Summer Morning Birding

June 25, 2008 Summer Morning Birding: Pecan Grove and Soccer Fields and Lake Waco Hike and Bike Trail. 8:00 AM-10:15 AM, 81 F-91 F. As George Carlin says, it started out hot…got hotter…got too hot. Sunny conditions, wind not getting up until almost 10:00.

It was good to be out having just been released from the doctor’s care for my left knee. It is always good to be greeted by calls and songs immediately as one gets out of the vehicle. Twenty seven species were identified. However, one sparrow’s identification is worrisome. I think that I’m going with an immature Swamp Sparrow. This was found head high in a pecan close to the river. At first, I thought it might be a Lincoln’s, but it was duller all over. The chest lacked any kind of stripes. And to complicate things, the checklist lists this bird as uncommon in all seasons save summer, which has no designation.

There were several Barn Swallows flying low over the soccer fields—beautiful, fast and acrobatic. Eastern Bluebirds, immatures, were on the edge of the grove near the fields. Overhead, flying over the fields headed to the river in an upward echelon were a Copper’s Hawk followed by a Red Tailed Hawk followed by a Turkey Vulture.

While Mourning doves were found on the fields, it was White-winged Doves on the Hike and Bike trail. I enjoyed Mr. Gaudy, a.k.a. Painted Bunting, male. Mixed in with the Cliff Swallows were a few flying cigars, a.k.a. Chimney Sifts, near the Dam.

Red Bellied Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren, h
Carolina Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
Downy Woodpecker, h
American Crow
Swamp Sparrow, imm.
Tufted Titmouse
Great Crested Flycatcher
Barn Swallow
Eastern Bluebird
Turkey Vulture
Red Tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher, h
Northern Mockingbird
Scissortail Flycatcher
Common Grackle
Mourning Dove
Yellow Billed Cuckoo, h
White-winged Dove
Painted Bunting
Cliff Swallow
Chimney Swift
European Starling, imm.