[texbirds] Travis Audubon Sparrowhawks First Class Field Trip today, Nov 15, 2014 - 13 sparrow species
- From: "" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "drbirdie@xxxxxxx" for DMARC)
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 18:46:42 -0500
Hi Texbirders and Sparrowhawks,
Sparrowman has completed his post-migration molt and settled into a winter
territory and led the Travis Audubon Society Sparrow Identification Class today
on their first field trip of the winter 2014 - 2015 sparrow season. We went to
Reimer Ranch County Park in southwest Travis County this morning, and had 13
species of native sparrows, most of which were seen well by the entire group of
11 class participants. Sparrowman's crest feathers don't usually become
erectile unless he sees at least 14 sparrow species in a morning, but 5 Canyon
Towhees in a single location in Travis County almost did it for him today.
Habitat conditions are better than they have been in at least 4 years, and most
grasses appear to have set seed. We encountered lots of birds today, with
several Spizella or mixed sparrow flocks numbering multiple dozens. If
Sparrowman had salivary glands, he would be salivating at the prospect of
SparrowFest on the Balcones Canyonlands NWR in early February because there
should be a ton of birds all over the place.
Other highlights besides the Canyon Towhees this morning included close views
of a pair of Rufous-crowned Sparrows, lots of Field and Chipping Sparrows for
comparison views, and a fly-by LeConte's Sparrow that we never could corral for
the entire group. We also had close looks at Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and at
two Verdins.
A copy of the checklist follows.
Reimer Ranch, Travis, US-TX
Nov 15, 2014 8:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Sparrow Class field trip (first of season) for Travis Audubon
Society.
36 species (+1 other taxa)
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Common Ground-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 7
Belted Kingfisher 1 heard
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2 One bird seen well - bright yellow on fore
crown and bright yellow on nape, below reddish crown, and calls consistent with
GFWO.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
American Kestrel 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Western Scrub-Jay 2
Common Raven 1
Black-crested Titmouse 5
Verdin 2 One seen well by almost entire group. Bright yellow face and
bright rusty lesser coverts.
House Wren 3
Winter Wren 1
Bewick's Wren 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
American Robin 1 heard
Northern Mockingbird 9
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 10
Rufous-crowned Sparrow 2 Pair.
Canyon Towhee 5 In three locations.
Chipping Sparrow 40
Field Sparrow 60
Vesper Sparrow 18
Lark Sparrow 5
Savannah Sparrow 5
Le Conte's Sparrow 1 Flushed multiple times, but could never get group on
bird on ground or perched.
Song Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1 Single bird seen well by most of group.
Northern Cardinal 12
Western/Eastern Meadowlark 35
House Finch 50 Large flock near climber's canyon.
Lesser Goldfinch 4
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20563164
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
It was a good day to be a Sparrowhawk!
Byron Stone, Austin, Tx
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