Birding at Spring Lake

The morning was cool and the air was raucous with the sounds of birds in the surrounding trees. Swallows were feasting on all the bugs that were in the air over the lake in front of the Meadows Center. Warblers, Kingbirds, Mockingbirds, Cardinals and more flew from pecan tree to cypress and oak.

Stephen identifies the feeding swallows as they feast on bugs.

A highlight was the sighting of the Bay-brested Warbler and Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Two other favorite sightings were the colorful Wood Duck on a log in the lake and a Great Kiskadee in the tree far across the lake. Easily spotted in the morning sun with a vibrant yellow breast.
Birders numbered 16 at one point and travelled only from the parking lot to the still-closed boardwalk as there was so much to see in the short distance. Wildflowers were in abundance as the restoration project has really blossomed (pun intended).
Stephen Ramirez ably led the hike which concluded in under 90 minutes although some birders struck out on their own for more sightings.  --LJ

30 species (+1 other taxa) total

2	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
1	Wood Duck
1	Pied-billed Grebe
1	Green Heron
2	Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
5	Black Vulture
1	Red-shouldered Hawk
1	Mourning Dove
2	Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1	Chimney Swift
4	hummingbird sp.
1	Golden-fronted Woodpecker
2	Eastern Phoebe
1	Great Kiskadee
3	Western Kingbird
1	Blue-headed Vireo
1	Barn Swallow
10	Cave Swallow
3	Carolina Chickadee
3	Carolina Wren
2	Northern Mockingbird
1	European Starling
1	Northern Parula
1	Bay-breasted Warbler
1	Yellow Warbler
2	Summer Tanager
2	Northern Cardinal
1	Great-tailed Grackle
2	Orchard Oriole
1	House Finch
1	House Sparrow