The birding interest group visited Forest Lake Park.
Mississippi kite
John Kirk
The birding interest group has been out on two birding trips in May and had one trip rained out. The last trip was to Forest Lake Park off of Ryan Road. We saw 27 different species of birds that day. As we started off, two Mississippi kites landed on a dead tree and gave us about five minutes of very close looks. These are large, gray falcon-like birds that hunt insects just above the tree tops. We also saw and heard painted buntings that are multi-colored with red, blue, green and yellow feathers.
During the month 44 species of birds were noted on the Ranch. Bobwhites were heard and seen on several days down around the garden plots. It seems that as many as four coveys are in the area. This is particularly interesting as the bobwhites are diminishing in numbers due to loss of habitat such as is happening with the new developments on the Ranch. Two large hawks, Swainson’s and redtails, have been seen many times up on the hill at the end Michelle Way. An uncommon visitor to the Ranch were three Wilson’s phalaropes. These are wading birds that run in circles in shallow water searching for food. This is the first time that they have been reported on the Ranch. The last cold, rainy storm also blew in a common yellowthroat. This small warble sought refuge on my back porch table.
The birding interest group is open to anyone interested in birds either as a backyard feeder or those interested in seeing birds in the Denton area. We have a list of the birds that are commonly seen on the Ranch and a list of the good birding spots in Denton County. Let me know (John Kirk, [email protected]) if you would like to be included on our email list. Messages on the list are few just to give notice of birding trips or uncommon birds seen on the Ranch.