hookem2010
Well-known member
Apparently I get the itch for a big day as soon as Spring becomes evident, as I did one of these on 3/14/24. While that one was spontaneous, I planned on starting the morning doing a partial big day. The challenge would be bring my 5 month-old along and finding reasonable diversity within about 5 km from home. Remaining so local, and knowing I was only going to have about 5 hours, broken up with baby time, limited the planning I needed to do, but going over surefire, likely and unlikely birds in my head, I set a goal of 60 species.
I started the day scanning power lines and fence posts while taking the older kid to daycare, figuring this would be the easiest way to tick some raptors. My very first bird of the day was a crested caracara, a common enough, but welcome sight, as missing it in a single day certainly seemed possible. I also added red-tailed hawk and american kestrel, birds that I would not report again as the day went on. I'd also add a flock of killdeer scurrying across a mowed field just outside my neighborhood. Somewhat surprisingly, I wouldn't hear or see any more of the species today.
While the baby got a nap in at home, I spent some time in the yard. Of the 17 species seen, barn swallow and black-crested titmouse turned out to be important finds for my day list.
My day begain earnest around 9, when the baby and I headed to the local water tower to tick the regular mink parakeets. While giving the boy a bottle, we racked up some more non-natives like starling, pigeon and house sparrow, before heading out for our first walk with 25 species already in hand.
I pulled into Creekside Park along Brushy Creek (the body of water along which I'd spend much of the day) and was greeted by two Bewick's wrens counter-singing. I started ticking expected birds, like lesser and American goldfinch, cedar waxwing and eastern phoebe. I also saw a small group of common grackle fly by, one that can be tricky if you don't stumble upon one of the large local flocks. A female Ladder-backed woodpecker would be my 2nd of what I hoped would be 5 woodpecker species on the day, and a Northern house wren scurrying in the brush became my first new year bird of the day. I saw many of the usual suspects, and reached the end of the trail, where I hoped to spot the single wigeon hanging out with the resident gadwall, but he was nowhere to be found. I did spot a distant cormorant that turned out to be the less common neotropic variety, after having seen a fly-by double-crested earlier.
Now at 44 species, I made a quick drive over to the adjacent park, looking for a resident Egyptian goose. It was absent, so I made a last second audible and headed farther down the creek to a park I never really bird at, but remembered seeing domestic geese along the shore. When I pulled into Veterans Park, the Egyptian goose was dozing along the shore. I almost left right away, but decided to take a closer look at the small flock of ducks on the water. In addition the ubiquitous gadwall, a handful of FOY blue-winged teal paddled around. At closet inspection, I noticed a cinnamon teal drake, I bird that had evaded me during my 2 years in Williamson County! The park I had no intentions of stopping at when the day began produced the best bird of the day.
With the temperature starting to creep up a bit as midday approached, I figured I needed to try for some sparrows if I had any chance of adding to my paltry 2 species. I headed to Rock Hollow Park, an unimpressive piece of land, especially since the city cleared the vegetation from the accidental pond the result of a downstream beaver damn. However, the mowed fields and tangles along the fence lines have historically been good to me when it comes to sparrows. A walk along the eastern half of the park produced a couple savannah sparrows and american pipits, both new for the day, but not much else. As the baby, now strapped to my chest, headed with me to the western end, we encountered a few gorgeous eastern bluebirds, another reason for making this stop. Walking along the wood's edge proved unproductive, but when we made the turn along the fence line, a few sparrows hopped into view. A quick look showed Harris's sparrow, which I had little hope of encountering elsewhere, and a very late FOY white-crowned sparrow. Soon thereafter, we spotted a single chipping sparrow amongst a flock of American goldfinch. With this stop serving its purpose, we moved on.
Meadow Lake Park seemed liked the best chance for a rarity, as it is the largest body of water in the immediate area. It's also very shallow and can produce a whole lot of nothing, which was mostly the case today. The purple martin houses were occupied, at least, and walking to the very end of the trail proved worthwhile, as I was just able to make out my first loggerhead shrike of the day. A flyby Cooper's hawk would turn out to be the last new raptor of the day, checking off all the most expected species.
Like any real big day/week/year participant, I felt the need to quickly slam some fast food, so i grabbed a sonic cheeseburger and headed for another stretch of Brushy Creek to attempt to for some last passerines and woodpeckers before ending the day with waterfowl. The trail was... quiet. Only the most common residents were moving around and singing. I thought it might be a total bust, but I did luck into the eastern screech-owl sunning itself in the entrance to its nest box! After continuing down the trail and seeing pretty much nothing, I saw a large woodpecker with yellow underwings fly across the trail. Northern flicker, bird #60 for the day!
Having reached my goal, we headed to Old Settlers Park, our final stop. While the fields on the west end of the park are under massive construction, the east side remains accessible and the wintering ducks don't seem much bothered. Immediately upon stepping out of the car, a small flock of brown-headed cowbirds were seen perched in a nearby tree, a welcome tick. Moving to the water's edge, it appeared all the usual suspects were there, most new for the day. Pied-billed green, American coot, lesser scaup, northern shoveler, canvasback, ring-necked duck and ruddy duck made 68 species. I had seen a pair of buffleheads the last time I was here, but figured they must have moved on, until I spotted the diminutive divers on the far north end of the pond while walking back to the car.
69 species for the day, by 2 o'clock, shattering my number of 62 last year, sans child!
Looking at the expected and unexpected birds of the days efforts, one stands out in each category. As previously mentioned, cinnamon teal was a new county bird for me, all the better being self-found on my patch. The big miss? Downy woodpecker! I've routinely seen them at nearly all of my stops on the day, including my own yard. Definitely one that I had in the "surefire thing" category.
Nevertheless, a pleasant way to spend a pleasant day.
I started the day scanning power lines and fence posts while taking the older kid to daycare, figuring this would be the easiest way to tick some raptors. My very first bird of the day was a crested caracara, a common enough, but welcome sight, as missing it in a single day certainly seemed possible. I also added red-tailed hawk and american kestrel, birds that I would not report again as the day went on. I'd also add a flock of killdeer scurrying across a mowed field just outside my neighborhood. Somewhat surprisingly, I wouldn't hear or see any more of the species today.
While the baby got a nap in at home, I spent some time in the yard. Of the 17 species seen, barn swallow and black-crested titmouse turned out to be important finds for my day list.
My day begain earnest around 9, when the baby and I headed to the local water tower to tick the regular mink parakeets. While giving the boy a bottle, we racked up some more non-natives like starling, pigeon and house sparrow, before heading out for our first walk with 25 species already in hand.
I pulled into Creekside Park along Brushy Creek (the body of water along which I'd spend much of the day) and was greeted by two Bewick's wrens counter-singing. I started ticking expected birds, like lesser and American goldfinch, cedar waxwing and eastern phoebe. I also saw a small group of common grackle fly by, one that can be tricky if you don't stumble upon one of the large local flocks. A female Ladder-backed woodpecker would be my 2nd of what I hoped would be 5 woodpecker species on the day, and a Northern house wren scurrying in the brush became my first new year bird of the day. I saw many of the usual suspects, and reached the end of the trail, where I hoped to spot the single wigeon hanging out with the resident gadwall, but he was nowhere to be found. I did spot a distant cormorant that turned out to be the less common neotropic variety, after having seen a fly-by double-crested earlier.
Now at 44 species, I made a quick drive over to the adjacent park, looking for a resident Egyptian goose. It was absent, so I made a last second audible and headed farther down the creek to a park I never really bird at, but remembered seeing domestic geese along the shore. When I pulled into Veterans Park, the Egyptian goose was dozing along the shore. I almost left right away, but decided to take a closer look at the small flock of ducks on the water. In addition the ubiquitous gadwall, a handful of FOY blue-winged teal paddled around. At closet inspection, I noticed a cinnamon teal drake, I bird that had evaded me during my 2 years in Williamson County! The park I had no intentions of stopping at when the day began produced the best bird of the day.
With the temperature starting to creep up a bit as midday approached, I figured I needed to try for some sparrows if I had any chance of adding to my paltry 2 species. I headed to Rock Hollow Park, an unimpressive piece of land, especially since the city cleared the vegetation from the accidental pond the result of a downstream beaver damn. However, the mowed fields and tangles along the fence lines have historically been good to me when it comes to sparrows. A walk along the eastern half of the park produced a couple savannah sparrows and american pipits, both new for the day, but not much else. As the baby, now strapped to my chest, headed with me to the western end, we encountered a few gorgeous eastern bluebirds, another reason for making this stop. Walking along the wood's edge proved unproductive, but when we made the turn along the fence line, a few sparrows hopped into view. A quick look showed Harris's sparrow, which I had little hope of encountering elsewhere, and a very late FOY white-crowned sparrow. Soon thereafter, we spotted a single chipping sparrow amongst a flock of American goldfinch. With this stop serving its purpose, we moved on.
Meadow Lake Park seemed liked the best chance for a rarity, as it is the largest body of water in the immediate area. It's also very shallow and can produce a whole lot of nothing, which was mostly the case today. The purple martin houses were occupied, at least, and walking to the very end of the trail proved worthwhile, as I was just able to make out my first loggerhead shrike of the day. A flyby Cooper's hawk would turn out to be the last new raptor of the day, checking off all the most expected species.
Like any real big day/week/year participant, I felt the need to quickly slam some fast food, so i grabbed a sonic cheeseburger and headed for another stretch of Brushy Creek to attempt to for some last passerines and woodpeckers before ending the day with waterfowl. The trail was... quiet. Only the most common residents were moving around and singing. I thought it might be a total bust, but I did luck into the eastern screech-owl sunning itself in the entrance to its nest box! After continuing down the trail and seeing pretty much nothing, I saw a large woodpecker with yellow underwings fly across the trail. Northern flicker, bird #60 for the day!
Having reached my goal, we headed to Old Settlers Park, our final stop. While the fields on the west end of the park are under massive construction, the east side remains accessible and the wintering ducks don't seem much bothered. Immediately upon stepping out of the car, a small flock of brown-headed cowbirds were seen perched in a nearby tree, a welcome tick. Moving to the water's edge, it appeared all the usual suspects were there, most new for the day. Pied-billed green, American coot, lesser scaup, northern shoveler, canvasback, ring-necked duck and ruddy duck made 68 species. I had seen a pair of buffleheads the last time I was here, but figured they must have moved on, until I spotted the diminutive divers on the far north end of the pond while walking back to the car.
69 species for the day, by 2 o'clock, shattering my number of 62 last year, sans child!
Looking at the expected and unexpected birds of the days efforts, one stands out in each category. As previously mentioned, cinnamon teal was a new county bird for me, all the better being self-found on my patch. The big miss? Downy woodpecker! I've routinely seen them at nearly all of my stops on the day, including my own yard. Definitely one that I had in the "surefire thing" category.
Nevertheless, a pleasant way to spend a pleasant day.
