And Then Fall Birds!

Yellow Warbler

Lark Sparrow

Say's Phoebe

Carolina Chickadee

Summer Tanager

Black-crested Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Lesser Goldfinch

Bewick's Wren

Black-chinned Hummingbird

We are in the beginning to mid fall migration in Texas.  The Baltimore Oriole  passed through a week or so ago.  Yesterday and today gave us a show of Yellow Warblers at the water.  I find it a bit more difficult to identify some fall warblers. I am still trying to decide which warbler I saw a few days ago at the water feature.  The young Summer Tanager male also visited today. He is probably moving through also. We have enjoyed them this summer. I have not seen a female in several weeks.  We still have many Hummingbirds in the yard.  They have been fighting at the feeders. I am making about 5 cups of nectar and it is nearly gone in 4 days.  I believe most of the Hummers are Black-chinned females.  We have seen a male Ruby-throat in the last few days.

Baltimore Oriole

Our birds seen consistently are Lesser Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Black-crested Titmouse, White-wing Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay, Lark Sparrow, House Finch , Bewick's Wren, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Phoebe and in the last few days we have enjoyed the Say's Phoebe. I have spent time watching the Say's catch bugs in the air, on the fly and on the ground. This is a very interesting bird and my first time to be able to observe it in the yard. I hope you are enjoying your fall migration in your area! Blessings.

The day of Fledge, Great Crested Flycatchers

Feeding

Speedy Fast!

Many types of insects!

A young bird preparing to fly!

Parent encouragement!

Parental consultation!!

The Calendar date is June 28, 2017.  Our flycatchers arrived to nest in our yard around the 23 day of May.  This was the first day I became aware they were here and I actually saw them both on top of one of our bluebird houses.  Today I witnessed the young leaving the nest.  I had walked down to where we have a photo blind set up to observe birds and photograph them. As I walked closer to the trees near the blind I heard the G.C. Flycatcher parents making sounds to each other. I have heard this communication many times over this past month.  The call was a bit different in that the female was right above my head high in a tree. Her call was consistent and she did it continuously for awhile.  I sat down in the blind still aware that something different was happening.  Yesterday the parents were continually arriving with food for the young in the nest.  Today the parents were close but not coming to the nest box.  They were in trees close by the box.  I do not know when the first bird fledged, I witnessed 2 flying from the box.  The scene I described had most likely been happening for awhile before I arrived. I first saw a head pushing forward from the nest box opening.  I had thought it was an adult coming out of the box at first.. I then saw the parents in tree and realized it was a young Flycatcher trying to fly the nest.  The young rocked back and forth, its head would be seen and then go back inside until finally it flew out very quickly toward nearby Cedar Trees. I have not seen any of the young since they fledged.  I have seen a parent with a bug in its mouth calling from a nearby tree to locate the young.  I believe there were four eggs in the beginning. I assume they all grew to be able to fledge.   This has been such a beautiful experience.  I am so thankful my husband and I were blessed to witness this journey in Bird Life.  Blessings!   Post Script! Yesterday we did see the Flycatchers flying on the back of our property. We feel the parents are feeding and teaching the young ones each day. We are not sure how long they will stay in the area. We are happy their nesting was successful although a bit sad that this adventure comes to an end.

Nesting Great Crested Flycatcher

Check it out!

Lots to sing about!

You lookin at me?

I think this will be nice.

We must get busy!

Working together!

I am always on alert!

Don't see anything!

One more inspection!

Mom returning!

Dad in nearby tree

It won't be much longer!

Oh, the waiting!

Happy Couple!

I am excited to post about our nesting birds.  JG and I have placed our nesting boxes in strategic parts of our 3.4 acres here in Texas. We have not enticed any Eastern Bluebirds as of this date. The Black-crested Titmouse and the Bewick's Wren have nested multiple times in various nesting sites.  We know the Golden-fronted Woodpecker is feeding young, we see it flying across our property to a large oak on our neighbor's property.  I find it interesting that the parents will gather food from one neighbor's suet and carry it across to the other neighbor's property for the nestlings.  How amazing and creative the birds are in feeding their young!
A few weeks ago I noticed the Great Crested Flycatcher checking out our bluebird box.  The pair caught my eye when both were inspecting the nesting box and sitting on it.  My heart was thrilled as I have never enjoyed this bird nesting on home property before.  We watched as the pair built a beautiful nest.  Several days later maybe 4 or so, eggs were in the nest.   We have set up a blind in the area for observing the pair as they wait for their young to develop and begin life in the outside world.
This post I will share photos I have captured thus far.  I hope you enjoy.  Blessings!

New Area to call Home!

I know you are thinking where are new posts? I must confess life has been busy and as I get older I realize not as much happens in a day...  We have re-located to the beautiful hill country of Texas.   We are in close proximity to Austin as well as San Antonio. We are still designing and creating our bird and wildlife sanctuary. We have 3.4 acres and love every inch of it.  We have enjoyed several Gray Fox, many deer and an abundance of birds.  Wild hogs have also passed through wrecking havoc in the yards of ourselves as well as neighbors.  There is also a nature trail close by with access to the Guadalupe River and Canyon Lake.  I can honestly say a new adventure has begun and I am loving the fun of exploration and learning the area.  At this time in April we have Lesser Goldfinch, a couple of American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrows, Field Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow and White Crowned Sparrows visiting the water. We have the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-chinned and Ruby- throated Hummingbirds. We enjoy the White-winged, Mourning and Inca Dove.  We have the Orange-crowned Warbler visiting the water drip.  The Bewick's Wren has been nesting in the yard in one of the bird houses and we also see the Carolina Wren on our cedar branch pile. There has been a Scrub Jay visiting the yard. I thought it was a Western Scrub Jay but a person seeing my photo thought it to be a Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay. I have since researched and found that in 2016 it was decided  that the Western Scrub-Jay would go away and now we have the California Scrub-Jay and the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay.  You can certainly read more about this online if interested. I will share photos of this beautiful Jay I have forgotten to name some of our current residents, the Northern Cardinal, Black-crested Titmouse and the Carolina Chickadee.   Blessings!

Our Yard

 Hill Country Wildflowers

Natural Grasses of the Area

Cute Young Goats

Belted Kingfisher

Field Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Lincoln Sparrow

Lincoln

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's

White-winged Dove

Lesser Goldfinch

After Christmas, before New Year!

Whooping Cranes

Roseate Spoonbills

Caracara, Crested, juv.

Sandhill  Cranes

Roseate Spoonbill

Sandhill

Northern Shoveler, male

Northern Shoveler, female

Tricolored Heron

Tricolored

Pied billed Grebe

American White Pelican

Least Bittern

American Bittern

American Bittern

Swamp Sparrow

Wilson's Snipe

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Whooping Crane

My husband and "birding buddy" decided to take a trip to the Rockport, Texas area for a few days. We always pack a few clothes more than we need. You just never know, you may find a place you want to explore a bit longer. Our days in Rockport were wonderful. We saw our beloved Whooping Cranes and enjoyed the Sandhill Cranes. We visited the Leona Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas. Our day there was filled with many birds, the American Bittern, Least Bittern, Wilson's Snipe, Northern Harrier, White Pelicans, Northern Shovelers, Tricolored Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Swamp Sparrow. I am sure there were others I do not remember.  I did have a serious accident with my camera and lens which shook me a bit. A very nice photographer, Louis and my hubby saved the day for me.  My husband loaned me a lens and I was up and shooting once more.  We then decided to travel to Mission Texas and check out the Rio Grande Valley. I will share some photos of Rockport with more to follow from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park and other amazing Birding sites offered by this diverse Texas area. Blessings!