Target birding in The Piney Woods
Bachmann's Sparrow added to the list! Back into Texas late last night but up again at 3.30am to ensure we were in the right place at dawn in The Piney Woods north of Beaumont, Texas. Who needs sleep??! We joined our good friend Michael Retter from Tropical Birding as he guided a group of 5 early birders. The morning started on cue with sightings of at least three Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and perhaps as many as six Brown-headed Nuthatches and many singing Pine Warblers. But it was the next bird that we really wanted, Bachmann's Sparrow, a range-restricted resident of these woods. The first bird we located sang beautifully but refused to show. Luckily, our second encounter was much more rewarding as the bird not only sang but perched up in a dead snag in full view for a good 10 minutes allowing everyone to enjoy scope filling views. Other species added to our year list this morning were Dickcissel, Cedar Waxwing, Prairie Warbler and Swainson's Warbler.We left the others to continue their birding as we headed off west picking up Sam Woods en route for the Texas Hill Country. A long drive with just a few roadside Scissor-tailed Flycatchers to break the monotony of the I10 highway. Mid-evening we finally arrived at Lost Springs Ranch, near Wimberley where we were met by our hosts Susan Evans and her husband Carl. We had met Susan and her birding pals at High Island just prior to our Panama excursion. Susan had kindly invited us to stay at her beautiful guesthouse and help us in our quest for Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo plus a host of other hill country birds. Check back tomorrow to see how we got on.Bird species total: 2078Posted 10pm, 22nd April, Wimberley, Texas