Today Kay, Jean and I went to Lost Maples SRA to hike the East Side Trail and look for two Texas specialty birds, Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Both were first time ABA birds (lifers) for Kay, and the vireo a lifer for me. We got there about 8:30 AM and just as we arrived it started pouring and thunder and lightening started. We initially went to the bird blind, but it seemed quiet there as the feeders were empty and Kay and Jean retreated to the car. I stayed and was rewarded by good looks at male and female Scott’s orioles, and a Rufous-crowned sparrow. The storm blew through quickly and within a half hour we took off on our hike in just a drizzle.
The hike was beautiful. The first mile or so was on a well maintained road, pretty flat, crossing the creek a few times on nicely placed rocks, but no anticipate GCWA. We did get nice looks at Summer Tanager

Just before the pond we heard a small flock of birds that included a male Yellow-throated warbler and what sounded like a Bewick’s wren flying frantically about and calling loudly. Kay was astute enough to look and found a perched Eastern Screech-owl.

It sat patiently and watched us watch it.
We spent some time at the lake looking for the GCWA without any luck, and headed up the rocky trail. Shortly after starting another birder found a Black-capped vireo, and we heared it calling for a while, but despite spending a while could not see it. We heard at least 2 more on the hike up but just could not see them. Their call is quite distinctive, repetitive two part song. We also felt we heard at least 2 GCWA but couldn’t see them either.
On top after a bit of looking we heard a BCVI and I was able to get fairly good ID worthy looks, but Kay couldn’t get on the bird. Later we found a pair, apparent male and female, and both got good looks at both.
We headed down, again hearing a GCWA at what seemed like close range, but on the back side of thick junipers, so no visual. Kay and Jean took a dip in the pond, and after heading back down, about half way we found a warbler flitting overhead. The first one was another Yellow-throated warbler, but along with it was a nice Golden-cheeked warbler. We all got nice close range looks. No photos, but great looks.
Back at the blind Kay and Jean both got to look at the Scott’s orioles, along with nice looks at Black-crested titmouse and female hummingbirds I could not ID with certainty.
A great day.