Today we spotted several Purple Martins out at the state park. I got a few photos. I will post a couple here. Tomorrow is our monthly Adult Birding Adventure. I hope to have a good showing. Rick Smith gave us a great write-up in his column in the San Angelo Standard-times this morning. The subject is “Things You Can Do For Under 5.00” You can read it at this link: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/jun/10/having-fun-for-5-or-less/ For more info don’t be afraid to give me a call at 325-944-1839. But, basically, just show up at the South Gatehouse at San Angelo State Park at 9:00AM. Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them. Event last until around 11:00AM.
The Snowy Plover eggs are still intact. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they survive for annother 2-3 weeks so they can hatch a couple of babies. The odds are not very great since the eggs are in the middle of a parking lot. In plain sight for the predators, not to mention an automobile or two. The park personnel and myself are trying to warn visitors. They put up a temporary barrier, which usually goes mostly ignored, and I put a rock marking the spot.
In my Bugs, Beasts, and Birds post I wanted someone to help with the identification of the spider. Tony, of San Antonio, thought it was a Marbled Orb Weaver, but in doing my own research, even though it is similar to a Marbled Orb Weaver, it doesn’t look like any of the dozens of photos I have looked at. Very similar, though. May be some kind of variant.
Here are the Purple Martin photos. Click on either on to see and enlargement. Enjoy.
Purple Martin
Purple Martin
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 