Williamson County, D Day +20—January 21, 2019—On Monday, January 14 I had a number of commitments with doctors to catch up on and the Good Water monthly Board Meeting.  I finally was able to get in to see Dr. Marla, my audiologist, and get my left hearing aid operating again.  While there I decided to check out a new pair to replace my 5 year old set so I am in the process of checking them out.  Then I quickly attended the Board meeting to get a report on the Garey Park blind progress to them and notify the Board of the dedication scheduled for Saturday, January 26 as well as provide them with information of the proposed King Ranch field trip.  Then it was off to Dr. Billante, the orthopedic surgeon I have been referred to.  One of the tendons on my left shoulder has been severed and I could need to have surgery which I don’t want to undergo if at all possible.  Fortunately, Dr. Billante did not consider this necessary at the present time due to my ability to continue using the shoulder with little or no discomfort.  For the time being we will just treat the inflammation with some medications. 

On following day, Tuesday, Deb and I headed out to Granger once again to see if we could not find the Mountain Plover reported on CR 347.  The weather was bad, fog, heavy mist as times and a cold north wind blowing.  We trolled the area very slowly and checked out another area where they have been seen in the past.  No luck!  With the weather as bad as it was we cancelled our proposed trip to Hornsby Bend, opting to call it a day of birding and complete some other task. 

On Wednesday we headed out to Garey Park to fill the feeders and do a little birding from the blind.  The weather was still cold but not raining.  We spent a couple of hours at the blind birding.  I believe we recorded something like 12 species—lots of American Goldfinch and Chipping Sparrows were feeding heavily.  We did have a Downy Woodpecker drop in for a bit of suet and a couple of Black-crested Titmice were added to the list. 

Thursday was entirely devoted to working on the blind.  A group of about 10 Good Water Master Naturalist volunteers showed up to do some final preparation for the upcoming dedication on January 26.  We completed the outside trim work, painted all that needed painting, cleaned up and stacked the excess material we have, built some shelving inside, leveled and installed the rainwater catchment tank and put some more crushed gavel around in places where it was needed.  When all left the only items remaining to be competed are a couple of shelves by the photography openings, installation of the gutters (to be done on Tuesday) and the completion of the water feature.

Friday I returned to the blind to take some pictures and show the blind to one of our contributors.  Daniel Hodges is the local director of the Texas Ornithological Society who help finance the construction.  He was not going to be able to attend the dedication due a scheduling conflict.  Pictures were provide for him to report back to the TOS Board at their meeting on the 25^th.  And Deb and I had decided to make a run to try and see the Rufous-backed Robin currently being seen in Uvalde, Texas.  So when I returned from the meeting with Daniel we headed to our cabin near Leakey, Texas to spend the night before trying for the robin on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning we headed to CR 202 just west of Uvalde in hopes of seeing the robin.  We arrived a little aft 8:30 at the point where the road crosses the Nueces River and the reported location.  We checked along the road for the bird.  Instead of the robin, we found some other cooperative species—Northern Cardinal. Long-billed Thrasher, Carolina Wren, Black-crested Titmouse, and a mystery wren which most probably was a Winter Wren that scurried around low in the brush.  The weather was not the best.  There was a clear sky but that was offset by 30 mile an hour winds from the North and a temperature in the mid 40's.  It made for a cool outing.  We soon discovered the trail which had been used by previous birders.  Not a very open trail, but passable.  We headed to a fallen tree which served as a seat where we waited in hopes of seeing the bird.  The area along the bank was covered in the usual thorny brush characteristic of this dry, desert like a environment.  After about an hour sitting there hoping the bird would show up and with the cold wind at my back, I told Deb I was going to go get my pullover with a hood to keep the wind off my neck.  As I headed back up the trail I noticed a robin like bird eating what appeared to be the berries on Greenbriar vine.  Sure enough it was our bird.  I quickly let Deb know and she came with my camera.  She was able to see the bird (a life bird for her, not me) and I was able to get some good shots.  Mission accomplished and it was only 10 am.  

Rufous-backed Robin

Rufous-backed Robin

We found two other birders nearby and directed them to where we had just seen the bird.  I hope they were successful as well.  We then headed back up 202 birding as we went.  We added a Wilson’s Snipe in a shallow marsh and a couple of other birds.  We then headed to Cook’s Slough to do a little more birding.  There we found Egyptian Geese, Golden-crowned Kinglet, a spectacular Vermilion Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a very cold, what appeared to be, hognose snake.  Deb refused to go past him on the trail so we headed back to the car.  After lunch at the Oasis in Uvalde we took a back road to the cabin so we could do a little more birding.  About the only addition to our list was a Loggerhead Shrike. 

Carolina Wren

Egyptian Goose

Vermilion Flycatcher

Golden-crowned Kinglet

After returning to the cabin, and taking a brief rest, we headed down to see my friend of 60 years, Wayne Jackson.  Wayne has lived on the Frio here since he retired 25 years ago.  He is now 91 and in poor health so it was good to have the chance to visit a short while with him.  Each time I think it may be my last.  Wayne and I were married to sisters and have been friends ever since.  Sunday morning we packed up and headed back to see the football playoffs.  I was not happy with the outcome of either. 

Left--Jim Hailey, Right--Wayne Jackson

The upcoming week back here in Georgetown will be one of getting ready for the blind dedication.  Then on Sunday after the blind dedication we are heading south to do more birding and increase our Texas list.  We currently stand at 129 species for Deb and 130 species for me.  On our trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley and to the Laredo Birding Festival we expect to pick up a large number of species.  After the festival we will spend time along the coast to add more and lead a Williams Audubon Group field trip in the Rockport area and a trip out on the Skimmer to see the Whooping Cranes.