Birding on the Extra Day of Leap Year

This morning I walked around in the woods for a while. The bird activity was pretty high. I only added two new ones today: Pileated Woodpecker and Neotropic Cormorant (flying over). But, the other birds were very active. There were quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers still. They were all over the place. The American Robins were still around in large numbers. Several birds are singing quite a bit. Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, White-eyed Vireo and Northern Cardinal were all singing. Purple Martins are flying overhead and singing their gurgling song. An Eastern Bluebird was singing in our front yard this morning. I may go ahead and move the other bluebird box and put it somewhere else besides our yard. The bluebird seems to be claiming the territory in our yard and my aunt's yard.

Birds seen today, Feb. 29 (39 species): Neotropic Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, American Goldfinch

'08 Property Birds as of Feb. 29: 59
'04 Property Birds as of Feb. 29: 55

Nice Wake-up Call

This morning when I woke up, an Eastern Bluebird was sitting on our TV antenna just outside of our bedroom. He was singing his heart out. I just laid in bed and listened to him for ten minutes. I really hope he's going to use the box in our yard. He could be checking out the Purple Martin housing too. They nested in one of the gourds a couple of years ago and actually hatched some eggs. A male House Sparrow got in the nest and killed all the chicks. That sparrow was promptly trapped and he experienced the same fate of the bluebird chicks. Anyway, I'm hoping for some success in my box and the box in my aunt's yard.

Not much time for birding this weekend

I wasn't able to do much birding this weekend. I took my aunt down to the new pond yesterday to show it to her. I kept watching the radar and some pretty heavy rain headed here, so I made the decision not to get out in the woods to be drenched by some heavy rain. I kept waiting for the rain and finally checked the radar. It got to the western side of Harris County and fizzled out. By that time, Kristen was going into town and I had the kids. This morning I'm going to a funeral and then going to the church to get ready for our activity tonight.

One exciting thing is that my aunt e-mailed last week to say that she had seen bluebird activity at the bluebird box in her yard. If none of them use the box in our front yard this year, I think I'll put it in the pasture out of the line of sight of the one in her yard.

I've seen more Purple Martins over the past few days. I've got my house and gourds all ready for them when the young birds arrive. I keep watching them. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not even March yet.

Speaking of the pond earlier, it is absolutely full. I need to find the cattail seeds I have and plant them so we can get some cover for ducks and other birds down there. I'm thinking of cutting some new growth off a couple of the willow trees at the old pond and root them. We pull up as many tallow trees as we possibly can everytime we go down there.

I did see a few birds yesterday just around the house (15 species): Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

'08 Property List as of Feb. 22: 55
'04 Property List as of Feb. 22: 51

Walking in the Woods on Feb. 15

Kristen and I walked down in the woods this morning. It was very cloudy and it sprinkled on us a little bit. The birds weren't very active this morning.

I got a little excited because the first Purple Martin I've seen this year flew over. I also added a Tree Swallow and a House Wren to the 2008 list.

Birds Seen today (33 species): Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

'08 Property List as of Feb. 15: 55
'04 Property List as of Feb. 15: 49

Pretty Good Day on Feb. 8

This morning was very busy down in the woods. It was a very nice morning to walk. Temps started out about 50 degrees and slowly warmed. I got down into the woods and heard a warbler-like song. I knew I should have recognized it but for some reason it wasn't making sense to me. Finally, I found the bird making the call and realized why I should have recognized it. It was a Pine Warbler singing his little heart out. I have never heard Pine Warblers singing in the woods here. I hope that means they'll be nesting here. I have seldom seen more than two Pine Warblers in an entire year and I tripled that total today! They were singing everywhere. I certainly got excited for spring to get here! The cardinals are singing and chasing each other. White-eyed Vireos were singing their fast-paced songs. Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens and even Hermit Thrushes were singing today.

Another interesting observation happened when I was walking along the eastern fenceline. A large bird flew out of one of the trees in front of me. I got my binoculars on it and it was a Red-shouldered Hawk carrying a squirrel. That was pretty neat to see.

I finally heard my first Barred Owl of the year. They have been very, very quiet lately. Other birds that were firsts for 2008 include: Caspian Tern, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Common Grackle.

I don't see Caspian Terns very often, but occasionally they fly over. I was out playing baseball with the boys and one flew over from west to east. The dark primaries on the wings were plain as he was only 40 ft. in the air.

On my way out, I got to the fence and three coyotes were moving from east to west across the pasture. They got to the trees on the western side of the pasture and went south. I lost sight of them when they got to the road the drilling company made.

Birds seen today (39 species): Caspian Tern, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian-collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch

'08 Property List as of Feb. 8: 52
'04 Property List as of Feb. 8: 49

Purple Martins, Please!

I got out and cleaned out the starling nests that were built last year and will go by the store and get some wood shavings to put in my gourds. I just ordered a perch from Nature House and will install that when it comes in. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else I can do. This will be my fifth year to try and attract martins. I am hoping that the bluebirds that nested in my box last year is a good sign. I had given up on bluebirds ever nesting in our boxes and then suddenly there they were! Maybe I should just give up on martins ever nesting with me . . .

I've been watching the "scout" sightings on The Purple Martin Conservation Associate website. It's fun to watch them move north and see who sees them first in the different areas. I don't know as many people this year. Hopefully I'll be able to add my name onto their active colonly landlords this year!

Feb. 1

This morning I walked for about three hours in the woods. I saw a brand new property bird right off the bat - a Vesper Sparrow! He makes property bird #183. I was pretty excited about seeing him. I got down into the woods and the other three new ones I saw were White-eyed Vireo, Brown Thrasher and Black Vulture. There were vultures flying all over today! I'm not sure why.

The cardinals, Carolina Wrens, White-eyed Vireos and Tufted Titmice were singing territorial and mate-attracting songs this morning. I noticed several times male cardinals chasing each other. Spring is coming, even if it doesn't seem very close! I was thinking that it will just be six weeks or so before the Northern Parulas are back singing in the Spanish moss laden trees. While I don't look forward to spring because it means summer is right around the corner, I love it for migration.

The pond is nearly full. I am amazed at how much it has filled just with run-off. It only lacks a couple of feet to being absolutely full. Shouldn't be long if we continue to the the kinds of rains like we've had lately.

Birds seen today (26 species): Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch

'08 Property List as of Feb. 1: 43