Fennessey Ranch

World Class Birding

April 24, 2010

2010 Spring Migration Birding Tour

(Reservations Required)

 

Avian activity has already begun on the Fennessey Ranch. More than 420 species of birds either reside or visit here on the major migration route. The Mission River borders the ranch on three sides. The wooded uplands of pecan and oak trees, as well as freshwater marshes and rookeries make it the highly sought-after primitive areas that beckon the anhinga, ibis, bitterns, sandpipers, rails, vireos, warblers, summer, and scarlet tanagers. Hawks and kites are also included in our spring tallies. Green jays and ringed kingfishers are being sighted on a regular basis. 

~  ~  All Tours are Moderately challenging  ~  ~  

 

Deli lunches, poppy seed cake, snacks and bird list are 

provided on this trip!

 

Tours depart from the Fennessey main gate at 7:30 a.m.

 

Full Day Tour – Cost $68

(tax included)

We are now able to accept credit card payment by phone.

Experienced birders and naturalists Nan and Lyndon, with Fennessey scout, "Famous Shoes" Crofutt, guide all trips.

 

Upcoming Trip Date & Info:

Fall Migration Birding

September 2010

 

Hummingbird Hayrides

Once again, in conjunction with the Rockport Hummer/Bird Celebration, we will be offering hummingbird hayrides on the Fennessey.  The dates for the 2010 festival are September 16-19.  Participants will be bused from Rockport to the ranch.  The trip will be Saturday, Sept. 18, at 6 a.m.  All reservations must be made through the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.  Please keep in mind that trip capacity is limited, and these trips tend to sell out before the festival begins.

Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce phone # 361-729-6445 or 1-800-242-0071.

Hawk Watch

The Fennessey, with the Mission River, is a major migration route for hawks, kites and falcons. The birds use the tall pecan and oak trees on the banks of the river for overnight roosts. We have been there when they take off by the thousands for the day’s migration trip AND witness kettle after kettle forming all day long. We can expect to see anhingas soaring with broadwings, harriers, falcons, sharp-shinned, Coopers, red-tailed, red-shouldered and Swainson’s. American swallow-tailed kites and white-tailed hawks have also been in the tally as well as wood storks. 

Our annual Hawk Watch will be September 25, 2010.  Take this opportunity to see thousands of migrating hawks lift off and form huge kettles.  Identify up to 18 species on this trip.  Experienced guides and lunch provided. Cost: $68 (tax included). Call for reservations. 361-529-6600. 

~  ~  Moderately challenging  ~  ~  

Hoyt/Pickles

Experienced birders and naturalists Nan and Lyndon, with Fennessey scout, "Famous Shoes" Crofutt, guide all trips.

 Almost any kind of nature tour you can imagine, the Fennessey Ranch can provide – individuals, groups, and students – all are welcome!

Have a question? Call: 361-529-6600

E-mail Us!

 

Use our Contact Form to describe your unique interest and we’ll do our absolute best to accommodate your needs and customize your trip!

 

Full day tours leave the Fennessey gate at 7:30 am and return at 3:00 pm.

Click here for a preview of birds you’ll find in our area of Texas!

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Things to Bring:

Hat or Sun Visor Comfortable Clothing Good Walking Shoes
Binoculars & Camera Sunscreen   Smiles Mosquito Repellent

 

 

Our birding guide, Nan Dietert, writes a column for the Port Aransas South Jetty newspaper.  We enjoy reading it and thought you might too.

10/08/2009

For the Birds

Nan Dietert

A Good Bird

 

If you meet someone from out of state while birding, they may have a completely different set of preferences as to what constitutes a good bird. And, if that person is from a western state, they will definitely have a very different point of view from your own.  Most of our birds are eastern birds – whether they are residents, winter birds, or the migrants that come through twice each year.  For us it is the western bird that is the unexpected prize, but a birder from the west would have driven away from these birds to find our birds.  They came here to see the birds we see every migration and sometimes everyday.  For the western birder, many of our birds are cherries for them.  And for some, one eastern bird alone – will make the trip worth while.

Recently, we were on the Fennessey Ranch with a small group of people.  Two were from the west and one or two were birders, but mostly they were nature photographers; they just wanted to “get down and digital”.  The Fennessey is located just south of Refugio and it borders the Mission River for nine miles.  The morning started well enough for everyone – we had a lot of variety – but it was a little slow for the photo end of things – a lot of the birds were just too far away.

About mid-mourning we approached an interesting area on foot, leaving the ranch’s Swiss Military vehicle behind.  In a few moments, we stood stock-still in the middle of a remarkable sun-dappled canopy and saw nothing and heard less.  We couldn’t pick up any movement.  Lyndon walked back for the 4X4.

Sometimes I call for an owl at this location.  Although we have only “hit” two times and that was years ago – it always looks too good to pass up.  What did we have to lose?  I belted out a Barred Owl call and we listened and waited.

All of a sudden my eyes focused on a Barred Owl perched directly in front of us.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  We had not seen him!  He was low and close – maybe ten feet off the ground and fifty feet away!  I felt like a fool; I felt jinxed; what bad timing – surely he would fly!  But he did not.  He seemed mildly curious and pretty much at ease.  As everyone in the group began to find the owl, the cameras began to click.  

I quickly called Lyndon on the cell phone and he stopped and killed the engine.  The owl “held tight” and put on quite a show; first looking one way and then every way.  Finally he flew, but landed within range of the cameras – click – click – click.  We motioned for Lyndon to walk slowly toward us.  The bird “held” and the cameras kept on clicking.  The owl seemed to be searching for “the other owl” – maybe we weren’t jinxed after all.  The owl flew to a better branch and once more the cameras were in action.  The birders stayed back to give the camera people full advantage.  We’d “had our bird”.  Let them play to their hearts content.  Once again the owl flew, but was still in range – click – click – click.  We finally decided to move on.  He was still watching usaswe drove away!

The photographers from Colorado and New Mexico had experience with a lot of owls but not with the northern and eastern Barred Owl; they’d had a very good day!  And no matter where you were from, these memories would last for a long time.  He was a good bird.  Go birding.

 

 

 

 

All photos copyright 2009