Raptors, Night and Day; Project Launch!

March 23

I took my dog, Puppet, on a walk at Bentsen State Park, just three miles down the street from where I live. Having checked on the recent local sightings (the Explore feature in the updated version of the eBird app is really something else, and nearly feels like cheating), I was on the lookout for an early Chimney Swift, Broad-winged Hawks, or a Swallow-tailed Kite. 

I was on a short timeline, having spent the first part of the morning doing some scheduling for my guiding company, and didn't make it to the park until around 10 am. I sandwiched in 65 minutes (as my eBird list tells me) between office work and my 12:30 class at the gym. We walked a mile in, and turned around to do a mile back. Wowww! Who turned on the gnatcatcher faucet? I came upon a conservative estimate of 110 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers bouncing around in about ten trees. The only other birds I was able to pick out amongst them were two Black-crested Titmice in the mix.  

On my walk out of the park, a Swallow-tailed Kite buzzed low over the trees before quickly becoming higher and more distant, and several Broad-winged Hawks started circling above, riding the thermals as the earth started heating for the day. 

There's a Swallow-tailed Kite on the left here, and a Turkey Vulture on the right. You might just have to take my word for it though...I suppose I need more practice in "digibinning"! 

Year List: 494

March 24

This morning, I went to Bentsen, again for the dual purpose of birding and dog walking. I brought a Birdie alarm with me, intending to gift it if I found someone suitable. About a mile into my walk, I  ran into a couple who was biking and birding. They'd just ridden under a spot where a Northern-Beardless Tyrannulet was singing. I stopped them to let them know, and we listened a few more times, but never were able to get eyes on the bird. 

We chatted a bit more; Robin and her husband are visiting in town from Arkansas for a week. I asked Robin if she birds alone, and she said she does, sometimes. I began explaining my project, and handing her the alarm I'd been carrying. They offered me their cabin on a river in Arkansas, anytime I'll be in the area or passing through. With limited funds and driving / camping most of the year, connections like this are helpful! 

I made my way up to the hawk tower, where I ran into a woman around my age named Alison from Michigan, on her way out to the parking lot, having just left the "hook-billed kite vigil" that a few other people also from Michigan were a part of. I was disappointed I'd only taken one alarm with me, or I would have given her one, but as it turns out, I ran into her again at the parking lot! I grabbed an alarm from my car, and walked over to her, mentioning I was hoping to run into her again. As it turns out, she had already read about my project on Facebook! I gifted her the Birdie, and she continued on about how she was doing a "Big Year" of sort of her own. Traveling the US for the year and living out of her truck. Another brave lady soul, determined to not let her gender stop her from living as she pleases! Upon the completion of our conversation, I deemed her most definitely a perfect recipient of the alarm. 

Just before sunset, I went back to Bentsen State Park, this time without my pup, to see if the Elf Owls had returned once again to nest this year. Sure enough - around 7:45 pm, one poked its head right out of the cavity. There was probably a second bird around, but I didn't stick around long enough to check, as mosquitoes were having a field day with the little bits of exposed skin I had.

Year List: 495