Bastrop State Park

Stu, George, Scott and I met Mark at Bastrop State Park, about 30 miles east of Austin, to look for a Swainson’s Warbler. This is probably the furthest west one could find this southern breeder. The large park consists of extensive tracts of pinewoods, dominated by Loblolly Pine and Water Oaks with an understory of Yaupon Holly and a herbaceous layer of Bracken Fern and Pepper Vine.

No sooner were we out of the car than a Pine Warbler was calling. It was soon chased by a Blue-headed Vireo, one of 5 vireo species that we would come across today. Heading towards an excellent stand of pinewoods the edge of the field produced a fly by male Pileated Woodpecker and a busy feeding flock. These included 2 Warbling Vireos, White-eyed Vireos, Painted Bunting, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Magnolia Warbler. Once inside the woods a Kentucky Warbler was soon heard and showed itself several times. This was followed by a couple of Hooded Warblers. In the background we could hear Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker while a pair of Yellow-throated Vireo descend from the canopy and flew passed us.

As we walked through a meadow towards another tract of pinewood Cliff Swallows glided low over the grasses, a Grasshopper Sparrow could be heard calling from the center of the field and a Summer Tanager from just within the woods. Hooded Warblers were very vocal and we got a wonderful look at an Acadian Flycatcher. Swainson’s Warbler, so often very elusive, joined in the chorus. It was not that close but it would eventually tease us by calling so near to our path. A Red-eyed Vireo was busy feeding one of its recent fledglings. An Alder Flycatcher called once; a Red-shouldered Hawk several times and a lone Broad-winged Hawk circled overhead. As the Swainson’s call got louder we wondered how it was that we could not locate it. The sound seemed to be coming from head height or just above. Little did we know that the bird was busy feeding, and singing, only 40 feet in front of us, on the ground! Once we located it amongst the bracken fern, were it blended in so perfectly, we watched it weave its way through the undergrowth before taking off deep into the woods.

Amongst other fauna we had a handful of butterflies including Buckeye, Pipevine Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary as well as a number of dragonflies that Scott was getting a handle on including this Neon Skimmer shown above. The nasal croaks of Green Treefrogs could be heard coming from deep in the forest while texas Spotted Whiptails (below) scurried across the paths in front of us.