X-Bar Ranch Birding

As most of you know, Ann and I just returned from spending three days at the X-Bar Ranch Nature Retreat, near Eldorato, Texas.  We had a fantastic time.  Since we are in the midst of the migration, we were able to see quite a  number of birds.  The best part, all we had to do was to sit in an area about 50 feet from our cabin.  There was a small group of trees with a bubbling bird bath near by.

 

I set my Canon 7D on my tripod with a 500mm lens attached.  I kept my other 7D with a 100-400mm lens at my side.  So, between the two, I was pretty well equiped.  From the birding aspect, we saw 35 different species, all in that one little area.  A list is at the bottom of this post.

 

During our stay, one of the owners, Stan Meador, took us on a tour of the ranch.  He showed us a few other areas that could make good birding and photography areas.

Here are a few images that I captured.  I still have a large number of photographs to go through so there will be more posted in a few days.

Scrub Jay

Blue Grosbeak

Hermit Thrush

Summer Tanager

 Location:     X-Bar Ranch
Observation date:     4/18/11
Notes:     These are our observations at the Lodge April 18, 19, & 20th.<br>from
the north & south ends of the porch!
Number of species:     37

Northern Bobwhite     8
Wild Turkey     4
Turkey Vulture     6
American Kestrel     1
Eurasian Collared-Dove     2
White-winged Dove     6
Mourning Dove     10
Black-chinned Hummingbird     4
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     1
Eastern Phoebe     1
Eastern Kingbird     1
Western Scrub-Jay     7
Barn Swallow     2
Black-crested Titmouse     4
Bewick’s Wren     2
Hermit Thrush     2
Northern Mockingbird     6
Orange-crowned Warbler     2
Nashville Warbler     1
Yellow Warbler     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler     3
Spotted/Eastern Towhee     5
Rufous-crowned Sparrow     2
Canyon Towhee     2
Chipping Sparrow     6
Lark Sparrow     2
Savannah Sparrow     2
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Summer Tanager     3
Northern Cardinal     6
Pyrrhuloxia     1
Blue Grosbeak     1
Painted Bunting     4
Great-tailed Grackle     2
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Scott’s Oriole     2
House Finch     10
House Sparrow     2