[texbirds] White Rock Lake - Purple Finch, Purple Martins, and Neotropic Cormorant

From: Christian Walker <christian.walker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 22:48:19 -0600
Hi,
I went birding this morning with Julia and found some cool birds.  We saw six 
Purple Martins at the top of one of the big pecans, and found a Neotropic 
Cormorant by the bridge going north from the fish hatchery.  There were also 14 
Black-crowned Night-Herons here.  There were a few American White Pelicans on 
the lake.  
There were tons of Yellow-rumped Warblers in the woods, and we saw a 
Red-shouldered Hawk catch and carry off a frog.  The Cooper's Hawks were also 
very active in the woods.  
The highlight of the morning was definitely a Purple Finch singing at the top 
of a relatively short flowering tree on the bank of one of the empty ponds.  
Had it in view for about two full minutes.  Here are my notes: 

Female-type plumage and singing, so I'm assuming this was a first winter male.  
Distinct and crisp streaking on the breast and belly, obviously notched tail.  
Dark malar and auricular patch offsetting the white submustachial and super 
cilium - bold face markings.  Stubbier bill.  Song was like a HOFI, but more 
quiet, and quicker.  Not as rich, either - thinner and more reedy.  Right by a 
dead turtle.  

Good birding,

Christian Walker
University of Dallas
Irving, TX
512 431-2495


Begin forwarded message:

> From: do-not-reply@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: eBird Report - White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery (PPW-W 086), Feb 
> 25, 2014
> Date: February 25, 2014 10:01:02 PM CST
> To: christian.walker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery (PPW-W 086), Dallas, US-TX
> Feb 25, 2014 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
> Protocol: Traveling
> 2.0 mile(s)
> Comments:     Birding with Julia.  Overcast, raining at first, then drizzle, 
> then not.  0-5 mph N winds, around 45 degrees Fahrenheit.  5-10mph N winds 
> along the lake.
> 48 species
> 
> Wood Duck  6
> Mallard  35
> Northern Shoveler  60
> Pied-billed Grebe  4
> Neotropic Cormorant  1
> Double-crested Cormorant  3
> American White Pelican  5
> Great Blue Heron  1
> Great Egret  1
> Black-crowned Night-Heron  14
> Cooper's Hawk  3
> Red-shouldered Hawk  1
> American Coot  45
> Ring-billed Gull  50
> Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  25
> White-winged Dove  30
> Mourning Dove  4
> Belted Kingfisher  1
> Red-bellied Woodpecker  5
> Downy Woodpecker  3
> Northern Flicker  1     HO
> American Kestrel  1
> Monk Parakeet  25
> Eastern Phoebe  1     HO
> Blue Jay  4
> American Crow  12
> Purple Martin  6
> Carolina Chickadee  2
> Tufted Titmouse  4
> Brown Creeper  3
> Carolina Wren  5     2 HO
> Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
> Hermit Thrush  1
> Brown Thrasher  3
> Northern Mockingbird  7
> European Starling  30
> Cedar Waxwing  70
> Orange-crowned Warbler  1
> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  150
> Song Sparrow  1
> White-throated Sparrow  3
> Northern Cardinal  7
> Red-winged Blackbird  25
> Great-tailed Grackle  15
> House Finch  4
> Purple Finch  1     Female-type plumage and singing, so I'm assuming this was 
> a first winter (?) male.  Distinct and crisp streaking on the breast and 
> belly, obviously notched tail.  Dark malar and auricular patch offsetting the 
> white submustachial and super cilium - bold face markings.  Stubbier bill.  
> Song was like a HOFI, but more quiet, and quicker.  Not as rich, either - 
> thinner and more reedy.  Right by a dead turtle.
> American Goldfinch  5
> 
> View this checklist online at 
> http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17207371
> 
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)


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[texbirds] White Rock Lake - Purple Finch, Purple Martins, and Neotropic Cormorant

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