Birding by Kayak

Posted by ardeidae on December 08, 2008

The cold front moving through Austin was at the tail end, but I knew it was going to be a bit chilly in the morning, so I loaded up my kayak Friday night. And cold it was! On the way to the put-in spot, the car said it was 29 degrees. But by the time the three of unloaded our kayaks at the Utley bridge, where the 969 and Colorado River meet, it was clear that it was going to be a beautiful sunny day. As we put our boats in the water around 9am, it was already around 45, with only a slight breeze. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. By the time we wrapped things up around 3pm, it was 65. What a wonderful day!

Through our nine-mile trek, we racked up 44 specied of birds, including two juvenile and two adult Bald Eagles as well as two Pileated Woodpeckers. I was able to add Crested Caracara to my life list.

This trip was part of a monthly survey of the Colorado River corridor between Austin and Bastrop. It takes place the first Saturday of the month and is led by Claude Morris (who also keeps the detailed lists as seen below). If you’re in the Austin area and want to join in, let me know. Birding on the water provides a great perspective and beautiful scenery. Hope to see you on the water!

Wood Duck 9   Pileated Woodpecker 2 Gadwall 47   Eastern Phoebe 18 Mottled Duck 8   Blue Jay 26 Green-winged Teal 12   American Crow 58 Double-crested Cormorant 112   Carolina Chickadee 48 Great Blue Heron 14   Tufted Titmouse 4 Black Vulture 22   Carolina Wren 11 Turkey Vulture 17   Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 Osprey 2   Eastern Bluebird 8 Bald Eagle 4   American Robin 38 Cooper’s Hawk 1   Northern Mockingbird 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 6   American Pipit 18 Crested Caracara 5   Yellow-rumped Warbler 64 Killdeer 32   Vesper Sparrow 5 Spotted Sandpiper 20   Savannah Sparrow 32 Greater Yellowlegs 5   Lincoln’s Sparrow 4 Least Sandpiper 26   White-crowned Sparrow 7 Mourning Dove 18   Northern Cardinal 38 Belted Kingfisher 9   Red-winged Blackbird 68 Red-bellied Woodpecker 7   Brewer’s Blackbird 24 Downy Woodpecker 2   American Goldfinch 37 Northern Flicker 1   House Sparrow 22	Flight of Cormorants
	Colorful Trees Photo by Claude Morris
	Beautiful Views