Hot Day with Plenty of Bird Songs

Though the breeding season is almost over I had many birds singing today. Whether they are late nesters or second nesting they sure are enjoying this hot summer day. Temperatures began at 74 degrees under clear, calm skies and a partial lunar eclipse between 5:30 and 6 AM (picture).
Today I saw family groups of the White-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager and the Eastern Phoebe. Still hearing Black & White Warblers, Northern Parulas, Louisiana Waterthrushes as well as buntings and Blue Grosbeaks. I saw Purple Martins for the second time this year flying over the park.
Water levels in the Pedernales River are at their normal lows. This is my last official survey of the season. I must return to open up all the boxes to see what may have hung out in them besides birds this year. One out of ten boxes was used by the Black-crested Titmouse.

The third photo shows the mouth of Hackenberg Creek where I have nest box seven and eight one on each side.

Summer Solstice Outing

Having not surveyed last weekend I certainly made up for it this morning. I had many surprises, not all avian. The morning started out calm, humid and slightly overcast at 73 degrees. With no wind I should have heard a pin drop but my first walk-in along Hackenberg Creek there was a deafening buzz of insects. I am not sure if they were cicadas. They may have been another species of insect. Does anyone have a clue?
The Red-eyed Vireo was the most incessant songster of the day. Not a single Golden-cheeked Warbler was seen or heard. The breeding season looks to be over for them. I still have a Least Flycatcher singing on territory at Tobacco Creek. He definitely is not a Western Flycatcher. His song is the distinctive "Che-bek". This bird has a white eye ring and two dull wing bars. When the bird sings it flicks its tail and wings. I am very familiar with this species as I had them on breeding bird surveys in Upper Michigan.
At Tobacco Creek Seep I finally had the opportunity to photograph the Louisiana Waterthrush nest after the young fledged. This pair of waterthrushes chose to build their nest right in the middle of the seep on a slope that was dangerous for both four and two footed creatures to approach. The first photo above is an area shot, the second the nest.
Flybys today were a Crested Caracara, two Green Herons and a Great Egret. The Yellow-billed Cuckoos continue to be abundant this year.

I happened upon a huge Walking Stick by nest box #4 at Trammel Crossing. This fellow was over 4" long. Lucky I had gloves on when I handled it as I noticed nice sized claws at each leg joint. I also believe I found my first ever Indian arrowhead laying at the base of a sapling where the tree growth raised it out of the ground. The Summer Solstice certainly was filled with a variety of surprises for me!

Breeding Birds Mob Screech Owl

Today I had a picture perfect view of all the current bird life residing at station #4 - Trammel Crossing. Earlier in April I heard a Eastern Screech Owl whistling along Twin Falls Creek. Today that owl caused quite a ruckus among resident birds. I walked upon a mixed flock of birds mobbing the owl. Two Black & White Warblers, White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Carolina Wrens and Chickadees, Northern Cardinal and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The owl eyed me for a few minutes then decided to split the scene escaping the flock of scolding birds.
Birds were singing at all my stations, including a late Least Flycatcher at Tobacco Creek. This bird was heard and seen at this location two weeks ago. It will not find a mate in this part of the country as its nesting range comprises deciduous forests around the Great Lakes and Midwest.
I was surprised to find two Green Kingfishers flying by at the Tobacco Creek confluence to the the Pedernales River, first sitings of the year. At the Tobacco Creek Seep an adult Louisiana Waterthrush was still bringing food to its nest nineteen days after I first discovered the nest. It carried away fecal sacs from the nest.
The day was too hot and muggy for me to spend any time at the bird blind today. When I do finally have time to visit the blind it is the worst time of day 12 noon. The best time to visit the blinds are right after sunup.