Warming up...

Here in Central Texas we have reached high temperatures earlier than even usual. We were well into the 90's in early may and I believe hit the century mark right around June 1st. It is already too hot to do most things outside after eleven and it is not even officially summer.

Anyway, early mornings tend to be OK and that is when you want to go birding anyway. As I had my daughter's dance recital early in the afternoon and still had quite a few things to do I decided I would stay close to home and limit myself to a hour or so.

It turns out this was more than enough time as nothing was really out, and all the usual species made themselves known early and often. Near the pedestrian bridge where I planned to turn around, however, I got a great look at a Downy Woodpecker and two very patient Inca Doves. Unfortunately, the doves were perched on top of a gigantic metal hand rail which look terrible in photos. I am always shocked at how much smaller they look than the more common White-wing and Mourning doves, although you probably can't tell from the picture below.