Any birds for you in Texas?

Great to hear, Randy!

Thanks, Rog!

I just saw about 15 (or so) Butter butts (Yellow-rumped Warbler) up in one of my taller trees too!
Migration time, I guess.

Thanks, Rog.

Randy

Many of those YRW only go as far as PortA. See them all winter there.

They are common here too, I am just really glad to see something besides Sparrows.
Y'all get all of the good stuff up there though in the Winter AND the Summer too probably. I'm jealous.
Even at my age I have never been NE, or no farther North than Colorado, and no farther NW than Ogden, Utah, I need to get out more. heheh When I was North of where I am I wasn't into birds, I just didn't know.

Randy

Ha-spent 4 months in Singapore with my new Rebel Xti and it's 2 kit lens, took thousands of pix. Not one bird! Then my son took me to lock and dam 14 on the Mississippi River to see the bald eagles in January. Boink!

Heheheh, yeah, that is definitely a "Boink!" moment!
Someday maybe I'll be able to see a bunch of cool birds at once!

Randy

Hey Randy, I think the biggest reason is the plentiful rain we've had this year in Texas and because of that, there is abundant food available this fall. Also it's that slow time of year when our summer residents move out and the winter residents haven't really moved in yet. You are in a new area so probably the birds aren't accustomed to your yard (feeders, birdbaths, etc...) yet. I recently moved away from DFW also, down to the hill country and it's been slow here too but I'm starting to hear and see the winter migrants.

Hey Brad!

I know deep down that you're right, and every year I wonder, "Where are the birds?", but this year since I did move I am/was extra worried.
Right now I do see them in the trees up high, but none are at my feeders except for Sparrows, at least now anyway. (I do think that I 'may have' spotted a Carolina Wren this morning below my feeders but it happened so fast I am not sure, there are two, or were two that were a mated pair here earlier this year)
Actually, I moved here in April, the previous owners were bird lovers so the birds were already here, we always had full feeders with 'good' birds, I mean I was REALLY happy, that is until August, then it just turned off. I have had water out there too, so time will tell, I know that it'd be crazy that they actually left and will never come back, but it's hard to convince me right now. heheh
When we were looking at the house in February their feeders were packed with Gold Finch, that's something that we rarely got anymore in Irving, used to we'd have LOT's of them, but the last bunch of years they stopped coming.

Since you were near a big lake before I bet that you really are having an adjustment, I love the hill country, my wife is the only reason we're not living there, she isn't in agreement with me. Hopefully you find a lot of new stuff to make your move a better one, I do know that in dryer climates that it brings more birds than people realize. That's one of the reasons I love Big Bend so much, that place is loaded with good birds, you just have to know how and where to look.

I sure am going to miss White Rock Lake and VCDB, plus all of my local bird places I'd go, here it's not looking good for me, there's hardly any water I haven't found any places that would be good for looking for birds like what I am used to.

Good luck down there Brad, I sure hope that you are having a good time, I know you'll be closer to the coast too so that might be a plus, and all of the other places that aren't that far from you that people love.
Thanks, for the reply!

Randy

I have been meaning to add that even ALL of my White-winged Dove are also gone, now THAT is something!
There were around 18-20 daily that hung around, I don't care for them like most due to their chicken-like eating habits, they eat me out of house and home. My old house was loaded with them, I had over 40, so even though I had less here in this newer house, I wasn't happy. I am pretty happy now though since they have left, but, I know them, they'll return.

In that group I had 2 European Ring-necked Dove and 3 Mourning Dove and 1 Inca Dove, these I don't mind 'cause they're not hogs at the feeders. heheh

Randy

I'm going to miss the DFW area. I got back recently from spending some time up there.
We moved down to the hill country in early August. I mostly photograph small perching birds instead of the wading birds you find at lakes, so the adjustment really hasn't been as big for me as you might think. Some birds are different, but for the most part nothing I haven't already seen. We are close to several large ponds and also the Guadalupe. The ducks are starting to filter in, and of course we have our herons.

I'm happy the birds are more numerous here. In the time that I've been back home. I've heard and seen Yellow-rump Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows.

Good luck in finding the birds and Happy Thanksgiving!

recrisp wrote in post #18182159
I have been meaning to add that even ALL of my White-winged Dove are also gone, now THAT is something!
There were around 18-20 daily that hung around, I don't care for them like most due to their chicken-like eating habits, they eat me out of house and home. My old house was loaded with them, I had over 40, so even though I had less here in this newer house, I wasn't happy. I am pretty happy now though since they have left, but, I know them, they'll return.

In that group I had 2 European Ring-necked Dove and 3 Mourning Dove and 1 Inca Dove, these I don't mind 'cause they're not hogs at the feeders. heheh

Randy

I remember living in San Antonio and the White wing doves were EVERYWHERE. As a dove hunter, I loved them! Breasts are a bit larger.

txcanon wrote in post #18192912
I'm going to miss the DFW area. I got back recently from spending some time up there.
We moved down to the hill country in early August. I mostly photograph small perching birds instead of the wading birds you find at lakes, so the adjustment really hasn't been as big for me as you might think. Some birds are different, but for the most part nothing I haven't already seen. We are close to several large ponds and also the Guadalupe. The ducks are starting to filter in, and of course we have our herons.

I'm happy the birds are more numerous here. In the time that I've been back home. I've heard and seen Yellow-rump Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows.

Good luck in finding the birds and Happy Thanksgiving!

Unlike you I won't miss DFW, not at all, but I only mean I won't miss the people, it's some of the best birding around, I mean, we have our local lakes that give good fun, plus VCDB, parks, and it goes on and on. So far, here in Paris I have not found anyone, or any place that holds birds, but it's kind of hard to find them when they aren't around, hence this thread. I am sure that you'll do better than fine, I know you really know your birds and you're a really good photographer to boot, so you'll get what you want.
What I have found in the dryer regions is that the birds are more concentrated, like I need to tell you, so even I can find them. heheh

Even after the cold fronts that we've had we still don't have any birds, I did see ONE Cardinal, that was it, but my mother-in-law lives about 45 minutes north of me and she said that he birds have not been around either, so...

Good luck, and I hope that you have lots of fun there, and I hope that you also had a good Thanksgiving!

Randy

Naturalist wrote in post #18192932
I remember living in San Antonio and the White wing doves were EVERYWHERE. As a dove hunter, I loved them! Breasts are a bit larger.

Yeah, in the last few years that species has literally exploded down here in Texas. I am sure you are correct too, they are so large that they have to be the most shot at on dove. heheh I know if it was legal I'd shoot them outside of my window, I really dislike them, just like squirrels.

Randy

O.K., I am officially sick of not having any birds...
It's been well over a month since I had any, probably longer, but it's been right at a month since I made this thread, enough is enough!



Randy

If they are not coming to you, well, ...