Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

5 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

Yes, not in great numbers. But there's been a female who has attempted (unsuccessfully, at least as of a couple years ago) to nest on the Tower.

So a rare breeder, but they certainly pass through during migration with some regularity.

Ok, I knew about the Tower Girl, but my wife had a patient who claimed there were none in Austin besides that. I’m 90% sure we’ve seen a pair in Hyde park over the past several years. 


Hiking around near New Castle Australia today. 

IMG_0552.jpeg

53 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

Ok, I knew about the Tower Girl, but my wife had a patient who claimed there were none in Austin besides that. I’m 90% sure we’ve seen a pair in Hyde park over the past several years. 

Looks like essentially all of the summer reports are from around the Tower and Town Lake, occasionally Hornsby. They are definitely around outside of breeding season, usually passing through.

American kestrel is the falcon that may be around a little more year-round, but they are also not very common from June-August or so.

image.png.3d7db61d3551446520ae136743dc12e0.png

National Geographic Dinal Chandeepa · August 7 at 2:02PM · 

A female falcon fitted with a GPS tracker embarked on an incredible journey from South Africa to Finland. Averaging around 230 kilometers per day, she flew in a nearly straight line across the African continent until reaching the northern deserts.
Rather than flying over the vast Mediterranean Sea, she cleverly followed the Nile River through Sudan and Egypt—likely for easier access to water. She then navigated through Syria and Lebanon, deliberately avoiding the Black Sea as well, knowing she couldn’t drink from it.
After 42 days of determined flight, she finally arrived in Finland—completing an extraordinary migration that showcased both instinct and strategy.

Edited by Mdhorn

On 8/8/2025 at 2:56 PM, Biff Tannen said:

@hookem2010 settle a debate for me. Do peregrine falcons live in Austin?

Saw one in college in my upper division “birding” course with Dr. English.

On 8/8/2025 at 9:04 PM, Biff Tannen said:

Ok, I knew about the Tower Girl, but my wife had a patient who claimed there were none in Austin besides that. I’m 90% sure we’ve seen a pair in Hyde park over the past several years. 

I saw a peregrine falcon in Point Venture a few months ago, but haven't seen it, again. Had a bald eagle sighting last week. Pileated woodpecker last week in Dale. I know pictures would make this post much better, but love seeing these birds.

  • 2 weeks later...

I just started this, but it's pretty fantastic. Filmmaker brothers get high and while thumbing through a birding field guide of their parents decide to embark on a big year with no knowledge of birds.

 

 

non sequitur 

I enjoy birding but more and more I see people with their phones playing birdcalls to attract tanagers and others. I’ve even seen cars playing the sounds over their stereos. I’m not a big fan simply because I can see how a bird could be to troubled by competition to provide and/or forage. Also I think it’ll drive some birds further away from areas that people use to see them. Saying this because I see this every time I go to certain parks.

Thoughts?

Edited by Mdhorn

My mom started me birdwatching when I was 5, and I've been at it informally, off and on, the 60 years since.  It has always been my understanding that mimicking bird calls to bring them in is not considered good birdwatching etiquette.  It changes the behaviors of the bird and can put them in danger that they otherwise would avoid.  Beyond that, it's too much like hunting for my taste.  I consider birdwatching to be a "finding" past time rather than a "hunting" past time.

Agreed. It’s about looking, being patient and not intrusive. Plus, it’s more peaceful and natural, which is kinda the point of being in nature.

I would be lying if I said I've never used it, but I very rarely do so anymore now that I'm fully aware of the consequences. In places with a lot of birders who may also be using playback and during breeding season are definite no-no's, because it will definitely cause them to expend that extra energy to investigate or respond. 

It's very common with guides in the tropics, apparently. But so is "taming" hard to see things like antpittas with daily feelings. I have mixed feelings about that. Certainly not ideal, but it does encourage locals to protect their land for ecotourism versus clearing it for agriculture or whatever else.

Edited by hookem2010

  • 2 weeks later...

I don't know shit about birds, but I feel like I want to get a house for this guy.

20250830_103334.jpg

20250905_183103.jpg

20250905_183119.jpg

Edited by freyguy

I built one from some leftover cedar 1-by material (stained on the rough side only).  been pondering when to hang it because I read they only nest in early spring/late winter, and I didn't want to have to constantly run out wasps or the shitass house sparrows I want the owl to (hopefully) scare off, until then.

thoughts?  how far in advance do owls search for nesting sites?

 

IMG_3461.jpeg

You're right about nesting season, but I believe they will use the boxes as roosting sites as well. I don't have a box, but I'm pretty sure I've seen them in hanging out in the ones near my house throughout the year.

  • 2 weeks later...

I found something.  Pretty easy to put together.  I didn't want to put a bunch of nails/deck screws in a tree.  So I rigged up a modification that allowed my to attach it via some ratchet straps.

20250914_143222.jpg

20250914_143241.jpg

20250914_143258.jpg

20250915_183617.jpg

20250915_183624.jpg

20250915_183635.jpg

20250915_183707.jpg

20250915_183653.jpg

20250915_183645.jpg

  • 4 weeks later...

Speaking of owls, I had a surprise addition to the neighborhood list the other day. 

The 1 year-old woke up at 330 AM screaming bloody murder, and could only be calmed by going for a walk. The only upside to this sleep interruption was hearing a single scream of a barn owl overhead, not a bird I expected anywhere nearby.

7 minutes ago, hookem2010 said:

Speaking of owls, I had a surprise addition to the neighborhood list the other day. 

The 1 year-old woke up at 330 AM screaming bloody murder, and could only be calmed by going for a walk. The only upside to this sleep interruption was hearing a single scream of a barn owl overhead, not a bird I expected anywhere nearby.

For years I thought “barred” owl was actually “barn” owl. 

I had no idea barred owls were a thing until I saw my first one several months after I started birding.

Westchase area of Houston. 
 

IMG_3253.thumb.jpeg.c08c5642581951f9300f80ef0a1c1b6d.jpeg
 

I’ve lived in Houston most of my life but these mark the first time I’ve ever seen a caracara.

 

They're around Houston for sure, although I typically saw them more out in the Katy Prairie area. I remember being very surprised when I first saw one flying over 1960.

4 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

They're around Houston for sure, although I typically saw them more out in the Katy Prairie area. I remember being very surprised when I first saw one flying over 1960.

Very widespread in central Texas. I see them regularly in the county. The long time birders here say it wasn't long ago that they were extremely rare here.

Have started seeing a new visitor to the birdbath the last few weeks

20251012_172041.thumb.jpg.a9d342c3c740e8a58f094510cff79cf3.jpg

20251012_172555.thumb.jpg.d87c7af0e5e0e4dc196d0f59989199bd.jpg

  • 4 weeks later...

It has been a slooooow autumn, but my 3 year-old pointed out a flock of sandhill cranes flying over the playground at dusk. Great birds. I need to visit the Platte River one day to see the enormous flocks gathering during migration. 

On 9/6/2025 at 1:09 AM, Mdhorn said:

Amazon seems to sell a bunch that all seem similar but vary in price.  The pine shavings seem to seal the deal though.  

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=screech+owl+box&crid=3RVYDI5PBJFVK&qid=1757138812&sprefix=screech+owl+box%2Caps%2C119&xpid=4pQCAcmX8SyY1&ref=sr_pg_1

Nice! I keep saying I'm gonna build one for years, but been to lazy. Couldn't build it much cheaper for those prices. I may have to get one of those.

Had a Vermillion flycatcher today at Old Settlers in Round Rock. Poor photo and just a juvenile male, but a nice surprise. The adult males are truly spectacular.

20251110_100008.jpg

Mind-blowing report from here in Williamson County. A possible whinchat, which would be the 1st ever anywhere in the Americas, was photographed near Granger this morning. It hasn't been refound yet, but I may give it a shot tomorrow. 

Pretty unassuming little guy, but he is very lost. Next closest record is the Azores.

Screenshot_20251111_170954_Messages.jpg

Screenshot_20251111_171002_Messages.jpg

Greeted me this morning in the front yard.20251114_070428.thumb.jpg.91edcfcb6c1a16e70493da12468d5ba5.jpg20251114_070436.thumb.jpg.6419ffce83fd6b2ad8849bed431ec869.jpg

I believe it is a red shouldered Hawk.

Male (red) and female grosbeaks and a ruffed grouse at the seed stumps. We feed the birds during the winter to help them out a bit. 

IMG_3932.jpeg

This guy (gal) perched right in front of my deer stand this weekend.  Didn’t look or act like a common bird so snapped these pics and my Google lens suggest Eastern Phoebe.  What say you guys?  Common in the Hill Country or no?

IMG_4372.jpeg

IMG_4370.jpeg

23 minutes ago, Zwylde said:

This guy (gal) perched right in front of my deer stand this weekend.  Didn’t look or act like a common bird so snapped these pics and my Google lens suggest Eastern Phoebe.  What say you guys?  Common in the Hill Country or no?

IMG_4372.jpeg

IMG_4370.jpeg

I have eastern Phoebes here in Helotes,  NW San Antonio.  We have one that returns every year and nests on our back porch in the summer.   Pretty common. Coloring looks right. 

Definitely an eastern phoebe. They're pretty common in central Texas and have very typical flycatcher behavior.

  • 3 weeks later...

OK, I don't know how I missed the earlier mentions here. I've been out of it for a while.

-----------------

 

 

I got a youtube suggestion about this movie a couple of weeks ago. I was about to call it a night, but figured I would look in for a few minutes to see if I might want to watch it later.

Two hours later I was like "Wow, that was a good movie!"

Totally free. Well worth watching. Better than the trailer.

 

 

 

 

Edited by DougO

On 11/23/2025 at 3:12 PM, Mdhorn said:

Great birding movie: 

 

Yep.

 

I did another Mini-Big Day in Round Rock Wednesday, from about 8-3. Not the greatest timing weather-wise, but I was able to manage 75 species. 

Highlights included a Great Horned Owl roosting in the daylight at my neighborhood park, a quick glimpse of a Sora in the reeds at Old Settlers Park and a suprise pair of Barn Swallows hunting insects over the pond, quite rare in winter.

Lowlights were the complete absence of uncommon wintering birds, as well as scarcity of "common" wintering birds. This is the 2nd year in a row these birds have been way down. I'm blaming climate change.

DANGER: Osprey!

 

IMG_4652.jpeg

IMG_4650.jpeg

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.