Sparrow Hunting

Yesterday I went birding with a very specific bird in mind that I wanted to see--the Fox Sparrow. I spent most of the morning walking the land at Tejas Camp that was off the beaten path with no luck on the hunted bird. I did see a ton of other birds though, including a record number Spotted Towhees.

As you can see, Tejas Camps is beautiful on a Fall morning (that would be a summer morning for you non-Texas folks). Along the creek there were cottonwoods with the expected winter American Goldfinches, and a lone Crested Caracara flew silently overhead.
Toward noon, I had almost abandoned my search for the Fox Sparrow and at the last minute decided to take the more manicured trail near the campsites and along the river. Withing a hundred feet, I heard the scratching on the ground in the dense brush and knew they were there. Sure enough, a pair of Fox Sparrows appeared through a somewhat clear section of the low, tangled branches. I watched their signature scratching for a moment and then chased a couple more down the trail. Soon, I had walked about a mile and kept delaying my turn back around by another sparrow. By the time got back to the car I seen 9 different species of Emberizids.

Soccer practice

Huddled in the fields
Little groups chirp and scatter--
Children and sparrows

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chipping_Sparrow/id

Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

Had a nice beltless, Belted Kingfisher this morning among the reliable flock of Black-bellied Whistling ducks in the front pond.

Butter Butts

If the arrival of the butter butts (yellow-rumped warblers) in my back yard this morning is any indication, I think the weather has shifted to Fall for good. Let's hope. I hate being cold on Halloween only to find myself hot again on Thanksgiving.

Fall Mornings

Out at a Lake Creek this morning briefly. The drought has resulted in less vegetation but in turn more pathways to explore. Had a nice vireo I have yet to ID and one of the nicer looking Loggerhead Shrikes I have seen in the last few years. This was especially sweet as last year or so I saw almost none.

Dawn of a New Era

Finally broke down and bought my first decent pair of binoculars. The cynic in me has a sneaking suspicion that they are little better than the $30 dollar Bushnells I've been using but who knows (check back later for a review). The good thing is, they do come with an unconditional lifetime warranty so I will never have to buy another pair (actually either will anyone I give them to as they're good for the life of the bins no matter who purchased them).

Since I have the new binoculars, I plan on leaving the camera home for awhile. Hopefully, I can still make posts fairly interesting, or at least be more prolific.

Two new projects

I've stalled a little bit with my birding...call me a fair-weather birder if you wish, but it is too dang hot to go look at the same Texas summer birds.

Instead, I am using this heat as an excuse to tackle some artistic projects that I have been meaning to do for quite some time. Although the second project is a slower process and will be a time before anything is finished, I have begun the 1st and already have a few done. Here is one example below, and you can find more here as they are completed.