BIRD & NATURE NEWS 2018
Notes without location cited are in or from yard which is a couple
miles south of town at edge of the river habitat corridor.
If it doesn't say where it was, it was in or from the yard.
Often a few daily yard notes is all the drivel you get.
Ready, steady, go!
~ ~ ~ June Summary ~ ~ ~
There were a few spritzes in June but overall it was a drought.
The early and late May rain kept flowers going until about
mid-month. Butterflies were 47 species, so holding steady
the last 3 months. Best was a Brazillian Skipper at the
library garden the 29th, my photos were OOF - out of focus.
Shouldn't take you long to learn to hate autofocus.
Two species of Metalmark (one of each) were great to finally
see this year. One Rounded, and the other probably Rawson's,
but absolutely not Rounded. Twice I saw Red-spotted Purple
in the yard, which is rare, still no Viceroy this year, at
least 3 Texas Powdered-Skipper, quite a few Arizona Sister.
Fireflies flamed out early, the year was a burn for them.
But did see a few gigas Cerambycids, and Eyed Elaterids.
Odes were good at 33 species, 10 damselfies, and 23 dragonflies,
a nice bit of diversity to see. At Lost Maples we had Neon
and Flame Skimmer, an Ivory-striped Sylph, lots of Comanche
Skimmer, Red-tailed Pennant, Springwater Dancer, it seems to
have the best action now. The Orange-striped Threadtail
damselflies are flying at Utopia Park as usual by the island.
The odes should be great for the next 3 months.
Birds were 90 species in June, which are of course all local
breeders. A far cry from 130 sps. in May. Surely a hundred
nest in the area. Mostly June is about begging babies, the
more you see the better. June 1 Kathy had ad. with juv.
Golden-cheeked Warbler at our bird bath. At end of month a
juv. Orchard Oriole was around yard chasing and begging from
an adult. The 29th I photo'd at Utopia Park an Eastern
Wood-Pewee feeding a young for my first park nesting. The
Common Grackles there got out three young this year. The only
real transient (and a semi-vagrant here) that I saw was a
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. July starts to see the
departures of many breeders that are not going another round,
as well as first arrivals of southbound transients from far away.
~ ~ ~ end of June summary ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ back to the regularly scheduled drivel ~ ~ ~
June 30 ~ One month of climatalogical summer down, two to go.
Clouds stuck around longer so kept the solar heating at bay
all morning. Still hot and sticky, but not burning hot.
Did garden work and other stuff here. This weekend through
next weekend centered by the Fourth of July on Wednesday, is
a huge tourist week here, like everywhere else. One of the
bigger vacation weeks of summer. So we hideout and work here.
In the a.m. had another Gnatcatcher, which are about daily
now, a Black-and-white Warbler, the Orchard Orioles, and
the usual gang. Heard Indigo Bunting singing over by draw,
wonder if its trolling and unmated. Field Sparrow around again.
Scissor-tail, Scott's Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, begging
baby Summer Tanagers, Yellow-throated Warbler and Vireo,
lots going on if you can handle the heat. About 1:30 I saw
a metalmark (lep) on the Frogfruit in the driveway, grabbed
reading glasses to ID, and photograph. Was not sure when
looking at it, but which after studying later, I would say
it is absolutely not Rounded, and probably a Rawson's
Metalmark! Which is less than annual here.
Painted Bunting male, waiting in line for the feeder.
We had SEVEN males at once on the seed one day this week.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
June 29 ~ About 75dF for a low, cloudy and humid, then hot.
Early saw a Gnatcatcher, heard a Black-and-white, and thought
I heard a Golden-cheeked Warbler chipping but didn't chase
it down, too busy. The pair of Scott's Oriole were at
the hummer feeder. Heard an Orchard out front, probably the
same female with young still here. Town run for stuff.
At the Sabinal Cyn. Mus. lantanas there were several Whirlabout
and a Eufala Skipper. At the library garden there was a
BRAZILLIAN SKIPPER, which I do not see every year here.
A huge beast of a skipper, auto-focus failed the day on the
pix though. Also had a pair of Texas Powdered-Skipper in
copulation there, first time I have seen more than one of
them at a time.
At the park outstanding was watching an Eastern Wood-Pewee
feed a baby! The first successful nesting at the park I know of!
Last year was the first sure attempt I knew of but it failed
in a major rain event. Looks like only one young, but that
is great. It was fed a Swift Setwing dragonfly (ID'd in
the photo after the fact) which makes the Pewee swifter. The
three juv. Common Grackle are still there, mostly in the willows
at south end of the island. Saw a pair of Green Kingfisher,
heard Blue Jay, saw a couple White-eyed Vireo juvies unattended,
so look out for those messes of feathers now. Also saw the
Green Heron there, which being out in the heat of the day now
means it probably has young to feed. They are so ginchy and
secretive here it is amazing. Saw a bunch of Orange-striped
Threadtail damselflies. A few were high up in a Mulberry 10 FEET
over the water. Have seen them even higher in Cypresses. This
is a thing they do. Kathy saw the Roadrunner at the bath again.
June 28 ~ More of the same. I had what is surely the same
2 birds as yesterday, in the same big (but dying) Hackberry,
an ad. fem. Orchard Oriole with another begging bird with it,
which I now see and hear is indeed a juvenile oriole, so not
a Cowbird, YIPPEEE! Could not have nested too far away for
the ad. to be with a juv. still. FY - feeding young in yard!
Awesome. Had a Black-and-white Warbler singing a bit in the
yard early, saw it a little later. Lots of begging baby birds
out there. Just in juveniles it must be 8+ Lark Sparrow,
10-12 Cardinal, several Painted Bunting, and a dozen House
Finch. And dozens of juv. Black-chinned Hummingbirds draining
the feeders. The pair of Scott's Oriole were at the
feeder together again, so they are nesting very nearby.
Kathy saw the Roadrunner at the birdbath.
Amazing was after 7 p.m. when all the seed eaters come in for
one last tankup, I counted FIVE male Painted Bunting at once.
I knew we had 3 minimum, but never got 4 at once. Four males
were on the patio, millet feeder, or under it, and one more
out back where I throw seed, all at once. I had to run back
and forth to confirm, but it was worth it. Awesome yard
confetti. At least one 1st summer male with salmon underparts
is still here too, it showed up I think May 1. Then there
are a lot of females, and more juveniles. It is Painted
Buntingville here. We are generating as many as we can.
Probably 15-20 or so around using the seed now.
a bonus pic this week
I have replaced the shot I had here with one not taken through screen.
Wanted to show how averse these beasts are to feeders. A copy of this
should be put into every California Bird Record Committee Painted Bunting
record in which a reviewer said "its a male at a feeder" in a disparaging
manner as if it is not a normal natural thing. Same goes for the lack of
pure red underparts as on bird on the left, due to molt, not diet or
captivity. Anyone that suggests these as reasons for one not being
wild is bearing false witness to your bird record. It is not OK to give
bad reasons that good bird records are not valid. It is making up false
stuff up about the bird record. Best I could tell (and I was there)
Jon Dunn was the one that started the mythical preposterous unfounded
notion that there is something amiss about a male Painted Bunting at
a feeder, and that those that are not perfectly uniform red below are
discolored. Both are pure rubbish! They are feeder flies!
June 27 ~ Same as it ever was. Except the Orchard Oriole
in the yard, which was an adult female, and I saw something
chase after it, as in a begging young bird. But could not tell
if the beggar was a juvie oriole, or a cowbird. In any case,
they don't nest around the yard and immediately adjacent
area, about a half-mile is the closest I have found a pair
nesting. Here we have a female and young of some sort, out
of the nesting territory moving about in late June. Saw the
Zone-tail soaring low over yard about 2 p.m., looking for
another dove I suppose. Great was seeing 3 juvenile Eastern
Bluebird fledge from the nest box out on the road fenceline.
We had to run to Sabinal for a vehicle inspection in the
afternoon. I can not believe how few Scissor-tails and
Western Kingbirds are along the ag fields north of Sabinal.
Used to be edge to edge territories for a few miles on 187.
I saw one pair of Scissors, no Western Kingbirds. I suspect
they are spraying (crop dusting) the fields and there are no
bugs. There were a few Western Kingbird in Sabinal itself.
Major bummer was on the way back a couple birds in a chase
shot out into roadway, one hit the car. It was a male Painted
Bunting. That hurts bad.
June 26 ~ SOS. Same old shtuff. Better get used to it.
Same birds and weather, sometimes life will seem just like the
Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. But at least if there are
birds, bugs, or fish in it, all will be fine. Still 74dF for
a low, some clouds for a couple hours, a couple mist spits to
make sure the humidity is high enough. Heard a Gnatcatcher go
by southward early in the a.m. Saw the cuckoo heading into
the pecans, hunting katydids again no doubt. You have to have
a sharp darn eye to pick them out. I collected insects since
I was a kid so am a bug spotter extraordinaire if I must say
so myself. I walk around out there all the time and virtually
never spot a Katydid. The cuckoo can fly in, and be on its
way out with one in a couple or few minutes, over and over.
I think I have good eyes, and this feathered reptilian thing
shames me.
A Nysa Roadside-Skipper was at front porch Eupatorium patch,
first I have seen this month (ph.). Ya gotta love getting new
species for the monthly list late in the month, especially
when you don't have to go hunt them down in the heat.
I do not make that sort of effort, don't have the time.
With so few flowers out there right now, watering some dirt
and caliche is as effective as nectar for attracting many
species of butterflies.
Saw two new begging baby Chipping Soparrow being attended
by an adult. After noon found a big spread of White-winged
Dove plucked feathers just off the front porch. Obviously
they fell from one of the large branches on the big pecan.
Which surely means Mr. Zoney got another one. They are
faster than the average buteo.
June 25 ~ Monday morning back at the desk, will be nice
to relax at work today. The Gulf low clouds got here
after 8:30, after a sunny start. Cool (75dF) moist air,
and for here, this time of year, refreshing. A, or the,
Yellow-throated Warbler was over by the seed feeders, it
landed on the thin cable they hang on a foot away and
watched the House Finches on the sunflower and a male
Painted Bunting on the millet.
I was at the computer working and a female with two juv.
Painted Bunting landed on the garden fence right out the
window, maybe 6' away, babies begging, their beg chip
note sounds somewhat like an Audubon's Warbler, as
does one call the adults make, this juvie beg more emphatic,
metallic, and squeakier. Had begging Blue Grosbeak out there
today as well. Great to see all the new youngsters.
There were a few rain drops from a nearish light cell,
no one got more than a trace or two. At 11 p.m. Kathy
spotted a bug on the wall in the living room by the light.
It was a Triatoma sps., Blood-sucking Conenose aka Kissing Bug,
family Reduviadae, took it outside and killed it. I see
one or two a year here, usually when I bug light at night.
These are the kissing bugs that bite your lip or face.
Southward from Mexico they carry Chagas' disease,
so I don't take chances with them, in the house, yer dead.
June 24 ~ Got up early to go to Lost Maples. Dawn chorus
peaks 6: to 6:30 a.m. now here at the hovel at 29.6 deg. or so N.
Chuck and Chat were the only two things going at 5:45, Vermilion
Flycatcher chimed in next. Just before we left I watched an ad.
fem. Painted Bunting bring 3 fresh juvies across the road
from draw, into and across yard, over to feeders. This
was clearly the first major long distance herding movement
for the young. It took so much effort on her part it was
unbelievable. They were taken straight to the feeder. Not the
first time I have seen this either. That is how imprinted on a
seed feeder Painted Buntings can be. First thing out of
nest, first flight, this is where they go, this is what they do.
No doubt for thousands of them annually.
Nothing on the road on the way up except south of Utopia
someone hit the trifecta, 3 not-so-little pigs will be making
the vultures and Caracaras happy. Then right at Lost Maples'
entrance, is a flattened Cave Swallow on the road. So from
Utopia, turn left into park at the flattened Cave Swallow near
centerline, for now. From the north if go by one in middle of
the road, you just missed the turn. Coming down off that hill
at 65mph yer gonna have to be good to make the ID.
Interesting were male Painted Buntings at both feeders,
HQ, and the parking lot station, where there was a juvenile
as well. They don't always (usually?) nest there. I
presume these did though the juvie was unattended. I did
not hear any singing as territorial nesting birds still are.
They could have moved in from locally. We hiked the Can Creek
trail past ponds to the highest (permanent) water spot. The
narrow canyon after second pond is great that next mile, the
stuff has nowhere to hide compared to lower canyon where creek
often far from trail.
The feeding station at the trailhead parking lot was going
well about 8:30-9 a.m. A male Scott's Oriole hit the peanut
butter log! We hosted a herd of them at Seco Ridge for 8 years,
with over a dozen regular user individuals and none ever touched
the PB log. Even though it was right there with Audubon's
Orioles hitting it all the time, never did a Scott's go to it.
There were male Painted and Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak
there at the seed, juveniles of Indigo and Painted Bunting and
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and a bunch of the more usual attendees.
Heard a Scrub-Jay up the slope, did not see a Zone-tailed Hawk.
We got there too late for the early birdsong, we did not hear
a Golden-cheeked Warbler sing. Surely if you were there at
dawn you still would. Though we encountered begging young
being fed twice, at first pond before restroom, and above
second pond by the third crossing past 2nd pond. The first
one was definitely an ad. male feeding the young. We spent
10 minutes watching it. The juvie flew down to within 5' of
me, auto-focus failed the day. Second one I only saw a female
feeding a young. Begging babies make them easy to locate,
but you have to cover some canyon as the majority are gone
already.
Heard at least 2 maybe 3 Black-capped Vireo, had a look
at a male, but all from canyon bottom trail, we did not
go 'up top'. Had a few Lousisiana Waterthrush
including juvies, heard a few Yellow-throated Warbler but
only a poor look at one, that seemed orangish in throat.
Heard a few Black-and-white Warbler, saw one or two, they too
are thinning fast. Fair numbers of Blue-gray Gnatcat still,
but less than there were. Heard a number of Canyon Wren, did
not see one, heard 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee, did not hear a
Yellow-throated Vireo, maybe 3 Acadian Flycatcher, but at
least one is a troller moving far too much for a nesting
territorial bird. Heard a Hutton's Vireo, and lots
of White-eyed of course.
Only heard about 3-4 pairs of Red-eyed Vireo, good was
hearing Purple Martin overhead at the parking lot, and
some Barn Swallows there were ads. with juvs. Heard an
Olive Sparrow and two White-tipped Dove, saw neither.
Some juvie Indigo being attended by ad. ma. up the trail.
Clouds stuck until about 11 a.m., so nice to make the
ponds before sun comes out, as it gets hot fast when it does.
We went up to the highwater (highest permanent) spot on
Can Creek, which is almost a mile past the first pond.
Great place for a break before the walk back down in the sun.
There were 2 male and a female Neon Skimmer (dragonfly)
at that spot. A few months ago it was Flame Skimmers
there. Both are regular at this site. Saw one Red-shouldered
Hawk, and one recent fledgling Red-tailed from the cliff nest
is begging a hundred yards from the nest. The begging Ravens
are still at that too but free-flying.
There were almost no flowers, it was amazingly done and
cooked, so butterflies were weak at best. Did see a
couple Spicebush and one Pipevine Swallowtail, one AZ Sister,
one Roadside-Skipper (ph.) that was probably a Bronze,
a few Lyside Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Variegated and Gulf
Fritillary, a Queen, one N. Mestra. Very slow. No flowers.
Kathy spotted a yearling Watersnake of some sort, maybe
a Diamondback?
In odes besides the Neon Skimmer, there were lots of Comanche
Skimmer, and great was a Filigree Skimmer at the (now dry)
crossing between the two ponds, right where I had one last
year. A Red-tailed Pennant which is scarce there, was at
the pond (FOY), saw a Five-striped Leaftail, and got a pic of
a gomphid I will have to work on to figure out. Saw Swift Setwing,
Prince and Dot-winged Baskettail, Pale-faced Clubskimmer, Red
Saddlebags, and some Springwater Dancer damselflies. All on
the way down, nothing going up under the cloud cover. By then
I am cooked and do not put the effort in that it merits.
Especially with damsels.
Back here in the late afternoon we went for a swim to wash away
the heat. Had a Black-n-white Warbler working the cypress trunks
south at the edge of the river. Heard singing Blue Grosbeak and
Indigo Bunting. Saw a small group of Largemouth Bass with one
nearing two lbs., two that were nearing 3 lbs. and one that was
pushing four. That could explain why there are few fish in the
river here right now too. They cruise as a school, and are
fish-eating machines. Big bass are not good for sunfish.
June 23 ~ A balmy 74dF for a low and got up to a hot 98dF!
Worked on things here. Saw my FOY juvenile Blue Grosbeak out
on patio, just one so far. Heard the Orchard Oriole out front
again. Saw an Elada Checkerspot butterfly, my first of month.
Best was at last 20 mins. of sun, the male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
brought 3 just-fledged juveniles into the top of the big
pecan right off porch and was feeding them up there. Too
cool. They nest by the grass airstrip maybe 150 yards away,
so we hear it sing all the time, and they do go through
or over yard regularly, sometimes hunting from it. Great to
watch it feeding three young here! I should have kept track
of a FY (feeding young) all time yard list, for all my yards
ever. We had Blue-winged Warbler feeding young on our porch
banister in NJ.
Neon Skimmer male
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
June 22 ~ About 74dF for a low, a little mist early but hot
and humid by noon. Nothing through the yard in the morning.
Town run. Everywhere I went I saw an adult Zone-tailed Hawk,
at the Library butterfly garden, up at north end of town,
over west side of town, and while waiting for tacos on Main St.
Then leaving town a mile south I saw another one when half way home.
Probably two in town and a different one a mile south. When
they have older nearing fledging young, both adults will leave
and go hunting. Five times I looked up and there one was.
Yet, you can't find one if you are guiding someone.
Spring to fall Main St. in Utopia is one of the best places
in America to look for one. Depending cloud cover in morning,
I'd say most days starting at 9 or 10 a.m., by noon you'd
have one, just cruising Main and some of the streets around the
edges of town. Once they get prey (later in day), they aren't
out as much.
At the park the pair of Eastern Wood-Peewe seem to have set
up housekeeping, as a pair did last year, but which failed
in a major rain event. The pair of Common Grackle that nest
on the island fledged 3 young, which are just out of the nest,
they had a great year. Last year it was one. A fair number
of Orange-striped Threadtail damselflies are flying near island.
In leps a Cloudless Sulphur and a Celia's Roadside-Skipper
were at the park.
A Painted Bunting is singing around the Sabinal Canyon Museum
on Main St. At the library garden there was a Rounded
Metalmark (Calephelis perditalis), my first metalmark (butterfly
family) of any type this year. The bird bath at the library
garden had water and a male Blue Grosbeak, plus a juvenile
Yellow-breasted Chat were at it. Water means life in the hot
summer here. A bath (best with a drip) will get you as many
birds as food will, and many that you can't attract with food.
A Black-n-white Wobbler was back at the bath here today, which
looked the same one as yesterday and a juvenile male. The tail
is only half grown out, so the bird is a bit funny of proportions.
When heat peaks in afternoon that bath gets busy like a L.A.
traffic jam. Stuff is backed up in the brush pile waiting.
Remember you must have cover next to the bath so they
have something to dive into when a hawk strikes, and they will.
Next to a dense shrub is best. We improvised and made a stick
pile next to the bath for safety cover, since there were no
shrubs here. If you have cats outside, a birdbath is usually
not a good idea. Perhaps if you put it on a very high pedestal
away from anywhere a cat can hide, or a hanging one (might as
well do the mister on timer in a tree), but absolutely not on
the ground (like ours - so the 6' Indigo Snake can use it)
or anywhere that cats can hide close to it.
I saw a skipper on my Wooly Ironweed and as I was moving over
to ID it, an imm. Black-chinned Hummer flew up to the flowers,
turned its head and side-swiped the skipper with its bill, with
no small amount of force. Much later I saw a Julia's Skipper
on the flowers which was probably it.
June 21 ~ Happy Solstice! Hope you didn't spend that whole
second of extra daylight in one place! There have been enough
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers through the yard the that now the dang
nesting alpha male Lesser Goldfinch is doing their call. It was
not doing it a few weeks ago before they started being a
near-daily thing again. Heard an Orchard Oriole singing in the
pecans out front again in the afternoon. I bet it is that first
summer male I saw the other day trolling by the crossing, and heard
the other day here in the yard, trolling up and down the river
habitat corridor with song for a mate.
Early in a.m. a Black-and-white Warbler was down at the bath
and I got to use my handy-dandy window screen-with-a-hole-in-it.
Slide the slat open and voila! Finally, I get to shoot the
birdbath without that dang 50 year old grayed glass and a
rusted screen essentially pre-pixelating everything. A clear
shot. Shoulda done this years ago. In later p.m. I topped up
the millet tube since the Painted Buntings always come in
a few times before dark. One was singing in the big pecan
as I did it, and apparently watching. By time I got across
the patio twenty feet, it was on a feeder perch.
Late afternoon there was a Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak on the
Frogfruit in the driveway, the first one I have seen this year.
A few duskywings around looked Funereal. Small numbers of
Queen and Gulf Fritillary. Late in afternoon I saw my FOY
Spot-winged Glider dragonfly going south.
June 20 ~ Still no rain here, a little bit of coolish air,
maybe 73dF for a low and staying cooler since cloud cover.
Some places in coastal plains got lots of rain yesterday, but
we are on the dry side of the system, or wave. Heard a
Roadrunner singing so they must be convinced to nest again.
Just barely got to 90 for a high, no rain. Saw the Texas
Powdered-Skipper on the Wooly Ironweed at front porch again.
Still good and muggy from the tropical moisture, a bit
sticky you might say. Barking Frogs were going at it late.
June 19 ~ The 71dF low felt great, some rain-cooled air
from elsewhere, we'll take it. Shortly before 10 there
was a Black-and-white Warbler and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
that moved south through yard. Heard an Orchard Oriole sing
as it moved by upriver. Wonder if it was yesterday's
1st summer male I had at the crossing down the road a bit.
Didn't see it, only heard it singing. Cloud cover
kept temps down about 10dF below avg., 84dF at 4 p.m. was
lovely. No rain though. The highlight of the day was on
the first Wooly Ironweed flowers of the year (on one I grew
here in a flower bed) a Texas Powdered-Skipper. First of the
month, and always neat to see. The camo brown marbling is
beautiful.
June 18 ~ Low of 75dF is not very. Clouds moved in shortly
after sunup, then a little shower from 10-11 that might have
been two tenths of an inch. Enough to be a dustbuster.
Alas, nothing else all day. Ran to river crossing briefly
in late afternoon. Besides Yellow-throated Warbler there was
a singing Red-eyed Vireo, still, wonder if it got a mate?
A first summer male Orchard Oriole also trolled singing and
moving upriver.
Saw my first Blacktail Shiner (Cyprinella venusta - a native
minnow) of the year, a half dozen or so, finally. Year-olds,
and nowhere near as big as the couple I kept over winter in
an aquarium. Apparently after only 50 years of keeping fish,
I can really fatten one up. The wild ones were just over 2"
and mine are 3" and twice the body depth and weight.
June 17 ~ Woke up at 6 a.m. to some spittin' and spritzin',
maybe a couple hundredths and enough to hold some dust down.
Seemed a good sign for the day but alas, nothing else happened.
Another Gnatcatcher moved south through yard in the morning.
Saw the cuckoo fly across yard with another Katydid, toward
the draw, where I think the nest is this year, probably feeding
young now. Saw a Black-and-white Warbler fly through the yard
later in afternoon. There are some Summer Tanager babies begging
around the yard and adjacent. The rest was the usual gang.
Worked on things here. So much for a 30% chance of rain, again.
They are still pretty bullish on a rain event in a day or two.
June 16 ~ Wished I could get up to Maples, but had to work
on stuff here, the biz can be 7 days a week so always something
to do. Was a wee bit cooler, low 90's dF. A couple
small rain cells went fairly nearish by, just enough to
cool the air a a few dF from the east, and another blocked the
sun from the west. We went for a swim in the afternoon at peak
heat anyway. Weird we have not been seeing any kingfishers in
this stretch lately. But, there are very very few fish in it
now as well.
I wonder if the big flood events just wash them all out, which
may well be the case? There are none of the native minnows,
and no sizable sunfish or bass that I am seeing. Used to see
lots of all. I haven't fished it in years myself, since
I ID'd everything in it. It could be that a flood had
deposited them here in the first place? In this section the
river bed is mostly smooth hard limestone (with a thin coat
of algae on it, giving new meaning to slippery when wet)
without much aquatic vegetation save at occasional gravel
or rock bars moved around each flood. So it is not exactly
lush fish breeding or fry heaven. But man it is great for
swimming.
It was all the expected usual stuff around the yard, and
over at river. Right after we got back and changed saw a
bunch of birds flush as I headed outside, and saw a Zone-tailed
Hawk climbing out of yard, empty-fisted.
Long-billed Dowitcher and 3 Wilson's Phalarope in Bandera Co., May 4, 2018.
Likely the first proof of either species in that county, at the South Little Creek ponds.
Sorry about the fuzzy, pic taken at max magnification and about a hundred yards.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
June 15 ~ It is bad when 72dF feels nice and cool for a low.
I know, lots have it worse. I lucked out into being on the
front porch just before 8 a.m. when an adult Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron flew up the river over the cypresses. It looked
like it went down at the pond behind the Barham's place.
Perfect spot for it. New bird for the yard list, though Kathy
saw what was probably one fly by a few years ago. Town run,
saw Little Creek Larry at the park, he said he had a sub-adult
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron there yesterday! Mine this a.m. was
a full adult. They take 3 years to mature so you can age them
easily, and therefore know if multiple individuals are present
fairly easily, if they are different ages.
Saw two Black-and-white Warblers at the park, one chased the
other off. Two Eastern Wood-Pewee were there, it is not too
late for them to attempt to nest. A Zone-tailed Hawk over the
pastures on east side by rodeo ring. Flushed an Underwing moth
with orange for color on the hindwings, so maybe Catocala ilia.
Too cloudy and cool for odes so missed last week's Orange-striped
Threadtail, but they are there and flying now, once sunny. About 4
Blue Jay around town. At the Sabinal Canyon Museum where the
yellow Lantana is in bloom there was a tailess White-striped Longtail
(skipper- butterfly), which is my first this year for them.
Also a male Whirlabout there, and a duskywing I was not sure of.
We had a near-miss rain cell but which gave us a little cooling
from outflow at peak heat, took us from about 94 to 85dF. Every
wee bit of relief is great! We are still hoping for an advertised
rain event, running about Saturday or Sunday through Wednesday
at least. The Field Sparrow was on the patio late, and way late
a Barn Owl called again, from way high up, like migrant height,
not a low hunting or commuting bird.
June 14 ~ Same gang here... and Thursday so at the desk all
day. A little cooler today, at least the heat dialed back a
bit, maybe 92dF at peak heat. Hope this potential rain event
materializes in a few days, it is getting mighty dusty out there.
We need the water badly. Bell's Vireo still singing in
earshot. There are some Cardinals floating around now without
any feathers on the head now. It is that time when they molt
those, briefly having rather unattractive bare purplish skin
exposed but increasing their dinosaur appearance greatly.
In nearby news, and a reminder to keep your eyes peeled and
mind open... Rare butterfly season has opened, Troy Hibbits
and his dad had a Banded Orange Heliconian (Dryadula phaestusa)
at Cook's Slough in Uvalde yesterday (13th). This methinks
will be a first UvCo record for this Mexican vagrant. Since the
county was worked for 20+ years by great entomologists Charles
Bordelon and Mike Knudson, it is exceedingly difficult to add
new butterfly species to the UvCo list (ca. 140 sps.). It takes
vagrant mega-rarities, as the regular vagrants have all been
recorded. So, a most excellent find!
June 13 ~ SOS, same temps, same birds, same spreadsheet Wednesday
at the computer. Got some more yard work done early, and did
some last half-hour of light last night too, it's brutal,
and chiggery. It is a drippy proposition all summer here.
Before sunup I heard a juvenile Common Nighthawk calling. About
5 p.m. we had a few spritzes from a passing rain cell, maybe a
few hundredths here. Just enough to really smear the dust on
vehicle windows, and drop the temps about 8dF to mid-80's
at peak heat. Radar showed some spots around got a quarter inch,
like Sabinal, Concan, maybe Lost Maples got it too.
Great were a couple juvenile Bullock's Oriole that went
through yard early. I had a couple last year, with an ad. fem.,
these seemed on their own. A very few nest locally. There
were two male Scissor-tails visiting in the big pecan right
off porch for a bit after the spritz. One was the grass
airstrip male, the other from over by the river. Probably
couldn't believe it rained a few drops. Bird noise was
great after the spritz. Everything was calling. Heard the
Bell's Vireo singing. Twice today, early and late, I
heard what surely was a Rufous-crowned Sparrow out back on
the slope. I also heard what I was sure was a Black-n-white
Warbler a few times, then a juvenile female appeared in a
pecan right in front of me. A young bird, off the territory
and heading south down the river habitat corridor already.
After dark I heard a Barn Owl, very very rare in June here. It
seemed like it was up high commuting, not at foraging altitude.
June 12 ~ About 74-94dF for a temp range. Just getting below
90 at 7 p.m. when I saw Kerrville was still 94, due to the heat
island effect from all the pavement and concrete. Finally,
today was the big day. Got my screen with a hole in it up on
a window facing the bird bath. So now I can shoot photos without
that dang old dirty window and rusty screen that was screwed into
the window frame (with stripped screws, and not properly seated)
just to make sure you could not clean the glass and it didn't
keep the bugs out. Looks like a new window now, and best of
all, with a hole to shoot pix through the screen. I will have to
measure to see how far the shot is. It's a game changer
for pix at the bath. Saw a Scissor-tail do a flip from the porch.
Field Sparrow on the patio seed.
June 11 ~ Here is when we get to the part that feels like the
movie Groundhog Day, because everything stays about the same
the next couple months. Oh, sure by later July we start getting
a bit of migrant motion. But that is still a month away. We
run low 70's dF to low to mid-90's for highs the next
three months. Unless we get rain. There is some potential
showing on the long range so dance, pray, whatever you do,
now is the time.
Hooded and Scott's Oriole singing in yard on feeder visits.
Hear a Blue Grosbeak singing across road over Chat way. Late
afternoon watched a cuckoo catch a nice big green katydid in a
pecan out front. The light was bad but I shot anyway, just so
I could blow it up and ID the bug prey item. Katydid killer.
It was quieter out there later. The fireflies are weak, as
if they peaked already, but which was never any peak to me.
There was a Brown-crested Flycatcher in the yard late afternoon.
Ash-throated and Great Crested nested nearby but out of yard
as usual, the Brown-crests did not stick this year.
June 10 ~ About 72dF for a low. Morning low clouds, afternoon
was a bit patchy clouds so only (!) a cool 92dF or so at peak heat.
Heard another Gnatcatcher go by. Worked on projects here, too
busy to go out. A few butterflies, a Bordered Patch, late p.m.
a Tawny Emperor might be my first of year for them, and down at
river in the afternoon a False Duskywing I think was also FOY too.
Had a swim to cool off. In the big cypresses there was what seemed
a territorial pair of Eastern Wood-Pewee, one chased a Summer Tanager
away from the few trees it was guarding. Maybe the troller I was
hearing found a mate! Also down there was Indigo and Painted Bunting,
Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Warbler, Chat, Chickadee and Titmouse,
Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, heard the
Scott's Oriole go through.
June 9 ~ About 74dF for a low, and muggy. Had biz work to do
half the day, and tried to get some projects here worked on the
other half. Same gang of birds around yard. Heard Indigo Bunting
and Blue Grosbeak. Took a pic through the screen door of two male
Painted Bunting on the white millet seed feeder. Feeder flies.
A baby Cowbird being fed by Lark Sparrow is a bummer. But we get
darn few of those here overall. Scott's Oriole hitting the
feeder lots, which means we hear lots of singing. The male
Vermilion now has two young he is feeding. In butterflies saw the
sooo orange Goatweed Leafwing male around yard again, a couple
Arizona Sister went by.
Blue Grosbeak, adult male
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
June 8 ~ Low 70's isn't very low. But at least it is
not hot for a few hours early. Too much to do today, but
did stop at the park briefly when in town for supplies.
Heard a Black-and-white Warbler in the woods, another post-
breeding dispersant. There was a pair of Great Crested
Flycatcher there, one of which I watched go down to the
water and bathe! Very neat to watch. Otherwise it was the
usual gang, plus hot and humid. Add-on after update posted:
I forgot to mention there were 4-5, maybe 6 Orange-striped
Threadtail (Protoneura cara) damselflies at the park, so
their flight season has opened.
June 7 ~ Low 70's and low clouds were off and on for the
morning. They were fighting to get here. The second wave of
juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbirds is appearing now. Numbers
are up with fluid consumption, and I see lots of gray-headed
fresh juveniles now. Yellow-throated Warbler was at the bath.
The other side of its territory is the cypresses along the river,
yet it comes here to drink regularly, as in seemingly daily.
It certainly makes a couple or few rounds of the yard daily,
singing, likely hitting the bath. The female visits the yard
too. They bring their young to the bath when they fledge.
Another Gnatcatcher today.
While on break on the front porch I watched a Scissor-tail sally
over front yard for bugs a couple times. Great break bird from
the porch. On this date many moons ago, 6-7-89, I finally saw my
first Scissor-tail in California, in Torrance, at my mother-in-laws (!),
for 10 seconds or so. I got two photos as it flew over and by me.
I had chased and missed several out there. Then a funny thing
happened to my photos and report on the way to science...
A free no charge rantlet with a money back guaranty follows.
I do not think I have ever covered this event here, so here it is.
A gang in the California Bird Record Committee, the socal record
wreckers, the most fearsome band of bird record bullies known
to man, led by Jon L. Dunn, and consisting primarily of Paul Lehman,
Michael A. Patten, Brian E. Daniels, Kimball L. Garrett, Richard A.
Erickson, and Matt T. Heindel, falsely accused me of bird record
fraud by making up lies about my photos. With no evidence. Just
lies. And they hid this from me, because they, and the CBRC, do
not believe in a birder's right to defend themselves (habeus
corpus) against whatever BS they make up about them and their report.
This is not how science or assurring the accuracy of the record
(what they say they are doing) works. It is however a master
class in character assassination. This is the socal birding
scene for those that would dare be a CBRC critic.
So I was not able to defend myself against their fabricated falsehoods
about my photos. I found out why my name was mud 8 years later, and
proved the above had been lying about my bird report all that time.
They continue to lie about it today, by never setting the story straight
with a true story about the false story they started and set free.
So I think it important to print their names and make sure everyone
remembers how super special they are, for bearing false witness to
my photographic Scissor-tailed Flycatcher report. And refusing to
admit it when caught. They have probably lied about your reports too,
if you are a CBRC critic. How dare you not bow to their egos and
question their authority.
They would tell you they fixed it if you asked them about it today.
Which to them means they changed the rejection to an accepted record.
They did not fix the false story they set free. That requires telling
the truth. They don't have it in them. They never corrected the
story they fabricated, promoted and spread for years with the truth.
Ask them if they published the truth about the record in a way
anyone reading it after we are all dead, would understand what really
happened to the record. The answer is no. As they wanted it to be.
So I get to, and will continue to, remind and warn folks occasionally
about these most sublime of bird record cheaters, those that bear false
witness to the bird reports of others. Screwing perfectly good records
and the birder it flew in on, as they did to me on CBRC #1991-035.
These are Type B bird record cheaters. These are not your sundry
Type A fudgers that simply make up that they saw something with
a little stretching of field marks. These guys work is far more
sublime, being so highbrow, and all that. They don't lie
about what they saw, they lie about what you saw! They fabricate
falsehoods about the reports of others, sometimes lies of the reputation
destroying sort, like the above named did to me. Which is a billion
times worse than making up that you saw something, of course.
Because it is against, and hurts, others. The guy that makes up
Goshawks is not hurting anyone. What Jon Dunn and his fellow bird
record bullies do is control the word on themselves by controlling
the word on you. By falsely accusing fraud, which is fraud. Clearly
that type of fraud is OK with his, and the CBRC people's, ethics
and morals. These same proven bird record cheaters continued
deciding and voting on the my records after I proved they were
cheating on them! CBRC quality control. So moral. This is CBRC science.
~ ~ ~ end of rantlet ~ ~ ~
June 6 ~ About 72dF for a low, but the low Gulf clouds kept
the sun away for a few hours. A pair of Killdeer flew by
heading towards grass airstrip maybe. Probably nesting on
the golf course near one of the water features. Kathy saw
a male Scott's Oriole at the bath, so you know it is hot.
They generally won't go to it if it is under 94dF. It
is an upper 90's thing or higher only for them. Saw a
juvenile Painted Bunting, my FOY for that.
At dusk what seemed a female and begging young Chuck-wills-widow
flew across yard. The ad. was giving the pulsating guttaral
mechanical (a flat underlying clicking throughout) reverberating
wowowowowowowowowow as it flew across the yard and when it first
landed. Almost always followed by calling. Flying behind and off
to side was a second bird giving what I consider a begging note
only heard from fledglings. A single guttaral 'owl' unlike the
one adults can give. It has a hungry pleading sound to it. It
is great to be able to experience them closely a bit. Whatabird.
I get the sense we know very little. What is the clicking?
Coincidence of sound, or functional?
June 5 ~ Clear and cooled off to a chilly and thrilling 69dF.
So more yard work early, that 5" of rain a month ago results
in a tall-grass prairie in 3 weeks. I try to keep a patch of tall
grass around the base of each pecan so there are islands of good
bug habitat generating food for the nesting birds. The combination
of micro-habitats, tall grass and short grass, increases biodiversity
by factors. Even a few small patches of some tall grass, or little
patches of native flowers, like Mexican Hat, make a world of
difference in biomass (bird food). There is very little in
very short grass areas. Fairways can be biological deserts,
whilst roughs comparitively are biodiversity hotspots. Had a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in yard in the afternoon, another bird
done and gone off the breeding grounds. Heard a trolling Field
Sparrow sing its way around and move off. Juvenile Lark Sparrow
out there begging.
June 4 ~ Happy Tonga Emancipation-Independence Day! Yer welcome!
There was a cold front that washed out over the plateau last
night, areas in north and west saw some rain, not here, but
we got a rain-cooled outflow low of 72dF which was great. So
yard worked early a bit before the heat sets in. Just the usual,
Indigo Bunting singing over in draw again, Cuckoo around the yard,
Yellow-throated Vireo, Great Crested Flyc., Yellow-throated
Warbler, Painted Bunting, etc., is great daily fare in my book.
saw a Caracara go by, but better was a Killdeer. Wonder what it
was doing. A pair might nest at the golf course and perhaps
commute to the grass airstrip to feed? Seems like the fairways
would have enough short grass. Maybe too short, so no bugs?
But there will always be bugs around the water features.
The Chuck-w-w is going off nuts again, I think he sits on that
empty birdhouse that is 12' up in the open. Heard the
Common Nighthawk booming over by north knoll. Fireflies seem
a bit light, err, low in numbers, this year so far. At least
in our yard, some but not big numbers like last couple years.
Saw a nice big red and black Velvet Ant out in the driveway.
One Catacola Underwing was brown of hindwing, so obscurus or
near that. I actually saw it a few days ago too, maybe Friday.
June 3 ~ Only 74dF for a low here. We were up before 6 a.m.
and already light in the sky, dawn chorus already going, and
Chucks still calling. We went up to Lost Maples for a hike
and bird walk, trying to beat heat, but not. It was cooler
and drier up there at 8:30 a.m., you could feel a real difference.
We didn't spend but a few minutes at the feeding station
at the trailhead parking lot. A couple Chimney Swift were rocking
right over that old cabin-house there. Not much going on at
the seed though so up the canyon we went. A couple Scott's Oriole
were at the start of the trail just after first crossing. Also
in that area were Olive Sparrow, a Black-capped Vireo still
singing there, and White-tipped Dove called from high up on hills.
We saw about 5-6 Golden-cheeked Warbler, including point blank
views of adult feeding young, and heard a few more singing up
on slopes. Watched one bathe looking down on it at 10'.
For them it was a great showing. We saw begging young of
Yellow-throated and Black-and-white Warbler as well, adults
still singing too, as are Louisiana Waterthrush, of which I
saw a couple adults and one juvenile. A few Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
but their numbers are way down already, as are Golden-cheeks for
that matter. Only heard one Eastern Wood-Pewee, which is nearly
scary, and only heard two Acadian Flycatcher. Red-eyed and
White-eyed Vireo still in good nubers, fewer Yellow-throated,
and heard two Hutton's. Did not hear a Blue Grosbeak,
several Indigo Bunting territorial along the canyon. Heard
Canyon Wren and Rufous-crowned Sparrow but did not see any.
No Zone-tailed Hawk. The Common Ravens are out of the nest
and up on the cliff above it. Fair numbers of Ash-throated Flycacher.
Scarce there in summer, we heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo call.
In lizards saw a 4-lined Skink, some Anoles, and a 6-line
Racerunner, only snake was a young W. Ribbonsnake (ph.).
Butterflies were limited, lots of Spicebush Swallowtail
flying though, and one black form female Eastern Tiger,
one Southern Broken Dash, a couple Arizona Sister, but
didn't see a Satyr, or a Roadside-Skipper. Fair
numbers of the common stuff. Only a little of the Texas
Milkweed was in bloom, only one Boneset type Eupatorium.
The Snapdragon Vine was going good, as well as Indian Blanket,
while Musk Thistle going too well. A highlight was two of
the Stenelytrana gigas Cerambycids, the first I have seen
there actually, but I only got one out of focus shot of one.
Both were in flight, one hovering around some blooming vine.
It is a great Pepsis Wasp (Tarantula Hawk) mimic. Later we
saw a huge female Pepsis, which I did get a good shot of.
Odes were way up in numbers and activity. First of year
Widow Skimmers are always a treat. Lots of Blue Dasher,
a few Banded Pennant, several Prince Baskettail, several
Comanche Skimmer, a Neon Skimmer was FOY too. Best was an
Ivory-striped Sylph male I saw briefly. Something else we
watched closely at leisure I couldn't figure out, it was surely
an imm. male Ivory-striped Sylph. Great looks at Springwater
Dancer as usual. Also saw an Eastern Ringtail fly away,
and a Black Saddlebags, Wandering Glider, a Leaftail got
away before ID, another FOY. Some years the place gets
pretty odey (odie?), maybe this will be one. Best ode day
so far this year, finally. First day this year with over
ten species of dragonflies, plus some few damsels.
Fish were the usual, Largemouth Bass, Red-breasted Sunfish,
a Notropis sps. shiner, plus my favorites, Mexican Tetras.
I got usable photos of the latter two this time finally. The
tets are just starting to get some breeding color. I need to
find some around town so I can throw a few in a tank to watch.
By noon coming back down the canyon it was dripping hot, 90+
and very humid. There were very few people on the trail,
About 4 of the 5 hours we saw no one else. Needless to say,
no birders. No coverage. Just one bumbling dummy and his
better half. The office said lots of reservations cancelled
this weekend, likely due to the heat forecast. I am always
amazed how quickly birder tourist season ceases here though.
Like its all over, nuthin' to see here folks, move along.
After resting a bit, since we hadn't done enough today,
we went swimming in the afternoon to beat the heat. Nothing
different over there at river but the ability to be in 75dF
to the bone in short order. A Scott's Oriole was singing
in the cypresses as it worked its way toward our feeders.
We walked about 3.5 miles, and then swam almost a mile. I
can't wait for tomorrow when I have to be in the office
sitting in a chair.
June 2 ~ A balmy 72dF for a low isn't very. The price
for the morning clouds that keep the solar heating at bay a few
hours first thing. Early a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher called from
out front just over fence. This is another post-breeding
dispersal wanderer already, species #3 for that in the last
two days. Yesterday was Black-and-White and Golden-cheeked
Warbler, today the Gnatcatcher. All three off breeding territory
moving around already. If they were staying for another clutch
they would still be on (maintaining) territory.
Was a hair under 96dF on the cool shady front porch about 5 p.m.
You don't want to stand in the sun too long. You will be
dripping if your shoes come untied. There is a new set of just
fledged Cardinals, four of them in this one batch! It is all
that sunflower seed out there. Hummers are in a lull, and we
are not complaining. That batch of young in May is gone and
the females are likely nearly fledging another set now. The Chuck-w-w
went off again, must have been on the roof or that high birdbox
with nothing using it, so lound, so close, two more countersinging
not far away. It is a riot out there when they all go off.
Adult Broad-winged Hawk at Lost Maples in April.
This looks like one of the pair that nested the last few years.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
June 1 ~ OMG June! I swear it was just New Years. I heard
a Black-and-white Warbler singing over in the draw early in
the morning. Mid-morn it was singing in the big pecan right
off the front porch. Before I could binoc to age it the
Yellow-throated Warbler flew up very near it, belted out one
bar of song, and immediately chased it away. Was it an unmated
troller, or an already departing post-breeder, is the big queston.
I heard baby Yellow-throated Warbler begging up in another pecan,
and which might have been why so territorial.
The birds of the day in the yard were photographed, but I did
not see them. I went to town for supplies and errands (and Rosie's
chicken fajita tacos) for a couple hours 11-1. Man, I just left
for a few moments and she gets the drop on me! When I got back
Kathy said she got an ID shot of a Golden-cheeked Warbler and
something else at the birdbath! After looking at the pix it is
clearly an adult AND a juvenile Golden-cheeked! They had to have
nested very very nearby to be together still. My guess would be
on one of the knolls right behind us on Lou Waters' wildlife
conservation easement abutting us here.
I had nothing in town but the usuals. Cave Swallows at the bank,
Great-tailed Grackle at the old water company building, Bell's
Vireo at the post office, Yellow-throated Warbler singing behind
general store, Red-eyed Vireo singing on Cypress St., a Zone-tailed
Hawk flew over Main St., Chimney Swift and Purple Martin also
overhead. At the park Blue Jay and Green Kingfisher besides the
usual suspects. For a supply and errand run it is entirely bearable.
The three species of warblers in the yard on June 1 is outstanding!
~ ~ ~ May summary ~ ~ ~
It was about average for temps, bearable early in the month, and
getting hot by the second half. We had one big rain event early
in the month, mostly May 4, 5-6" locally, and another inch
later in month. So the total was good, but lots of the big one
was runoff since most of it fell in 12 hours or so. We remain in
a serious drought. Flowers were down for the spring, it was not
a great year for spring wildflowers here.
Butterflies were 47 species, one less than April, usually May is
better than April, except in off years. It was about the 47 most
likely species with nothing odd really. The Bronze Roadside-Skippers
at Lost Maples were nice, as was a couple Southern Broken-Dash,
but neither unexpected. It was a great Little Wood Satyr flight
at Lost Maples this spring, and a good flight for Oak (So.) Hairstreak.
A fair number of Arizona Sister are moving, a few Red-spotted Purple
up at Lost Maples, a very few N. Mestra here around Utopia.
Odes were still slow. Picking up a little, but not fast enough
if you have been missing them since October. We only get about
four months of really good season with them here, June-September.
About 8 species of damselflies, and nothing but the expected early
ones. For dragons about 19 species, and there were a few items of
interest. A River Cruiser was at the 360 crossing, but I couldn't
get a photo, it was cruisin too fast. Probably a Bronzed. A couple
Black-shouldered Spinyleg were seen just emerged at the park. A
Flame Skimmer was at Lost maples, a Eastern Amberwing at the Utopia
Park was maybe my first May record here, and seems likely a local
emergence. The big flight was at the ephemeral flood ponds on W.
Sabinal Rd. and S. Little Creek where peak day between both ponds
there were over a hundred Band-winged Dragonlet adults, May 5 and 6.
Some were there May 4, the very afternoon they filled with water
from the big rain event. Then for a couple weeks you could see
them, slowly dwindling. They are less than annual here.
Birds are always great in May, as often the peak of diversity
here is in a final burst right before migration ends. I come up with
about 130-131 species that I saw in the upper Sabinal River drainage,
roughly Utopia to Lost Maples in May. Not bad. If I were retired
and could bird every day, 150 in the month is not out of the question
if you had a good year for landbird migrants, and multiple rain and
migrant grounding events.
It was about 10 species better than April was. The shorebirds really
helped. The first week of May is about the peak time for many things,
and after the second week migration is really mostly past us as far
as transient passage migrants are concerned, save some flycatchers.
Weirdest thing was no Dickcissels, not even a passage bird! The
highlight of the month was the shorebirds grounded in the big rain
event at the flood ponds on W. Sabinal and S. Little Crk. Rds.
Likely the first indisputable Long-billed Dowitcher (2 - ph.) and
Wilson's Phalarope (3 in ph.) records for Bandera Co., and probably
the first photos of Pectoral Sandpipers (3 in ph.) for BanCo. Add
on good numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs, some Solitary Sandpipers,
plus in UvCo at the golf course, 3 Baird's Sandpiper. Might
not sound like much, but try getting shorebirds in BanCo. We have
to get enough rain to fill the ponds, right as the stuff is going
by. Most springs we get few to no shorebirds here besides Spotted
Sandpipers on the spillway at the park.
A few fun landbirds were had. Two Philadelphia Vireo were great, one
photo&apo;d, the other heard singing, in the yard! A few Catbird,
just one Eastern Kingbird, one Alder Flycatcher called to make it into
the books, one female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was on sunflower seeds
here at house. Warblers were slow, 16 sps. the whole spring, and
individual numbers seemed down, especially for Nashvilles, again.
Only Yellow Warbler seemed in good numbers, though Common Yellowthroat
had a good strong showing. One Chestnut-sided was the only of the
scarcer LTA - less than annual - species. Two Mourning is low, two
Tennessee was great, missed it the last couple springs, just by luck
snagged one male American Redstart. Did not see a Parula of any sort.
~ ~ ~ end May summary ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ archive copy of spring arrival dates ~ ~ ~
Here are my dates for 2018 spring arrivals for the Utopia area,
in chrono order so you can sorta see how it unfurls.
January
29 - Turkey Vulture
29 - Purple Martin
February
20 - Great Egret
25 - Sandhill Crane
25 - Dragonfly (Red Saddlebags)
28 - Bat
March
2 - Black-chinned Hummingbird (JS Mar. 1)
2 - Barn Swallow
2 - Lincoln's Sparrow (migrant)
4 - Vermilion Flycatcher
5 - White-eyed Vireo
7 - Double-crested Cormorant (LCL)
7 - Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (LCL)
9 - No. Rough-winged Swallow
10 - Ash-throated Flycatcher
10 - Monarch (butterfly)
14 - Yellow-throated Warbler
14 - Yellow-throated Vireo
16 - Cave Swallow
20 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
21 - Scott's Oriole
23 - Common Grackle
23 - Clay-colored Sparrow
23 - Barn Owl
24 - Louisiana Waterthrush
25 - Golden-cheeked Warbler
25 - Black-capped Vireo
29 - Hooded Oriole
29 - Ruby-throated Hummingbird
30 - Summer Tanager
31 - Bell's Vireo
31 - Nashville Warbler
April
1 - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
1 - Black-and-white Warbler
2 - Bronzed Cowbird
6 - Great Crested Flycatcher
6 - Chimney Swift
6 - Chuck-wills-widow
6 - Firefly
9 - Indigo Bunting (LM-TS)
9 - Yellow-breasted Chat
10 - Broad-winged Hawk (LM)
11 - Green Heron
12 - Common Yellowthroat
13 - Blue Grosbeak
16 - Painted Bunting - (LCL male)
17 - female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
18 - Indigo Bunting (yard male)
18 - Swainson's Hawk
19 - Painted Bunting - (yard male)
19 - Brown-crested Flycatcher
20 - Spotted Sandpiper
21 - Yellow-headed Blackbird (DS)
22 - Baltimore Oriole (early)
22 - Western Kingbird
22 - Northern Waterthrush (white)
22 - Tennessee Warbler
22 - Lazuli Bunting
24 - Orchard Oriole
25 - female Blue Grosbeak
25 - female Hooded Oriole
27 - Yellow Warbler
27 - Cattle Egret
27 - Catbird
27 - female Lazuli Bunting
29 - Bullock's Oriole
29 - Acadian Flycatcher - LM (others earlier)
30 - Yellow-billed Cuckoo
May
1 - Least Flycatcher
1 - (yard) female Painted Bunting
1 - 1st spring male Painted Bunting
1 - Common Nighthawk
3 - Black-throated Green Warbler
3 - Mourning Warbler
3 - American Redstart
4 - Swainson's Thrush
4 - Olive-sided Flycatcher
4 - Wilson's Warbler
5 - Eastern Kingbird
5 - Philadelphia Vireo
7 - Rose-breasted Grosbeak
11 - Chestnut-sided Warbler
13 - female Mourning Warbler
18 - Cliff Swallow (earlier at V'pool)
19 - Alder Flycatcher
19 - yellow type Northern Waterthrush
*nothing new after the 19th is about average
Abbreviations used above:
LM - Lost Maples
JS - Judy Schaffer
TS - Thomas Smythe
LCL - Little Creek Larry
DS - Deborah Siegler
~ ~ ~ end spring 2018 arrival dates ~ ~ ~
May 31 ~ Holy cowfish, another month shot by. Cloudy morn,
held heat in overnight so a low of 71dF, methinks we have
edged out of the 60's now. At least the morning low
clouds hold off the solar heating for a few hours. Heard
a Roadrunner singing. I hear the Indigo Bunting singing
across the road and south a bit, across from corral, nothing
up at the draw. Hopefully a pair is settled in for nesting.
Saw one Cloudless Sulphur butterfly late in afternoon. A
Scissor-tail did a full loop with flip as it belted out song
right over the house late in afternoon. A couple male Painted
Bunting did the toe to toe, beak to beak flutter fight over
the feeder again. What a flurry of color. Fighting over
feeder rights.
May 30 ~ Another 69dF low, which we cherish knowing they will
soon be gone for 3 months except or unless we get rain. The
dawn chorus has quieted down so much so fast it is nearly
shocking. Nothing whatsoever like it was a month ago. Later
April and early May is peak. By mid-May you can tell the
intensity has diminished. Once all the territories are
settled and the females are incubating it decreases quickly.
Now it is remarkably toned down. My desire to get up early
one morning and just tape the whole first 90 minutes or so
without stopping will have to wait for next year.
May 29 ~ About 69dF for a low, which is cool compared to the
afternoon and evening in low to mid 90's dF. For birds
it is back to the breeders. That is all we got now. But which
fortunately is a rockin' great set of birds, so completely
tolerable. Though I sure could use some waterbirds. The next
month-to-two is liable to be pretty repetitive and boring of
notes though, until some post-breeding dispersal gets underway.
We're going to try to get up to Lost Marbles this next
weekend one day. The Bell's Vireo is still singing around the
area, sometimes in the yard pecans. Something about that song I
really like. A musically twangy rubberband through a mouthful of
marbles, in a call and response or Q and A format. Perfection.
Had Chimney Swifts scouting the chimney again... must be a
shortage of them around for some to still be looking now.
May 28 ~ Another 66dF low, makes a world of difference just a
few dF into the 60's. Most of June-August we are in the
low 70's for lows so you break 80dF and get sticky quickly.
The sub-tropical high seems locked in with nothing but very
high 90's to 100dF for the next 10 days at least, maybe
two weeks. As it has been the last 3 days since it got here.
In those wonderful old days, it would top out in low 90's here
except in heat waves. What was heat wave temps is now the new
normal. And we are just getting started.
Got caught up enough to run over the river at peak heat for a
swim. I will take 75dF water over 95 deg. air every time. There
was a Bell's Vireo singing in the Mesquite on other side
of river, besides the one around the yard. Looked like one
pair of N. Rough-winged Swallow at some old Green King holes
in the bank. Saw a group of four Carolina Wren in the yard,
two were juveniles, so they got some young out, but not from
any of our boxes. Late near last sun I heard a warbler singing
in the big pecan, ran in for bins, heard it a few times, got
out and never heard it again, or saw it. Seems like it must
have been a first-spring American Redstart, but will have
to let it go. It was a singing warbler on May 28, and I can
name over 50 species it was not. Heard the E. Wood-Pewee again
at dusk. Several Katydids in the first nearly full volume
chugging of the year at dark.
May 27 ~ A fantastic 65dF low was great. Since migration is
over and out, it was yard work early while still coolish out.
Heard the Bell's Vireo singing out there. Heard the male
Indigo Bunting singing as well. Maybe the female didn't
stick? Did not hear it several days the past week. Same old
around the yard. Except that it got so hot the Scott's
Oriole pair went to birdbath, which is very rare. After it
bathed and jumped up into pecan, I walked into office and there
was a dry male on the hummer feeder. So there are two ad.ma.
Scott's hitting the feeder. At least one is paired.
About 4:30 it was so hot we walked the quarter mile over to the
river to see how the trail was since we haven't been down it
since last September. The last couple years of walking it made
it not too bad for first time this year. In ten minutes the
75dF water, fixed everything. Saw a few damselflies along riveredge.
Most were Violet and Dusky Dancer, and some Double-striped Bluet.
We saw a male Orchard Oriole in flight song on the other side of
the river, so likely nesting in that vicinity. Sure wish a pair
would set up around our yard. A Chuck(-w-w) must have been on the
fenceline at about 11 p.m., surprised I couldn't see it under
the near-full moon, I was on driveway, it was close and loud.
May 26 ~ The 66dF low felt great, the 96dF high, not so much.
Beast of the day was a beetle, my FOY Stenelytrana gigas, a
big Cerambycid (Longhorn Beetle) that mimics a Pepsis Wasp
(Tarantula Hawk). I ran in for camera, grabbed net, and then could
not relocate it. I see them every year now that we live under
a big very old pecan, but have yet to get a photo of one. Still
hear the Bell's Vireo singing over in the mesquite across
from gate, and in the corral, where a Turkey too. Did some
yard work early while coolish still, trying to catch it up as it
has exploded since the early May 5" rain event. We generally
hideout from the holiday crowds anyway, rather do it when less
folks out and about. Heard the first few buzzes of a Cicada.
A couple Katydid made a few light rumbles, but nothing like
full volume yet.
I should make this a quiz bird... just for giggles
But would have to alter file name, etc... so forget it.
This is a just-fledging Golden-cheeked Warbler. It was
being fed by a female and the first summer male below
(next pic down) at the photo break in last week's update.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
May 25 ~ Low of 70dF. The annual sub-tropical high that
for much of the summer is camped over us, has arrived. This
is the first real longer-term blast of heat, forecast for
mid-to-upper 90's for the next week plus. Summer is
here. We were lucky to make it this far into May without
it showing up. The sub-tropical high is a June through August
lasting into early-to-mid September thing here. I don't know
why it keeps coming back, no one seems to like it.
Saw my first fledged juv. Golden-fronted Woodpecker of the season
on the big pecan this morning. Nothing at the park on my
town run, the spring migration party is over. The pair of
cuckoos was in the big pecan right off front porch in afternoon.
A 1st summer Cooper's Hawk crossed the yard too. Turkey
over in the corral. Hear the Bell's Vireo still out there
singing, and the E. Wood-Pewee continues as well. Watching the
hummer feeders later in day I did have one female Ruby-throated
Hummingbird still here. Surely nesting.
Heard a couple Katydid warming up just a bit, still subdued,
volume knobs probably not fully grown out since just emerged.
Firefly show getting better. Best beast news of the day came
from Shirley at the General Store. She showed me a pic someone
sent her of a caterpillar, which was a Cercropia Moth, one of
the giant silk moths that get 6" across. I have yet to see
one here, but have had its cousin the Polyphemus Moth. These
are big spectacular beauties, related to the Chinese versions
from which silk comes.
May 24 ~ Only about 70dF for a low, about 88dF for a high.
Yard daily fare the last month plus and next two is this:
first the migratory species are Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak,
Summer Tanager, Great Crested, Ash-throated, Scissor-tailed and
Vermilion Flycatchers, Hooded and Scott's Oriole, White-eyed
and Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-breasted
Chat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-backed Goldfinch, Lark
Sparrow, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Purple Martin, Barn, and
N. Rough-winged Swallow. Then add the resident species:
Eastern Bluebird, N. Cardinal, Chickadee (Caro.), Titmouse
(Black-crstd), E. Phoebe, Bewick's and Carolina Wren,
Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, N. Mockingbird,
Chipping Sparrow, and Red-tailed Hawk. Both vultures are
overhead daily of course. Then at dusk Common Nighthawk and
Chuck-wills-widow, and after dark often Texican (mccallii)
Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl. Still hearing Turkey gobbling
in the mornings, and of course Mourning, and White-winged Dove,
and Common Ground-Dove. About 40 species of breeders hearable
at least if not seen daily from yard.
Haven't heard the Indigo Bunting the last few days,
which could mean incubation time, or they moved. Maybe I
missed them but seems unlikely the way the male sings. There
is a pair or two further down the road but out of earshot of
yard. I have not seen a male Ruby-throated Hummer in a few
days either, so they may be done and gone north now after 7 weeks.
Surely they nest and then move north to do it again. The Field
Sparrows moved after the big rain event (probably lost their
nest) and now are also out of earshot from yard. Every few
days I catch Caracara or the Zone-tailed Hawk going by and
Ringed Kingfisher are nearly daily. Once or twice a week I
catch Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks going over. Last few
days I have had Bell's, Hutton's and Red-eyed Vireo
and an Eastern Wood-Pewee trolling through or around yard.
Later May and June sees lots of unmated trollers singing around.
May 23 ~ About 68dF for a low, party cloudy so bearable for
the morn, not bad at about 85dF for a high. No migrants,
the party is over. Kathy had a Zone-tailed Hawk fly by her
and land in the second pecan from porch as she was coming in
the house. A close look showed it to be plucking and eating
a White-winged Dove. They are remarkably fast, you have
to be to take a White-winged Dove, which bolt like rockets.
That was the excitement of the day in the yard. The rest
was the repeat offenders, the stuff of what some call the
summer doldrums, just breeding birds. But which is great here
due to the invasion of neotropical migrants that breed in
our hot muggy and buggy season. I heard the first Katydid of
the year, just a barely little bit, not full bore, just enough
to tell it was a Katydid. Male Black Swallowtail today.
May 22 ~ Low of 70dF, and a surprise shower first thing gave
us a couple tenths maybe. Most of it was over Little and Seco
Creek way east of town, moving up to B & R, a small cell went
up the valley north of town. Just a little bit but helpful.
We need all we can get at this point. Will really help the
June flowers. We are at an inch for the last three days now.
I see green Persimmons on some of those now. Three trollers
in the yard this morning, presumedly unmated males: the Bell's
Vireo out there again, a Red-eyed trolled through, the Eastern
Wood-Pewee is still here too. One Turkey over in the corral.
Watched some Chat flight song out front, whatabird. The male
Vermilion Flycatcher is feeding a juvenile in the front yard now.
May 21 ~ A 60dF low was fantastic. Cloudy a.m., sunny in the
afternoon but only about 83dF due to the moisture in air.
Pretty darn nice out. Don't worry, it won't last.
Heard the Ring Kings over at the river. No migrants through
yard this a.m., the party is about over. I can hear the large
diameter girl warming up. It sure was great while it lasted.
While spring arrivals and-or passage is occurring for one species
or another over a few months, there is really a month or so of
real peak passage here, roughly around the tenth of April to the
tenth of May. It is interesting to note from the arrival dates
above, most of the March arrivals are of local breeders, only a
few are transients heading far to the north. They are southerly
nesters that get going very early, in March here. Meanwhile
most April arrivals and almost all May arrivals, are passage
birds, transients, on their way to breeding grounds much further
north. For which is does no good to be there in April, there
is still snow and no bugs there.
Saw the pair of Cuckoos go through the yard in the afternoon.
They are very secretive when nesting, which is usually over in
the well-treed corral somewhere. At least we get to hear them
daily around the yard. In the afternoon a Bell's Vireo was
singing over in the mesquites across from the gate. This was
a vireo I missed in the yard a couple days ago when I had 5 sps.
here. We get a troller Bell's almost every year that hangs
around a week or three singing, working the yard. I wish a female
would show up, I am sure they would nest here. Late about 7 p.m.
an Eastern Wood-Pewee was singing in a pecan out front. Seemingly
also a troller. Some Scarlet Pea open in driveway. Heard a
Barn Owl at late thirty.
A note about the Pewee, it was doing a flight song at dusk.
They flutter about flapping in a exaggerated fashion much
like Vermilion Flycatcher, moving seemingly in slow motion,
while making various odd sounds. They do not climb up gaining
altitude like Vermilions do, but stay fairly level, about
treetop height, and make a slow circle or two whilst spewing
forth all sorts of nonsense. I don't often see this display.
May 20 ~ A rain-cooled 70dF for a low, very humid, feels great.
Heard a begging Ring King juvie and adult right over the house
while having coffee in bed this a.m. There are at least 3 House
Finch families on the patio now with begging young. I hear the
Bluebirds out by their box, they have been gone a week with the
fledged young. Can ya tell migration is, uh, tailing off? Went
to park to see if the rain knocked anything down. Nope. There
was an imm. male Common Yellowthroat in the shrubs at the entrance,
and that was it for migrants. The wet spots were both empty as
well, save two pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at SLC.
The surprise was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest on the flat valley
floor. Dang near over 354, not even in the big nice deciduous
pecan patch, but in a medium one outside the main group at the edge
of the pasture on north side of the road. Incredible. Fifteen
years of covering sites like Utopia on the River, Utopia Park,
and other stops and crossings along the river, and never had
a territorial gnatcatcher on the flats of the valley floor.
Lost Maples is the main local breeding area, they are not along
most of the river below the unique headwaters habitat. They
are on some slopes on the hills in the divides where well wooded,
and wet or nearly so. The male is feeding an incubating female
now. They were not there a week ago, I have been checking this
patch a few times per week the last three plus weeks and had not
had one here. I had one here Friday that seemed oddly fussing and
making noises I associate with nesting, not passage migrants. So I
investigated today since there were no migrants to look at, and bam!
Amazing new information. Data baby, with a docushot to boot.
In the afternoon another line of thundercells rolled over west
to east, about 3-4 p.m. and a little after, lots of close
lightning, but not a lot of water for us here. The temps though
plumetted to 64dF and the town rejoiced. Concan and Reagan Wells
had about 3" and more. We had about 8 mm, a third of an
inch or so. The total for last night and today was about .75 or
.80 of an inch here. And the forecast for tomorrow is no dust.
May 19 ~ About 70dF for a low isn't very. Was very windy
from dawn 15-20 mph southerlies gusting to 25 mph! Got up to
mid-80's and sticky. I checked the park just in case.
There was a Northern Waterhthrush and a male Common Yellowthroat
for migrant warblers. The N. Waterthrush was of the yellow below
variety, which is what all the late ones always seem to be here,
the early ones are all white below types. I have yet to get an
early yellow one. And I know that now that I have said that,
there is a dude that next year will report one nearby.
Outstanding was an ALDER Flycatcher. Which I don't see every
year here, it is LTA - less than annual. Fortunately it was
calling so there was no guessing about its identity, I knew what
it was before I found it. It was in the swampy area at the north
end of the island which frankly looks fairly like the Alder swamps
I have seen them in. A Great Crested Flycatcher was working the
area at edge of woods. A pair of Common Grackle appears to be
nesting there. The town pair of Great-tailed Grackle are nesting
in front of the old water plant building, in a Crepe Myrtle.
There was nothing at the W. Sabinal Rd. wet spot but dragonflies,
it still has some water though. Had great close looks at a low
Zone-tailed Hawk right at the park entrance sign.
About 3 or 4 p.m. there was in the yard (male) Mulberry a singing
Philadelphia Vireo. Awesome, and very rare to hear that here.
Second Philly of the spring. The song structure and format is very
like Red-eyed, but tonal quality is nearer Blue-headed. The song
is denser, sweeter, higher, and thinner, so quite different in
details, though not cadence, especially differing in tonal quality.
A Hutton's Vireo was up the hill behind us about 7 p.m.. Also
in the afternoon a singing Red-eyed trolled through, and all day
were White-eyed and Yellow-throated are singing. So it was five
species of vireo in the yard today, plus a few Bell's up around
town. Vireotopia. Should have gone over to the knoll a mile from
house and heard a Black-capped easy and made it 7 species of vireo
locally for the day.
After dark a line of thunderstorms moved across the southern
plateau. We got about a half-inch in an hour or so from 10-11 p.m.
There were 4 lightning strikes within a half-mile, I heard one
tree crack. Took us down to 72 instantly. No dust tomorrow.
The Barking Frogs loved it best I could tell.
First summer male Golden-cheeked Warbler, with a true (stink) bug
which it promptly fed to its begging young. There is about a month
left to fairly surely see them this year, they get dicey in July.
It was unusual to see a first-year bird in a prime-habitat area,
usually the older males get all that. At least he had a young.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
May 18 ~ 64dF for a low, I am going to miss this real soon.
Very nice first few hours of light. The dawn chorus is so early
now I can't believe it. There is a lot of noise out there
before 6 a.m. at first crack of light! No migrants through yard.
Heard RingKing over at the river. Some clouds kept it to about
90dF, but a bit sticky. I had a town run for supplies. There
was only one migrant at the park, a dull pale female Common
Yellowthroat, and I mean dull, must have been a first spring bird.
Along the road NW of town I saw one male Yellow Warbler. There
were no shorebirds at the SLC ponds or the wet spot on W. Sabinal
Rd., save one Killdeer at the latter.
The new thing was Cliff Swallows at the 1050 bridge. I had not
seen any there yet this year, so maybe they will nest again under
it as they do some years, but not lately. The ones up at
Vanderpool have been there under the 337 crossing just east of
187 a couple weeks or more at least. These arrive oddly late.
Little Creek Larry said he has seen a Green Heron over on LC,
I have not been seeing the park pair that sometimes nests.
The White-crowned Sparrow is gone, so it flew the coop last night.
A three day bird, and I got some nice shots of it on the patio.
Like that 9-day Kentucky Warbler I had at the park one August,
it is great to get stay-durations for migrant birds, and often
these are very hard dates to acquire. How do you tell one from
another, etc.? Only with an odd bird is it easy to keep track.
Some birds burn 25-50% of their body weight in a month (or a
week or two, or even less in some cases) during their migration.
Quality migration stopover refueling sites are as critical as winter
or breeding grounds. They tank up like maniacs for a few days, or
weeks, blast off and burn it all off until the next stopover.
Here is my rant of the week... you can go months without one... if yer lucky.
There was a nice bit on SAT NPR radio on Monday about birds.
Hat tip to George LaRue for the headsup so I caught it. They
had John Karges from Last Chance Forever on (the raptor rescue
people - and if you ever get a chance to see his show, do it, or
you can donate to them), Sarah from the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center,
some call-ins, one of which was Martin Reid, a crack expert birder,
so overall it was very good. It is great to hear any mainstream
airplay birds can get. But I got a tail-bone to pick with them.
The idea was put forth (I forget from which) to take feeders down
during migration as it keeps birds from migrating. This is false.
Why isn't our White-crowned Sparrow of the last three days still
out there? If this were true the White-crowned Sparrows, Pine Siskin,
American Goldfinch, and a bunch of others, would all stay to breed here.
They don't. Then where are the Painted Buntings in winter?
All these birds migrate away as usual and normal, despite acting like
hogs at the slop tray for some of the year. Like many wild waterfowl
get in bread-lines at city parks in the winter. Over 99.99999% migrate
away in the spring. Then where are the 500 Black-chinned Hummingbirds
we have here just at our feeders all spring and summer, in the winter?
They migrate away just like they are supposed to, despite the free food
signs. And the one that says give us your tired, your weak, and thirsty,
your juveniles, immatures, and first-years.
There were just waves of buntings at the feeders at Lost Maples the
last few weeks, they were all gone last week. Feeders do not keep birds
from migrating except under extenuating circumstances for the most
part. Yes some birds will overwinter where they would not otherwise.
Besides milder winters, some species are moving north in winter,
partly because of feeding stations and food availability. The cold
was never the main limiting factor, snow cover hiding the food was bigger.
We just had a one day Rose-breasted Grosbeak here, as almost all
are here, eating sunflower seed. It pigged out until it was stuffed
with very high quality migrant energy to burn, and migrated. It
willfully left a veritible fantasy land of sunflower seeds everywhere
it looked. You really can't stop a migratory bird from wanting
to migrate, it is what they do. Occasionaly you get a Wrongway Feldman,
like the Robin that sang all summer at the General Store here several
years ago, unrelated to any feeder. There is more of that sort of
thing naturally occurring, than there are migratory birds that stop
migrating because of a feeder they found.
I have been feeding birds over five decades and would never have to go
anywhere to bird if they all had quit migrating when they found my feeders.
I'd still have a Redpoll and a White-winged Crossbill outside.
Feeders do not keep birds from migrating. Birds are very adept at
finding and capitalizing on food sources, and seed eaters especially
are very good at recognizing seed feeders, for some reason. As well
as migrating when the time for that comes. Migrating is every bit the
biological imperitive to them as breeding. Many hundreds of birds of
a couple dozen species stop and refuel on our feeders or at our seed
piles annualy. They all continue on their migration and leave! Not
one stays. Hopefully with some extra fat to burn, re-hydrated, and in
better shape then they arrived. In which case my work is done.
~ end of rant.
May 17 ~ Another cool one at 63dF for a low is great. Another
low 90's dF high in afternoon, and sticky. No migrants
northbound in the morning. At 3 p.m. there was a male Yellow
Warbler working around the yard. The White-crowned Sparrow
stuck and is on day 3 here now, eating like a pig and hitting the
bath often. Seems to be glad he found this resort. Might be my
latest date here now. The rest was the breeders, that is about
what we are down to. Male Hooded Oriole hit the bath, which is
rare to see, and like Scott's, only when very hot out.
There are low-end chances of rain I think Sunday through Wednesday
mornings, so those will be about the last chances to snag a spring
migrant. I can't believe I did not hear a single Dickcissel
this spring. Even the years they did not stick to nest, they still
showed up in the yard as passage birds. Nothing. First spring
in 15 I have not had one here, usually they are numerous. Eyed
Elaterid flying arund yard again today. A couple Cedar Waxwing
were in the big Hackberry.
May 16 ~ A low of 61dF from the rain-cooled air of last night
feels fantastic. It got up to about 93 on the cool shady front
porch, I saw KHDO (Hondo) had 103dF! Two Yellow Warbler went
through yard early. I had to run to town so checked the park, to
no avail, I saw no migrants, nor any at 354 pecans either. But
there was an Eastern Amberwing dragonfly, my earliest ever record
locally. The spring migration bird party is about over. I ran
out to Haby's wet spot and there were 4 Pectoral Sandpiper
there. Outstanding BanCo birds, third time in two weeks there
have been a few here (or at SLC ponds) this spring, 9 total birds
so far in 3 little groups. I can only find reference to one prior
sight record of one single bird in Bandera Co.
I heard in town people in some areas around got .25 to .50 inch
when the rain cells came through last night, the lucky ones got
an inch, mostly eastward, some got 1-1.5". In the yard the
White-crowned Sparrow stayed the night and was around again all
day until late eating white millet like a pig for another day.
Must be hungry, has a long way to go, and is going to tank up
all it can for the next leg. Glad to be of service. Keeps hitting
the bird bath too, acting like it is at the spa or something.
Kathy spotted the Indigo Snake, our FOY sighting, it must be
six feet long now, it was at the bath drinking.
May 15 ~ Cloudy early but clearing by noon, 68-88dF spread again.
Heard a Yellow Warbler sing around for a while, and heard an Orchard
Oriole do the same, besides a couple call notes, there were a few
of them, likely northerly breeders on passage. Great was a late
White-crowned Sparrow, which was around all day, three times it came
into the bird bath and was still out there in the evening. It looks
like (eastern) leucophrys, the usual one here, with a pink bill and
black lores. In butterflies had a Horace's Duskywing besides
the couple usual Funereal around. A few Vesta Crescent, saw one
Bordered Patch, a couple Queen, a Large Orange Sulphur, a Black
Swallowtail, lottsa Red Admiral, a Questionmark, and some of the regulars.
Three RingKings out there again, at times right over house, the
begging young behind the ad. male. After dark a thundercell ran
down the ridge on east side of valley between us and Seco Crk.,
which dumped them an inch of rain, but it was a narrow band and
the cell split as it approached Utopia. We got a tenth of an inch.
Better was the outflow cooldown. Heard a Barn Owl going N. after
it went by about 11 p.m.
I moved the birdbath a few feet, which meant moving nearly 100 lbs.
of large rocks. It had to be under where I could hang a milk jug with
pinholes (one top one bottom) in it in the pecan. So as to create
a slow drip sound (no spigot on that side of house). As it warms
they are going through the water, besides the attractant factor of
the dripping water sound. We needed an 'automatic' refill, to
keep it sorta topped up, since we have to manually fill it. At
least it gives us a gallon worth of latitude. When a couple doves
and cards come in by time they get done splashing there is just a
little left. I'll put a pic up shortly.
May 14 ~ Cloudy most of the day, about 68-88dF for a temp spread,
a little sun late in day, southerlies blowing most of the day.
One Yellow Warbler sang out in the yard. Heard RingKings over
at the river. Mostly it was the same gang of breeders now. The
female Indigo Bunting continues as does the male singing over by
draw, so it looks like they are nesting nearby this year. The
are at least 3 Painted territories around the place. It seems one
pair of Blue Grosbeak are across the road, and a pair of Chat which
hit the bath nearly daily. Hooded and Scott's Orioles hit the
feeders many times daily, so are nesting nearby. Great Crested
Flycatcher nests over in the corral but visits the yard daily to
belt out with all manner of sounds from the big pecan. There are
begging baby House Finch I forgot to mention, since the 11th.
Wood Sage has flowers opening, since the 10th. Saw another Eyed
Elaterid (the giant click beetle) flying around yard.
May 13 ~ Stayed cloudy most of the day, with some breaks in the
afternoon, temp spread was about 67-88dF. Martins were overhead
in the dark at 5:30 a.m., before the Chucks get going with their
morning last blast. Heard a Baltimore Oriole in yard early before
we left. We went to Lost Maples, via Haby's wet spot, where
there was one solitary Solitary Sandpiper. As it should be.
At Lost Maples we went straight to feeding station area, it has
calmed down a bit since the rush of bunting migration is over.
There were a couple White-tipped Dove there, and a couple more
heard up the trail to the ponds. Rufous-crowned Sparrow and texana
Scrub-Jay were also there, the rest was the expected usual gang.
Heard a few Black-capped Vireo along the trail, got a glimpse
of one. Heard a bunch of and saw a few Golden-cheeked Warbler,
often when feeding young. With fledged begging young now they
have gotten easier to find than the couple prior weeks. We had
great looks at point blank on the trail to the ponds. Watched
a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher feeding a nestful of young. The baby
Ravens are getting huge fast. Did not hear an Olive Sparrow
though, I suspect they lost their nests in the big rain event.
On the way back down in the heat about 1 p.m. we had a couple
Audubon's Oriole. Had a hawk go over too quickly to ID,
sure was interesting looking though, buteo, long tail.
Heard a dozen Black-n-white Warbler saw a few, their young are
not out yet. We had 3 Common Yellowthroat, which are migrants
and a big number for the late (here) date, I heard a Nashville Warbler
sing. Heard several saw a couple Louisiana Waterthrush. Only
one pair of Eastern Wood-Pewee in two miles of canyon is very low.
Total of three territorial Acadian Flycatcher is also low, one
clearly was unmated and trolling up and down the highwater area.
In general too cloudy and cool so bugs were not very active.
Saw one Flame Skimmer dragonfly at the highwater pond up Can
Creek a mile past the ponds. At least 3 Prince Baskettail,
finally more than one. In butterflies a couple Mournful,
one Juvenal's, and a couple un-ID'd Duskywing, one
worn Red Satyr, no big yeller swallowtails but Spicebush still
flying, one FOY Southern Broken-Dash, one Bronze Roadside-Skipper,
one Red-spotted Purple, and small numbers of the common stuff.
The beautiful blue Larkspur was in good bloom though, some Rock Flax
showing now too, saw blooming Green (Pearl) Milkweed Vine, Texas
Littleleaf Mulberry, some Looking-glass (Venus or Western), a bit
of Scarlet Clematis still going, the Canyon Mock-orange is done.
The rain last week really greened the place up, lots more stuff
was just coming up. It was obviously parched before, now it is
on its way to its usual lush self. But it may have cost some
nesting success. We heard a half-dozen Canyon Wren singing
along the canyon but saw none.
Back here at the hovel, Kathy spotted a male Yellow Warbler
coming into the bath. Didn't have one at Lost Marbles.
Then later about 5 p.m. Kathy called me to look at the orioles
in the bird bath. It was 2 first-spring male Hooded, and one
(happy appearing) female Hooded splashing around. While we
were watching (from different rooms) she calls out a Mourning
Warbler, and sure enough a female comes in and takes a bath.
Unfortunately I only got docushots through the window and
screen but you can tell what it is just fine. Bird of the day,
back at home at the bath, not during the 4 miles and 6 hours of
hiking. Coulda just sat here drinkin' whiskey and beer all
day and got it.
May 12 ~ Cloudy morning, sun in afternoon, about 65-85dF for a
temp spread, hotter in open sunny areas. Southwest flow though
so dryish compared to the usual level of sticky. No migrants
in yard over the morning. We went to the park to check it
and Kathy found a Northern Waterthrush, which was the only
migrant there. You know you are getting near the end of
spring migration when all you have left is Northern Waterthush
that nests in the furthest north trees and forest on the continent.
They are always at the er, tail-end of it.
At the 354 pecans there were no migrants, but we heard four
species of vireo singing. Bell's in the mesquite at east
end of the pasture off north side of road, and in the pecan patch,
White-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Red-eyed Vireo all sang.
Over at the old Preston Place a male Ringed Kingfisher flew
out from below the falls. This is where there are 4-5 RingKing
holes in a bank cut, about 18' above the usual normal water level.
This is the female Mourning Warbler Kathy spotted at the
bird bath May 13. Sorry the pix were taken through a window
and a 50 year-old screen so a bit fuzzy, with apologies.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
May 11 ~ Low clouds from the coast, 10-15mph southerlies from
the Gulf, humid, about 65dF for a low. Summer is coming. Still
nice early, but not for long. I see upper 90's forecast
later next week. Here it comes. No migrant motion through the
yard in the morning. Town run for supplies. At the 354 pecans
there was a singing Chestnut-sided Warbler, which is LTA here,
less than annual. Whatabird. Have seen it now 7 of 15 springs
here, but not the last three. The park had no migrants at all.
The W. Sabinal Rd. and S. Little Crk. Rd. ponds both had no
shorebirds. Everything gone, and nothing new pulled in and holding.
At SLC there were 9 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and lots of
Band-winged Dragonlet (odes) flying. One Yellow Warbler was
in the big live-oak behind the general store. Zone-tailed Hawks
were seen just south of town and 1050 by the Sabinal River Lodge,
and another was on UvCo 360 over a horse pasture. Probably parts
of different pairs being a couple miles apart. Heard Ring Kings
over at the river. Barking Frog are going fairly well, if you
listen closely there are a number of variations in the sounds
one makes, when a couple get going barking back and forth in
conversation, it really sounds like the frogs are talkin' to me.
May 10 ~ Low clouds and about 65dF for a low, highs in 80's,
which is standard average range for first half of May. Not bad,
completey bearable. Had one Yellow Warbler Warbler through yard.
The female Indigo Bunting is still around, and I hear a male
singing, hopefully they are nesting. Hooded Oriole singing around
quite a bit, I wish they would nest close. Saw a first-spring
male which is a new arrival, so three of them here now. At
least one female Ruby-throated Hummer here, besides more than
a couple males. Too many Archilochus to work. It is crazy
with them out there now. Perhaps the first batch of young
are fledging, I have been too busy to look closely at them.
Chucks squawking up a storm at last light, and prior to that,
the Common Nighthawk is getting into the booming finally. Saw
fledged juvie Cardinal today.
May 9 ~ About 62dF with the low clouds from the coast here in
the morning. No migrant noise this morning, it is fading already.
The bulk of it is already past us now. But there should still be
a week (or two if lucky) of trickle as it winds down. Consisting
mostly of the females and first spring birds that run behind
the ad. males that have to get to and acquire territories first.
We are getting to the 'just the breeders' time. Hope for
some more weather to knock some more down before its totally over.
Sure nice to see Yellow-breasted Chat flight song and display
though. The last couple days I caught bouts of it out front.
Today it went over to the millet seed tube to see what the action
there was about. Very neat bird. I love a genetic outlier.
Saw a female Indigo Bunting at the bath, hope it is with the
male that sings over in the draw, and was on the patio yesterday.
Saw a Zone-tailed Hawk go by in the afternoon. Heard RingKing
and a Red-eyed Vireo was singing over in corral.
May 8 ~ A third morning in a row with 53dF for a low methinks
we hit the jackpot. Last of this until about October.
There were two juvenile Ringed Kingfisher chasing and begging
from an adult male, the trio circled right over and around
the yard about 200' up. So two young out now so far
this year, last week there was only one. Did not see any
migrant motion in yard. It fades fast here, there is about
another week of great potential IF IF any weather to knock
'em down, then a week of fade-away and tardy stragglers,
then its over.
Some just-fledged Titmice in the yard, the pair of Common Grackle
were around the seed, that thrill will wear away fast. When we
lived in New Jersey, a hundred would come in and clear the place
out of other birds and seed in no time. Scott's and Hooded
Orioles occasionally clearing the hummers off the feeders. Hit
the jackpot today about 5:30 p.m. when I glanced out the window
and saw a Catbird in the bath! Too cool. Here we see just a very
few (1-3) each spring, almost all in Mulberries, so to have one
in the bath is outstanding. Kathy saw it back sometime after
7 p.m. for another round of splashing. I got docu shots through
the window and screen, so they aren't sharp (below).
May 7 ~ Wow another 53dF or so for a low, we will soon miss this
crisp. Heard a Nashville and a Yellow Warbler in the a.m., alas,
it's Monday. Mid-morn I spotted a female Rose-breasted
Grosbeak on the ground at the seed out back! I do not see them
every year here, it is a LTA - less than annual, species here.
Yes some get reported around the area, a very few, mostly at the
sites covered daily all spring by visiting birders, like Concan
or Lost Maples. You can bird all spring here and not see one
easily, I have seen them 10 of 15 springs here, and only had more
than one in a spring, two or three times. Made my day early.
Otherwise not much different. The Cuckoo (Y-b) was out there,
so likely the local breeder. The pair of Common Grackle were back.
A male Indigo Bunting was foraging below the seed, presumedly the
one singing over at the draw that summered last year. In the
afternoon two female Indigo Bunting were a good sign, or migrants.
Did not see the grosbeak after the morning. Lucked out to get a
couple docushots. The Chucks went off again around the house at
last light, not as intensely as last night though.
May 6 ~ A low of 53dF was outstanding, it feels like utopia man.
Got up to about 87dF at peak heat in the afternoon, but dryish.
Dawn chorus is getting going at about 6:30 now, some stuff earlier!
I heard an Orchard Oriole singing over in the corral, and some
calls from others in the front yard. That fancy male American
Goldfinch was back at the feeders, has to be getting close to my
latest local date ever. At one point it landed next to the male Painted
Bunting on the tube, it was all my eyes could take. That yellow,
black, and white, right next to that red, green, and blue. I was
in the cottage so not 10' away looking through the barely
cracked door. The pair of Common Grackle came back in to the
feeders this morn, I got a couple docu shots.
Mid-day we went to check and see how migration looked at a couple
tree patches. Begging just fledged tailless Yellow-throated Warbler
were at the 360 crossing. Also there was my FOY Checkered and Swift
Setwing dragonflies. Better was a River-Cruiser (dragon) of some sort,
I presume Bronze, the most likely here.
Mostly though it was devoid of migrants. What was here left, and
little new showed up in the way of migs. Heard a few Clay-colored
Sparrow still singing along roadside. At the UvCo 354 pecan
patch just east of 187 a couple Orchard Oriole appear to have
returned since yesterday and we had some great flight song at point
blank. Amazingly the Philadelphia Vireo was still there! A two
day Philly here! I got a docu shot or two. In birding you can
have something be relatively dull, and still be totally awesome.
The Yellow Warbler there was prolly one of yesterday's as well.
The park had zip for migrants. Bunch of Waxwings on the Mulberries
was it save the begging baby Chickadees.
So we went out to the SLC ponds. There were 3 Lesser Yellowlegs,
1 Solitary Sandpiper, and 1 Dowitcher continued. No Phalaropes
or Pectorals. Yesterday there were 2 Killdeer, 10 Yellowlegs,
4 Solitary Sand., 7 W. Phalarope, the two Pectoral and two Dows.
So most of it left. There was a new Blue-winged Teal drake.
Didn't even see the pair of Killdeer. In odes dozens of
Band-winged Dragonlet dragonflies and one Wandering Glider.
Then over to Haby's wet spot on W. Sabinal Rd. Yesterday
there were 6 Phalarope, 13 Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary
Sandpiper, all were gone today. At the smaller wet spot a
couple hundred yards east though, there were 3 Pectoral
Sandpiper which I got great photos of. Migration: here today,
gone tomorrow. A dozen Scissor-tails were feeding over the wet
spots though, which was nice to see, the two Eastern Kingbird
there yesterday were gone. Saw a couple Yellows, and one
probable Nashville along the roads.
At dusk after a pair of Common Nighthawk went over, I was treated
to a Scissor-tail doing a couple display flights including full
360 deg. loops from the driveway. Awesome. One was close enough
facing me so I could hear the drum roll of the wing clapping on
the climb up as it is screaming its head off right up to the flip.
It is an out-of-this-world awesome flight display. You can tell
by its calls when it is going to do it. It is a special set of
excited notes, presumedly to make sure the female is watching.
Then as it got dark two Chuck-wills-widow went off nuts right
around the house. I don't know if it was duetting or competitive.
They were moving around, and one surely had to be sitting on the
peak of the roof at one point, the other maybe on a high unused
birdbox over the garden out back. It sounded like Poor-will
duetting with constant back-and-forth, one was distinctly higher
pitched than the other. Which is why I thought maybe a sexual
difference. I can hear the difference in sexes of Screech-Owl
pitch, which I think many can.
May 5 ~ A 58dF low felt fantastic, clear and sunny, dry air,
it's like utopia. The pair of Hooded Oriole hit one of the
feeders early, and the Scott's sung his way in and out.
Heard an Am. Redstart singing upslope behind us, but couldn't
find it in the thick. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo out there too may
be our local nearby nester. A pair of Common Grackle were on the
patio eating white millet this morning, and returned around
2 p.m. for more. I would put up with just one pair no problem
if they let me get some good photos of that iridesence.
An Eastern Kingbird on 360 between the river and 187 was my FOS.
Auto-focus chose the hills two miles away on the horizon though.
The park had one Swainson's Thrush, presumedly one of
yesterday's birds. A Least Flycatcher was in the willows
adjacent and below the island. A Northern Waterthrush and a Common
Yellowthroat were it for migrant warblers. There were begging
fledgling Yellow-throated Warblers above the screen shelters.
A male Ringed Kingfisher flew in and landed 30' from us sorta
hidden in the woods, before it knew we were there. Slowly reaching
to bring camera up was enough for it to fly. We had two just-emerged
(teneral) Black-shouldered Spinyleg dragonfly, which
have been very hard to come by here since the drought.
Heading out on north part of Jones Cmty. Rd. in one big pasture
there were over 25 Common Raven. Which reminds me, I forgot to
mention last weekend on the way to Lost Maples, about a mile from
there, we had 25-30 in a field together at once. My first couple of
years here I did not see 25 total Common Raven, now we can see that
at once, and not in winter flocks. They have exploded here in the
last decade.
On W. Sabinal Rd. at Haby's wet spot there were 13 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 6 Wilson's Phalarope (4 fem., 2 ma.), 1 Solitary
Sandpiper, and just east a couple hundred yards 2 Eastern
Kingbird feeding over another flooded area. In odes dozens of
Band-winged Dragonlet and Roseate Skimmer over the big wet spot,
one FOY Wandering Glider, and a couple calling Couch's Spadefoot
Toad. Another of the toad was calling at that often flooded area
on east side of Jones Cmty. Rd., where Spring Branch Rd. junctions
with it. At the corner of Jones Cmty. Rd. and W. Sabinal Rd.
there was a small flock of 6-7 Savannah Sparrow. Another species
for which we get a distinct late wave of in early May, after the
winterers and the early spring migrants are long gone, which
surely must be some far north nesters.
Then over the buffalo wallows, aka SLC ponds. One Pine Siskin
flew over calling. The 2 Dowitcher continue, and though distant
appear expected Long-billed in scope. New were 2 PECTORAL Sandpiper
which are exceedingly rare in BanCo. There were 7 Wilson's Phalarope
(only 3 yesterday), 10 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 3 Solitary Sandpiper,
all at the big pond, one more Solitary at the little pond, further
south. The pair of Killdeer at the big pond are presumedly nesting,
also one pair of BBWD there, where they have nested before as well.
There were lots more Band-winged Dragonlet over the big pond,
which is where I first discovered them in Bandera Co. in 2004.
Another Spadefoot Toad was calling at the smaller pond, as often
if rain. So those were calling at 3 sites today. Usually
it takes 5-6" of rain to get them out. Saw my first Skeleton-plant
flower today.
At the 354 pecans were 3 Yellow Warbler and a PHILADELPHIA Vireo.
I have recorded it 7 of 15 springs here, a few years had more than
one, and only once two together (which was also at the 354 pecans).
The Olive-sided Flycatcher continued on the same snag. A couple
random Yellow Warbler were seen along the road. But overall, though
some things stuck, most of the grounding left. I presume after
skies cleared last night. Warblers were nothing like yesterday.
The story of migration. But there were more shorebirds so the
ponds are pulling birds down, and will do so for a week at least
while they hold water and they are migrating over, two if we are
lucky. Had a RingKing calling over at river at dusk. Rio Grande
Leopard Frog are roaring now. Saw an Eyed Elaterid flying around
which was smaller than the one last week, so different.
Gray Catbird at our bath May 8, taken through a window
and a 50 year-old screen so a bit fuzzy, with apologies.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
May 4 ~ Major rain day. It started just before midnight last
night, lots of heavy lightning, and over an inch in an hour.
By 6 a.m. it was 1.5" here, and some Purple Martins were up
flying and calling in the dark overhead then though. Gotta
be eatin' moths like the bats do, what else is up there
in the dark? This is why their eyes are big?
About 7:30 a.m. the cold air got here and wrung about 1.75"
out of the atmosphere in an hour! It was torrential, sideways,
with lots of closeby lightning strikes. So by 8:30 or so it was
3.25 inches here, and I saw some radar estimates upvalley in BanCo
at 5 inches! Then in the next two hours, up to 10:30, another
inch fell! In the couple hours after that about .35 more!
So 4.5" at minimum here and well over 5" to 6+ in spots
upvalley in BanCo!
I will get some totals next time I go to town, this is the
sort of thing we love to compare in Utopia, rainfall totals.
The pecans will fully leaf out now, and the spring flowers
that were on hold will likely explode. We needed it bad.
At one point mid-morning there were at the tube white millet
feeder and below it, 3 ad. male, 3 female, and 2 1st spring male
Painted Bunting. Eight at once, feeder flies they are.
Hooded and Scott's Oriole hit the hummer coated feeders
first thing early. We have surpassed a gallon of fluid a day
now and so there are an estimated 500+ Black-chinned Hummingbird
here. To have 50 at once either on the feeders or waiting in
line is nothing at the heavy feeding times. I have not been able
to work them, but did see a female Ruby-throated yesterday,
besides several males.
One of the things that years of good fieldcraft does is make
you lazy. I know if anything really different shows up I will
know instantly by audio, so why bother working 500 Black-chins?
I know all the others calls, so if something else comes in I will
detect it before I see it anyway. The only problem is the
feeders are on the front porch at the other end of the house
from the office, so I am not in constant earshot. I just have
one out a window on office end of the hovel, so I can see male
Hooded and Scott's Orioles as often as possible, which will
do you wonders BTW.
I played hooky in the afternoon as Friday late usually gets
slow in the office anyway. Had to go see what happened in
the rain. We were not having passage migrant action in the
yard, a Nashville and a Yellow was about it. First I checked
the road from here to the crossing and that area around it.
Saw 8-10 Yellow Warbler, 3 Black-throated Green Warbler,
5 Least Flycatcher, a Common Yellowthroat and a couple Nashville
Warbler, a late Orange-crowned, my FOS 1st spring male Orchard
Oriole, Chats, plus some that got away. So what I would call a
good fallout for here happened overnight. The rain hit in the
middle of the night after stuff was up and flying, perfecto!
I would not try fording the crossing without a couple hundred
pounds over the rear wheels in the pickup bed, it was too dicey
for me. So I went out the back long way around to town to check
the park and wherever I could get into some pecans. The park
only has a few, but has some understory, and Mulberries. Water
was roaring over the dam, I heard this morning it was almost up
to 1050. It looked like the entire island had been power washed
clean. Which I suspect is exactly what happened. But there was
at least one and maybe two Swainson's Thrush hitting the
Mulberries, my FOS, and easy to miss here if you don't hang
out at Mulberries the key two weeks of open window for them.
One each Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat were the only
other migrant warblers I saw there.
With the rain, the caldendar says it is THE time to get a
shorebird over at the So. Little Creek Rd. "buffalo Wallows",
about 3-4 mi. NE of town in BanCo out 355, just above the N. Thunder
Crk. turnoff, and below 470. So I took the chance, and sure enough,
shorebirds! Not many, hardly any, but that is way more than usual
here where finding them is like pulling teeth. Best were a couple
Dowitcher in fair breeding plumage which I got some distant shots
of, hopefully enough to prove species. I did not have my scope so
could only binoc, and shoot pics. Any here are Long-billed by default,
until proven otherwise. Then as stunning were 3 female Wilson's
Phalarope in beautiful breeding plumage. The Phals and Dows are
both my first ever in Bandera Co., and for my upper Sabinal River
drainage area list. There were also a couple Lesser Yellowlegs,
and three Solitary Sandipiper. At least 10 sandpipers of 4 species.
Which is remarkable here. Tomorrow I will have to go check
"Haby's wet spot" on W. Sabinal Rd., I was running
out of light.
On the southmost east-west street in town just east of the church
there was group of warblers in some pecans with another 8 Yellows,
and 2 more Nashville. Then I checked the 354 pecans where there
were another dozen Yellows were. I saw about 30 Yellow Warbler
around the area here today, which is amazing. Also on 354 was my
FOS Olive-sided Flycatcher. Finally I figured I should check the
golf course in case a flooded fairway had maybe a Buff-breasted
Grasspiper or somesuch. The last one I checked had a wet spot,
and three Baird's Sandpipers! On their way from Argentina
to the furthest north tundra in Canada to nest. Just a little rain,
and bam! Shorebirds! You get to see them here. Very cool.
Once (2004) I had a good little flock of 17 or so Baird's at
the So. Little Creek Rd. buffalo wallows after a rain. The clouds
and northerly flow might keep some of the stuff here overnight,
we will see tomorrow.
There were Clay-colored Sparrows at every stop, and flushing
from sides of road, same for Painted and Indigo Bunting, and
Blue Grosbeak, but still no Dickcissel. Had a couple Orchard
Oriole. Couple Least Flycs along the roads too. I bet if you
hung at the wallow until dark, by tomorrow there will be
Couch's Spadefoot Toads calling if not tonght. Heard
Bell's Vireo singing in a few places along the roads,
but no Dickcissel yet anywhere here. Some other transients were
Red-eyed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee
for a few off the top of the pointy head. Chimney Swifts rocking
(display flight) over town. Martins all around too. Today
was one of the best bird days I have had here in the last year,
or two, or three, for about 3 hours and change out in the
afternoon only late. Rain is magic for birds in migration.
May 3 ~ Another balmy low about 70dF, overcast, occasional mist
in the a.m., we missed the rain overnight, was to north, and
now they say overnight tonight to Friday night is the big chance.
Tomorrow is 75%+ chances they say, so I did my town run today.
It was enough to knock birds down though. I saw a Tennessee
Warbler in the yard in the morning. After missing them the
last few springs a plain female is great to see. A couple Nashville
went through yard. Bet you could work up a good list if you could
stay after it all day here today. Temp was 87dF on the cool
shady front porch at 5 p.m.
Just down the road a piece between the corral and crossing I
had a beautiful male Black-throated Green Warbler, my FOS.
A Yellow was in the pecan with it and a Black-and-white was
singing nearby. Then at crossing a couple Yellows. At the
Preston Place a couple more Yellows, at the 354 pecan patch
a couple Yellows and a Nashville. No Dickcissel or Orchard
Oriole there though. What happened?
At the park in the woods was a FOS male American Redstart,
and a FOS male Mourning Warbler! Which is like a jackpot here.
It seemed two Catbirds to me in the Mulberries on the island.
Three Common Yellowthroat there is a high number here at once.
Eastern Wood-Pewee was singing, a couple pairs of Common Grackle
are likely our nesting pairs, and the male Downy Woodpecker
that was there in March continues. Couple Blue Jay.
In the yard at dusk were two of yesterday's 3 Clay-colored
Sparrow that spent the day here. Beautiful little sparrow.
Another yellow Warbler in yard here in p.m., methinks it was
about 9 total today. There was some migrant movement out there.
Saw a pair of Common Nighthawk at dusk. Heard a Barn Owl
after dark. Finally about 11 p.m. we have a thundercell
bearing down on us, time to unplug. Little Creek Larry mentioned
he had a couple dozen or so Pine Siskin in one flock a few days ago.
A big number for so late, was prolly Apr. 29 or 30.
May 2 ~ Still cloudy and misty, maybe 72dF for a low. Looks like
another good bird day with weather to knock them down. Has to be
in the yard for me, I am stuck at the desk. Some later afternoon
sun took it to a humid sticky 84dF in the shade. Only a few
spritizes still so far. Still supposed to get some real precip.
Heard a few Nashville Warbler go by in the a.m., and a couple
came into the bath late p.m. Indigo Bunting singing over in the
draw, probably last years' summerer. I saw a report of
19 species of warblers today at a park on the Cibolo Crk. in far
eastern Bexar Co., including Blue-winged and Golden-winged.
Oh what a difference a hundred miles makes. Takes a minor miracle
to get 10 species here.
The big hit of the day was late about 6:30, when a male Common
Yellowthroat took two long baths! It was of the broadly white
mask-border type, with limited yellow throat. It is the first one I have
seen IN the yard, only took five years. The yard was originally
mowed to death for decades, not a sprig of understory, gardening,
or landscaping visible whatsoever. So understory birds are beyond
very hard to come by in the yard, it is a virtual desert for them.
The canopy is nice, but with no understory it is only half of a
habitat, and actually less than that. I have seen them across and
down the road, and once saw one over road leaving the yard, had
them in draw 50 yards away, etc., so finally! Methinks bird
species #220 for the yard proper, in 5 years. Not bad for no gas.
It was also my 20th species of warbler in the yard. Which does
not count Audubon's Warbler (which should count as a seperate
species), or Yellow-breasted Chat (which is no longer a warbler).
The female Phoebe is back today, so it was 10 days she was gone
from the day of fledging the young and leading them away. We saw
neither her nor the 5 young after the day they got out. The male
stayed here and guarded the territory, singing his keister off,
while she and the young were nowhere to be found. Finally today
she is back. I suspect the first several days is spent teaching
the young how to flycatch. Then several are spent mustering the
courage (not to mention calcium) up to come back and do it again.
It may be other phoebes do it other ways, but I thought this was
very interesting behavior, which I had not realized was occurring
before. It seems the last broods of the year, they all stick
together for a few days.
May 1 ~ There was some migrant movement through yard in the morn,
wish I could have gone birding. Had a Bullock's Oriole sing,
and later a male Baltimore was exploring both the seed feeders. A
couple Clay-colored Sparrow, my yard FOS female Painted Bunting,
also my FOS first-spring male Painted Bunting (lime above, salmon
below type), single male Yellow, and Black-and-white, plus a Nashville
Warbler or two, and my FOS Least Flycatcher. New birds. Still
cloudy and threatening to rain but just spritzes so far, though
clearly was enough to knock birds down though. Bet it is good out
there based on yard action. Got up to about 82dF and very humid
late afternoon. At dusk finally I had my FOS Common Nighthawk
fly over calling, about one week later than average return date.
~ ~ and now for a brief intermission ~ ~
~ ~ ~ April summary ~ ~ ~
It was a dry one, about 2" of rain for the month, maybe 2.5
at our place but 1.5 or so in town. Avg. is about 4, so about
half of normal. It shows in the flower bloom now, which is much
reduced for the end of April. Temps were average, very bearable.
For birds a lot of nesting activity gets underway for the earlier
returners, and most of the rest start showing up over the month.
Amazing was getting out of April without a Dickcissel or Common
Nighthawk yet. That is real weird.
Butterflies were about 48 species, nothing rare as is the norm
in spring (vagrants are a summer-fall thing here). Saw all six
of the regular Swallowtail species. An Elfin snuck under the
wire on April 1, they are done for the year now. A decent crop
of Oak Hairstreak are out, and loads of Olive-Juniper Hairstreak.
Little Wood Satyrs were thick at Lost Maples, as common as I have
ever seen them. Red Admiral numbers were very high too. Saw a
few of the Bronze, and at least one of the other very similar
Roadside-Skipper with uncheckered fringes. I think it was 9 total
spring migrant Monarchs I had pass in March and April, about average.
Odes were weakish still, they are just getting going. I count
about 9 damsels and 12 dragons for 21 total ode species in April.
In dragons Pronghorn Clubtail is always nice, only one Prince
Baskettail so far, a few Springtime Darner, but slow. Damsels
were few too, Springwater and Aztec Dancer are always nice at
Lost Maples. Next month it should break.
Birds were great, though I would say migration so far has been
weak. No major fallouts, just trickles of the usual expected.
After fall and winter it has been so long, any diversity, especially
that with color and song, is fantastic. The dawn chorus gets back
to full roar as the first round of breeding activity commences.
Some things seem a bit slow getting back and filling in so far.
Looks about 120 species I saw, maybe 4 just at Lost Maples. I
know of a few other things others saw locally as well. So
over 125 species were around the area for the month. Not bad
for inland without a major open water in way of lake or river.
If you were retired (I am just tired over and over, which is
not the same) and could work at it every day (and burn some gas),
135 or 140 is possible locally over the month, maybe even 150
if you were lucky, in a good year. Just in the upper Sabinal
River drainage.
Territorial singing Olive Sparrow are just south of Utopia, and
at Lost Maples where also some pairs of White-tipped Dove, and an
Audubon's Oriole reported. By the last week of the month
a begging Ringed Kingfisher juvenile is chasing an adult up and
down the river south of town a couple miles, as last year. The
new hill country normal. I have only seen a couple other species
with young out of the nest so far: Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow,
and Carolina Chickadee. Bluebird will be any day though.
The bird of the month were the two BLACK SWIFT that gave a
four-second view as they passed by on April 26, the morning after
the big storm from the west went by. Not long enough to write up
an offical report, but long enough to ID if you have seen a bunch
of 'em. When you know what you saw, you know what you saw.
No matter who comes along and pretends they know better than you,
what you saw. Be especially suspicious if they wear corrective
lenses. For some reason birding is blessed with lots of guys
that actually can't see very well, that insist only they
can say what you saw.
~ ~ ~ back to the regularly scheduled drivel ~ ~ ~
April 30 ~ Cloudy, breezy, supposed to maybe rain pretty much
every day all week there are fair to good chances. A few
spits of mist was it all day. In the a.m. finally heard a FOS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo in a far pecan out front. Same time a male
Orchard Oriole was in the top of the near big one, and I heard a
singing Black-and-white Warbler. So some movement, figures when
ya gotta work. Had a Swainson's Hawk go over. The juv. Ringed
Kingfisher still chasing and begging from an adult over at river.
Bath getting some colorful traffic with Summer Tanager, Painted
Bunting and Yellow-throated Warbler regular again now.
April 29 ~ Lost Maples one last time in April. Kathy and I did
the Can Creek trail to the highwater point (highest permanent)
a mile past the ponds, to the oh what the heck, let's call
it the Mexican Tetra pond. A flock of Clay-colored with some
Chippy Sparrow were on 360 east of river. There were only a few
Scissor-tails on 187 all the way up and back, less than a handful
total, maybe 3 pairs. Just north of Boyce's Ball Field,
I had to hit brakes to avoid a Bullock's Oriole chase event.
Heck of a way to see a FOS, braking hard for it. A pair or two
nest in that line of Hackberry and Mesquite along 187 from the
BanCo line north, especially above the ball field to where it
turns to live-oak woods on the west side of 187.
As if that wasn't enough braking for birds, on the way we came
around a corner and I had to hit them again, there was a big
Tom Turkey with tail fanned in display in the middle of the road!
We already have one in the freezer. Then we saw the hen off the
side. Saw another big flock of Chippies and Clay-colored on the
way too, they are all over now. Heard a Golden-cheeked Warbler
up on hill at entrance sign as we were driving into park.
Indigo and Painted Bunting were at the seed feeder there at HQ.
Usually a good idea to walk down to the first crossing while
parked at HQ (no other way to check it). The Olive Sparrow
continues singing between river and east end of the camping
circle at that crossing. Surely it is nesting right there in
that area.
At the trailhead parking lot feeders there were Indigo, Painted,
and a male Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, begging baby Chipping
Sparrows, a couple Scott's Oriole, one first spring male
Baltimore Oriole, and later we heard a White-tipped Dove up on
the hill there. About 8:45 or so it warmed and skies cleared
enough, the morning vulture liftoff occurred. In with 8 TV's
were 2 Zone-tailed Hawk were interacting, one buzzing the other
right over the parking lot. Feeders had one Black Rock Squirrel,
some House Finch, Chickadee, Titmouse, Cardinal, the usuals.
Nothing as pretty as that male Lazuli Bunting. Whatabird.
I just love that shade of blue, nothing like it in any other
American bird. Cerulean Warbler is close but it lacks the
electric reflective iridescent quality being more a light
absorbing passive flat pastel finish.
Going up the Canyon I heard another Olive Sparrow, we heard
at least a half-dozen Golden-cheeked Warbler, but saw none,
heard about 3 Black-capped Vireo not too far off trail. Did
have my FOS Acadian Flycatcher, others reported them a week
ago, but I only heard one in 2 miles of canyon. Should be more
here by now. Went through what is usually four territories
minimum. I heard what surely was a Mourning Warbler chlup
very close, but could not see it. A couple Nashville Warbler
was it for other warbler migrants. A half-dozen singing
Yellow-throated, and Black-and-white Warbler along the canyons.
A few Louisiana Waterthrush on territory.
Amazingly did not hear an Eastern Wood-Pewee, so earlier
reports were of transients, no territorial singing yet.
Went through what used to be a half-dozen territories.
We heard several Canyon Wren, a Hutton's Vireo, numbers
of Red-eyed, White-eyed, and Yellow-throated Vireo, a
couple Rufous-crowned Sparrow and lots of the regular
residents. But it gets quiet fast after noon. Though the
bugs come out so the walk back and down is very to completely
different than the walk up, if you are looking at them.
Wait till you see my Odontomyia pix!
Odes (dragons) were weakish still, nothing but a few of the
common things, like Common Whitetail and Common (E.) Pondhawk,
Dot-winged Baskettail, Aztec, Dusky, and Springwater Dancer,
some blue Forktails, and glimpsed what was likely a Banded
Pennant. A Clubtail got away that was likely Pronghorn.
It is still early for odes, May is when they really get going.
In butterflies, there were a few Little Wood Satyr, but they
are past peak now. Saw Arizona Sister, a Red-spotted Purple (ph.),
three or four Southern Oak, one Olive-Juniper and a couple Gray
Hairstreak, one probable female White-M Hairstreak, Dun and
Common Checkered-Skipper, no Green, lots of Sleepy Orange,
Pipevine and Spicebush Swallowtail but no big yellow ones.
The rest was the usual stuff like a few Reakirt's Blue,
Common Checkered-White, Gulf and Variegated Fritillary, Red
Admiral, and So. Dogface. No new species for April, was
hoping for a couple possibilities. One Disparete Forester moth.
One Anole was the only herp I saw, but heard a couple get
away in the leaf litter, likely Four-lined Skinks. We had in
baby birds, the nestfull of noisy Raven, multiple family groups
of fledged begging Chipping Sparrow, and Carolina Chickadee,
but that was it. The (Fuertes') Red-tailed Hawks are on
the cliff but you can't tell what they have going, but
are there underway. I suspect lots are in the middle of laying
and incubation now, the earliest ones with just-hatched nestlings
maybe.
Driving home I saw a bird fly across the road briefly that I
thought sure was a Cuckoo. Brown above, long tail, graceful
deft flight. In the late afternoon the juvenile Ringed Kingfisher
was again chasing an adult around over at the river. So they are
fledged already, and as mentioned a couple days ago, not at the
site I found last year with at least 4 seperate RingKing holes.
April 28 ~ I heard a Nashville or two in the yard in the a.m.,
one more at the park, a Yellow was at the 354 pecans, and no other
migrants, it was deadish. The female Lazuli Bunting continued
at the old Preston Place so it stuck the night. A pair of
Brown-crested Flycatcher were there, a few American Goldfinch
with some Lessers, and the Chippy flock with at least a couple
Clay-colored were still there too. A Green Kingfisher was at
the park, and the first two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks
I have seen this spring though Little Creek Larry has had them
for over a month over his way.
Along four miles of road, to town and back, as yesterday, I
saw no Scissor-tails. There are usually a half-dozen returning
pairs I have staked out that are not present. They showed up,
but it seems like they came in and have left. I think it is a
large flying bug problem, as in there aren't any, or enough to
incite nesting. Did see a pair of Western Kingbird, which have
not stuck to nest in years here, I suspect these will move along.
Late nearing last sun what appeared to be an adult with a begging
young in tow Ringed Kingfisher circled around out front towards
river, but at one point the ad. was right over the yard, trying
to shake that racket behind it that would not quit following.
In leps besides 25 Red Admiral, a fresh Queen and an Arizona
Sister, I saw two new-for-month butterflies in the yard. First
a Common Mestra which was my FOY, and then a female Falcated
Orangetip. Earlier in the month I saw a few of what I thought
were Orangetips jerkily blast by low to the ground. In afternoon
saw a FOY Plains Threadsnake (was formerly called Texas Blindsnake),
the earthworm-appearing scaled beastie, just a baby a few inches
long. Photo'd a weird cat(erpillar), which a bit of looking
has me thinking it was an Underwing moth (Catocala sps.) of which
we have at least three species in the yard, maybe four.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
April 27 ~ I think it ran about 60-80dF for a temp spread today.
Mostly cloudy but occasional sun. Nice. My FOS Yellow Warbler
sang in the yard in the morning, a couple Nashville Warbler went
through. Town run fer supplies, so a couple stops. A Bell's
Vireo was on 360 in the mesquites just east of the river. In a
pasture just south of the golf course entrance there were 15 Cattle
Egret around the horses. They seem not very good at large animal ID.
At the 354 pecan patch just east of 187 was another singing male
Yellow Warbler, plus another Nashville, and out in the pasture Chat
was singing, another Bell's Vireo was in the mesquites at the east
end of pasture at usual spot. No Dickcissel or Orchard Oriole
there yet, they usually nest there. No Scissor-tails along the road.
Whaddup with that?
Across 187 at the old Preston Place there was a third singing
male yellow Warbler for the morning, and another Nashville. Even
better was hitting a bunting trifecta there with my first female
Painted Bunting of the year, a couple Indigos, and my first female
Lazuli of the year. There was a Chippy flock there with a couple
Clay-colored Sparrow. I heard a Blue Jay there to the NW, but
which was south of 1050 and west of the river.
At the park while I was up in the woods Little Creek Larry saw four
Spotted Sandpiper flushed off the dam when someone went out on it.
I saw one when driving by, but didn't stop to scan. Four at once
is big numbers here. Up in the woods I had a FOS Catbird, which
is always a thrill since we only get a few annually. It is one of
my favorite birds. They nested in our Blackberry bramble in New
Jersey, and I fell in love. About 5 Nashville Warbler were in the
woods, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Red-eyed Vireo or two, one of
which did a perfect Blue-headed Vireo song. Heard a couple Blue Jay.
On the way home there were a couple Western Kingbird on a fenceline
on 360 just east of the river. Another passage Red-eyed Vireo here
in yard singing in afternoon.
April 26 ~ Low was in lowest 50's dF and quite nice, humid
from the rain yesterday, which was a lifesaver for spring here.
Flowers that should have been coming up weren't, and will
now. Cloudy early, but breaking up by 9 or so to blue skies.
Thousands, probably tens of thousands of pecan flowers are on
the ground, prematurely ejected by the outflow boundry. I hate
when that happens.
About 5 Nashville went through yard in first couple or few hours
of light in the brief spells I was outside. Always a Wed. or a
Thurs. when there is good movement apparent, and I can't leave
the desk those days. A singing Indigo Bunting is nice to hear.
The Ash-throated seems like it found a mate finally, and is now
prospecting around. Looks like they are going to take the gate box.
About 9:45 I was out front on driveway looking back west over
house and little ridgelet behind us. There are a couple clear
shots with long-distance viewing of the airspace for flying birds.
Two birds flew by and I got about four seconds on them. My
thoughts were: swifts, black, big, Black Swifts! And they were
gone. I ran in for bins and then spent 10 minutes scanning the sky
and never saw anything else. I had perfect over the shoulder
sun against blue sky, they were all jet coal black and they were
swifts, they were big, there was no white on the body. I have
seen hundreds of them and spent lots of hours watching them.
They are not something I am unfamiliar with. I have watched
their copulation freefall, which BTW is amazingly unlike that of
White-throated Swift, save the part about plumetting hundreds of
feet in mid-air during the embrace. I am sure they were Black Swifts
and was in a second frankly. I am not sure officially reporting
a four second bare-eyed sighting as something official is what
you do with that where the bird is accidental. It is like that
Fieldfare I watched fly by at point blank late November '83 on
Long Island, N.Y. Fortunately that called upon seeing me as it
shot by so I got to hear it too.
There is no accepted state Black Swift record though a tagged and
tracked bird once flew over Texas. My guess is Black Swifts pass
over west Texas annually in migration, probably mostly too high to
see, if there were anybody to see them. Out west, 99% of the airspace
is not watched or looked at about 99% of the time. So how can one
say something is not happening with that level of observation?
Out in Calif., spring weather events just like this one is when
to see them close, low, and on the coast even in L.A., if you are
lucky. I suspect this frontal system that just came over from
the west coast and four corners pushed them east. Timing is perfect.
April 25 ~ Overcast must have held heat, low was about 60 dF.
Supposed to rain. Great Crested and Brown-crested Flycatchers
around yard calling, singing, and otherwise being boisterous
as tyrant flycatchers are. Chat sang its way around the yard
as it hit the bath. Couple Nashville went through. Looks a
good bird day, it is Wednesday spreadsheet day for me. A first
U.S. record Great Black Hawk was photo'd at S. Padre Isl.
yesterday. Anything can happen. But all the Chihuahuan Raven
reports at Lost Maples are rubbish.
This south-moving-north thing is just going to get more
interesting as it accelerates, which it is doing sure as sea
level is rising and ice is melting, both at rates faster than
any predicted. Things have changed, it is not the way it was.
So in some ways, what we 'know' doesn't matter,
it is a new game. There are new rules, and we don't even know
them. Tufted Flycatchers breed in AZ now. It is a different world.
Finally we got clobbered by a thunderstorm cell complex, about
2-3 p.m., looks about 1.75" most of it in 45 minutes. It was
raining sideways, lots of lightning, NOAA called it torrential,
at least they got that right. There was a 40-50 mph outflow as
it hit which took off lots to many of the pecan flowers, and may
well have ruined half the crop for our trees in the yard. They
were just getting going with pollen.
There were two FOS sightings today, but not for species, just
for sex. Our first female Blue Grosbeak, and female Hooded
Oriole were seen today outside. Had only seen males so far.
Still waiting for a female Painted Bunting to return here.
The male Blue Grosbeaks have been around 10 days at least, and
the male Hooded oriole over 3 weeks.
April 24 ~ About 48dF for a low felt great, so were the calm
conditions. Big hole in the morning yard chorus, it was the
main alpha Blue Grosbeak dead on the porch yesterday. It must
have been about its 4th year nesting around and had become
very tame for a Blue Grosbeak, letting me move slowly around
25' away without flushing. It knew I threw the seed.
The beta male is around, but ginchy as they usually are.
It seems to be trying to figure out why it isn't getting
ejected from the yard. And quiet so far now (day 2) without
alpha male singing, just call notes. Weird.
Great was finally a FOS Orchard Oriole, a male singing at the
top of the big pecan, whatabird. I love 'em. Sharp as it
gets, chestnut and black. A few Nashville went through, but I
gotta work. Heard a Ring King over at the river. By mid-afternoon
it was 86dF on the cool shady front porch. It is the warmup day
ahead of another front. A Red-spotted Purple (Admiral) flew
around yard briefly, only my 3rd or so actually in yard. Saw my
FOS Eyed Elaterid (the big click beetle with false eyes). OK, ok,
it flew up to porch and landed at my feet while I was on a chair
smoking my pipe, so I worked real hard for it. Got a couple shots
for the rare click beetle record committee. There were reports I
saw today of a Pileated Woodpecker on King Ranch in far south Texas,
and a Violet-crowned Hummingbird at Corpus Christi, so keep yer
mind and eyes open.
April 23 ~ Low in upper 40's dF was nice, so is clear and
sunny without any wind, light breeze in afternoon whence 80dF
or so. A few Nashville Warbler went through yard early, so
some movement evident. I gotta work though. About 9 a.m. Kathy
found a dead male Blue Grosbeak on the front porch, right in front
of the door. The outer which is screen and inches from the real
door. No obvious reason, it was already stiff and not warm.
There had been two countersinging here, one mostly around house,
another across and down road a bit. I saw and heard one, earlier
in the morning. I took pix of it yesterday. This is a bummer.
A couple hours later one was on the patio for a bit. Sorta wonder
which, but did not hear the usual singing in yard all day that has
been ongoing so suspect the mortality was the main yard alpha male.
Chimney Swifts flying low checking to find out chimney is sealed.
Every spring we get them checking it out, I need to build a tower.
April 22 ~ Happy Earth Day! Low was about 50dF and the winds were
10-15 out of north so felt like 40's. Warmed up to low 80's
and was generally beautiful. We passed on Maples due to wind and
so we just did a few hours locally from late morning to early afternoon.
In the yard in the a.m. there was a wee bit of migrant movement.
A couple FOS Baltimore Oriole were nice, a singing Black-and-white
Warbler was good too. A few Nashville went through as well. So
there was a bit of a knockdown of migrants.
A third male Painted Bunting has showed up, this one much paler
of red than full adult males, in its first red-below plumage.
So a third year, or second spring bird (second spring is third
year of life). They are not as red as definitive adults, and
they wear even paler. When the odd one shows up in California
the know-it-alls there say they are pale due to captive diet,
ergo, they are escapes. False. Maybe some are, but some are
these third year birds, very worn. The fruits and nuts that
appointed themselves in charge of bird reports out there don't
know lots about Painted Bunting plumages. They also see
something wrong when one shows up at a feeder. It is a mental
condition. But they decide your reports.
Down at the 360 crossing there were a few Nashville Warbler,
a singing Red-eyed Vireo and singing Indigo Bunting. Best was
a male Lazuli Bunting in with a couple Indigo that had just bathed.
It was wet, but a beauty anyway. There was a sizeable flock of
Chipping Sparrow, numbering over 50 birds, with a few Clay-colored
in with them. We had two other flocks almost as big elsewhere
which also had Clay-coloreds in with them. These Chippies are
spring migrants coming from much further south, and going far
north is my guess. Our winterers departed weeks ago, we spend a
couple weeks from early April with just a few paired singing breeders
around, and then last third of April a big distinct wave hits.
Every spring. Like clockwork. It is a different population,
not our winter birds, not our breeders, but later migrants, so
likely ones that nest far north and winter far south.
East of the crossing heading down 360 there were two FOS Western
Kingbird, finally! Great to see them! We went to the park, saw
Little Creek Larry, he said he saw two Spotted Sandpiper earlier.
I heard a FOS Northern Waterthrush on the other side of the island.
We had a few Nashville Warbler, a couple Orange-crowned Warbler,
1-2 Common Yellowthroat, and briefly, one Tennessee Warbler. Which
is the first I have seen here in a few years, missed it the last
couple springs, at least. Heard Blue Jay, bunch of Yellow-throated
Warbler, one Red-eyed Vireo was singing, a Mockingbird was a passage
migrant, a couple Lincoln's Sparrow, and the pair of Barred Owl.
Heard Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a Great Crested Flycatcher or two.
No Kingfishers, it was nearing noon and some people there.
We stopped at the 354 pecan patch just east of 187 and not in yet
were Dickcissel and Orchard Oriole that nest there every year, no
sign of them. Heard Bell's Vireo over in the mesquites and a
Yellow-throated Vireo in the pecans. Then we stopped at a private
property along river where another big Chippy flock, a couple more
Nashville, and outstanding was another male Lazuli Bunting! Second
in a day here not at feeders, just random along the river is great.
Prolly a bunch of them out there today. Heard a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
The Ring Kings must be using other holes, the set of 3 or 4 together
there do not seem to be in use this year. Pecans is where it is at now
for migrants, they are in great bloom, the birds have left the live-oaks.
Heard a Barn Owl after 11 p.m. at last check outside, and a few duelling
Chuck-wills-widows going at it sound great.
April 21 ~ Drizzled with a few light showers over the morning, it
seemed about .2 (tenths) maybe. Wet. Something for grasses and forbs,
but just a leaf-washer for the trees. Late afternoon the dry line
passed and it cleared. So worked on the too many things here. Finally
got the second fenced-in (guaranteed to be deer and dillo proof)
garden patch secure from all manner of beasts here, save leaf-cutter
ants. There was no migrant motion through yard save a Nashville.
Trying to get more chores done before it gets too hot. I got a report
later that on this day Deborah Siegler had a male Yellow-headed Blackbird
at Jones Cemetery on this date.
American Goldfinch - Not every year a few stick around long enough
into spring for us to see the male's beautiful breeding plumage.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ archive copy of update header ~ ~ ~
MOST RECENT UPDATE: April 20, 2018
(prior updates: April 13, 6, March 30, 23, 16, 9, 2, February 23, 16, 9, 2)
Hope you had a good equinox and got everything evenly balanced out.
It is spring here and new arrivals are showing daily. Gotta be the
most exciting time of the year, unless you live on a coast and have
a good fall migration. The next 90 days are the best 3 months of
the year here, or at least peak avian action. Lots of the bug-eaters
are returning, but it takes another month for them all to get back.
All the early birds are back, and which is a bunch of great stuff.
We had a half-inch of rain here on Mar. 27-28, so were in a dry slot
for the last rain event. River is very low-flow, we are in a drought,
please send rain.
I saw a report of Golden-cheeked Warbler in Bexar Co. March 2,
fair numbers are at Lost Maples now. Kathy and I watched a
singing male, a mile from our place in Utopia on March 25:
The light was bad, but the bird was good.
At the same time we listened to a singing Black-capped Vireo
back in its territory, and had 3 Olive Sparrow, two singing in
territories. There was a calling Couch's Kingbird in our
yard on Mar. 25th so check yer yellow-bellied kingbirds, though
one in March and earliest April is most likely a Couch's.
At Lost Maples on Apr. 1, Kathy and I had several Golden-cheeked
Warbler and a few Black-capped Vireo, as well as most of the
usual gang: Olive Sparrow, White-tipped Dove, heard Audubon's
Oriole, saw Scott's Oriole, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon
Wren, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scrub-Jay, etc., it is getting
pretty birdy there again, but many trees are just leafing out and
much is yet to arrive. See the April 1st, 9th, 10th, and 15th
entries for more details.
Here are some of our recent FOS (first of season) dates, going
backwards: George LaRue had Swainson's Hawks on April 20
at B & R Rd. Our yard Painted Bunting and Brown-crested Flycatcher
arrived April 19. Little Creek Larry said he had a male Painted
Bunting the 16th. Kathy spotted our FOS male Indigo Bunting in
the yard April 18. Saw my FOS Blue Grosbeak at Utopia Park on
April 13. My FOS Common Yellowthroat was April 12. On April 11
a Green Heron was at UP, on the early side here. April 9 was the
return of our yardish local breeder Chat. April 6 I saw my FOS
Chimney Swift and earliest ever Great Crested Flycatcher, then in
evening heard my FOS Chuck-wills-widow, and saw my first Firefly
of the year. April 2 I saw my FOS Bronzed Cowbird which is not
cause to celebrate.
March 31 I saw my FOS Bell's Vireo and Nashville Warbler.
A male Summer Tanager was in our big pecan March 30, an hour later
another was singing at Utopia Park. My first Ruby-throated Hummingbird
and Hooded Oriole were Mar. 29. My FOS Louisiana Waterthrush was at
Utopia Park Mar. 24. Scott's Oriole returned here Mar. 21,
my first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was the 20th. Six female Bufflehead
were on the park pond on March 16, and five on the 29th. On Mar. 14 I
had my first returning Yellow-throated Vireo and Yellow-throated Warbler,
good numbers of both are in now. Swarms of Black-chinned Hummingbird are
back, a few Ruby-throats are around, just males so far. Barn and Cave
Swallows, Vermilion Flycatcher and White-eyed Vireo are all back.
The first BATS showed up Feb. 28. N. Rough-winged Swallow were
back Mar. 9, Ash-throated Flycatcher the 10th. Black-bellied
Whistling-Duck and Great-tailed Grackle have been reported locally.
My first Monarch butterfly was Mar. 10, my second earliest date,
have had 6 now (March total). Gotta warn ya, it is getting kinda
birdy out there again.
There is a new page up (hopefully it works) with a long discussion,
called "The Birds of Utopia Park," which includes the
park bird list. If you can't sleep it may be just the ticket.
It will be getting some fixes and changes still, but the basic is up.
I have been making corrections here and there, and will likely add
to it as time goes on, but for now it gets some info out there.
The Birds of Utopia Park
Over three inches of rain the week of Feb. 16-22 was outstanding,
most on Wed. the 21st. The last freeze was mid-Feb., average
last freeze is around the Equinox. It is warming and the first
flowers are blooming, trees have leaves, and you can feel spring
in the air. You can hear it too, with the increased birdsong.
A quick note about Utopia Park. There have been some changes in
management and rules. It is now $5 per person to enter, during
the off-season. Peak, from spring break until Labor Day it will be
$10 per person to enter. No charge for Utopia or Vanderpool residents.
The new "Birds of Utopia Park" page is now up. Link just above,
and below at start of bird news, and above in nav bar under birds category.
Note we also have a fairly new 'where to stay' page, with contact
info, links and names of many of the local lodging options.
It is linked at top above in the NavBar under the Sites and Misc.
section, and below at top of bird news.
Of expected but scarcer or local things around, there are the usual:
Zone-tailed Hawk, Canyon Towhee and Rufous-crowned Sparrow,
Long-billed Thrasher, Ringed and Green Kingfisher. Some few
Audubon's Oriole are around, like Bushtit, you could see one
anywhere anytime, or nowhere at no time. It's birding!%^*@%!
Again some White-tipped Dove and Olive Sparrow have been at Lost
Maples, and around Utopia, the new normal. Both nested at Lost
Maples last year (begging juvenile seen and heard).
You may want to scroll down to the date of the last update you
read, and scroll or read UP day-to-day to read in chronological
sequence, some references might make more sense that way. For
repeat offenders there is a link just below to jump straight to
newest update. There is a broken line of tildes (~) to denote
prior update breaks, if you are lucky with a photo. Sometimes
this header is archived within body of news as well since it changes.
Seperated by tildes as well, as are monthly summaries.
For visiting cell phone users, often only AT&T works here, or Concan,
and many local areas Sabinal to Leakey, etc. Often around Hwy 90
(Hondo, Uvalde) you can get other signals. Then wi-fi is available at
the Utopia Library, the store in Vanderpool had a sign saying they
have it there too. State Park headquarters may have it? Don't tell
them I told you. ;)
Please holler if you see something good locally!
THANKS! :) (local 830 Utopia landline WON~2349)
E-dress clickably linked at bottom of most pages: mitchATutopianatureDOTcom
Note on navbar at top of this page and the home page, and somewhere
around the chat picture below is a link to a new LINKS page that is a
quick handy way outta here. Who loves ya baby? It is a collection of
some of the links I will publicly admit to using, though a couple
with no small amount of trepidation. Space, weather, bugs, birds,
blogs, bird cams, and other stuff... Enjoy!
~ ~ ~ end archive copy of update header ~ ~ ~
2018 Bird News Archive #29 (XXIX)
You may want to scroll down to last prior update (marked - often
with photo) and scroll up to read in chrono order day to day.
~ ~ ~
April 20 ~ Low in upper 50's dF, breezy and overcast. Supposed
to be a rain event overnight tonight and into tomorrow. I will
believe it when I get wet. We need the water so badly you wouldn't
believe it. Looks a good day for migrants. Forecast said cloudy
morning, sunny afternoon. By afternoon the sunny part was removed.
Winds were 10-15 gusting to 20-25 mph. We struggled to get to the
low 60's dF, which is almost a category cooler than forecast.
I am sure there is a weather crew that gets it worse more often,
but I hope I never end up living there and counting on them.
Five Eastern Phoebe fledged from the nest over the bathroom window
this morning. How did they all fit? I heard a weird song I could
not place up in the pecan tree, grabbed bins and found a Lincoln's
Sparrow quiet singing 20' off the ground. I had not heard one
sing since we left L.A. where there is one Skunk Cabbage meadow in the
San Gabriel Mountains at over 7000' where they nest, which we usually
visited multiple times annually. I have never heard them sing down
here before, so, very neat. You might pass this quiet song version
off as a weird off House Wren. A close listen to the components
though will reveal the real source. Two male Painted Bunting here
on the seed this morning.
Town run and park check. Too windy, heard a few Nashville seet
notes but couldn't spot anything in the blowing trees. Heard
two FOS Eastern Wood-Pewee but couldn't find them in the blowing
trees either. My FOS Spotted Sandpiper was on the spillway. George
LaRue had a flock of 50-60+ Swainson's Hawks in a pasture on B & R
Rd. this morning, which is the first report locally this spring.
There was a report from Lost Maples a couple weeks ago or so,
but I haven't seen any. Little Creek Larry said he still
has some White-crowned Sparrows around.
April 19 ~ Low in low 50's dF, KRVL hit 46dF, but not here.
It was a not-so-cold front with no rain. Finally this morning
our FOS male Painted Bunting on the seed, likely a returnee.
Yesterday was our first Indigo, today the Painted. Later in the
morning the FOS Brown-crested Flycatcher was out there in the
Pecans announcing its return. I could hear Great Crested and
Ash-throated at the same time. Hooded Oriole out there singing
a bit as it comes and goes to and from feeders. Yard is getting
pretty colorful again. Blue Grosbeak hitting the seed lots too,
I hear two males duelling at dawn chorus but have not yet seen
a female. Saw my first FEMALE Summer Tanager here today, Kathy
said she saw it a day or two ago at the bath. One fem. was at
Lost Maples last Sunday. Saw another Western Ribbonsnake, which
was smaller, maybe 15", so not the one I saw a week ago.
April 18 ~ About 60dF for a low, overcast, a front is coming in
but said to be dry here. This morn Kathy spotted our FOS Indigo
Bunting at the stick pile (cover for safety) next to the bird bath,
waiting for the Blue Grosbeak to leave the water. One Nashville
Warbler early. Looks good conditions for migrants to be knocked
down, which always happens on the critical must-be-at-desk days.
In the afternoon there was a beautiful male American Goldfinch
on the feeders. Usually they just barely get any breeding color
and are gone, so always a treat to see these tardy ones in color.
As the front passed I had a hawk, a big non-Red-tail buteo, I
grabbed a long distance doc shot on hoping for there to be enough
there for an ID. Nope, not enough there. Was probably a dark
morph (all chocolate type) Swainson's Hawk. Had some great
Scott's Oriole song for a bit in the afternoon.
Apr. 17 ~ Low of 48 was again almost a category (10dF) lower
than progged, and exactly no one complained. Dawn chorus is
rocking now, it is just outstanding out there at early thirty.
Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Chat, Vermilion Flyc., Bewick's
and Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Black-crested Titmouse,
White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler a
bit distantly (it will be over here later), Ash-throated Flycatcher
(Great Crest is back, but just, and not full monty dawn chorusing
yet), Cardinal, Lark Sparrow, White-winged Dove, and Eastern Phoebe
(which frankly do not contribute very much, unless you like a
lonely complaining type of song). Heard a Hutton's Vireo
early too, prolly a transient. Otherwise just the regulars.
Ran to town for an errand in the afternoon and the Coot seems
to have finally departed the park. It arrived in late December
on that real strong front at end of year, so was here 3.5 months.
Kathy saw the first Scorpion of the year out on back porch.
April 16 ~ A low of 41dF was almost 10 (a category) lower
than progged. Nice and calm for a couple hours, and then
the winds woke back up. Dawn chorus is going well by quarter
to seven now! Our local breeder Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted
Chat, and Summer Tanager are all back on territory going strong.
Heard about 3 Nashville sing their way through the yard over
the morning. Two American Goldfinch were on the sunflower feeder.
A Barn Owl called going North at late-thirty just before I crashed.
A couple of the transplanted Mealy Sage in a flower bed that
have been fighting leaf-cutter ants and dillos finally have a
few flower spires this year after almost none the last two.
I was admiring one closely when my FOY Texas Powdered-Skipper
landed on it. It didn't stay 10 seconds and was gone. An
Arizona Sister came into water sprayed around. But it blew
15-20 mph gusting higher from mid-morn on to late afternoon.
Glad I wasn't trying to see birds.
Apr. 15 ~ Happy Tax Day seems quite the oxymoron doesn't it?
At least Amazon didn't have to pay any taxes for last year,
that is what is important. There was a fittingly chilling feel this
morning, with a 37dF here at the house. Wind stopped and it
got cold. Surely there were some colder spots around. Wow.
Got up to about 77dF at peak afternoon heat, 40 deg. diurnals.
Our first at house this spring (FOS was at park Friday 13th)
Blue Grosbeak was singing at sunup this morning, and in afternoon
on seed on the patio, which means likely our local (across the
road) breeder is back. Turkeys are gobbling in distance.
We went to Lost Maples for a walk but was after the morning
rush of activity, did not get there until 10 a.m. We did the
couple miles one way to the headwater spring at highest permanent
water up Can Creek past the ponds. The far upper canyon area is
wonderful, and always a great walk. Worth it just for the
Mexican Tetras at the last pond if you ask me. Lots of Long-nosed
Dace and a Notropis sps. minnows in there too. Those Mexi Tets
are nice, a few getting some red in fins now. The birds really
get quiet after about 1 p.m. or so, though some are still moving,
nowhere near the audio clues are offered.
The weirdest thing was seeing flowers on the also every bit
as lost Witch Hazel (hundreds of miles to the nearest ones).
My book says they flower in fall. Whaddup? Yes I got pix for
the rare flower record committee. Man it is a weird flower too.
I have been looking for this, apparently at the wrong season.
I saw one Canyon Mock-orange with flowers, two without.
A bunch of the Antelope Horns have opened and once it warmed
they were swarmed with hairstreaks, it is hairstreak honey.
Multiple single flower heads had ten hairstreaks on them.
One cluster of a half-dozen plants had 24+ Olive-Juniper
Hairstreak and 10 Gray Hairstreak, plus lots of other stuff.
In reviewing my photos there was one Oak (So.) Hairstreak there
too. A few Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae) were on it too.
At the feeding station area we heard a few White-tipped
Dove. A Lazuli Bunting was reported yesterday. We heard a few
Black-capped Vireo along the trail, but all too far off in
the impenetrable (stay on trails) to persue. Heard a few and
saw a couple Golden-cheeked Warbler (one very well dancing on
the tips of a trailside juniper in the sun). Glimpsed a couple
Louisiana Waterthrush, and some Black-and-white Warblers, saw a
couple and heard a half-dozen Yellow-throated Warbler. Several
migrant Orange-crowned Warbler were singing, prolly had 10-12
Nashville Warbler, and heard a Myrtle. Heard a Kinglet (Ruby).
Found a Common Raven nest on the cliff, right across the canyon
below the big pouroff below the first big pond. Under a big
overhang, just to right of the biggest most crooked trunked
Sycamore that doglegs around said big overhang. New site here.
Vireos besides heard Black-caps were good numbers of White-eyed
and Red-eyed Vireo, several Yellow-throated, and a couple Hutton's.
Still not on territory there are Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,
Yellow-breasted Chat, Acadian Flycatcher, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.
No migrant Painted Bunting reported yet. No Cowbirds to speak of
up there yet either. We did not hear Olive Sparrow (we were late)
but some saw it/them yesterday. Heard only a Rufous-crowned
Sparrow, saw one texana Scrub-Jay.
Only soaring hawk I saw was a Red-tailed, but we had a male
first spring Sharp-shinned coming into the water at the high
point. Lots of Gnatcatcher, Cardinal, Carolina Wren and Chickadee,
Black-crested Titmouse, heard a couple Canyon Wren, numbers of
Summer Tanager now including females, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers,
and one of the better birds was a repeated song of Spotted Towhee,
which is getting tardy. A couple hundred Cedar Waxwing were up
around 2nd pond and between the ponds. Only lizard I saw was a
Four-lined Skink. Saw a small rat again in some Virginia Creeper
by 2nd pond but couldn't tell if Pack or Cotton (Neotoma or
Sigmodon).
I can't believe the numbers of Little Wood Satyr this year,
never saw so many, a couple dozen today. Also several Red Satyr
were seen. Saw my FOS Red-spotted Purple which was nice, and saw two
Arizona Sister. Several each of E. Tiger and Two-tailed Swallowtail,
and a half-dozen Spicebush. One Elada Checkerspot, an Orange Skipperling,
a few Dun Skipper, one Disparete Forster moth. In odes nice were a
bunch of Aztec and a few Springwater Dancer (ph. in wheel). Also
a FOS pair of male Flame Skimmer patrolling at the high water spot.
Lots of Common Whitetail, some E. Pondhawk, numbers of Dot-winged
Baskettail, and my FOS Prince Baskettail over the main first big pond.
On the way back in Utopia Kathy spotted a male Great-tailed Grackle
in a yard on Main St. I had a female a couple days ago just off
Main, so I presume our local pair that breeds is back. Little Creek
Larry mentioned one maybe a few weeks ago. Very few Scissor-tails
on the road, I am hoping they just haven't gotten here in
numbers yet.
Apr. 14 ~ After yesterday's cooker at 87dF on the cool shady
front porch, the front hit late last night and blew all night,
save a couple brief intermissions. This morning was 55dF and
north at 20-30 mph! And supposed to be 20dF colder tomorrow a.m.!
Spring weather everywhere can be dicey of course, the transition
is a rough one. The upside in birding is that these events often
drive the birds down low, to get out of the trees and wind. Find
the lees. At Lost Maples, the main (Sab. Riv.) canyon with the
Maples Trail (not Can Creek canyon to the ponds - the other one)
is a bad choice when blown out with northerlies. The other canyon
(ponds trail) will have a dogleg or two that are somewhat wind
protected, often around and past second pond is good for that.
The main big pond area itself I often refer to as Hurricane Gulch.
Golden-cheeked Warbler in Ashe Juniper.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Apr. 13 ~ Happy Friday the 13th! Chuck-wills-widow was still
going at 6:40 (early thirty), but was silent 5 minutes later.
As we get light earlier, dawn chorus is earlier too. Now by
about 7 a.m. it is starting, though a few vocalize occasionally
earlier, the full-monty chorus is not underway until about
then. And a minute or so a day earlier as we progress to the
solstice. I heard the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher singing over
at the airstrip, so that local bird is back. Thought I heard
a Yellow Warbler in the big pecan but did not see it.
Town run so park check. Best was my FOS Blue Grosbeak, a
male as expected. Up in the woods were about 8 Nashville
Warbler, an Orange-crowned and a Myrtle. The Coot continues.
The rest was the expected gang. A female Great-tailed Grackle
was walking around a lawn in town, first I have seen this year
though Little Creek Larry said he had one a month ago. A small
group of Common Grackle goes through the park occasionally.
Back in yard in afternoon was a Celia's Roadside-Skipper,
my FOS. Also saw my FOY W. Ribbonsnake, about 20" long, a
beauty. Heard my second of year Great Crested flycatcher about
4 p.m. across road toward the river. It seemed to move over to
what is a territory annually and call, so may be our returning
breeder. I will know at dawn chorus tomorrow. I can't wait.
About 7 p.m. over by the cottage was a Clay-colored Sparrow on the
seed, later about 8 it was on the patio looking dinky next to a
Lark Sparrow.
I saw a new different Sphinx moth of some sort I have never seen.
It was a small one, with black hindwings, trimmed in snow white dots.
There was a thin sharp white eye-line. I caught it in the cottage,
and turned it loose on the front porch where light was on, hoping
it would stick for photos, but it appears not. It was too
jacked up in net and hand for photos. Need that Sphinx book. My
online search suggests Pawpaw, except Bexar Co. might be most SW
locale known so far of it so far.
Saw a note online about a Red Warbler being found in the mountains
near Tucson, AZ, which is the first U.S. report of this stunning
Mexican mountain species. I saw them in Durango many moons ago.
It pays to keep the mind open, anything can happen. We could sure
use a new U.S. record here. If a Red Warbler can happen in AZ,
then we need to expand our ideas about what might occur here from
eastern Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental.
Apr. 12 ~ About 60dF for a low and overcast, and calm for a
few hours early finally after yesterday's blowout. Saw a
couple Six-lined Racerunner (lizard) today, my first of the
year. Was at the crossing for a few minutes and had a FOS
Common Yellowthroat. Also single Dusky Dancer and American
Rubyspot damselflies, and a FOY Pale-faced Clubskimmer dragonfly.
One good migrant in the yard was a Hermit Thrush at the bath.
It was not the flavor that winters, as those have been gone
over a month. It was much paler of back, seemed bigger, and
boy were the two wingbars bold. Otherwise nothing but the
breeders in the yard today. In leps, saw my FOY Arizona Sister,
my 3rd April Monarch (9th total this spring), and the summer form
Questionmark again.
A Painted Bunting at Tarpley was posted to the SATX yahoo groups
bird message board today. April 12 ties my earliest date ever here.
Interestingly besides the 12th arrival here once, I have only once
had arrival on the 13th, 3 times it was the 15th, once the 16th,
and once the 17th. So in the last 14 prior springs, in 7 years
arrival was the 17th or earlier, and for 7 springs it was later
than the 17th when the first one showed. The first 7 years I was
here avg. arrival was the 20th. The last 6 years, the 17th is
avg. arrival, and both my two earliest dates. That is how fast
things are changing. Right before our eyes. It is obvious to
those who look, most simply do not observe at the level of detail
required to see it.
Apr. 11 ~ A low in mid-40' like yesterday feels great!
Had a quick town errand in the a.m. so a quick look at the
park. I missed what looked like a sandpiper someone flushed
off the spillway (statistically Spotted). Below the dam
along creek I had my FOS Green Heron. There were a few
Nashville and a Myrtle or two. The Mulberry tree on Cypress St.
had a couple hundred Waxwing going in and out of it. I had
to get to the desk to make up the last couple days. No way I
could get up that "hill from hell" to see the vireo
three days in a row anyway, spreadsheets will be just fine today.
Sure great to have some serious singing in the yard again, like
the Chat, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, Vermilion Flycatcher
are all at it full time out there again. Heard the Ring King
over at the river here from yard.
Apr. 10 ~ Birded Lost Maples with Meade Cadot and Sandy Taylor
from NH, we had a great walk. Early at Utopia Park we had a
Green Kingfisher briefly, the Coot continues, Meade had a small
flock of what was likely Black-bellied Whistling-Duck go over,
and I had a small flock of larger dabbling ducks, maybe Shoveler.
No migrants, so up to Lost Maples. Couple Caracara near Vanderpool.
Golden-cheeked Warbler were a bit shy, again my sense is that
the numbers are down compared to usual. We got looks at the
Black-capped Vireo above the ponds, and might have heard about
8 total. Their numbers are increasing as more show up now.
We had two Broad-winged Hawks, likely the pair that has nested
the last 3 years, one is a normal light bird, the other darker
below, which is one of the recent pair. A few White-tipped Dove
are around the feeding station at the trailhead parking lot.
Heard Louisiana Waterthrush, several Red-eyed Vireo, a couple
Yellow-throated, lots of White-eyed, and a Hutton's Vireo.
Heard a Scott's Oriole but didn't see one. Heard lots
of Black-and whites, and Summer Tanagers, Carolina and Bewick's
Wren, a couple Canyon Wren, some Ash-throated Flycatchers. Migrant
Warblers were a half-dozen Nashville, and a couple Orange-crowned.
Heard Louisiana Waterthrush, had several Red-eyed Vireo, a couple
Yellow-throated, lots of White-eyed, and a Hutton's Vireo.
Several Lincoln's Sparrow and a Rufous-crowned, besides the
usual Chipping at the feeders. Interesting what is NOT in yet.
No buntings (Indigo or Painted), Blue Grosbeak, Chat, Acadian Flyc.
or Eastern Wood-Pewee. Likely in a week or so all will be there.
Saw Spicebush, Two-tailed, Eastern Tiger and Pipevine Swallowtails.
More Little Wood Satyrs, seems a good year for them. A Greater
Earless Lizard was on the trail upslope in the talus. Saw some
Brickelbush (a Eup.) coming up, but which doesn't bloom until
fall. Sycamores still not leafed out, just starting.
Apr. 9 ~ Heard the Chuck at early-thirty before first light.
Birded Lost Maples with Tom and Tanya Smythe from MI. We had a
great walk, saw Golden-cheeked Warbler between the ponds, heard
a bunch, and saw Black-capped Vireo (up on top of bluffs above
pond). Two new FOS species were had, Tom had a female Indigo
Bunting at the feeding station, and we had 2-3 Red-eyed Vireo
singing along the (Can Creek) canyon. Prior to last year my
earliest Red-eye was April 12, then other arrivals were 13, 15,
16 April. More first dates are later than the 16th. Last year
was my earliest ever, one on the 8th, and this year 3 are singing
on territory on the 9th. A week earlier than the first ones
used to show up most years.
I heard an Olive Sparrow sing when driving between HQ and the
trailhead parking lot and feeding station. There was a White-tipped
Dove at the feeding station. A Clay-colored Sparrow was there for
a moment. We had Rufous-crowned up top above the pond, where I
heard Black-throated but couldn't find them. Roadrunner singing
up there too. Tom had a duck fly over at the pond which I missed.
Blue-winged Teal is favored statistically. Just TV's and
Common Raven in the skies. Migrant warblers were a few Nashville,
a couple Orange-crowned, and I heard one Myrtle chip fly over.
Way more Summer Tanager than 8 days ago, good numbers of Blue-gray
Gnatcat and Black-and-white Warbler, but heard only on the B-n-W.
Heard a couple Louis. Waterthrush chips, didn't see any, heard
a few Hutton's Vireo.
Heard Yellow-throated Vireo and Canyon Wren, did not hear a
Scrub-Jay or Scott's Oriole. Lots of usuals like White-eyed
Vireo, Carolina Wren and Chickadee, Black-crested Titmouse,
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, some Ladder-backed
Woodpecker, numbers of Cedar Waxwing, 4 Pine Siskin which are
nearing tardy considering how few came down this winter.
Mostly it was too cool and overcast for insects, until later after
noon. Saw a couple Bronze Roadside-Skipper as well as the similar
ones with uncheckered fringes, whatever they are. A Two-tailed
Swallowtail was my first of the year, one Red Satyr flopped by.
Odes were few and far between. One male Common Whitetail, a
couple Dot-winged Baskettail, and some un-ID'd damsels, one
looked like Aztec Dancer.
After leaving and driving back as I left Utopia, soaring over the
first pasture south of town on east (left) side of road right
across from the Sabinal River Lodge, was a Zone-tailed Hawk.
Didn't see one at Lost Maples. Then at home in the afternoon, our
breeder Yellow-breasted Chat was singing on station across the road,
my FOS. A lone American Goldfinch flew over calling about 6 p.m.
Apr. 8 ~ About 41dF for a low, overcast so held some heat in,
KRVL had about 6 hours at 39dF. At least the wind stopped, but
feels kinda wintry for spring. No migrant movement that I saw.
Worked on stuff here since will be out the next couple days
morning to early afternoon. Was the same gang, but did hear
a Scissor-tail fly by up the river habitat corridor, first one
from the yard this spring. Maybe our local nearby breeders?
Yellow-throated Vireo singing around yard is nice to hear again.
Saw my first summer form Questionmark (butterfly) of the year,
with those black hindwings quite the beauty.
Apr. 7 ~ The front got here overnight, but the cold air was just
arriving pre-dawn. Temps dropped every hour all night and morning,
even 9 a.m. was colder than 8 a.m., with 42dF and 10-20 mph gusting
higher northerlies, chill factors in Vanderpool and Kerrville were 32dF.
That is about what it felt like here. Gonna be a heavy hummer
feeder day, and surely migration was stopped in its tracks to
our south somewhere. Only got to mid-50's dF at peak heat,
wind blew all day. Was a bad day to be a flycatcher here. Don't
know what that Chuck that got here yesterday is going to eat tonight.
Temps are supposed to rebound tomorrow. Heard a Ring King over at
the river but that was about it besides the regulars. Did not see
a dozen Chipping Sparrow, saw a Lincoln's, and a dozen Lark
are daily again on the patio now, until September, by which it will
be two dozen or more. Saw the Ground-Dove on the seed. Worked here
tryin' to get a bunch of stuff done, but the garden stuff will
wait for a nicer day.
Black-capped Vireo at Lost Maples, pardon my pixels, I figured
you'd give me a pass considering their lovely arrangement.
This is a third year bird and still not a definitive adult.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Apr. 6 ~ Back to balmy, overcast, about 65dF for a low. Clearing
late in afternoon. Calm for an hour or two early, but then windy.
Supposed to be a frontish thing overnight. Maybe birds tomorrow?
Nothing in yard in a.m. but the usual expected gang. Heard the
Ring King over at the river in a.m., saw it flying upriver over
Cypresses in late afternoon. Town run so a look at the park.
A flock of 5 migrant Great Blue Heron landed in the big dead
Cypress in the river at top end of the pond. The Coot is still
there, a Gnatcatcher and a Kinglet.
Warblers were about 8 Myrtle and one beautiful male Audubon's
in nice breeding plumage which looked great, a couple Nashville, one
Black-and-white, and a few of the nesting Yellow-throated Warbler.
Best bird was my earliest ever FOS Great Crested Flycatcher. The
11th was my earliest date prior, and that just last year. We have
had several days of very strong southerlies in the 10 days or so.
The other good bird to see was FOS Chimney Swift over town. Little
Creek Larry said he has a couple dozen Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
over on Little Creek (where else?).
After sundown but before dark I got two more FOS new species for
the day. A Firefly was my first of them, and better, about 8:15 to
8:20 (chuck-thirty now) I listened to a calling Chuck-wills-widow.
Great to hear that again! Both species are at the very early end
of the date windows for them, but not earliest ever.
Apr. 5 ~ Upper 50's dF for a low, overcast, the usual spring gray.
At least the winds stopped for the morning. Little sun in afternoon,
the standard program. A Ringed Kingfisher or two were calling over
at the river mid-morning. Did not see any migrant action through yard
in a.m. again. Maybe tomorrow said the eternal optimist. Just one
more day and a big wave will hit. Just over that next ridge, maybe
around the next bend, or over that next big swell, what about that
last little tree patch we didn't check... There are always good
unfound, unknown birds out there, probably closer to you than you
would want to know. Most of the time I just can't see them from
wherever I am.
Apr. 4 ~ The winds blew all night from the north, surely it shut
down bird movement to the south. Low was in the upper 40's dF.
No migrant movement through the yard. Ideally you want the wall
of northerlies to pass over you in the middle of the night, not
just at dark. That way birds are up in the air overhead when
it hits and they are grounded. When it passes before the night
flight starts, yer goose is cooked for migrants. It blew all day
too. Maybe 18 on the Chipping Sparrows now, mostly first-winter
birds, the adults are gone, save the local breeders. Hooded and
Scott's Oriole males hitting the hummer feeders.
Apr. 3 ~ A balmy 65 for a low, threatened to rain all day but
never did. A 40 percent chance gets ya nuthin' here. Twenty
percent can get you a flood. A bit windy too, and no migrant
movement through yard save one each Myrtle and Orange-crowned
Warbler, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Couple Lincoln's Sparrow
still around the bath. The Bronzed Cowbird still hitting the millet
tube when no one around looking. Chipping Sparrow count is about two
dozen now. The front passed and the northerlies arrived after dark.
Kathy had two Yellow-throated Warbler at the bath, prolly THE pair
that nests in the nearest Cypress across the road and uses the
yard regularly.
Apr. 2 ~ Low of 65dF and overcast, first two or three hours of
the day as is often the case are calm without any breeze, and
so quite nice. Saw my FOS Bronzed Cowbird on the millet tube
this morning. There cannot be a spring arrival I am less excited
to see. You again already? I see green growing pecan flowers
on some of the trees, not open and pollen yet, but couple-inch
long buds. Besides 'when the Scissor-tails show up', one of the
other 'will not freeze again' pieces of lore here is
'when the pecans bloom'.
April 1 ~ Happy Fool's day for all you fools out there! The
first quarter is over. We finally got to go to Lost Maples, first
break in biz in 3 months. A whole half-day of hiking and birding.
Wow! We saw a few FOS Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on 187 north of town
on the way up the valley. At HQ there was an Audubon's Oriole
singing across the opposite side of the canyon. The primative camp
area at the main pond is closed for recovery so it is much queiter in
that area than it has been the last decade. Very nice. Great idea.
Use has been tremendously heavy spring to mid-summer the last
15 years. I can feel the 4 miles or so we did, with a steep 400' of
altitude gain and then loss. Way easier with a walking stick if you
are going up top of the bluffs, especially for the way down.
Of course since it was early in season lots of stuff is not there yet,
but of course there were still lots of things to see. I had a quick
look at a White-tipped Dove and a female Scott's Oriole at
the feeding station. We heard a couple Olive Sparrow singing.
Might have heard ten or so Golden-cheeked Warbler, saw a couple,
one male very well. I had a great view briefly looking down
on a female, she had a nice back man. There were a few singing
Louisiana Waterthrush, and 8 or 10 Black-and-white Warbler, nearing
a half-dozen Yellow-throated Warbler for breeding warblers. Migrant
warblers were a couple Nashville, an Orange-crowned, and about
5 Myrtle Warbler, and a few that got away that were likely Nash.
A couple Hermit Thrush and a House Wren are migrants.
We went up the steep rough trail above the pond to the bluff tops
where there were a few singing Black-capped Vireo scattered about.
It was very windy, even a bit of mist, tough conditions. I had
a couple poor looks at vireos. Had great looks at a pair of
Black-throated Sparrow though. There were a few Claret Cup cactus
along the cliff edge, lots of Rain Lily up there, some Spiderwort
that might have been Giant, some Drummond's Skullcap. Such a
different habitat up there from the canyon bottoms, it is amazing.
No hawks working the cliff edge, only Common Raven and Turkey Vulture.
Coming up the canyon we heard a few Canyon Wren, Ash-throated
Flycatcher, there was one Yellow-throated Vireo, lots of White-eyed,
and a couple Hutton's, a couple Rufous-crowned Sparrow, only
heard one Summer Tanager. Of course some of the usual residents
like Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee and Wren, Cardinal,
Ladder-backed Woodpecker. The migratory breeders are just gettin'
there. There were over a hundred waxwing in some Sycamores.
The Redbud is done and over, and the Mountain Laurel all but, only
a few scattered blooms left here and there. Saw a couple Scarlet
Clematis flowers, some White Rock Lettuce, Red Buckeye (ours is
yellow flowered form) is blooming, as is Spanish Buckeye (that is
not a Buckeye). Lots is still just sprouting, including the leafing
out of the trees, many of which were still just barely starting.
There were some blooming Huisache on the way up the valley. You
could tell a botanical and seasonal difference in just the few hundred
feet of altitude change between here (Utopia) and there (Vanderpool-Lost
Maples) though.
In general it was too cool for bugs, but there were a few of
interest. First of the year were two Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
(one was black form female), 3 Spicebush Swallowtail, and three
Red Satyr, so those were the highlights. The other few were the expected.
One Henry's Elfin on Spanish Buckeye was so worn I didn't
bother trying to take a photo. I didn't bother with a half-dozen
Erynnis Duskywings either, saw one each of Horace's, Funereal,
and Mournful. For odes there was less. Some of those super blue
Aztec Dancers were nice, and the only damselfly I saw. A few Dot-winged
Baskettail, and one male Common Whitetail were the only dragons.
Saw one Red-breasted Sunfish with good color already. On the
way back there were 4-5 Scissor-tails along 187. So the first of
them are back in.
~ ~ ~ March summary ~ ~ ~
It was a dry March, with less than an inch of precip and no
freeze the whole month, last one was in mid-February. Spring
explodes on the scene in green over the month, lots of flowers
are now going, trees are leafing out, and it is generally wonderful.
Newly arriving birds and newly emerging butterflies are the big
thing all month keeping it exciting to be watching.
Dragonflies were few and far between overall, but the usual
March emergers were out. Maybe 3 sps. of damselflies, and
5 of dragons, for about 8 total . The expected: a few
Springtime Darner, a few Red Saddlebags, and good numbers of
Dot-winged Baskettail. The highlight was a few Pronghorn
Clubtail (ph.). One FOS male Eastern Pondhawk on the 31st.
Next month they get going much better.
Butterflies were a good showing of 41 species. A Goatweed
Leafwing snuck under the wire on the 31st, Giant Swallowtail
on the 30th. The highlight was a female Great Purple Hairstreak
at water in the yard, my first since 2015, missed it the last
two years. A fair showing of Henry's Elfins this spring.
In April leps really gets going and should be over 50 species.
For birds I saw about 101 species around Utopia, and know of
about 7-8 more others saw nearishby, a few were only at Lost Maples.
Most of the excitement is seeing the return of things like
Hooded and Scott's Oriole, Hummingbirds, Golden-cheeked
Warbler, and others. We had an Olive Sparrow and a Couch's
Kingbird in our yard both of which are good. A few Olive Sparrow,
a couple Golden-cheeked Warbler, and a Black-capped Vireo are
within a couple miles of town. Audubon's Oriole, White-tipped
Dove, and Olive Sparrow have been reported at Lost Maples SNA.
Twice small flocks of Bufflehead were seen at the park this
month, which was likely the rarest thing locally this month.
That we know about.
~ ~ ~ end March summary ~ ~ ~
~ ~ back to the regularly scheduled drivel ~ ~ ~
March 31 ~ For a long month it sure went by fast. Temp
spread was about 60-80dF, and a bit too breezy for birding.
Had an errand in town so swung through part of the golf course
to see if Scissor-tails back there and saw none. A flock of
20 meadowlarks flushed, the two I had great studies of were
Eastern. Over on the Waresville Rd. (363) there was a FOS
Bell's Vireo singing in the mesquites.
About 20 Cave Swallow are back at the bank working on nests.
Stopped at the park again and mostly over-run by people but
the Coot was still in the water lillies. Up in the woods there
was my FOS Nashville Warbler. At the blooming live-oak patch
by the ball diamond there were about a dozen Myrtle Warbler,
including one Myrtubon's hybrid (Myrtle x Audubon's).
Also my first of month Goatweed Leafwing butterfly, which is
great to add for the March list. Two different Monarchs were
at the park, so now 6 for the month of them. One watersnake of
some sort, my FOY (ph.). In the yard I saw flowers of Tube-Tongue
and Yellow Ground-Cherry.
Black-throated Sparrow at Lost Maples on April 1
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Mar. 30 ~ About 52dF for a low is fine by me. The male
Ruby-throated Hummer was back at the feeder in the morning.
Mid-morning my FOS Summer Tanager announced itself back from
the top of the big pecan right off front porch. There was
another (I presume) singing at the park in town a couple hours
later. The Coot was still there, but nothing else. Did not see
a Scissor-tail along the roads yet. Little Creek Larry said
there were 5 Bufflehead at the park yesterday (29th), one male
and four females. Either our third occurrence this spring, or
a group has been moving around. I suspect they are all different
birds passing through. There was my FOY Giant Swallowtail at
the park, and a couple Large Orange Sulphur around town. My
fourth Monarch of the spring drifted around the yard a bit and
then northeastward. Thought sure I heard a Black-and-white
Warbler singing distantly in the live-oak motte North of park.
Some Forktail damsels (Ischnura) were in the woods but I did
not get a shot or an ID. Not Fragile, Rambur's, or Citrine.
Mar. 29 ~ A wonderful 45dF low felt great after those recent few
mornings in the mid-60's. The front passed, finally sunny.
Got up to the mid-80's dF in the afternoon heat! Didn't see
any migrant movement through the yard in the a.m., thought
there might be a post-frontal push. Wishful thinking
apparently. There was however our FOS male Hooded Oriole
on a hummer feeder here, for some outstanding color we haven't
seen in 6 months. Whatabird. Two new for the month
butterflies showed, a Northern Cloudywing, and a FOY Dun
Skipper. Should be a Giant Swallowtail out any day now. About
6:20 p.m. I saw my FOS Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a male of course.
Fancy seeing that back. About a third of my 15 springs here I
have seen the first one during the last 5 days or so of March,
more often it is the first week of April.
Mar. 28 ~ Low about 60dF or so. We had another quarter inch of
rain overnight, after yesterdays quarter, so a good half-inch
total as of the morning. Just southeast of us 20 miles the
storms trained and they got 2.5-5"! Heard the Ringed King
over at the river at early thirty and again mid-day. The male
Scott's Oriole was at the feeder early, after hitting it long
and hard just before dusk last night. Getting raucous with birdsong
out there, a little after 7 a.m. it starts. A couple Myrtle Warbler
moved through the trees northbound. I suspect there would have
been some migrants around with the rain, had one been able to
go kick the bushes and wanted to get wet feet.
Mar. 27 ~ Low about 65dF, not very, and some mist and drizzle.
By 4 p.m. the light shower or two with it added up to .25 of an inch.
There was a Savannah Sparrow eating white millet off the patio.
But a bit soppy, so I wasn't out looking a lot. Since it
was wet and a workday, I was thinking of the sparrows I have seen
in the last 10 days either around the yard, or a mile south on
the 1450' knoll. I mean a 'big picture' sparrow
group which includes Towhees, since they are just XXL sparrows.
Except the Spotted Towhee (uphill and on knoll), just in the yard
from this past weekend to the one prior, I have seen Canyon Towhee,
Olive Sparrow, Lark, Field, Chipping, Clay-colored, Savannah,
Lincoln's, Vesper, and White-crowned Sparrows. So ten in yard
and eleven species around big picture group without really trying.
It's like Sparrowtopia. They are on the move bigtime now.
Several other species are around as well.
Rufous-crowned are around within a mile for sure, and so is
Black-throated. The wintering Song seem gone, but a passage
transient is possible, as is a Swamp or White-throated along river.
If one birded all day and was very lucky they could get 15 species
of sparrows in a day locally lately. Likely that Grasshopper, and
Lark Bunting are hereabouts in late March too. Cassin's
is a scarce to occasional migrant, almost annual, so possible.
Past that you are just wishing. ;) And if you are
going to do that my rule is you might as well think big, like a
Striped Sparrow or a Brush-Finch from Mexico. ;)
Mar. 26 ~ About 66 dF for a low, and humid. Strong southerlies 15-20mph
gusting higher, and it got into the 80's in afternoon peak heat.
There was a Clay-colored Sparrow on the patio eating white millet,
and at one point within a foot was a Lark and a Chipping Sparrow,
since camera was in house of course. In butterflies it was a big day
for Lyside Sulphur, 200-300 of them went through the yard today,
at least 4 were yellow morph. Also saw my FOY Large Orange Sulphur,
and my 3rd Monarch of the month, year, season, so far. Saw again the
very worn winter Questionmark that has been around the eight days or so.
Mar. 25 ~ Overcast and mid-60's dF for a low, feeling springy.
Shortly after 8 a.m. I came out of the cottage after feeding fish
and there was a calling COUCH'S Kingbird in the top of the
big pecan in the front yard. A very nice spring migrant, sort of
an overshoot, but they have nested locally, and some always get
further north in spring. I am dyin' to see a Golden-cheek
and Black-cap of course, knowing they are back. We took a couple
hours 11-1 and looked at the 1450' knoll SW of the 360 crossing
(on private property), maybe a mile from our place.
Nice live-oak and juniper grassland with some Buckley Oaks on the
knoll as well as some good dense (as in impenetrable) understory
on the south slope of the knoll. There were two territorial singing
Olive Sparrow, one had a second bird with it, presumedly the female.
That pair was right where I saw fledged young a year or two ago.
There was one singing Black-capped Vireo at the usual territory,
I got a half a glimpse, but we heard some great song close. Then
there were at least two, maybe three, singing Golden-cheeked Warbler.
Relief at last! We had great looks at one of them, whatabird.
Other things were a few Blue-gray Gnatcatcher which might nest
there, heard a Scrub-Jay, saw one and heard another Spotted
Towhee, heard a Hutton's Vireo, Turkey was gobbling, Roadrunner
was cooing, a pair of Titmouse. One fresh Bordered Patch butterfly
and better, two or three Pronghorn Clubtail dragonfly (ph.). That
acacia whatever it is was blooming, what a great scent, but was mostly
too cool for butteflies still. A few flowers were some nice Diamentia,
lots of Blackfoot Daisy and Paralena, but the Laurel is all but over.
Saw a big Tom Turkey gobble on the way out, Kathy had a Caracara
fly-by I missed. It was a great haul for an hour and a half a
mile from the house.
Mar. 24 ~ A bit misty in the a.m., did a recycling and dump run
noonish, got sunny later in afernoon after 3 p.m. or so. Still
no Scissor-tails along the roads. Saw one Clay-colored Sparrow
along dump road. A FOS Louisiana Waterthrush at the park was great.
So was a male Downy Woodpecker there, almost all my sightings here
are of females. Watched a male Green Kingfisher catch a small fish.
A continuing continually singing Hutton's Vireo continued.
Couple Myrtle Warbler and the Coot. A bunch of Yellow-throated
Warbler, of which females are in now. I watched a pair nest site
prospecting way up in the top of the biggest Cypress. Which, when
they finish 'leafing' out you won't be able to see them
up there. Some Spanish Buckeye is in bloom now, which is another
good place to look for Elfins if your Redbuds are done blooming.
In the afternoon and evening from the front porch I heard a
Ringed Kingfisher calling over at the river. The male Scott's
Oriole is hitting feeder regularly. Should be a Hooded around any
day now.
Is this what you are looking for?
Singing "she says I'm so laa-zzeee"
~ ~ ~ last prior update below after brief intermission ~ ~ ~
Archive copy of update header (partial)
Some recent winter sightings:
There was a GREAT KISKADEE at Utopia Park Friday Feb. 2-3, up in
the woods on the island upriver of the screen shelters. See photos
below the first two Feb. updates below. A PURPLE MARTIN was heard
Jan. 29, and a Turkey Vulture was seen to have returned the same date.
A Townsend's Solitaire was hearable from Utopia Park, on
the priv. prop. to the NNE of park, last heard Feb. 2.
A flock of northbound White-fronted Goose was heard at dusk Jan. 31.
Little Creek Larry had two EARED GREBE at the park in early Jan. one
day. He had a pair of BUFFLEHEAD there Monday Feb. 19th.
There was a flock of RED CROSSBILL moving up and down the river
habitat corridor south of town (at least) from Nov. 11 to late December.
I heard a few a couple times in earliest Jan., and none since.
There was a report of a Green-tailed and Eastern Towhee just NE of town
on Friday Jan. 19th, (still in Uvalde Co.), but the deer feeder they
were at went dry. Friday Dec. 15 there was a N. GOSHAWK climbing up
and soaring high over town right behind the Ranch Outpost. A local
that knows birds described what was likely it later, NE of town along
Little Creek. TWO Townsend's Solitaire were seen at Lost Maples
(Bill Wright) Friday Dec. 15th in the picnic area. An adult Harris's
Sparrow was in our yard Dec. 24. Adult Harris's Hawk were at
Little Creek later Jan., and one in our big pecan Jan. 29, a couple
miles south of town. Judy Schaffer reports Rufous Hummingbird wintering
again at her place in town.
~ ~ ~ end archive copy of update header (partial) ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ last prior update now really is below ~ ~ ~
Mar. 23 ~ Low about 60dF with mist and drizzle. Saw an Orange-crowned
Warbler working the male Mulberry flowers, Kathy had one yesterday,
they are on the move now, these are transients, not the wintering
very very few. Great having Yellow-throated Vireo singing around
the yard every morning again. Town run so a look at the park. First
at the north end of town there were 3 Savannah Sparrow in a field,
migrants, and some Bluebonnets are open too. A few Cave Swallow
were up there as well. Near the storage spaces there were a dozen
male Common Grackle in a field, which are also spring arrivals.
Did not see a Scissor-tail along the roads. Little Creek Larry
said some people saw some along Hwy. 90 in the brush country in
the last week. We are usually a week to 10 days behind them.
At the park the Coot was still there, I missed it a couple times in
the last week or 10 days. There were a few Yellow-throated Warbler
singing (and a few along 360), a Yellow-throated Vireo, a couple
Myrtle Warbler, but slow. There was blooming Texas Onion, lots of
Dewberry, lots of Slender-stem Bitterweed, the first few Engleman's
Daisy, and some False Day-flower. In the afternoon there was an
adult White-crowned Sparrow here in the yard and later, my FOS
Clay-colored Sparrow. When you have the spring equinox here,
Clay-coloreds are not far behind. About 9 p.m. I had my FOS Barn Owl.
Mar. 22 ~ Low in the low 50's dF and humid with overcast. Heard
three Yellow-throated Vireo singing at once in the a.m. Male and
female Brown-headed Cowbird out there. No sign of the Olive Sparrow
of yesterday evening. Got up to about 80dF when sun came out in
afternoon. The male Scott's Oriole was at a hummer feeder in
the a.m., surely it is the one that breeds upslope behind us somewhere.
Two Lincoln's Sparrows at the bath early, they are on the move now,
so where is that first Clay-colored? Any day. Hermit Thrush was
out there, the local winterers gone weeks now, this is a passage
transient.
The hummers (Black-chinned) number over a hundred now, likely a
good bit over too. We're already past a quart per day, barreling
towards a half-gallon, and only have three feeders out, each on a
different side of house for MAF - maximum attraction factor.
Which does not seem to help but makes me feel like I am trying.
The valley floor is nothing like being up on the ridges for
transient hummers. We had way way more Rufous, Allen's, Calliope,
Broad-tailed, and Anna's (not to mention rare vagrants like
a Violetear, a Lucifer and a White-eared) when we were up on Seco Ridge.
Mar. 21 ~ A low of 37dF when I checked (in dark before peak cold)
was great, I saw KRVL hit a 36. We'll long for this soon.
I presume the same Lincoln's Sparrow that was on the seed all
day yesterday was the one at the bath this morning. Bet that
Gnatcatcher yesterday is glad it didn't arrive a day sooner.
A female Brown-headed Cowbird was my first spring arriving female.
The Yellow-throated Vireo is singing around the yard and surely
the local territorial male that has returned. Ash-throated Flycatcher
out there a bit, it could be the local nester back as well.
My FOS Scott's Oriole sang up the slope behind us in the big
ancient live-oaks about noonish and again at 12:30 closer to house.
Might be 'our' local breeder that uses the hummer feeders.
Later afternoon a second Gnatcatcher went through. Later, after 6 p.m.
I was over in the cottage looking out back door by the one good laurel
that constitutes understory, and an Olive Sparrow flew into it.
We throw seed under it a couple times daily. It worked along the
fence and upslope where denser and I lost it. Have not seen one
lately around and so a bird on the move. Did see the winter form
Questionmark again. Great was a FOS female Falcated Orange-tip
that flew around the yard a bit. More Lysides, a Painted lady
which was also a FOY for me.
Mar. 20 ~ Happy Equinox! Clay-colored Sparrow will show up any day
now. The low in the low 40's dF was great, but 10-15+mph northerlies
make it tough for birding. When all the branches and leaves are moving,
the single most used bird spotting technique - seeing motion - becomes
far far less effective. Everything is in motion. The other most used
bird detection method - hearing - is also greatly diminished pretty
soon past about 15 mph, except for closestby stuff. Not a big deal
scoping shorebirds (which we don't do much of here) but when
looking in trees it can be. Small birds duck for cover and work the
interiors of dense shrubs, etc. In wind, look for the lees, whether
hill or ridge, building, treeline or hedgerow, or a dogleg in a canyon
(often only one side or the other of a leg will be blown out).
Heard 2-3 Yellow-throated Vireo, one over in the corral which may
be the area returning breeder. The big (but not very large) FOS of
the day was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for over an hour in the afternoon.
It is my 2nd latest arrival date in 15 springs here. A Lincoln's
Sparrow was around the seed we toss all day. A Vesper Sparrow is
a passage bird, out working in the driveway and in a Persimmon. Love
seeing that male Vermilion sputtering overhead against the blue skies
off and on all day again. No Canyon Towhee again, methinks it split.
Butterflies were great, we spray a little water around and make a couple
wet spots, which since it is so dry can bring a wave of a half-dozen
to a dozen butterflies in a few minutes. And sometimes they are
good ones. Outstanding was a Great Purple Hairstreak that came in
for a drink. I have not seen one the last two years, it flushed
when I came back out with camera. But I had great looks of the
incredible neon metallic blue upper wings as it fluttered around
looking for where to land. You can't see the best part when they
sit (wings closed). It was a female. In the afternoon I saw my FOS
Dusky-blue Groundstreak. Saw one Pearl and a half-dozen Vesta Crescent,
and a Henry's Elfin came in to the watered wet soil as well.
It got to mid-70's with very low humidity (not as bad as yesterday's but dry).
Mar. 19 ~ A wonderful calm dry 52dF or so for a low felt great.
What I am sure is the Yellow-throated Warbler that uses yard
as part of its territory was back this morning in the male
Mulberry working the branches over the cottage. The wind
started around 9 a.m., and blew all day, 15-20 gusting 20-30mph.
Finally calmed down shortly before dark. Lots of hummers here
now as in several dozens, all Black-chinned of course. Anything
else is rare in March, Ruby-throats mostly show up the first
week of April. Was the usual suspects but a couple Myrtle Warbler
went through northward. Best was a butterfly that came into water,
Theona Checkerspot, my first of year. Kathy spotted a worn winter
form Questionmark on the wet patio, which I missed all winter, and
will likely be the last of them we will see until fall.
There were humidity readings in the area today of 10-15 percent,
very low here. Bone dry low, and it is great, except for the fire
danger with the strong winds. Did not hear or see the Canyon Towhee
today, it was singing still here yesterday. Lost its mate presumedly
to an accipiter, didn't attract a new one in the couple months
since, and so has likely gone off to see if it can sing one up.
Mar. 18 ~ Low 60's dF for a low, and another pre-frontal
warm day in the upper 80's. Saw and heard the first returning
Lark Sparrow of the spring, singing for a few minutes in the
top of the big pecan. Though a few winter, we have a clear
departure of the breeders in fall, and as clear a return of them
in spring, which seems likely completely unrelated to the
population of wintering birds. Thought I heard a Black-and-white
Warbler again upslope in the live-oaks behind us. Heard a
Yellow-throated Warbler over at the river. In the afternoon
a Yellow-throated Vireo sung its way north up the river
habitat corridor. The live-oaks are in heavy molt right now,
many are all but leafless, and surely flightless, with the new
growth tips just breaking stems.
Mar. 17 ~ Low in mid-60's dF, high about 85 when it got
sunny in afternoon. Heard a couple singing Yellow-throated
Warbler moving north through cypresses along the river. The
Chipping Sparrows number about 55, over half of the wintering
flock is gone now. The rest was the same gang, a lot of great
birdsong at dawn, right now just after 7 a.m. or so it gets
rippin' for a bit. Music to my ears. Two first of year
(FOY) butterflies today were Texan Crescent and Lyside Sulphur.
Trying to get a bunch of spring cleaning and chores done before
I can't stand it and go birding. Actually besides the little
bit of very local looking I tend to hold my fire until I can
see the whites of their eyes, so to speak. At least until a bigger
percentage of the migratory breeders are here and in and the
birdsong has become a din. Sure you can rush out and get that
first Golden-cheek, but no Gnatcatchers yet, much less Summer
Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, buntings, etc., and often no females
yet of many of the earliest arrivers. Gotta get garden stuff
done before it gets too hot and all the birds show back up.
Indigo Snake
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Mar. 16 ~ Only about 60dF in the a.m. under cloud cover, then
cleared and got up to about 86dF in the shade. Getting warm,
and green. Hackberries are in flower, male Mulberry too,
Redbud is still going as is Mountain Laurel, and the Cypresses.
Saw my FOY Prairie Fleabane flowers today along the back fence.
Some Crow-Poison and Yellow Wood-Sorrel in yard, at the park
the Dewberry is blooming well. Wish I could get some going here.
My FOS Cave Swallows (10) were on the powerline in front of the
senior center, and no doubt the ones that nest at the bank breezeways.
The park check was nice, there were 6 female Bufflehead on the
pond! Great spring migrant record. Little Creek Larry had a
pair Feb. 19, so we have a bumper crop this spring, it is easy
to go a several years without seeing one here. Larry also has had
continuing from last week 6-8 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
over at Little Creek. He also saw a Great-tailed Grackle in town
this week and he heard a Black-capped Vireo out 470 towards
Tarpley. There were a couple Yellow-throated Warbler and one
Yellow-throated Vireo singing at the park, and another of the
warbler at the 360 crossing. Our yard breeders (yard is part of
their territories) of both have not returned yet as of this
afternoon. One Green Kingfisher at the park. I saw the
Pied-billed Grebe but not the Coot which may have left. A Field
Sparrow is always good in the park.
Lots of Vermilions but no Scissor-tails along the roads yet.
The earliest returns I have for Scissors are March 21 up here.
They get back in brush country flatlands a week or 10 days sooner
than up here where colder. There is an old saying that when they
show up, it means it won't freeze again. The average date for
last freeze here is right around Mar. 21, though it can freeze
much later, on average the last feeze is the day after the Equinox
here. Roughly the same as my earliest two return dates, so the
proximity of those two dates is not likely a coincidence, and at
least you have to give the old saying some credence. A Merlin
flew over yard at last sun, and a Ringed Kingfisher called from
over at the river at dusk.
Mar. 15 ~ Upper 40's dF for a low. Had my first spring
arrival of Brown-headed Cowbird. Some winter with the Brewer's
Blackbird flocks, but a clear wave of them (no doubt from
elsewhere - southward) shows up in spring. Even an unfavored
species can have interesting aspects about it. Heard the
Barking Frog off back porch again after dark. Weird is that
I never heard the 'spring peeper' chorus we usually
have in Jan. or Feb. of Strecker's Chorus Frogs.
Mar. 14 ~ About 42dF for a low. Town run errand first thing
early so a look at the park. Little Creek Larry said he had
a pair of Blue-winged Teal there yesterday. Best was two FOS
species, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Yellow-throated Vireo.
The vireo is early up here in the hills. At least two of
the warbler were singing in the Cypresses. There were 3 Gadwall,
the Coot, the Pied-billed Grebe, one Green Kingfisher, heard
Blue Jays, and the pair of Red-shouldered Hawk. Thought I
heard the flight note of a Black-and-White Warbler in the
big live-oak motte over the fence, couldn't see it though.
Vesta Crescent (lep) in the yard in the afternoon. Late in day
a Merlin was chasing Waxwings around over yard and corral.
Mar. 13 ~ Low about 40dF, KRVL had a 38. Got up into mid-60's.
Busy at work. Saw a Disparete Forester moth, the first of
the year for me. Kathy saw a Gray Hairstreak. I saw my FOY
Buckeye (butterfly) as well, a nice fresh one just out of the
paint shop. Noonish a flock of 45 cranes thermalled overhead,
it is amazing how quickly they gain altitude with so little
apparent effort. The pair of Vermilion Flycatcher were
prospecting around the yard a bit. Sure nice to have that
exhuberant male back around again. The hummer numbers are
building already. Has to be a couple or three dozen males,
and a good number of females too.
Mar. 12 ~ Low about 43dF, the wind stopped some time in the
wee hours, finally. Only got to mid-60's or so peak heat.
The Canyon Towhee singing a bit on the brush piles we make out
of fallen pecan sticks. It, the wintering Mocker, and the
Wrens just love a good stick pile. We have a smaller one
next to the bird bath for stuff to dive into when Accipiters
attack. Always provide cover near a bath. Noonish an
immature White-crowned Sparrow showed up for a bath. It was
a pale-lored orange-billed Gambell's (Western) type, not the
usual black-lored, pink-billed Eastern type we have (leucophrys).
Every spring a small number of these go through, it sure would be
neat to understand the phenomenon whatever it is. Today was the
first day the Red Harvester Ants were back out of the ground.
And so the battle begins again. Seeing a few Fire Ant mounds
popping up too. Fire Ants are easier to kill.
Mar. 11 ~ Too windy. The front got here, at least the wind
did, 10-20 mph all day, gusting to 30. So worked inside.
Not cold, about 66 or so much of day, but too windy to bird.
Did see an Ash-throated Flycatcher in the yard after hearing
the FOS yesterday. Still a hundred plus Chipping Sparrow
out there on the white millet. The rest seemed the same
gang. A Golden-fronted Woodpecker was working on a hole in
the big dying Hackberry again. It has done so a few springs,
but never seems to have yet made a cavity, though the hole
is there.
Mar. 10 ~ Just before midnight last night had a 10 minute
shower with a tenth of an inch of precip. This morning I
heard my FOS Ash-throated Flycatcher up on the ridge behind
us, and Turkey gobbling. Mostly worked on stuff here. The
highlight in the yard was the FOY returning MONARCH butterfly!
My second earliest date in 15 springs, March 8 is my only one
earlier, but have two March 12 arrival dates. It was at the
blooming Mountain Laurel in yard.
Nice to see the male and female Vermilion Flycatcher back here.
In later afternoon we checked the crossing and the blooming
Redbuds, Laurels, and Agarita on the hill behind us. It was
about 86dF in the shade, 90 in the sun, the birds were quiet.
At the 360 x-ing there was a Kiowa and a Dusky Dancer, the two
first damselflies for the year, or first with positive ID's.
In dragons a Springtime Darner was my first this year, and
a number of Dot-winged Baskettail were flying.
Inadvertently flushed a Great Horned Owl in a dense area of
live-oaks where it may be nesting. Heard Hutton's Vireo.
Uphill most of the Agarita is done, but some few are still going.
Many Laurels seem past peak as well, though the early first ones,
some just getting going. The few Redbuds look peak flower right
now. There were a few Henry's Elfin on them but which
refused to stay for photos, they always seem very ginchy to me.
A couple Olive-Juniper Hairstreak were not so shy. Saw one Sachem,
my FOY, as was a Horace's Duskywing on a Redbud. There
were a few un-ID'd Duskywing.
Pardon the pixels and fuzziness
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Mar. 9 ~ Low about 50dF, high about 68, cloudy all day. Did
the town run fer stuff. Redbuds are blooming all over the
place, they look great, some Laurels around town are now
dripping in purple flowers. Park had 4 Gadwall on the pond,
and the wintering Coot continues. Nothing in the woods,
but my FOS Northern Rough-winged Swallow were feeding
right below the spillway, maybe on mayflies, three of them.
Little Creek Larry said he had a couple strings of
Double-crested Cormorant go over northbound Tuesday the 6th,
and he saw one in the water at the park. He also saw the FOS
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks over at Little Creek some day
this week. I thought sure I heard a Yellow-throated Warbler
chip a few times at the park but could not pick it out. The
Cypresses are 'blooming' full bore now. I saw about
5 male Vermilion Flycatcher just in a mile of UvCo360, and my
FOS female of the year. Kathy spotted the FOY Bumblebee, one
of the Texas sized XL yellow ones, I saw it later. Had my
first Barking Frog of the year barking after dark.
Mar. 8 ~ About 41dF this a.m., they called for upper 30's, but
some clouds came it and held some heat. Too busy Thursday
so not much looking. Kathy saw a Gray Fox out there. I saw
a Black-tailed Jackrabbit. The birds seemed all the same gang
of seed theives.
Mar. 7 ~ The cool air finally got here, it was 37dF this morning
here, I saw 36 for KRVL. Saw my first female Black-chinned
Hummer at a feeder this a.m. Some great birdsong at dawn now
from the residents mostly, which are really getting in to it
now. Cardinals, Titmice, Wrens, Chickadees, the Canyon Towhee,
a Mockingbird, and now the first couple migratory breeders are
back in the mix with Vermilion Flycatcher and White-eyed Vireo.
Actually heard a couple Wide-eyed Vireo, and a couple male
Vermilion Flycs were going at it deciding who gets which
end of the corral. Some leaves breaking stem on the Texas
Persimmons, and the male Mulberry flowers are popping out well.
Saw 14% humidity in the afternoon for KRVL!
Mar. 6 ~ Frontal passage overnight so northerly flow, in low
40's, drier, very nice and got up to about 75dF! The
White-eyed Vireo is still singing over in the draw, so I suspect
it is indeed our breeder having returned. Might have been a
half-dozen Black-chinned Hummingbird today, all were males.
More small flocks of cranes going over northbound. Couple
Myrtle Warbler passed through yard heading the same way.
Saw a couple Vesta Crescent butterflies today, my FOY and a
Gray Hairstreak was on the Mountain Laurel that has flowers
out back. Black Swallowtail went by, a couple more male
Checkered White as well. Great was while I was on back porch
at very last crack of light, a, the, Gray Fox walked out on the
patio less than 20' from me.
Mar. 5 ~ Only got down to about 64dF overnight. Not very low.
Nice to hear Vermilion Flycatcher as part of the dawn chorus
again. It was singing at dark last night as well. Coyote was
over in corral hunting piglets first thing early-thirty. Might
be 3 Black-chinned Hummingbird males out there now. No female yet.
Nearing noon I heard my FOY White-eyed Vireo over in the draw.
Wonder if a transient or the returning breeder? There were a
half-dozen each Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch at the sunflower
tube. Waxwings in the Hackberries. Small flocks of cranes heading
north. Saw my FOY Checkered White, a male, also a Funereal Duskywing
went by. FOY Red Wasp today.
Mar. 4 ~ More work around here for the most part. Big Coyote
over in the corral early in the morning. FOS male Vermilion
Flycatcher happened about noonish in the corral. Took a couple mile
spin around the adjacent live-oak-juniper habitat noonish,
was very slow for birds, but also very breezy. As we left a
Pearl Crescent butterfly was next to driveway, the FOY. We saw
several FOY Duskywings, at least a couple were Mournful, one was
Funereal, a few got away. A blooming Redbud had a Eufala Skipper,
maybe my earliest ever. Saw a Gulf and some Variegated Frits.
Saw a few each FOY dung scarabs, and acilids (robber flies). Some
Mountain Laurel is blooming, and some Agarita. Saw one each
Slender-leaf Hymenoxys and Slender-stem Bitterweed flowers, a few
Anemone, one was purple. It was 3 or 4 Dot-winged Baskettail
dragonflies. Heard Scrub-Jay. Saw a pair of Caracara that I
think are the local nesting pair. Thought I heard a Black-and-white
Warbler flight note as something flew off. Bats at dusk looked like
Free-tail. I saw the Concan cave emergence tonight before dusk on
the radar loop, as well as the colony down D'Hanis area somewhere
which also shows well on the loop.
Mar. 3 ~ Low-end chances of rain so Worked around house on stuff.
Heard my FOS Roadrunner song, one cooing up the draw to the north.
About noon a male Black-chinned Hummingbird showed up, to be chased
off by one here already. So two feeders up, now two hummers, and
a dispute took about 2 seconds. The rest was the same gang of
regulars. Saw a couple Anemone flowers starting to open.
If you are missing a pecan, call, I may have a lead for you.
All the Ravens around here are Common Ravens (and there are
no Crows). The ebird reports of Chihuahuan Ravens on the south
central Edwards Plateau are best disregarded. I highly doubt
anyone can prove any of them. Especially the Lost Maples reports.
Common are common nesters and residents locally, which have
exploded in numbers in the last decade. Chihuahuan are all
but accidental here and should not be considered without
diagnostic evidence unless reported by a known Raven expert.
These Common Raven here are small and compactly built. Any
Raven here is Common until proven otherwise beyond question.
Show me the proof. All the hundreds reported and not one has
any actual evidence to support it. I have seen photos of Ravens
on websites labeled Chihuahuan at Lost Maples which are
undoubtedly Common Raven, in which there is nothing whatsoever
to support a claim of Chihuahuan .
~ ~ end Raven rant ~ ~
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Mar. 2 ~ Town run so a look around. My FOS three Barn Swallow
were at the north end of town. Later I ran into Little Creek
Larry and he said he had them over there the last two days,
since Wed. Feb. 28. So the first few back in the last few days.
Later about 1:30 p.m. I saw the first male Black-chinned Hummingbird
at a porch feeder here at the house. Later I got an e-mail
from Judy Schaffer saying she had one yesterday and today on
her feeders, so a March 1 arrival date this year. Saw a post
on intertubes Golden-cheeked Warblers were seen in Bexar Co.
this morning. Just wondering where the Vermilions are?
Heard a Lincoln's Sparrow at the Ranch Outpost, FOS migrant.
At the smaller blooming Redbud by the library there were at
least 3 Henry's Elfin butterfly, my FOY. There were a
couple Mountain Laurel with flowers and 20 Pipevine Swallowtail
on them. Then over at the park there were 5 Gadwall, the Coot,
a Pied-billed Grebe and a FOY spring migrant Great Egret. In
the woods there was singing Hutton's Vireo, Blue Jay,
male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female Yellow-shafted Flicker,
and the regulars. Several flocks of Sandhill Crane were going
over northbound. Single Zone-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks.
The wintering Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers seemed to have
bugged out, saw none, as a few days ago when I was here. We get
migrants through March and April, but it seems the ones that winter
locally depart for the most part before those arrive.
The highlight was watching the pair of Green Kingfisher copulate.
The male was making sounds I have not ever heard despite having
watched the species for a hundred if not two hundred hours.
One was a low guttaral Common Grackle type call, which was
interspersed with what sounded like the wing trill of a male
Broad-tailed Hummingbird. All this stopped after mating
took place. It was all kinds of awesome. Which was just what
I went to the park for. My work was done so I left, with a
full tank of amazing. A Ringed Kingfsiher called as I walked
to car.
Last Tuesday I saw a female Mulberry with the first few leaves
breaking out, today I can see leaf buds breaking stem on our
male just off the patio. In town I saw a Hackberry with some
leaves just breaking out, and at park a couple Black Willow
had the first few leaves breaking out. I also see the first
vestiges of buds breaking Texas Persimmon stems. It is about
to explode green.
March 1 ~ OMG it is March!?!?!?! Two months done already!?!?!?!
It is too busy Thursdays so can't lookabout much. Didn't
see anything but the usual suspects. Keeping an eye peeled for
Mr. Vermilion and Mr. Black-chin, but nothing yet.
~ ~ ~ February summary ~ ~ ~
About 3" of rain for the month was great, and lots of days
with fog-mist-drizzle, so the plants got some precip. But we
are still running way dry behind normal and nowhere near caught
up for water. We had a good freeze mid-month, which is seeming
like it might be our last as none to mid-March so far. Last year
we didn't freeze after early January, so this is much better,
for bug control especially.
The only two odes (dragonflies) I saw this month were the usual
Feb. Dot-winged Baskettail, and several Red Saddlebags were a
bit of a surprise, most were at the Waresville golf course pond.
Butterflies were likewise weak, with 14 species seen, all the
expected most statistically likely varieties. The first few
fresh emergences start to show as opposed to the worn leftovers
of January.
Birds were alright for the little bit of looking I did, mostly
too busy working so only park checks on town runs and a wee
bit of looking around the casita and nearby crossing. The
highlight was the Great Kiskadee at the park up in the woods
on and by the island on Feb. 2-3, photographed both dates.
Likely the first photo-documented local record, but the 4th sight
report locally that I know of. Not that a Kiskadee ID is tough,
but for anything, having photos is better than a description.
A picture says ten thousand words. When you get the docu-shot
it puts it in a different category: irrefutable. Having some
evidence is everything. Even for the easiest ID, if where the
species is not a regular occurrence. Now there is a photo of a
Kiskadee in the USRD - upper Sabinal River drainage, and the
Utopia Park Kiskadee record is a photo documented one.
The other best bird of the month was a pair of Bufflehead that
Little Creek Larry had at the park pond Feb. 19. You can blow
by a few years without seeing one locally real easy. I heard
the Townsend's Solitaire that was adjacent to the park
from late Dec., on Feb. 2 for the last time. So it was around
five weeks, I never saw it, heard it a half-dozen times, but
never when I took my recorder and dishlet.
Otherwise February sees the return of the first Purple Martins
and Turkey Vultures and Wild Turkey starts gobbling at dawn
(I have heard there can be some gobbling of wild turkey at night
here. ;) LOL ) The resident birds began seriously singing and
checking out nest boxes and such, the winter Cardinal
flocks start to break up as they begin to get territorial again.
And you regularly hear geese or cranes (White-fronted and Sandhill)
going over, chasing that cold air back north. Kinglets (Ruby) seem
to start moving through as well. Last day of the month saw the
first Bats back as well.
~ ~ end of February summary ~ ~ ~
Feb. 28 ~ Last day of month, late in day, last heat, checked the
Agarita with flowers out back and bam! Gray Hairstreak, new
butterfly for the monthly species list (and FOY). Was a fairly
normal 14 species for the month. Yard gang was the same, but
lots more singing going on. Cards, Wrens, Titmice, all getting
after it now. Field Sparrow and Canyon Towhee singing too.
Saw the male Black Swallowtail again today, what a beauty.
Shortly before dusk I saw my FOY White-lined Sphinx moth.
The big thing today was BATS! I saw a couple over the patio at
dusk. First this year. No positive ID though. Earlier I saw
the radar signature of a typical bat emergence down near D'Hanis
where there usually is an emergence signature near dusk, at
least the last couple or few summers. Then bam! there they are
over the patio. Probably Free-tails. Later at 10 p.m. there
were White-fronted Geese going over northbound.
Feb. 27 ~ Great was a Black Swallowtail butterfly, my first of
the year, nice male. Numbers of Pipevine Swallowtail are about.
A Zone-tailed Hawk pretending it was a TV dove right into a
Juniper and a bunch of Cardinal exploded out of it alarming.
He missed though. Cranes going north.
Feb. 26 ~ A nice crisp 41dF for a low, KRVL pulled a 38 briefly.
Canyon Towhee is singing a little bit, tuning up. A Little Yellow
(butterfly) was about. The rest was the regular expected gang.
The Agarita on the back fence has a few flowers opening.
Feb. 25 ~ Clouds in a.m. but cleared by noon or so and got up
to a dry 75dF in the afternoon and was wonderful. Heard a Flicker
upslope behind us in the morning, and the Western Meadowlarks
chorusing over across the corral. About a hundred waxwings in
the yard much of the day, mostly eating hackberries. Noonish
I went to the park for a quick look, had Ringed Kingfisher and
the Coot, two female Gadwall, and again no Pied-billed Grebes.
Heard a Purple Martin fly over calling there. A surprise was
a Red Saddlebags dragonfly, which surely just emerged. First
dragon of the year, and first time that species has been my first.
Usually in late Feb. a Dot-winged Baskettail is the first dragonfly.
Went to the Waresville pond on the golf course. There were 5 more
Red Saddlebags and one Dot-winged Baskettail flying there. So,
odes! Dragons! Major sign of spring. Three male Purple Martin
were at the house there. There were butterflies out in good
numbers everywhere. Over the day I saw at least two dozen
Southern Dogface, a dozen Dainty Sulphur, and a half-dozen Pipevine
Swallowtail. Plus a few Snout, a couple American Lady, 2 Red
Admiral, 3 Variegated Fritillary, an Orange Sulphur, and 4 Sleepy
Orange. Nine species is highest single day diversity so far this
year. Also the most individual butterflies any day so far this
year (over 4 dozen). Taken with the odes, a very springish feel
is in the air, in the way of flyin' bugs.
We took a mile walk around the live-oaks and Agarita upslope
behind us in the afternoon. I heard a couple birds get away in
the big agarita patches that surely were Spotted Towhee, but did
not lay eyes on them. The Agarita is in bad shape from the drought,
many to most are half dead. I expected lots of flowers by now
but only a few had a few stems with flowers. Some bees, but no
Olive-Juniper Hairstreak or Henry's Elfin yet. There were
a couple Dutchman's Breeches with flowers. On Buckley Oaks
you can just barely see leaf buds starting to break stem. Saw one
Yellow Wood-Sorrel flower in the driveway. The ground is really
green in lots of places now. Flushed a bunch of smaller grasshoppers
on the greening ground as we walked.
Feb. 24 ~ Was still gray, drippy, and was another third of an
inch of precip overnight. Mucky out there so Worked around here.
A little sun late in afternoon. Birds were mostly the same
gang. One Robin with some waxwings, 7 American Goldfinch, the
Canyon Towhee, nothing different. One Dainty Sulphur butterfly.
Hope the Collared-Doves go away on their own before I get tired
of hearing them and they end up on a plate under jalapeno sauce.
Adult White-crowned Sparrow of the usual variety here,
the eastern nominate leucophrys subspecies. Note black
in lores, pink bill, and pale areas in back light gray.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Feb. 23 ~ What a surprise, it is gray, misty and drippy still,
but not hot or cold. We had about a quarter inch, maybe .3"
over the day. More than likely within the next week we
should see the return of the first Black-chinned Hummingbird
and Vermilion Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo could show up any
day now, and probably about 10 days or so until the first
Golden-cheeked or Black-and-white Warbler make it back. Barn
or Cave Swallow could show up any day now too. Things are
going to be changing real soon, only four weeks of winter left.
Town run, there were open flowers on the Redbuds at the library!
Soon as the sun comes back out there will be Elfins. The drizzle
was heavy and the woods at the park were empty. Five Ring-necked
Duck and the Coot out on the pond. Little Creek Larry said he
had a pair of Bufflehead on the pond Monday (19th) at 7:30 a.m.
and when he swung back by at 8:30 they were gone already. I
have only seen them there twice in almost 15 years. Great
record of some spring migrants. He also had one male Purple
Martin this week over at Little Creek. I heard a Mocker singing
at the park entrance.
Feb. 22 ~ Cool gray misty breezy soppy, more of the same, only
minor traces of precip though. Saw a couple Turkey Vulture
and Caracara besides lots of Black Vulture. Field Sparrow singing
is nice. I see the first signs of flower buds breaking stems on
Mountain Laurel and Agarita along the back fence. Couple Eur.
Collared-Dove out there making noise I could do without. The
bluebirds are singing a bit, heard the Western Meadowlarks over
at the airstrip singing a bit too.
Feb. 21 ~ Front coming in, 68dF just before dawn, dropping
with northerlies and rain, by 10 a.m. it was about 40dF, chills
in 30's, and we had received 1.25" of rain and some
pea-sized hail briefly. By 1 p.m. after a second band of rain
it was 2.25"! With yesterday's, bit, and the drizzle the
week prior we are likely about 3" total for the week now.
Great timing for spring green. Same suspects in the yard.
Feb. 20 ~ Low about 65 dF, a line of showers with
some actual thunder moved over right after daybreak, we
got about .6 of an inch. I suspect over the last week
plus of on and off drizzle we have received a tenth or two
on top of that. Just what the growing stuff needs. Looks
like a green explosion is on the horizon. All the trees
are still brown sticks (save the junipers and live-oaks)
but the ground is turning green. I see a bit of yellowing
just starting on some live-oak leaves here and there so
they will be starting their annual leaf change shortly.
Had to run to town for an errand in the a.m. so looked
at the park, where a Ringed Kingfisher and 8 Ring-necked
Duck. Did not see the Coot or Pied-billed Grebes. Of some
interest was a Great Egret, clearly a spring migrant. Only
Titmouse and Chickadee in the woods. Heard a Myrtle Warbler.
Feb. 19 ~ More of same, fog-mist, drizzle, low about 65 dF,
so not very. In afternoon clearing a bit got up to 78 or so.
Common spring type weather here. Lots of green stuff breaking
ground in yards, and grasses in pastures greening as well.
Looks like spring is on the horizon, coming soon. Birds
were the same gang. Saw a (nother?) Pipevine Swallowtail.
Better was one of the 1.25" Scoliid wasps with the
pale yellow bands across blue-black abdomen. Heard my first
Chipping Sparrow song of the year in the afternoon.
Feb. 18 ~ SOS - same old stuff, fog mist drizzle most of a.m.,
some little sun in late p.m. but it did warm into 70's. At
dawn first trip out with the feeders and seed a Black-tailed
jackrabbit was on the patio, scrounging seeds no doubt. It is
the first one I have seen in a few months. I don't know where
they go but do not see them around yard all winter, and as soon
as some green stuff starts sprouting in yard, there it is. I
was only 10-12' from it when I saw it since it was barely light.
It slowly moseyed away after I walked by. The Cottontails take
off like rockets when they see me, as soon as they determine
the 'freeze' did not work. Birds were the same gang.
Working on stuff here while not too hot or cold.
Feb. 17 ~ Another gray drizzly one, temps were dropping at dawn,
and did not recover to 7 a.m. temps until noon or so. Spread
was 55 to an amazing 75 in afternoon when some sun broke through.
Worked on things here so just the same yard gang for the most
part. Heard Turkey gobbling at dawn. Had a or the Field Sparrow,
which reminded me I forgot it last week when I made the day list
up on the 12th. The good bird of the day was mid-morn when two
Rusty Blackbird flew over low calling. Looked like the ad. fem.
that has been around now five winters, and another that found it.
Saw a Turkey Vulture soaring around in afternoon, likely a local.
Tight crop of the adult Harris's Hawk in our big pecan.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below
Feb. 16 ~ If you like gray and drippy, this is the place. Low
of 60dF, and stayed in that category all day. The forecast for
the next week has it the same the whole time with daily low-end
rain chances. So mostly that fog-mist-drizzle that has the grass
and ground soaked, trees dripping, and its a mess. But since it
is not hot, cold, or windy, we celebrate.
The Striped Skunk was on the back porch when Kathy opened the door
this morning. Dang cottage stinks, its burrow is under it and
when it has gassed something, scent bleeds up into the cottage.
There is a dillo that lives under there too, how does he stand it?
There was an Opossum under it too, but which now I think is in the
old unused junk storage shed. I have an idea about why it moved.
Another nice Western Meadowlark chorus in front yard this morn.
At least a half-dozen, it sounds fantastic. Town run for supplies.
Saw a couple Turkey Vulture, and Cardinals are singing all over,
every stop I made, I heard singing Cards. The park had a male
Green Kingfisher and below dam along creek low in trees a wet
Zone-tailed Hawk. Nine Ring-necked Duck, the Coot and a Pied-billed
Grebe on the pond. Little Creek Larry said Tuesday he had a flock
of 16 Green-winged Teal there. Some Kinglet (Ruby) and Myrtle
Warblers, one Hermit Thrush still on island. Red-shouldered Hawk
circling screaming as in territorial flight, some Blue Jays were
mimicing it quite a bit, which seemed like it kinda pissed the hawk
off, and it seemed like the Jays were sorta snickerin' about it.
Feb. 15 ~ Mostly overcast, mist-drizzle, soppy and about 60-71dF
for a temp spread. Had to make a pickup at the P.O. so did a
quick town run noonish and checked the park. Saw the Coot, the
pair of Gadwall, 9 Ring-necked Duck, one female Green Kingfisher.
A couple Lark Sparrow were on margins of 187. We had a great
chorus of a half-dozen Western Meadowlark on the powerline over
in the corral for 10 minutes. In the afternoon I saw my second
of year Turkey Vulture. From now 15 years of recording data,
Valentine's Day was one of the most common arrival (return)
dates for our local breeders. So you would call this on time.
Feb. 14 ~ Another soppy drippy misty morning. Winds cleared
the skies in the later afternoon, sun came out, at least that
is what I think that was, and it hit about 72dF! Holy cow!
Nice, opened up and aired it all out. Had to run to town early,
nothing in the woods at the park. The pond had a pair of Gadwall,
a pair of Am. Wigeon, the Coot, a Pied-billed Grebe, and 15
Ring-necked Duck, so that was nice. Waterbirds. The yard was
the regular gang.
Feb. 13 ~ It is gray days here, but not cold, upper 40's to
mid-50's for a temp range isn't much of one. Misty,
drizzly, wet, great day to be working inside. Same gang of
daily yard users. Saw Red-tailed Hawk and a Caracara go by.
Too busy in the office. Sure nice to hear Cardinals singing!
Heard my first Mourning Dove song of the year today. White-wings
start earlier.
Feb. 12 ~ A chilly 25dF for a low was crisp. Got up to about 56dF
or so, sunny about 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and then cloudy. In the
yard it was the regular gang. Canyon Towhee, Ladder-backed and
Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Common Ground-Dove, White-winged and
Mourning Dove, N. Mockingbird, N. Cardinal, Black-crested Titmouse,
Carolina Wren and Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Cedar Waxwing,
American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Chipping Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk,
(missed a Cooper's), Common Raven, Black Vulture, Myrtle Warbler,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Field Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird and Phoebe,
Common Raven, and Caracara. Missed Red-tailed Hawk. These are
the couple dozen-plus sure-thing peak-of-winter daily bread yard
birds for the moment.
Feb. 11 ~ The cold and wind with the front that entered the area
later yesterday got here overnight. Low 30's dF at dawn,
and upper 20's within a couple hours. Isn't it supposed
to go the other way? Winds were 10-20 gusting to 25 mph. Chill
factors at 9 a.m. or so were 13-16dF at Rocksprings, Junction, and
Kerrville, prolly about 20 here. It will be an extra seed rations
day. By 9:30 the windows were so fogged up I wouldn't be able
to see something good outside if it was there. At 10 a.m. San Francisco
was 49dF, Boston 39, and two Utopia WU stations read below 29dF!
It warmed to 42dF or so at peak afternoon heat as wind finally
slowed down to 10 mph, so chills were still in 30's. We
worked inside. Didn't see anything different out the foggy windows.
Chipping Sparrow flock might be very near 140 now.
Feb. 10 ~ Foggy with mist in the a.m., but not cold anyway. A
front is headed in, so we get the day prior warmup today. Sun
came out afternoon, we went to the park and had a look in the
woods. No Kiskadee, no Solitaire but the park was noisy with a
party, no Kingfishers either. Pair of Fuertes' Red-tails
just north of park. A dozen Myrtle Warbler, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
plus some of the regular residents, 10 Ring-necked Duck and the Coot.
One group of a half-dozen Myrtle across the river had one Pine
Warbler in with them. At the golf course pond by Waresville I had
my first two frog detections of the year in the 70dF heat. Saw one
Blanchard's Cricket-Frog, and heard one Rio Grande Leopard Frog.
FOY frogs. About 40 Red-winged Blackbird in the cattails there,
25 female, 15 male. Song Sparrow at the 360 x-ing. Male and female
So. Dogface (butterflies) were in the yard (was my FOY female), and
saw Snout and Sleepy Orange again. Couple Anole around the house.
Carolina Wren in default position
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Feb. 9 ~ Overcast and about 48dF for a low, and 58 for a high.
Town run day, so a peek at my current favorite park. Did not
see the Kiskadee so at present it was a 2-day bird, Feb. 2 and 3.
Did have Ringed Kingfisher, no Green though. Ten Ring-necked
Duck and a pair of Gadwall flew in and landed while I was there.
The Coot continues as does one Pied-billed Grebe. Little Creek
Larry said one of the first days of the year when it was almost
snowing he had two EARED GREBE at the park, just one morning.
So we will be adding that to the park list. Another example
of the stuff going through quickly and if you aren't there
checking it all the time, you miss it. Wish I could check the
pond as much as Larry does. There was a Zone-tailed Hawk over
Main St. in town. A couple meadowlarks I looked at in a corral
along W. 360 were Eastern. Ten or so female Red-winged Blackbird
in with a few males and a hundred Brewer's. Vesper Sparrow
was along corral out front.
Post-update add-on: Forgot to mention, since I typically just
partially mentally toss things I don't ID (except those pangs
you can't shake). I flushed a hawk out of the big pecan as
I came out of the cottage once, which defied identification with
my view. It was not Cooper's or a Red-shouldered, sorta
between them in appearance generally. Small small buteo is what
I got off it, not anything that is supposed to be here was my take.
Feb. 8 ~ A good and chilly 28dF or so, KRVL had 26 per NOAA.
It got up into the low-mid-60's dF much of the day, quite nice.
Two new fresh mint just-emerged butterflies today, the first of
either species so far this year, a female Gulf Fritillary, and
a Common Checkered-Skipper. They were before noon, so I thought
there would be more stuff, but noooooo. Saw the Canyon Towhee
so it was a female Card the Sharpy got day before yesterday and
it must have been on the lamb laying low yesterday. I heard the
first full long song from White-winged Dove today. I have heard
just single 'who cooks for you all' calls a few times
the last week, today we reached fully embellished extension with
at least 3 'for yous', so full blown song.
Feb. 7 ~ A front blew in overnight, temps in upper 30's dF and
dropping first thing, winds 10-15 gusting to 20. Kerrville had
33dF and 23 chill factor at 9 a.m. Lovely. Glad to be stuck here
at the desk indoors guarding heater. Except that Wed. is spreadsheet
day. Today I did not see the Canyon Towhee or the brush pile Mocker.
After an accipiter hit, as yesterday, sometimes the stuff really
makes itself scarce for a day or two. Might have had a tenth of
an inch or precip over the morning.
Feb. 6 ~ Foggy, misty, drizzle, some light showers, prolly about
a quarter-inch over the day, much needed. Gray and damp, but not
cold. Saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk (the ad. male) mantling on either
a female Cardinal or the one remaining Canyon Towhee, it got one or
the other. Did not see the brush pile Mockingbird all day.
In case I forgot to mention, I have been seeing the love flight
(pair selection and bonding) behavior of the Black Vultures for a
couple or few weeks now. Their breeding season has commenced and is
underway here. Three pairs at once today in display. Pretty fancy
flying if you haven't ever seen it. The bird might be on the
ugly side, but man can they fly. If I could do that I'd be doing
it all year. I'd be Jonathan Livingston Vulture. See Ravens get
that part. Raven>vulture.
Feb. 5 ~ Coolish and humid, about 40-60dF for a temp spread.
Busy working anyway. Nothing different that I saw, just the
usual repeat offenders. Heard the Hermit Thrush uphill behind
us in the live-oaks, saw it eating hackberries the other day.
Still holding around 125 on the Chipping Sparrow count here now.
Forgot to mention last night I killed my FOS mosquito over in the
cottage.
Feb. 4 ~ Low in 40's, a front on way in this evening, so it
got hot in front of it. I saw 90dF on the front porch briefly!
Mostly it was upper 80's locally, but one station had low 90's.
So doing some yard work and servicing bird nest boxes ended up
sweating for the first time in months. Two boxes fixed and back
up. A Titmouse was scolding me as it watched me install one.
Making sure I knew it saw what I was doing. The Eastern Phoebe has
begun singing again, first time in months. Saw a mint fresh just
emerged Pipevine Swallowtail the heat popped out no doubt. The
Snout, Dogface, and Sleepy Orange seemed the worn leftovers.
A half-dozen Pine Siskin and a few American Goldfinch stopped by.
Feb. 3 ~ Not too cold, not too hot, about 40-60dF for a spread.
Sprinkled a bit around midnight last night, perhaps a tenth of an
inch, maybe .15". Breezy and a bit humid. Noonish we went to
the park and refound the Kiskadee again up in the woods by the island.
I got some better photos this time. What a fancy bird! Saw the
Ringed Kingfisher, a pair of Ring-necked Duck, the Coot, some
Myrtle Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but did not hear the
Solitaire.
Went over to Little Creek and looked for rare Towhees again.
Only one female Spotted was it. A small flock of 5 or so
Junco looked all Slate-colored as expected, Larry mentioned he
had seen them a couple or few weeks ago. A half-dozen Field
Sparrow were there. At the pond right where 355 hits the creek
was the male Vermilion Flycatcher which is wintering, and a pair
of Gadwall. The lower pond had 30 Ring-necked Duck on it. One
Variegated Fritillary there was my first this year. One imm.
White-crowned Sparrow was along 355.
Here is a better pic of the Kiskadee at Utopia Park, from Feb. 3.
Last weeks first docu shot was a bit fuzzy and bad light.
Kathy and I went the next day, had great views and got this pic.
Whatabird. It is on a stem of Greenbriar Vine, of which it ate
a berry.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Feb. 2 ~ The northerlies blew all night, but light, 10mph or so,
and about 40dF for a low and hit mid-60's dF for a high.
Had a town run for stuff so a look at the park. It was pretty
birdy. Spectacular was my first GREAT KISKADEE record there.
New park bird, see the fuzzy photo below. Which is also first
local irrefutable documentation methinks, though the fourth total
local sight report I know of. Overdue and surely one has been at
the park before, but having a pic is a whole 'nother animal.
Got out of the car and heard it calling, made my day.
I also heard the Townsend's Solitaire again, still calling
from the priv. prop. to the NNE of park and can't get to it.
So Kiskadee and Solitaire both calling at the same time and place.
Never heard those two together at once. Must be Utopia man. Also
there was a Green Kingfisher, a Zone-tailed Hawk, the Ring-necked
Duck and Coot continue, a Hermit Thrush, over a dozen Myrtle and
one Orange-crowned Warbler, a half-dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
and the imm. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continues on the island.
Saw one teneral (just emerged - not ID'able for amateurs like
me) Argia (dancer) sps. damselfly, it was probably a Blue-ringed.
February 1 ~ Gadzooks! February! Somebody slow this ride down!
Upper 30's dF for a low, but ahead of a front coming in,
it warmed to upper 70's in the afternoon! I saw 78dF.
Three butterflies came out for it, likely the same worn Sleepy
Orange that has been around, and new was a Snout and an Orange
Sulphur. The latter two not seen in January, but both obviously
worn leftovers like the Sleepy O. Nice to hear the Field Sparrow
singing again today, a song as simple and plain as its face.
Had a Lesser Goldfinch again. The front (dry - just winds)
arrived in the afternoon.
~ ~ ~ January summary ~ ~ ~
I can't believe the month is over already. It went by so
fast my head is spinning. We are real busy for biz in Jan.
and the month is gone before you get used to writing 2018.
We had a bunch of good freezes with lots of temps in the 20's dF
the first four weeks of the month, which was needed after
last year not freezing after the first week or so of Jan.
Hopefully we'll get some more like we are supposed to this
year. No need to rush into the heat here ya know?
Butterflies and odes are sure easy to track in January.
You need one hand for butterflies and none for odes. Not
even sure I saw a dragon or damsel of any sort this Jan.
May have glimpsed a flushing damsel or two. Butterflies
were about 5 species, and individuals. A worn Pipevine
late in month was interesting. Others were a Sleepy Orange,
a Red Admiral, a Little Yellow, and a Southern Dogface.
No winter Questionmark was off, I guess I didn't walk
enough woods. Usually I get one here at the house and
one at the park. Did get about 4 chiggers over the month
from too much ankle-to-knee high dry grass with reckless
abandon.
Some good birds were had though. The Red Crossbills that were
regular from Nov. 11 to latest December mostly disappeared. I
heard a couple only, a couple times in Jan. and that was it.
The Townsend's Solitaire hearable calling from the park
from Dec. 29 did so until at least Jan. 6. I never saw it,
but heard it on four seperate days, it was on the priv. prop. to
the north-northeast of park. A Coot that spent the month at the
park is the first local overwintering I know of.
Two adult Harris's Hawks were seen (or one that gets around),
one at Little Creek (3 mi. ENE of town) that I watched fly into
Bandera Co. on Jan. 20, and another Jan. 29 I watched land in our big
pecan right off the porch (a couple miles south of town). Also
at Little Creek Jan. 20 was an ad. ma. Vermilion Flycatcher, which
is only my second winter record here in now our 15th winter here.
The other prior was over 10 years ago, at the same spot at Little Creek.
The early returning Purple Martin and Turkey Vulture on the 29th
were noteworthy dates, especially the Martin, my first in Jan., my
prior early date was Feb. 7 locally.
~ ~ ~ end January summary ~ ~ ~
~ ~ back to the regularly scheduled drivel ~ ~
Jan. 31 ~ OK, well that was quick. It was 32-68dF for a temp spread
today. Perfectly bearable. The Field Sparrow is now singing,
first of that I have heard this year. Kinda nice for a change.
There is something about birdsong. The other major different thing
today was right at dusk, the first northbound flock of spring migrant
White-fronted Goose passed over up high calling. Amazing. Call
of the wild. Heading out and back north already. Not as early as
the first flock last year though.
Jan. 30 ~ About 27dF for a low here, with colder readings at stations
at Seco Creek and KRVL. Mid-60's for a high, so bearable.
Birds were the same gang in the yard as is the norm in the middle
of a season. So dreaming of spring. The first White-eyed Vireo can
return in mid-Feb., hummingbirds could be back late in Feb., and
Golden-cheeked Warbler the first week of March, in just 5 weeks.
Only what is usually the coldest month of winter is between us and
them. I hate to say it but we could use some more cold after the
last two very mild winters. We need some more rain badly too.
The drought monitor has us in D1, moderate or somesuch. It is much
worse than moderate currently if you measured the many ecosystem
components carefully. Such as bird, butterfly, dragonfly, moth, or
large flying insect populations. Their levels are depressed more
than moderately, still fighting to recover from the exceptional
drought that just "ended", unless you were the animals or
plants set back by it, in which case it never did end yet.
Jan. 29 ~ A chilly 29dF for a low on the 29th. But sunny and no
wind so warming quickly. Got up to about 69dF in afternoon.
Nice to hear some birdsong now. Singing are Bewick's and Carolina
Wren, a little Cardinal, Black-crested Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee.
None at full bore, but all are starting to sing a bit. The big
surprise song this morning was from a Meadowlark perched up top
of the biggest hackberry in the sun. Western! I saw four around,
one was in the big pecan too. They were gurgling and singing at
about half volume, under-the-breath type warmup song. Very cool.
As I was enoying the meadowlark song a dark raptor of size flew
towards me on the back porch, from the mesquite surrounded grass
airstrip, across the corral, climbed to clear the big Hackberry
(the meadowlark did not flinch as it went by less than 15' away),
and proceeded to land in the big pecan right off the front porch.
As it landed I saw it was an adult Harris's Hawk! Now maybe
just 75' away or less! Second one this winter here, just had
one at Little Creek last week. I ducked inside for camera and got
a branch filled docushot of it but it saw me and left. An hour
later a female or imm. No. Harrier flew over the yard. It was
looking for those meadowlarks, I have seen them take them here.
About 1:30 p.m. I heard multiple times a Purple Martin calling.
I went out from under back porch and scanned sky but could not
pick it up. A minute later I heard it again. Looked again and
nothing. My earliest prior return locally was Feb. 7, and that
house is gone now. Makes me want to run over to the golf course
and see if one is back there. Then about 2:30 I had a Turkey
Vulture, the first one back this year. The local breeders
used to depart by Nov., and return around Valentines Day. They
have been inching the return date forward for a number of years
now as winter shortens. Last year three returned on Jan. 31.
Can't help but wonder if this is one of those early birds.
Jan. 28 ~ Heard a Lesser Goldfinch, have not had one yet this year,
though I have not been by Judy Schaffer's feeders either, she
usually has a few winter there. Sharpy and Coop both flushing the
seed eaters. A hundred plus Chippy is most of it, I do hear the
Field Sparrow regularly. One Canyon Towhee and a couple Mockers
hit the bath seemingly daily, as do the waxwings often. A few Robin
were out there with them today, a couple dozen flew over in a group.
Heard a Flicker calling..
Jan. 27 ~ More fog mist drizzle until the front passed in the a.m.,
then breezy. Between yesterday, overnight and this morning I would
not be surprised if it totalled a half-inch of precipitation. Was
the same gang o' birds in the yard. In the later afternoon we
went to the crossing for a peek. Just above it there were a few
hundred waxwings having a bathing party. Heard a Pine Warbler but
couldn't pick it out, a few Myrtle were around, some Bluebird
and Goldfinch, heard a Song Sparrow, some Titmouse, Chickadee and
Carolina Wrens.
First known Great Kiskadee at Utopia Park, Feb. 2, 2018 was up in
the woods on the island, occasionally calling. The poor light and
angle hide the rufous wings and tail well. It is a big flycatcher
that is a great fisherman, taking smallish minnows and such often.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Jan. 26 ~ A wet soppy one, it was drizzle-fog-mist all day, with a
few showers here and there. Dust is out of the picture for a few
days. Maybe it will take some pollen off the junipers. Mostly
hovered around the low 50's all day. Had a look at the park.
The SY (second year) fem. Ringed Kingfisher, the Coot, the Ring-necked
Duck and 2 Pied-billed Grebe all continue. About 18 Myrtle Warbler
up on the island, a high count this winter. One imm. Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker was new and different, the SY fem. Yellow-shafted Flicker
continues.
Jan. 25 ~ Another low 20's dF low was chilly, bird bath was
frozen. You could see where a deer tried to break the ice up to
see if water underneath. Was the same suspects around the yard.
A couple Ground-Dove sure are ginchy. Must be the accipiters,
saw ad. and imm. Sharp-shinned, and ad. Cooper's over the day.
More Common Ravens going by, and Caracara. Heard the Pyrrhuloxia
out there. Too busy Thursday.
Jan. 24 ~ About 24dF for a low this morning, at least we are having
some freezes later than last year when our last was in early January.
We need the freezes to set the pest bugs back, among other things.
A dull nearly colorless immature female Pine Warbler was just off
the patio in the morning, a different one than any I have seen so far
this winter. At about 57dF a Pipevine Swallowtail flew by, the first
I have seen this year, and which looked worn not fresh, so a leftover
that made it through the 20dF temps holed up somewhere in suspended
animation.
Jan 23 ~ Wow a chilly 23dF or so for a low. The WU station at Seco
Creek showed 20, KRVL had 22 where was progged for 29. One time
I came out of the cottage (where the fish tanks are) this morning
and some Meadowlarks flushed from under the white millet feeder.
Funny to see them there, they headed across corral and back to the
grass airstrip. Got up to mid-60's dF in the afternoon, which
felt pretty good. Nice to be able to open up and air out. Saw a
Red-tailed Hawk go by. Heard the Canyon Towhee and a couple Mockers
were around. Couple American Goldfinch, but haven't been seeing
much of them or the Siskins lately. House Finch are elsewhere as well.
Just as well, they are eating someone else's seed.
Jan. 22 ~ Too busy with biz, a weak front passed and was windy
most of the day. Lot of dust and pollen in the air with it.
I tend to save my wee bit o' birding time for better conditions.
And biz comes first. Mondays are often very busy with multiple
fish or coral air-freight shipments and clients needing attention.
A couple flocks of 10 or so bluebird went over, and in one I heard two
different sounding ones that were likely either Mountain or Western.
Sure was not any standard Eastern call, which I hear them daily all
year so feel like their basic set of conversation I know fairly well.
Jan. 21 ~ Was foggy and drizzly until afternoon, worked on stuff
here and didn't get out. Saw a dozen Turkey over in the corral,
all Toms. I thought I heard some few Red Crossbill at one point
but couldn't spot them. Sure sounded like a few. I have
not been detecting them so far this year like I was in Nov.-Dec.
Thought I heard a couple or few a couple times, that is it. There
were reports of them in west Texas eating native pecans and juniper
berries. I bet they get into a native pecan faster than you without
both hands and tools. Sunday afternoon is our Monday morning for the
week's biz, and so when busy, we gotta be in the salt mine, er,
office. The 50 gal. sacks of salt mix are actually over in the fish haus.
Jan. 20 ~ Foggy with drizzle early, but in 40's dF so a break
from the big chill, finally. Yard seemed the same gang. Went out
355 over to Little Creek and looked for some Towhee love, but alas
none was to be found. There were a few good birds though. It could
have been the Merlin hunting the area. Which looked much darker and
more heavily marked than Prairie (richardsoni) type, probably an
Eastern-Taiga type.
Right around Larry's place there were a dozen each Lark
Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow, plus a couple Lincoln's.
Just a quarter mile north right before Bandera Co. line an adult
Harris's Hawk was great, very rare here in winter, and which
I watched fly into Bandera Co. where quite a scarce bird. Another
good bird was an adult male Vermilion Flycatcher, which must be
wintering, as it is about 6 weeks before they return. I have only
one prior January record, and it was a male at Little Creek, over
10 years ago. This one was often down right at waters edge, no
doubt taking the winter Mayflies.
There were a few ducks in the pondish area below where 355
bends north as it hits Little Creek. There were 10 Ring-necked
Duck, one Gadwall, and rare in winter here, a female Pintail.
Larry said he has been seeing a Wigeon there too. There are a
dozen barnyard cross ducks, like Mallard x Peking, as well as
some other Peking and mutt ducks, and a couple barnyard geese,
all best ignored, unless one has some orange sauce handy.
At the second dogleg east of town on the way back I had a
Roadrunner, my first this year, and at the corner by the
deer farm a flock of about 10 more White-crowned Sparrow and
a Canyon Towhee. Maybe 400 plus Waxwing around town. Checked
the park on the way back and just a few Myrtle Warbler and a
half-dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglet, that male Ring-necked Duck
and the Coot both still there.
This is the Northern Goshawk that was over town Dec. 15, 2017
Note the long stovepipe of a tail. This structure is unique.
Apologies for the poor pic, it was the best of 3, at maximum
high (pixelated) magnification after it got high up. Initially
it was quite low, was a nice adult.
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Jan. 19 ~ Sure nice to not be freezing first thing. Upper 30's dF and
foggy. Birds were the same gang in the yard. Town run noonish so a
lookabout. At the park there was a male Ring-necked Duck, the Coot,
and the two imm. Pied-billed Grebe continue. A Zone-tailed Hawk flew
in and landed in the cypresses right across river. The pair of Barred
Owl were calling in the woods at the north end of park. Did not see
or hear any kingfishers. The E. Bluebird and Myrtle Warbler flock was
out front on Cypress St. in the hackberries mostly. About 400 Waxwing
were in a flock in town.
Little Creek Larry said besides Spotted, he had single Eastern and
Green-tailed Towhee at his place this morning. He has had Eastern
there before. I'll go have a look tomorrow when it gets nice out
and I can steal an hour or two. Green-tailed Towhee is my most-wanted
bird in UvCo, which is measured by what occurs most in the county that
I have not seen. Probably a couple or few per year happen, just never
where I am standing for 15 years. The deer feeder (filled with chicken
scratch) where they were is is a good solid 50 yards inside the county. ;)
Jan. 18 ~ Low was in upper 20's, and humid, so cold to the bone.
Stations were reporting low to mid-40's dF for highs, but it did
not feel like it. Birds were the same gang, same as it ever was. In
winter it can be fairly monotonous if you are not running around to
different habitats, and especially ones with water. And if it is cold and
windy, you have to be pretty determined. Been there done that got the
T-shirt. I wait for nicer days to go out and work at it now that I am
old and soft. Such is the advantage of age and having been there done
that and saw the birds. I hear a Chickadee singing, as if it feels
like spring.
Jan. 17 ~ A chilly 22dF or so for a low, but got up to upper 30's dF
here at Utopia, maybe even 40 dF along Hwy. 90, which is where I was.
Had to run to SAT to pickup some Fiji live rock at Southwest cargo.
On the way into the megalopolis just after noon I saw a few Common Raven
along 90 between Sabinal and Hondo, maybe 3-4, which is different, never
used to get them there. Great was a flock of a dozen Mountain Plover
that flew low right over 90 right in front of me, a mile or so west of
Hondo in the finely plowed field area. On the way back in the same area
a flock of a dozen Water Pipit flew over. Then a little west of that,
three LONGSPURS flew up out of the median! They looked like McCown's,
big and fat, grayish, lotta lotta white in tail and one had what looked
the inverted black T on tail as it fanned during climbing turn. But was a
drive-by at 60. I'll just have to call it longspur sps. for Medina Co.
I had live fish in the car so couldn't stop and look around. Seemed
fewer Red-tails along 90 but more Caracara. A few Cranes, and White-fronted
Goose flocks were just east of Sabinal.
Jan. 16 ~ Blew all night, a.m. temps in low 20's with 15-20 mph winds,
gusting to 25 and 30! I saw single digit chill factors at KRVL,
Junction, Rock Springs, the rest were in low low teens. Come on down,
the weather is fine. They said it got up over freezing, but not so
sure here. Lottsa extra bird seed rations today, and a half-dozen trips
to keep the bird bath liquid. Did not see anything but the usual gang.
Was a good day to not be outside.
Jan. 15 ~ Chilly morning but warmed up into 50's dF with strong
southerlies ahead of an inbound front. Last day to get everything
sealed up before the all-day freeze tomorrow. Birds seemed the
same gang, nothing different, but am too busy to look. The front
hit about 11 p.m. with strong northerlies and blew hard all night.
Jan. 14 ~ Was about 21dF this morning, for a nice chilly one,
got into 50's dF at peak heat. Birds were all the same.
A quick look at the (river) crossing had nothing, and we drove slowly
out the back of 'west' 360 and couldn't find any flocks,
or birds, there either. Maybe it was the mid-day doldrums, but was only
noon and cool. Could be accipiters too.
Jan. 13 ~ Low of 27 and got up to 58dF or so in afternoon heat
briefly. Saw the usual suspects, some Robins besides the waxwings,
a few Common Raven, a few Pine Siskin, Myrtle Warbler and Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, still only one Canyon Towhee, accipiter must have gotten the
other one. Have a ton of work to do so can't get out. Last
week was buried busy, and the week ahead will be worse.
Hutton's Vireo
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Jan. 12 ~ A chilly 29dF for a low, KRVL hit that too. Will be
colder the next couple mornings. Wind still blowing 10+ and
enough to feel some chill. Warmed up to lowest 60's dF which
felt great. Nice waxwing show at the bath mid-morn. Two Mockers
out on the front fence line jumping back and forth with each other,
switching which way they face over and over while flashing and
cocking tails, not aggressively whatsoever. Either friends or
just meeting, it went on for minutes. One of the big bearded Toms
came into yard heading for feeders a couple times.
Town run day so a look at the park. No Solitaire again, I think
the cold blew it out. The Coot is still there! Our first overwintering
Coot. Stop the presses! Had a Ring King, the same 1st winter female
that has been there months. There were at least a dozen Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, most I have seen all winter. They were going nuts on the
winter mayfly hatch at rivers edge, and at arms-length at times.
Saw the male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker up in the woods, and a female
Yellow-shafted Flicker that looked good and clean of genes. At least
4 Blue Jay, one Hutton's Vireo, a number of Titmouse and Chickadee,
might as well mention Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and
Bewick's Wren was singing. At one point the male Golden-front and
the Sapsucker were less than 2 feet apart on a live-oak trunk. I went
for a pic and one flew off before I could get it.
Jan. 11 ~ Low in 40's and got up to 60's before the
front hit. First puffs were before 10 a.m., by 11 it was blowing
15-25, and gusting higher. There were 7 bearded Toms on the patio
about 9:30. In the afternoon it was howling monkeys. Gusts over
40 mph and sustained at 25-30+. Finally laid down a bit late in
the evening. Didn't see anything different, was Thursday at the
phone and computer day, and swamped. Will have some new reading
material up here for you very shortly though. Watch what you
wish for.
Jan. 10 ~ Was 40dF and very foggy first thing. Had an early
town run, only thing at the park besides a few of the residents
was a single first year male American Wigeon. Did not see the
Coot. Little Creek Larry said right after the cold he saw lots
of Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Ring-necked Duck at the park early
one morning, and he has had bigger flocks of Waxwings. Kathy spotted
a Little Yellow (lep), species #4 for the year. About 32 White-fronted
Goose headed over southbound. Late afternoon sun finally came out
and it warmed a little, into the 60's, so pretty nice. Yard
birds were the same gang. The Mockingbird loves the brushpile,
it is wintering on hackberries and juniper berries here. Must be
over 125 Chippy and 45 White-winged Dove on the seed, maybe about
10 Cardinal.
Jan. 9 ~ A 27dF low was 7-8dF and more lower than predicted.
They did not call for a freeze! Missed by a mile, wankers.
Great Horned Owls really going strong now. Nesting probably
getting underway. Saw a female Eastern Fence Lizard, first
one this year. Saw what was likely the same So. Dogface
(butterfly) as a few days ago.
I had a Spizella sparrow fly into a hackberry where I couldn't
see it and proceed to give call notes for a bit. It sounded like
a Tree Sparrow. There were a few of the drawn-out more slurred or
squeezed-out squished note (flatter than the usual thin metallic
sharp standard call note) that I have only ever heard from a Tree
Sparrow. I did not recognize the calls as anything I have ever
heard from Chipping, Field, Clay-colored or Brewer's. Of course
I hear Chippy and Field every day. I stepped inside for bins
and when I came back out it was gone. Worked the Chipsters hard
and nothing.
Jan. 8 ~ About 42-70dF spread for the day was amazing. The
heat busted a few things out: saw an Anole, a Cucumber Beetle,
a wasp of some sort went by, and the 2nd and 3rd butterflies
of the year: Kathy saw a Sleepy Orange and I saw a Red Admiral.
Birds were almost the same gang. Had about 125 Chipping Sparrow
which were checked but you just can't get them all. Heard
my first Killdeer of the year early in morning, must have been
over at the grass airstrip.
Jan. 7 ~ Heard my first duelling Titmouse song of the year today.
Was the same gang though and worked inside on all the too much
stuff to do here. Trying to finish the Utopia Park bird list page
among other things. It is almost there. It ain't easy work,
you have bust some neurons for a lot of hours. Heard some Cranes
heading south. The rest was the expected gang. Again must be
20 Am. Goldfinch coming in. Just a few Siskin though.
Jan. 6 ~ Low of 35, chilly, humid, a little breezy. Not my
fav going out weather. After noon it warmed to 58, but still
breezy and humid. Went to town to try to tape or photo the
Solitaire... no love. Heard it again, can't get to it, and
calling too intermittent to tape. The first two times I heard
it, it was going off endlessly, but alas, now that I am here
with tape recorder, not. The first winter female Ringed King
was in the backwater by the island, and a Green King flew in
as I was leaving. In the hackberries along Cypress St. and in
the big pecan in the pasture out front were over 250 Cedar
Waxwing, most I have seen at once so far this winter.
The 360 crossing had a Pine Warbler amongst a winter flock.
Couple Field Sparrow across from our gate here. Interesting
was an Orange-crowned Warbler just off patio, only one I have seen
around this winter. I was sure I saw it two days ago, for two
seconds, bare-eyed at 20'. I let it go. Here it is in the
same spot on the same branch in same tree today. I just love a good
re-affirmation. And especially those that come after an over-abundance
of probably unwarranted caution. I knew that was an Org-crnd. It is
as if it is a reward for being so careful. And for letting it go,
a couple days later, here is that same bird in the same place,
but you are closer, and it is chipping now, in the sun. Bam! Re-affirmation.
Eastern Bluebird - male
~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~
Jan. 5 ~ A toasty 39dF for a low was nice and sun too.
Counted 45 White-winged Dove on the seed at once. Town run.
I heard the Towsend's Solitaire again, but it was again to
the north of the park on priv. prop. with no access. So it is
still there, and I still need a pic. A COOT was in the pond
by the cattails and willows, which is my first ever January
record locally and so remarkable. The rest was the same gang.
Checked all the pines again, nothing, and haven't seen or
heard the crossbills in a week now. My first butterfly of the
year, finally, was in the yard, a Southern Dogface.
Jan. 4 ~ We ran 22-52dF for a temp spread today. Nice to thaw
out a wee bit in the afternoon. Birds were the same gang o'
seed-suckers. Saw a Myrtle warbler, Mockingbird, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, one Canyon Towhee. Some accipiter flushing events
but which I never saw if Coop or Sharpy. Caracara or two
went over, couple dozen Black Vulture, a Red-tailed Hawk.
Jan. 3 ~ Wow it was cold this morning, our thermo read 14dF!
The Seco Creek WU station showed 12dF. KRVL was a smokin' hot 19.
About 9 a.m. it rose above freezing. Birdbath was frozen solid early.
The first couple pounds of seed sure disappeared fast. On the bright
side, this was the peak cold of this Arctic event. Today has the first
temps above 34dF since last year (Sunday afternoon Dec. 31st). Been
like an icebox out there, and for most of the country, worse.
Jan. 2 ~ About 25dF for a low, the cloud cover kept all that 'heat' in.
Supposed to break freezing maybe today. Then supposed to clear
by tonight so some radiational cooling and the coldest morning will
be tomorrow, in teens. The Chamber of Commerce said nothing about
these three-day Arctic icebox events here. LOL
We were above freezing about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., between 32 and 34dF.
Saw Cedar Waxwing and Ruby-crowned Kinglet besides the same gang.
There seems to be only one Canyon Towhee here now. It is most likely
one of the accipiters got the other. It has been over a week that I
have only been seeing one. It has been ranging much futher afield than
normal, calling as if looking for its mate, across road, out by wellhouse,
etc., so it seems they are one again, bummer.
January 1, 2018 ~ !!! Happy New Year !!! Our very best wishes
to all for a healthy happy one. It started out very cold, about 28dF
shortly before midnight, and 21 this morning at 7 a.m., with 15+ mph
wind on it made for single digit chill factors at first light. Hard
freeze warning in effect until noon Wednesday. So a 60 hour Arctic
ice box event to start the new year. Weewow. Heard some sleet pellets
about 11 a.m. Was a bit of light rain in the afternoon, which froze
as it tried to drip off roof, the icicles got about 4-5" long.
It is brutal out there. Only going out to shovel more seed and keep
the bird bath thawed.
Here is what I saw: Carolina Chickadee and Wren, Black-crested Titmouse,
N. Cardinal, Brewer's Blackbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Black
Vulture, American Goldfinch, Canyon Towhee, Bewick's Wren, Eastern
Phoebe, Common Raven, White-winged and Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove,
heard Eastern Bluebird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Saw 15 and heard three species. Heard everything flush a couple times
but never saw what did it. Likely both the Sharpy and the Coop that are
relentless here. This is about as diversity poor as it can be here.
If one went out and beat the bushes you could get another dozen fast.
Yer fern would be frozen though. Reminds me of when I went out and saw
a hundred plus species on Jan. 1 a couple times in California.
~ ~ ~ Above is 2018 ~ ~ ~
Sorry, got some year-end mopup to do here...
~ ~ ~ 2017 in review ~ ~ ~
I like to have a quick easy reference for greatest hits
each month, or year, as it helps me organize and remember.
So I won't be hurt if you scroll past the yearly or
monthly summaries, and realize they are probably more for my
purposes or sake. Though methinks some learning still to be
had as to how the year related to others, or what is going on,
especially changes that are taking place.
I did another micro- or mini- year, in that again, for I
think now 6 years consecutive, did not drive over 1000 miles
all total miles driven, not just birding miles. Everything.
Life miles for the year. Think global, bird, and live, local.
I guess at a thousand mile limit they should be called a miliyear.
So I am at 6000 miles the last 6 years, all driving total, birding,
life, work, everything. Which is roughly about 3 long crazy
weekend chases by a statewide Texas year lister. Since I don't
chase birds my year list is just whatever it ends up being,
bycatch of gathering and recording the data.
My upper Sabinal River drainage area list this year was about 207.
That is Clayton Grade to Lost Maples, but actually nothing south
of UvCo 360. That would take out a couple hundred miles of the
1000 driven for two trips to Uvalde. Just from around the '
house and adjacent vicinity within walking distance, the park,
and maybe 10-12 Lost Maples visits. Probably saw a dozen or
more different species, maybe 20, down around Uvalde in the
brush country and at the ponds there those two trips.
Well it was a great year for seeing unusual birds locally,
despite the generally poor migration seasons we had. It only
takes a little spice to make it nice. It always seems slow
when you are in it, but afterwards in sum and retrospect,
there were a lot of great birds. For breeding success it
probably was not so great for many birds, it appeared lots
of very small clutches fledged to me.
Rain was a fair amount in total but in fits and spurts
all at once between longer dry periods, which makes it hard
for plants and flowers especially to use. And which then
translates to insects for birds to eat. Local rainfall
amounts vary tremendously in ridiculously close proximity,
but for us here I think it was about 28 inches in total,
near average. So a good amount, but we are still in drought
with a very low water table and river not running above
ground in lots of sections.
Flowers were good early in spring but faded fast with
little rain in May and June. Fall bloom was very weak too.
The fruit and nut crops were hit hard by strong spring fronts
right at the wrong bloom time with 40-50+ MPH winds. Little
to no Persimmon, Pecan, and Agarita crops, while Hackberry was
on the weak side of fair to barely OK.
First we will roundup the best birds in sorta chrono order.
Leslie Calvert reported a White-tailed Hawk Jan. 1 about 5 mi.
SSW of town, the only upper Sabinal drainage report I know of
ever. A Neotropic Cormorant at UP Jan. 20th was my first for the
park list. My 1st local wintering yellowthroat (an imm. male) was
present all Jan. along river at the 360 x-ing south of town. Next
good birds were in April with a PAIR of Short-tailed Hawks at
LM April 2 and after, which seemed to be nest site prospecting
but also seemed to be pushed out of one canyon by the nesting
Broad-wings and the other by nesting Zone-tails. A Gray Hawk
was reported at LM by the pond April 15 or so. I found a Ringed
Kingfisher hole just south of town on priv. prop. that I am sure
was the one currently being used. Young apparently fledge in
April, so they must start very early.
Spring was weak for warblers and the other scarcer 'eastern'
species that can make migration fun. Only 13-14 species of warblers,
no Tennesse again, and far fewer than usual Nashville and Yellow numbers.
The 5 or so Redstart reported locally is high for one spring (I only
saw 2) here. I saw at least 6 Mourning Warbler. One Worm-eating was
reported from LM. The one great eastern spring vagrant for me was a
Black-billed Cuckoo that called from just over the fence at our place
on May 22.
A male Varied Bunting trolled singing at LM from May 21 into June.
A male Lucifer Hummingbird was at a Century Plant June 23, 2 mi. S. of
town. On July 13 Little Creek Larry watched 2 Roseate Spoonbill fly
down Little Creek. At UP in July was an imm. Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron (ph.), and my earliest ever Yellow-headed Blackbird (ph.)
was at the golf course July 15. The August highlights were likely
Hurricane Harvey displacements: 2 White Pelican at UP the 25th, and
from the yard a flyby Least Bittern the 29th, and 2 Fulvous
Whistling-Duck on the 31st.
White-tipped Dove and Olive Sparrow both appeared to have bred at
LM this summer, present earliest spring through the fall. I saw
juv. Olive Sparrow late in summer, and saw a pic of a juv. dove that
was posted on the intertubes (e-bird). Which is first breeding for
the site, and for Bandera Co. For White-tipped Dove it is first
breeding on the Edw. Plateau. For both species it is the furthest
north known nesting ever and the known limit of their northward range
expansion currently.
Fall was weak as usual here, but also as usual a few good things will
always be dug out with enough looking. A Clay-colored Sparrow was my
earliest ever on Sept. 1 (ph.) and a MacGillivray's Warbler on
Sept. 8 at UP is only my 2nd fall record. A favorite was an all-day
in the yard (and LTA) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Oct. 1. Good at UP
was a Harris's Hawk on Oct. 26. November had a couple megas. The
lowlight was a Red-breasted Nuthatch, LTA here, on the 21st. The megas
were first a nocturnal flyover calling Whimbrel on the 7th, which seems
it might be a first Uvalde County report. Then from the 11th on, a
flock of Red Crossbill moved up and down the river habitat corridor,
all the way through to late December. Up to 24 birds at once were
seen almost a dozen times, but only in flight (when they call
incessantly) and never 'on the ground' (in a tree).
Then in December besides the continuing Crossbills through the month,
Bill Wright saw two Townsend's Solitaire at LM, which was followed
by one hearable calling from Utopia Park late Dec. to early Jan. for a week.
It was just north and east of the park property. A Northern Goshawk
was outstanding over town on Dec. 15 (ph.), and an adult Harris's
Sparrow on our patio Dec. 24 was good, they are LTA here. The adult
female Rusty Blackbird showed up for her FIFTH winter around 360
south of town a couple miles. The Louisiana Waterthrush that wintered
at Utopia Park the last three winters, did not return (suspected it was
taken last winter). Neither did a male Pine Warbler that has used our
yard the last three winters. All things must pass.
Butterflies broke records for species diversity each month the first four
months of the year. Likely related to not having a freeze after earliest
January. Then they fizzled out early and hard. Summer was weak, and fall
stunk with no major invasion from the south as most years. Total species
seen was about 88, which is an average drought regimen type total. Last
year was 103 species, the difference being a good fall invasion.
Of interest were the Amblyscirtes Roadside-Skippers at LM (ph.) again this
year (as last) which were not present for 8+ years of the drought. Which
are either Bronze or Oslar's. Really need to have a specimen to do
a proper ID on something outside norms. A Mimosa Yellow on July 9 was unusual.
There was a little pulse of White-striped Longtail, with seven in one day
locally Aug. 6 being my personal record. Usually you are lucky to see one.
There were two good rarity vagrants of the LTA (less than annual) sort,
both photographed well. First a Mexican Tropical (Florida) White on
Sept. 30 at the golf course entrance garden, and then at the UP entrance
garden a Yellow Angled-Sulphur Oct. 15. They saved the fall. It was
astounding how there were almost no blues, hairstreaks, metalmarks,
checkers or crescents, or skippers on the flowers. No small stuff.
It was eerie. There was a good Mestra invasion this year, but no
major Monarch flight locally this October. No Viceroy all year up here
after a great year last year, but a good Arizona Sister recovery seems
to be underway. No Carolina Satyr or Common Wood Nymph still since drought,
but Dusky-blue Groundstreak seems to be slowly recovering too.
For odes there were a few interesting things. Besides the basic set of
breeders, the transients are sure to change every year it seems. Very
good was a Straw-colored Sylph at the 360 x-ing in July, and in August
there, a Hyacinth Glider, both far less than annual up here in the hills.
I have had Swamp Darner and Ivory-striped Sylph there before, it is a
great area, but all private and no trespassing. Also both LTA up here,
a Great Pondhawk at the golf course, and a couple Bronzed River-Cruiser
were good to see again, both in July. Maybe best was two male Slough
Amberwing at UP (ph.) in August. There are only a very few UvCo records.
Twelve-spotted Skimmers staged a minor invasion this year, I saw up to
four in a single day, and twice that many in total. A couple days I saw
four species of Pennants at the golf course: Halloween, Red-tailed, Banded,
and Four-spotted, which is a Pennant slam up here, only Banded is resident
and a sure thing every year locally. For the upper Sabinal River drainage
it was about 18 species of Zygops (damselflies) and at least 41 species of
Anisops (dragonflies), so at least 59 species of odes locally this year,
which is great by me. There were a few others I let go due to quicker
looks than I wanted, so surely over 60 species were in the area.
I did make a side trip out Seco Ridge to a special Evergreen Sumac in
late Sept. to find Stenaspis verticalis insignis, a Longhorn (Cerambycid)
Beetle (ph.). There were a few of the gigas Longhorns around our big
pecan tree as usual in summer, and a Neoclytus sps. (Cerambycid) came
into the night light one night. A few Eyed Elatarid (the giant false-eyed
click beetle) were seen. No big fancy moths this year, and night lighting
in general was nearly pitiful there was so little response some nights
I tried. Lots of bugs seem way down still, presumedly unrecovered from
drought still.
So always some things better than you could ever guess, no matter how
much you know. And always some things you think should have happened,
that didn't. Again, showing how much we really know. That is the
fun of watching, observing, taking notes and maybe pictures, and
recording what you see. You get that big ol' pile of raw data
to peruse and sift through for ideas, meanings and trends. That is
some of the great fun of natural history study.
Scroll through the bird news pages for 2017, especially the last half
of the year, to see a bunch of photos of various things we saw. More
often than not the weekly update breaks are punctuated with a photo.
There is a link to a new page that is an index page for all the archived
bird news pages (Old Bird News), up in the top Nav Bar now. Something
else new I worked on much of the year just got up in Jan. 2018 is the
2.0 version of "The Birds of Utopia Park", with a major
discussion about birds at the park, and with a park bird list in it.
2017 totals for upper Sabinal River drainage only:
Birds.........207
Butterflies....88
Odes...........59
2017 Total....354
In 2016 it was:
212 species of birds - 5 more last year
104+ sps. of butterflies - 16 more last year
52 sps. of Odes (dragons and damselflies) - 7 more this year
368 total in 2016
So odes were better in 2017, but birds down a bit, and
butterflies down quite a lot. Most big flying insects seem
down overall still, and in most groups, way down.
~ ~ ~ end 2017 year in review ~ ~ ~
Above is 2018 (besides prior end-of-year summary)
Back to Top
Go, look, see, take notes and pictures, boldly nature nerd where
no one has before. Few things rival the thrill of discovery.
Besides having fun and learning, you will probably see some things
people won't believe without photos. ;)
~ ~ ~
Read UP from bottom to go in chronological sequence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~