7 until about 8:30. This morning has been the best so far for
migrants, although migrants were starting to pick up a little more last week.
Highlights today include all of the warblers I've seen this spring so far
(excluding Myrtle and Hooded) an Olive-sided Flycatcher, and a male
Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating a gigantic caterpillar - around 4" long and very
thick.
Best birds for me so far have been finding a roosting Eastern Screech-Owl, the
Olive-sided Flycatcher seen this morning, Warbling Vireo on 4/19, Hooded
Warbler on 3/31, seeing/hearing Golden-cheeked Warblers every day, and the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak this morning. Nothing too spectacular, but I'm hoping
this week (my last to bird here) will have the best birds. I'm sure the week
after would be the best timing wise but I'll be back up in Dallas by then.
It has been very rewarding to watch migrants come through, and see winter
residents replaced by summer residents. Here are some interesting (for me)
notes from looking through eBird.
-waterbird migrants have been present with flocks of Great and Cattle Egrets,
and single heard-only flyovers of Upland Sandpiper and Franklin's Gull. Hard to
see flyovers because of canopy.
-Yellow-billed Cuckoo heard on 4/20. I'm sure more will be coming in but I've
only heard the one.
-1st Red-eyed Vireo was on 4/3 with one singing bird, built up to up to 7-8
singing males now.
-Blue-headed Vireos were present and singing until 4/7, with one individual
silent migrant seen later on 4/20.
-There are Yellow-throated Vireos present, but up the creek along the road. I
don't normally get up this far (and too many cars to be enjoyable for birding)
but I assume they have been there since 3/31 with up to 2 singing males.
They'll prolly breed.
-first House Wren showed up singing as a migrant on 4/6, and I usually hear
migrants singing in different parts of the park every day, never more than 2 a
day.
-Last Ruby-crowned Kinglet was observed on 4/20. I had a flock of 4 on 4/18
which eBird was concerned about.
-Swainson's Thrushes arrived 4/17. Have heard at least one pretty much every
day since.
-Gray Catbirds first detected on 4/18, but I think they were coming through
before that.
-Cedar Waxwings are still around.
-Black-and-white Warblers have been occasionally singing in the park since
3/31, I assume these are breeders.
-Orange-crowned Warblers have always been hard to find, but they are still
coming through. Had 1 this morning.
-Nashville Warblers have been present in numbers since 3/31, but started to
really pick up in mid April. 4/13 had highest with 13 including a single flock
of 8.
-Tennessee Warblers showed up on 4/20 and I usually can find one or two down
with the NAWA/chickadee flock down by the creek.
-Last Myrtle Warbler heard on 4/18
-There were more Golden-cheeked Warblers present in the first half of the
month, but that could be from them singing less now. I counted 5 one day with a
female or two seen as well as several males heard. Now I usually hear one or
two a day.
-Last White-throated Sparrow heard on 4/14, Lincoln's on 4/12 but I bet I might
still get a LISP -First Summer Tanager on 4/6, with up to 4-5 singing males now
if I make tracks.
-Indigo Bunting male showed up on 4/13 and sang by entrance every day, but he
wasn't there today. Probably pushed away by the newly arrived PABU's.
-Painted Buntings showed up on 4/20 and have been singing vigorously since.
-First Dickcissel was on 4/14 heard ones and twos every morning but today heard
7.
Good birding,
Christian Walker
currently in Austin TX
Begin forwarded message:
From: ebird-checklist@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: eBird Report - St. Edwards Pk (NW Austin), Apr 25, 2017
Date: April 25, 2017 at 10:07:11 PM CDT
To: christian.walker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
St. Edwards Pk (NW Austin), Travis, Texas, US Apr 25, 2017 7:15 AM -
8:38 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Overcast, 0 to 10 mph south wind, sometimes a very light
misting rain. Around 65 to 70°.
23 species (+2 other taxa)
Black Vulture 1
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Seems early. Larger than EAWP and EAPH bright
white throat and center of breast. Fluffy pale patch on flank
Eastern Phoebe 2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 5
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Barn Swallow 2
Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse (hybrid) 2 House Wren 2 Carolina
Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8 Cedar Waxwing 15 Black-and-white
Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville
Warbler 8 Golden-cheeked Warbler 2 Summer Tanager 2 Northern
Cardinal 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Eating a huge caterpillar
Painted Bunting 3
Dickcissel 7
Lesser Goldfinch 2
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36253300
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
