Photo by Pam Rendall-Bass |
Birding With Jack: The 2023 Bird Census Archives |
Left to Right: Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles and Terry Goode Each Tuesday a team of experienced birders, including Master Naturalist Jack Chiles, traverse 35 miles of refuge roads and hiking trails, documenting every bird they encounter. This Bird Census is reported to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology for use in research, and each week we will bring you a link to their actual bird count, and a summary of their adventures. Occasionally there is room for a serious birder to join them. Contact us for more information about how to participate. More About the Birds of Hagerman. For historical records, visit the Birding with Jack Archives Thank you, Bird Census Team! Click to Enlarge Photos |
December 26, 2023 Complete Bird Census List
81 species (+2 other taxa), Observers: Jack Chiles, Wayne Meyer, Laurie Sheppard
Tropical Kingbird | Wilson's Snipe |
There was a heavy frost and the temperature was in the mid twenties when we started out. It rained a lot at the refuge over the weekend and the lake level has also risen. The sandbar at the end of Plover is now almost completely submerged. Harris Creek trail from the entrance to the photo blind was very productive with a lot of Song Sparrows, some Spotted Towhees and a Loncoln's Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrows. Tufted Titmice were calling as well as Carolina Wrens. We went early on to Terry Lane in search of the Tropical Kingbird and the Say's Phoebe that was reported yesterday and did not find either species but Terry Goode, who does the census with us often did see it this morning in the same vicinity but neither of us saw the Say's Phoebe. If you want to see many white geese now is the time to visit the refuge. We did not get a good estimate today but there are probably at least 8,000 present. We saw 10 species of sparrows. Ducks are plentiful with counts of 176 Northern Shovelers, 290 Gadwalls, 5 American Wigeons, 10 Mallards, 626 Northern Pintails, 352 Green-winged Teals, 4 Ring-necked Ducks and 5 Buffleheads. The Buffleheads were in Steedman Marsh. There were more than 500 Ring-billed Gulls as well as a mature Bald Eagle off the end of Plover Pad. We saw only 1 Wilson's Snipe today but we counted 11 Greater Yellowlegs, and 99 Least Sandpipers. One White-faced Ibis and 1 Great Egret are still present and were near the low water crossing north of headquarters. We saw 135 Brewer's Blackbirds and 110 Brown-headed Cowbirds east of the cemetery. We saw over 200 Meadowlarks today including both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks. We did see a Brown Thrasher today, a species that has been scarce as of late. We finished the day with 81 species. Today's photos, The Tropical Kingbird that has been drawing so much attention, about to nab an insect and the lone Wilson's Snipe we saw today in the small wetland near the entrance to Wildlife Drive. I am hoping that each of you have a prosperous and happy New Year. Thanks to all of you that read my posts each week and for the many comments that I receive thanking me. |
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December 19, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 80 species (+2 other taxa), Observers: Jack Chiles, Wayne Meyer, Mike Petrick, Laurie Sheppard and Vicki Dixon |
Tropical Kingbird | Snow and Ross's Geese |
It was a nice December day for the census with the temperature near freezing as we headed out. We started the morning on Raasch Trail and found hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds in the tall weeds and on the trail. There were lots of American Goldfinches feeding in the weeds by the creek and along the trail. Species count in that area was down from previous weeks, We walked the entrance to Harris Creek Trail and species count was down there also. On the way to the Goode area we walked the field on the left just past the gate on Sparrow Lane in search of LeConte's Sparrows and Sedge Wrens but were unsuccessful because of the wind that was blowing. We found a nice flock of Harris's Sparrows on our way down the hill at the end of Sparrow Lane. We took the long route around via Terry Lane to check the large pond at the South end of Terry Lane for ducks. Near the pond we saw a Kingbird sitting on the fence near the pond. Any Kingbird at this time of year would be unusual and we initially mistook it for an out of season Western Kingbird but upon examining the photos of it at the end of the day we discovered that it is either a Couch's or a Tropical Kingbird. Either species would be a county record. We are waiting on experts in dealing with those two species for a positive identification. As we continued on to Wildlife Drive we found the estimated 8000 white geese on the lake. There were over a thousand gulls today, mostly Ring-billed Gulls but we did find a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a couple of Herring Gulls and some Bonaparte's Gulls in the flock. There were a lot of ducks at Meadow Pond. We had a total of 8 Loggerhead Shrikes today which is quite good. We saw nearly 200 Meadowlarks today, both Eastern and Western. We finished the day with 80 species. Today's photos, the Kingbird and some of the flock of white geese. Merry Christmas.
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December 12, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 79 species (+2 other taxa), Observers: Jack Chiles, Wayne Meyer, Mike Petrick, Laurie Sheppard |
Wild Turkey photo from a previous outing the early part of the year It was a fairly calm and pleasant day for mid December. We started the day by going down Raasch trail. The weed covered area just past the old railroad bridge continues to be good.with several species of sparrows, woodpeckers, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. There was also a large number of blackbirds in the area numbering in the hundreds. As we continued on down Raasch trail we saw 4 Wild Turkeys in the edge of the woods by the large open field. That was exciting since Wild Turkeys have been very hard to find this fall. We continued on Raasch trail till where it meets Terry Lane and from there went on to the Goode area. On the road to Goode we had a Pileated Woodpecker fly across the road in front of us. At Goode we saw a beautiful male Eastern Towhee along with Harris Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Killdeer, Least Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs. Dead Woman Pond was not very good with only a few Gadwalls, Mallards and a Pied-billed Grebe. From there we ventured on to Wildlife Drive and saw several Northern River Otters feeding in the far back of Myers Branch. The field north of headquarters was covered with more than 5000 white geese. Duck numbers were good today with a total of 295, Northern Pintails, 230 Green-winged Teal, 60 Northern Shovelers, 19 American Wigeons, 144, Gadwalls, 39 Ring-necked Ducks, 21 Mallards and 5 Ruddy Ducks. We saw a good number of Wilson's Snipe,23, feeding in the wet areas near the road on Wildlife Drive. We saw a total of 122 Long-billed Dowitchers, 117 Least Sandpipers,9 Greater Yellowlegs, 23 Killdeer, 4 American Avocets, and 2 Dunlin. There is still one Great Egret hanging around. We finished the day with 10 American Kestrels, and 4 Loggerhead Shrikes. We saw our first Hermit Thrush of the season on the road to Meadow pond. Near Basin Springs on the far west side of the refuge we saw a large flock of mixed blackbirds containing Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds. We finished the day with 79 species. Photo opportunities were limited today so I am including a Wild Turkey photo from a previous outing the early part of the year. This Saturday will be the annual Christmas Bird Count and we would love to have you join us. We will be meeting at headquarters at 7 a.m. |
December 5, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 84 species (+2 other taxa), Observers: Jack Chiles, Wayne Meyer, Mike Petrick, Terry Goode, Laurie Sheppard, Robert Maurer, Stacy Smith |
Wilson's Snipe | Cackling Geese with Snow Geese | The Merlin |
It was another nice day for the census with light wind. We started out by going to Raasch Trail and parking at the bridge and walking the trail for a ways. Sparrow numbers are picking up, Sparrow species observed included, Harris's, Fox, Song, White-throated, White-crowned, Lincolns, Savannah, Field, Vesper and Swamp Sparrows plus Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos. The entrance to Harris Creek Trail was active, and the House Wren was present and fussing as usual. There we also found more sparrows and Towhees. Later in the morning as we traveled down Wildlife Drive we were greeted by a large flock of White geese of near 5000. Near the road a few geese were hanging out and that group included 2 Cackling Geese. In the Willow tree at the entrance to Silliman Road we found the Merlin. That is his favorite perch. We saw Wilson's Snipes, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocets, Long-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, Killdeer and a Dunlin. Duck numbers seemed to be down a bit today but we saw a good number of species. On the sandbar off the end of Plover pad we saw Ring-billed Gulls, a couple of late season Franklin Gulls and a couple of Forster's Terns. There was a mature Bald Eagle sitting across the lake from Sandy Point. We also saw an Orange-crowned Warbler at Sandy Point. We finished the day with 84 species. Today's photos, Wilson's Snipe, Cackling Geese with Snow Geese and the Merlin. |
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The Little Sit Sunrise Bird Count December 2, 2023 Complete Bird Count |
Thank you, Mayve Strong, for These Photos From The Little Sit Sunrise Bird Count and Other Explorations on December 2nd, 2023 |
November 28, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 81 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Laurie Lawler, Laurie Sheppard |
Juvenile Bald Eagle | Rusty Blackbird |
Yellow-rumped Warbler | Immature White-crowned Sparrow |
The morning started out very calm with the temperature near freezing. Our first stop was near the bridge on Raasch Trail. There we found quite a few American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins feeding on weed seeds. There were many Red-winged Blackbirds in the area. Some of the birds we saw there included, House Wren, Song Sparrows, Harris's Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrows and House Finches. We then continued on to the Harris Creek Trailhead. There we had a Bald Eagle fly in and alight in a tree across the creek. This was the beginning of a very good day for Bald Eagles. Lucy was on her favorite pole and we also saw a Bald Eagle sitting on the sandbar at the end of Plover Pad. Later in the day we saw an immature Bald Eagle (possibly the rehabbed one that was recently released) and a mature Bald Eagle both soaring over Sandy Point. We saw a couple of female Red-breasted Mergansers in Mineral Marsh along with a lot of ducks. At the corner on Bennett Lane near the low water crossing we found a Rusty Blackbird near the road and were all afforded excellent looks. We had a full van today with a couple of ladies from New York and one of the ladies got her first look at a Loggerhead Shrike. The Merlin is still hanging around the entrance to Silliman Road. We finished the day with 81 species.
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November 21, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 82 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Wayne Meyer, Laurie Lawler |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | Swamp Sparrow | Red-shouldered Hawk |
It was a chilly, overcast day with a brisk northerly wind blowing. A lot of birds were seeking shelter from the wind and were not seen in large numbers at most of the usual places but when we did find a good protected area birding was quite good. The most unusual sighting of the day was a group of 10 Common Mergansers out on the lake that we viewed from the bottom of the hill at the Goode area. That is a very rare sighting on the refuge. On the way back from the Goode area we hit a birding bonanza at the first curve near the private residences which included, Bewick's Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Harris Sparrows, Bluejay, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, Harris Sparrows, American Robins, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, European Starling, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Northern Flickers and American Goldfinches. As we continued toward Wildlife Drive we saw a couple of Wilson's Snipes near the low-water crossing as well as a late season Great Egret. There are lots of ducks in the marshy areas including many Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, as well as Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls, Mallards. As for shorebirds, American Avocets are still present as well as Long-billed Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers. Killdeer and a couple of Dunlin. On Tern Pad we watched a Sharp-shinned Hawk make a failed attempt at a small bird. We saw Red-headed Woodpeckers at the usual spot near the bridge at the Big Mineral picnic area and at Deaver pond. There were a couple of hundred Gadwalls at Meadow Pond and a good number of American Coots. We saw a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Brown Creeper and a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers near the north end of Dead Woman Pond. We finished the day with 82 Species. Today's photos, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swamp Sparrow and Red-shouldered Hawk. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 14, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 82 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Terry Goode, Laurie Sheppard, Chris Balsamo |
American Goldfinch | Pine Siskin |
It was another beautiful November day for our census. The wind was very light and it warmed up nicely as the morning progressed. Our first stop was Raasch Trail just past the creek bridge. This area has been very good to us lately. There were lots of Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches feeding on weed seeds as well as a good number of sparrows. The sparrows were hard to ID because of the heavy growth there. But we did have a Harris's Sparrow and a Fox Sparrow sit up nicely in a dead tree as well as quite a few House Finches. There were also hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds there as well as 30 Mourning Doves and the large number of vultures that hang out there each morning. We then walked the front part of Harris Creek Trail and had a House Wren near the trail. The very dark plumage Red-tailed Hawk that used that area last year has returned again this year and was perched high up on a dead tree. In Mayer's branch marsh north of headquarters we had close up looks at the ducks that have been feeding there as of late, including Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and Northern Shovelers. Also in the small pool near the turn off to Wildlife Drive keep an eye out for the Wilson's Snipes that have been feeding there lately. At the bottom of the hill at Goode we observed a raft of 142 Lesser Scaups. On Wildlife Drive there were six hundred white geese and many more should be arriving any day now. There are still 6 American Avocets present as well as 45 Long-billed Dowitchers. We saw 7 species of woodpeckers today, the only one of the woodpeckers missing was Ladder-backed. Some American White Pelicans are still passing through. We finished the day with 81 species. |
Saturday, November 11, 2023 Early Bird Walk Checklist Jack Chiles led the November Early Birdwalk, and the group found 38 species! |
American Goldfinch | Eastern Bluebird | Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Thank you, Mayve Strong, for these awesome photos taken on theBird Walk
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November 7, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 80 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Terry Goode, Laurie Sheppard, Laurie Lawler, Sue Hamilton and Jeanne Kuhn |
Snowy Plovers | Ross's and Snow Geese arriving on the wheat field |
It was a beautiful fall day for today's census. Our first stop of the day was Raasch Trail behind the maintenance facilities. It was very birdy there with an abundance of Pine Siskins, Mourning Doves Ruby-crowned Kinglets, American Robins, Song Sparrows, House Finches and other species. Then as we proceeded on to the Goode Area we saw a lot of ducks feeding in the marsh by Meyer's Branch. On sparrow lane we saw Kinglets, Northern Cardinals, Northern Flickers, Carolina Chickadees and White-crowned Sparrows. When we left the Goode Area we proceeded on to Hagerman Road to see if we could locate the Lark Bunting seen over the weekend near Keefer Road but were not successful in locating it. When we arrived at Wildlife Drive just past the bridge over Harris Creek we saw the best find of the day, a couple of Snowy Plovers. More white geese are arriving daily and we counted over 600 Ross's and Snow Geese. We were notified by the refuge manager, Kathy Whaley, that the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center were going to release an immature rehabilitated Bald Eagle around 1 at Sandy Point so we went there and watched as they released the eagle. It was exciting and the eagle flew straight out over the lake and disappeared in the distance. We finished a great day of birding with 80 species. I would also like to thank the lady volunteers for fixing us a great lunch, chili, cornbread, a nice salad and dessert. Thank you ladies, it was delicious. Today's photos, the Snowy Plovers and Ross's and Snow Geese arriving on the wheat field. |
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November 4, 2023 Bird Count from the Sunrise Little Sit on H-Pad |
October 31, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 76 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Laurie Sheppard and Terry Goode. |
American Avocets settling in to feed | Red-headed Woodpecker with an insect |
Beaver | Bobcat |
Our census today, the last day of October, started out with the temperature hovering near the freezing mark. The ground is very wet due to the abundance of recent rain. The wheat fields look exceptionally good and the white geese are starting to arrive. There should be plenty for them to eat in November. We counted approximately 430 white geese today the majority being Ross's Geese. There were thousands of Franklin's Gull present today and we estimated a total of 7500. Most of the shorebirds have already moved thru but there were still 47 American Avocets present, several Dunlin, 16 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 13 Long-billed Dowitchers, 2 Western Sandpipers, 11 Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer and Least Sandpipers. This weekend there were large numbers of ducks present but today numbers were way down. There were lots of American Coots in Mineral Marsh. There was a total of 190 American White Pelicans still here. It appears that most if not all of the Egrets have left. There were a couple of Marsh Wrens in the marsh north of headquarters. Migrating sparrow numbers were low but we see more and more arriving each week. We finished the day with 75 species. Today's photos, American Avocets settling in to feed, Red-headed Woodpecker with an insect, a Beaver and a Bobcat. |
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October 24, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 69 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick and Nancy Riggs. |
Merlin | American Kestrel | Three-toed Box Turtle |
It was a cool, cloudy morning with light rain at times for today's census. Winter resident birds are starting to move in in larger numbers but there are still no white geese. I expect some any time now. We saw Eastern Bluebirds in good numbers at many stops and finished the day with 42. We saw Pine Siskins in a couple of places with a total of 60 for the morning. We had a really good count of 17 Vesper Sparrows and it looks like it might be a good year for them. We saw 52 Savannah Sparrows 40 of which were in one flock west of the refuge on Bennett near a residence. While we were watching the Savannah Sparrows an American Kestrel swooped in and snagged one in midair. On Short Road we saw a female Spotted Towhee and several White-crowned Sparrows in a pear tree. Shorebird numbers were good with 30 American Avocets, 2 American-golden Plovers, 60 Killdeer, 184 Long-billed Dowitchers, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 20 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 375 Least Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and 7 western Sandpipers. At Deaver we watched a Pileated Woodpecker go from dead tree to dead tree looking for insects. We also saw a Red-headed Woodpecker there as well as a Merlin down at the south end of the pond. There were 78 Greater White-fronted Geese feeding on wheat in the large field on Wildlife Drive. We saw a total of 11 American Kestrels. We finished the day with 69 species. Today's photos, Merlin, American Kestrel, and Three-toed Box Turtle.
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October 17, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 80 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick and Nancy Riggs. |
Chipping Sparrow | House Wren |
Pine Siskin | White-tailed Deer |
It was a beautiful day for the census. It was 37 Degrees and calm when we started out. Our first stop was Raasch Trail and that turned out to be an excellent choice. In a very short time we tallied 25 species. We found at least 6 Orange-crowned Warblers, 5 Pine Siskins, a House Wren, Eastern Bluebirds, a Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpeckers, a couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers,, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Wild Turkeys and numerous other species. It soon became apparent that the recent front had brought in a lot of new arrivals for the fall season. On Harris Creek Trail we had an unexpected Common Nighthawk. On Wildlife Drive just past the Harris Creek bridge we found 5 White-rumped Sandpipers, an unusual fall find. On the sandbar at the end of Plover pad we saw American White Pelicans, 18 Greater White-fronted Geese and a Caspian Tern. We saw both a Black-bellied Plover and an American Golden Plover. We saw Red-headed Woodpeckers at Deaver Pond and near the Big Mineral Picnic area. We finished the day with 10 species of shorebirds and a total of 80 species. Today's photos, Chipping Sparrow House Wren, Pine Siskin and a White-tailed Deer.
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October 10, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 68 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Terry Goode |
American White Pelicans | North American River Otter |
The day started out nice and cool for today's bird census. Our first stops were on Raasch trail and the usual large number of vultures were present. Otherwise it was pretty quiet there. Then we proceeded to Harris Creek Trail by headquarters and found a good number of Eastern Bluebirds in the trees across the creek. Then we went to the Goode area and on the way saw a couple of Brown Thrashers, a Red-eyed Vireo, and an Orange-crowned Warbler, the only warbler of the day. Things were quiet at Dead Woman Pond but we did see a male Wood Duck there. Then we proceeded to the pads along Wildlife Drive and found a lot less shorebirds than we have been seeing in recent weeks. We did see several Wilson's Snipes feeding in the tall grass near the north low water crossing. We were still able to find 31 American Avocets, 2 American Golden-Plovers, 64 Killdeer, 129 Least Sandpipers, 22 Long-billed Dowitchers, 5 Greater Yellowlegs and 6 Lesser Yellowlegs. There was still a Tricolored Heron hanging out at Deaver Pond. Greater White-fronted Geese have returned and there were 17 resting on a sandbar near the pumpjacks on Plover pad. At Sandy Point we saw an Osprey. There were quite a few swallows feeding on insects over the marshes. We finished the day with 68 species. Today's photos, a flotilla of American White Pelicans and a North American River Otter checking out a turtle, taken under very poor lighting conditions.
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October 3, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 65 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs and Terry Goode |
Red-headed Woodpecker We started our day by going down Raasch Trail which was quite productive. Just past the bridge over Myer's Branch we ran into a mini fallout of warblers. Many of the warblers were not identifiable due to distance and lighting but we did see Yellow Warblers, Nashville Warblers and a Black-and-white Warbler. There we also saw a White-breastd Nuthatch, a Hairy Woodpecker, several Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds, American Kestrels, an Indigo Bunting, many vultures and heard a singing House Wren. Later as we proceeded to Dead Woman Pond we saw a Belted Kingfisher, Little Blue Herons, and other birds, as well as some wild hogs feeding on vegetation at the edge of the pond. When we continued on to the pads off of Wildlife Drive we saw several hundred American White Pelicans, 185 White-faced Ibis, 40 American Avocets, 11 American Golden-Plovers, 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 7 greater Yellowlegs, a good number of Long-billed Dowitchers, 7 Greater Yellowlegs, 7 Stilt Sandpipers, 23 Least Sandpipers, 7 Killdeer, and a lone Wilson's Phalarope.. We ended the day with 6 woodpecker species and 10 American Kestrels. We finished the day with 65 species, Today's photo, Red-headed Woodpecker peeking out from behind a dead tree near the Big Mineral picnic area. |
September 26, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 59 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick |
American Avocet | Broad-winged Hawk |
It was a still morning as we ventured out to do today's census. We walked to the photo blind on Harris Creek Trail at the start and it was very quiet. We did see a couple of American Kestrels there. We then proceeded to the Goode Area and saw a Brown Thrasher and a Common Yellowthroat on the way there. At Dead Woman Pond we saw a Belted Kingfisher. We continued on past Dead Woman Pond and saw the first of three Broad-winged Hawks for the day. I don't remember ever seeing as many as three Broad-winged Hawks in one day at the refuge. Later as we went down Wildlife Drive we saw White-faced Ibis and we finished the day with a count of 165 for that species, down quite a bit from the large numbers of Ibis we have been seeing. Shorebird numbers were also way down from what we have been seeing for the last month, but we did manage to get 12 shorebird species including a Sanderling. Early in the day there were more than 750 American White Pelicans that had overnighted on the sandbar at the end of Plover pad but many of them left when the thermals developed around 10 a.m.. We had the first Northern Flickers of the season. A Tricolored Heron is still present in the vicinity of the Harris Creek Bridge. One of the best sightings of the day was an Ovenbird past Meadow Pond near the railroad tracks. That is only the third Ovenbird I have ever seen on the refuge. We finished the day with 59 species. Today's photos, American Avocet and Broad-winged Hawk. |
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September 19, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 64 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Terry Goode, Hunter Petrick, Bill and Dillon Morgan |
Marbled Godwit |
It was a pleasant day with mild temperatures for today's bird census. We still desperately need rain and the lake levels continue to recede. But there are lots of mudflats and lots of shorebirds. Many of the shorebirds are too distant to identify but they are much closer in the marshes. We counted 444 Least Sandpipers, 114 Stilt Sandpipers, 15 Western Sandpipers,, 21 American Avocets, a Sanderling as well as quite a few other shorebird species. The Marbled Godwit is still present in Silliman Marsh. There were over 200 White-faced Ibis. A couple of Tricolored Herons are still hanging around. There was a Belted Kingfisher at Deaver Pond as well as a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. There were a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers and a Pileated Woodpecker at the low water crossing on Bennett. There were quite a few swallows feeding on midges on the pads and we finally found our first Bank Swallow of the year. We saw a total of 6 Wood ducks and a good number of Blue-winged Teal. Great Egret numbers were down today with a count of only 94. We saw a Green Heron in Mineral Marsh. There was a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron off the end of F pad. We finished the day with 64 species. |
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September 12, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 80 species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs and Terry Goode |
Roseate Spoonbill, Double-crested Cormorant and Neotropic Cormorant | Great-blue Heron with a Spotted Garfish | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron |
It was pleasantly cool for today's census with a north breeze blowing. There was a lot of bird activity today. We found the continuing Roseate Spoonbill feeding off the end of Tern Pad. The continuing Marbled Godwit was feeding in Steedman Marsh. The lake level is receding and there are now a lot of mudflats with lots of shorebirds. We saw 16 species of shorebirds today. Some of the shorebirds seen were American Avocets, Western Sandpiipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpipers, American Golden Plovers, and Semipalmated Plovers. We had a total of 3 Belted Kingfishers, a pair at Deaver and one at Meadow Pond. We found 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 2 at Deaver and one near the Big Mineral Creek bridge. There was a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Deaver. We saw 13 Wood Ducks, lots of Blue-winged Teal, some Northern Shovelers, Mallards and Northern Pintails. There were 14 Soras in the marsh just before the road to Plover. We had a flyby Peregrine Falcon near the end of Plover pad. We had the first of season American Kestrel on the west end of Short Road. We had a good count of 5 Loggerhead Shrikes. We had a Gray Catbird and a Nashville Warbler at the end of Meadow Pond trail. We saw a nice male Baltimore Oriole on Short Road. We finished the day with 80 species. Today's photos, Roseate Spoonbill, Double-crested Cormorant and Neotropic Cormorant in first photo, and Great-blue Heron with a Spotted Garfish in second photo and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in the third photo. |
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September 5, 2023 Complete Bird Census List 72 Species, Observers: Nancy Riggs, Mike Petrick, Terry Goode |
Long-billed Curlew by Terry Goode The heat spell lingers on but larger numbers of migrating birds are starting to move thru the refuge. Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler numbers are increasing. There were 10 species of shorebirds including 7 American Avocets, 12 Killdeer, 1 Upland Sandpiper, 10 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 19 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Willet, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs and a Long-billed Curlew. There was a Peregrine Falcon on the hunt. Black, Least and Forster’s Terns were present.There were 69 White-faced Ibis and 1 White Ibis. There were 8 Eastern Kingbirds and a late season Western Kingbird. 1 Yellow-breasted Chat was a nice find. Thank you Mike, Nancy and Terry for doing a great job in my absence. They finished the day with 74 species. Photo of Long-billed Curlew by Terry Goode. |
August 29,2023 Complete Bird Census List 64 Species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Kathy Whaley, Bill Morgan, Dillon Morgan |
Black-crowned Night-Heron | Tricolored Heron |
The morning started out pleasant but had heated up by noon. There are lots of shorebirds present especially in Harris Creek Marsh but many are so far away they are hard to identify. We found a couple of Tricolored Herons in Harris Creek Marsh and a couple more at Dead Woman Pond. At Dead Woman Pond we also found a couple of Black-crowned Night-Herons. Some of the shorebirds we were able to identify were Stilt Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Upland Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper Killdeer and Semipalmated Plover. We did not see a single swallow today. There were 32 Least Terns sitting on a sandbar off the end of Tern Pad along with 5 Forster's Terns. There are lots of Egrets and Herons present now at the refuge. We saw one Pileated Woodpecker when we went down Raasch Trail and quite a few Eastern Bluebirds. We finished the day with 64 species. Today's photos, Black-crowned Night-Heron and Tricolored Heron. |
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August 22, 2023: Complete Bird Census List 65 Species, Observers: Jack Chiles, Wayne Meyer, Mike Petrick and Nancy Riggs |
Upland Sandpiper |
As we started our census it was very warm and continued to heat up quickly as the morning progressed. We walked Harris Creek trail to the willow by the photo blind and it was very quiet but we did see a continuing Red-headed Woodpecker. After we left there we drove down Wildlife Drive to check the newly flooded marsh just before the road to Plover Pad. There we found a good assortment of shorebirds, including Upland Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and a Wilson's Phalarope. Many of the shorebirds were difficult to see as they worked their way in and out of the grass But with patience more and more would work themselves in the open giving us the opportunity to identify them. As we continued on down the pads we found a good number of Yellow Warblers, 22 for the day. Off the end of Plover we found Black Terns, Forster's Terns and Least Terns. Around the pads and in the marshes we found 148 Great Egrets, 46 Snowy Egrets, 15 Great Blue Herons, 12 Little-blue Herons, 3 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and 2 Tricolored Herons. We observed a total of 17 Mississippi Kites soaring at different locations around the refuge. We had 5 Woodpecker species today including a Hairy Woodpecker and a Pileated Woodpecker. Dickcissels are starting to appear again with a total of 9 for the day. We saw the first Northern Shoveler of the season in Harris Creek Marsh. We finished the day with 65 species. Today's photo, Upland Sandpiper. |
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August 15, 2023: Complete Bird Census List 65 Species |
Painted Bunting | Green Heron |
We had a break in the extreme heat today with a light breeze blowing from the north. The small area of mudflats on Meyer's Branch north of headquarters has just about dried up but we still found some Least Sandpipers, a Baird's Sandpiper, a Western Sandpiper, a Spotted Sandpiper and quite a few Killdeer there. But the flooded area of Mineral Marsh had a good number of shorebirds. There we found a Short-billed Dowitcher, 12 Pectoral Sandpipers, 34 Greater Yellowlegs, 24 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and Upland Sandpipers. We had a Pileated Woodpecker near the maintenance buildings and another on at Deaver Pond. At Deaver we also saw a Belted Kingfisher. We found 3 Green Herons and a Tricolored Heron and many Cattle Egrets as well as 9 Little Blue Herons, 47 Great Egrets, 24 Snowy Egrets and 11 Great Blue Herons. We had a total of 39 Neotropic Cormorants. We only found 8 White-faced Ibis. There was a Swainson's Hawk in a plowed field on Short Road. There were a couple of Pied-billed Grebes in Mineral and Silliman Marshes. We had a total of 15 Eastern Bluebirds but only 4 Yellow Warblers. We finished the day with 65 species. Today's photos, a Painted Bunting and a Green Heron. |
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August 8, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 62 Species |
Tricolored Heron | Swainson's Hawk |
Spotted Sandpiper | Upland Sandpiper |
There was a cool stiff breeze this morning from the outflow from rains to the north of the refuge and birding was much improved over last week. In spite of almost no mudflats we found 7 species of shorebirds, including a flyby of 7 American Avocets, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers,3 Spotted Sandpipers,1 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Killdeer and an Upland Sandpiper. At Meadow Pond we saw a Belted Kingfisher and a mature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. We saw two more Belted Kingfishers at Deaver Pond as well as a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. We saw another 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers where they usually hang out, across the creek from Harris Creek Trail. At the low water crossing north of headquarters we found a rare Glossy Ibis and a Tri-colored Heron. That area is where we saw most of the shorebirds. They were mowing the far end of Mineral Marsh in preparation for flooding it which makes for good news since that will probably be a good location for returning shorebirds in the weeks to come. Near the mower we saw a Swainson’s Hawk that had just caught a large rat. There was a female Orchard Oriole near the Big Mineral Creek bridge. We finished the day with 62 species. Today's photos, Tricolored Heron, Swainson's Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper and Upland Sandpiper, Thanks for looking. |
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August 1, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 49 Species |
Green Heron | Yellow-headed Blackbird |
It was a sweltering day and bird activity was low. Lake level is still too high for any sandbars to be exposed so the only shorebirds we saw were several Spotted Sandpipers. Off the end of Plover pad we found 2 Black Terns, 18 Forster's Terns and 1 Least Tern. Several American White Pelicans are still hanging around. We had a good count of 6 Green Herons. We saw one pair near the end of Egret pad. We saw a mature male Yellow-headed Blackbird near the first pullout of Wildlife Drive. We finished the day with 49 species, a low count but this is the slowest time of the year. Today's photos, Green Heron and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Thanks for looking. |
July 25, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 58 Species |
Tricolored Heron | Painted Bunting |
Spotted Sandpiper | Ruddy Duck |
It was another hot, dry one for today's census. The current lake level is above 618 ft above sea level so there is no mudflats for shorebirds to feed on. The only shorebirds we saw were 5 Spotted Sandpipers a shorebird that likes to hang around the rocky edges of the lake. There was a Tricolored Heron in Myers Branch marsh and also a couple of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons feeding near the north shore. One very nice find today was a breeding plumage Ruddy Duck sitting off the end of Tern Pad with a Neotropic Cormorant and a pair of Canada Geese. We also found another Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Meadow Pond. There were 5 Least Terns off the end of Plover Pad. There was a Green Heron in Taylor Pond. The Red-headed Woodpeckers are still in the Harris Creek Trail area near headquarters. We saw a Western Kingbird on the far west side of the refuge a bird that has been very scarce on the refuge this year. There were 3 Loggerhead Shrikes on Short Road. We heard a Summer Tanager singing north of Dead Woman Pond. We found 15 Painted buntings and finished the day with 58 species. Today's photos, Tricolored Heron, Painted Bunting in a Button Bush, a Spotted Sandpiper and a distant shot of a breeding plumage Ruddy Duck siting with a Neotropic Cormorant and a pair of Canada Geese. Enjoy your week and try to stay cool.
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July 18, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 54 Species |
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron The summer heat is turning up and it was toasty when we completed the census at midday. Some of the better sightings of the day were a Belted Kingfisher at Deaver Pond and a pair of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at Meadow Pond. Lake levels are high with no mudflats and the only shorebird of the day was a Spotted Sandpiper along the road out to F pad. We saw a Wood Duck in Muleshoe marsh and one at Dead Woman Pond. There was a Greater Roadrunner cooing at Sandy Point. We saw 6 Least Terns, 6 Forster's Terns and 1 Black Tern. There was a Hairy Woodpecker and a Red-headed Woodpecker near the Big Mineral Creek bridge on Bennett. We saw a total of 99 Purple Martins. There was an Orchard Oriole singing near the entrance to Egret Pad. We finished the day with 54 species. Today's photo the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron we saw a Meadow Pond. |
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July 11, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 53 Species |
Immature Greater Roadrunner |
There was a good rain overnight at the refuge and light rain continued this morning. We saw Cattle Egrets at many locations with a total of 154 for the morning. Purple Martins are beginning to congregate in flocks and we saw a total of 87. We saw several Green Herons at Meadow Pond as well as an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. We saw a Broad-winged Hawk on Bennett Lane near the fallen down house. There was a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers flying around near the bridge at the Big Mineral picnic area. One nice find was a Louisiana Waterthrush on the far west side of the refuge feeding in some puddles near the road. Other than that most of what we saw was the typical summer breeding birds observed in this area. No shorebirds were seen due to the high lake level. We finished the day with 53 species. Today's photo, an immature Greater Roadrunner that had come out to sun itself when the rain let up.
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July 4, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 55 Species Following an overnight rain it was a very pleasant morning. There are still no mudflats and we saw only one shorebird, a lone Killdeer in a field west of the refuge. There is an abundance of Canada Geese on the refuge now and we counted 194. We saw 2 Tricolored Herons in some trees by Taylor Marsh. We saw Red-headed Woodpeckers from the Harris Creek Trail and at the Big Mineral picnic area. We heard a couple of Barred Owls calling near Meadow Pond. There was a Bell's Vireo singing near Lucy's favorite pole. There were also 30 Purple Martins hanging out there on the electric lines. We heard a total of 5 Blue grosbeaks singing. We found 16 Painted Buntings and 11 Indigo Buntings. We finished the day with 55 species. Today's photo, one of the most sought-after species at the refuge, a Painted Bunting. Thanks for looking. Enjoy your 4th. |
Painted Bunting |
Following an overnight rain it was a very pleasant morning. There are still no mudflats and we saw only one shorebird, a lone Killdeer in a field west of the refuge. There is an abundance of Canada Geese on the refuge now and we counted 194. We saw 2 Tricolored Herons in some trees by Taylor Marsh. We saw Red-headed Woodpeckers from the Harris Creek Trail and at the Big Mineral picnic area. We heard a couple of Barred Owls calling near Meadow Pond. There was a Bell's Vireo singing near Lucy's favorite pole. There were also 30 Purple Martins hanging out there on the electric lines. We heard a total of 5 Blue grosbeaks singing. We found 16 Painted Buntings and 11 Indigo Buntings. We finished the day with 55 species. Today's photo, one of the most sought-after species at the refuge, a Painted Bunting. Thanks for looking. Enjoy your 4th. |
June 27, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 50 Species |
Wood Ducks |
The heat is turning up and we spent less time in the field today because the birds were not very active. The lake level is still up and there are no mudflats, so for a second week in a row we struck out on shorebirds. We heard Wood Ducks at Dead Woman Pond and saw a family of 8 youngsters in Taylor Marsh. Some of the highlights of the day included 5 Mississippi Kites, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers(2 on Harris Creek Trail and 2 near the spillway at Deaver Pond). 1 Bell's Vireo singing near Lucy's favorite post, 17 Painted Buntings, 10 Summer Tanagers and 1 Red-shouldered Hawk in the nest near Martin Branch. We finished the day with 50 species. Today's photo, Wood Ducks. |
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June 20, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 58 Species |
Red-shouldered Hawk Nesting | Swainson's Hawk |
Today was unseasonably hot and it began to heat up very quickly, The lake level has risen even more from recent rains and there are no sandbars visible. We did not see a single shorebird today which is a bit unusual for Hagerman. The majority of birds we saw were the normal breeders for this area. Sightings of note were a Yellow=crowned Night-Heron at Meadow Pond. and a Swainson's Hawk on Short Road. The tree, near the large willow on Harris Creek Trail, where the Red-headed Woodpeckers were nesting, blew down in the recent storm as well as quite a few other trees. We saw a total of 197 Canada Geese and several ducks including the Lesser Scaup are still present. We saw one of the Red-shouldered Hawk nestlings still in the nest near Martin Branch. I think one of the nestlings left the nest prematurely but we could not see it. We finished the day with 58 species. Today's photos, the Red-shouldered Hawk nestling and a Swainson's Hawk. Thanks for looking. |
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June 13, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 61 Species
Greater Roadrunner with a Skink and a Grasshopper |
We had some rain during our census today but for the most part it was ok. It was pretty cool for mid June. The lake level is up some and most of the sandbars have disappeared. The sandbars at the end of Plover are mostly submerged now. There were Least Terns attempting to nest there but so much for that. We did see 10 Least Terns flying around near the pads. Least Tern nesting attempts at the refuge usually fail. Due to lack of sandbars we only saw one shorebird today, a Spotted Sandpiper at Sandy Point. We had a high count of 11 Summer Tanagers today. We saw 4 Chimney Swifts on Oil Field Road near the processing facility. We had a high number of 115 Black Vultures in the vicinity of Mineral Marsh due to the die off of Carp due to being entrapped in the low water recently. We saw a total of 15 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, most of which were along the roads on the west side of the refuge. There was a Belted Kingfisher at Deaver pond and we saw 6 Wood Ducks at Meadow pond. The Lotus are now blooming at Meadow Pond. We finished the day with 61 species. Today's photo, a Greater Roadrunner with a Skink and a grasshopper in it beak. Best viewed full screen. Thanks for looking. Enjoy your week. |
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June 6, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 67 Species |
Female Summer Tanager | Question Mark Butterfly |
It was a pleasant day for our census. We went down Raasch Trail behind the maintenance buildings at the beginning and there was not much activity, Then we proceeded to Harris Creek Trail and found the Red-headed Woodpeckers, a singing Blue Grosbeak, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Indigo Buntings, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and a few other species. We then proceeded on to Wildlife Drive and at the end of Plover we found many Least Terns, some very late Franklin's Gulls, American White Pelicans, a few Mallards and Blue-winged Teal. There we also saw a Dunlin that has been present there for quite a few days. There are Canada Geese just about everywhere you look around the pads. Most of the shorebirds have departed but we did see a Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, 46 White-rumped Sandpipers, and 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers. Some of the marshes have been drained to do some repair work but Steedman and Muleshoe marshes still have some water and more will be added starting tomorrow. We saw 2 Bald Eagles and the Acadian Flycatcher is still present on Bennett Lane. There was a singing Bell's Vireo on Egret Pad. We saw two Broad-winged Hawks today in the vicinity of the entrance to Oil Field Road. The Button Bushes are starting to bloom on the pads and there were a lot of Butterflies present. We finished the day with 67 species. Today's photos, a female Summer Tanager gathering nesting material. Notice how well she blends in with the surrounding foliage, and a Question Mark butterfly one of many butterflies we saw today. |
May 30, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 82 Species |
Bald Eagle It was a cool, still day for our census. There had been rain late yesterday and it was threatening rain again this afternoon. There are still a lot of mudflats at the refuge and a surprising number of shorebirds are still present. We had an estimated 300 White-rumped Sandpipers, most of them in Steedman Marsh. We saw several Semipalmated Plovers, a Dunlin. Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers. At the end of Tern pad there was a Bald Eagle which appears to be approaching 4 years in age. There was a Tri-colored Heron near the north low water crossing. We saw Wood Ducks in several places with a total of 8 for the day. The Acadian Flycatcher is still hanging around calling near the low water crossing on Bennett. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are abundant this year with a count of 10 for the day. There were a total of 11 Least Terns on and near the sandbar off the end of Plover. We found 6 Greater Roadrunners today and one was sitting in the top of a tree at Sandy Point. We saw a total of 18 Mississippi Kites most of which were flying over Wildlife Drive. We found Red-headed Woodpeckers on the Harris Creek Trail and at Deaver Pond. There was a late season Swainson's Thrush on the trail to Meadow Pond. There was a Yellow-breasted Chat near the bridge on Enterprise Road. We counted 15 Painted Buntings, 5 Indigo Buntings and only 1 Blue Grosbeak. We finished the day with 82 species. Today's photo is a Bald Eagle. |
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May 23, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 90 Species |
Black-bellied Plover | Black-necked Stilt | Grasshopper Sparrow |
It was a nice calm day for our census. Shorebird numbers were still good with over 400 White-rumped Sandpipers scattered around on the pools near the many mudflats that are present because of low lake level. There was a Black-necked Stilt near the north low water crossing. Other shorebirds of interest were 16 Dunlin, 6 Hudsonian Godwits and a Whimbrel on the large sand bar off the end of Plover. That has been a very good area as of late. There we also saw a large mixed flock of shorebirds, Black Terns, Least Terns and a couple of Caspian Terns. Early on we were serenaded by a male Northern Bobwhite and the hen was sitting on a bench in the butterfly garden. We saw a pair of Wood Ducks in a tree across the creek from the Harris Creek trail photo blind. The Red-headed Woodpeckers were also present there. We saw 8 more Wood Ducks later on at Meadow Pond. Later in the morning we saw Black-bellied Plovers, an American Avocet, Stilt Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers Semipalmataed Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Spotted Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher in the marshes near Wildlife Drive. Out on the west side of the refuge we saw a couple of Swainson's Hawks. We finished the day with 90 species. Today's photos, Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt and Grasshopper Sparrow with insects for young ones. |
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May 16, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 100 Species +2 other taxa |
Bobolink | Prothonotary Warbler |
It was a cool cloudy day for the census. This is typically the peak of warbler migration here, what little migration of warblers we have, so we went in search of warblers early on. We walked the portion of Harris Creek trail to the area by the photo blind where we heard a warbler song that we were not familiar with and after searching a bit found a Golden-winged Warbler male in breeding plumage. As far as I know this is the first sighting of this species on the refuge ever. One lady birder, now deceased, reported seeing a couple in Sherman in Sept of 1984 and that is the only other county record that I am aware of. There was a paucity of warblers today but this beautiful bird more than made up for it. We did see a couple of Yellow Warblers and a Mourning Warbler on Enterprise Road near the bridge and several Prothonotary Warblers near the low water crossing on Bennett Lane. Also we saw several Common Yellowthroats and heard a Northern Parula. We saw several Least Terns and 4 Black Terns flying over the lake. We saw a couple of Hudsonian Godwits off the end of Plover Pad. We found a pair of Wood Ducks at Dead Woman Pond. We heard a couple of Barred Owls calling on the road to Meadow Pond. We found a total of 12 Mississippi Kites today. A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers are nesting in the dead tree near the large willow on Harris Creek trail. It appears that most of the Bobolinks have departed as we only saw two today. Shorebird numbers are down but we had 12 species today. We finished the day with 100 species. |
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May 9, 2023: Complete Bird Census List of 93 Species |
Bobolink | Cedar Waxwings | Prothonotary Warbler |
With regular bird census-takers Jack Chiles and Mike Petrick away on a well-deserved birding odyssey, Bryon Clark, Margaret Avard, and I tried our best to fill their shoes. They will be back “on the job” next week. Before we even started, we heard an Inca Dove and watched some feisty Lark Sparrows scratching in the dirt around the Friends building. Once in the van, we headed for the bridge on Raasch Trail, but it immediately became clear the recent rains made the road a slippery mess, so we abandoned that plan and went to Harris Creek Trail to see what we could find. Warblers have been slow in arriving, but there were plenty of Buntings calling in the trees. The Red-headed Woodpeckers were very active, and we heard both Carolina and House Wrens. Next, we headed toward Haller’s Haven Trail. On the way, we saw the first of 8 Mississippi Kites. Cedar Waxwings were feeding in several places. Near Dead Woman Pond we found a Green Heron and a Tri-colored Heron, along with more common heron and egret species. Back on the auto tour route, we found shorebird numbers were greatly reduced. The exception is Hudsonian Godwits, which were found in several places. Even so, we found examples of a dozen different species, including more than sixty Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs. Bobolinks were present in the vetch along Silliman Road. West of the refuge we found many Eastern Kingbirds and Scissortailed Flycatchers, along with Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows. On the way back to our starting point, we saw an adult Bald Eagle soaring overhead and found Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. We finished the day with 93 species. |
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May 2, 2023 Complete Bird Census List of 113 Species |
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6465 Refuge Road Sherman, TX 75092
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