Oasis activity

The Black-chinned Hummingbird eggs hatched today.

And I observed a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers evicting Ladder-backed Woodpeckers from their nesting cavity. Last year the Ash-throateds evicted the Elf Owls, who subsequently had to change nesting holes. Luckily, the Ladder-backeds make enough cavities to go around.

Migration frenzy

 A seemingly endless procession of migrants stopped by for a drink and/or snack. But they didn't hang around, and I can't be everywhere at once. I missed seeing an Indigo Bunting and Hermit Warbler that other birders saw. I did see some colorful birds though.

And of course, many not so colorful. Can't wait to see what shows up tomorrow.

Migration in full swing

I wasn't able to be at the oasis for the last few days but I'm going early in the morning. Meanwhile, there have been quite a few birders visiting there. I monitor their ebird reports to see what's being seen. One visitor, Claudia Browning Anderson, took this photo of a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers mating at the oasis. Pretty cool capture!

Yesterday my  birding partner (Dale Ohl) and I birded in Big Bend National Park. We got this neat shot of a Green Heron fishing there at Rio Grande Village.

And back in Alpine the Vermillion Flycatcher is tending her eggs. Busy birds! Busy birders!

Son's progress

You may remember that a year or so ago my son, Leonardo, moved from Austin to Alpine, with the intention of soon retiring to the oasis and help me there. It's too much for me to take care of by myself anymore.

So he bought an extreme fixer upper mobile home which I've posted some photos of the work he's done on the interior. But the roof damage was so bad he decided to put a roof over the trailer. He installed the posts and built metal trusses alone without help. Today he installed the trusses by himself in a raging wind. He plans to lease the place out when he moves to the oasis.* (I've vacated the house and it's waiting on him.)

Next comes the metal roofing. To be continued....

Meanwhile, at the oasis, migration is continuing along. Sufficient birds to keep the birders happy.

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*He sold his Austin home and wants to invest the money in rental property in Alpine to supplement the sign making that he wants to get set up to do at the oasis property. He's so talented that he can't fail to succeed.

Another busy oasis day

Birders coming and going all day. Birding was decent.

 

Alpine consolation

 Since I can't go to the oasis until tomorrow, I resolved to enjoy migration in Alpine today. About the time a group of birders (Naturalist Journeys) arrived, I had been talking to birder Bill Sain in the alley between our house and the habitat (Johnson Ponds) when I spied the elusive Wood Thrush that I had been seeking for the past week.* I was determined to photograph it, so I took a barely diagnostic shot of it in the shadows. Then, while trying to get everyone on it, it flew away. I knew the odds of relocating it were slim, but I pursued it across the street and down an alley to where some of the birders said it had landed in a tree. Here's the group in hot pursuit. I relocated it in the grass beneath the bare tree that's peaking out behind the white building.

Luckily, all got to see it and I got my photo.

Not my best Wood Thrush photo, but I'm thrilled to have gotten one this good.

Meanwhile, at the oasis, some dear neighbors came and finished cleaning out the silt from the stucco tank. I can't believe they chose to push the dirt up the steep ramp in a wheelbarrow rather than carry it up in buckets. No way could I ever do that!

Thanks, Bruce and Stephanie! You're the best!

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*On April 15 and/or 16 my husband saw it foraging under the grape arbor near where he was sitting on the patio. I was at the oasis, but my son was working in the workshop there. Hugh got my son to come look but Lee didn't have a camera on him. He later described it to me and I knew what it was. Then on the 18th, Jon McIntyre visited and got a photo of it. So I've been watching for it ever since. Yesterday, while photographing a Common Yellowthroat, I thought I saw it in my peripheral vision but couldn't locate it.

Yesterday's Big Sit Day 2021

The weather seems to always be cold for the Big Sit and this year was the worst. Raging wind and 40.° It finally warmed up to 70.° Because of covid the circle was 50 feet, instead of the usual 14 feet, so that helped some.

The oasis hosted a record four shorebirds, two Solitary Sandpipers and two Baird's Sandpipers.

Nashville Warbler

Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dale Ohl and me with Mike Gray in the background

Cecilia Riley, our team leader

The shirt featured a Belted Kingfisher on it and we even had a Belted Kingfisher. I can't reveal our total species yet until the competition is over.

Mike found a pair of Crissal Thrashers in the arroyo behind the oasis. I'd been hearing them call for a week or more now, so I'm convinced they're nesting back there (photo by Mike).

Weather reversal

 Yesterday it was 90° and very birdy. Today it was cold and windy. More birders than birds!

I guess the best species I saw today was Baird's Sandpiper (3). Not a new oasis species.

Elf Owls, migration, birds, birders....

I arrived at the oasis yesterday morning to discover the large agave that the Elf Owls were nesting in, when I last left the oasis, was lying on the ground. The four or five wires I had used to stabilize it were snapped in two. In my panic, I didn't take a photo, but enlisted some birders there to help stand it back up.

So, naturally, I was eager for nightfall to see if the owls were still using the same hole. Just at dusk I saw a Ladder-backed Woodpecker emerge from that hole, so was really bummed. But, lo and behold, a short while later the female owl stuck her head out the hole and the male perched nearby. Both were squawking vociferously. The oasis has 3 nesting pair. And it's funny about the pair east of my cabin. The hole is in a utility pole that the electric company installed about 5 years ago. When they installed the poles, they assured me they were woodpecker proof. Remember how worried I was that the owls wouldn't have places to nest so I made them leave up several of the old poles. Laughs on us!

And these new poles are way taller than the old ones. They nested there last year too. The same birder that brought it to my attention this year had told me about it last year. I had never checked it out because I was sure he was mistaken! I would have liked photos of the owls poking their heads out but it was too dark and I didn't have anyone to hold my spotlight for me. One of these days!

The third nest is in an agave stalk up at the carport by the house. Woodpeckers made sure there were plenty of options to choose from. At least five Ladder-backed Woodpecker holes in the stalk. The owls chose the one a couple of feet about the roof just like they did at the oasis.

Today was an awesome migration day. So many birds that I couldn't possibly tally them all. The highlight was a Rufous-capped Warbler, which is a lifer for me. But, although five of us saw it, no one was able to get a photo, so that's a bummer. I blame myself because it was perched in the top of a dead mulberry tree above where my water drip tank is. I had just laid my camera down while I checked the water in the tank and had forgotten to pick it back up. I carried religiously all day except for that one moment. So I ran toward my camera and probably flushed the bird in the process.

So many spring migrants just pop in for a drink and are gone, anxious to get to their breeding grounds. I managed to count 55 species out of who knows how many that were there. Here are a few photos of some of them.

Plumbeous Vireo

Lazuli Bunting

Solitary Sandpiper

The oasis today

It appears as if all the Huisache trees died, or froze back to the ground, during January's record cold. I want to get them all removed. There are plenty of lovely trees that survived. I don't want trees that aren't cold hardy enough. It's a waste of water too.

Normally, I like a few dead trees around, but right now there are way too many. Need some serious cutting done. I'll see if I can get one of my sons to come cut them with a chainsaw.

Wouldn't you know, a Black-chinned Hummingbird built a nest right at the edge of a main walkway going to the back water drip. It's a great place to bird so birders tend to go back between the drip and front viewing blind a lot. I did rope it off so people will have to walk a long way around to get to the water feature, but it's still going to be a problem. For one thing, I have to water back there and drag a hose right past the nest. No other way. Gonna hope for the best. One year a Black-chinned nested successfully right outside my kitchen door, so there is hope.

Nest in lower swatch of dead [oak] leaves

When I first discovered the nest she was entering carrying a big wad of cotton.  Finishing touch I guess. Which brings up another concern of mine. Normally hummers use spider webs (I think) that are elastic and stretch as the nestlings grow. Seems a lot more suitable than cotton, especially if it gets wet and soggy. There are two eggs in the nest. I took a quick peek, not long enough to take a photo.

Another thought I have is regarding covid vaccines. I got the Pfizer, ie. an mRNA vaccine. I'm thinking it made my immune system more sensitive. I'm having allergies that I never had before. I think people with average or weak immune systems need the vaccine, but people with very active or hyper-active immune systems probably wouldn't have gotten sick anyway. My son seems to have the same allergies now, although he didn't get an mRNA vaccine. He got Johnson & Johnson. My daughter didn't get the vaccine because her immune system is likely even more sensitive. She has Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, although the specialist thinks it's not true RA. When she gets away from the cedar pollen in Austin she improves.

I received the new stools we ordered for the new blind. I really like them. So sturdy that I won't have to worry about anyone getting hurt.

And this evening I saw an Elf Owl exit a hole in that new huge agave stalk. I'm hoping she's nesting there. Way better for photography.

Warmer weather finally

The last couple of days have been in the 90°s. Feels good. Even a couple of butterflies are showing up. And my first dragonfly of the year. It was a Giant Darner, a species almost impossible to photograph as they don't land. Here's the first Queen butterfly for the year.

Also I was very lucky to locate a roosting Elf Owl yesterday. Birders were there that got to see it and add it to their life lists. The owl was hiding in my dormant Soapberry patch along the arroyo. It gives me great pleasure to be able to share such wonders.

Birder viewing his lifer Elf Owl

Feels more normal

With spring migration getting underway it's great to see a more normal oasis... even vehicles in the parking area, unlike last spring.

I know my little pickup looks puny alongside the regular vehicles, but it brought the two water tanks down from Alpine this morning.

I tried to take it easy today but I still relapsed. Have a sinus infection too. I came back to town this evening hoping I'd be more likely to rest here.

Mike and Cecilia worked hard all day putting the facing on the blind. Looking good! Cecilia held the boards in place while Mike screwed them into the metal framework.

This afternoon the National Geographic film crew came and filmed Lucifer Hummingbirds. I hope they get some great display footage.

The rain catchment system isn't installed yet. It's supposed to help provide water for the new water feature that's going to be installed soon. (Next three photos by Mike Gray)

Two Scott's Orioles both seemed to be claiming the oasis as their territory. Since they look identical, we won't know which one won.

Claret Cup not yet in full bloom