Birding at John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

I have been planning to visit this Water treatment center which is also a great place for birding. The wetland/marsh eco system is amazing at this place. When I saw the field trip listed for this place in Fort Worth Audubon group I decided to join the group for the trip. Jim Jones was the field trip leader. It was amazing to listen to the information that Jim and others were providing during the trip. It's amazing the information that one can learn when attending any field trips. Thanks to the entire group.

The walk started at 7:30 in the morning. After visiting the center I saw there were lot of feeders which were attracting Ruby-throated humming birds.  We also saw lot of Ibises flying over and also hundreds of Red-winged blackbirds. In the water cells we saw little  Least Sandpiper, Black Necked Stilts, few White-faces Ibis, a lone Belted Kingfisher, Lesser Yellowlegs and a lone Greater Yellow leg. We also saw Little blue heron, Green heron and Great-blue Herons around.

Least Sandpiper

White-faced Juvenile

Belted Kingfisher

Black-necked Stilt

Green Heron

We also saw a lone Broad-winged Hawk and couple of Mississipi kites flying over us. There were few Turkey vultures and lone Black vulture flying over. In the adjacent woods we saw  Yellow Warbler, Eastern-wood pewee and another bird which we could not identify the bird.

Mississippi Kite

Yellow Warbler

It was getting hot and we decided to head back and try our luck with another trail which goes through woods. The other group which had taken the trail through woods had mentioned that there was not much activity in the there. Hence the walk was cancelled. It was already 11 and it was getting hot. Some of us stayed back. I just sat in front of a feeder to watch the Humming birds in action. There was a male humming bird which was guarding the feeder. Any other bird coming to the feeder were being chased off. It was interesting to see this action happening. Thanks to the folks at the Center for providing such a nice environment for us to enjoy the nature in its full.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

As I still had time till 2, I decided to do a quick walk alone in the woods. Thanks to the people at the center, I got the trail map and they suggested a good route that I could try for the walk. As I started the walk, at the beginning of the walk I saw there was some movement in the tree. On close inspection I saw a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. This was my second sighting of this bird, the first one was at High Island during the sprint. I did get a very good looks of the bird in High Island but could not get a good photograph. But this time I got lucky. This bird was very still and waiting for me to leave. I just took couple of photographs and left him to complete his meal. It was good to see him. As I continued my walk I was hearing lot of activity and I was not disappointed. I saw a lone Baltimore Oriole, lot of Blue-gray Gnatchers, Cardinals and Pheobes. The other interesting bird were Yellow Warblers and 3 Black and White Warblers.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Blue-gray Gnatcher

Black and White Warbler

I also saw other birds which looked like flycatchers but need to get the ID's verified. The other interesting sighting was couple of Racoons which was my first sighting. I was photographing a Juvenile White-eyed Vireo and there were couple of Racoons that were getting down from the tree behind me. I just got lucky with the sighting :-) I was photographing some of the flycatchers when a Barred owl flew over my head. I guess I disturbed him, I never saw him around. This keeps happening with me :-( I always end up seeing the Owls when they flew away from me. And in rare cases when I see them perching on a tree/wireline, I will not be having a camera to photograph them :-). We also saw a Great-crested flycatcher, my first sighting of the season.

Racoon

White-eyed Vireo(Juve)

Great-crested Flycatcher

Downy Woodpecker

ebird : http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31421273

Birds seen during the day.

1	Blue-winged Teal
2	Northern Shoveler
3	cormorant sp.
4	Great Blue Heron
5	Snowy Egret
6	Little Blue Heron
7	Cattle Egret
8	Green Heron
9	White Ibis
10	White-faced Ibis
11	Black Vulture
12	Turkey Vulture
13	Mississippi Kite
14	Broad-winged Hawk
15	Red-tailed Hawk
16	Black-necked Stilt
17	Least Sandpiper
18	Greater Yellowlegs
19	Lesser Yellowlegs
20	Yellow-billed Cuckoo
21	Barred Owl
22	Chimney Swift
23	Ruby-throated Hummingbird
24	Belted Kingfisher
25	Downy Woodpecker
26	Eastern Wood-Pewee
27	Eastern Phoebe
28	Great Crested Flycatcher
29	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
30	Loggerhead Shrike
31	White-eyed Vireo       Juvenile
32	Northern Rough-winged Swallow
33	Barn Swallow
34	Carolina Chickadee
35	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
36	American Robin
37	Northern Mockingbird
38	Black-and-white Warbler
39	Yellow Warbler
40	Northern Cardinal
41	Red-winged Blackbird
42	Great-tailed Grackle
43	Baltimore Oriole