Birding Trip Reports

Hello, everyone,

We concluded our class with the field trip to Pederales Falls State Park,
including birding all the way there along Fitzhugh Road. We saw 16 species
we hadn't seen on previous field trips and everyone seemed to enjoy watching
birds through the blinds at the park. For those unable to make the trip, we
observed waterfowl and various other species through two blinds near a pond.
We had lunch at the wonderful covered bird viewing shelter, from which we
could watch the birds and be unobserved by them. This provided the
opportunity to view the birds from close at hand.

Our new species at the park included American Wigeon (a duck),
Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Western Scrub-Jay,
Black-crested Titmouse, Verdin, Canyon Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Field
Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco, as well as American
Goldfinch. Along Fitzhugh Road we had great views of two flocks of Wild
Turkeys plus Vesper Sparrows and Lark Sparrows, as well as good looks at
some species we had seen previously, such as Eastern Bluebirds and
Loggerhead Shrike.

Attached is the trip list for all four field trips, indicating all 87
species we saw. I recall that someone in class mentioned having a Mac and
not being able to read a Microsoft Word file that someone else sent several
weeks ago. I don't remember whom, but please let me know, so I can send the
file to you some other way.

I hope you had as much fun as I did. It is very rewarding to teach a class,
which has so many enthusiastic, interested participants. By the way, I was
delighted to receive a lovely 'thank you' card. I really appreciate it.

Please let me know if you have any questions in the future about birds
you've seen, books and other materials, birding places, clothing, etc. I'll
be happy to help you as you pursue what I hope will be a lifelong hobby for
you.

Good birding to all,
Jean

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Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2002 6:12 PM
Subject: Trip Report - Hornsby Bend


Hello, Birders,

I hope you are all keeping warm and dry this afternoon. It certainly feels
good to me after our damp and chilly morning. Actually, we were fortunate
that the rain held off for several hours so we were able to get good looks
at many species on our way to the ponds and along Pond 1 West and part of
Pond 2 before the sprinkles began. We then headed for the covered shelter,
where we observed a few more species of ducks and grebes through the
spotting scope. We had to abandon plans to walk down the trails toward the
Colorado River, for the drizzle became steady and everyone was getting a bit
chilled. We continued the drive around Pond 2 and then Pond 1 East, where
we had great looks at a Merlin perched in a tree near the road. One rarely
gets such a good look at a Merlin and I'll have to agree with Paula that it
was the "bird of the day." Along Pond 1W we saw Northern Pintails and some
of you got better looks at Green-winged Teal, as well as fleeting looks at a
Gadwall.

We had challenging looks at several snipes near the beginning and near the
end of our trip--challenging because they were very well camouflaged in dark
grassy areas. I identified them as Common Snipe, but when I got home I saw a
note I had made in the 3rd edition of National Geographic that in August
2002 they were renamed Wilson's Snipe. These were the first I had seen this
fall and had forgotten about the new name. The 4th ed. of National
Geographic lists them as Wilson's Snipe. This is one of the instances that I
mentioned in class whereby sometimes the American Ornithologists' Union
"splits" a species. Common Snipe was split into Wilson's Snipe (found
throughout North America at sometime during the year--and in Southern States
& Mexico only during winter) and Common Snipe in Eurasia (and a migrant to
the Aleutian islands, as well as occasionally to the Pribilofs and St.
Lawrence Island--all west of Alaska). Unless you have the 4th ed. of
National Geographic, you should make a note in your field guide beside
Common Snipe that it changed to Wilson's Snipe 8/02 and those of you who saw
it today will need to change your notes to reflect having seen Wilson's
Snipe.

You were real troopers today, maintaining an inquisitiveness and cheerful
attitude, in spite of the weather. It's fun to see such good camaradarie
among classmates too. I'll send a separate e-mail in a couple of days about
next Saturday's trip to Williamson County, particularly the Granger area.
Now, on to what you've been waiting for - the trip list.

Eared Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant (seen in flight on our way to the ponds)
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
American Coot
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
Eastern Phoebe
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Swallow species (unable to identify specific species)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Wren (heard only)
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow

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