Tuesday 8 March 2016

TEXAS 2016

Well...ready to go!

I think I've got the prep right? Time will tell.

The COMMON CRANE is still present east of Brownfield. So, it's a night near the Airport and off to the "Panhandle". I'm saving the surprise for Louise until Thursday?! My targets are spread far and wide and I don't want to push my luck. We'll see how it goes. Hope to pick up some Longspurs and a RLH. Maybe even a SEO.

My other 2 potential ABA ticks are in the Rio Grande Valley...namely NORTHERN JACANA and BLUE BUNTING. A mere 600 miles apart!

I'm thinking of a stop or two on the way. One will definitely be in New Braunfels NE of San Antonio as a Calliope Hummingbird has been wintering there. This would be an excellent State tick and a cracking bird to boot. He's just regaining his full gorget before moving on. He has his own Facebook page and he's the smallest species in North America!

Texas targets

Common Merganser 
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Short-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Calliope Hummingbird
Sage Thrasher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 
Greater Pewee
Fox Sparrow
McCown's Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Lapland Longspur

Purple Finch 

Relaxation is also the aim (believe it or not). I intend to try and gain better views of certain species I have seen poorly on previous trips. Whooping Crane being a prime example. I'll be doing the boat trip. Hook-billed Kite another in the RGV. Then there's the magnificent Warblers, Tanagers and Orioles.

I'll do my best to post on a regular basis...Hee Haa!

2 comments:

Pam said...

Enjoy the trip & good luck! I'll be looking forward to your posts!

Alan Whitehead said...

Hi Pam. Many thanks!