Utley Bridge (Hwy 969) to Tarcoola, Bastrop, US-TX (9 miles)
Observation date: Aug 2, 2014 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Number of species: 42 species (+3 other taxa)
EPISODE 99: Tarantulas and Turtle Eggs
A day in nature can turn up some interesting finds. One of the reasons I like these surveys is we have no idea what will turn up. In the summer we get a huge gambit of critters like snakes, draqonflies, butterflies, and plenty of birds. Two very interesting surprises today were a tarantula and some turtle eggs. The tarantula fell in to a boat after the tree it was in was jarred and knocked loose . The turtle eggs were in the bank and the last flood washed away some of the earth and exposed the nest. We have some photos of that. I really like to get out and find these kinds of things.
We also found interesting birds. Leading the list were two adult Bald Eagles. Of course they are always great to find. We also had a Ringed Kingfisher. It was a huge one with a completely red breast and belly that we chased downriver about a quarter of a mile. I like to mention Barred Owls as we do not get them very often. This one flew across with a murder of crows following. Last but not least were two Pileated Woodpeckers to complete a list of 45 species.
As mentioned earlier we got a huge collection of other critter sightings. I just wish I were more versed in all the local species so I could relate them. But alas…………….
We had a great collection of helpers with us today. Joan bishop, Pam Hohman, Sharon Richardson and daughter Emily, Peg Gavin, Ron Armbruster, Mark Wilson, Jake Warner, John Muller, Kim Parades, Kevin Anderson, Brent Bellinger, Denis Benning, Bob West, and Stuart Bailey came out to enjoy the day.
Photo of Dragonfly be Sharon Richardson
42 species (+3 other taxa)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 7
Snowy Egret 4
Little Blue Heron 2
Cattle Egret 80
Green Heron 9
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 24
Turkey Vulture 28
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 15
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1
White-winged Dove 2
Mourning Dove 15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 8
Barred Owl 1
hummingbird sp. 1
Ringed Kingfisher 1
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Crested Caracara 4
Eastern Phoebe 3
Western Kingbird 7
Eastern Kingbird 4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 7
White-eyed Vireo 14
Red-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 18
Cliff/Cave Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse (hybrid) 5
Carolina Wren 22
Northern Mockingbird 4
Northern Cardinal 70
Painted Bunting 4
Common Grackle 4
Great-tailed Grackle 5
House Sparrow 40
