Claude’s River Survey: April 5, 2014

Austin Colony – Webberville, Travis, US-TX (8 miles)

Observation date: April 5, 2014 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Number of species: 58 (+4 other taxa)

 

EPISODE 95: Spring Singing and Blooming

As expected we found some lingering winter birds, some newly arrived summer birds, and some that were just passing through. Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadee, Titmouse and Carolina Wren were plenty vociferous all day. An interesting point to the day was that it was so chilly that turtles and other herptiles were few. Flowers were everywhere. Mostly were the Tansy Mustard and we found a couple of huge patches of Bluebonnets.

Today we listed three species that we have never listed on the survey before: Hooded Merganser, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Cinnamon Teal. We had some migrating Swainson’s Hawks. Summer arrivals include Prothonotary Warbler, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and Northern Parula. Other notables include Wild Turkey, Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker. Our species list counted 62.

We had an excellent crew who braved the chilly temperatures to help out.  Joan Bishop, Peg Gavin, Tracey Novinger, Debbie Stuart, Glen Novinger, Ron Armbruster, Bob West, Bobby Hughes, Will Huff, Mike Garrison, John Muller, Brian Maddix, Jason and Max the Mascot Dog.

Did I mention there was a fishing tournament on the river today? We had plenty of company.

Don’t forget to like the Austin Bastrop River Corridor Partnership Facebook page. Here you will find more information about the river and water issues in central Texas. I also post more photos.

(Click any image below to view larger. Photo of the river by Brian Maddix)

58 species (+4 other taxa)

Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 18
Blue-winged Teal 100
Cinnamon Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 18
Hooded Merganser 1
Wild Turkey 1
Double-crested Cormorant 9
American White Pelican 14
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 8
Little Blue Heron 6
Green Heron 1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 22
Turkey Vulture 18
Osprey 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 6
Swainson’s Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Coot 48
Killdeer 24
Spotted Sandpiper 17
Greater Yellowlegs 32
Least Sandpiper 100
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
gull sp. 80
White-winged Dove 7
Mourning Dove 3
Barred Owl 1

hummingbird sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker 11
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Crested Caracara 3
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 27
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 18
Barn Swallow 5
Cliff/Cave Swallow 200
Carolina Chickadee 44
Tufted/Black-crested Titmouse 15
Carolina Wren 21
Eastern Bluebird 5
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 25
American Pipit 2
Cedar Waxwing 50
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Prothonotary Warbler 3
Northern Parula 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Savannah Sparrow 8
Lincoln’s Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 77
Red-winged Blackbird 200
Great-tailed Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 16
House Sparrow 6

 

Click here for previous episodes of Claude’s River Survey!