We drove west from I-44 on Hwy 36 and Hwy 5 and saw this male Northern Harrier flying across a field along the way. We saw many more Harriers in the WMA, but they were all juveniles or females in coloring.

We saw 100s of geese landing in a field on the north side of Hwy 5.

A Snow Goose among the many Canada/Cackling geese.

There were a couple of Greater White-fronted Geese in the mix.

Also on the north side of Hwy 5, John and Marion stopped to looked at a hawk and Mary spotted a covey of Bobwhites.

Northern Bobwhites on the north side of Hwy 5, E of Hackberry Flat WMA

Northern Bobwhites

More of the covey of Northern Bobwhites

Loggerhead Shrike
at Hackberry Flat WMA

It looks like there was a very good cotton harvest this year.

Just a few of the dozens of loads of cotton in the fields around Hackberry Flat WMA

Cotton--these stacks were 8' wide, 8' tall and 16'-20' long and there were lots of them

Cotton picking machine in progress on the border of the WMA

American Kestrels famously fly on to the next section of power line each time you try to take a photo, so we just shot this one way out in the field.

On the north edge of the WMA reservoir, looking south
Lots of geese but the light was bad

Greater Yellowlegs at the north edge of the WMA reservoir

Greater Yellowlegs

One of many Red-Tailed Hawks we saw this day
On the north side of the WMA reservoir
In several places where we stopped, we spied cotton rats, their preferred food.

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk in flight

Red-tailed Hawk

I wonder whether it was man or bird who was frustrated with this decoy.

Red-tailed Hawk still soaring

And one more

We saw dozens of meadowlarks

Meadowlark

Savannah Sparrow
Pinkish bill; short, notched tail
We saw many--10-20

Savannah Sparrow

Adult non-breeding White-faced Ibis
This was the only one we saw.

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis
Still colorful in non-breeding plumage

Adult non-breeding White-faced Ibis
flew a little distance from us and gave us a good look at its plumage

From the observation deck on the south side of the reservoir,
we saw many geese on the north shore.

Meadowlark

Looking north from the visitor center

Two of the many Short-eared Owls
we saw north of the visitor center

I had turned back to the visitor center,
thinking there were no birds out there,
when they starting popping up.

Short-eared Owl at Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owls
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owls
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owls
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Short-eared Owl
Hackberry Flat WMA

Savannah Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

American Bittern E of the visitor center

First of three American Bitterns seen by our group

Ring-necked and Ruddy Ducks

Female and male Ring-necked Ducks

Male Northern Shoveler

Male and female Northern Shovelers

Second of three American Bitterns
at Hackberry Flat WMA

American Bittern

American Bittern

American Bittern

American Bittern

American Bittern

Savannah Sparrow
at the base of the east observation tower
Hackberry Flat WMA

Savannah Sparrow

Female Prairie Merlin
at cotton gin south of Hackberry Flat WMA

Female Prairie Merlin

Female Prairie Merlin

Two of five Barn Owls we stirred at the cotton gin at the south edge of Hackberry Flat WMA.

Barn Owls at the cotton gin at Hackberry Flat WMA

Barn Owl

Another Barn Owl we found at a barn on Highway 54 south of Hollister

White-crowned Sparrows on the road next to the barn on Highway 54

White-crowned Sparrows

White-crowned Sparrows on a gravel road

One of the Barn Owls flew back toward the barn.

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Great Horned Owl in a copse southeast of the barn on Highway 54

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

West of the barn, we found the same site for a Burrowing Owl that we'd seen with the OCAS group last Spring. This time we only saw one very reticent owl.

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

As we left to head home, we saw one more Savannah Sparrow on the fence along the road.