Reducing squirrel visits to our yard is definitely paying off. This afternoon we had a visit from a Tufted Titmouse, a rare visitor to our yards, probably because so much woodland has been cleared on our side of Houston.
We also had a flyover from a Swallow-tailed Kite. People have been reporting this species lately from the Tomball area and I suspect this bird may have popped down from there to check out our neighborhood.
I briefly saw a Swallow-tailed kite in Longwood on 3/28. The sighting was so brief (less than five seconds) that I questioned my own eyes but your post has restored my confidence. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi, John.
ReplyDeleteIt flew over our street several times, so it was easy to ID. It was flying too fast for me to get a photo though.
Yup, I spotted one a couple of weeks ago and followed it for several minutes up near Hwy 249 (Tomball Parkway) and Spring-Cypress Rd. I'm STILL kicking myself for not having my camera with me, especially as it was a lifer. I've been watching for them all around the area ever since, but haven't spotted another yet.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kyle.
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to know how many great bird shots I've missed by not having a camera with me!
I'm still watching the kites in my area of Magnolia Texas.
ReplyDeleteToday was our first swallow-tail sigtings.
http://kitewatch09.blogspot.com/
Hi, Dan.
ReplyDeleteThey've seen several at Kleb Woods lately. Presumably some pairs are nesting in the Tomball - Magnolia area.
This is the first year we have seen Swallow-tailed and presumably nesting. They circled about a one to two mile area before heading back our way. I really hope they are nesting and I have better opportunities to film them in better light.
ReplyDeleteI am located just north of Pinehurst (a mile or two) and about 11 miles north of Tomball but not quite in Magnolia city limits.
BTW if you want more Tufted Tit-Mouse just come my way, we have all we can handle.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dan.
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to say I've never been up to the Pinehurst/Magnolia area!
Are there any parks or other good birding sites there?
Just outside of the Woodlands is JW Jones State Park.
ReplyDeleteIn Magnolia, Tomball area there are several parks but honestly I don't bird watch there. I just hang out on my own property.
Today my wife found a Brown Thrash going through it's entire repotoire in the northern corner of our property.
I have seen the usuals, Cardinals, Jays, Northern MB, Wrens, Chickadees, Tit Mouse. But we also have seen just about every Woodpecker there is, some Nut Hatches, Robins, Swifts, Herons, Ergets, Black Bellied Whistling Duck aka Black Bellied Tree Duck, Eastern Blue Birds.