Hi Tweeters,

I just returned from a week in Texas. It turned out to be a pretty amazing time. I found nearly every bird I hoped to see.

The highlight was a partially albino Fulvous Whistling-Duck in a flock of about 100 normally plumaged FUWD along FM 2855 northwest of Katy on April 27. I was able to get some photos of it, which can be seen in the Texas Birds folder on my website, along with photos of other birds I saw. Here is the link:

http://osprey.bardill.net/gallery/

Other highlights (for me):

Peregrine Falcon -- perched atop the tall steel electrical tower at the south end of the bridge to High Island, April 24.
Greater White-fronted Goose -- two close to the FUWD flock along FM 2855, April 27.
Mississippi Kite -- two flying south of Rosenburg, April 23 and two flying over Katy, April 27.
White-tailed Hawk -- hovering over the road about 10 miles north of Bravos Bend State Park. It dropped down and caught a fairly large rodent, then flew into the Live Oaks in front of a wonderful antebellum mansion.
White-rumped Sandpiper -- 12-15 at Anahuac NWR on April 22.
Upland Sandpiper -- 6 in a field south of FM 1985 east of Anahuac NWR, April 22; 6 in a field east of the Katy-Hockley Cut Off Road on April 26 and 12 along Pattison Road on April 27.
Buff-breasted Sandpipers -- 30 or so mostly flying over the field on the south side FM 1985 on April 22; 4 in the field along Pattison on April 27.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker -- one female Jones State Forest north of Houston on the evening of April 26. Managed to find it two times and it gave me wonderfully long looks through the scope.
Black-billed Cuckoo -- in the Smith Woods. My best look at this species yet.
Phidelphia Vireo -- on the boardwalk at the north end of Boy Scout Woods on April 24.
Golden-winged, Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Cerulean Warblers -- at High Island on April 24. My son, who joined me for the weekend (and who isn't a birder) was amazed at the enthusiasm of the birders standing on the deck at the Cathedral. It was an amazing experience!
Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo -- one each at Balcones NWR on April 26. I only heard the vireo but got a good look at the warbler. The butterflies were wonderful there. I also saw my first Gray Fox, long before it saw me, trotting up the dirt road toward me.
Gray-cheeked Thrush -- in the trees south of the Cathedral, April 24.
Yellow-headed Blackbird -- on the east side of the Katy Prairie, flying with a flock of cowbirds. According to the book, this is a very late sighting.

For the week I saw about 170 species (not bad considering I wasn't birding the entire time) including 32 species of shorebirds and 20 species of warblers. It was an excitingly wonderful week. I am sure to be going back, especially since my son is now living in Austin.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA




* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* dgranstrand at charter.net *
photos on-line at:
http://osprey.bardill.net/gallery/