|
Co-Leaders: Joy Hester and Mark Meyer
Gallery of Willow Waterhole Bird Photos by Ben Hulsey
Cooper's Hawk at Willow Waterhole © Ben Hulsey
Willow Waterhole in the News
Next Survey: May 19, starting at 7 AM.
April 21 Report: (by Mark Meyer) On a clear, blustery, cool morning, 13 participants took part in the Willow Waterhole Bird Survey April 21. We identified 38 species, including 2 Swainson's Hawks, a first-time sighting for this count. Also special was the female Mottled Duck with 8 ducklings. Participants were Cletus Lee, Michael Honel, Barbara and Dick Massey, Ryan Ubias, Don Person, Russell Schexnayder, Caren and Gene Fritts, Rod Gilmore, Elizabeth Detweiler, and Allison Meyer. It was particularly good to have long-time participant Dick Massey (and Barbara) back in the fold following his surgery. For a list of the species seen to date, see the eBird hotspot.
Background Information
An exciting new "park" is being developed in near southwest Houston. It's similar to Art Storey Park, in that it's a flood control project that's being built around large detention ponds created by Harris County Flood Control (HCFCD). And, like Art Storey Park, it's attracting water-loving birds even while construction is in progress. This new park is called Willow Waterhole Greenspace Reserve, and it will be an approximately 280-acre park when it's finished. Monthly surveys occur on the third Saturday of each month. For the survey, please park on Ricecrest or in the parking lot of The Gathering Place across from the gazebo on Willow Street. Meet in the parking lot of the Gathering Place.
The park is located just outside the southwest corner of Loop 610. Go south on Chimney Rock past Bellfort; turn left at Westbury High School onto Gasmer. The park begins where Gasmer splits and becomes Willow to the left, Gasmer to the right. It extends all the way to Post Oak and even across Post Oak, although work hasn't begun yet on the other side of Post Oak. There's a paved path almost around one of the large basins, and one of the best places to see birds is off of Gasmer on Clematis where there's a turnaround overlooking one of the basins.
Our hope is to establish a good database so that we can track changes in the bird populations as the park develops and changes over time. For a list of the species seen to date, see the eBird hotspot.
|
