Category: Big Country Blog

  • January 19, 2013 – Abilene Wastewater

    30 species (+1 other taxa) Gadwall – 10 Mallard – 2 Northern Shoveler – 250 Northern Pintail – 20 Green-winged Teal – 2 Bufflehead – 16 Ruddy Duck – 56 Double-crested Cormorant – 10 Northern Harrier – 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 Red-tailed Hawk – 2 American Coot – 150 Killdeer – 6 Greater Yellowlegs – 1 Ring-billed Gull – 40 White-winged Dove – 20 Mourning Dove – 10 Ladder-backed Woodpecker – 1 […]

  • Dec. 8, 2012 – Lake Ft. Phantom Trip

    Number of Species: 41 Gadwall – 18 Mallard – 4 Blue-winged Teal – 18 Green-winged Teal – 12 Lesser Scaup – 8 Horned Grebe – 3 Double-crested Cormorant – 22 American White Pelican – 5 Great Blue Heron – 12 Great Egret – 7 Northern Harrier – 3 Red-tailed Hawk – 4 American Coot – 200 Sandhill Crane – 990 Killdeer – 12 Greater Yellowlegs – 5 Long-billed Dowitcher – 25 Bonaparte’s […]

  • October 27, 2012 – Lake Colorado City

    Number of species – 35 Gadwall – 20 Blue-winged Teal – 50 Northern Shoveler – 40 Green-winged Teal – 100 Redhead – 20 Ring-necked Duck – 20 Ruddy Duck – 20 Eared Grebe – 2 Double-crested Cormorant – 15 American White Pelican – 11 Great Blue Heron – 1 Great Egret – 2 Northern Harrier – 2 Red-tailed Hawk – 2 American Coot – 300 Sandhill Crane – 32 […]

  • Prairie Chickens seen at Lake Abilene?

    Larry Millar has received a report of Prairie Chicken sp. being seen at Lake Abilene yesterday.  No other details, but Larry says the person is a reliable source. This is a Lesser Prairie Chicken, it may look similar to it.   If you see them, please call our hotline and/or notify Abilene SP officials.

  • Species Spotlight… Great Kiskadee

    The Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratusis) a large (8.8 in. long, weight 2.2 oz.) tyrant flycatcher. It breeds in open woodlands with some tall trees, including cultivation and around human habitation, from southern Texas and Mexico to Uruguay and central Argentina, and on to Trinidad. An adult Great Kiskadee has a stout black bill. The head […]

  • Lake O.H.Ivie Field Trip by Kathy Hampton

    Six birders were welcomed at 7:00 AM on Saturday, Novemberl14, 2009 with a gorgeous red sunrise complete with some clouds, Venus and a narrow sliver of the moon. Leaves showed the range of colors–light green, dark green, yellow, orange, red, brown and all the shades between. I do not recall ever seeing the mesquite leaves […]

  • Spring Migration-Many Happy Returns

    It’s the time of year birders await with eager anticipation.  How will spring migration be this year?  The songbird migration of 2009 kicked off in early April with very good numbers of Clay-colored Sparrows moving through along with Chipping Sparrows.  Indigo, Lazuli and Painted Buntings have all been seen at Cedar Gap Farm.  Now will […]

  • March Birding Madness: County Firsts!

    The last week of March has revealed some incredibly out-of-range birds in the Big Country.  What is likely a Taylor County first is this Hooded Oriole, showing up at a nectar feeder at a northeast Abilene residence on March 24, 2009: Photo by LgPacker Hooded Orioles are normally found along the Rio Grande, in southern […]

  • A Dove and a Pelican

    Two bird occurrences made news here at BCAS this past week:  First, the rare sighting of a Ruddy Ground-Dove was reported in Tom Green County: Kudos to Don (who’s identity will remain protected); he found the bird in his backyard hanging out with the Inca Doves.  Also, over at Ocellated, there are some excellent first […]

  • What Happened in December?

    Nothing happens in the bird world in December, right?  Besides we’re too busy with holidays, CBCs (I did three!),  shopping, baking, and entertaining.  But while we were sleeping and waking and running, some of you noticed the birds and sent us photos. A lingering Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was found at the wastewater treatment plant in Jones […]