2008 Independence Creek Trip
INDEPENDENCE CREEK
Chandler Ranch
21 - 23 JUNE 2008
After banding at Dan & Cathy Brown’s Hummer House on 20 June, Ross Dawkins and I continued our expedition by traveling to the Chandler Ranch in Terrell County. We netted on the south side of Independence Creek near its confluence with the Pecos River. Conditions were hot and very dry. There was still a good clear flow in the creek. We focused netting near the “slab” on the first day having to keep most nets in total shade because of 100+ degree temperatures. The 2nd day, we shifted unproductive nets and all nets near the river westward towards the “shady grove” area. We caught about 300 individuals of 30 species. Yellow-breasted Chat, Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Bell’s Vireo were the dominant species in the baccharis dominated riparian zone. Black-capped Vireo and Green Kingfisher occurred in relatively high numbers. We caught a Black-capped Vireo that was banded during an earlier study that was at least 8 years old.
| 2 | E. Screech-Owl | 2 | Elf Owl |
| 1 | Black-chinned Hummingbird | 5 | Green Kingfisher |
| 2 | Golden-fronted Woodpecker | 4 | E. Wood-Pewee |
| 3 | Black Phoebe | 5 | Brown-crested Flycatcher |
| 3 | Vermilion Flycatcher | 23 | White-eyed Vireo |
| 24 | Bell’s Vireo | 10 | Black-capped Vireo |
| 1 | Black-crested Titmouse | 1 | Canyon Wren |
| 3 | Carolina Wren | 12 | Bewick’s Wren |
| 1 | Verdin | 3 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
| 4 | Com. Yellowthroat | 68 | Yellow-breasted Chat |
| 12 | Summer Tanager | 5 | Black-throated Sparrow |
| 1 | Rufous-crowned Sparrow | 3 | Lark Sparrow |
| 7 | N. Cardinal | 27 | Blue Grosbeak |
| 46 | Painted Bunting | 8 | Orchard Oriole |
| 1 | House Finch | 3 | Lesser Goldfinch |
Brent Ortego
Near Raisin, TX
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