Category: Birding

Samantha and I made a run down to the lake to see the reported Western Grebes. It took 53 minutes to get to Degray Lake State Park from home. It was still cold and we found the western end of the Caddo peninsula to still be locked when we go there so we had to walk the remain half mile or so. It was worth it as when we got to that westernmost point and looked even further west, we saw two Western Grebes right where they have been reported. Life birds for both of us.

Species seen or heard:
• Western Grebe
• American Crow
• Turkey Vulture
• Blackbird sp.
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Northern Mockingbird
• Canada Goose
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Carolina Chickadee
• Ring-billed Gull
• Duck sp.
• Belted Kingfisher
• Tufted Titmouse
• Blue Jay
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Carolina Wren
• Northern Cardinal
• Turkey Vulture
• Great Blue Heron

I arrived at 8:08. It was completely overcast and officially about 40 F but the cold was penetrating and it seemed much colder after a bit. I walked up (northward) along the west side of the backwater and then just inside the backwater entrance before deciding to leave at 9:30. It started to rain just as I was approaching the car.

Species seen or heard:
• Chipping Sparrow
• Le Conte’s Sparrow
• Rock Pigeon
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Eastern Bluebird
• Northern Cardinal
• Carolina Wren
• White-throated Sparrow
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Coot
• Northern Mockingbird
• Carolina Chickadee
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Swamp Sparrow
• Killdeer
• Eastern Towhee
• Downy Woodpecker
• Belted Kingfisher
• Savannah Sparrow
• Turkey Vulture
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

I arrived at 8:15. As I started to cross the spillway to the WMA, I heard shot guns. I figured that the deer hunters were probably on the far side where I had seen many deer before. Shortly I met two and then three more duck hunters. After the first two, I decided that today might not be the best day for Bell Slough and turned back. I left the area at 9:30.

Species seen or heard:
• American Coot
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• European Starling
• Northern Flicker
• American Crow
• Belted Kingfisher
• Northern Mockingbird
• Carolina Wren
• Ring-necked Duck
• Common Goldeneye
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Ring-billed Gull
• Carolina Chickadee
• White-throated Sparrow
• Blue Jay
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Tufted Titmouse
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Song Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• Brown Creeper
• Northern Cardinal
• Fox Sparrow
• Bufflehead
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Eastern Towhee