Walburg BBS 2019-06-08

On Saturday morning, June 8 2019, I officially ran the USGS Walburg BBS route that I scouted on June 1. The route is made up of 50 survey points on 25 miles on back roads south of Granger Lake in eastern Williamson County. Weather was just about perfect for a survey, clear skies and almost no wind. The temperature was 67º when I started at 5:57 AM and 86º when I finished at 11:15 AM. This was the third time I've run this BBS and this might've been the best so far for some of the targeted grassland species. Of the 50 stops, Eastern Meadowlarks were heard singing at 8 stops, Lark Sparrows at 6 stops, and Dickcissel at 14 stops. A nice surprise were singing Horned Larks at 2 stops. (See the attached audio observations.) Northern Bobwhite was only recorded at 2 stops.

I recorded a species new to this survey route (which started in 1980). At stop 5 I heard a Wild Turkey. And it sure was fun hearing Great Horned Owls at the first 5 stops.

This was the first time I've run the survey on a Saturday morning instead of Sunday. Car traffic was not too different. 6 or 7 stops are difficult (and a little scary) because of the amount of highway-speed traffic, but all in all this route is on quiet roads and is pretty fun to do. The orange reflective vest that USGS sent me seems to be performing its intended dual purpose to improve safety and lend an air of authority to my presence. No one stopped to ask what I was doing!

Photos from this survey are on Flickr here.

Here are two photos, from the first stop and the last:

Walburg BBS Point 1

Me at Walburg BBS Point 50

Posted on 23 June, 2019 15:11 by mikaelb mikaelb

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:43 AM CDT

Description

Made during Walburg Breeding Bird Survey.

Photos / Sounds

What

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 09:42 AM CDT

Description

Made during Walburg Breeding Bird Survey.

Placeholder for sound.

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:16 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 11:21 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:56 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

This Eastern Phoebe perched on a gravestone at one of my favorite points, the historic Macedonia Cemetery.

Photos / Sounds

What

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 06:56 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 10:57 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 10:10 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 06:57 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:35 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 10:05 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 06:31 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:15 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:07 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 07:21 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 10:52 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

June 8, 2019 08:05 AM CDT

Description

Taken during the 2019 USGS Walburg Breeding Bird Survey south of Granger, TX.

Comments

nice!

Posted by blubayou almost 5 years ago

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