Sometimes I Feel Like Willie N....

With sunrise in my rear view mirror, I was on the road again! This time, driving down highway 44 heading northwest toward Calallen Texas to attend the hawkwatch annual celebration of flight. I wanted to get some walking in before the program started, so I left a couple hours beforehand, hoping to beat the other attendees....that wasn't happening! By the time I got there, there were many already there, I had to search for a place to park nearby the platform. It had rained heavily in this little town while our city got none. At least in my neighborhood. There was rainwater standing all over the park, and eventually there was a threat of MORE rain to come as the dark clouds built up along the coastal horizon. But walk, and a search for birds still went ahead as planned.  I had a couple of hours to spare before the exhibits and lectures began.  

My first stop after I parked and got out of the car was the hawkwatch platform. Dane, the watchers' supervisor, greeted me and we chatted a bit. I go here often and he knows me by name. He told me the previous day, Friday, the counters tallied up over 47,000 migrant birds. While I was standing beside him, a flock of American White Pelicans [346 in number] flew above us, heading south. I didn't look at the posted charts...but those numbers tell me that the peak of migration season is underway. The counters are there from August 1st to November 15th, each year, every day!! An older gentleman was laying out corn and other wild bird seed just below the platform and near the watering drip system. Soon, all kinds of birds began to wander in. I left to walk the paths and trails a bit, then returned before the show. Just a few birds I'll share here...there will be MORE eventually on my bird photo blog.


...above photos are of the Northern Cardinal, two images of Texas's own Green Jay, and the last...Couch's Kingbird.  I noticed about a 1/2 mile away, at one of the radio towers, an osprey kept vigil while most likely digesting his breakfast from an early morning catch along the river banks nearby. I utilized my zoom lens....


With the booths set up, and the seating capacity filled, I stepped down and walked from there to the open area where the 'exotic' and raptors were tethered. The lecturer had with him this year, an Australian Kookaburra, a Harris's Hawk, a Caracara, a Barn Owl, a Black Headed Vulture and a newly acquired and I must say a very GORGEOUS raven from Africa.  A certain species we don't see in North America; like Poe's Raven...no siree bob.  Its beak alone was the length of about 3-5 inches and Oberon [its name] was a blue black beauty!! I took some excellent photos of this and the others; as I said, sharing them in a future post at I'd Rather B Birdin'.  Also, it's a worthwhile trip for me, 'cause I always learn something new...I'm for learning.  Never too old.

It rained a bit, the heat became nearly unbearable, and the show was all too soon, over. I took myself out to lunch, stopped at the grocery store on the way home. It was nearly 4 pm and time to shower, fold the clothes from my laundry chore before going to the raptor show. Then, prepare dinner and watch some of the Cubs/Cardinal game on FOX. It was a full day.