Guadalupe Delta CBC 2019-12-19
On Thursday I was fortunate to be able to again participate in the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Womack Ranch near McFadden, TX. Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me up and down a section of the Guadalupe River in a small boat. I bird from the boat and we make many stops where I hop out, walk a little ways into the riparian woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to see what songbirds respond. One of the goals of this count is to find lingering neotropical migrant songbirds, and this year was one of my most successful years in that regard.
The morning was extremely cold and clear. Weather predictions were for temperatures in the middle 30s but it was 23 degrees when we started out on the river at about 7:30! The river had a thick layer of mist:
At one of our first stops a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was one of the only birds to fly in to the owl recording. Something seemed strange to me about it, and it wasn't until I looked at my photos a few days later that I realized it had a black crown. Females usually have a red crown, and my Sibley guide describes this black-crowned variation as "seen occasionally." It was a first for me.
I counted more Green Kingfishers than any previous year. We encountered at least 6. Here's a female that let us get close enough for a photo:
Lingering neotropical migrants are migratory songbirds that usually spend the winter south of the United States, but that can be found in small numbers in south Texas. Through the morning we found a few Black-and-white Warblers and Wilson's Warblers. Just before lunch I heard the "zeet" call and briefly saw an Indigo Bunting. The afternoon was slow until about 3 PM at our very last stop before we had to turn around. I had the best mixed-species foraging flock of the day which included a male Northern Parula , a male Black-and-white Warbler, and a male Black-throated Green Warbler. There were also expected winter resident Yellow-rumped Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Pine Warblers. Six warbler species in one flock! In Texas in the winter! The parula was the least expected species, and I was happy to get a pretty good photo of it:
And here are the Black-and-white Warbler and the Black-throated Green Warbler:
By middle afternoon the temperature was in the low 60s. There was little or no wind and it was an absolutely beautiful day to be on the river. This was my view most of the day:
And this short video shows what it was like to glide along:
Here's my complete eBird checklist.
And here are a few more photos on Flickr.
Below are most of the same photos as iNaturalist observations.
Observações
Fotos / Sons
What
Pigargo-Americano (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
I think this is a second-year Bald Eagle that doesn't have its mature white head and white tail plumage yet.
Fotos / Sons
What
Abelha-Do-Mel (Apis mellifera)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Guarda-Rios-Cintado (Megaceryle alcyon)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Riscadinha (Mniotilta varia)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This species is one of the lingering neotropical migrants that this count is intended to find, species that usually winter further south than Texas.
At one of our last stops, the turn-around point on the river, I got the best mixed-species foraging flock of songbirds that responded to my screech-owl recording. It included Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-Verde-de-Garganta-Preta (Setophaga virens)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This species is one of the lingering neotropical migrants that this count is intended to find, species that usually winter further south than Texas.
At one of our last stops, the turn-around point on the river, I got the best mixed-species foraging flock of songbirds that responded to my screech-owl recording. It included Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
Fotos / Sons
What
Balança-Rabo-Azul-Cinzento (Polioptila caerulea)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-de-Mascarilha (Geothlypis trichas)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Bem-Te-Vi (Pitangus sulphuratus)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Martim-Pescador-Pequeno (Chloroceryle americana)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Martim-Pescador-Pequeno (Chloroceryle americana)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariposa-Azul (Passerina cyanea)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This is a poor photo of a cool bird, a female Indigo Bunting. This species is usually further south than Texas during the winter. One reason this bird count exists is to find lingering neotropical migrants like this one, spending the winter further north than usual.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-Azul (Setophaga americana)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This species is one of the lingering neotropical migrants that this count is intended to find, species that usually winter further south than Texas.
At one of our last stops, the turn-around point on the river, I got the best mixed-species foraging flock of songbirds that responded to my screech-owl recording. It included Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-Dos-Pinheiros (Setophaga pinus)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Pica-Pau-de-Ventre-Vermelho (Melanerpes carolinus)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Tartaruga-de-Orelhas-Vermelhas (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Chapim-de-Penacho-Cinzento (Baeolophus bicolor)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
I'm used to seeing Black-crested Titmouse in Austin, so it's a treat to see this very similar species that looks and sounds just a little bit different.
Fotos / Sons
What
Urubu-de-Cabeça-Vermelha (Cathartes aura)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-de-Barrete-Preto (Cardellina pusilla)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This species is one of the lingering neotropical migrants that this count is intended to find, species that usually winter further south than Texas.
Fotos / Sons
What
Mariquita-de-Barrete-Preto (Cardellina pusilla)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
This species is one of the lingering neotropical migrants that this count is intended to find, species that usually winter further south than Texas.
Fotos / Sons
What
Pica-Pau-de-Barriga-Amarela (Sphyrapicus varius)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
Fotos / Sons
What
Pica-Pau-de-Barriga-Amarela (Sphyrapicus varius)Observador
mikaelbDescrição
Taken during the Guadalupe Delta Christmas Bird Count on the Guadalupe River along the Womack Ranch.
Every year the Womack Ranch generously has a staff member take me on a boat up and down the river. We make frequent stops where I hop out, walk into the woods, and play an Eastern Screech-Owl recording to attract songbirds. This year the day started out extremely cold, 23 degrees! But it was a clear day without much wind, and it warmed up to the mid 60s by mid-afternoon. It was beautiful and it was an amazing way to spend a day.
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