Weird birds with strange call and funny mating dance.

[RoamingWolves]

And I get all excited when I see a cardinal. I would never recognize some of these birds but it is cool to look them up. I do end up seeing a parakeet or small parrot type bird every year. poor lost pets. Someone told me there was a small flock of parakeets somewhere around town. but that was 2 years ago they told me about it.

[Mom2Feebs]

I've had a female painted bunting at my feeder, but no beautifully colored male, yet! We've had tiny little black-capped tufted titmice, cardinals, sparrows, and beautiful red finches. Unfortunately, we've had a slew of mourning doves also...I used to like them until they sort of took over the ground under the feeder. Dang it.

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by Sharpydove

HCHRM,
Do you know of any other good places to go birding here?? Or does anybody?

Did you try here already? If not, sounds good. I've been with a group and I enjoyed it but this was when it first opened so I dunno on the experience now.

Audubon Texas - Mitchell Lake Audubon Center > Home

[hellpaso]

Originally Posted by Sharpydove

HCHRM,
Do you know of any other good places to go birding here?? Or does anybody?

If you don't mind about a 3 hour drive down 281, there is all kinds of birding in the valley with several World Birding Centers. World Birding Center | Texas

[gy2020]

http://audubon2.org/watchlist/images/birds/Painted_Bunting_John_Cassady_200.jpg;jsessionid=A2 72DD432BBE793DFF2356D74AC07ABB.tombird2 (broken link)

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
Male Painted Buntings are the most spectacularly colored of all North American songbirds, with a gaudy combination of red, blue, and green feathers. This species has two distinct breeding populations in North America, but overall, it has shown a significant decline across its entire range during the past 35 years. The exact causes for Painted Bunting's decline are not known, but they are believed to include habitat loss, cowbird parasitism, and trapping for the pet trade on its wintering grounds.

Audubon WatchList - Painted Bunting

[Sharpydove]

Still watching for the Bunting... I did have lots of house finches yesterday, as well as either a Carolina or Black-capped Chickadee (they are very similar). Thanks for all the suggestions to go birding!

[Camper1]

The females seem to show up first, you won't even notice them if you don't know what your looking for. The first few times they visit your feeders they won't stay long either. Just kinda in and out quick. They love water!!

Good luck.

[Sharpydove]

Last summer, I noticed the male first, but how could you miss him?? Then, I looked up the female and discovered she is very different looking... she did come a couple of times to eatat the feeder. Just had the one pair and they were gone by June. I've been hearing an owl in the woods behind us... anyone know what kind of owls live around here? I hear him at dawn and dusk.

[huckster]

Mitchell Lake the old raw sewage open drain is renowned for its'
birding. To polluted to clean up short of at extravagant expense -Ducks and everything else flock there, there is no swimming of course so it is a natural area. Never been there myself but it is listed at the Edwards Aquifer website
as an oustanding birdwatching spot.

Originally Posted by Sharpydove

HCHRM,
Do you know of any other good places to go birding here?? Or does anybody? I had the bunting for the month of April last year... along with his ladyfriend (who isn't as colorful). Then, when the heat came, they left. I almost cried when I saw him- got a few pictures, thank goodness.
This spring, the Caro wrens are nesting all over my back porch