Migration has already started here in the Big Country with the following sightings:

SeaBee Park, south end of Lake Fort Phantom:

• Great Blue Heron 1
• Great Egret 30
• Snowy Egret 50
• Little Blue Heron 2 , mottled back & wings
• Cattle Egret 4
• Green Heron 1
• White-faced Ibis 4
• Black-necked Stilt 6
• American Avocet 2
• Hudsonian Godwit 1
• Lesser Yellowlegs 1
• Willet 1
• Turkey Vulture 1
• Mississippi Kite 1
• Swainson’s Hawk 1
• Red-tailed Hawk 1
• Killdeer 2
• Black-necked Stilt 2
• White-winged Dove 1
• Mourning Dove 1
• Northern Mockingbird 1
• European Starling 5
• Red-winged Blackbird 10
• Great-tailed Grackle 20

Abilene Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Turkey Vulture 1
• Swainson’s Hawk 2
• Red-tailed Hawk 1
• Killdeer 10
• American Avocet 3; the baby was still quite downy, though wading and feeding independently - coverts still not contours
• Unidentified Sandpipers (too far away)
• Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
• Mourning Dove 1
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1
• Western Kingbird 10
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 8
• Loggerhead Shrike 1
• Barn Swallow 8
• Northern Mockingbird 2
• Red-winged Blackbird 10, heard only in grackle marsh/reeds
• Great-tailed Grackle 200, ginormous roost on the south pond
• House Sparrow

Sightings by Lorie Black, Dan Symonds, Heidi Trudell, Jeremy, Kathy Hampton, and Ted Goshulak

Complete List:

• Northern Bobwhite – 9
• Great Blue Heron – 1
• Great Egret – 1
• Mississippi Kite – 2
• Swainson’s Hawk – 1
• Red-tailed Hawk – 1
• Killdeer – 2 and four eggs on the ground
• Mourning Dove – 12
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 4
• Greater Roadrunner – 5
• Common Nighthawk – 6
• Black-chinned Hummingbird – 1
• Golden-fronted Woodpecker – 1
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker – 1
• Western Kingbird – 4
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – 2
• Loggerhead Shrike – 1
• Bewick’s Wren – 1
• Northern Mockingbird – 6
• Curve-billed Thrasher – 6
• Canyon Towhee – 1
• Pyrrhuloxia – 2, male and female
• Painted Bunting – 8
• Western Meadowlark – 1
• Common Grackle – 3
• Brown-headed Cowbird – 1
• House Finch – 1
• House Sparrow – 6

Sightings by LgPacker, on private property off CR 604, Callahan County

• Northern Bobwhite - 2
• Great Blue Heron - 5
• Great Egret - 5
• Snowy Egret - 6
• Green Heron - 5
• Turkey Vulture - 2
• Killdeer - 2
• Rock Pigeon - 7
• White-winged Dove - 4
• Mourning Dove - 18
• Black-chinned Hummingbird - 2
• Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 1
• Western Kingbird - 4
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 4
• Purple Martin - 8
• Cliff Swallow - 15
• Cave Swallow - 15
• Barn Swallow - 5
• Cactus Wren - 2
• Bewick’s Wren - 1
• American Robin - 4
• Northern Mockingbird - 13
• Curve-billed Thrasher - 3
• European Starling - 11
• Northern Cardinal - 10
• Painted Bunting - 5
• Red-winged Blackbird - 21
• Great-tailed Grackle - 7
• Brown-headed Cowbird - 4
• House Finch - 2

Sightings by Dan Symonds

A Least Tern was sighted by Lorie Black on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28. Please report this bird if you see it; it may be attempting to nest.

• Turkey Vulture 4
• Mississippi Kite 5
• Red-shouldered Hawk 1
• Eurasian Collared-Dove 4
• Mourning Dove 10
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
• Common Nighthawk 1
• Black-chinned Hummingbird 5
• Eastern Phoebe 2
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 2
• White-eyed Vireo 5
• Blue Jay 5
• American Crow 2
• Purple Martin 4
• Barn Swallow 5
• Carolina Chickadee 10
• Black-crested Titmouse 10
• Carolina Wren 2
• Bewick’s Wren 3
• American Robin 10
• European Starling 5
• Summer Tanager 1
• Northern Cardinal 12
• Red-winged Blackbird 4
• Common Grackle 5
• Great-tailed Grackle 15
• Brown-headed Cowbird 5

Sightings by Dan Symonds

• Wild Turkey 10
• Northern Bobwhite 2
• Green Heron 2
• Turkey Vulture 4
• Mississippi Kite 5
• Swainson’s Hawk 1
• Rock Pigeon 10
• Mourning Dove 10
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
• Common Nighthawk 2
• Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
• Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3
• Ash-throated Flycatcher 10
• Western Kingbird 4
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 20
• Blue Jay 4
• American Crow 2
• Chihuahuan Raven 2
• Purple Martin 2
• Cliff Swallow 33
• Barn Swallow 12
• Black-crested Titmouse 2
• Bewick’s Wren 6
• Eastern Bluebird 5
• American Robin 10
• Northern Mockingbird 7
• Curve-billed Thrasher 5
• European Starling 11
• Northern Cardinal 5
• Red-winged Blackbird 4
• Common Grackle 12
• Great-tailed Grackle 9
• Brown-headed Cowbird 5
• Bullock’s Oriole 2
• House Finch 6
• House Sparrow 10

Sightings by Dan Symonds, Mesquite Grove Golf Course

Callahan and Eastland Counties:

• Blue-winged Teal - 5
• Ruddy Duck - 1
• Wild Turkey - 1
• Northern Bobwhite - 6
• Great Blue Heron - 3
• Green Heron - 2
• Black vulture - 1
• Turkey Vulture - 21
• Mississippi Kite - 1
• Red-shouldered Hawk - 3
• Swainson’s Hawk - 4
• Red-tailed Hawk - 5
• Killdeer - 1
• Wilson’s Phalarope - 4
• Eurasian Collared-Dove - 6
• Mourning Dove - 34
• White-winged Dove - 19
• Inca Dove - 2
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2
• Greater Roadrunner - 1
• Common Nighthawk - 2 (Taylor County)
• Chimney Swift - 4
• Black-chinned Hummingbird - 9
• Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 5
• Downy Woodpecker - 1
• Eastern Phoebe - 8
• Ash-throated Flycatcher - 2
• Western Kingbird - 6
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 32
• Loggerhead Shrike - 1 (Taylor County)
• White-eyed Vireo - 3
• Red-eyed Vireo - 1
• Blue Jay - 1
• American Crow - 8
• Purple Martin - 7
• Cliff Swallow - 6
• Barn Swallow - 15
• Carolina Chickadee - 6
• Black-crested Titmouse - 17
• Carolina Wren - 6
• Bewick’s Wren - 26
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 5
• Eastern Bluebird 16
• American Robin - 1
• Northern Mockingbird - 54
• European Starling - 10
• Wilson’s Warbler - 1
• Canyon Towhee - 1
• Clay-colored Sparrow - 3
• Field Sparrow - 3
• Lark Sparrow 22
• Grasshopper Sparrow - 2
• Northern Cardinal - 62
• Blue Grosbeak - 2
• Painted Bunting - 54
• Dickcissel - 46
• Red-winged Blackbird - 9
• Eastern Meadowlark - 10
• Common Grackle - 8
• Great-tailed Grackle - 8
• Brown-headed Cowbird - 20
• Orchard Oriole - 1
• Pine Siskin - 2
• House Sparrow - 18

Sightings by LgPacker, Dan Symonds.

Highlights from Abilene State Park:

• Red-eyed Vireo – 2
• White-eyed Vireo – 1
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 2 (FOS for me)

Sunday, May 18, Kirby Lake:

• White-rumped Sandpipers - 4

Abilene State Park and Kirby Lake sightings by Lorie Black

Complete List:

• Mallard
• Great Blue Heron
• Green Heron
• Black-crowned Night-Heron
• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
• Turkey Vulture
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Coot
• Killdeer
• Spotted Sandpiper
• Semipalmated Sandpiper
• Rock Pigeon
• Mourning Dove
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Purple Martin
• Cliff Swallow
• Cave Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Northern Mockingbird
• Yellow-breasted Chat
• Clay-colored Sparrow
• Northern Cardinal
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Bullock’s Oriole
• House Finch

Sightings by Dan Symonds

Lake Fort Phantom Hill:

• Ruddy Turnstone - 1
• Yellow Warbler – 1
• Bonaparte’s Gull – 1

Kirby Lake

• Stilt Sandpiper – 2
• Semi-palmated Sandpiper – 1
• Spotted Sandpiper – 3

Cedar Gap Farm – Friday, May 9:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 1
• Indigo Bunting – 1 (female)
• Lazuli Bunting – 1 (female)
• Painted Bunting – 6
• Still many Pine Siskins

Above sightings by Lorie Black

Lake O.H. Ivie (Concho Recreation Area):

• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
• Wild Turkey
• Northern Bobwhite
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Green Heron
• Black Vulture
• Turkey Vulture
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Kestrel
• American Coot
• Rock Pigeon
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo
• Common Nighthawk
• Golden-fronted Woodpecker
• Ash-throated Flycatcher
• Western Kingbird
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Loggerhead Shrike
• American Crow
• Chihuahuan Raven
• Purple Martin
• Cliff Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Cactus Wren
• Bewick’s Wren
• Marsh Wren
• Northern Mockingbird
• Curve-billed Thrasher
• Scarlet Tanager
• Cassin’s Sparrow
• Chipping Sparrow
• Clay-colored Sparrow
• Lark Sparrow
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Northern Cardinal
• Pyrrhuloxia
• Blue Grosbeak
• Painted Bunting
• Dickcissel
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Bullock’s Oriole
• House Finch

Fish Species
• Florida Largemouth Bass 5
• Black Crappie 1

Mammal Species

• Cottontail Rabbit 4

Sightings by Dan Symonds

Backyard Feeder

• White-winged Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Chimney Swift
• Western Kingbird
• Blue Jay
• American Robin
• Ovenbird
• Clay-colored Sparrow
• Common Grackle
• House Finch
• Pine Siskin
• House Sparrow

Sightings by Dan Symonds who had a life bird with the Ovenbird! Sorry, no camera handy for a photo.

Lake Abilene

Highlights:

• Common Yellowthroat, FOS
• Indigo Bunting
• Blue Grosbeak, FOS

Complete List:

• Great Blue Heron 3
• Black Vulture 2
• American Coot 2
• Spotted Sandpiper 1
• Franklin’s Gull 75
• Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
• Mourning Dove 8
• Belted Kingfisher 2
• Western Kingbird 1
• Barn Swallow 10
• Northern Mockingbird 1
• Common Yellowthroat 2
• Chipping Sparrow 10
• Clay-colored Sparrow 20
• Lark Sparrow 5
• Lincoln’s Sparrow 2
• Northern Cardinal 5
• Blue Grosbeak 3
• Indigo Bunting 5
• Painted Bunting 3
• Red-winged Blackbird 10
• Common Grackle 5
• Brown-headed Cowbird 5

Sightings by Dan Symonds

Oakwood Trails

• Hairy Woodpecker – 1
• Nashville Warbler – 2

Sightings by Lorie Black