Record Temps

Well, in a post earlier this week on my first Common Nighthawk of the season, I mentioned it would not be long until 100 degree weather would be here. Little did I know just how short that time would be. The next day the temperature in Wichita Falls hit a record breaking 101. Too much, too soon.

Good birding!

River Bend Nature Center Program

Last night I attended a program at River Bend Nature Center presented by Bob Lindsay at Wild Bird Rescue on "Attracting Birds to Your Yard." It was a good program with about 15 people in attendance. It should have been more, but word really didn't get out well.

Good Job, Bob! (If Wild Bird Rescue posts the handouts to their web site, I will add a link in a future post.)

Good birding!

More Yellow-headed Blackbirds

I was coming home on 281 today between Windthorst and Scotland at the feedlot and saw a cloud of blackbirds rising from the ground. When I got close enough to see the birds more clearly, they were yelow-headed blackbirds--easily over 100 birds.

Good birding!

Common Nighthawk

I feel summer has truly arrived when I hear my first Common Nighthawk of the year. I was attending a seminar this evening and when I left about 8:30 PM, I heard the distinctive call of the bird locally known as a Bulbat. A friend told me over the weekend they thought they heard one late last week, but this was my first for the year.

Maybe it seems April is early to be saying "summer," but those of us who live in this area know just how short spring can be and how soon it could be 100 degrees. Here's hoping for a loooonnng spring.

Good birding!

FOS Western Kingbird and Hummingbird

I saw my first Western Kingbird of the spring on a wire in Wichita Falls today. There was only the one. As usual, the scissortails are far more numerous. I also saw my first hummingbird of the season checking out the feeder at Wild Bird Rescue. Although the feeder was empty, the red sage is in bloom. If was in and out so fast, I wasn't able to tell if it was a ruby throat or a black chinned.

Good birding!

Roadrunner High Jump

I was driving down a new road behind the Wal-Mart on I-44 on the northern side of Wichita Falls and a roadrunner ran across the road. The interesting behavior was the high jump over a barrier when it reached the other side. From flat on the ground, it jumped over a barrier at least 2 ft high, without using its wings. Seems high to me.

Good birding!

Cattle Egrets in Wichita County

I was driving back from Iowa Park today and saw 4 cattle egrets in a field, so they have arrived.

Good birding!

Chimney Swifts!

Chimney swifts are among my favorite birds. I haven't seen any yet, but I did get an email from Bob Lindsay at Wild Bird Rescue on Thursday that a bird entered the chimney swift tower. Bob's Blog for the day has the details.

Good birding!

FOS Cattle Egrets

I saw my first cattle egrets Tuesday (April 7) driving back from Cresson. There were three in a field in Parker County. Although I say thousands of cattle and horses between Parker County and Wichita County, I didn't see any other cattle egret. I expect they will show up in Wichita County within a few days.

Good birding!

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Every sping for a few weeks, the yellow-headed blackbirds come through on migration. Sometimes I miss them altogether--although there may be large groups of them, they seem to be sporadic in occurrence. But this morning at Wild Bird Rescue's feeders, there were two of them, mixed in with the usual red-winged blackbirds.

Good birding!

State of the Birds

Last night I had the privilege of talking to the new Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalists training class about birds. As part of that talk, we touch on conservation issues. I wish I had opened a report State of the Birds before that class. As it is, I will have to be satisfied with getting the link placed in the chapter newsletter and hope a few of the class members read it.

Thanks to Bob Lindsay at Wild Bird Rescue for the link.

Good Birding!