Texas 19 - Continued

Makes sense to carry on from our first departure from Galveston for a break in the Hill Country based at Kerrville NW of San Antonio. We'd stayed at this Best Western before...and loved it. We were given an upgrade last time so no harm in asking again. We were successful! Big points scored...

We reached the Hill Country mid-afternoon on Monday the 23rd. Our first port of call was the wonderfully named Lost Maples S.P. Mid-afternoon wasn't ideal (after our long drive from Galveston BUT we enjoyed a relaxed afternoon by the feeding station after my abandoned walk up the East trail due to a predictable lack of activity.

Species seen included the elusive and local White-tipped Dove...

Rufous-crowned Sparrow...

The hoped for Audubon's Oriole never materialised BUT a Scott's made a very brief visit to the feeder...

Tuesday was my big day with Martin Reid. I blotted my copybook when my alarm never went off but we still left the Motel at Kerrville at 5.15am. A couple of hours later (yes!) we were at our first site looking for the ever elusive Gray Vireo. Despite trying several sites we just couldn't locate one. A definite "nemesis" species for me. Despite the dull conditions we did find some decent stuff.

Ash-throated Flycatcher...

Vermillion Flycatcher...

Cassin's Sparrow...

Black-throated Sparrow...

Yellow-breasted Chat...

As we left the weather started to improve as shown by this fast disappearing Wild Turkey...

Gobble Gobble!

As we were driving to our next destination, a flash of colour shot across the road just in front of us. Martin pulled the car over and we started to scan...and scan. Nothing to be seen...then...

Hooded Oriole

A truly superb bird!

A definite bonus sighting for our day.

Next it was down to a site near Uvalde (Cook's Slough) looking again for the elusive Audubon's Oriole. Still no luck but we did see Great Kiskadee and Long-billed Thrasher...eventually...

...and another Ash-throated Flycatcher...

We finished off at Mill Creek Road near Leakey. A truly beautiful spot. We added Bushtit, Eastern Pheobe, Golden-cheeked Warbler (my only sighting), Hutton's and Blue-headed Vireos.

Martin had an evening appointment so he dropped me back at the Motel at 4. I thanked him for a great day.

It wasn't over yet though. It was sunny now, so we decided to have a walk down by the river. There was an excellent paved path which made the walk easy. Incredible numbers of Cave Swallows were nesting under the bridge.

Then...a large distinctive shape high (100'+) in a tree. A hoped for bonus...

A monster Kingfisher! This is a SIXTEEN inch bird. I've seen them down in the Rio Grande Valley but this was my furthest North sighting, by some distance. Ebird had struck again...

A tremendous end to a great day...