Colorado River Bird Survey: March 2009

Posted by ardeidae on March 09, 2009

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!

Report by Claude Morris.

Location: Austin Colony to Webberville near Austin, Texas
Observation date: 3/7/09

Alright, what happened to all the ducks? Last months survey we listed 14 species of ducks and this month only 2 species. We couldn't even find an old Coot. Could it be that all this warm weather has them thinking about leaving? All this warm weather has the Carolina Chickadees singing. Those guys were chattering and singing all day and all down the river.

Perhaps our best birds of the day were three Bald Eagles (2 Adults and one juvenile) and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Always making a highlight list is Barred Owl and Inca Doves.

On a side note we found a water snake warming itself, the nicotine plants are blooming and we had about 12 feral pigs swim across the river ahead of us.

The very windy conditions make paddling a bit difficult today.

We listed 44 species while trying to keep out kayaks upright and grab some photos of the emerging spring.

Gadwall 86 Lesser Scaup 20 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 5 Black Vulture 32 Turkey Vulture 26 Osprey 7 Bald Eagle 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Accipiter sp. 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 10 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Crested Caracara 3 Spotted Sandpiper 24 Greater Yellowlegs 4 Mourning Dove 9 Inca Dove 4 Barred Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker 12

Downy Woodpecker 3 Eastern Phoebe 6 Blue Jay 15 American Crow 7 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 45 Tufted/Black-crested Titmouse 4 Carolina Wren 15 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 Northern Mockingbird 3 American Pipit 2 Cedar Waxwing 48 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Song Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 26 White-crowned Sparrow 32 Northern Cardinal 56 Red-winged Blackbird 700 Common Grackle 22 Great-tailed Grackle 15 American Goldfinch 22

All photos by Claude Morris