Purple Finch is bird 976

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 The earlier targeted Purple Finch chase was around Sacramento - https://patbirdchase.blogspot.com/2017/05/california-birding-dec-2016.html (day 5). The range map of Purple Finch is huge and I was certain I would eventually get it, and decided not to chase it unless it is spotted at Austin.

Purple Finch - male
     Over the past week I kept seeing Purple Finch sightings at several places around Austin. One place in particular had regular sightings, and the presence of eight made me go after it. It was a 35 mins drive from my home and after morning errands I went in the afternoon. This is not a good time to bird, but all I wanted was one decent look of at least one bird. Most birds were females and one was a young male. I preferred to see the male but the probability was in favour of females. I found some difficulty in parking and got to start walking by 1:50 pm. The ground was slushy due to the rains and there were several water crossings. It was not birdy, so I was not entertained by other birds on the trails. I met a birder who said he had them a while ago and he took me to the spot he saw them at. He said he had average looks. Unfortunately there was only an Orange-crowned Warbler. I kept walking while he called it a day. I felt ultimately I would have them. I went through the system of trails randomly and once again I was back at the spot the earlier birder had them. I stood there just looking around when a bird flew high up on a tree. I put by binocs to get good looks at the male! 
Cooper's Hawk - immature

I got good close looks at a resting immature Cooper's Hawk.

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