First, observations on this year's winter sparrows as the season winds down.
White-crowned sparrow numbers were way down here on the ranch this year. The
spot where I feed typically averages 60 to 80 birds coming to feed. Last year I
counted at least 120 at one point. This year the peek was around 50. About 30
still coming to feed. The number of juveniles was way down in particular.
Harris' sparrows were down a bit as well and seem to have left early. Usually
have a couple linger until late April early May, but haven't seen one at feed
in two weeks already. Did see one elsewhere on the ranch a week ago. Other
sparrow numbers for the winter were about average.
Spent the afternoon birding in between fixing fence. In around 2.5 hours of
birding on the ranch in five locations totaled 46 species. Migrants were all
but absent-one black and white warbler and one black-throated green. This lots
of yellow rumps and bluegray gnatcatchers about. Did have the first
yellow-crowned night heron and green heron of the year.
Harvey Laas
10 miles N of Brookshire
Patiently waiting for some migrants
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
