Pace Bend Park

Since I haven't spent much time in the western half of Travis County this year, I headed out for a couple hours of birding at Pace Bend park--one of only two known locations in the county for Cactus Wren, and good for several other western species. While I didn't find the Pyrrhuloxias reported there earlier this week, I did manage to find the Cactus Wren (#196), Spotted Towhee (#197), Canyon Towhee (#198), and the best bird of the day, a locally very rare Green-tailed Towhee (#199).

Very nice to be out in the mesquite and prickly pear. Lots of sparrows around, including hundreds of Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow, and dozens of Lark Sparrow. This park is a good place to look for Verdin, but didn't hear or see any today.