THE ROADRUNNER. October Photo above is a Yellow Warbler by Ann Gordon at her Harris Creek property.

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1 THE ROADRUNNER October 2014 Photo above is a Yellow Warbler by Ann Gordon at her Harris Creek property. The next CTAS Meeting is Tuesday, October 21 featuring Dr. Joe Yelderman (aka, Sewer Pond Joe ). He will talk about the migrating shorebirds at the Waco sewer ponds.

2 Northern Oriole (female, above) and Nashville Warbler (below) at Ann Gordon s puddle in Harris Creek, September, 2014.

3 Black-throated Green Warbler at Ann Gordon s puddle, September, Ann captured images of some nocturnal creatures in September as well: a raccoon, a gray fox, an opossum and a ninebanded armadillo!

4 White-tailed Ptarmigan from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Below is a Montezuma Quail from Davis Mountains State Park, Texas. All photos by Jim Edwards, summer, 2014.

5 Both photos by Jim Edwards. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers from Woodway Park, and, below, Rubythroat Hummingbird from Jim s backyard in Woodway.

6 THE ROADRUNNER Central Texas Audubon Society October 2014 Issue 285 President/Janet Wallace Vice President/Annette Jones Treasurer/Gail Cupit Rec. Secretary/Carolyn Edwards Corr. Sec. /Harriet Shearer ; Newsletter/Anna Dunbar ; Field Trips/Programs by committee Education/VACANT Membership/Bryan Stone ; Social/inactive State Rep/Conservation/ Nada Wareham Check List/Rare Bird Reports/Frank Bumgardner Upcoming Events 10/12 Children's Garden Fair from 2-5 PM at the Arboretum 10/18 Fall Fossil Festival at the Waco Mammoth site 10/18 KWB Compost and Mulch (and more!) sale at the overflow lot at the Cameron Park zoo. Call (254) to preorder. 10/21 - CTAS Monthly Meeting with presentation about shore birds and more by Joe Yelderman President s Message Hello all, As I write this note, it looks as though we may have rain this evening how wonderful. A cool down would be great and may bring some migrants our way. I still have hummingbirds emptying the feeders in the front and on the patio. If you do not participate in Hummingbird Watch I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful Citizen Science project! Our next meeting is October 21, at the Arboretum at 7PM. We are excited to have Joe Yelderman Sewer Pond Joe as our speaker on Water Birds. If you haven't heard Joe speak, you must come he is a treat! We will be at the Children's Garden Fair on Sunday afternoon the 12th from 2 5. We will make binoculars with toilet paper and paper towel rolls that have been saved for us. A big THANKS to all who have contributed. We have a beautiful new banner thanks Harriet that we used at the Cultural Arts Fest on Sept. 27. We visited with approximately 485 children and parents. Thanks to those members who helped us! We will have new Audubon t shirts to wear at events and when birding. The cost is $ We will have a picture at our next meeting and hopefully on our website. If you want to order, contact Harriet with your size and payment. See you on the 21st. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, October 21 at the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 6:30 PM program begins at 7:00 PM. Our Speaker will be Dr. Joe Yelderman (aka, Sewer Pond Joe ). Dr. Joe loves water and birds. He grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast observing wetland and coastal birds and then almost 30 years ago began collecting data on birds in McLennan County with an emphasis on the migrating shorebirds that inhabit the Waco Sewer Ponds. Dr. Joe will share some recent observations of changes at the Waco sewer ponds, his historical insights on shorebirds in McLennan County and identification tips for distinguishing peeps and other confusing shorebird species. He may also add a surprise or two and tell a joke if allowed. Please be sure and plan to be there! Friendly reminder: Earth Share's Mission To engage individuals and organizations in creating a healthy and sustainable environment From Ann Gordon, October, 2014: Yellow Warblers at her waterfall in Harris Creek. Immature and adult Mississippi kites by Joe Yelderman September, 2014 in Woodway.

7 NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION YES I d like to join! Please enroll me as a member of National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send Audubon magazine and my membership card to the address below. My check for $20, the introductory fee, is enclosed Name Address City State Zip Send this application and check to: National Audubon Society P. O. Box Palm Coast, FL Include chapter code of W06 7XCH Renewal is $35. Seniors 62 & older and students are $15. SIGHTINGS Ann Gordon: Migration has been lighter this fall than in previous years. I have had numerous Yellow Warblers, but not as many as in the past. The last Yellow Warbler I saw on 9/17/14. A FOS Blackthroated Green Warbler on 9/5/14, a FOS Nashville Warbler on 9/23/14 a FOS Wilson s Warbler male seen on 9/7/14, a FOS Redstart on 9/17/14, and a FOS Black and White Warbler female came on 9/19/14. I did not get a photo of the Redstart, but I think it was a young male. Although it was similar to the female, there were tinges of orange showing up on the tail. That is the only Redstart I have seen this season. I first saw the Northern Oriole female on 8/15/14 and a male was with her. At a later date I photographed the mature male on the waterfall. I have reported earlier having a Gray Fox in the yard. The last I saw it was 8/1/14 until 9/16/14 when I became aware that it was coming in the yard again. I have observed 3 foxes, but mostly just 2 or 1 at a time. I had wanted to get photos of it/them coming to food. On 9/26/14, I went out in the golf cart blind just before dark and waited. I was rewarded with visits. There were 2 foxes, but only one come to the food and would take food to the other. I was able to use flash so was able to get usable photos. I went out again on 9/28/14 and found other animals coming to the food. I photographed a raccoon, 2 different opossums and the Nine banded Armadillo just walking through. I has been interesting to see the night creatures that I share my yard with. You can go to my website anytime to see what I have photographed on my property. Go to annmgordon.com. There is a section on birds, and other critters as well as everything in between. Jim Edwards: Actions seems to be slowing down as we near October. I haven't seen any warblers lately, but am still seeing scissor tails regularly. I saw my first flock of white pelicans (about 40) on Monday September 29. I continue to hear the brown thrasher but have not seen him yet. Pretty dense foliage however and he is not easy to locate. Still hear white eyed vireos but less in numbers. I heard a faint "wheep" call of the great crested on Saturday September 27. I observed a neat encounter between a squirrel and a kestrel this morning at Woodway Park. I think the kestrel was just harassing the squirrel. This was my first kestrel of the fall in the park. I haven't been to Reynolds Creek Park since my encounter with the family of bobcats. We are still getting an occasional hummer in our backyard feeding on the Turk s cap. Frank Bumgardner: Jeanette and I had the following species in China Springs on dates indicated: Several Baltimore Orioles over the last two weeks of September. A female American Redstart on 11 th. Female Yellow Warblers on the 6 th and 27 th, two Brown Thrashers on the 23 rd, early male Lesser Goldfinch on the 26 th and 28 th, a late female Painted Bunting on the 28 th, and a Clay colored Sparrow on the 2 nd of October. NOTICE!! We want to encourage EVERYONE to receive our expanded Newsletter via e mail and save a tree (as well as the cost of printing and postage)!! By receiving the newsletter electronically you will also see more photos and more information! Contact Anna at dunbaranna56@gmail.com to receive future newsletters via e mail! Cans for Campuses School Recycling Contest focusing on recycling aluminum cans! The contest is from October 15 November 15! Take your aluminum cans to CMC Recycling in Waco and tell them the name of your favorite school! Call (254) to learn more! Save the Date 10/12 -Children's Garden Fair from 2-5 the Woodway Arboretum! Call Janet to volunteer! 10/25 -Fall Farm World Hunger Relief Farm in Elm Mott!