Balcones Songbird Nature Festival - April 26-29, 2012 (guest blogger)

This sounds like a fun event! Wish I had time to go myself...

John Yerger

Adventure Birding Company

 

Texas Hill Country Spring Bird Watching and Songbird Festival

by guest blogger Tracey Louis

If you have time for a quick trip or know a Texas birding enthusiast, you’ll want to make note of the upcoming 13^th Annual Songbird Nature Festival occurring April 26-29th. In addition to unique events and activities, there will be top birdwatchers from around the state guiding dozens of specialty tours to view some of the area’s most notable winged creatures.

These tours are held primarily within the federally protected Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, offering spectacular opportunities to hear and sight countless glorious songbirds including the endangered species of the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo.

Glimpse the Golden-Cheeked Warbler

This canyon and ravine-filled area is laden with Ashe juniper and live oaks that provide ideal shelter and nesting areas for this endangered species. It is intriguing to note that the Golden-cheeked Warbler is the only bird species with a breeding range limited to the Lonestar State. Many of the Songbird Festival’s journeys head out with intentions to sight this beauty in the wild and hear its melodic tune.

Black-capped Vireo photographed by John Yerger at Kerr WMA, April 2011

Black-capped Vireo Spotting

Listed as an endangered species since 1987, the Black-capped Vireo is a pleasure and a privilege to spot. April begins this species’ nesting period in Texas, though it extends through May. The Festival is timed to afford the best viewing opportunities during this season. The preservation of the Balcones Canyonlands staunchly protects this breeding ground for both of these at-risk species, and bird watchers at the Festival are highly likely to encounter them multiple times along treks.

Bird Watching Abounds at the Songbird Festival in Texas

Between premium, signature, and specialty birding tours, there’s likely a tour out there to satisfy all levels of birding enthusiasts from beginner to expert. The festival’s Signature Birding Tours are designed specifically for spotting these two endangered species along with other native migrant and breeding birds common to the area. Other events include a wine and stargazing event, several children’s activities, as well as educational courses in photography, breeding birds, song identification, and much more.

Attendees have ample camping options in the park, and there are plenty of comfortable accommodations in Marble Falls to meet your lodging needs during the festival. And, it’s wildflower season to boot!  Bluebonnets, paintbrushes, and other glorious blossoms have blanketed the area with a stunning array of colors.

As a former innkeeper at Lake Buchanan, Tracey Louis always enjoyed the spring time songs of the Central Texas birds, and frequently recommended hikes and parks for visitors to enjoy them in their natural habitats. 

Dusky-capped Flycatcher near Desert Center, CA

27 December 2012

Ten days ago (17 December) I found myself with some extra time after biological surveys near Desert Center, CA and decided to literally "take a hike."  Taking a quick scan of DeLorme's California Atlas & Gazetteer, I noticed two tiny canyons in the southeast corner of the Eagle Mountains that were named.  I decided that since the rest of the drainages in the area were unnamed, there must be something worthwhile in Difficult and Boulder Canyons.  (They turned out to be fairly broad, ironwood-lined drainages with a heavy dose of geologic scenery!  And yes, Difficult Canyon looked difficult to climb past a certain point...but I would argue just as bouldery as Boulder Canyon.)

On my way out of the canyon(s) at 3:00pm, having found some interesting plants (but not much in the way of birds) I heard a bizarre screaming call that sounded vaguely bird-like.  When I tracked down the source of the call, it proved to be a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer).  As I spent more time with the bird, the calls mellowed out into relatively "normal" Dusky-capped sounds, and I managed a few photos.  If accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, it seems this will be only the second record for Riverside County - although a quick search online yields 55 accepted records in the last 16 years for all of California, so it's not what I would call a "mega" rarity.  Still, a very fun bird to find on a random desert canyon hike!

Cheers,
John Yerger
Portal, AZ
john@adventurebirding.com
----------
Adventure Birding Company
Specializing in flexible, personalized guiding in SE Arizona
www.adventurebirding.com
520-495-0229

Note relatively thin bill, fairly bright yellow (chest to vent), and rufous secondaries.

Seems to be a hatch year bird based on the amount of rufous in the edges of the remiges (dorsally).  Apologies for the darkness of this photo; due to poor manipulation during cropping in an outdated photo editing program...

The clincher: no rufous in tail, ventrally.

12/19/12: A (Dead) Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the yard!

UPDATE:  12/21/12

It was brought to my attention that the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is in fact an ADULT bird, not an IMMATURE like I mentioned before.  No wonder it was such a beautiful specimen!   I collected the bird and plan on sending it to the University of Arizona to add to the collection.  At least it can be used for science...

Jake

UPDATE:  12/20/12 - 9:30

It is with great remorse that I inform all of you that the Rose-breasted Grosbeak that was frequenting my feeders yesterday was found dead in the front yard a few feet from its favorite seed block this morning.  There was some blood coming from its nose which may have been complications from hitting the window at one point yesterday.  After all that bird went through to get to my backyard it had to die so suddenly.  Such is life.

Pictured below all that remains.  Don't let the open eye fool you.  It's DEFINITELY deceased... R. I. P.

12/19/12 - 16:30

UPDATE:  bird seen again late afternoon.  Much better pictures obtained as seen below.  I will update tomorrow if the bird continues.

All -

12/19/12

One day shy of my 30th birthday a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK decided to spend the day in my yard in Tucson!

At 11:30 I was washing some dishes and noticed a large bird on the seed block in the front yard (the only bird I might add).  It was the adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak pictured below!  The bird was last seen at 1:50, but could easily still be around if you want to stop by and see!

email for directions to the house if interested...
mohlmann2@yahoo.com

Happy Holidays,

Jake

10/13/12 - Primm, NV Chestnut-sided Warbler

birders -

On October 13th, 2012 I decided to check the trees around Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nevada to see if any birds got grounded by the harsh weather from the previous night.  There were a bunch of migrants that had not been here the day before, the most notable of which was a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (pictured below).

The bird was in with a flock in the southwest corner of the Buffalo Bill's parking lot near the huge trees under the roller coaster.  This was about 100 meters NW of the stop light.  It was actively foraging in the low shrubs where it spent most of its time.  Other interesting birds in the flock included Townshend's Solitaire(2), Cassin's Vireo, Pine Siskin, Oregon Junco, and Red-breasted Nuthatch(3).

cheers,

Jake Mohlmann

10/18/12 - Eastern Phoebe - near Blythe, CA

birders -

On 10/18/12 Susan B. and I spotted an EASTERN PHOEBE at the "Oasis House" southwest of Blythe, CA (directions below).  The following picture is a documentation shot.

The day prior (10/17/12) I found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at this same location.  I told Rich Aracil about the sparrow and he went to look for it that day.  He mentioned he couldn't find the sparrow, but was certain he had an Eastern Phoebe at the same spot.  I went to look for the bird the following day and there it was, on the power line right in front of the house!  Thanks for the heads up Rich!

cheers,

Jake Mohlmann
currently outside Blythe, CA

DIRECTIONS to HOUSE:
The house is just west of the intersection of 22nd Ave. and Stephenson Blvd. easily accessed off of Neighbours Blvd. (78) southwest of Blythe.