2002 Archive

Notable birds were Loggerhead Shrike, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Kestrel, Spotted Towhee, and

Got out of our car and was amazed to find that most of the prairie portion (100 + acres) of the

Preserve had been mowed to stubble. The Society had discussed a February mow with the

City of Garland after the Great Plains Ladies' Tresses had gone to seed and after fall migrants

such as Leconte's, Grasshopper, and other birds had passed through. This was the only alternative

since prescribed burning is difficult if not impossible in urban settings. The mowers didn't avoid

the sensitive cryptogamic soils on the higher portions of the prairies, nor did they spare the Redroot

or New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)a small shrub found on the shallowest of soils on

the Preserve (see 2nd photo). We did note that people are less likely to stay on the trail now

that the Preserve looks more like a park. Hopefully this trend will change as forbs & grasses

On the positive side, the mowing reduced hardwood encroachment into the prairie as well as

some of the invasive grasses. It will most likely increase the overall biodiversity, particularly forbs, grasses,

and insects, but some research would be needed for support. Mowing was severe since

most prairie restoration experts recommend a mowing height of 3-4 or even 10 inches.

The Society encourages vegetation and other monitoring to see how the prairie recovers

Rock Wren reported at Spring Creek Park off Plano Road. Also reported on Saturday

Could be that our wet October and a few chilly nights have made this fall strikingly

beautiful. . . so hurry out to Spring Creek Preserve over next the few days!

Subject: Very late Canada Warbler in Dallas Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 18:07:12 -0500 ---> Texbird help file TEXBIRDERS -- The surprises continue at the Old Fish Hatchery at White Rock Lake in Dallas. This morning, Chris Runk reported a striking male CANADA WARBLER out there. Being a weak soul, I couldn't resist the temptation to make a quick trip in search of the bird. When I arrived at the OFH I ran into Brian Gibbons and Derek Hill, who had just found the bird. All three of us got many good, long looks at the cooperative warbler. It was foraging in a mixed flock of primarily chickadees and titmice, staying between 20 and 30 feet above the forest floor -- quite high for a Canada. It was very near the area where I saw the Black-throated Blue Warbler on Sunday -- but slightly more to the interior of the OFH. The local checklist shows the expected migration window for Canada Warbler coming to a close at the end of September. Warren Pulich's book, The Birds of North Central Texas, lists the extreme migratory date as October 23. So, by any measure, this is an extraordinarily good find. -- Kelly Cotten (Dallas)

Several Great Plains Ladies Tresses were found in the same area as last fall. Many honey bees

on White Asters as well as Goldenrod. Grasshopper, Savannah, White-throated, White-crowned

Sparrows. Questionmark, Eastern Tailed Blue, Red Admiral, Monarch, Clouded Sulphur. Also a

Zebra Longwing at Rowlett Trail off Miller Road (refer to birding hot spot map).

Several hundred seeds of Eustoma russellianum planted at several spots on the Preserve in hopes of

Texbirders

An amazing fall day for inland Texas migration 8 Oct 2002. Derek Hill
and I birded throughout the day when it wasn't raining and tallied 11
species of warblers including one goody a Black-throated Blue at Arapaho
Park in Dallas.

ARAPAHO PARK
Cooper's Hawk        1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo        1
Least Flycatcher                1
Eastern Phoebe        8
Blue-headed Vireo        1
House Wren                2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet        15
Brown Thrasher        6
Nashville Warbler        35
Yellow Warbler        4
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER        1
Yellow-rumped Warbler        2
Black-throated Green Warbler        1
American Redstart        2
Mourning Warbler        1 late
Common Yellowthroat        6
Wilson's Warbler        10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak        1
Indigo Bunting        4

PRAIRIE CREEK PARK
Yellow-billled Cuckoo        1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker        1
Northern Flicker        2
Eastern Phoebe        10
Solitary Vireo        1 a strange dull indiv. BVD poss CAVI
Bewick's Wren        1
House Wren        3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet        20
WOOD THRUSH        1
Gray Catbird        2
Brown Thrasher        12
Orange-crowned Warbler        8
Nashville Warbler        125 WOW!
Magnolia Warbler        1
Black-throated Green Warbler        4
American Redstart        1
Common Yellowthroat        5
Wilson's Warbler        3

Yesterday at Prairie Creek I had my first Spotted Towhee of the year.
Directions to the above parks can be found at Derek Hill's Website
www.geocities.com/kinglet32
I will post a note if I refind the BTBW in the morning.

Brian Gibbons
Dallas

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page.

At Spring Creek Preserve, during the first week of October you sometimes observe hundreds of

Monarch butterflies flying overhead in their migration to Mexico. Past peaks have been October 5th and 6th.

Maximilian Sunflower, Small Palafoxia, Dakota Vervain, Eryngo, Frost Weed, Prairie Agalinis

Derek Hill w/ Brian Gibbons Bewick's Wren - 1 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 1 Black-and-white Warbler - 8 American Redstart - 8 Nashville Warbler - 1 Wilson's Warbler - 8 Common Yellowthroat - 1 White Rock Lake spillway Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper - 4 Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1 juvenile Western Sandpiper - 1 basic Least Sandpiper ~ 200 mostly basic, some juvenile Old Fish Hatchery YB Cuckoo - 2 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 5 Warbling Vireo - 1 Northern Parula - 1 Yellow Warbler - 3 Black-throated Green Warbler - 3 Black-and-white Warbler - 12 American Redstart - 2 Wilson's Warbler - 15 Canada Warbler - 1

Jack & Derek Hill - The bluebell gentians are still blooming along I-30 just east of the Loop 12 exit, but not

like the peak bloom the last week in July. We collected some seed today in hopes of propagating some for

Spring Creek and maybe elsewhere. This species is listed by Shinners and Mahler's as one of the prettiest

wildflowers in North Central Texas. This is a map of the location of the gentians. Many of our showy annuals

show remarkable flux in population size from year to year and it appears that this growing season has favored

Eustoma russellianum, a species that is distributed throughout Texas and prairie areas of the Great Plains.

Many are going to seed, and will be ripe for collecting seed over the next few weeks. We suggest this since

the lot is slated for sale (22 acres or so) and, of course, habitat destruction destruction and urban development.

We parked behind the new Best Western motel along the frontage road and walked due west to get the seed.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 26, 2002

Derek & Jack Hill

Longear Sunfish males guarding their nests in Spring Creek. (Texas Parks & Wildlife web site: "Spawning

occurs throughout late spring and early summer. Males scoop nests out of gravel bars. Females are enticed to

lay their eggs on a particular nest by a male who swims out to meet her, swimming around her rapidly and

displaying his brilliant spawning colors. After the eggs have been laid, males chase the females away and guard

the nest vigorously despite their small size, chasing away all intruders. Males may continue to guard the nest for

a week or more after hatching, until larvae have dispersed." The males are striking with turquoise fins and

orange bodies, making it our most colorful sunfish in Texas. Notes: walk to the Eagle Scout bench on

the main trail loop (not the one near the parking lot) and then to the end of the small trail leading

to the edge of the creek...here you can observe the "brim beds" and see the males with your binoculars.

You may also notice some large carp downstream of the brim beds.

A good fish web site is: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/lge/lge.htm

Saw an Eastern Kingbird in the field along the trail....possibly nesting in the area.We accidently found a newly installed geocache in the Preserve. For hints and how to participate in this new sport go to http://www.geocaching.com/ and type in 75044 for the zip code....Spring Creek Preserve is on this list.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 23, 2002

Fay Danahy reports bullfrogs...there were 15 very large frogs in and around the deep pool that is across
the sandbar where we have access to the creek from the drain from the horse barn. And one crayfish.

June 20, 2002 follow up visit by Lawrence Duhon posted on TX Birds:

I birded the Ray Roberts Greenbelt off of U.S. Highway 380 east of Denton
this morning. This area was described in detail by Derek Hill in a post
on June 19.

The best birds of the days were a Pileated Woodpecker (7:45 A.M.) about
100 yards north of the parking lot and at least two fledgling Barred Owls
about half a mile north along the bike trail (6:40 A.M.).

I did not hear or see the Yellow-throated Warbler reported by Derek from
this area 2 days ago.

Other songbirds encountered included several Northern Parulas and
Prothonatory Warblers, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher,
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Painted Bunting, and many singing Indigo Buntings.
(Most of the common local woodland residents were also seen.)

Lawrence Duhon
Lewisville, Texas

Neotropical Migrants

Neotropical migratory songbirds passed through the riparian

forests along Spring Creek, Prairie Creek and other streams in

North Central Texas this spring. Some warblers such as

Blackburnian, Nashville, and Yellow seem to prefer native

pecans and black willow, while species such as Canada,

Hooded, and Mourning prefer dense understory. There

are probably dozens of undiscovered birding hot spots in

the 120 square mile area of the East Fork of the Trinity River.

Visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds.

Sunday, May 19, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Birded Prairie Creek Park in Richardson this morning 10:30 - 11:45.

Magnolia Warbler
Mourning Warbler

Chestnut-sided
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Nashville
Wilson's

Yellow

Good birding,

Derek Hill
Richardson, TX

Saturday, May 18, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

HOODED WARBLER

Birded Prairie Creek Park in Richardson this afternoon 1:25pm-2:40pm.
Highlight was a female HOODED WARBLER, just north of the footbridge on the
east side of the creek. Seems very late in the year to have a migrant
Hooded.

Magnolia Warbler - 1
Chestnut-sided - 2
Blackburnian - 1
Black-and-white - 1
American Redstart - 6+
Ovenbird - 2
HOODED - 1
Wilson's - 3-4

Good birding,

Derek Hill
Richardson, TX

Spring Creek Preserve

Earlier in the day: Orchard Orioles, Dickcissels, Bluebird, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Red-eyed & White-eyed Vireos.

Saturday, May 11, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Texbirders,

I birded off and on this morning with Prairie & Timbers Audubon at
Prairie Creek Park in Richardson. From 7:45am-12:45pm we ended up with 16
warbler species. Highlights were Philadelphia Vireo, Wood and Gray-cheeked Thrush,
and, of course, the warbler diversity.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - several
Willow/Alder Flycatcher - 2-3
Great Crested Flycatcher - several
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2-3
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue-headed Vireo ~ 6
Wood Thrush - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - a few
Yellow Warbler ~ 4
Magnolia - several
Chestnut-sided - several
Black-throated Green - 1
Bay-breasted - 1
Black-and-white ~ 5-6
American Redstart ~ 8
Tennessee - 1
Nashville - 2
Orange-crowned - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Ovenbird - 2
Mourning - 1
Wilson's - several
Canada - 1
Common Yellowthroat - several
Painted Bunting - 1 imm.

Numbers weren't particularly high but diversity turned out pretty well. No
orioles, tanagers, or grosbeaks today though.

Good birding,
Derek Hill

Friday, May 10, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Golden-Winged Warbler

On the opposite side of Prairie Creek, to the right of the bridge I found one

golden-winged warbler and one gray-cheeked thrush, along with 100+ of other warblers,

vireos, and flycatchers this morning.. excellent conditions!

black-and-white warbler
Nashville Warbler
yellow warbler
chestnut-sided warbler
magnolia warbler
Wilson's warbler
golden-winged warbler
Tennessee warbler
black-throated green warbler
ovenbird
American redstart
Baltimore oriole
eastern wood-pewee (singing)
alder flycatcher (singing)
least flycatcher (singing)
Swainson's thrush
gray-cheeked thrush
blue-headed Vireo
warbling Vireo
red-eyed Vireo

-Peter Assmann

Saturday, May 04, 2002

Prairie Creek Park with Audubon Dallas , 08:00-12:00. Highlights included 10 warbler species...compiled by Susan Yost, Audubon Dallas

Summer Tanager {both}

F. Indigo Bunting

Rose breasted Grosbeak {both}

Blue- headed Vireo

Yellow- billed Cuckoo

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cedar Waxwing

Baltimore Oriole

Orchard Oriole

Robin

Blue Jay

Cardinal

Carolina Chickadee {new families}

Tufted Titmouse

Northern Mockingbird

Mourning Dove

Rock Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker {excavating nest hole}

Downey Woodpecker

Chimney Swift

Purple Martin

Green Heron {fly by}

Great Egret {fly over}

Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron {with a BIG fish}

Mallard

Carolina Wren {heard}

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart {both}

Black & White Warbler {both}

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler {both}

Orange Crowned Warbler

Northern Water Thrush {heard/flash by}

Northern Parula

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ovenbird

American Crow

Cowbird

Common Grackle

European Starling

House Sparrow

{44 species}

Friday, May 03, 2002

Prairie Creek Park early afternoon. Lots of Nashville Warblers, Yellow Warblers, a Tennessee Warbler, Redstart, and a Yellow-throated Vireo which had the distinctive yellow spectacles and bright yellow throat/whitish belly.

Thursday, May 02, 2002

Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed), and Matelea biflora (Purple Milkweed Vine). Penstemon cobaea (Fox-Glove) are also blooming at their peak here.

Saturday, April 20, 2002.

Nashville Warbler, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Red- and White-Eyed Vireos at Spring Cr. Preserve. Black-Throated Green, Nashville Warblers at Prairie Creek, upstream of Spring Creek Preserve.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 26, 2002

Derek & Jack Hill

Longear Sunfish males guarding their nests in Spring Creek. (Texas Parks & Wildlife web site: "Spawning occurs throughout late spring and early summer. Males scoop nests out of gravel bars. Females are enticed to lay their eggs on a particular nest by a male who swims out to meet her, swimming around her rapidly and displaying his brilliant spawning colors. After the eggs have been laid, males chase the females away and guard the nest vigorously despite their small size, chasing away all intruders. Males may continue to guard the nest for a week or more after hatching, until larvae have dispersed." The males are striking with turquoise fins and orange bodies, making it our most colorful sunfish in Texas. Notes: walk to the Eagle Scout bench on the main trail loop (not the one near the parking lot) and then to the end of the small trail leading to the edge of the creek...here you can observe the "brim beds" and see the males with your binoculars. You may also notice some large carp downstream of the brim beds. A good fish web site is: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/lge/lge.htm

Saw an Eastern Kingbird in the field along the trail....possibly nesting in the area.

We accidently found a newly installed geocache in the Preserve. For hints and how to participate in this new sport go to http://www.geocaching.com and type in 75044 for the zip code....Spring Creek Preserve is on this list.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 23, 2002

June 20, 2002 follow up visit by Lawrence Duhon posted on TX Birds:

June 19, 2002 11:00-12:30

Derek, Ryan, & Jack Hill

Ray Robert Lake State Park - Greenbelt (Access Point off US 380 just east of Denton) Mature bottomland hardwood forest along Elm Fork of the Trinity River:

Eastern cottonwood, sycamore, hackberry, American elm, and other species.

link to Trail Map (requires Acrobat Reader)

June 19, 2002 11:00-12:30

Derek, Ryan, & Jack Hill

Ray Robert Lake State Park - Greenbelt (Access Point off US 380 just east of Denton) Mature bottomland hardwood forest along Elm Fork of the Trinity River:

Riparian Forest : Eastern cottonwood, sycamore, hackberry, American elm, and other species.

Yellow-throated Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Summer Tanager - pair with fledglings

Eastern Wood Pewee

Indigo Bunting

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cattle Egret - numerous overhead with nesting material

Little Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Big Brown Bat - roosting on tree trunk:

Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Red-Spotted Purple, Hackberry Emperor

Neotropical Migrants

Neotropical migratory songbirds passed through the riparian forests along Spring Creek, Prairie Creek and other streams in North Central Texas this spring. Some warblers such as Blackburnian, Nashville, and Yellow seem to prefer native pecans and black willow, while species such as Canada, Hooded, and Mourning prefer dense understory. There are probably dozens of undiscovered birding hot spots in the 120 square mile area of the East Fork of the Trinity River. Visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds.

Sunday, May 19, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Birded Prairie Creek Park in Richardson this morning 10:30 - 11:45.

Magnolia Warbler
Mourning Warbler

Chestnut-sided
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Nashville
Wilson's

Yellow

Good birding,

Derek Hill
Richardson, TX

Saturday, May 18, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

HOODED WARBLER

Spring Creek Preserve

Earlier in the day: Orchard Orioles, Dickcissels, Bluebird, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Red-eyed & White-eyed Vireos.

Saturday, May 11, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Texbirders,

I birded off and on this morning with Prairie & Timbers Audubon at
Prairie Creek Park in Richardson. From 7:45am-12:45pm we ended up with 16
warbler species. Highlights were Philadelphia Vireo, Wood and Gray-cheeked Thrush,
and, of course, the warbler diversity.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - several
Willow/Alder Flycatcher - 2-3
Great Crested Flycatcher - several
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2-3
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue-headed Vireo ~ 6
Wood Thrush - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - a few
Yellow Warbler ~ 4
Magnolia - several
Chestnut-sided - several
Black-throated Green - 1
Bay-breasted - 1
Black-and-white ~ 5-6
American Redstart ~ 8
Tennessee - 1
Nashville - 2
Orange-crowned - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Ovenbird - 2
Mourning - 1
Wilson's - several
Canada - 1
Common Yellowthroat - several
Painted Bunting - 1 imm.

Numbers weren't particularly high but diversity turned out pretty well. No
orioles, tanagers, or grosbeaks today though.

Good birding,
Derek Hill

Friday, May 10, 2002

Prairie Creek Park

Golden-Winged Warbler

On the opposite side of Prairie Creek, to the right of the bridge I found one golden-winged warbler and one gray-cheeked thrush, along with 100+ of other warblers, vireos, and flycatchers this morning.. excellent conditions!

black-and-white warbler
Nashville Warbler
yellow warbler
chestnut-sided warbler
magnolia warbler
Wilson's warbler
golden-winged warbler
Tennessee warbler
black-throated green warbler
ovenbird
American redstart
Baltimore oriole
eastern wood-pewee (singing)
alder flycatcher (singing)
least flycatcher (singing)
Swainson's thrush
gray-cheeked thrush
blue-headed Vireo
warbling Vireo
red-eyed Vireo

-Peter Assmann

Saturday, May 04, 2002

Prairie Creek Park with Audubon Dallas , 08:00-12:00. Highlights included 10 warbler species...compiled by Susan Yost, Audubon Dallas

Summer Tanager {both}

F. Indigo Bunting

Rose breasted Grosbeak {both}

Blue- headed Vireo

Yellow- billed Cuckoo

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cedar Waxwing

Baltimore Oriole

Orchard Oriole

Robin

Blue Jay

Cardinal

Carolina Chickadee {new families}

Tufted Titmouse

Northern Mockingbird

Mourning Dove

Rock Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker {excavating nest hole}

Downey Woodpecker

Chimney Swift

Purple Martin

Green Heron {fly by}

Great Egret {fly over}

Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron {with a BIG fish}

Mallard

Carolina Wren {heard}

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart {both}

Black & White Warbler {both}

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler {both}

Orange Crowned Warbler

Northern Water Thrush {heard/flash by}

Northern Parula

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ovenbird

American Crow

Cowbird

Common Grackle

European Starling

House Sparrow

{44 species}

Friday, May 03, 2002

Thursday, May 02, 2002

Thanks to the Eagle Scouts clearing out encroaching eastern red cedar on the Maple Ridge portion of Spring Creek Preserve, you can now see a return of prairie plants, including Asclepias asperula (Antelope-Horns), Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed), and Matelea biflora (Purple Milkweed Vine). Penstemon cobaea (Fox-Glove) are also blooming at their peak here.

Saturday, April 20, 2002.

Nashville Warbler, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Red- and White-Eyed Vireos at Spring Cr. Preserve. Black-Throated Green, Nashville Warblers at Prairie Creek, upstream of Spring Creek Preserve.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 26, 2002

Derek & Jack Hill

Saw an Eastern Kingbird in the field along the trail....possibly nesting in the area.

Spring Creek Preserve

June 23, 2002

Ray Robert Lake State Park - Greenbelt (Access Point off US 380 just east of Denton) Mature bottomland hardwood forest along Elm Fork of the Trinity River:

Eastern cottonwood, sycamore, hackberry, American elm, and other species.

link to Trail Map (requires Acrobat Reader)

June 20, 2002 follow up visit by Lawrence Duhon posted on TX Birds:

June 19, 2002 11:00-12:30

Derek, Ryan, & Jack Hill