If you’re a birder, it’s likely that you’ll make the pilgrimage to the Texas Hill Country at sometime in your life. It’s an inviting country with clear flowing rivers, rolling hills mile after mile of oaks, and plenty of birds. Some may argue that other areas of North America are more scenic, but what can’t be argued is a simple fact that all birders know. The Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo are pretty much restricted to the Texas Hill Country and if you want them you must go.
Golden-cheeked Warbler at Neal's Lodge (Photo by John Vanderpoel
This morning I tackled the Golden-cheeked Warbler at Neals Lodge in Concanon. Actually I teamed up once again with Bob Rasas, whom I had met in January to try for the Rufous-capped Warbler. Bob leads daily bird trips each morning beginning at 8:00 AM. He told me that if I came with him Golden-cheeked would be a “given”. Now my brother, Bill, constantly reminds me that there’s no such thing as a given, but at least this morning Bob was right. We had them early and often. I recommend his trips. I picked up three additional year birds as well.
Ring-tailed Cat at Neal's Lodge (Photo by John Vanderpoel)
The surprise of the morning came with the help of Greg Baker from Oregon who spotted this little cutie-pie! It’s a Ring-tailed Cat, only the second I’ve ever seen.
Ring-tailed Cat
Tomorrow, I will work Kerr Wildlife Area for the Black-capped Vireo. Stay tuned.
Nice find ont he Ring-tailed Cat. I have only caught brief glimpses of them in the dark.
I live approx. 2 miles east of Center Point in the Hill Country. On Tuesday nite around 9p.m. 22/Nov/2011, I had a Ringtail cat in my tree. The most significant thing about this one is it was all white, with dark bans around his tail- he was so beautiful. I am keeping watch to see if he shows up again.
Wow, you don’t see that often, much less a white one!!!