I'd Rather B Birdin': Chipping SPARROW

With three cold fronts moving into our area, it's been very chilly [downright cold for us Texans], windy, and not too pleasant to be outdoors doing much of anything. In fact a couple of days we woke up to frost on the ground!! I've been staying indoors mostly, wishing for no wind and the sun warming up the countryside. But, not to be had. While shopping, tho, I took back roads home, stopped here and there to step out in the cold and walk through some naked trees and at other stops, trees that are evergreen. Some areas protected with the warmth of the tree canopy, the grass remained green, while in open areas, the golden blades were dry and crunched under my steps. I walked a piece to find some birds and I got lucky. I did see some activity...near the car, and the car's heater within close proximity:

RED TAILED HAWK

Habitat map: Hawk

WHITE EYED VIREO

Habitat map: Vireo

CHIPPING SPARROW

Habitat map: Sparrow

AMERICAN KESTREL

Habitat map: Kestrel

COUCH'S KINGBIRD

Habitat map: Kingbird

BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE

Habitat map: Titmouse

All too soon I will be complaining of the extreme heat. I know I should be enjoying this break of what lies ahead in just a few months, but I can't get myself motivated to be in the cold. Maybe by January 2021 it'll be better.

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At Refugio Texas there is a small park just as you drive into the town from Corpus Christi. I was there on a very rainy morning - when I arrived I had the park all to myself. But, the early hour I left home it was just before daybreak...but as I headed north on the interstate, the sky turned an ominous black...threatening rain. Well, it RAINED!! So heavily I couldn't see the front of my car. Should I stop and go back home? Or, should I drive through this mess and see what lies ahead? I kept going. The storm mass was huge [tornadoes in Houston and heavy, heavy rains in Corpus...I was in the middle of it all]. You can read about the adventure here if you'd like 'AFTER THE STORM'. It finally turned out okay, the highways started to dry up and the trip was once again 'safe'.

Of course since it rained so much before I arrived, there wasn't much bird activity. I saw Chipping Sparrows, Cardinals, Kinglets, one Wilson's Warbler, a few blackbirds [both male and female]. And ONE LARGE Diamond Back Watersnake [photos are on my personal blog link I just shared above if you care to see that creepy snake!!] But, not the one bird I was hoping to see...the Barred Owl. [of all the owls, the Barred Owl is my favorite].

At one area off the beaten path that meanders along the Mission River, there is a bird blind fencing that by standing nearby you can see down the run-off gully where the kingfisher resides. In fact the lookout is called Green Kingfisher Point. Before leaving for the day I watched one for quite a while...

GREEN KINGFISHER
photos taken: Lion's Shelly Park - Refugio, Texas
habitat map: Kingfisher

Other birds seen that day at the park:

NORTHERN CARDINALS - CHIPPING SPARROW
habitat map: Cardinals - Sparrow

EASTERN PHOEBE - GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
habitat map: Phoebe - Woodpecker

REDWINGED BLACKBIRDS [females] - WILSON'S WARBLER
habitat map: Blackbird - Warbler

RUBY CROWNED KINGLET [female]
habitat map: Kinglet

Now, share your birding experiences:

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§ Birds With The Cold Front Moving In...

§ Kingfisher Point

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