tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61045317682465629692024-02-07T07:03:52.467-05:00Gripping BogeysI'm taking a vacation. My job ended on August 14th in MA and I'm ready to take my interest in birding across the U.S. At this point, I'm going to use this blog as a means of recollecting the birds, places, and friends that I see on this journey. My year American Birding Association checklist started on September 1st.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-80374192808400360432010-09-16T15:59:00.001-04:002010-09-16T16:01:54.976-04:00The birds will have to waitMy "Big Life" will have to be temporarily suspended. I am going to be an adult and start teaching middle school Earth & Space and Integrated Sciences at a local middle school. And right in the midst of fall migration too.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-23848357746911717772010-09-10T09:43:00.002-04:002010-09-10T09:49:08.299-04:00Birding ContinuesDespite my thought that I would slow down or stop after my year was over, the birds of South Florida have had other plans for me. On Tuesday, Eva and I headed down to the Everglades and picked up the super-rarity CUBAN PEWEE that had been spotted two days prior, <a href="http://flyingmullet.blogspot.com/2010/09/cuban-pewee-day.html">but I''ll let her tell that day's story</a>.<br /><br />Yesterday, after a report of a female CERULEAN WARBLER at A.D. Barnes Park, I headed over and had luck finding this inconspicuous warbler. Migration is in full effect.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-40214501122876769382010-09-03T13:13:00.001-04:002010-09-03T13:13:45.621-04:00Guess what?Rosana and I are going on a trip to see Eva and her parents... and I am intentionally NOT bringing my binoculars.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-80351905858008410532010-09-02T09:45:00.003-04:002010-09-02T10:15:33.094-04:00Crunching the year's numbers80 different places slept at.<br /><br />12 of which were campsites in my tent, for a total of 16 camping nights.<br /><br />28 places I stayed at were with the wonderful people who I'd never met until I showed up at their houses. A thank you to each of them is not nearly enough.<br /><br />I received a meager income from 5 random jobs throughout the year, including: independent carpentry with Devin, URI's Ryan Center, Opinion Outpost, the Sunrise School of Miami, and the Miami Science Museum.<br /><br />I traveled through 31 states and 1 Canadian Province (B.C.).<br /><br />467 ABA countable birds. However, there are 12 non-countables that I saw throughout the year:<br /><br />HILL MYNA<br />YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET<br />MITRED PARAKEET<br />BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW<br />CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW<br />MUSCOVY<br />EGYPTIAN GOOSE<br />GREYLAG GOOSE<br />PURPLE SWAMPHEN<br />BLACK-HOODED PARAKEET<br />PEAFOWL<br />RED-MASKED PARAKEET <br /><br />So the number of wild, breeding birds in the U.S. and Canada that I observed this year was 479.<br /><br />I added 167 lifers to my list, giving me a life list of 497 right now.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-55768173836621823722010-09-01T09:46:00.002-04:002010-09-01T09:54:43.048-04:00Big Year Complete!The last few days, I've been scrambling around Miami-Dade and beyond looking for those final birds. My last day of the year, yesterday, proved successful.<br /><br />I got to Lucky Hammock and the Annex first, seeing a WHITE-TAILED KITE at about 6:30 am, land in the hammock, and immediately fly back west, where it had come from. Ironically, this is what Eva and I were really hoping for 1 year ago today when setting out on our first of my year big day. Yesterday, I also saw several WHITE-EYED VIREO, empids, tons of EASTERN KINGBIRD and PURPLE MARTEN in the Immokalee Rd. area. I also was able to find a SOLITARY SANDPIPER east of the C-111 canal that I was looking for for my year, so well worth the early trip.<br /><br />I then went to Dagney Johnson in Key Largo looking for a BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO, but didn't get to see it after a couple hours of looking (9am-11am). This bird escape me this year, but definitely not for lack of trying.<br /><br />In the early afternoon, I went to Matheson Hammock to look for the KENTUCKY WARBLER, reported the evening before, but had no luck. I did see a couple WORM-EATING WARBLER, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and NORTHERN PARULA. Warbler migration is in full swing.<br /><br />In the afternoon I went up to Miami Shores with Rosana to look for a WHITE-WINGED PARAKEET. We drove around there and El Portal with no luck. We went to Starbucks there at about 4pm and got great looks at a flock of them, and then immediately noticed two RED-MASKED PARAKEET bothered by a Cooper's Hawk. Both of these were lifers for me, but only the WHITE-WINGED is ABA acceptable.<br /><br />We celebrated last night up in Hollywood with some beers. I'm trying to wrap my head around the conclusion of this adventure still. I intend to put reflections, statistics, and future plans in the coming days in weeks.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-39196041157281722132010-08-19T11:05:00.002-04:002010-08-19T11:11:55.518-04:00Life's RuffYesterday I headed down to south Dade to try to find the briefly seen female RUFF at the Cutler Wetland the evening before. Nobody had seen it since, and my one-hour search was no different. After, I headed to Lucky Hammock and the Annex to the Everglades, which proved that neotropical migrant movement had not fully begun, having only seen a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and WHITE-EYED VIREO. On my way back up, I drove through some of the agricultural fields in Florida City, and came across a pack of 3 UPLAND SANDPIPER, which was a lifer!dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-57104284486607646552010-08-17T13:40:00.003-04:002010-08-17T13:51:33.726-04:00Vacation and Florida OddballsRosana and I took a trip up to St. Augustine, the Georgia coast, Savannah, and back down to her parents house. It was a good trip that included watching ghost crabs, ropeswinging, good beering, biking, history learning, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HJfXyCnb8IB9ML6hZhnrFifsEDEqaBW3j73_C4qu3u9p24O22NLneMFLrcn5GbhCEZYDZUbQwRLFs1oovLHjc8x56L0ZDLTTc4vIfAxKhtmky-YECDRS5NxoReBLwz6rFbM9kVPxNi2x/s1600/DSCN1998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HJfXyCnb8IB9ML6hZhnrFifsEDEqaBW3j73_C4qu3u9p24O22NLneMFLrcn5GbhCEZYDZUbQwRLFs1oovLHjc8x56L0ZDLTTc4vIfAxKhtmky-YECDRS5NxoReBLwz6rFbM9kVPxNi2x/s320/DSCN1998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506436126705047346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ4WkhA8HkkpnGqaGBua2xjRbe9Yyl6QO0iCibOMQvgycTbHGw-Dn5hxx-qGVokY19uCetzx6snWbRiwmkE8Z1O2cT73BHtjHz9rk9kfAyO9_2rT1_EMT1KaWY-X1xutvo9RETa8_AvGj/s1600/DSCN2003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ4WkhA8HkkpnGqaGBua2xjRbe9Yyl6QO0iCibOMQvgycTbHGw-Dn5hxx-qGVokY19uCetzx6snWbRiwmkE8Z1O2cT73BHtjHz9rk9kfAyO9_2rT1_EMT1KaWY-X1xutvo9RETa8_AvGj/s320/DSCN2003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506436498067681922" border="0" /></a>We also got a chance to look for birds, including the gregarious FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY, which we more than just saw! Additionally, we went to look for the few eastern migratory WHOOPING CRANES that have been reintroduced to Central Florida. There was one at the Double C Bar Ranch, hanging out with a bunch of SANDHILL CRANES. Quite a sight. On our way home, we stopped in Palm Beach County to look in the sod agricultural fields, looking for the recently reported UPLAND SANDPIPERS, but were unsuccessful. Now Rosana's back to school, and I am back to being an unemployed birder.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaUX7qUdc-C78Ecg7VOgcmHT9onJIZVjlwbqsD-Fk_gbe6nNE9kUVZ8W4ouEtcNSQwC3rIzyaUYsLmRsRPnmAAdzUxs8sP5u4EWLhuwx0mOWaCcser22du4JisoWXB8sX35znPgcHDuCl/s1600/DSCN2014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaUX7qUdc-C78Ecg7VOgcmHT9onJIZVjlwbqsD-Fk_gbe6nNE9kUVZ8W4ouEtcNSQwC3rIzyaUYsLmRsRPnmAAdzUxs8sP5u4EWLhuwx0mOWaCcser22du4JisoWXB8sX35znPgcHDuCl/s320/DSCN2014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506436129267525410" border="0" /></a>dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-11012546913134099282010-08-09T14:13:00.004-04:002010-08-09T14:31:13.218-04:00PBC big day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4siSXj4GeipnNYkJi0UXkYVUHKixXkPo-hehZVPiCkWGwMUmsXkF1BcA-Y3MM00sHoScsmP2LUkREX2mjCKEQbrQrZ3ucU-S6tjXZJaktpG3FV8fhavjkomHIMGRiRYG7c4VHkatOjrf9/s1600/DSCN1979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4siSXj4GeipnNYkJi0UXkYVUHKixXkPo-hehZVPiCkWGwMUmsXkF1BcA-Y3MM00sHoScsmP2LUkREX2mjCKEQbrQrZ3ucU-S6tjXZJaktpG3FV8fhavjkomHIMGRiRYG7c4VHkatOjrf9/s320/DSCN1979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503479203399414802" border="0" /></a><br />Eva, Kim, and I went for a day of birding Palm Beach County agricultural fields and stormwater treatment areas on Sunday. We had a great day of 69 species, including my year BLACK TERN. What's more than that, we broke the <a href="http://flcountylisting.com/nassau_to_washington">Palm Beach County Big Day record (of 65)</a>. Looking over the records for a number of county big days, we realized we could probably break the record for a few with relative ease (Broward - 64, St. Lucie - 57, Nassau - 34). Still 3 weeks until the end of my year, and I've got a new birding goal in mind.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-61091280603652534062010-08-03T21:15:00.005-04:002010-08-03T22:24:02.974-04:00one at a time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP1fzmpbaaD-1xECRvLbgLS8QCzj-CRvpCKz4k-1VWrpLDMeqlFJl3RhlenPALIydLglSQx_TiKxRZ5i55l-p9ZmQ15vJtqfuQubMcJSWk7fei9XbJ6M0HpfHIQ4x0u6Oz7Tiy_E81Cr9/s1600/DSCN1971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP1fzmpbaaD-1xECRvLbgLS8QCzj-CRvpCKz4k-1VWrpLDMeqlFJl3RhlenPALIydLglSQx_TiKxRZ5i55l-p9ZmQ15vJtqfuQubMcJSWk7fei9XbJ6M0HpfHIQ4x0u6Oz7Tiy_E81Cr9/s320/DSCN1971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501358124368374770" border="0" /></a>As July turned to August, I have come to realize that I need to beef up this list before the end of my year. Hopefully this will happen, as it seems to be in the process.<br /><br />I drove up to Eva's house on Saturday night, and we got an early start in the morning. We headed up to St. Lucie County to try to get some looks at two birds that have eluded me: BACHMAN'S SPARROW and FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY. After several attempts at the Savannas Preserve and surrounding areas, we had no luck, and headed to the coast in Ft. Pierce. The jetty south of the Ft. Peirce Inlet State Park was very productive for us. We got great looks at 5 species of TERN (LEAST, SANDWICH, ROYAL, GULL-BILLED, and a year-bird COMMON). Also, this juvenile BROWN BOOBY was hanging out on the jetty for us to get incredibly close to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GNSnE8fWIW7zdCHu-2abrrZbr8tgsu1R_dKHf3rK-jBfLIJFJ2jlO4EN_Hp5qQZbyOaMgw1GOtejsyA0PyisR0Dd392hibDB1t7ntUvrEykgiteBCZnSL3gu6E24cF9UKz7B1J6dzAt0/s1600/DSCN1974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GNSnE8fWIW7zdCHu-2abrrZbr8tgsu1R_dKHf3rK-jBfLIJFJ2jlO4EN_Hp5qQZbyOaMgw1GOtejsyA0PyisR0Dd392hibDB1t7ntUvrEykgiteBCZnSL3gu6E24cF9UKz7B1J6dzAt0/s320/DSCN1974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501357557415380946" border="0" /></a>This morning, I got up at 5:30- two hours before my alarm to go to work. I thought about what I needed to get accomplished, and I remembered a certain roost waiting for me in Cutler Bay. Last week, Eva and I had tried to see the only sizable roost of West Indian race CAVE SWALLOW without knowing exactly where it was. Eva got the Pranty field guide, and clued me in to exactly where it was. This morning I caught at least 10 of them under the SW 216th street bridge, as they, and I, were beginning our days.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-14469421391470760092010-07-25T09:57:00.005-04:002010-07-25T10:20:39.312-04:00summer rarities and early migrants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZgVuFeB0Fp4N8oDUIa7SjXa9sXgu25eTjJjxNw206SGEy7Loi-oAy5Hr0Idbg-sUNJot1PoNuwprxz8-Aghg39A8nKwbytyYK78fuZHZpwuUdXKmg2Y05-Mfi7dyUjiVKsx4Bfj7S1eX/s1600/DSCN1952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZgVuFeB0Fp4N8oDUIa7SjXa9sXgu25eTjJjxNw206SGEy7Loi-oAy5Hr0Idbg-sUNJot1PoNuwprxz8-Aghg39A8nKwbytyYK78fuZHZpwuUdXKmg2Y05-Mfi7dyUjiVKsx4Bfj7S1eX/s320/DSCN1952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497847773115855058" border="0" /></a>Last weekend, between work related overnights in Martin County and Kennedy Space Center with teenagers through my summer position at the Miami Science Museum, Rosana and I stole away to Marathon in the Keys for some birding and relaxing. We got down there Saturday afternoon, stopping first at the Marathon municipal buildings. This is the one reliable nesting location in the U.S. for ROSEATE TERN, and they were there for us. The roof was mostly bustling with FORSTER'S TERN, which we at first thought were COMMONs. The ROSEATEs took some work to figure out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOfQpgmveycJ1AZsLaIQXKpT53i8i4fAsTzMko_eUyXd4Qeku3xAmhFHv62MKH_8bQW7fL4OW2YpeqRaL241FqEQb7z0TJwLGmws4gci3xXv3vRVxB9Ag1LweLC91wutv9VlyWF5VadLQ/s1600/DSCN1954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOfQpgmveycJ1AZsLaIQXKpT53i8i4fAsTzMko_eUyXd4Qeku3xAmhFHv62MKH_8bQW7fL4OW2YpeqRaL241FqEQb7z0TJwLGmws4gci3xXv3vRVxB9Ag1LweLC91wutv9VlyWF5VadLQ/s320/DSCN1954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497848055798321474" border="0" /></a>That night, we stopped at the Marathon Airport, to see if we could spot ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWKS. We heard them before we saw them, but they did end up coming close enough to get a definitive look. Later, we had dinner and some drinks at a tiki bar, and stayed, of course, at the Sandpiper Motel. The next morning we got up early and headed to Long Key State Park to look for BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. We did not come up with it after about one and half hours of hiking, but we celebrated the two from the night before with a dip in the ocean off U.S. 1. That morning we packed up, and got home at about noon.<br /><br />This morning, after dropping Rosana off at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, I stopped by Matheson Hammock to see if the early migrants reported were around. My first of the season BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, AMERICAN REDSTART, RED-EYED VIREO, and a lifer LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were all in the park. Not bad for summer down here.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-62360254355495856652010-06-18T12:29:00.002-04:002010-06-18T12:32:23.702-04:00PanhandlerRosana and I headed up to Tallahassee for several days. We headed to Leon Sinks Geological Area south of town on Sunday, and were treated to heat. Lots of it. Fortunately, we did get a look at a ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. We then went to Wakulla Springs State Park to cool down, which was quite nice. On our way back to the city, I got my second year-bird of the day, a MISSISSIPPI KITE soaring over the road.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-44951256338255149642010-05-17T08:20:00.002-04:002010-05-17T08:25:21.382-04:00CowbirdedRosana and I went camping at Flamingo in the Everglades this weekend. I had a few birds to try to pick up there, now that summer seems to have set in.<br /><br />First up was another try at the Cape Sable SEASIDE SPARROW, which turned up nothing. Next was locating a SHINY COWBIRD in a flock of about 40 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the parking lot area of the Flamingo visitor's center. Luckily, there were two males SHINYS in the pack, which were very easy to spot. Next up was checking out Eco Pond. We were there at dusk on Saturday with a lot of great birds including AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, WOOD STORK, AMERICAN AVOCET, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and so on. My goal was to try to find a LESSER NIGHTHAWK. With no luck that evening, I woke up at 6am to try again on Sunday, and did not see one then either.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-28591660718391380722010-05-06T10:39:00.003-04:002010-05-06T10:42:58.251-04:00CuckooAt Matheson Hammock in Miami this morning, I saw my first of the year MANGROVE CUCKOO.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-76025895796976060142010-05-02T13:11:00.003-04:002010-05-02T13:17:33.508-04:00Western migrant in Florida<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WwboZkwfb41o7kafM9UBfCHn4R18DTozLJX9_OLwXuK42AQhxIV70_bgUtnFGKFmu4XZL8-a5q7pcx69Hw0GOhgpHy7XVklDTZHqjdsxKJa5yQAFqsMfiUHsbsS6E4p_xRPS3Dn4vOoa/s1600/DSC_0092BlackHeadedGrosbeak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WwboZkwfb41o7kafM9UBfCHn4R18DTozLJX9_OLwXuK42AQhxIV70_bgUtnFGKFmu4XZL8-a5q7pcx69Hw0GOhgpHy7XVklDTZHqjdsxKJa5yQAFqsMfiUHsbsS6E4p_xRPS3Dn4vOoa/s320/DSC_0092BlackHeadedGrosbeak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466722767304279554" border="0" /></a>On Friday morning, I saw that the birdboard was ablaze with birders having seen a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Kendall Indian Hammocks park, not too far from the house. I got myself together quickly, and got there at about 11am. I was the only one at the spot, looking for it in my post-op shoe from Wednesday's ingrown toenail surgery. I spent about a half-hour looking, to no avail. Carl Edwards, a local birder, then came. He played the call, and within 20 minutes, we were treated to great looks at it. Here's a picture that a local birder Toe got of this common western U.S. migrant, but Florida super-rarity.<br /><br />This was a life bird for me, having just missed its presence on the west coast this past fall.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-59280025084024326232010-04-23T13:15:00.004-04:002010-04-23T13:18:35.243-04:00Dade-landAfter substitute teaching at Rosana's Waldorf school on Wednesday, we went to A.D. Barnes to have a look at the fall-out that seemed to occur that day. It was pretty good. We caught up with local birder Rock Jetty, and got great looks at male BLACKPOLL WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, tons of WORM-EATING WARBLERS, and a lifer BLUE-WINGED WARBLER.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-75304040487055996572010-04-09T10:54:00.003-04:002010-04-09T11:06:52.774-04:003 femalesRosana and I went to the Everglades this week, camping at Long Pine Key. I was hoping to see the real BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Flamingo, but it seems that it has moved on. While in the parking lot of the Flamingo visitor's center, we located a flock of INDIGO BUNTING. Among the group was one female BLUE GROSBEAK, new for my year. (<span style="font-weight: bold;">female #1</span>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RLtTrObXaH8pXKZE_QmvBCWEJKQEN5Eu2ODptI9eggtsSicEutPO8dON_VP0Pg5HDcLLdBFmM_WMdjRosQVjYPlWSJYMthAjmrrpZu-NrrlSALa6f5C8mNZs3yi-Qu0ncFQ_gZ6sg3VZ/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RLtTrObXaH8pXKZE_QmvBCWEJKQEN5Eu2ODptI9eggtsSicEutPO8dON_VP0Pg5HDcLLdBFmM_WMdjRosQVjYPlWSJYMthAjmrrpZu-NrrlSALa6f5C8mNZs3yi-Qu0ncFQ_gZ6sg3VZ/s320/DSCN1833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458153836503870818" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday morning, I went out to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to find the female WESTERN SPINDALIS that had been reported two days prior, and within 15 minutes, the 6 other birders that were there and I had gotten on it. (<span style="font-weight: bold;">female #2</span>)<br />Rosana and I left in the early afternoon to head to Lake Wales and visit her parents. On the way we stopped at a Palm Beach County reliable location for roosting BARN OWL. It was reliable indeed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLGEWXWGieQzbpUIv2FnYQjQZ-kQKR4VQwsGiT_rvkQO3CbfybqFrD4k7V3EUZR5QyJLfO3cA9hUWbZT0RqqAdct9bW3VmkNElrcTHndsNS5LgDz9T_LXlLz3XR2SXFT58xJ6mLQpvxy8/s1600/DSCN1835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLGEWXWGieQzbpUIv2FnYQjQZ-kQKR4VQwsGiT_rvkQO3CbfybqFrD4k7V3EUZR5QyJLfO3cA9hUWbZT0RqqAdct9bW3VmkNElrcTHndsNS5LgDz9T_LXlLz3XR2SXFT58xJ6mLQpvxy8/s320/DSCN1835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458153837615725106" border="0" /></a>I have hit 450 birds for the year. My goal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0REsvRo-AMzqKzC49C3ov44F6c7NFqrhRfYLOKKT0vyA60bj_joWah08XerralhdBTLGoe4A6GWtPW2yPIEOoz8R0lt6d7X39ZoozwEI0mi2mRiOO_Dhj-ghGOtVq_3EuK_Zd3ekn0OHP/s1600/DSCN1837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0REsvRo-AMzqKzC49C3ov44F6c7NFqrhRfYLOKKT0vyA60bj_joWah08XerralhdBTLGoe4A6GWtPW2yPIEOoz8R0lt6d7X39ZoozwEI0mi2mRiOO_Dhj-ghGOtVq_3EuK_Zd3ekn0OHP/s320/DSCN1837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458153848218092226" border="0" /></a>Rosana and I are getting married. (<span style="font-weight: bold;">female #3</span>)dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-18017070713540388852010-04-01T09:48:00.001-04:002010-04-01T09:49:50.067-04:00UnbirdedAfter consideration on the Miami Birdboard of the bird that I saw at Flamingo, it appears that it was not a BAR-TAILED GODWIT at all, but a MARBLED GODWIT being an impostor.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-32778431194831880532010-03-31T13:43:00.000-04:002010-03-31T14:45:47.885-04:00BAR-TAILED GODWIT<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55SjcGX3I3bJ8PwZL_Yo8fIa7wZ888aQfDVz1oKDGwhPbcND2NWnoDq7pm9wPiTCzjTyTI1yxGvSELUEU5BeJg6_1idm4dCFUQVZg0g1dwn0u09DMl-PhSWAPHOnR3S9Kh-wWlPwaR9wR/s1600/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNzMuanBn%3F=-747886"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55SjcGX3I3bJ8PwZL_Yo8fIa7wZ888aQfDVz1oKDGwhPbcND2NWnoDq7pm9wPiTCzjTyTI1yxGvSELUEU5BeJg6_1idm4dCFUQVZg0g1dwn0u09DMl-PhSWAPHOnR3S9Kh-wWlPwaR9wR/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNzMuanBn%3F=-747886" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454871095551561058" /></a></p>Success chasing a rarity with Sherry in Flamingo, FL.
<br>Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-13968060299016081922010-03-24T13:31:00.005-04:002010-03-24T13:40:55.641-04:00Thespian, Couchsurfing Host, and still a BirderMy last week+ has been marked by these three things, which I will explain in three paragraphs (not including this one).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1GVhKrTqRgT-TqGDvpuqRaYGmYYXestHMEzGYafZS9dYw_CzGPecOh6nW-6PPirmM7zRJSgC83htN5gJ2-7g0ohWraIb31PrTnjv6nOWla9D-CXAdb083Gqq97Oh8VoAofGyf5qfbkbe/s1600/DSCN1813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1GVhKrTqRgT-TqGDvpuqRaYGmYYXestHMEzGYafZS9dYw_CzGPecOh6nW-6PPirmM7zRJSgC83htN5gJ2-7g0ohWraIb31PrTnjv6nOWla9D-CXAdb083Gqq97Oh8VoAofGyf5qfbkbe/s320/DSCN1813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452255094694397090" border="0" /></a>Rosana has coerced me to be in her middle school play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. I'm playing the part of Lysander, and we will be doing our performance this Friday. It's crunch time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOeaxBQsgtEDYjJc7pszyuVrqBgFcFAPqRf7VQNxevaO2f0dzIiDxaEPtKv0IGfAjsUT8umnGM9vny3WlRjar3XrJGPqvV4ODf8h9MXpUEHdiHDh5H2s2XlqXEE2by5SFxk2lrlmRzpip/s1600/DSCN1815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOeaxBQsgtEDYjJc7pszyuVrqBgFcFAPqRf7VQNxevaO2f0dzIiDxaEPtKv0IGfAjsUT8umnGM9vny3WlRjar3XrJGPqvV4ODf8h9MXpUEHdiHDh5H2s2XlqXEE2by5SFxk2lrlmRzpip/s320/DSCN1815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452255105999916226" border="0" /></a>We had a couchsurfer, Evan, who wasn't a complete stranger. I stayed with him at his home in Vancouver in November. he now finds himself completing a brewery tour of the U.S., and about to begin his hike up the Appalachian Trail throughout the summer. A good luck to him. Eva and Rupp also came by for a stay, which made for a busy night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYE9Cdus5wJhD0NJSwKf9pRMonxevtAhLdVCqNNkX5kE4eDDddED9vOJP1T5luHvKf-7eFpYDGs7r08KipnodfBLMvAvK3-PlQgnWXjcJGx9DYU0lqdBYmn_EKQPRWGFVrzwmsCQTM5Zo/s1600/DSCN1804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYE9Cdus5wJhD0NJSwKf9pRMonxevtAhLdVCqNNkX5kE4eDDddED9vOJP1T5luHvKf-7eFpYDGs7r08KipnodfBLMvAvK3-PlQgnWXjcJGx9DYU0lqdBYmn_EKQPRWGFVrzwmsCQTM5Zo/s320/DSCN1804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452255092830317010" border="0" /></a>I have gotten some birding in. The spring migration fall-out has begun. With Evan, I checked out Matheson Hammock on Monday, and among tons of BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA, I got to see one SWAINSON'S WARBLER, which is mildly uncommon in Florida during migration. It was new for my year. I've also helped Eva try to get the LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER at Bill Baggs State Park twice, and unfortunately, she has a new ABA nemesis bird.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-51684116850009932902010-03-10T10:10:00.000-05:002010-03-10T10:21:35.708-05:00HomeSaturday night, I went out to Decent Pizza in Tallahassee with ye ol' gang. After some slices, we checked out Waterworks and the Leon Pub, a few of my favorite old stomping grounds, before calling it a night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTAz5S-MhQfIeEB7JGSeJJAuksCIAF2E8cAjn1ZHr8eK3Te0iC_fWnJw5oSBZNGZXp9bwSsn4ODpx_Ak9yN0FvoCU8rxOPAInTt2TJHjsqD1iyluMkKMIkxwIeuen2KZX1pfRwcBz0C1H/s1600-h/patrickroxanne+and+i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTAz5S-MhQfIeEB7JGSeJJAuksCIAF2E8cAjn1ZHr8eK3Te0iC_fWnJw5oSBZNGZXp9bwSsn4ODpx_Ak9yN0FvoCU8rxOPAInTt2TJHjsqD1iyluMkKMIkxwIeuen2KZX1pfRwcBz0C1H/s320/patrickroxanne+and+i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447025185459684658" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning I wasn't feeling all that well because of my cold, so I headed out of Tallahassee at about 9am, for the 8-hour trip south. The only notable experience of the drive was noting my first of the year SWALLOW-TAILED KITE over the Florida Turnpike. I got to my new home (aka Rosana's house) at about 5pm, where we had delicious pasta dinner and wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBztpEEgerZfr9EaNO7Vodjl0qradAklYA9JuAnYBxOy5UUq4VNPFFVGZv_pDQy1YjjpPQTWknN0DtVNNmb8dagNxP2ucgExVivdr_TfrjPlGlSEKxq2_8LGVMWCTGcMzRQYqvGkygraWn/s1600-h/DSCN1802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBztpEEgerZfr9EaNO7Vodjl0qradAklYA9JuAnYBxOy5UUq4VNPFFVGZv_pDQy1YjjpPQTWknN0DtVNNmb8dagNxP2ucgExVivdr_TfrjPlGlSEKxq2_8LGVMWCTGcMzRQYqvGkygraWn/s320/DSCN1802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447025192558410562" border="0" /></a><br />The last couple of days have been absorbed with job searching, but I have been able to get in some very worthwhile birding. On Monday morning, in the worst of my illness, I went to Bill Baggs State Park here in Miami in search of the LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER that has been seen pretty much all winter. With some locational help from Eva, I found the spot, and relocated the bird within a couple minutes. This morning, I looked for the other locally rare flycatcher at Matheson Hammocks County Park. After searching for about 25 minutes, a young local birder Alex called me over, as he had found the BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER in the oak picnic area, and we were able to watch it for about 10 minutes. Two great birds in two mornings of searching!dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-11227962519747173232010-03-06T18:51:00.000-05:002010-03-06T19:17:43.846-05:00Gulf CoastI went for a bike ride about 1/4 mile from Matt's house to the beach in Bay St. Louis on Wednesday. I got a good look at a variety of species on the way and at the beach, that included RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, CASPIAN TERN, and BONAPARTE'S GULL. The ocean was really nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qtcp_1qWay_iyW68hrfUyjos-PEIcicTg7PDwuKBdVEXCwOkMj19JYyTwF0mNjYZN58nxsmzDpCQGoV4lZ64xm3mpHfLIdSv8KliQppHFPo81T6nlhs_D27luO7HJMhxXC8Q1CFNbp6W/s1600-h/DSCN1037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qtcp_1qWay_iyW68hrfUyjos-PEIcicTg7PDwuKBdVEXCwOkMj19JYyTwF0mNjYZN58nxsmzDpCQGoV4lZ64xm3mpHfLIdSv8KliQppHFPo81T6nlhs_D27luO7HJMhxXC8Q1CFNbp6W/s320/DSCN1037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445676844751191458" border="0" /></a><br />When Matt got home from work, we went to a bar with his friends Amber and Mack. We hit up both Clyde's and Benigno's. We didn't get to bed until almost 4am.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHVeqJM7eDqx54mtH4KyNTcsO_o4uOn7V33ltwrb1RT5YzWVwc6E-TWlmD9-Uftnw8V4V4ZFx3TwihmLQMBbrNF49-jjDN8cA2yhIcLH8OOXmHo9nyYjQhk2Lsr5TUG5Xw0gPg0qud5as/s1600-h/IMG00165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHVeqJM7eDqx54mtH4KyNTcsO_o4uOn7V33ltwrb1RT5YzWVwc6E-TWlmD9-Uftnw8V4V4ZFx3TwihmLQMBbrNF49-jjDN8cA2yhIcLH8OOXmHo9nyYjQhk2Lsr5TUG5Xw0gPg0qud5as/s320/IMG00165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445678397546705650" border="0" /></a><br />Then next morning (afternoon), Matt and I got out to Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, which was really nice. This was my first time in this style of longleaf pine forest since this summer, which helped me towards my year birds. I picked up one new year species pretty much right away, the BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rBDfaLkNEq4i-u9H3E8Xlbv18vsxLK70VMqlXfGe1cywLfAmoWKQQ7Wu-FdcgzIEycpOLpU_QPI0EqjOvgG24NvmdpYpZJErfge081-F-omp065xNxJcrF_VGORC_rtwuqL0zEg9hmOB/s1600-h/DSCN1038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rBDfaLkNEq4i-u9H3E8Xlbv18vsxLK70VMqlXfGe1cywLfAmoWKQQ7Wu-FdcgzIEycpOLpU_QPI0EqjOvgG24NvmdpYpZJErfge081-F-omp065xNxJcrF_VGORC_rtwuqL0zEg9hmOB/s320/DSCN1038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445676847064697010" border="0" /></a><br />We spent several miles of hiking and looking for a RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER, which is a species of special concern, without luck. We finally noticed one when we got back the parking lot that we started from, and two individuals gave us a great show. In fact, Matt caught this great picture of one getting aggressive with a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Udmo0ZkfIE0YI-z1IuWfl9ngZdRxSPHjN5LEB8yDwCHfSY0_vs02yELatWz8aOIjwONl0EZIKjEI71Wn3qLU1UsOR7pHLChgkjuwK879VKVyZ0yPxm72WNQa6RAIWRQ9Ee_P5TXWpEWz/s1600-h/IMG_1788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Udmo0ZkfIE0YI-z1IuWfl9ngZdRxSPHjN5LEB8yDwCHfSY0_vs02yELatWz8aOIjwONl0EZIKjEI71Wn3qLU1UsOR7pHLChgkjuwK879VKVyZ0yPxm72WNQa6RAIWRQ9Ee_P5TXWpEWz/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445676851292759074" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday evening, Matt and I went to a little coffee shop in old town called Mockingbird, which sold the local Lazy Magnolia draft and had music at night. It was pretty fun, and it was pretty weird how many people Matt knew here for being a fairly newby to town. After a pancake breakfast, I left Bay St. Louis Friday morning. I drove about 5 hours to get to Tallahassee, arriving just in time for happy hour at Steel City with some of my old colleagues. It was a good night of conversations with a bunch of my favorite people, who I haven't seen in almost one and a half years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuBxZTpw5QU_IEXRG6uOLqZMtFkyA27CmJjHpYl_PobyqkP23i6qBDtbNEOlbgJ2yqrlQxR5zb86Eb-tL0balD9C0uMojkTFiqx8VimA0SfvIBN2mbmv4HpoE4Au3IN-MCax6Yszjt3vJ/s1600-h/barryandi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuBxZTpw5QU_IEXRG6uOLqZMtFkyA27CmJjHpYl_PobyqkP23i6qBDtbNEOlbgJ2yqrlQxR5zb86Eb-tL0balD9C0uMojkTFiqx8VimA0SfvIBN2mbmv4HpoE4Au3IN-MCax6Yszjt3vJ/s320/barryandi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445677315131371586" border="0" /></a><br />This morning I went out to Tall Timbers north of town to look for a BACHMAN'S SPARROW in a spot that the biologist there had showed Kim, Eva, Matt and I a couple years back. I had similar results of not seeing the bird.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B0szfbayUCJqL3CmGuBlxtI85pRbzpl5TbScLHhD17ASsxg0VwalwZsHo8MYnlwDkYiG0F8N6LeW8zAgYHn8VIFkD6WSx3B4lIR3kaQF7zFYRZL1BDD7WwJWeRtEqE_1R89-78WxTPlH/s1600-h/DSCN1796.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B0szfbayUCJqL3CmGuBlxtI85pRbzpl5TbScLHhD17ASsxg0VwalwZsHo8MYnlwDkYiG0F8N6LeW8zAgYHn8VIFkD6WSx3B4lIR3kaQF7zFYRZL1BDD7WwJWeRtEqE_1R89-78WxTPlH/s320/DSCN1796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445678391909694962" border="0" /></a><br />After some tea and lunch with friends, I am relaxing, while fostering the beginnings of a cold, preparing for tonight's festivities.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-26704103922085237462010-03-03T11:35:00.000-05:002010-03-03T12:09:09.359-05:00AustismMonday evening I met up with Maggie and Steph, and we went to the Congress Street bridge to see if we could gander the Mexican Free-tailed bat nightly show of them leaving their roost. We're pretty sure that only happens in the summer, because all we got was cold. But then we went to Magnolia for dinner, which was excellent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUZjcTIYYsz6GYQ7bZmngSM6lKxUhLcYMpjZf2jHdOrN3Pw0uklO_CIlY4BIfdv9sej66McqrAKxoaKF9NZ5ZbHumySWTvvkGSHyNl7t_xW0uEhny-7DM6HJgbfQmbLXRJy2qSLbY5uqx/s1600-h/DSCN1015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUZjcTIYYsz6GYQ7bZmngSM6lKxUhLcYMpjZf2jHdOrN3Pw0uklO_CIlY4BIfdv9sej66McqrAKxoaKF9NZ5ZbHumySWTvvkGSHyNl7t_xW0uEhny-7DM6HJgbfQmbLXRJy2qSLbY5uqx/s320/DSCN1015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444449109866810946" border="0" /></a><br />Tuesday I got some work done, both to my car, and to my future life for when I get down to South Florida. It was pretty memorably uneventful, except for the Pad Thai that we made for dinner. On Wednesday, Maggie took the day off so we could have fun. We went to the Zelker Botanical Park to look for the recently seen CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, but had no luck. Then she showed me Barton Springs and we headed to McKinney Falls State Park to see what Rosana had in store for our upcoming camping trip there. Out last nature adventure of the day was at Mount Bonnell which is a good vista of the city and river system. We ended early to allow time to drink some beers at Posse East with Steph.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2oyXuf9gpFkCGB-Nd4Rmqe5pwrUbgpVmWv4dP3Na87FPIcYJIS2092SM7IjXFFFEsz3vkz_W9eeXDOGfoxuO_pk3dDyLxxR7JWBPMpIu35kDM7GgzJwNpZXznWNGHHVho7MsGBY8jyk_/s1600-h/DSCN1020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2oyXuf9gpFkCGB-Nd4Rmqe5pwrUbgpVmWv4dP3Na87FPIcYJIS2092SM7IjXFFFEsz3vkz_W9eeXDOGfoxuO_pk3dDyLxxR7JWBPMpIu35kDM7GgzJwNpZXznWNGHHVho7MsGBY8jyk_/s320/DSCN1020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444454101616888690" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday, besides waiting for Rosana to fly in, included some other things. I got a bunch of job applying done, looked for the CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD with no luck, and made sushi with Steph and Maggie. Rosana flew in on time, and we stayed near the airport. The next morning we ate at Boulden Creek, which was incredible, then checked out the Congress St. part of town. We got some records at Antone's, and then went to Posse East where Maggie met us. We had a few beers, which made us less inclined for the super-dinner we were going to get, so we had Kerbey Lane instead, which was fantastic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRca8zDIg2cKFgrcAKdfCdHAOnSbIl1Iypx0VYDVeRzpNIBHjyzNkQDcmucPjLCQCMGHnWKDOsvRxDXLZzqVtVT7oKt1ccd16Shf2YSDTsuOhrGS0ODAIs4iaUH1CN2UR5iKOsF9C80425/s1600-h/DSCN1023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRca8zDIg2cKFgrcAKdfCdHAOnSbIl1Iypx0VYDVeRzpNIBHjyzNkQDcmucPjLCQCMGHnWKDOsvRxDXLZzqVtVT7oKt1ccd16Shf2YSDTsuOhrGS0ODAIs4iaUH1CN2UR5iKOsF9C80425/s320/DSCN1023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444449121400888370" border="0" /></a><br />Rosana and I stayed at Mag and Steph's that night, and in the morning made soem breakfast. In the afternoon, we all went out to Mother's, which was the excellent place that grows their own herbs in the back. After lunch and stocking up at Central Market, Rosana and I headed to McKinney Falls State Park where we camped. The weather was awesome, and allowed us some good times at the falls, as well as playing frisbee, hackysack, and having a fire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kv1YKMqFt_XnWwpLluZ5rd0JsVshxdQ6vzDWN0NJ6TrlgudxVFk2noXfwSGVL-AJgdeIGg0vADU6uZdEphI141rssPgSOjKveUNbVVcgGKI0FbGsVmfCtRb94ujHuzWJezf4GUdjfWTd/s1600-h/DSCN1034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kv1YKMqFt_XnWwpLluZ5rd0JsVshxdQ6vzDWN0NJ6TrlgudxVFk2noXfwSGVL-AJgdeIGg0vADU6uZdEphI141rssPgSOjKveUNbVVcgGKI0FbGsVmfCtRb94ujHuzWJezf4GUdjfWTd/s320/DSCN1034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444449133191557810" border="0" /></a>The next day, Rosana and I walked around Congress St. again, and then checked into the nearby Austin Motel, which was a cool little place close to downtown. We got cleaned up here, and then went to 6th St. downtown to a couple of bars. Monday morning we went record shopping again and had breafast at Boulden Creek again, and a drink from Daily Juice. I dropped her off at the airport in the afternoon, and then met up with Mag and Steph in the evening. We got Baby Acapulco's for my final Austin meal, and in the morning yesterday, I left town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5nZqkcSZkaX4cidYAMgQs7M26mVGOVT6Z5wzbfmY4Y2UF4z5U0ecUWpJSjs53pLrWyoRuhndjXYSOwdNdYUn0ObYsw3olpmbiw-Nrs6rgKr2k5-hqlZc1lXYnkLDvaj5pVD-6ArDFfS4/s1600-h/DSCN1027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5nZqkcSZkaX4cidYAMgQs7M26mVGOVT6Z5wzbfmY4Y2UF4z5U0ecUWpJSjs53pLrWyoRuhndjXYSOwdNdYUn0ObYsw3olpmbiw-Nrs6rgKr2k5-hqlZc1lXYnkLDvaj5pVD-6ArDFfS4/s320/DSCN1027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444449128714377138" border="0" /></a><br />I made two stops (besides gas and peeing) on my 9-hour drive to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi yesterday. The first was at the Atwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge looking for its namesake. Apparently they are not often found on the publicly accessible parts of the refuge, and I had no exceptional visit. I did however get to see my second ever CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONSPUR along the road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTG8OeVF4oKIMkuXuRh7oCmq54lltjvsPfIQ86AMB4jtFcmx8W6RqN7AZWwygnCQE3wm24rxulxEq3OldqO7nRcvzOYDTleK5oyixPS-1HcUF1nWMBe0gqccENkU8ZtNqxsTKuGZ6-0sr/s1600-h/DSCN1036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTG8OeVF4oKIMkuXuRh7oCmq54lltjvsPfIQ86AMB4jtFcmx8W6RqN7AZWwygnCQE3wm24rxulxEq3OldqO7nRcvzOYDTleK5oyixPS-1HcUF1nWMBe0gqccENkU8ZtNqxsTKuGZ6-0sr/s320/DSCN1036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444449141327164834" border="0" /></a><br />My second stop was by a Texas State Police officer, apparently for driving in Texas with MA plates, which I think is a felony. He gave me two warnings, one for speeding (going 70 in a 65 zone) and following too closely behind the car in front of me (about 20 feet behind). He had a few questions about my binoculars on the passenger seat, to which I told him the incredulous story of me birdwatching. Eventually, I got to Matt's house at about 6pm, and we made some dinner, listened to music, and headed to bed pretty early as he had to work today.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-48660967067809505182010-02-23T10:46:00.000-05:002010-02-23T10:49:34.850-05:00Snowfall in Austin, TX<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fBSL-VKdfmNBMdHXF19xtKeim8lm9_KFbulsAHlkwnBObx6cKKwVRjA8dorhyvOcaOoZo52Bri55v2lqS_IHrYKamPvZzd91a7N_L4xhZFiVWnHiYdp1UnmRCn2Kmy19O5pGb2EmHYYZ/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNjQuanBn%3F=-774850"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fBSL-VKdfmNBMdHXF19xtKeim8lm9_KFbulsAHlkwnBObx6cKKwVRjA8dorhyvOcaOoZo52Bri55v2lqS_IHrYKamPvZzd91a7N_L4xhZFiVWnHiYdp1UnmRCn2Kmy19O5pGb2EmHYYZ/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNjQuanBn%3F=-774850" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441466620365216802" /></a></p>1-3 inches expected today.
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<br>Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-60373905052266516022010-02-22T15:22:00.000-05:002010-02-22T16:32:40.982-05:00Lower Rio Grande pt. 2Friday after my BK lunch, and after the rain stopped, I went to the Estero Llano Grande World Birding Center, and got directions to their infamous pair of day roosting COMMON PARAQUE. They were reliable, and very photogenic, even if they didn't know it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgtD1d2UJAlD68IFvwu8tt_GasWku9g-NXfjnz378b9MfT8P8rJyDURyOkaylsMiTEJ2F3AbGFz6Sd6jZZQzepJGYPCMaKdxvDADWg9bwXazrmzNFrzsoWIGnwk7aEWVuNeCNwhzllCaR/s1600-h/DSCN0985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgtD1d2UJAlD68IFvwu8tt_GasWku9g-NXfjnz378b9MfT8P8rJyDURyOkaylsMiTEJ2F3AbGFz6Sd6jZZQzepJGYPCMaKdxvDADWg9bwXazrmzNFrzsoWIGnwk7aEWVuNeCNwhzllCaR/s320/DSCN0985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168434391174370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9qRd-7LT05g6yUy3N5oViLVih1_TjXfZgdCvbzEBJGeyatQfw8Fw4XhSuCWiHv7zzmhN_9axzAwiGWV1qYbg_uLX48iLxV-hgwjJc4ibLykALGdwwVofGoUbZ2cTjprPLL82k__KvczS/s1600-h/DSCN0997.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9qRd-7LT05g6yUy3N5oViLVih1_TjXfZgdCvbzEBJGeyatQfw8Fw4XhSuCWiHv7zzmhN_9axzAwiGWV1qYbg_uLX48iLxV-hgwjJc4ibLykALGdwwVofGoUbZ2cTjprPLL82k__KvczS/s320/DSCN0997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441166826613307890" border="0" /></a>While I was there, I ran into a Florida couple that I had talked to at Quinta Mazatlan the day before. They were going back there again to try their luck at the CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK again, and it got me interested. So I went back and had no luck finding it over the course of the 45 minutes before they closed. I left there and went to a reliable parakeet roosting area in McAllen, but there were no keets.<br /><br />That evening, I met up with my couchsurfing host Shawn and his son Keyshawn at their house in Brownsville. The three of us went to a grand opening of an artspace downtown, that had a nice spread of food and wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQVx9QcNWwMIidug_DtEP70Bd5WSuaXOt8B-L_RqEIyWMktE3u8pieTKd-0M2RZXbHLsx5sWHM32o1MoywvmYoWEFfuxw5YUK0c8vIM11r5zAPiKDANBy0K6QwfPguS3u1qQBWaOOzQjY/s1600-h/DSCN0994.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQVx9QcNWwMIidug_DtEP70Bd5WSuaXOt8B-L_RqEIyWMktE3u8pieTKd-0M2RZXbHLsx5sWHM32o1MoywvmYoWEFfuxw5YUK0c8vIM11r5zAPiKDANBy0K6QwfPguS3u1qQBWaOOzQjY/s320/DSCN0994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441166046891196258" border="0" /></a>The next morning, Shawn and I headed to South Padre Island with a couple of beachcruisers, which are bikes that were pretty easy to operate in the sand. We played some frisbee, and stopped at Sandy Feet's (a couchsurfer and professional sandcastle lesson giver) house, but she wasn't home. We rode up to the island's World Birding Center and walked around. There were some good coastal birds I hadn't seen since I was last in Florida, including REDDISH EGRET, BLACK SKIMMER, and CASPIAN TERN. On the ride back to the car, we stopped at the South Padre Brewing Co. for a beer and nachos. On the way off the island, we pulled over in a part of the expansive marsh to check out some terns, which proved to be the somewhat elusive GULL-BILLED TERN.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1mEBdHnJx-mTjeeGJ3Lgersenjwx-muRbyI0yafxdc58p7J0MhS2fFyCqgjem10J7XfHDBZvBzou5d-noPWMjkFrmHh8TsPuifnv2eKa8lbn0nWuqmlw6DkVtMAy5r7z1oG9AzoZYkws/s1600-h/DSCN0992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1mEBdHnJx-mTjeeGJ3Lgersenjwx-muRbyI0yafxdc58p7J0MhS2fFyCqgjem10J7XfHDBZvBzou5d-noPWMjkFrmHh8TsPuifnv2eKa8lbn0nWuqmlw6DkVtMAy5r7z1oG9AzoZYkws/s320/DSCN0992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168440971808258" border="0" /></a>Later that night, Shawn's girlfriend Farelly met up with us and we went to a member's only gala for supporters of the Sombrero Festival. Shawn's a member of this particular section of next week's Charro Days in Brownsville, so they had this evening of dancing, lassoing, and food, which was pretty fun. When it got unfun and talky, we checked out a madrigal group performing at UT at Brownsville.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEh94kkau8BxtrbOntsC_AWfjer8Jmlw2AfOcc9FUXN461CPvbeJIRP9CncADOq-K38tHmbq5c5LPXvhgojuNHGHKqp0DD755Ai5HDsMZ2rNCuIyyxSm1htGGPTKAAS9noYYspEqq2Lmn/s1600-h/IMG00156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEh94kkau8BxtrbOntsC_AWfjer8Jmlw2AfOcc9FUXN461CPvbeJIRP9CncADOq-K38tHmbq5c5LPXvhgojuNHGHKqp0DD755Ai5HDsMZ2rNCuIyyxSm1htGGPTKAAS9noYYspEqq2Lmn/s320/IMG00156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441173132176231346" border="0" /></a>The next morning, I went to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in search of the BLUE BUNTING that had been seen there over the past week. When I got there around 9am, 10-15 birders had been looking for it with no luck. I joined the search party, and gave up at about 11 with no success. I drove around the fields outside of the refuge a bit, looking at hawks, and eeked out one of the south Texas specialties I was looking for, a WHITE-TAILED HAWK. I also checked out the Hugh Ramsey Park and a supposed Harlingen parakeet roost, with no new sightings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsjVii68OLokGfQ-nS5w5KEQ1pqJR0ABTL8DRwwBuke19ixr3jc8vUkPojmQgpG74bbTVSmEXHv-o89tMW415Qyif0L-diJnqTvBAIH9FXk_pHK2F1oeLX0w43zd7nDF94cub-uGBLXDT/s1600-h/DSCN1000.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsjVii68OLokGfQ-nS5w5KEQ1pqJR0ABTL8DRwwBuke19ixr3jc8vUkPojmQgpG74bbTVSmEXHv-o89tMW415Qyif0L-diJnqTvBAIH9FXk_pHK2F1oeLX0w43zd7nDF94cub-uGBLXDT/s320/DSCN1000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168453545654978" border="0" /></a>I drove a couple hours north to Corpus Christi, and in the early evening met up with my Danish couchsurfing hosts Anette-Kjestine and Soren. We had some really good conversation and falafel dinner. This morning I got going at about 7am to check out two rarities on the way up to Austin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW172Red-1GDvZF3cuj7XOPIuJdz6Es_WUdPbfQ7deaFM1nlEDzxk4B78MW5o2DZ6HTDxvsHROPELulO4va1czudfkT68-gPJsJYtVm_WOeTgbFxIg-vsuOoKvkg4-oISR2nUDAYv4l_f/s1600-h/DSCN1003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW172Red-1GDvZF3cuj7XOPIuJdz6Es_WUdPbfQ7deaFM1nlEDzxk4B78MW5o2DZ6HTDxvsHROPELulO4va1czudfkT68-gPJsJYtVm_WOeTgbFxIg-vsuOoKvkg4-oISR2nUDAYv4l_f/s320/DSCN1003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168462875442434" border="0" /></a>The first was a NORTHERN WHEATEAR that had been reported about a month and a half ago at an Amish farm in Beesville, TX. Soon, after I parked, I noticed the non-breeding plumed bird sitting on a piece of farm equipment, which darted away within two seconds of me looking, and did not return again while I was there. This was a really cool site, as it's only the second reported incident of this bird in Texas. I talked to the Amish man who found the bird, John Borntrager, who was a friendly guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro2JGR1HaU4S0cKPDAk-X5fv91BOgvIbcs2bzxWjsJM0vJAi3l_SDc_Sy1UIE-CDpSitJJYLJ7tNep9O39NY9SHPamLrwLO5iUvI3arPPA5QH-DHVcIdf8-QVprow9_Lm-37Kjl5hCE-E/s1600-h/DSCN1007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro2JGR1HaU4S0cKPDAk-X5fv91BOgvIbcs2bzxWjsJM0vJAi3l_SDc_Sy1UIE-CDpSitJJYLJ7tNep9O39NY9SHPamLrwLO5iUvI3arPPA5QH-DHVcIdf8-QVprow9_Lm-37Kjl5hCE-E/s320/DSCN1007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168472449829842" border="0" /></a>The second site I went to was Choke Canyon State Park, where a NORTHERN JACANA had been reported and seen consistently for almost four months. The jacana didn't disappoint. I was able to locate him fairly quickly, and watch without disturbing his feeding behavior. While I was moving to get better shots at him, I scared this guy: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90QcdcGcGF7KPqO24gFhcmu_IwgcUZ8gsfFByy5C5MQeYKfySzWLGFH0efkNFPYe-jQNVlIx69-1x07TWwXc7Y6xZ65ogzlDf6M_80iGG0o9bO4HBSv7pYGpqY-QosM0RJwCaR7yttvff/s1600-h/DSCN1013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90QcdcGcGF7KPqO24gFhcmu_IwgcUZ8gsfFByy5C5MQeYKfySzWLGFH0efkNFPYe-jQNVlIx69-1x07TWwXc7Y6xZ65ogzlDf6M_80iGG0o9bO4HBSv7pYGpqY-QosM0RJwCaR7yttvff/s320/DSCN1013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441170659097643346" border="0" /></a>I think it's a broad-banded water snake, but I could definitely be mistaken. After success on my two bird goals of the day, I ascended back up to Austin where I am now, only a few miles (but also a few days) from where Rosana will be flying in to.dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104531768246562969.post-30660638867834981192010-02-19T20:36:00.000-05:002010-02-19T20:38:12.008-05:00The Mayor of Brownsville<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAViCQTdAOp9P9YJstSJ2OlUTPABvQZQU5fzCFcd3GAe0k62C6sdNM3XpRLNPflgCFOm-zQwXVMAORPrvL70OvgGJxTPfIzlSIDOYLfLOQxrlo0gp2RQexuD_qN9hRA9uYD8F2wbFxhUC/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNDYuanBn%3F=-792009"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAViCQTdAOp9P9YJstSJ2OlUTPABvQZQU5fzCFcd3GAe0k62C6sdNM3XpRLNPflgCFOm-zQwXVMAORPrvL70OvgGJxTPfIzlSIDOYLfLOQxrlo0gp2RQexuD_qN9hRA9uYD8F2wbFxhUC/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxNDYuanBn%3F=-792009" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440133963653218418" /></a></p>Speaking live at the grand opening of the arts and culture center of Brownsville.
<br>Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®dandypantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362030344640768054noreply@blogger.com0