Took my first trip to Reimer’s Ranch this morning and was able to upgrade my pyrrhuloxia on a hot tip from Dave Read, who said, “and there’s your pyrrhuloxia,” and pointed as we stood chatting on the trail. Doesn’t get easier than that. Better looks at a couple of black-throated sparrows. Will definitely be going back.
Life bird 274 is the merlin, which I found at Lake Travis this morning dining on a yellow-rumped warbler. Also got a young bald eagle in flight, greater yellow legs, a right fine gaggle of coots, a pied-billed grebe or two, the Egyptian goose, great blue heron, and great egret. A banner day!
A quick morning trip to Pedernales Falls started slow but picked up nicely before my battery ran out. Woodhouse scrub jay, ruby-crowned kinglet, orange-crowned warblers, lesser godfinches, cardinals galore, black-crested titmouse, savanna sparrow, laser-backed woodpecker, white winged dove and a gray fox.
Cameron’s Senior Recital was last night at North Texas and was just amazing. He played four pieces (one them being a concerto). But the most special part was that he chose to play one of his grandfather’s compositions, which has not been performed since by brother Ansen played it in 1980. Cameron was 10 years old when my dad passed away and had not even taken up an instrument yet. Last night, Cameron brought his Pop back to life for nine minutes in that recital hall, the same building where Dad earned his doctorate. I will post that piece in a few days, but here are scenes from the beautiful, full-circle night…
