Claude’s River Survey: October 7, 2017

Big Webberville to Howard Lane, Bastrop, Texas, US
Oct 7, 2017 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
9.0 mile(s)

EPISODE 137:  A FEW MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
We boldly set out on a quest to find early migrants. Our hope was to find the skies filled with Hawks and warblers of all kinds as well as a flow of Monarch Butterflies…..screeching of tires…..then came reality.  The enthusiasm was dampened by silence.  Eerily silent.  Not even a Cardinal was heard.  Yes, it was that kind of day.  I think we happened to catch one of those days when there was just not much moving around.
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We did manage to find 36 species that included a juvenile Bald Eagle and two American Coots.  Belted Kingfishers and Osprey are starting to have good numbers.  Also found were 5 Pileated Woodpeckers and a Green Kingfisher.  The best we could do for a migrant was one Swainsons Hawk.  I know there are a few resident Swainsons in Bastrop County but doggonit I want to call it a migrant.
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Remember last October we found 11 Water Moccosin.  We found only 2 today.  A few Red-eared Sliders and another unidentified water snake were all we got for Herps.
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Lots of Sulfur butterflies. Viceroys were everywhere and only two confirmed Monarch.
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We have to thank everyone who helped today. Alexis Baldera, CR Smith, Nate Long, John Barr, Denis Brenning, and Bob West were the team.

35 species (+1 other taxa)

Wood Duck  2
Great Blue Heron  5
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  4
Black Vulture  35
Turkey Vulture  17
Osprey  2
Cooper’s Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  5
Swainson’s Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  3
American Coot  2
Killdeer  6
Spotted Sandpiper  11
Inca Dove  2
Mourning Dove  1
Belted Kingfisher  9
Green Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  8
Pileated Woodpecker  5
Crested Caracara  1
Eastern Phoebe  4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher  5
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  14
Cliff/Cave Swallow  10
Carolina Chickadee  16
Tufted Titmouse  3
Carolina Wren  6
Eastern Bluebird  5
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  25
Northern Cardinal  18
Red-winged Blackbird  17
Great-tailed Grackle  22