Shiloh Ranch 2016-11
A couple weeks ago I had a great opportunity to spend a long weekend on about 80 acres of private property in Mason County, TX on the Llano river. It was a chance to get away from the crowds and noise of Austin, and to disconnect from the internet for a couple days. I couldn't believe how quite it was. Minutes would go by without hearing an unnatural sound. There was only spotty cell phone coverage on top of a hill on the north end of the property. Ironically, I still hiked around the place with my iPhone in-hand, since I was using the eBird, iNaturalist, and Gaia GPS apps to record observations and track my location and distance traveled. (All three of these apps work well even where there's no cell phone coverage, with the phone in "airplane" mode.)
Mason County is far enough west to have some resident western songbird species that were a real treat for me to see. Rufous-crowned Sparrows were common on the southern part of the property that had lots of rocky hillsides sloping down towards the river. I got to re-learn their distinctive call note. I only got a couple quick looks at Pyrrhuloxia. And finding a couple Verdins was great fun. One Verdin was collecting Old Man's Beard, presumably for a nest, but it seems like not the right time of year for that? I was especially fond of the Black-throated Sparrows, which were common on the property. I couldn't resist keeping many photos of them.
A few rarities and fall migrants were all flyovers. Friday morning a late juvenile Swainson's Hawk and a Bald Eagle flew over me, both on their way south. And early in the afternoon I heard and then saw a group of about 50 Sandhill Cranes flying south. On Sunday morning by the river a Ringed Kingfisher flew over once upriver than again downriver.
Grassland birds included meadowlarks (I couldn't tell if they were eastern or western), Lark Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and a single Grasshopper Sparrow I was able to coax out into view by playing a recording of its song.
A couple surprises were a Marsh Wren by the river and a Great Horned Owl on the north end of the property, both on Sunday morning.
I found three hanging vireo-type nests and I'm sure there were more. My guess is they were Bell's Vireo but maybe Black-capped is an option?
The most fun I had was late Sunday morning when at the edge of the woods on the northern half of the property I started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It took a few minutes, but the birds finally made a great showing! These are the best photos at the end of the attached observations, starting with a Spotted Towhee and ending with a Field Sparrow.
I found 60 species of birds. Here are my eBird checklists:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548074
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548089
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548105
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548116
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548166
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548177
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548211
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32548226
The only mammals I directly observed were White-tailed Deer. But I found lots of Coyote tracks, and tracks from a single armadillo and Gray Fox.
And here are my photos on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikael_behrens/albums/72157675140236762
Attached are my iNaturalist observations.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Acacias, Mimosas, Mesquites, and Allies (Subfamily Mimosoideae)Observer
mikaelb
Photos / Sounds
What
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis (Family Vireonidae)Observer
mikaelbDescription
In a mesquite, 3-4 feet off ground. Not much surrounding brush. Bell's Vireo?
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
As I ate lunch I heard Sandhill Cranes. I got these shots directly over the main cabin. The cranes circled overhead, gaining altitude, before peeling off in V formations to the south.
Photos / Sounds
What
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
These sparrows were numerous on the ranch. They like the rocky inclines which make up much of the terrain here.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
A fun surprise was this mature Bald Eagle that soared over me, driving south.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
I wasn't sure until I looked at my photos at home, but this is a juvenile Swainson's Hawk which soared over me, drifting south.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
These were numerous along the river, both at the edge of the water and over the water. You could see them feeding on small mayflies over the water, or chasing eachother over the land. They were flutting flashes of red when they flew.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes graphica)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sonoran Bumble Bee (Bombus sonorus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
I think the bumble bee is American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus sonorus) based on the ID diagrams here: http://www.bumblebee.org/NorthAmerica.htm
Southern Dogface and skipper on the left, a fly bottom right.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
In one spot I saw three or four Black-throated Sparrows. Playing a little bit of their song on my iPhone brought them out into the open and I couldn't resist taking and keeping several photographs of this dapper species.
Photos / Sounds
What
Subgenus MelissodesObserver
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Native bee, skippers, and Southern Dogface.
Photos / Sounds
What
Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Skippers and Southern Dogface.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Two Southern Dogface and Skipper
Photos / Sounds
What
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Distinguished from Southern Leopard Frog by dorsolateral fold. See: http://frogcalls.blogspot.com/2015/05/central-texas-leopard-frogs-lithobates.html
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-breasted Meadowlarks (Genus Sturnella)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
This is one of a group of 70 or 80 meadowlarks in the middle of the property. A few times I heard them "churt" which made me think they were Western Meadowlarks, but I could not be sure.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Verdin was one of the western species I was excited to see on this trip. This one noisily but briefly perched nearby, allowing me just a couple shots. I wish its yellow face hadn't been in the shadow!
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Raven (Corvus corax)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
New World Checkered-Skippers (Genus Burnsius)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
I watched a Verdin gather Old Man's Beard (Clematis drummondii) three times, and carry it into a nearby gorge. I followed it and tried to find out if it was building a nest. (It seems an odd time of year to be building a nest.) But following it would have meant crossing a property line without permission.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
In addition to a few Vesper Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows, I was excited to find this Grasshopper Sparrow in the grassland in the middle of the property. It's a less common grassland species and responded to a recorded song I played on my iPhone.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cactus Coreid Bug (Chelinidea vittiger)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
Not too far from where I imitated a Screech-Owl, I flushed a real owl out of a live oak. It flew to another one nearby and I was able to get this photo before it flew further away. I was happy that no ravens or crows or jays saw it, so it didn't get harassed because of me.
Photos / Sounds
What
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken on a long weekend trip to some private property in Mason County on the Llano river.
At the southern edge of some woods on the north half of the property I picked a spot with the sun behind me and started imitating an Eastern Screech-Owl. It was quiet for a few minutes and then I noticed two beautiful male Spotted Towhees had silently come in to investigate. Soon afterwards many other birds came in, and they started to scold and actively hop and fly around me. It was so much fun! I captured a few photos here. In all of them the birds are looking rigth at me, trying to find the owl I was imitating.
Comments
Fantastic account and great observations.
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