Golden-cheeked Warbler
Besides the first picture below that I didn't take,
here are some bad pictures of a good bird ...
hundreds of people a year spend thousands of dollars
to come to the Edwards Plateau to see this bird.
It is the only species whose entire breeding range
lies within Texas. It is one of the most restriced-range
species in North America. It is a beautiful and fascinating
warbler that is only here early March to early August, but is
harder to see by early July, and actually starts getting dicey
by late June. You have a roughly 90 day window when it is
sure and easy, and a couple or few weeks past that it is usually
gettable with more effort, but harder, and not a sure thing.
I am sometimes available to guide individuals or groups
in seeing this very special warbler. If you desire expert
level professional bird guiding services, send an e-mail.
I am intimately familiar with its every chip note. :):)
The above picture was digi-scoped (digital camera up to telescope)
by Kelli Levinson and used with permission. All rights reserved.
The following photos were all taken post-breeding,
late June to early August, mostly in July, of birds
in our former front yard on Thunder Creek Road,
where they don't breed. The numbers seen at
this non-descript non-breeding site during
the 6 weeks after breeding and before migrating out
of the country (over 20 birds in 6 weeks)
were pleasantly surprising.
Note how green the back might appear, and none of
these show the juvenile females back well.
They are as green as a Black-throated Green Warbler
but a darker shade, less yellow olive toned.
All the field guides depict *first winter* birds
for immatures in which the back is much blacker
than juveniles. Odd since the first winter
plumage they show is not really seen in the U.S.,
and what is, is not shown. ... experts.
The easiest, prettiest place to see them is
at Lost Maples State Natural Area. Walk the
Can Creek trail to the ponds area, and you should
see and hear many mid-March to mid-June.
Don't play tapes.
Golden-cheeked Warbler male feeding fledgling
(taken through telescope from safe distance)
At first while being fed still they can
have a lemony cast on breast.
They're on their own as their back turns green from the initial gray.
(leaf cutting off face)
Now you have virtually seen a Golden-cheeked Warbler!
If you have arrived here from our
Bird Photos page, you may close your
browser to return to the Bird Photos index.
Other visitors may click your "Back" button on
your browser or select a link to keep visiting!
|
Reports from Lost Maples |
|
Lost Maples Bird Guide Information |
To Bird Pics
To Butterfly Pics
To Dragonfly & Damselfly Pics
Current Bird News |
Butterfly News |
Local Ode News |
Our E-mail
|
Content & Design © www.utopianature.com 2004-2008 |