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