After our 18 days in Texas this spring, I submitted 79 different checklists to eBird, the citizen science website administered by the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where anybody anywhere in the world can record their bird sightings. During those 18 days, I saw an astounding-to-me 210 different species of birds, even though more experienced … Continue reading On the Road–More Texas Birds
I had seen exactly one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) in my life prior to our trip to Texas this spring, in May 2021, when a lone representative was observed 15 miles south of Colorado Springs at Clear Spring Ranch, a birding hotspot. This triggered an odyssey of local bird lovers to the site, as this … Continue reading On the Road–Texas Scissortails
Considering the range map of this iconic bird, it is no surprise that we came across Greater Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) during our Texas road trip this spring. Possibly known by more people thanks to a cartoon rather than real life, allow me to set the record straight. We did not hear any roadrunners utter the … Continue reading On the Road–Texas Roadrunners
I always claim that my favorite bird is the one I’m watching at any given moment and while I stand by that statement, some birds undeniably have an added aura of attractiveness. Such is the case with wading birds. Sleek and slender with varying degrees of long-leggedness, lovely color combinations, and accent plumes, they are … Continue reading On the Road–Texas Wading Birds
We took our leave from Falcon State Park but before turning north onto US Highway 83, we backtracked a short distance south to the small town of Salieño with an eponymous wildlife preserve at the end of a dirt road. In the winter, a portion of the preserve called DeWind’s Yard, a birding hotspot, is … Continue reading On the Road–Part 9
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