Claude’s River Survey: January 4, 2014

Utley Bridge (Hwy 969) to Green’s, Bastrop, US-TX (9 miles)

Observation date: January 4, 2014 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Number of species: 43

EPISODE 92: Heavy Gusts of Wind

Our survey today was dominated by a very strong southerly wind. The wind was so strong it was producing white caps on the river. The winds, I think, kept the birds in hiding. Yet the temperature was warm. That warmth brought out lots of turtles. We saw more turtles today that at some times in the summer. At one point the wind was blowing over the participants of the survey.

In the bird department we got two Bald Eagles. This section of river usually has some wintering there. We also found 4 Pileated Woodpeckers, several Belted Kingfisher and Cedar Waxwing to round our or 43 species.

There were probably 8 boat trailers at the bridge when we got there. I think the duck hunters kept the duck sighting low. We had two species and only one large group.

I also want to mention a huge number of Eastern Bluebirds. We got 28.

Two large groups of 8 and 15 then a few more. It just seemed unusual to get so many. We also had a noticeable lack of Yellow-rumped Warblers, only 4. No goldfinch nor Blackbirds were recorded.

As expected, it was an interesting wildlife day too. We saw coyotes and lots of squirrels. We saw lots of beaver chewings and a couple of beaver slides.

Our river paddlers today include Lee Charlton, Duncan Charlton, John Barr, Bobby Hughes, Mark Gwin, and Billy Moore. Thanks for braving the strong wind to paddle the river.

(Click any image below to view larger. Photos by Claude Morris.)

Number of species: 43

Gadwall 120
American Wigeon 12
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 7
Great Egret 9
Snowy Egret 1
Black Vulture 34
Turkey Vulture 18
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Killdeer 12
Spotted Sandpiper 8
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Least Sandpiper 18
Wilson’s Snipe 1
Mourning Dove 78
Belted Kingfisher 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 9
Downy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Crested Caracara 3
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 22
American Crow 23
Carolina Chickadee 32
Tufted Titmouse 1
House Wren 6
Carolina Wren 25
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 28
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 200
American Pipit 3
Cedar Waxwing 13
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Lincoln’s Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 27
Common Grackle 7
House Sparrow 100

 

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