Current Bird (and nature) News

MOST RECENT UPDATE: February 26, 2021
(prior updates: February 19, 12, 5, January 29, 22, 15, 8, 1, 2021, December 25, 18, 11, 4)


   ** SPECIAL NOTICE **

*** Lost Maples and Garner St. Pk. are open for day use and
    limited camping; advance reservations required.
    See the park, or TPWD, websites for details.


* Utopia Park is open. *

~ ~ ~

FOS - first of season - for the first one back.

First a short version of highlights of the month as we go.


February! Only a month to Golden-cheeks! Saw a WHITE-THROATED Sparrow Feb. 2, which I had heard earlier, they are scarce here. On Feb. 5 there was a FOS migrant hummingbird (female) at a feeder but it is un-ID'd, so far. There were at least a couple calling GREEN JAY up and across river from the park the 5th. There is a report of CINNAMON Teal on Little Creek, the Pintail continue there too. A Verdin was noted on Feb. 5, another on the 7th was a second one. Update: the hummingbird is an ANNA'S, which is a rary here, and still present on the 26th. A FOS spring returning Turkey Vulture showed Feb. 9, two were together on the 10th. A major severe cold event began Feb. 11 and will last most of a week. Amazing was a PRAIRIE FALCON in our big Pecan on the 13th. Overnight on the 14-15th we got about 4" of SNOW (!) and record-breaking cold (5F!) in the morning. Southbound Sandhill Cranes were noted Feb. 15. On Feb. 18 we got 4" more snow, and a male Yellow-headed Blackbird! Looking around after the big freeze of Feb. 2021, a 10 day event, there seems to be a great dearth of Carolina Wren, Black Vulture, and Eastern Phoebe. Two or three GREEN JAY were in our yard Feb. 23. Right on historical returnee time was a male Lesser Goldfinch on Feb. 25. A FOS Lincoln's Sparrow was in yard Feb. 26. Also heard FOS northbound Sandhill Crane the 26th.

January 2021 ~ A Lark Bunting on the 3rd was the first noteworthy bird of the year, scarce here, so always a treat. Sylvia Hilbig reports a WESTERN Bluebird at their place in mid-Jan. (priv. prop.), a few miles NW of town in BanCo.! A GREAT sighting! They also had a Merlin there. A flock of 9 MOUNTAIN Bluebird was briefly on UvCo 360 on Jan. 29. A Rusty Blackbird is irregular south of town, a female in her 8th winter hereabouts.

• Jump To Bird & Nature News

This page has the current bird and nature news from the area around Utopia, the Sabinal River Valley (SRV), and occasionally elsewhere in the area, such as Uvalde, Concan, Lost Maples, etc. Often unusual sightings will be in CAPS. There will also be occasional mention of butterfly (lep) or dragonfly (ode) sightings when they are out and about. Or anything natural history of interest, bats to beetles.

For 2020 Lost Maples reports, there is one for July 29 and the other is on the April 26 entry in the birdnews (now archives) below. We have not been visiting it as usual this spring and summer. For some detailed 2019 Lost Maples reports see the dated entries for Jan. 5, March 17, 30, 31, April 21 & 28, May 12, June 2 and 29, July 28, September 15, Oct. 13, and Dec. 8. These are at Old Bird News pages #31 and #32 now. (Old Bird News pages link below)

Pro Tip: Ignore the ebird Chihuahuan Raven reports at Lost Maples, they are mis-ID'd Common Ravens which are common residents. You would think with so many reports, ONE could be proven. Guess again.

A quick note about Utopia Park. There have been some changes in management and rules. It is now $10 per person per day to enter No charge for Utopia or Vanderpool residents. Been gently suggesting we need a one hour or two hour birder rate. They are receptive to the idea but no action yet on it.

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, usually with a photo to make it easy to spot. Sometimes the 'quick take' highlights header above 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 Hwys. 10 or 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!

• Jump To Bird & Nature News

I have been fairly good for a few years now about posting the weekly update Friday evenings. Since night life is so exciting here. Usually this is just minor local (often yard) notes from nearly every day. Some daily or near-daily notes of what is going on with birds, or butterflies, dragonflies, fish, flowers, reptiles, triops, cerambycids, buprestids, bombyliads, and so on. Anything might get mentioned. Usually just yard notes. Unless you got to be stationed at the park all day, one site of observation locally is about as good as another. The big picture only becomes amazingly fascinating by filling all the little details in, one tiny bit at a time. I have a strong interest in bird behavior and often will discuss some aspect of that which I observed.

If you're in the area and see something, please don't hesitate to let us know. For instance, we would be happy to post Lost Maples SNA, or any bird news, if it were reported to us. I love hearing from locals when they see something of interest. Perhaps other visitors might better know where to look for something of interest. E-mail link in next (pale yellow) box, and at bottom of most pages. Local (eight-three-zero) landline WON~2349. I can be at the park in 10 minutes, 8 if I was dressed with shoes on, 5 if it is a Sabine's Gull, but I might not be neatly dressed.

Some rudimentary maps of the area are at the bottom of the "site guide" page, if you need help locating any of the places mentioned.

There are now 17+ (!) years and growing worth of nature notes here, mostly in the bird news archives (Old Bird News) pages linked at the bottom of this page in 6 month segments. You can fairly easily check, 10 fall or spring periods, etc., and get a good idea of what goes on when, where, or how weak migration is here.   :) If you're coming in April, you can check several years out and see when different species arrive.  For instance for Painted Buntings not till later April, earliest numbers about the 18-20th, later is better, some years not till the 21-22 are the first back locally.  Often a few days earlier down in lower altitude brush country (earlier still down on the coast) etc. Adult males mostly depart territories and the area the first week of August.

Be sure to check out the Bird List page, which is updated (2020) with seasonal status and abundance for each species. It lists all 350 plus species (!) known from the upper Sabinal River drainage.

And here's something else.......
Sometimes I may be available as eyes and ears for hire. Send an E-mail if you desire professional expert level birding guide services while in the area. Take out the spaces around the at if you copy this instead of clicking it: mitch @ utopianature.com
Or check out the Bird Guide page.

The BIRDING SITES, HUMMINGBIRDS, BIRD LIST, LM REPORTS, SPARROWS, BRUSH COUNTRY, WARBLERS, HAWKS, and the RARITIES pages have all been recently updated! Most have lots of new pics added in the last year or so.

With apologies, I am not interested in photos from other areas for identification. Please please please do not send unsolicited out of area photos. Contact your local Audubon Society if you have pictures of a bird that you would like identified, every area has one. From Houston to Travis to Ft. Worth, Big Sky, Llano Estacado, no matter where you are there are other local folks interested in your local birds, and since you are (to have a pic that you want ID'd) you should want to know them.  :)  Thank you in advance.



Back to Top

Yellow-breasted Chat

Here are links to some new pages added in the last couple years:

Here is a master index page of 'Old Bird News' links:
Bird News Archives Index
It has links to all the 'Bird News' pages, in 6 month increments. It is the 16 year plus bird news archive file.

~ ~ ~ ~
***  This is the page for visitors with ideas, links, phones, contacts, etc., about where to stay locally.
Where to Stay
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
***  Here is a page which compiles over 16 years of observations at Utopia Park. It is a long discussion about the how and why of birds at Utopia Park, and is the home of the park bird list.
The Birds of Utopia Park
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here are assorted links of all manner, and a handy way outta here.
Mitch's Links
~ ~ ~
Bird Photos


~ ~ ~ finally, current bird news from the greater and lesser Utopia area ~ ~ ~

BIRD & NATURE NEWS 2021


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. Usually a few daily yard notes is all the drivel you get. But you never know what that can lead to. Ready, steady, go!

Commonly used ABBREVIATIONS are:

To repeat since commonly used:
sps.=species; FOS=First of season (can be any season); FOY=First of Year; FOF=First of fall; LTA=Less than Annual; UP=Utopia Park; SLC=So. Little Creek Rd.; dF=degrees Farenheit; (ph.)=photo obtained; ad.=adult; imm.=immature.; ma.=male; fem.=female; juv.=juvenile; odes=Odonata = dragonflies and damselflies; leps=Lepidoptera (butterflies), town=Utopia; the park= Utopia Park at SW corner of town. WU = Weather Underground (sometimes local station readings referenced) BanCo = Bandera Co.; UvCo = Uvalde Co.

---

Just to have this handy again for reference, recent prior updates:
February 19, 12, 5, January 29, 22, 15, 8, 1, December 25, 18, 11, 4
Each week's update break is marked with a bad (usually bird) photo.

You may want to scroll down to last prior update and scroll
up to read in chrono order day to day.

~ ~ ~ and now for the news ~ ~ ~

*** Lost Maples and Garner are open for day use and limited camping, reservations required.

*** Utopia Park is open now.

Feb. 26 ~ Drizzled all night and flatlined at 60F. By dawn it was about .2 of precip. Stayed the same all day but without the drizzle or mist. Town run, they had food and I got a little gas. As if that wasn't enough, Rosie was there so some tacos made the return trip with me. Some Killdeer were in the pasture just east of the river on 360. On county line road (UvCo 356) there was a flock of about 35 Eastern Meadowlark, and one Audubon's Warbler in the Hackberry row. At the park there were 9 Ring-necked Duck, and a Pied-billed Grebe on the pond. In the woods the large dark soaring objects had just lifted off, there were now 3 Turkey Vulture and the one Zone-tailed Hawk just over treetops circling to gain altitude. The Zoney DOVE at one of the TV's which had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck! I do not recall ever seeing such an interaction. No small stuff in the woods, and NO Black Vulture. Incredible. After thinking I might have heard one yesterday afternoon, this afternoon late I heard then saw, my FOS Lincoln's Sparrow. A passage spring migrant! Yesterday's FOS Lesser Goldfinch is a returning breeder, not a passage transient. Saw Mocker and Anna the hummer, Kathy had a Scrub-Jay. Heard only FOS northbound Sandhill Crane today.

Feb. 25 ~ Flatlined at 60 all night, overcast and humid. Springish, but no warmup today. Sure nice to not be fighting the cold, with water, electricity and the intertubes. Benign is fine. Soared up to about 64F in the overcast afternoon. Heard one Carolina Wren trolling about briefly in the morn, and then late afternoon a second bird was around. They did not seem to be acting like the house pair. It all seems like it is new to them. Later heard the Scrub-Jay, saw Anna the hummer, a few Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbird still coming in, a couple Brown-headed Cowbird. Maybe a hundred Chipping Sparrow, still 50 American Goldfinch, 8 or more Field Sparrow. Saw the Orange-crowned Warbler at the birdbath, and maybe my first ever ad.ma. Red-winged Blackbird at it.

New was an adult male Lesser Goldfinch. This is exactly on time for the first spring returnees historically. Last week of February was usually when the first ones return. Rarely earlier, but the biggest cluster of arrival dates is last week of Feb. We don't know that the few that winter at thistle socks locally are the local breeders, they may well be from elsewhere. Even IF they are local birds, then still about 99.999 percent of our breeders depart for the winter. Great to see them back. I just love it when a data dot or duck falls right in the row perfectly.

Feb. 24 ~ We flatlined at 60F all night. Overcast, the gulf flow is back. Today is the big warmup before the next frontal passage (dry) this afternoon. It got to 84F, at least, in the afternoon! Anna the hummer was out there before 7 a.m., and later. A few Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbird around. Mid-morn a Scrub-Jay was quietly gathering a gullet of sunflower seeds along the back fence where I toss. Later Kathy spotted it at the birdbath. Finally heard single Eastern Phoebe and Carolina Wren! I doubt they are the ones that were resident here. Both are trolling around the yard acting like they have never been here before, not long-term residents that know the place. Neither stuck too long. Saw the male Eastern Bluebird on the gate nestbox, presume a female was around or inside it. They are scouting boxes already. So are Titmouse and Chickadee. Saw two Black Vulture finally, but the skies are for the most part, essentially vulture free here now. What are we going to do with all the roadkill? Todd's Roadkill Cafe in Leakey closed a long time ago. Best guess is that name was scientifically formulated after much focus-group research which determined it to be what would most effectively keep the tourists away, and attract the locals, in one word.

Feb. 23 ~ Low maybe 35F or so briefly, chilly but no freeze. The Anna's Hummer was out there before 7 a.m. on the feeder. About 10:30-11: at least two (and maybe three) Green Jay were in the yard! One went to the sunflower feeder and got seeds! One was making a very loud cat meow call, much like the hawk alarm mimic call, but clearly different. One came back later for more sunflower seeds. Great to see at least a couple made it through the big freeze. Pretty tough for a semi-tropical species. Bet they never saw anything like that snow and cold before. There were a couple days with sub-zero chill factors and single digit temps, and a few days with snow covered ground. Consider that it was possible if one were in the right place to have gotten photos of Green Jay in the snow. In the afternoon the Scrub-Jay came by briefly. Nearest Blue Jay I know of are in town and at park.

Feb. 22 ~ Low was about 34F or so, chilly but no freeze. Which is a big win, and none are on the ten-day forecast. Spring will spring now. It got up to 70F or so in the peak afternoon heat. Still no Vultures, Phoebe, or Carolina Wren. They were all lost in the event. Normally I can hear a few other pairs of Carolina Wren countersinging with our yard birds. Dead silence out there now, and I do mean dead. It is eerie. Holy longhorn. The Anna's Hummer is still here though. I ran to town late afternoon to pickup at the post office since a truck finally got here. The gas station is selling emergency rations of gas only still. Store still does not have milk or creamer. Went to the park to see how many Black Vultures were on the roost tree. NONE! At 5 p.m. this is unprecedented. They are gone folks. We lost 'em. There should be a hundred plus there. ZERO! One Turkey Vulture flew out of a Cypress, which is likely a new arrival in the last couple days as none wintered. Our just-arrived pair at the house is MIA. The Zone-tailed Hawk flew in looking to roost just before 5 p.m. so it made it. There was one Kinglet (Ruby), two Myrtle Warbler, and NOT ONE Phoebe. Should have been a handful. There was a good Mayfly hatch going, and NO Phoebe! I think a lot of them were lost. I did hear two Carolina Wren though which was nice since ours at the house are gone. A dozen Ring-necked Duck were on the pond. It is a different birdscape out there since the big freeze. Kathy mentioned here at the casita there are a lot less Cardinal out there than a week ago. After dark heard the Barred Owl for the first time in a while, over along the river.

Feb. 21 ~ Low was in the mid-40's F after midnight, but a couple hours before dawn it went up to 50F, about 30dF warmer than yesterday morn. Sure feels great to not be freezing. Have to peel the layers off the windows. The Red-wings are not around, just a few Brown-headed Cowbird. Still 50+ American Goldfinch though. Chippies have dialed back to half the freeze peak numbers. About a hundred each Robin and Waxwing in the morning and again in the afternoon, had to refill the bath a couple times. I saw the Anna's Hummingbird a couple times in the morning. It got up to 72F in the afternoon! First warm day, and warmest in 12 days at least. No Turkey Vulture, hardly a Black Vulture (1?), I am thinking they both took a major hit in this. Also we did not see or hear our Carolina Wren pair here today. Which is impossible. I saw them Friday for sure, but not sure about yesterday, and certainly not today. It appears we have lost them. Looking for the phoebe pair too, did not hear them either today. Did hear an Eastern Bluebird. I saw two reports in Texas of 6 and 7 dead male Eastern Bluebird all together in two seperate boxes. Too many days without food or being able to forage, in too much cold.

Feb 20 ~ Another hard freeze at 18F this morning, and all was covered in thick frost. I ran to town in that at 8 a.m., since a supply truck got here at dawn with bread, eggs, produce, and other stuff, but still no milk. Hopefully they will get another delivery later in the upcoming week. Scanned the park pond, about 20 Ring-necked Duck on it was it. Little Creek Larry said he forgot to mention this week for a couple days during the worst cold a male Vermilion Flycatcher was on the dam as Phoebe (Eastern) often is. I suspect it is the same male that was wintering at the pond on the golf course (a mile south), and had to move and work the river in the big freeze.

On the way home on 360 by the former Utopia on the River, there were a dozen Lark Sparrow. The only ones I have seen all winter. They could be returning spring migrants. Larry just recently mentioned he had a few. The Anna's Hummingbird made another night in the teens. We sweat it out every morning until we see it. There have been lots of stories on the intertubes of people across Texas that lost their wintering hummingbirds during this freeze event. Was nice to not have to be swapping out feeders in the snow or cold. Only a couple dozen Red-wings, half the peak number when the Yellow-headed was here, and no sign of it. It is with the other couple dozen. About 10 Brown-headed Cowbird. All 3 orange-billed gray-lored western type (probably Gambell's) White-crowned Sparrow continue. Great to hear Red-winged Blackbird singing out there much of the day. Sounds like spring!

I may have forgotten to mention (for obvious reasons) in the peak cold there was a Eurasian Collared-Dove out back on the seed briefly, on a couple days. Thanks for the condolences. Did have a Caracara today, but did not see the two Turkey Vulture that showed up the day before the major freeze, ice and snow event began. They had about 9 days they could not get up, out, and fly. Can they live that long without food when they are having to burn way more than the usual amount of energy trying to stay thermal? I doubt it, and expect they succumbed. It was 58F here in the afternoon with southerlies, they should have been up and out looking for roadkill, and hanging out overhead later in the afternoon, like they were the day before the big freeze hit. Way fewer Black Vulture out there too now, only saw one small group along road between here and town, only a couple over house all day.

So we made 10 days of this major cold and deep-freeze event. It appears we are headed back to more seasonal temps for the rest of the month. That was brutal. None can say it was a mild winter here this year. No one under 35 had ever seen snow or cold here like we had this week. Little Creek Larry said since 1985 for the snow. Which he estimated at 10" for the event. He is pretty good about that sort of thing. As he said it was melting all the time as it was snowing. His gauge had 1.25" of water in it after it all melted. So it surely could have been 10" of snow. This was a remarkable historic event. The likes of which hopefully we won't see again for some time, or ever.


~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Feb 19 ~ A chilly 14F for a low. It was a cold morning, but finally it warmed up in the afternoon to about 50F! Most of the snow melted. Did not see the Red-wing flock, only a few, and no Yellow-headed. Saw the Anna's Hummingbird and Downy Woodpecker, the rest looked the same. But I saw both imm. White-crowned Sparrows well finally, and like the adult here, they are orange-billed and gray-lored. They too are probably Gambell's (western) type like the adult.

The internet remains down here if on DSL, they hope to have it back up 11 p.m. tonight! Went to town and got lots of horror stories but very few supplies. No mail truck has arrived this week, the gas station was just a station all week, they were getting some gas today. The store is out of most staples like milk, bread, eggs, butter, fresh vegetables, and so on. All this because it got cold in Texas. I heard some say not to bother trying at the nearest HEB stores, they too are out of most of the basics as well.

Looked at the park but I didn't walk the woods at the park as it was muddy with melting snow, but there were 62 Ring-necked Duck on the pond, most I have ever seen at once there. Open water must have frozen somewhere up north. Little Creek Larry said there were more than 60 Ring-necks out there yesterday. He also said the creek froze, and all the ducks there left for a couple days but mostly seem to be back. Hummer was tanking up late.

Feb. 18 ~ In the low 20's F, about 24, and shortly after dawn it started snowing again. By afternoon it looked like 3 inches but was probably more like four as it was melting quite a bit the first couple hours. Flatlined at 25F all day. Birds are thick on the seed. Astounding was my first winter record of a Yellow-headed Blackbird here, in with now 45 Red-winged Blackbird! They are accidental on the plateau in the winter. It was a beautiful male, and got shots, which I froze for. New for the yard list too! Got a count of 12 male Cardinal at once, 27 Mourning and 25 White-winged Dove. It is over 200 Chipping Sparrow here now, maybe 225. Anna's Hummer still here, we are swapping out the feeder every 90 minutes or so. Saw both the ad. and an imm. White-crowned Sparrow. The dark ad. is an orange-billed gray-lored type, probably a (western) Gambell's, not our default standard pink-billed black-lored (eastern) leucophrys. The Brewer's Blackbird flock was 45 and at least half of them came down to the patio edge for seed late in day, which they never do. Red-wings have no aversion to the patio, the Brewer's, never come down to it. Three species of blackbird in a day here is good. If only I could have seen the Rusty. They are really jumpy and hard to work.

The power was on all day though was off some overnight last night. Pipes didn't re-freeze, so we have heat and hot water. The DSL is down, the phone company is not answering, they are in Rocksprings. Welcome to Texastan. The energy state. We did not break freezing after briefly doing so in a big way yesterday. We are now at 7 days of the last 8, at or below freezing, which constitutes a major deep freeze a way down south here below 30N. Nearing 6 p.m. the snow has tapered off and I think it is about 4" for today. There are horizontal branches that were clear yesterday afternoon now with at least 3" on them. Yesterday when I saw Calvin he said he had 4" not far from here from the first event. I would say then probably 7-8" for two events, Monday and Thursday, at minimum. Lots melted each time as it began because the ground was warm. It is likely the most snow here since 1985, over 35 years. Now though, we can not tell what is supposed to happen next weatherwise without the DSL. Was to be very cold tomorrow morning again.

Feb. 17 ~ Stayed right around freezing all night, there were a couple 2 FOOT icicles! Almost all the snow melted in the afternoon when it warmed up to about 50F briefly! Finally some heat, outside the house at least! The water lines thawed finally. So there is hot tap water again, when power. Power was off and on all day here in the banana Republic of Texastan. The afternoon it was mostly on, but the constant improper shutdowns on the computer are not a good thing. Can barely work, answer emails, or do business. It is past ridiculous. Didn't see anything different in birds, all the same stuff, but more Chippies, and more Red-wings have collected. Downy Woodpecker and Anna's Hummingbird still here. Heard the Scrub-Jay out back a bit, thought I heard it yesterday too but was just once. Myrtle Warbler still eating seed. Another winter weather event inbound for tomorrow. More power outages in evening. There was a blown pipe (making a nice fountain behind the cottage) that feeds some troughs over in the corral so I had to call to get ranch maintenence to come out and fix it. They had more to do after fixing this one...

Feb. 16 ~ Day 6 of the big freeze. It was a smokin' 14F at 7 a.m., but was in single digits during the overnight. KERV had a 5F at 2:30 a.m., we were likely near that. Up to 22F here at 10 a.m., pipes (wellhouse?) still frozen, at least we have stored emergency water and snow for more, plus power and heat. Lots of Texas is in a big hurt this morning with none of the above. At noon I saw 27F on the front porch, and some bodacious icicles. Heard the pair of Eastern Bluebird out by their usual box. Hummer here of course, nothing moving in this. Saw the dark ad. White-crowned Sparrow and the Orange-crowned Warbler. White-winged Dove are getting the purple mauve on their necks now.

Spent the afternoon and night with rolling blackouts. Lovely. Begging the question as to why the Texas electricty distribution management org has the word *reliability* in their name. I don't think it means what they think it means. This same thing happened in the 1989 polar air event, AND on the 2011 (DFW) Super Bowl day. This is the third time, recently. Feds and others both prior times told the state they needed to winterize the power plants. Nothing happened but millions in exec pay and lobbying for their monopolies, and deregulation. Texas in order to be unregulated required them disconnecting from the federal Western Grid, so they could not get power from it now when we needed it. An oh yeah, this is the energy state, where when it gets real cold no one has any power or heat, and it is the windmills fault. Offline was 16 GW of renewable and 30 GW of thermal (nuke, coal, gas). About 75 of 675 power plants in the state were offline. During the polar freeze. Makes sense. About 10 percent of plants, roughly the amount of power the state was short. Despite having something called the electricity reliability council. Some are saying when the brownouts started Monday it was within minutes of a major meltdown that would have taken out the grid for months. Now there is some reliability.

Feb. 15 ~ Day 5 of the big freeze of Feb. 2021. We woke up to at least 3.5" (maybe 4) of SNOW (!) and a sizzling 5F! Blinking clocks and frozen pipes, which is probably out at the wellhouse. A drip was going, was being the key word. At least we have heat and electricity! It went out quickly a few times overnight. There has been nothing like this in 18 years we have been here. There was an Arctic cold event in 1989 but it was after we left San Antonio and Texas that year. Then there was a big snow in 1985 (SAT had a foot, 18" in Utopia). The SAT record low for today was 16F, they had 9F this morning, KERV was 5F like us here. Was a good bit of melt in the heat of the day in the upper 20's F.

Amazingly, I got to use my SNOW SHOVEL! It is from New Jersey, a 1982 vintage, it was made in America before the crapification and is real deal steel. I should be shoveling in town today for extra dough.  LOL   Probably the only one in the whole valley. Most of them have never seen such an implement, and they have almost every implement known to man here. Had to clear areas to toss seed on the patio, made a path to the back and cleared spots out there for seed, a path to the cottage, the stone step walkways, and out to the driveway. The job sure is easier with the right tool. We can get around the house, to cottage, and seeding, without tracking snow in now.

Hummer was out there at dawn when I was being a shoveler. The hummer feeder lasted about 90 minutes before the fluid was icing up. Doing the swap with one inside the house, all day. In the afternoon I saw 28F on the cool shady front porch, was probably 30F on the sunny south side. The wind was still over 10 mph so it didn't feel very warm. KERV was 22 and Hondo 30F. The Downy Woodpecker was going to ground getting sunflower seeds just like the Ladder-back and Golden-front have been. They also learn by watching. It was packed with birds on the seed all day here, and I shoveled lots of that too. About 3:30 we lost the sun and the melting slowed way down. Got a 200 count on the Chipping Sparrow late afternoon! At least 30 for the Red-winged Blackbird count. Saw the Orange-crowned Warbler grabbing some white millet. I have never seen so much snow and cold without a junco to be found. Two species of warbler are here, but no junco, in the snow. Saw both ad. and imm., female Cooper's Hawk make passes at the seedeaters.

I took a bunch of pics, just to have evidence to look at next July and August. I took a few generic shots to show all the birds in the cleared areas where seeded. Kathy was outside on the front porch about 5 p.m. and heard cranes, I got out there quickly enough to tell they were going south. Wonder where they left from this morning? Hummer was out there camped on feeder at 6 p.m. for last fill-up. Late p.m. saw the dark ad. White-crowned Sparrow.

Feb 14 ~ Day 4 of the big freeze of Feb. 2021. About 25F for a low, and some patches of ice on the ground from the mist which is freezing and then building up. The Hummer is on the feeder, which we brought in overnight. Did I say the low was 25F? Turns out it was the high. By afternoon it was 22 and dropping. Never did warm up. With the wind on it feels the teens. The birds were all the same gang. The historical cold event peaks the next two mornings in single digits and tonight we are supposed to get snow. It is brutal out there and getting worse before it gets better. Been shoveling seed all day. Three days had been the limit for freeze events for the last 18 years we have been here. This one is now looking like it will be 7 days where only once for a few hours was it over freezing (Friday the 12th). Had to quick thaw hummer feeders at 5 p.m. when it was 18F, they were slushy. At that time Winds were N 15- gusting to 25 mph, chills were in the single digits. Counted 10 male Cardinal at once, and got a 150 count on the Chipping Sparrow. Now with the cold they all show up. The Red-wings were around in the afternoon, heard a few Robin and Waxwing. Saw the Myrtle Warbler grabbing some white millet seed. Worked on cold-proofing some things better, expecially in the cottage where marine aquaria. Guess I got all my good birds for the weekend yesterday. Now I am just trying to keep a hummer alive, and pipes from bursting. At 8 p.m. I saw 14F on the front porch, and wind chills then had to be about zero. There was some frozen rain and sleet, which should turn to snow shortly. Junction and Rock Springs are sub-zero chill factors aleady this evening. By 10 p.m. there was 1.5" of snow on the ground and it was coming down moderately, local WU stations were reading 9-11F, wind was 10-15 gusting 20-25 mph..

Feb. 13 ~ Low was 25F, some mist, we won't see 32F today. Saw the hummer a few times in the morning. Best was before 10 a.m. when I went to put a second shovel of seed out. The birds had all just flushed so I figured a good chance. When I got out back tossing I heard a Titmouse alarm call, looked up and saw a PRAIRIE FALCON jumping out of the top of the big Pecan! That is what flushed the doves and all a couple minutes earlier! It lazily flew north low over the draw, and was likely going back down shortly. First one in the yard, and whaddabird for my Pecan tree list! Gotta say if I hadn't seen a couple hundred of them I would not have instantly recognized it. No substitute for experience with the animal.

Less than an hour later I walked out of the cottage and a Loggerhead Shrike was on a (original juniper) clothesline pole (that the wire the birdfeeders hang on is connected to). Right at the corner of the patio! Looking for a Chippy. First Shrike on the patio. Only had one IN the yard once before, have heard a few over toward the airstrip. It flew and landed in the lowest branches of the big Pecan. BAM! On my Pecan tree list. Two new ones in an hour! With almost 3000 days straight of watching this tree. Ten thousand hours looking in this tree, and now, leafless, I see two species in an hour that I have never seen in it. Amazing how fast one can go from "well I have been looking for ten thousand hours and never saw one of those here", to "oh yeah, sure, got it". It never did break freezing, was misting on and off, and getting colder and breezier.

~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Feb. 12 ~ Low about 30F, briefly misted, feels like winter. A little more precip overnight, probably safe to say .75 (of an inch) for the event. The Red-winged Blackbird flock was down on the seed, 27 I counted, about 12 were male. Little Creek Larry said he got an inch of rain from the event. Also said there was a nice flock of Ring-necked Duck on Little Creek yesterday. He also heard there was a half inch of ice up on top of the plateau, just above Lost Maples yesterday. There was a pair of Ring-necked Duck on the pond at the park, and the one Pied-billed Grebe, which actually called, something I do not hear often here. I did not walk the woods though. Rosie was closed, presumably the bad weather, so no tacos today. Hope I survive. By 1 p.m. it was over freezing, maybe 35F or so, and misting lightly. Just after 4 p.m. finally I saw the Anna's Hummingbird today. Some Chipping Sparrow are getting very rusty of crown.

Feb. 11 ~ Low just over freezing, about 34F, with some mist and drizzle, winter rears its cold head again. We are in for nearly a week of very cold temps, for here, they say peak will be the coldest in at least several years here. Mon. and Tues. lows are forecast to be single digits! Arctic air. Four or five days straight of highs in the 30's F or lower. Three is the most I have seen in the last 18 years here, a few times. Looks like I will be shoveling bird seed for the next week, and hunkering down inside near the heaters. The drizzle was nearing a half-inch by about 1 p.m., and we were flat-lining at 33F, so, at least it is not ice. Just north of us up on top of the plateau above Lost Maples it is ice all over. From way west of Junction to KERV and Austin. The wind is off and on breezy, so feels below freezing out there in the wet. Was a bit of thunder occasionally as well. More weather for your money. I would love a nice thundersnow. At dark it was about 15mm of precip total over the day.

The blackbird flock was in the big Pecan first thing, a bunch of Red-wings singing, right out in the breeze in a cold rain. Thrilled. Lots of birds on the seed. Kathy said at least a hundred Chipping Sparrow. Remember, it is easier to trust the count of another than to count them ones self. It was about 40 some Siskin and 50 Am. Goldfinch, 20 each House Finch, and Cardinal. About 8 each of Field Sparrow and Black-crested Titmouse, and 4 Carolina Chickadee, a few each Bewick's and Carolina Wren, lots of White-winged and Mourning Dove. Saw the icterids down on the patio and under Mulberry in the afternoon. So did some counting myself. There were 11 Brown-headed Cowbird (3 male, 8 female), and 25 Red-winged Blackbird (12 male and 13 female). Highest count of either sps. all winter for me here. February is when we see their numbers go up and I suspect it is spring arrivals. Kathy saw the hummer on the back feeder, which is a bit more sheltered than the one on the front porch.

Feb. 10 ~ Flatlined in upper 50's F all night, and day. A cold front is just pushing in under the warm moist air aloft, and so winter is back. It was all springy yesterday afternoon. The blackbird flock (125+ Brewer's, some Red-wings) was over in the corral but I had too much work to do to work them. Nice to hear some Red-wings singing though. Saw the hummer in the morning, hope it is packing the pounds on for this next cold spell. Next Mon. and Tues. morns they are talking major cold with a couple lows in the 20's F prior to those Not good hummer weather. Caracara and Raven made passes. Heard the Ring King over at the river. In the later afternoon there were TWO Turkey Vulture together, working the area low like the local breeders. Very cool to see them back. Kathy spotted a very dark adult White-crowned Sparrow at the last seed eating feeding frenzy. Maybe it is dirty, the white stripes were not clean, the whole bird looked dirty. The pair of Eastern Phoebe were singing together in the treetops today.

Feb. 9 ~ Another fog-mist morning, balmy at 60F or so. We have a major blast of winter with some very serious cold heading down in a few days. Will enjoy the mild gray in the meanwhile. Must have been some accipiters lurking in the shadows, much of the day the birds were not out there. Kathy saw the hummer late in the day, about 5 p.m., finally, otherwise would have missed it today. At least it is getting to put some calories on before the big freeze hits. They are talking one of those 48 hr. spells without breaking freezing this coming Sunday to Tuesday, with lows in the teens. Got up to about 76F here in the afternoon. Tomorrow will be about 20F cooler. What looked the female Red-tailed Hawk was soaring over the nest tree area in the afternoon. Great was a FOS Turkey Vulture in the afternoon working low over the corral. Surely one of our local returning breeders. Most common arrival date the first 10-12 years I was here was Valentine's Day, but they have been returning earlier, as spring, the last few to several years. Methinks these will soon regret it this year.

Feb. 8 ~ Overcast, almost fog, low about 50F. Early saw the hummer perched in top of the Mulberry, as if on station, which is great to see. It has been flying way away across road so maybe it will become photogenic in good light yet. I am sure it is an ANNA'S Hummingbird. Which is a great bird here, far less than annual here, and the first one here at this place (8 years and ten thousand hummers here). We had at least 3 at Seco Ridge in 8 years. Judy Schaeffer in town had a couple one of those same invasion years, including one that stuck the winter. This fall and winter was a big year for them in the east half of Texas, maybe the fires out west pushed more thisaway. But most showed up a month or two ago. Showing up in early Feb. is not the usual program with them. I can't even guess which way it is going. But for now it is not going anywhere in this inclement mess...

There was a flock of 125 blackbirds in the corral, most were Brewer's but 10 Red-winged in with them were about half each male and female. Did not spot the Rusty before they bolted. They are ginchy too. I heard a Hutton's Vireo singing over along the north fence in the Junipers. Which are really spewing pollen now. Some male trees are orange. Kathy saw the Downy Woodpecker by the sunflower feeder, it must be watching the Ladder-back and Golden-fronts. Late about 6 p.m. I saw the hummer on the back (office) feeder for the first time. Which is great. Saw what looked a pair of Raven (Common) ejecting another pair of Raven from the area.

Feb. 7 ~ Low was 30F, maybe it got a dF colder, I wasn't hanging around watching it. After lots of looking, about 10:30 the hummer was at the feeder briefly. Got another bad light shot, but had only camera so no study, until I get pix off it. A bunch of waxwings hit the birdbath, making off with a half-gallon of water in short order. We went for a spinabout for a couple hours noonish. First we slow-rolled over to Little Creek and scoped the pond with the ducks. The light is bad mid-day and the wind was blowing over 20 mph. We did not see the Cinnamon Teal but you can not surely see everything due to vegetation. We did see the 40+ Pintail continuing, a dozen Green-winged Teal, probably 40 Gadwall and around 30 Am. Wigeon, one Ring-necked Duck, and a Great Egret. Nothing along the roads, save on 355 in the jog section we had a look at a Verdin. Checked the pond on the golf course by the Waresville Cmty. and saw nothing. In the pasture on 360 just east of the river the ground has just gone green and there were 9 Killdeer and about 40 American (Water) Pipit, neither of which have been around. Make it green and they will come. Warmed up to about 70F, but too dang windy until nearing sundown. The hummer showed briefly about 5 p.m. but I did not get a binoc look or another photo either one. The front porch feeder is in the best high-vis place to snag a passing bird, but it is horrible for viewing light most of the time. If there were a plug out there I would have an LED spot on it, with a switch I could throw from inside as needed.

Feb. 6 ~ Was about 44 around 3 a.m., but 48F by dawn. With fog and mist, heavy overcast ahead of the front due in later this morning. The hummingbird came in one time that I saw in the morning, when it was still gray and overcast, in very low light. But I got a few shots. Pretty sure it is an ANNA'S. I can see gray in the underparts I could not see yesterday (whence also in bad light), and a fair bit of green on the sides. It has just a few dark gorget feathers in lower center throat, so probably a first-spring female. I heard it call a couple thin sharp hard chips again, which as I said to Kathy when it did that yesterday, is Anna's call. The front cleared the clouds out before noon and every hour all day I spent 10 minutes watching the feeder camera in hand, and as of 5 p.m. had not seen it again all day, when there would have been great light. At least we know it tanked up good last night and this morning, and we got some pixels to argue about.

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Feb. 5 ~ We ran about 48-68F for a temp spread today. Sunny and nice. The yard was the same seedeaters. More birdsong every day now. Town run fer shtuff. Best was hearing a couple Green Jay across the river from the park, just above the top end of the island in that live-oak motte on other side. So they are still around. Just probably hanging on some corn feeders up thataway. Heard Belted Kingfisher up the river. Little Creek Larry said there were a couple CINNAMON Teal over at Little Creek in the duck flock, and the Pintail are still there. Rosie was there so real deal tacos for lunch here at the hovelita.

After lunch a female hummingbird showed up at the front porch. After it departed I checked and both feeders had gone syrupy, hope it got something. Refreshed both again. Been doing it all winter for nothing. Then one finally shows up when it's shot. Dang it. It was not a Selasphorus, there was no rufous or rusty. It generally looked like a female Black-chinned for the most part, but had a small group of dark gorget feathers in center of lower throat. The underparts were fairly white without buffy sides, and not gray whatsoever. I heard a couple thin chips which were hard and sharp. Since none of that adds up, it will remain a hummingbird sps., which is about as big a bummer as one hummer could be. Whilst I was standing around hoping for it to return I heard the Verdin go off over in the Mesquites across the road. Saw one Orange Sulphur and a couple Snout for butterflies. Heard the Ringed Kingfisher over at the river.

About 5:45 p.m. the hummer came back. It gassed up good this time with fresh fluid. On the other side of the feeder of course. It remains un-ID'd but importantly, I am unable to rule out a Costa's on it yet. It seems not Anna's, and is not a Selasphorus. The hard sharp thin chip does not sound like the soft Black-chinned or Ruby-throated. Since it is here this late in day, I presume I will get chances to see and study it tomorrow. I had a very early spring female Costa's up on Seco Ridge, March 4-5, 2006, which called alot but wasn't there 24 hours, and I did not get a tape of it. So, no score! After dark I was slow-rolling on the back west end of 360 and saw a Gray Fox on the road. They can be remarkably fast.

Feb. 4 ~ It was about 59F all night. Balmy, south Gulf flow ahead of the next front, which is set to arrive this afternoon. Thick overcast bodering on fog early. Warming up above average ahead of the cold air on its way down from Canada. We saw the male Ladder-backed Woodpecker on the birdbath, which is a very very rare sight. Probably because he is eating all those sunflower seeds. The northerlies arrived around 3 p.m., whence I saw 82F on the cool shady front porch! The sunny south side of the house had to be a few dF warmer, likely 85F. Most of the local WU stations were reading 82-85F. The record for the date at SAT is 85, so our record would typically be a couple dF cooler than that. Which means we are right about or at a record high for the date. Remarkable. Saw several Snouth fly by. Kathy saw a Dogface.

Feb. 3 ~ Low was in upper 30's F, sunny and no wind, great out. I can't believe how fast how green the ground is turning with sprouts in some areas. Various grasses, and other green sprouty things are breaking ground. Go green. Got up to about 75F in the afternoon. Weewow! Had a glimpse of some Zons flushing from under the sprawling laurel out back. Looked like two White-crowns and a White-throated. Weird how some laurels grow sprawling like a bush, and others grow vertical like a tree, totally different growth forms.

The rest was all the same gang. Too busy at the desk. Heard the ack ack ack ack ack fire of a Ringed Kingfisher from over at the river. Heard the Eastern Phoebe singing for the first time this year. So it joins the sputtering chorus of residents that are delving into song as we pass the mid-winter point. Days are nearing 1.5 minutes longer, daily, now.

Feb. 2 ~ Another near-freeze, about 34F for a low. At least the wind laid down. Got up to upper 60's, so about average for the date. A Robin and waxwing flock that went over looked like a hundred of each. Some Robin were dropping to land in the top of the big pecan and getting to within 10' of an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk before they made the ID and changed course. It was really fidgeting as several did this, but knew it was a waste of energy trying to get one out in the open airspace. They would break off the landing maneuver at what seemed like way too late to me. I was surprised they got that close before seeing and-or recognizing it. I know it sits up there trying to look like a White-winged Dove, but eight or ten did this, separately, as the Robin stream went over. It was all the Sharpy could take, changing position a couple times, it wanted to go after one badly.

Kathy saw a big black butterfly today, which was surely a swallowtail of some flavor. Actually Black Swallowtail is more likely, often it can be seen in earlier Feb. when on a warm day the first emergences will pop. But she didn't see it well enough to say whether Black or Pipevine. First swallowtail of the year though. Maybe we will see it again in the next day or two.

February 1 ~ Low about 33F, sunny and nice out. Figures its a work day in the office, weekend was mostly blown-out. Same gang o' birds. Until after noon when I saw a Rufous-crowned Sparrow at the birdbath. Have not seen one here in a couple or few months, so that was nice. Then in the afternoon I caught a look at a White-throated Sparrow when it stopped on a branch after it flushed out from under the laurel out back where I toss seed. Right where I heard it a few days ago. It is a white striped adult. Now if I could just get a pic, but it is ginchy as can be. BTW, ever notice how close ginchy is to gunshy? A good flock of Robin and waxwing went over late afternoon, about 75 of each, heading west towards a roost site.

~ ~ ~ January summary ~ ~ ~

This one will be short and easy. We had about 1.3 inches of rain for the month. Which is below average but made a big difference as reflected in how the river has come up to only a foot below going over spillway at park. Food crops are poor and gone, there is an amazing dearth of birds out there overall. Pastures, hedgerows, treelines, patches of woodlets, riverside, are all fairly devoid of birds, as bad as I have ever seen it here in 18 years now. There were 6 species of butterflies this month, and perhaps a dozen individuals total of which half were Snout. The Eufala Skipper was best for Jan. Three Variegated Meadowhawk were the only dragonfly, on one day early in month. Heard Leopard and Barking Frog on a warm day later in month.

Birds were very weak though. We have not seen the Green Jays this year, or since mid-December. Best bird locally was the Hilbig's Western Bluebird. Second best was a flock of 9 Mountain Bluebird I saw briefly on UvCo360. An ad. fem. Rusty Blackbird sometimes in the corral adjacent to us is on her 8th winter here. One Lark Bunting on UvCo354 was good. A female Downy Woodpecker has been around a bit. A male Vermilion Flycatcher is again wintering at the pond on the golf course by the Waresville Cmty. I saw about 68 sps. locally this month, with hardly any looking outside yard or park checks. I know of several more that others saw.

~ ~ ~ end Jan. summary ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ back to the dairly drivel ~ ~ ~

Jan. 31 ~ It is appearing as though we may yet make it through the first month of the new year. Was in uppermost 30's F for a bit overnight but over 40 at dawn. Clear and sunny but a second front is moving in so wind picking up by 9 a.m., northerly cool air and a high 10F cooler than yesterday. Too windy until late afternoon so worked on stuff here. Birds were the same gang. Robin flock might have been a hundred though. There are some juniper berries, and mostly up in town some Ligustrum and Chinaberry. But the birds are sure not like when there are great food crops of Pecans, Hackberries, Junipers, or seed crops from a good fall bloom.

Jan. 30 ~ A balmy 59F for a low, overcast, nearing fog, some mist at one point in the morning. Southerly Gulf flow being sucked up in front of the next front. Noonish the front cleared it out and it was northerly breezy a few hours. It warmed up in the afternoon, at 4 p.m. the local WU station readings ran 75-79F! Amazing. The birds here looked all the same gang. After lunch we took a short quick spinabout checking the pastures along 360, no bluebirds. Nothing on the airstrip either. Went on top of the 1450 knoll as it has a big flat bareish top, nothing. Had to look around a little. There were very few birds out. The most action is in our yard. Even the river-edge is quiet. No bugs save the winter Mayfly hatches on warm days.


~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Jan. 29 ~ Low was around freezing about 4-5 a.m., but was 38-40F by dawn. Cool and overcast, a slight breeze, chilly. The yard birds were the same. Town run, was real quiet there, maybe the stock show in Uvalde? At the park there was a beautiful drake Ring-necked Duck on the pond. A few Myrtle Warbler and the male Audubon's continue, a Kinglet (Ruby) and a Hermit Thrush. Nice to hear Titmouse and Bewick's Wren singing in town. Rosie was not there today so missed our weekly taco fix. On the way home on 360 just west of Utopia on the River, a flock of 9 MOUNTAIN Bluebird flew right over me low. I jumped out and got fair binoc views (at least a couple were ad. males), as they flew over the pasture along road toward river, gaining altitude and disappearing. Have not seen one locally in a bunch of years. Saw them a few times the first few years here, and maybe once since. Only takes one good bird to make your week.

Jan. 28 ~ We were right on the freeze line this morning. KERV had a couple 29F readings, we might have been 31F briefly. Warmed up to about 60F. Was the same birds, nice to see about 50 Robin in a flock. Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers eating sunflower seeds. Another 36 count on White-winged Dove, couple dozen Cardinal, 50 American Goldfinch is great, 100 Chipping Sparrow. Too busy at the desk with work. Hearing some Chickadee song is great.

Jan. 27 ~ Low about 40F and the wind blew all night. Around midnight last night there were some 30 mph gusts, it was 15-20 mph sustained overnight and much of day. Sure is a crowd of birds out there first thing early after I toss seed and put feeders out and up. Weird that I have not seen that Chipping Sparrow with the white feathers on left wing again. Seems like it is likely one of the ones the accipiters have taken. For standing out. Let that be a lesson to you. Maybe hit 60F in the afternoon, whence wind laid down finally. Which means it will get cold.

Jan. 26 ~ Low was about 35F, about a category lower than progged. Great to hear Cardinal giving a decent burst of song. It warmed up quickly, by noon it was 70F and I was seeing butterflies. A Eufala Skipper has to be my first Jan. record (n~18). A Lyside Sulphur flew over, and a Snout came into water Kathy sprayed. There is nothing out there for them to eat, but for puddling. Then a Lady of some sort dashed off un-ID'd, most (all?) wintering Lady here are American. Painted generally continues through in fall and does not stick for the winter. Birds were the same gang, as expected in January. Another dry front is inbound, winds started late in the evening.

Jan. 25 ~ It was in the 60's until about 6 a.m. when the front started arriving, dropping to almost 50F by dawn. Looked as though there were a showerlet briefly as it went by, the ground was wet. Then clear and sunny, but the wind blew most of the day until late afternoon. At 15-20mph, gusting to 25. It warmed up to the low 70's in the afternoon. KERV was 72, and Hondo had a 77F! We were in between. Pretty amazing for the date. Nice and dry too. Kathy spotted the first Southern Dogface of the year, a mint fresh just-emerged male that the paint had not yet dried on. Just a little heat and pop goes the butterfly. Saw two imm. White-crowned Sparrow here. Had a quick town run late in afternoon and so a look at the park. Saw one Pied-billed Grebe. Better was hearing a (Rio Grande) Leopard Frog, and a Barking Frog. First amphibs, and of those calls this year, and way way early for them. Almost surely my earliest dates ever for both of them. Usually (Blanchard's) Cricket-Frog is the first early amphib on a warm day in Feb., if not our 'spring peeper' the (Strecker's) Chorus Frog. There was a fair bit of Mayfly emergence going on. A couple Myrtle Warbler, an Eastern Phoebe, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were right on it. A female Ladder-backed Woodpecker was drumming on a dead Cypress knot making an interesting sound. Is it singing back to its mate, or trolling for one?

Jan. 24 ~ Foggy and 60F in the morning. Didn't cool down a bit. Had some drizzle and mist off and on over the day, stayed soppy and in the 60'sF. Plenty of work to do on things inside. That is the great part of trying to have a half-dozen projects going all the time. Chipping Sparrows were over a hundred, and nothing in with them save the Field Sparrows. Of which I finally heard one sing today, Kathy did several days ago. Heard some Cardinal and Carolina Wren song too. Saw Titmouse checking out nest holes. Time to do any annual nest box work or maintenance is now. The non-migratory residents get going very early. All I did was toss seed a few times via seemingly well worn paths, and yet I was still able to acquire my first chigger of the year.

Jan. 23 ~ A gray day in the 50's, foggy in the morning, overcast with occasional mist over the day. Heard a Golden-crowned Kinglet uphill in the live-oaks behind us. Counted 30 House Finch at once in top of the big Pecan, they are building in numbers now too. Great was a Savannah Sparrow on the patio in with the Chippies. It is a rare bird on the patio, have only seen a couple prior. The rest seemed about the same. Another 36 count on White-winged Dove. Sharpy was diving on the seedeaters in the afternoon. Warmed to about 60F and stayed there into the evening. Had too much biz work to do here to lookabout.


~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Jan. 22 ~ Was clear late last night at midnight, some clouds this morning but clearing out. Stayed around 50 all night again. Nice not to be cold. It was at least 36 White-winged Dove on the ground this morning. Warmed up to a toasty 77F here in the afternoon, local WU stations were reading 75-78F. And dry. Very nice. The birds were all the same gang here. Checked park in town, nothing new or different there either, except the water has really come up. I'd say a little over a foot below the spillway, it was nearing three feet below. So major headway with some water in the hole. Saw the male Audubon's Warbler at north end of the island.

Jan. 21 ~ Clouds, mist, fog, maybe was some light drizzle overnight, stayed about 50F and soupy all night. Lifted to just overcast for the afternoon, and hit the low 60's F. Still dozens of Pine Siskin and Am. Goldfinch going through pounds of sunflower seed. The White-winged Dove might be 32 now, it was at least 30. There are things about their movements we do not understand. We were down to about 4 or so a month-plus ago at peak absence. They have been building steadily the last couple or few weeks, the current number much higher than what was wintering locally (incl. town) in December. Saw the Downy Woodpecker female from the office desk, over in the Mulberry over the cottage. The Robin was squawkin' and about 45 Waxwing were around a bit. A pair of Eur. Collared-Dove was on the patio, which I would rather not see. In the afternoon warmth as it dried out the pair of Golden-fronted Woodpecker were preening extensively a couple feet apart in the top of the big Pecan. He has been chasing her around a bit lately.

Jan. 20 ~ A chilly wet one, low 40's F, drizzle, light showers, mist. Looks like about .75 or so total since yesterday. There were a couple tenths yesterday, so a half-inch or so overnight and in the morning. Will wait for it to end to get a total. After dark, I would say about .85 or .9, event so far. Saw a, the, Orange-crowned Warbler under a Laurel eating millet. I presume it is the same one that has done that the last four winters here. Nothing out there to eat in the cold drizzly. The rest was the same gang, but wet. It might have warmed up to 50F over the day, and I think is to stay about that overnight, in continued soppy. The cold frontish thing moved over southward in the morning, and has retreated as a warm front this evening. Don't like the weather, hang around a bit. Just as well to have work at the desk.

Jan. 19 ~ Overcast, mist, drizzle, and about 60F at dawn, with a warm moist Gulf flow. It was just over 50 before midnight. A Ringed Kingfisher flew up the river calling early in morning. Before noon the winds had turned to north and cold air was dropping temps back to mid-50's F. A front is said to be inbound, and 24 hours or more of rain chances. We might have had a tenth of an inch over the day, and another tenth after dark. Will just wait for the event to end to get a total. Didn't see anything different today, was the same gang o' seed-eaters. Too busy with work.

Jan. 18 ~ Another one of those backwards nights for temps. At midnight it was clear, stars were great, about 35F, at dawn it was fog and 50F. Keeps the dust down anyway. Sunny afternoon warmed to about 70F! Last of the sun in the forecast for a few days. I go out on the back porch and lizard up the last bit. The birds were the same gang. I was too busy to work on finding that White-throated Sparrow I heard yesterday. I figure if it sticks, I will get a look. A couple accipiter flushing events over the day, when five hundred bird wings explode into action. Kathy heard Field Sparrow sing today, first of that this year. House Finch was giving long bouts of extended song today, great to hear.

Jan. 17 ~ I saw 30F when tossing seed before sunup, KERV got colder, we probably did too. Thought sure I heard a White-throated Sparrow out back twice, saw a Zon fly uphill into cover. Saw an imm. White-crowned too, but this call was absolutely not that, was the harsh hissy strained seeeet note. Otherwise was the same gang. Heard Chickadee song, our Carolina do four notes, see you see me. Great Horned Owls calling more. We worked on things here. Got up to upper 60's F, maybe 68F or so in the afternoon, pretty nice out. Supposed to have some rain this week, and warmer temps.

Jan. 16 ~ Another hard freeze, I saw 25F at 7 a.m., so it likely got a dF or two colder. KERV had a couple 23F readings. It warmed up well in the afternoon though, hitting 67F or so. The 250+ assorted seedeaters were mighty busy the first half of the day. It was the same gang, did not see anything different. Some Black Vulture in pair bond flight is always nice to see though. They can show suprising precision in delicate manuevers. Never saw Bewick's Wren eat so much seed, it is eating the White Millet. Must be nothing else out there to eat. The Black Rock Squirrel was gathering sunflower seeds. The live-oaks are getting yellower, about to drop their leaves in the annual replacement. The Junipers are just starting to put out pollen. I see some green sprouts just breaking ground, which must be what the deer are eating now. That one Tropical Sage has another flower open, a little 2-3" specimen growing out of stone steps at front porch, only open flower around.


~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Jan. 15 ~ Another freeze, but barely, maybe 31F or so, though I did see KERV hit 28F. It is noteworthy methinks that we have only had two mornings so far this year that was above freezing, one of those barely so. That is a cold start to the year. Many winters we do not have a 15 day stretch of almost all freezing mornings. A bit breezy in the a.m. but calmed down nicely and got into the lowest 60's here, though most of the area looked like upper 50's. Nice with no wind, in the sun. Birds were the same here. I saw a poster in town about some Groundhog Day thing. I wonder what they use here, Armadillos?

Stopped at park and saw a new male Audubon's Warbler, which clearly was not the female I saw last week. Two new Audubon's warblers in the last two Fridays there. Nothing else though. In town I saw two flickers, ON a Purple Martin box. Both were females, one Red-shafted, one Yellow-shafted. Both had all appropriate marks to be considered good pure birds. Other than that it was just 3 fajita chicken tacos at Rosie's, the culinary highlight of the week. Kathy pointed out that I wouldn't appreciate them so much if it wasn't for her cooking.    ;)   Tomorrow will be one minute longer than today, the first time we added a full minute in a day this year, about 26 days from the solstice. We will add over a half-hour, nearing 40 minutes I think, to daylight length over the next month. And the birds will be singing in no time.

Jan. 14 ~ Got down to at least 28F an hour before the usual peak, KERV had a 26. It was cold. Looked like an imm. Sharp-shinned Hawk got a Chippy in flight. The way it quickly broke-off, turned, and skulked back to the shadows up the hill hoping the others would not notice what it just did, is what they do when they grab one. There were four Robin together briefly, then later afternoon a group of over a dozen flew over with 25 waxwing. Saw one White-crowned Sparrow still here. Otherwise the rest seemed the same gang. A front blew in before noon, for a few hours it blew hard, 15-20 mph gusting to 30 and 35 mph occasionally. The hot sunny back porch was showing upper 60's F in the afternoon. Got a count of 28 White-winged Dove today in a flush. Amazing how they have increased the last month.

Jan. 13 ~ A frosty 22F for a low this morning. That was before usual peak, and I saw KERV had a 21F. Birdbath was frozen solid, as was jug over it, luckily only half full, so hot water fixed that. The first few pounds of seed sure disappeared quickly. So did the second and third few pounds. There sure are a lot of dependents out there. Twenty four White-winged Dove now, 12-15 Mourning, not seeing or hearing the Ground-Dove for a couple months. Ninety Chipping and 8 Field Sparrow, 40+ each Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch, couple dozen Cardinal, a dozen House Finch, a dozen chickadee and titmice combined. Over 250 seed eaters. Kathy heard a Chickadee singing the high thin whistle 'see you see me'. They have not done so in about 5 months or so.

Jan. 12 ~ A chilly 24F low, might have been colder. I was not about to hang around out there and watch the thermometer. KERV had some 23's and briefly a 22F reading. In that, at first crack of light when I was tossing seed, several Turkey were gobbling less than a hundred yards away right across the road. There is an area just south of the treeline along the draw we follow to the river, that is a big open wildflower meadowish thing, which is where they were calling from. Sure would like a good pic of one in full display. Whaddabird! Was the same gang here otherwise. In the afternoon we broke 50, hit 54F briefly before a cloud shield blew it, a great warmup at this point.

Jan. 11 ~ About 34F for a low, cloudy and overcast. We are nearing 36 hours straight in mid-30's dF. It has been a cold January so far. The female Golden-fronted Woodpecker was picking sunflower seeds up off the patio, which says there is not a lot of food out there. White-winged Dove count hit 22, arrivals are occurring. Counted 11 male Cardinal at once, surely as many females out there. Pine Siskin numbered over 40, likely 45 plus, a high count so far this winter. Chipping Sparrow looked about 90, finally a real flock, Field Sparrow were 8. Got up to a smokin' hot 45F in the afternoon. Cleared after dark, and it is going to get cold.

Jan. 10 ~ It was a cold wet gray one. The temp was 38F first thing, that was the high. Most of the day was about 36F. Off and on drizzle, showers and mist, but only about .4 of precip here. Stayed in where warm and dry. Nearest snow flurries were 40 miles north or so. Got a high count of Chipping Sparrow for the winter so far though, 90 at once. One with some snow white primaries and one white tertial on left side is absolutely new. Seemed 3 dozen Pine Siskin, maybe 40 Am. Goldfinch now. About 15 each of Mourning and White-winged Dove. A couple accipiter flush events. Some waxwings, the one loyal Robin, about 20 Cardinal, a half-dozen each House Finch and Field Sparrow.

Jan. 9 ~ Another chilly one about 25F this morn. Seems like there ought to be Juncos at these temps. Sun lasted a couple hours and it clouded up. At 11 it was a chilly 44F, maybe hit 48 at peak heat. Gonna be an inside day tomorrow. There were lots of Goldfinch (35+) and Siskin (30+), a nice group of waxwing (30+), the one Robin, and the male Myrtle Warbler, half dozen Field Sparrow, the same gang. Worked at the desk where warmer. Had to run to town late afternoon so slow-rolled around a bit. Not much out there though. A couple Eastern Phoebe, a few Eastern Bluebird. Completed my annual wintering Starling count, got all both of them, again. Was some drizzle shortly after 7 p.m., supposed to deteriorate overnight and tomorrow.

How about our two small woodpeckers this week?
Besides the much larger Golden-fronted, these are the two
little woodpeckers here. From behind, Ladder-backed
appears lined, Downy appears spotted.

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Jan. 8 ~ It was a chilly one at about 25F for a low. Sunny with little to no breeze so nice in afternoon whence warmed to lowest 60's F. It was about 30 or more Cedar Waxwing hitting the bath to wash down juniper berries. Town run day, so a check of the park. Was a bit of a mayfly hatch going so some flycatching along the main pond edge. A couple Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 7 Myrtle Warbler, and new was one female Audubon's Warbler. At least 5 Eastern Phoebe too. The live-oaks in the main park area had a decent flocklet of Titmouse and Chickadee but nothing else. The woods were dead, most exciting was a Green Bottle Fly. It was my first one of the year. I keep forgetting to mention, lots of the live-oaks are turning yellow already. We noticed it first a couple weeks ago on some, but now a good number are going yellow. It is early for so many to be so yellow already, and surely drought related. I also see some male Junipers turning rusty of tips, just about to unleash the pollen Kraken. Shirley at the store showed me some awesome pix of the rest area above Lost Maples covered in 4-5 inches of snow. WEEWOW!

Jan. 7 ~ The wind stopped and it cooled to about 34F for a low. Sunny, and slowly warmed to about 65F for a high. Wonderful afternoon. Was too busy at the desk as usual. There was a good Robin flock, for this year, of nearing 3 dozen birds that came into the birdbath late afternoon. Nearly two dozen waxwing were there too, they were hitting the Junipers just over the north fence, and need water to wash them down. The one male Myrtle Warbler came in to the bath as well. The couple dozen Siskin and three dozen American Goldfinch were here until the afternoon. The Great Horned Owls are seriously duetting now, which is really a sign of the start of their breeding cycle. They start the process in January. I am seeing Black Vulture pairs flying around too. They are getting underway as well.

Jan. 6 ~ Finally the first morning without a freeze this year. It was about 50F at midnight, and was 60F in drizzle-fog-mist at dawn. A front is coming in, so the warm moist air being sucked up from the south and Gulf, hits the escarpment for some orographic magic and it might have squeezed a tenth of an inch out of it over the first 3 hours of light. A dust-buster for a day or two. Was clearing by 11, getting breezy by noon, and a full post-frontal blow by 1 p.m. As it got east near I-35 where more humid it kicked up a good squall line. Heard my first Carolina Wren song this year, giving a few series of 'we-yo we-yo we-yo we-yo'. Kathy said she might have heard some the other day. The one Robin continues up in the big Pecan every morning. All the other Robins came and left, it stayed. I am a sure as can be that it is the one that did this all winter last year too. Such loyalty is hard to find. Saw the female Downy Woodpecker, and saw the sapsucker fly out of the Mulberry by the cottage into the corral. Saw a bigger butterfly zipping about briefly that was either a winter Questionmark or a Red Admiral, but it disappeared quickly.

Jan. 5 ~ Low was 31F, sunny for a couple hours but after 10 a.m. was overcast and chilly. At least 25 Pine Siskin flushed at once. Sun came back out after 1 p.m., whence I heard Titmouse give the trilled lulululu song a few times, which I have not heard in many months, maybe six. Then a White-winged Dove belted a few bars of song, also the first of that in months. Saw a Sleepy Orange butterfly, species number 4, bfly individual number 5 for the year.

Jan. 4 ~ Still waiting for a morning above freezing this year. Was 28F here. In the afternoon more than one local WU station was reporting 78F! FIFTY dF diurnals! Amazing. Saw that ginchy adult sapsucker sneaking around again, but could not get bins on it. The female Downy was out there too. Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted, check. So, fairly certain there will not be a Flicker today. In the afternoon heat I saw my first butterflies of the year. One Snout, one Little Yellow, and a yellow morph Lyside Sulphur which looked like a fresh emergence, whereas the other two were worn leftovers. The heat can get them to pop. Today was the peak heat day of the week. Sure felt great. I totally get lizards, or at least my lizard-brain does. Later a second Snout came by. A couple accipiter flush events in the afternoon whence all the seedeaters explode in full alarm. Over a dozen each of Mourning and White-winged Dove, fifteen waxwing and the single Robin.

Jan. 3 ~ It was a cold one at 24F this morning. Birdbath was frozen solid. Frost was thick on everything. Great Horned Owl was calling at dawn, unfazed, likely thrilled. Kathy got a high count of 60 Chipping Sparrow, so more, but still just half or less of our usual winter flock size. About 9 a.m. besides the always present Ladder-backed Woodpecker, the female Downy was out there, and an adult Sapsucker which went through the yard stopping in a pecan, but too briefly for me to ID it. Yellow-bellied until proven otherwise here, but just sapsucker sps. when you don't see the key characters to ID it to that level. Of course we had Golden-fronted later, but could not buy a Flicker all day. An intergrade would have been fine. It was 15 White-winged Dove this morn, they are increasing now. The male Cardinal sure are getting bright red now.

We went for a slow-roll around noonish. We went onto a private prop. road and ranch and it mostly had no birds like all the other roads locally this winter. One sub-adult Caracara, one Kestrel, a couple Blackbuck, and around some big trucks and heavy equipment, a Canyon Towhee. The one or ones we have had love our big truck out back (a 5 ton Ford with an 18' box, lift gate, Big Red, she's a beauty), but this was more bigger trucks. This was probably ours, we lost it to the place with more bigger trucks. We used to see one at the Bandera County yard around the big trucks at the 187 x 470 intersection. County yards is a place to look for them, around the big trucks. They look like big rocks to them. But not to a Canyon Wren.

Then at Utopia Park there were lots of Black Vulture but little else. The water did come up a few inches from the rain on Dec. 31. Then we rolled out UvCo354 which often has birds along the roadsides. They were mostly devoid there too. The drought-induced lack of fall bloom and loss of subsequent seed crop is apparently critical to wintering sparrows and such here. We found one small group by a big brush pile. There were five Vesper and a Savannah Sparrow, one (a second one!) Canyon Towhee, and one Lark Bunting, all together around one brush pile. A veritible jackpot! Heard a Pyrrhuloxia or two, saw a few Western Meadowlark. The Lark Bunting is the first I have seen this fall or winter locally, they are always scarce here, so always a treat. There was a small pale male sub-ad. fuertesi Red-tailed Hawk at the 187 x 354 junction. A few Eastern Bluebird, a few Eastern Phoebe along the roads, but can't find a Say's Phoebe this winter. The fields are bare of bugs. Lastly we checked the golf course pond by the Waresville Cmty. The wintering male Vermilion Flycatcher continues, and just 3 male Red-winged Blackbird were there. There were 3 male Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies, which must have anti-freeze. These are last years leftovers that show up every late fall (Nov.) to early winter, often mate and ovipositing here, until they expire.

Talked to a local that said on New Years Eve when it snowed it was sticking from about B & R road northward, so starting up-valley a few miles north of town. He said lots of locals went up to the rest area north of Lost Maples a mile or so, up the grade and on top of the plateau (ca. 2100-2200' alt.) where there was FIVE INCHES of snow on the ground! In the afternoon here it warmed up to 70F for a couple hours which felt great. Opened up and got rid of the cold air in the house and cottage. Saw the Black Rock Squirrel, with jowels full of sunflower seeds. Some Anole and a female Eastern Fence (Prairie) Lizard were out soaking sun.

Jan. 2 ~ A bit chilly at 26F for a low, with a frozen birdbath. But the winds finally calmed down, sunny, and warmed up to a wonderful 62F in the afternoon. About 9 a.m. the Rusty Blackbird flew over calling and dropped into the far end of the corral again. Was 30 plus waxwing, and the one each Robin and Myrtle Warbler, but were two White-crowned Sparrow, an ad. and an imm., at least 35 Am. Goldfinch and 25 Pine Siskin, a dozen White-winged Dove is an increase. A Cardinal was giving the first vestiges of song. The tew notes in series but not yet clearly, not full blast, but not quiet singing either. It went on for several minutes. We are gaining 30 seconds of photo-period per day now. Lots of the non-migratory residents will start singing this month.


~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

January 1, 2021 ~ Happy New Year! Cheers for a better one! Merry Vagrants and Happy New Birds! Wishing everyone a healthy happy peaceful year ahead! It started cold here, 31F. The low system had moved north by midnight last night. Now we have the post-frontal blow on the backside, heavy on the cold-air advection. Chills this morning are in the 20's F. Around 11 a.m. it broke 40F, but winds are at 10-15 mph gusting to 20, so it still feels a freeze. After 11 the female Downy Woodpecker was in the yard again, always a treat to see here. I wonder if it is the one that nested last April in the 354 pecan patch? A mile and change from here. Or one of the young? Heard some Sandhill Crane going over southbound later in afternoon. Right at dusk the Striped Skunk was under the Mulberry scavenging sunflower seeds. At 15' away, it could not care less about your presence. I measured the tub water today, it was 44F! Holy cow that is cold. In Oct. I wrapped the entire tub sides in a layer of bubble wrap, and at night cover the surface with it, plus a tarp wrapped around and over the whole thing. The Gambusia are fine, the inch long Barking Frog tadpoles come up to surface to warm when sun hits it. The spindly Ceratophyllum is still doing well despite the cold water. Cattails are brown and bent over, still waiting for Marsh Wren. The Lost Maples Facebook page has pics of the place with an inch or two of snow on everything.

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Here is a long detailed annual 2020 summary...

Well that was a weird year. There was not the usual out and about birding due to the virus. There were Lost Maples closures, there was a hail carpet-bombing in spring, and the drought got real bad. Summer ran 5-7 dF or more above normal average temps as it has been the last several years. We had some rain in the spring but the tap went dry early in summer. We went from D1 to D3 (extreme) drought in the last half of the year. Many long-time locals say they have never seen it this bad. Much of the river north of town is dry above ground.

Insects in particular seemed depressed from the drought. Which affects lots of bird nesting. Many seemed to only have two broods instead of three, with two young fledging instead of three or four. Everything is connected. There was almost no fall flower bloom, and then a subsequent lack of all that seed crop. Fruit crops were very poor, there was very little of the Pecan, Hackberry, Juniper, or Texas Persimmon crop in most areas, some areas a near wipeout due to the devastating 1" hail carpet-bombing in May.

Butterflies were weak overall but a few good things were seen. I saw 88 species over the year locally, which is typical of drought condition periods. Thirty species were skippers. I saw 20 sps. of skippers just in August. Doesn't that sound exciting? The misses always stand out most to me though. No Viceroy, Mourning Cloak, or Great Purple Hairstreak. Still many years without a Carolina Satyr, Common Wood-Nymph, or Silvery Checkerspot, all absent since the last epic drought we never recovered from before this one started. There was a wave of small stuff in July and August, Skippers, Blues, and Hairstreaks, but it faded and a fall flight from southward did not materialize. The Monarchs also missed us this year, never did I see a hundred in a day. Only a few days had double digits. Only saw a very few Arizona Sister and Red-spotted Purple.

Only saw two White-striped Longtail, and no other of the long-tailed Skippers, again. The better butterflies were... a Clytie Ministreak was likely best, my first documented here (ph.) though had seen a couple here. A Zebra Longwing spent over a week around our place (ph.). Three or four White-patched Skipper (ph.) is my best total for a year, a Coyote Cloudywing (ph.) was the first in several years, most years you will not see one here. Outstanding and second best was my third Purple-washed Skipper photographed here, all three UvCo records, this one at the front porch. There were two Ocola Skipper this year. An Ornythion Swallowtail July 3 is about my 5th sighting here, only have pix of one a long time ago. In Nov. a big black swallowtail with color on the hindwing got away that surely was a Ruby-spotted Swallowtail. That one hurt the most, still stings and will for a while. I'd be dyin' if I did not have a prior local photo of one. A couple Laviana White-Skipper were good, they are less than annual. A few Texas Wasp Moth were seen, no White-tipped Black, one Obscure Sphinx, one Imperial Moth.

Odes were worse than butterflies. The drought really puts the hurt on them. Besides half the habitat being absent from there being no above ground water in much of the river, the remaining fish are concentrated at levels that it is a miracle any dragon or damselfly larvae can get out of the water to successfully emerge. The numbers of the local populations were very depressed, you had to scrape for a Widow Skimmer and Prince Baskettail at Utopia Park. Repeat on all sorts of stuff. Did not see an Amberwing here this year. Best was three male Comet Darner on a pond on the golf course. Two at once at one point. This is about the third year I have recorded it locally. They showed up after a hurricane went north into Louisiana, again, like at least one of the prior occurrences. There were a few Twelve-spotted Skimmer and Band-winged Dragonlet this year, a couple Four-spotted Skimmer went over one day in a migrant herd of dragons southbound in fall. Saw one Great Spreadwing, one River-cruiser sps. (prob. Bronze), a Cyrano Darner at Lost Maples, and a Pin-tailed Pondhawk (ph.) there might be a Bandera Co. first. The small Orange-striped Threadtail population at Utopia Pk. is down in numbers, but still going. Some Flame and Commanche Skimmer at Lost Maples but no Neon. I saw 49 species locally this year, lowest in last 3 years at least for sure, but probably more.

Birds were great, for the reduced level of birding, and seeing so few species. I count 203 species I saw locally this year, which is actually great if you ask me. That is an USRD (upper Sabinal River drainage) total. I saw more down on a couple trips down into the brush country. But only a couple Lost Maples trips. Canyon Wren is probably the only bird added there. Everything else is within 4 miles of Utopia. Here is a recap of the highlights.

Last winter the female Rusty Blackbird that was on maybe its 7th winter here was last seen Feb. 15. It is back again in December 2020. A hybrid Sabsucker that was partly Red-breasted was here Feb. 21. A pure one would draw a huge crowd. In spring best bird was a calling nocturnal migrant Black-bellied Plover Apr. 20. Great was a Common Pauraque March 1-10 around our place. The first known nesting along Sabinal River of Downy Woodpecker was also a great find. It was a good thrush spring as besides Swainson's it is easy not to see any others. A Gray-cheeked Thrush in our birdbath on May 11 was awesome, but better was a nice calling rusty Veery May 9 in a Mulberry just south of town.

In summer a Least Grebe June 27 - Aug. 30 on the golf course pond by the Waresville Cemetery was a first local record so a great bit of excitement. A female Anhinga at the park was my second local record so very good. Begging juvenile Audubon's Oriole were in our yard. It was a good hummingbird fall, perhaps the fires out west pushed more our way. We had at our feeders at least three each minimum Calliope and Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and about 10 different Rufous go through here. Warblers were weak as usual in fall, one female MacGillivrays Sept. 4 was maybe my third fall sighting locally. Great was my latest ever Golden-cheek Aug. 31, an adult male as was my prior latest (Aug. 25). Outstanding was a calling Cordilleran Flycatcher Oct. 14 at the park, also about my third one here locally, but got a pic.
br /> A major highlight of the year was a group of at least four Green Jay seen along the river habitat corridor from 4 mile bridge to Utopia Park, from Oct. 19 to at least mid-Dec. so far. Including in our yard a bunch of times. But never for long. This is only their second incursion up onto the Edwards Plateau, so significant. Also outstanding was a Cactus Wren Nov. 1 at the golf course pond by Wareseville providing my first local documentation. Less than annual so of note was a Western Tanager, and less than annual in fall were 2 separate Lazuli Bunting, both males.

It always seems a slow slog when you are doing it, and especially so this year livin' la vida quarantina. We again drove less than a thousand miles all year, all driving. If I just counted a THREE mile circle centered in Utopia it was 200 species of birds. When you add it all up, there were lots of great birds and some good butterflies and odes too. My BOB total - bird, ode, and butterfly species - for the year was 340. Last year was 331 and two years ago 350. About average for being in a drought regimen lately. Two local site lists (the most important lists) hit milestones, with one of the best birds of the year this year. The Green Jay were number 230 on our yard list (2 acres - 8 years), and number 270 on the Utopia Park (15 acres - 17.5 years) list.

~ ~ ~ end of 2020 annual summary ~ ~ ~

OMG not another summary !!

~ ~ ~ December summary ~ ~ ~

We went out with a bang, a cold wet one, with 1.75+" of rain on the 31st, and some local snowflakes! Lost Maples had snow that stuck! With the prior .25 made for just a hair over 2" of precip for the month, which is great for a drought December. In odes all I saw was Variegated and Autumn Meadowhawk, as usual, and just a very few of each. Butterflies were pretty shot too with the cold wiping them out in Nov. for the most part. A dozen species is at the low end of my (n~18) Dec. totals, second worst ever, but an improvement over last years worst ever December. It was the expected hardy dozen. Did I mention how bad the drought is? D3 per U.S. Drought Monitor. Did see Striped Skunk, Ringtail, and a Gray Fox in a Juniper getting berries.

Birds were good though, you can always count on them. The four Green Jay were in the yard 5 days in a row mid-month. A Rusty Blackbird is likely a returnee back for about its 8th winter. A flock of about 40 Pintail is more than anyone has ever seen here locally at once. One nice obviously wild Mallard is a rare find here. A ad. Harris's Hawk was seen. A Zone-tailed Hawk often at the park is likely a returnee that wintered as an imm. last year. A female Downy Woodpecker was in our yard a few times. A few Golden-crowned Kinglet are around. Only saw one Green Kingfisher one time all month, but Ringed are around. A couple Audubon's Orioles. Finally on the 30th I got a FOS Pine Warbler. It was about 88 species for me locally (which is more than the miles I drove), and I know others saw a few others. Things I missed this fall or arriving for winter so far include Swamp or White-throated Sparrow, any Junco again, Sprague's Pipit, and Say's Phoebe, off the top of my head.

~ ~ ~ end December summary ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ archive copy update header ~ ~ ~

December! At Utopia Park on the 4th there were Ringed and Green Kingfisher at the pond. A likely returnee Zone-tailed Hawk is wintering in the area, often hunting just south of town, and roosting in the park. My FOS Wilson's Snipe was at UP on Dec. 4, saw it again Dec. 11. My FOS Song Sparrow was Dec. 7 at the 360 crossing. There were four GREEN JAY in our yard again on the 7th through 12th, so they are still in the area, but at best completely unpredictable. Besides at our place, four have been seen at Utopia Park, and then south to the 4-mile bridge area, mostly along the river habitat corridor. I saw one in town fly across Cypress St.! The 13th a FOS Rusty Blackbird was in the corral next door. I suspect it is the individual (an adult female) that has wintered for about 7 or 8 years now. A flock of about 40 Pintail were on Little Creek Dec. 17-20 at least, a record high count here. A drake Mallard was at Bear Creek Pond Dec. 20, a very rare bird here. Dec. 26 an adult Harris's Hawk soared over our place, one had been reported east of town a couple weeks prior. Saw a Turkey Vulture Dec. 28, they are rare here in winter. Finally added a Pine Warbler for the season at the park on the 30th.

~ ~ ~ end archive copy update header ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ back to the daily drivel ~ ~ ~

Dec. 31 ~ A little more rain overnight, the low was about 36F, and a soggy one. In morn was a little over 1.5" of rain since it started last night, which is wonderful, and amazing. There were a few brief bouts of heavy, but for the most part it was a slow-soaker, just what we needed. For the morning we are on the warm side of the system so the nearest snow is about 30-40 miles west in Northern Kinney and So. Edwards Cos., with ice to the northwest in Real Co. Sometimes a cold rain is OK. Noonish I saw radar showing snow just west of Camp Wood, and ice up on top of the plateau above Lost Maples but in Bandera Co., we dropped to 35F. By 3 p.m. we were 33F, and there were snow flurries over much of the western half of BanCo starting just north of town, and all of Real Co.! Per radar, Lost Maples was getting it! KERV was 33 in light snow. Between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. we were 32F and saw some snowflakes fall here. Amazing. Over the whole day we added ca. .25 of precip to the morning total so about 1.80" the event total here.

Birds were voracious on the seed today. I have too much to do to hang out there in the wet cold and look, fortunately. Wouldn't ya know I am stuck at the desk by a heater. We put out more than double rations today and it all disappeared remarkably quickly. At least a half-dozen Field, about 50 Chipping, and one ad. White-crowned Sparrow. Cold brought some Chippies out of the woodwork. Saw the male Golden-fronted Woodpecker grab sunflower seeds off the ground and take them up into a tree to crack and eat. One Robin and a few waxwing were around briefly. Eastern Phoebe must be eating Hackberries.

And that brings the infamous 2020 to a close. Sure didn't see that in any of the predictions! Totally unrelated, not seeing much for predictions this year as usual. It wasn't anything like the pics they showed, or like they told me when I was a kid. Almost feel like I am owed a refund. Does anyone have the phone number for customer service? Actually we were lucky, having prior gone sedentary and remote, so we were already livin' la vida quarantina. I just kept observing, photographing, and note-taking, carrying-on as usual as possible, save no Lost Maples or brush country birding. Hope y'll had as great of a year as could be had, and wishing you a better one ahead! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy Utopia nature notes.

Dec. 30 ~ Was in the low 60's dF all night, cloudy, humid, a few misty spots. The front hit about noon-thirty. Went from 64 to 54F in about 5 minutes or less. I went to town to do supplies today since tomorrow looks to be a bad weather day. Here on 360 there were two pig kills (the caballeros) covered in Black Vulture, 135 at least. Then at the park in town there were at least 50-60. So I would put the wintering number at 175 minimum, and probably over 200 which is higher than ever. Wonder why the carcass eaters are increasing? On the way to town on 360 there were some Eastern Meadowlark along the road. Also about 50 Brewer's Blackbird by the corrals on west side of river, one Starling, and one female Brown-headed Cowbird with them. At the park there was finally a Pine Warbler, at last. It was in the flock of Titmice and Chickadee in the main park live-oaks. There were also 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet, which is a high count at once for here. Plus one Belted Kingfisher, and one Great Blue Heron. It dropped to about 45F by 3 p.m., with 15-25 mph northerlies on it. First spit of rain about 5 p.m., about 10 p.m. a thunderstormlet moved over with some close lightning strikes, one interupting power long enough to mess clocks up. Worth it as it dumped a quick half-inch of rain we badly need.

Dec. 29 ~ Low was about 63F! Strong southerly (Gulf) flow ahead of the next front tomorrow. Cloudy and humid with a 15-20 mph breeze on it. The high on Thursday is progged for the 30's with a chance of snow! A kinglet seemed to scold me when I freshened the bird bath first thing. The small group of Waxwing came by, and at least one Robin, the one male Myrtle Warbler, a Caracara circled. It was the same gang. Saw a female Ladder-back on the sunflower seed feeder, which they have not been using whatsoever. Could not tell if it took seeds with it when it left.

Dec. 28 ~ It was clear and 42F at midnight, 59F in fog and drizzle at dawn. A flushing of the Siskins gave a count of 22 at once. In the later afternoon a Turkey Vulture was out there a bit. First one I have seen in at least 6 weeks. They have been very very rare here in winter, but last year a few did so, maybe this is a returnee. This is our 18th winter here and the first 15 or so, I don't think I saw a TV in winter but once. Sharpy was diving on the seedeaters. At dusk all I could see was the silhouette but the giant squirrel about two squirrels long was obviously the Ringtail, in the Mulberry right over the cottage. It ran along a branch and to main trunk, head sticking out one side and tail the other. I think it is living in the attic of the cottage, I hear something up there occasionally when working in it. Bet there are no rodents in that attic! Have wondered if I should make a way for it to hunt the rooms?

Dec. 27 ~ Low was about 48F, toasty warm after the last couple mornings. Saw one White-crowned Sparrow, the adult, is still here. It was the same gang here. Three dozen Am. Goldfinch, over a dozen Siskin, about 15 Waxwing for a bit. The male Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warbler was around. It got up to about 74F in the afternoon, wow. In the heat butterflies were a So. Dogface, an Orange Sulphur, and a few Snout. A couple Robin in the afternoon. An Armadillo drank from the birdbath in the afternoon. Have another short holiday week ahead so we worked on stuff here. At last sun a Ringed Kingfisher flew upriver calling, saw it from the patio.

Dec. 26 ~ Another freeze, about 30F here, but maybe colder, did not look, got back under elect. blanket for the first cup of coffee. Three dozen Am. Goldfinch out there early. Just before noon overhead with some soaring Black Vultures was an adult Harris's Hawk that wasn't up there for a minute. Probably came over to see if the vultures had a kill. A few days ago Little Creek Larry said he has not been seeing the one he had a couple weeks ago just east of town a bit. Could be the same bird, or like other things south of us in the brush-country, could be some are moving up into the hills looking for food. Heard a distant Collared-Dove sing, first of that in months, not that it is a good thing. Also heard Chickadee doing the sneezy garble, which I have not heard in a couple months or more. Photoperiod is now increasing almost 15 seconds a day, and the birds can tell. Might have gained a minute in the last 5 days. At least 25 Waxwing hit the bath for a nice show.

and a bonus pic, since you probably need some red for that green...

~ ~ ~ last prior update below ~ ~ ~

Dec. 25 ~ Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a good one! A Friday off the normal work really seems like a holiday. It was a chilly one here, with 24F for a low. Mostly sunny until later afternoon, warming to 72F! Just missed 50dF diurnals. In the a.m. heard a couple things, one surely was a Red-breasted Nuthatch. The other called its chip note a few times. I thought sure was a Pine Warbler but the light was bad and it flew off before I could see it. Pine Warbler is about the only regular winter bird that I have not seen yet this season. I was suprised to hear a Bewick's Wren give a nice full song. The Am. Goldfinch flock was more like 35 birds today. In the late afternoon the Merlin shot by like a bullet again. Saw a Little Yellow (butterfly) and a couple Snout.

Dec. 24 ~ The wind blew most of the night at 20 mph with gusts to about 40! It froze here, probably about 30F but felt like 20. I'm sure at some point (when I was under electric blanket) the chills were in teens overnight. First thing early a gaggle of goldfinch (Am.) was over two dozen. A couple males have a bit of color. Town run today since closed tomorrow. At the park saw the Zone-tailed Hawk and the Wilson's Snipe, the Pied-billed Grebe and Great Blue Heron, and the five Myrtle Warbler there are all males, as usual. The air out there was cold all day, sources showed 54F for a high but it never felt like it. I heard in town area virus totals of 7 and 9 currently infected, double last week. This does not bode well.

Dec. 23 ~ Heavy gulf flow with a low of 60F in fog-mist. Getting sucked up in front of the next frontal passage. The Black Vultures are using a new trough for some Longhorns that are now up behind us. Seemed like a hundred or more must have come and gone. At the last flush I counted 80 at once, and many had departed over the hour prior. So now we are at the 'the vultures are circling' part.

I ran into Lou Waters yesterday and he said he has (stock) tanks that have never been dry, that are dry, and that he has never seen it this dry in 48 years here! When I mentioned it he said he too had a flock of Pintail on one of his little lakelets recently too! Could be the same ones that are at Little Creek, moving around.

After noon the female Downy Woodpecker was in the yard again. Kathy got to see it this time. About 3 p.m. I saw KERV was 77F with some local WU stations were reporting 78, and one at 81F! The SAT record highs for yesterday and today's dates were 82 and 83F, and they run hotter than us, so we are at or about record heat here today. Later afternoon, the Downy, a male Ladder-backed, and two Golden-fronted Woodpecker were all in the big pecan at the same time. The wind blew like, the wind, at 20 mph gusting to 35 or 40 starting after dark.

Dec. 22 ~ Warmed up overnight again, was in upper 30's F around midnight, and about 44F at dawn. By 8:30 four local Utopia WU stations were showing 50-55F, whilst KERV had 38F! The warm moist gulf air had gotten here, but not there yet. At least 20 Am. Goldfinch and a dozen Siskin out there early, but an accipiter kept things quiet much of morn. Saw the Black Rock Squirrel out on the patio filling up throat and cheek pouches with sunflower seeds. Stayed overcast all day, and breezy, got up to about 66F but felt cooler with the humidity and wind. Had to run to P.O. late in p.m., checked the park quickly. One Pied-billed Grebe on the pond, heard a Flicker and 3 Myrtle Warbler across the river. The Zone-tailed Hawk was coming in to roost in the trees as I was leaving the woods, hanging right overhead at treetop level for a couple minutes giving great looks. Try about 4 p.m. when it comes in to roost in the woods.

Dec. 21 ~ Happy Solstice! It was a chilly morn here at 26F. Birdbath iced over, so a hotwater drip for it. Maybe 2 dozen Chipping Sparrow on the white millet early. Saw one White-crowned and a few Field Sparrow. Seems like 4 Carolina Chickadee and 8 Black-crested Titmouse using the sunflower feeder. Warmed up in the afternoon, must have been 74F or so, nearly 50dF diurnals. Saw Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Mourning and White-winged Dove, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch, a few House Finch, Black Vulture. Cardinal numbers are not very high compared to some years. A couple Mockingbird, couple Eastern Phoebe, one or two Bewick's and a pair of Carolina Wren, a Myrtle Warbler and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Not hearing the Ground-Doves lately. Most days I see Sharp-shinned and or Cooper's Hawk. Barely scraping up 20 species in the yard these days. Lots of days there will be a few Robin or Waxwing, a Red-tailed Hawk, so might hit 25 sps. on the better days. Overall numbers are way down though.

Dec. 20 ~ Low was 27F here, ice on birdbath. A Sharpy, an imm., perched up in the sun watching over everything here in the morning. I was surprised how close the Titmice and Cardinals would get scolding it to make sure all knew of its presence. Less than ten feet away, in the adjacent crown of very dense thick (leafless now) Hackberry that I am sure they knew it could not negotiate through. Heard a White-crowned Sparrow.

We took a couple-and-a-half-hour spinabout noonish. First we went out the west end of 360 and checked the caliche quarry area (private) where I had a glimpse of a bird working the vertical rock face that looked like a Rock Wren. But which disappeared. About three each of Field and Chipping Sparrow were in the area, but driving all the way around the 1500' knoll, there were no birds. We went a few miles west of town to the 1050 pass, which still has a bit of color on the Buckley (Spanish) Oaks, mostly yellow and maroon now, an interesting combo actually. The red is over. Great was at Bear Creek Pond there were a dozen Gadwall with a few Ring-necked Duck and one nice drake Mallard. Mallard are very scarce locally, far less than annual, so grabbed a long-range ID shot of it. A couple Killdeer were there too. I can't believe how low the water is. Saw one Kestrel in an oak but there is a dearth of birds along the roads. We slow-cruised around town and saw nothing except at Judy and Jerry Schaefer's place. One Rufous Hummingbird, and a half dozen Lesser Goldfinch at their feeders, as usual for them. The only ones of either of those I know of around, and they always have them in winter.

Then we slow-rolled out to Little Creek a couple miles east of town. Sure enough just like Larry said, a for here huge flock of Pintail was there. It was probably 40 or so, got a long-distance docu-shot. More than I have seen locally here in total for 18 winters. Amazing. You can get some down at the Uvalde waterholes, but rare up here. There were Gadwall (20), Am. Wigeon (10), and Green-winged Teal (8), plus a few more Ring-necked Duck. So it was a waterfowl bonanza for this area. Some Gadwall and Wigeon were close to the road, but the Pintail and teal were in the bigger pond a quarter mile south of where road (UvCo 355) meets the creek. Had the scope though so no problemo. Thought I heard a Pyrrhuloxia and looked up to glimpse it as it shot by to never be seen again. We checked a corn feeder on Larry's ranch, there were some Cardinal, Field Sparrow, Titmouse, a Carolina Wren, a flyby Caracara, and at creek a few Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, a few Mexican Tetra and probably Sand Shiner (Notropis sps.) were in the tricklet left.

Lastly we checked the pond on the golf course by the Waresville Cmty. on the way home. One male Vermilion Flycatcher there still, which is undoubtedly the one that wintered last year. The $64k question is, is it the same bird as the one that breeds there? I doubt it. Less than ten Red-winged Blackbird there in the reedbeds. A few Mockingbird along way, at golf course one Loggerhead Shrike, and a Black-tailed Jackrabbit, which Kathy said took off like a jackrabbit. So you know what I am up against and dealing with here.   ;)   Saw two Red-tailed Hawk total. The roadsides are parched and seemingly fairly devoid of much life compared to wet years. It is dead out there. The Pintail and Mallard were new for my local year list though, so quite nice to see. I do not persue birds for it, however it turns out, it is what it is, bycatch of recording data. I do not keep it in a way that I know what it is for the year. But will soon.

Dec. 19 ~ Was in the 50's all night last night, maybe 58F or so at dawn this morning. Showers just before and after dawn, and just before a frontal passage. We got about .2 of precip, anything is great at this point. Keeps the dust down too. Then the afternoon was the post-frontal blowout. Did not see anything different in birds around the yard. Still surprised how few Chippies stuck, smallest group we have had in winter in 18 winters here. Peaked at 40-50 but haven't seen that many in a month now, even on a 20F morning. They moved on since the wild seed crop so poor. Will try to sneak out for a look about tomorrow.