South Llano River State Park, TX

I just got back from the most wonderful camping/birding trip! SLRSP not only has great camping facilities, but a terrific concentration of birds, and great ways to see them. They have several bird blinds tucked in the woods with bubbling rock fountains and feeders filled twice a day. The first two times we went there to camp, I didn't even consider myself a bird watcher, but found myself noticing all the birds and even sitting in the blinds. Now that I do consider birding one of my hobbies (having learned *some* of the more common birds I see there) I couldn't wait to get out there and enjoyed it even more than before.

Here is a beautiful Scrub Jay that I saw in the last few minutes I was able to sit in a blind. I was actually supposed to be back at camp packing, but could hardly tear myself away.

My main goal for the trip was to see my favorite bird, the Vermilion Flycatcher again, and secondarily to get a decent picture of a male. The first time we went there, one was using a tree in our campsite as his home base and stayed around the whole time.

The males are so vibrant! I had no idea before I saw my first one that there was a bird in Texas that was a brighter red than the brightest Cardinal! Their black mask and other dark markings set off the vermilion color so strikingly.

I was so excited when I spotted two males chasing each other from tree to tree. At first I was afraid to get too close for fear they'd fly away, but they were too involved in their little "game". Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in the center of the three trees they were flying between, and once they nearly flew into me! It was exceedingly difficult to get pics because they never stayed in the same place long. I finally figured out how to set my camera to take multiple shots and then I got some good ones.

*edited to take out blank space. I must have held the return key down.



This message was edited Mar 16, 2008 11:46 PM

On the way to the park (it's about a 3 hour drive) we stopped to look at the Bald Eagle nest which is about 100 yards off the highway. There are always eagle watchers stopped there.

I couldn't get a good pic, but here's one for the record. I actually took this through my binoculars with my little Sony Cybershot. You can sorta see the juvenile eagle in the nest. The mother was nearby in another tree, but I couldn't get a shot of her. I could see her beautiful white head, though.

House Finch in the top of a tree. This is cropped pretty hard to get it close up.

My 8 yo daughter and I got up at literally the crack of dawn when it was 40 degrees outside (I know, not that cold to you Northerners, but it still made it hard to get out of our warm sleeping bags) to go to the farthest bird blind at dawn. The 1 mile (or so) walk there and back was better than the time at the blind. We saw about 30 axis deer and probably 10 whitetail, 6 cottontail bunnies (I was surprised we didn't see any jackrabbits. They were all over the previous evening.) and several birds I hadn't seen until that morning.

This is the House Finch photo my 10 yo daughter took. She took several really good ones.

Here is another my daughter took. I don't know for sure what this cute little bird is. Some type of sparrow, I assume**. Female House Sparrow? I should know at least whether or not it's a House Sparrow, but up to now I haven't paid much attention to sparrows. There were a lot of cute ones there though.

**edited to say: Lincoln Sparrow per Resin.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:13 AM

Here's another cute sparrow. White Crowned?

And another. Chipping Sparrow?

They also say they have Rufous Crowned Sparrows**, but the Cornell site doesn't seem to list them, so I'm not sure if this could be RC rather than chipping. Here is a website listing all the birds known to visit SLRSP: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4507_0116a.pdf

**edited to say: Resin said it is the Rufous Crowned.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:16 AM

A sweet little Dark Eyed Junco. It seems whenever anyone mentions Juncos, they call them sweet. Now that I got to watch them a while, I see why.

Of course there were Mockingbirds everywhere! I love the way they look in the top of a tree with the morning sun shining on them.

I didn't get a good (close up) turkey pic, but there were lots of them there, so I must include them here. In fact, half the park was closed due to turkey roosting season. Every morning we were awakened by gobbling. Not a bad way to start the day.

I found myself photographing the female Cardinals more than the males. In fact, I didn't get a keeper photo of a male, but here is one of the lovely ladies. This is another my daughter took. I'm not sure if she was just stretching her foot or if it was stiff like that.

Spotted Towhee along with a male cardinal. I guess I did get a keeper of a male Card. I forgot about this shot when I said that I didn't. I was mainly trying to get the Towhee, but couldn't resist so much color in one shot.

Is this a Pine Siskin? The next few pics I think are all Pine Siskins, but they are different birds. Correct me if I'm wrong.

A fluffier one.**

**edited: Female House Finch per Resin.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:15 AM

"Whatchoo lookin' at?"**

edited to say: Another Female House Finch per Resin.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:18 AM

Here's another sparrow**, I think. My daughter took this one. So cute bathing in the fountain water.

**edited to say: Field Sparrow per Resin.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:12 AM

Oops, forgot about this one in my "probably Pine Siskin" series. Is it?

Oh and one more. I'm sure this one is. You can even see a little yellow on its wing.

Speaking of yellow, here is a Lesser Goldfinch.

Almost done. Here's a Say's Phoebe***, I think. New bird for me.

edited to say: It's an Eastern Wood Pewee per Resin.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:09 AM

I'm less sure of this one. I first thought it was another Say's Phoebe**, but now I'm thinking maybe it was an Olive Sided Flycatcher? That would be cool because they're more unusual there, but have been seen.

**edited to say: Eastern Phoebe per Resin. I guess I was closer in my first guess.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2008 11:10 AM

Oh, can't forget the Whitewing Dove. LOTS of them around.

And a Woodpecker. I was assuming Ladderback, but I didn't get a good look at his back (which is the easiest way for me to tell) and it seems like maybe his beak is shorter than the ladderback I've seen around my house. I'm not familiar with all the woodpeckers they have there.

These next three are the last ones for now. This is the biggest mystery for me. I took the pics having no idea what it was so I brought my camera to the office to ask the park hosts. I could have sworn the lady said it was a "Cassin's (sp?) Towhee" but I didn't see that name on the list of birds they have there.

There is a Cassin's Kingbird on the list and a Cassin's Sparrow, but I don't think they look right. There's also a Green Tailed Towhee which I haven't found a pic of yet and a Canyon Towhee which also doesn't look quite right.

Mystery bird from the front.

And the other side.

Wow Peeper, what a wonderful thread. This makes me wonder are there other such birding campsites around the country (specifically in my area). How did you find this place???

Wow! That Flycatcher is a beauty!

40 degrees and camping sounds down right cruel to me!!

What a wonderful trip you had! Congratulations on all the birds!!

Thank you Resin for the ID's. I knew I could count on you. Female House Finches! Why didn't I think of that for all those supposed PS's?

Thanks MrsEd for the kind words. Texas has a great state park system and my husband and kids and I always like to camp at state parks. We originally selected this one more for camping and enjoying the river. I didn't realize the great birding opportunities until we went there, but the literature and descriptions of the park do mention birding. May be you could check with your state's parks and wildlife department.

Nanny, I've got lots more Vermilion Flycatcher pics. I got a few in-flights that I am really excited about. I was trying to decide whether to start another thread just for them or add it to this one. I think I'll start one just for them when I get home (I'm at work now, but about to leave).

Meanwhile, here's another of the Scrub Jay. I like the way the sun shines on his head in this one.

Beautiful pic Peeper!

I'm looking forward to the rest of your photos!

What a wonderful trip Peeper! Thank you for sharing pics of birds I have never seen. I hope to make a trip to Texas later this spring or summer and this just makes me more excited!

I set the bird cam back up today and got a few pics before the squirrel moved in. Yesterday I saw a Jay peck the squirrel, but today the birds all left.
Some of the male Red Wings have started feeding.

First, a Jay watching three Red Wings.

Next a Red Wing couple.

Sorry. I posted in the wrong place. Old timers strikes again.

LOL trois...I have that problem all the time! These are wonderful pics and I love that you have the male and female together. I can't believe how different they look!