Bird count along the Bosque River Trail July 10, 2026

Weather - clear - no wind - temp ~80 degrees at 7:00 am. Supposed to hit 100 degrees today.

Event 1 - I saw an Acadian Flycatcher and a Cardinal fighting. This occurred in the big tree in the hayfield. The Cardinal was sitting on a high branch in the tree when the Flycatcher suddenly appeared and attacked the Cardinal. For a moment the two birds were whirling around one another. But then they collided and seemed to grapple with one another. Since they could no longer fly the two birds dropped like a stone and disappeared in the foliage at the base of the tree.

Event 2 - I saw a Canadian Goose flying north at a low altitude. I’ve never seen a Canadian Goose on the BRT so I began to doubt my identification. However, a friend who owns a local ranch told me this type of goose is starting to live around Stephenville year-round. He said a neighbor had 2 Canadian Geese raise a family on his property last year.

Event 3 - I saw two Great Egrets flying east while walking along the trail. This is the first time I have been able to identify these birds. I’ve seen large white birds flying over before but I’ve never been able to identify them. This time I saw them far off and I was able to watch them for a while, and also to get a couple of pictures of the birds.

Event 4 - I was sitting on a bench at the city museum when a Summer Tanager landed on a branch about 5 feet from my head. It sang for a few seconds, then a second Summer Tanager flew at the first one. Both Tanagers exploded into the air and raced off in opposite directions.

Event 5 - I saw a Golden Fronted Woodpecker sitting on a birdfeed full of sunflower seeds. I got a good look at it before it flew away. I could see no red anywhere on the birds head.

Types of birds - 25 Number of birds 91-88 (Some of the Mississippi Kites are probably repeats)

Number‍ ‍Type

17 Cardinals

14 Mourning Doves

8 House Sparrows

7-4 Mississippi Kites

6 Barn Swallows

5 Grackles

4 White Winged Doves

2 Mockingbirds

2 Great Egrets

2 Turkey Vultures

2 Black Belly Whistling Ducks

2 Summer Tanagers

2 Unknown - These two birds looked like Grackles, but they had light colored bellies and light color near their neck. They were very noisy.

1 Canadian Goose

1 Acadian Flycatcher

1 Hummingbird - type unknown - probably a Ruby Throated Hummingbird

1 Eastern Phoebe

1 Golden Fronted Woodpecker

1 Chickadee

1 Duck - type unknown - flying

1 Brown Headed Cowbird

1 Scissortail Flycatcher

1 Great Blue Heron

1 Bluebird