Location: Tarcoola to Fisherman’s Park

Observation date: 6/4/11

Number of species: 39

EPISODE 61: Go Fly A Kite

Some people don’t know but there is a small population of Mississippi Kites that summer in Bastrop County. Today we saw two of those Kites. If fact, they gave us quite an aerial display before moving off.

Additionally we were able to put two species on the survey list that we had never had before. Eurasian Collared-Doves and Chuck-will’s-widow were both found. Here is an oddity. We had a Gadwall swimming in the river just upstream from Bastrop. We had one more species that deserves special mention. A Tricolored Heron was found a little way up Piney Creek. And I almost forgot we heard a Pileated Woodpecker. Our species total for the day was 39.

Speaking of oddities we had no Spotted Sandpipers. There was a huge volume of water in the river and my guess is that all the preferred spots were under water; just my guess.

Seven people need be to thanked today. Four newcomers include Linda Williams, Ruth Jansa, Judy Kanas, and Glen Coleman. Three other regulars were Pam Hohman, Stuart Bailey, and John Barr. Thanks to all for you help. It was a great morning and glad we were off before it got too hot.

Photo of horses are by Pam Hohman.

(Click any image to view larger.)

Number of species: 38

Wood Duck 6
Gadwall 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 2
Little Blue Heron 2
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 12
Turkey Vulture 10
Mississippi Kite 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
White-winged Dove 8
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Chuck-will’s-widow 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4

Downy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 8
American Crow 6
Purple Martin 4
Barn Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 15
Carolina Chickadee 26
Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 32
Northern Mockingbird 2
Northern Parula 4
Northern Cardinal 47
Painted Bunting 8
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 8
Great-tailed Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 2