Birds

Martin Byhower, who also advises people on native planting for their lawns, led the bird watching group for the Sun City Nature Club on May 8. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Martin Byhower, who also advises people on native planting for their lawns, led the bird watching group for the Sun City Nature Club on May 8. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Sun City birders find respite in watching late migration patterns

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
“Green heron flying this way,” announced Belinda Avey to the group of birdwatchers during an early-morning Sun City birdwalk on May 8. Bird walks happen twice a month at Legacy Hills Park, with a crowd that ranges from eight to 22 people.
Egrets gather at the rookery in Murphy Park on a cloudy night, Monday, April 20, 2026. These migratory birds were slow in arriving at their nesting area this year, but their numbers are growing. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Egrets gather at the rookery in Murphy Park on a cloudy night, Monday, April 20, 2026. These migratory birds were slow in arriving at their nesting area this year, but their numbers are growing. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Springtime at Taylor's Rookery

Andy Sharp
Sunday, April 26, 2026
A Great Egret flies over the rookery area at Murphy Park on Friday, March 6, 2026. More egrets are beginning to find nesting sites on the island, but cormorants still are the primary residents, for now. Photo by Andy Sharp

A Great Egret flies over the rookery area at Murphy Park on Friday, March 6, 2026. More egrets are beginning to find nesting sites on the island, but cormorants still are the primary residents, for now. Photo by Andy Sharp

Birds return to Taylor rookery

Andy Sharp
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
More egrets are beginning to find nesting sites on the island at Murphy Park in Taylor, but cormorants still are the primary residents, for now.Photo by Andy Sharp 
Starlings fill the sky above pastureland at the Lutonsky Farm on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The farm is located on County Road 405, south of Taylor.

Starlings fill the sky above pastureland at the Lutonsky Farm on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The farm is located on County Road 405, south of Taylor.

Photo: Birds of a Feather

Andy Sharp
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Starlings fill the sky above pastureland at the Lutonsky Farm on Saturday, November 15, 2025.  The farm is located on County Road 405, south of Taylor. 
Kendall Britt, right, and Donna Kinney, front, check the birdhouses for Purple Martin nesting activity. The structure is located on the Katy Crossing Trail in San Gabriel Park. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Kendall Britt, right, and Donna Kinney, front, check the birdhouses for Purple Martin nesting activity. The structure is located on the Katy Crossing Trail in San Gabriel Park. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Birding group provides shelter with a view for Purple Martins

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Every Thursday around 6 p.m. in San Gabriel Park, the “click, click, click” of a crank lowering the Williamson Audubon Group’s Purple Martin birdhouse echoes over the river, as Kendall Britt checks for new nesting activity.
Cormorants gather at Murphy Park's rookery as a full moon wanders in and out of clouds on Thursday evening, March 13, 2025. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Cormorants gather at Murphy Park's rookery as a full moon wanders in and out of clouds on Thursday evening, March 13, 2025. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Full moon above the rookery

Andy Sharp
Friday, March 14, 2025
Cormorants gather at Murphy Park's rookery as a full moon wanders in and out of clouds on Thursday evening, March 13, 2025. Photo by Andy Sharp. 
Large numbers of egrets gather around the rookery at Murphy Park on Thursday evening, September 5, 2024. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Large numbers of egrets gather around the rookery at Murphy Park on Thursday evening, September 5, 2024. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Photos: Flock prepares to leave as summer ends

Andy Sharp
Friday, September 20, 2024
As summer nears its conclusion, the egrets making their home at the rookery in Taylor’s Murphy Park will soon move on. These migratory birds arrive here each spring to add to their families, usually leaving by late-September, or early-October.
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