One of the big disappointments about Texas birding is the amount of trash you encounter along roadways – about anywhere. Many times I’ve spotted a Crested Caracara up ahead to find it’s only one more Walmart plastic bag tangled on a fence post. Of course, with no recycling, no returnable deposit, and a “toss it out the window” mentality, what can you expect?
Recycling is about non-existent throughout the South. It hurts to crush plastic milk cartons and toss them with the cardboard, cans, and other recyclables. State parks are pretty lame, with only aluminum cans collected. Since we drink no soda or beer from cans, well you get the picture.
The other day I drove over to a large wildlife management area for some birding. It is used for grazing as well and some of the residents didn’t seem too impressed by the Vermont plates and kayak on the red truck.

It was a foggy morning and on the way on the access road, I saw a life bird – a White-tailed Kite perched in a dead tree. I took a photo through my scope which was pretty fuzzy but ok for documentation.

Once I left the truck and began birding alongside the Guadeloupe River, I was shocked by the debris. Some was from recent high water but much was crap left by hunters and fishermen. Beer cans galore, fishing line in trees, it was really depressing. But some great birds helped make up for it. Red-bellied woodpeckers made a racket while dozens of yellow-rumps did their flycatchers act.
The highlight was a big bird that flew off and perched in a tree up ahead. Thankful that I didn’t have the dog with me, I got right underneath a Great Horned Owl who watched me through the branches but stayed perched as I photographed it and then quietly moved on.

It was a good birding outing but I could not help but contrast it with my trips to new England WMA’s. Sure, you’ll always run into idiots who litter, but in Texas, it seems to be genetically imprinted. Mary and I are far from alone at our disgust for the situation – many from Canada and the upper mid-West share our opinion – as I’m sure do many Texans.

Every so often, we’ll hear a thunk as a bird hits one of our windows and while they usually fly off to the woods (perhaps to die), it is an awful feeling. We keep the drapes closed and have tried bird decals but still it happens. Here’s more on bird strikes.
Now, a new product – window tape – is available from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

Developed from research on window strikes, the tape is translucent (birds can see it but light comes through), not expensive ($10.95 to $14.95 per roll), easy to use, easily removed, re-usable and can last up to 4 years!
“ABC has tested a number of different materials and patterns for their ability to deter birds from colliding with glass. The results prompted ABC to produce and make available under its own name, a new consumer product to help concerned people prevent this significant source of bird mortality,” said ABC President George Fenwick.
Here’s where to order although your local bird supply store should have it soon.

Photo by ABC

Last week, on a bird walk at Goose Island State Park, we saw a hummer at a feeder which some thought to be a Costa’s – which is rather rare in Texas. For about a week, a quiet debate has transpired with finally the group leaders agreeing that it was a young Costa’s. So having seen the bird and photographing it, I put it into my eBird records. And it was picked up as a rare bird and a reviewer queried me about more photos, etc. This is a routine process with any unusual sighting and I have been through it before.
As it turns out, the bird was at the site when I returned today and I got some better photos.

Upon seeing the new photos, Eric Carpenter, the eBird reviewer wrote: “Dick,
I think this is likely a female Black-chinned. I don’t see any white
above the eye, the bill looks a bit longer than it did in the other
photos and there does seem to be a good amount of white in the tail
feathers.”

So, no Costa’s but still, for me a new life bird. I like the scrutiny that goes into official sightings and the help that the experts give birders trying to record the right species. I guess I’ll have to head to Arizona for a Costa’s. Perhaps next year.

Location:Circle Lake Dr,Rockport,United States

I dropped Penny off this morning for the operation to remove the lump from her hind leg. Going there, I mentioned to Mary as we traversed a school zone in busy Rockport, “Boy, these sneak up on you – and people really adhere to the speed limit – must be tough enforcement.”
I dropped Mary at the Laundromat and returned to leave off Penny when, “Oh, crap, the school zone” and I hit the brakes just as I saw the two cop cars moving. I pulled over, had my paperwork out, and as the young officer came up, Penny greeted him with a lick. After a long wait as he ran the computer check, he came back with a written warning. So, the day started out ok after all.
We got a call at lunch from the vet’s office saying that Penny was resting fine and I could pick her up at four, which I did. After lifting the groggy 55 pound Vizsla into the truck, we traveled back to Goose Island where I carried her into the trailer.

The biopsy will take a week or so but we’ll see the vet Saturday to change the bandage and check things out. Stitches come out in two weeks and right now, we don’t have a slot here after next week. Weekends fill up and all reservations are taken but we’ll figure out something.
Penny is sleeping beside me on the couch as I write and is quite tuckered out. The trick will be as she heals because she can walk but can’t run for two weeks. We are glad to have her home.

Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas is a great birding spot – even in a drought year like the present one. Between shorebirds and woods birds, there’s a great diversity of species and some years (although not this one) a rarity or two. Here are some captures of a few of the interesting feathered friends I’ve encountered in the last week.

A Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Laughing Gulls

Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruddy Turnstone

Spotted Towhee

Turkey Vultures

White-crowned Sparrow

Willet