I spent a good morning venturing all the way down from the dam to the Loop
and overpass. I did not manage to locate an ovenbird (I'm guessing it has
moved on at this point), but I did have overall good numbers of painted
buntings, orioles, and so forth. The oxbow area was very productive--that
was the first time I'd gone down that far, so thanks to all who keep
posting their finds from that area. I now know how far down I can push it
if I really want to. Other highlights included a yellow-billed cuckoo, a
flushed male pheasant, and the continuing Bell's vireo (it was upstream of
the Oxbow this morning). Full ebird report below for those interested.
You'll find some photos on ebird and iNat as well.
Happy Birding,
Johnny
Yellow House Draw downstream of Canyon Lake 6, Lubbock, Texas, US
Jun 4, 2021 9:15 AM - 12:54 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.13 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Hiked all the way downstream of Dunbar along the
Yellowhouse Draw. Oxbow area was very productive for buntings, grosbeaks,
and cardinals. Continued to just south of the Loop underpass. Mostly sunny
and in the low to mid 70s
39 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard 1
Northern Bobwhite 1 Distinct call and later, flushed, just northeast
of the open dam area.
Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Male. Flushed between water treatment area and
the 'hell's gate' trestle bridge.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) X
White-winged Dove 7
Mourning Dove 23
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Seen in flight and then heard the distinctly
metallic "cow-cow-cow." Along the main draw but near the oxbow.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 Perched and easily visible male near the
oxbow area.
hummingbird sp. 1
Snowy Egret 2 One overhead, one closer to the dam upstream.
Cattle Egret 1 Flyover. Brownish gold on back.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Swainson's Hawk 1
Western Wood-Pewee 1 Smallish flycatcher with slightly peaked head,
sitting upright in a visible perch. Mostly gray from my angle with long
wings at sides.
Western Kingbird 27 Some could've admittedly been repeats, since I did
do an out and back hike, but I tried to be careful not to double count the
birds in close proximity to me.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1
Bell's Vireo 1 Located after hearing its distinct song. Pale yellow
beneath. Faint eyering of white. Tail movement. Only got one
less-than-ideal photo. Continuing bird.
Blue Jay 2
Barn Swallow 4
Cliff Swallow 9
Bewick's Wren 3 One in the morning, near the start of my walk, in the
scrubby trees NE of the trestle bridge, singing and visible.
Two more downstream of the oxbow almost to the loop overpass.
European Starling X
Northern Mockingbird 5
American Robin 1
House Sparrow X
House Finch 5
Lesser Goldfinch 1 One near the oxbow area. Perched.
Lark Sparrow 3
Western Meadowlark 1 Heard distinctly singing uphill and to the
northeast of the open dam area.
Orchard Oriole 5
Bullock's Oriole 7
Red-winged Blackbird X
Bronzed Cowbird 3 Red eye distinct. One male partially puffing out his
"mane"
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 2
Great-tailed Grackle X
Northern Cardinal 9
Blue Grosbeak 8 Female photographed.
Painted Bunting 14
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S89607125