Balcones Canyonland NWR

It is only a short drive north west of Austin before one is in the Texas Hill Country. One of the most accessible places to locate two hill country specialty birds is the Balcones Canyonlands NWR. Here amongst the limestone hills and spring fed canyons that make up most of the refuge breeds the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo.

Ed Fair, Stu Wilson (above) and I began along the Cactus Rocks Trail walking through a thick stand of Ashe Juniper, Texas and Live Oak. A Painted Bunting greeted us near the entrance. Inside the calls of Western Scrub Jay, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Carolina Chickadee, Black-crested Titmouse, Cardinal, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Bewick’s Wren could be heard. It was not long before a Golden-cheeked Warbler (below) was located and soon there was another, this time in view singing with a caterpillar in its mouth. The habitat is no more than twenty feet tall with Ashe Junipers dominating. The Golden-cheeks, a Texas breeding endemic, stripe the bark of the juniper to build their nests and utilize the oaks to feed in. On the return path we came across a very cooperative pair as well as Summer Tanager, American Redstart and Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

The vireo on the other hand proved to be elusive. We spend a good deal of time at the Shin Oak Observation Deck (below) but only saw White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chats and Eastern Phoebes. The several pairs must have been on nests with their mates foraging well away from the deck this morning.