So.Cent.TX goings on

Hi all,

It is interesting to read about e.g. warblers arriving
at places northward, in comparison to what we have
down here at the 99 x 29 latilong in south central TX.
I'm on the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau at Utopia,
near Lost Maples St.Nat.Area, if any of you know that.

By comparison on May 7 I was guiding a group there and we
saw Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, and
Golden-cheeked Warblers, all feeding already fledged young.  

Also there and of interest was a dark morph Short-tailed Hawk.
Two weeks ago leading a group there I found a light morph
Short-tailed Hawk.  We may have a pair?

This winter Green Jays invaded the southern plateau for
the first time ever, and some are staying and still present!

This morning a pair of Audubon's Orioles brought a
fledgling by to show it the water and sugar water.
The adults duetted for some time while in the yard.
The summer resident Scott's don't seem to care about them,
whereas the male Scott's chased a male Baltimore migrant
away day before yesterday.  

There are a couple singing male Tropical Parula in the
area too, another example of south continuing to move north.

Warbler migration in general is weak beyond belief in this
area though, unless you like Nashville Warblers, a lot.
If you see 10 sps. of warblers in a day here there will be
several of them that are not migrants, but breeding species.
Whereas circa 60+ air miles east at San Antonio you can get
15+ migrant species in a day on the right days in late April
or early May.

happy feathers!
Mitch

Mitch Heindel
Utopia, TX
www.utopianature.com


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