up into hills to Utopia and Lost Maples, surely elsewhere.
It appears most vagrants here are likely of Mexican origin,
and just about anything can happen. There are two recent
Rufous-backed Robin records from around Uvalde (Feb. 2011 at
Ft. Inge and maybe Jan. or Feb. 2019 at C.R. 202 at Nueces R.).
There are at least four Clay-colored Thrush (was Robin) records
now (two at Cook's Slough, two at Utopia) recently.
A Yellow Grosbeak wintered 2018-9 at Concan. A Bare-throated
Tiger-Heron also occurred recently at some top secret site in
the county (I don't know where). There are Gray Hawk and
Red-billed Pigeon records here in UvCo. I saw a White-collared
Seedeater once (Utopia), heard one singing another time (Ft. Inge
cane patch). Also heard a Yellow-green Vireo singing near
Sabinal one July. Common Black-Hawk (at least one ph.) is
known from Uvalde County, and there are records for Tropical
Kingbird and Painted Redstart. Some vagrant hummingbirds
in Uvalde Co. are Lucifer, White-eared, and Mexican Violetear.
So anything can happen, as the first U.S. record ever of
Collared Plover at the Uvalde Nat'l. Fish Hatchery showed
way back in the 1990's. Keep in mind UvCo is further south
than some of Mexico. Don't expect any Mexican vagrants,
but they do happen here.
Ringed Kingfisher may be seen at any water in the county.
Surely breeding on Nueces, Frio, and Sabinal Rivers now.
This is a sub-adult female.
There is much we don't know about the northward explosion of
many south Texas species as it is unfolding right now in
front of our eyes. It is an unprecedented event, so we have
little to base even speculation on. Brush country birds are
moving into the hill country. Lower Rio Grande valley birds
are occurring as vagrants. Mexican vagrants that some thought
might occur in the lower valley occur here now. There is
wholesale level change occurring, here and now. It is to me
exciting times to be birding here.
In case of interest, I am available to guide trips (takes
8-9 hrs. minimum) birding around this unique wonderful brush
country thorn-scrub habitat in Uvalde County. I love it
myself. Unless it is raining bad. Besides the residents,
in winter in the ag fields, if you can find the right ones,
you might find Sandhill Crane, White-fronted Goose, and
Mountain Plover sometimes, if you can find them. Maybe
Sprague's Pipit too. Often lots of sparrows and
usually lots of raptors as well. Spring to fall is best
for ease of finding the south Texas specialties, when they
are singing or with young. Some can get quiet in winter,
especially if weather inclement.
Below the photos below is more discussion with a couple short
essaylets expanding on a few more thoughts and ideas about
brush country birds and birding in Uvalde County, some
historical notes about the birds and the birders presence
here in UvCo., and the Ravens here.
Finally... some photo fun...
Here are some mostly poor pictures of a few of the brush
country birds of Uvalde County. During a recent wholesale
revision of the page, many poor pix were removed though
some were left up simply because they were docu shots of
a rarity.
This is an adult Harris's Hawk near Utopia, rarer
up on plateau but nest in brush country right off it.
Least Grebe at Uvalde National Fish Hatchery
The hatchery and Cook's Slough are best bets.
I have a photo of an egg from Cook's Slough.
Here is a better pic of a Least Grebe, this one
near Utopia at the golf course pond by the Waresville Cmty.
Photo Aug. 30, 2020, two months into its visit.
Said to be 9" long, book measurements are
often of a museum specimen with neck stretched
out. You would swear if you saw this bird all
4 oz. would fit in the palm of your hand.
Couch's Kingbird - docushot of an adult feeding one of 3 young
fledged in Utopia on June 5, 2006. One of the further north
known nestings and maybe the first ever for the species
up on the Edwards Plateau - in the hill country
Groove-billed Ani is a late summer and early fall visitor
at places like Ft. Inge, Cook's Slough and the Uvalde National
Fish Hatchery. Will find a better pic.
Audubon's Oriole - docushot first Uvalde Christmas Bird Count
record, December 2004, a second-winter bird. In winter look along
watercourses, but resident all the way up to Utopia in NE county
hills. Lately seeming resident at Lost Maples too.
First documented Clay-colored Thrush in Uvalde Co.,
at Cook's Slough, Feb. 4, 05. The second was in Utopia
on May '08, a third 150' from the where this
first one was at Cook's Slough in Feb. '12! A fourth
was at Utopia Park an entire February. Like Rufous-backed
Robin, there are way more of these skulkers around than detected.
Rufous-capped Warbler, this was the male of a pair
at Neal's Lodges in Concan for 6 months plus,
but never seen after the ice storm of '07.
Tropical Parula, this male was territorial
at Utopia on the River for 6 weeks.
One of the Green Jays at Utopia winter 2008-09! Regular
in Uvalde Co. since about 2003, has bred at Ft. Inge and
Cook's Slough.
Hooded Oriole in mid-March - check any palm tree
you see spring to summer.
Long-billed Thrasher - look in dense brush along any watercourse
up to the edge of the plateau, such as at Concan, but rare up in
the hills shortly past that. Cook's Slough and Ft. Inge have lots,
but often harder in winter.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, male. Very common breeder, absent in winter.
Vermilion Flycatcher - the brightest bird in the brush country.
Common and widespread, but only a few usually near water in winter.
Green Kingfisher could be seen at any water in the county.
Painted Bunting - A very common brush country denizen usually
along draws and watercourses, present late April through July.
The opposite of a Painted Bunting, a Cassin's Sparrow.
Common breeder most years in the brush country. Has nested
at Cook's Slough (on high point), and usually along
Lower Sabinal Rd. south of Hwy. 90.
Verdin is a common widespread resident of the brush country
of Uvalde County, ranging north into the plateau hills in winter.
Pyrrhuloxia is a breeding resident in the brush country,
and interestingly moves onto plateau in winter. Note
rounded horn yellow bill.
You could see a Black-throated Sparrow virtually anywhere
in the brush country. Uvalde Co. Rd. 202 might have them.
Has nested near Neals in Concan, and at Utopia, but west dryer
side of county better for them.
Caracara is a common resident in the brush country, and up into
the plateau. They can rapidly change color of facial skin,
as a Roadrunner can. This one is all jacked up.
Roadrunner you could see on any road in the county. Look at
that drumstick! I bet that is the toughest drumstick in America.
You will never get tired of these near-Jurassic beasts, until
you see them going after hummingbirds at the feeders.
This is the Cactus Wren that was at the pond on the golf
course by the Waresville Cmty. Nov. 1, 2020. Bad light, I know,
but my first local Utopia area Cactus Wren photo. Fairly common
around cactus down in the brush country, but rare and local on plateau
up in hills.
~ ~ ~
We will add some more pix as I get or find them. Hopefully we have
given a better idea of the brush country birds of Uvalde County.
Lots of south Texas, and southwestern U.S. species both call the
area home, making for some great diversity, and darn fun birding.
There are only a half dozen pin dots that get any coverage in the
county. Most of it is never looked at. And every time someone
looks they see something interesting.
~ ~ ~
Following are some more detailed essaylets expanding on some of the
things touched above... and some things not yet covered...
Some modern Uvalde County birding history.
I welcome information regarding the UvCo birding history. There is
very little in the published record that I can find. If you know some
UvCo birding history, I would love to hear about it.
Following are some modern historical Uvalde Co. notes on birding
here. Lytle Blankenship lived in Uvalde and birded the county hotspots
for 25+ years from the 70's to early oughts of the new millenia.
He was the pioneering birder of coverage in Uvalde County. He was
the first Uvalde Christmas Bird Count compiler and, senior author of
the first real Uvalde County checklist, in 2002. Which was a single
quad-fold double-sided legal page, worth ten times its weight
in gold. Co-authors were Sue Weidenfeld and June Osborne.
It was great. Sure glad I got one. But I have marked it all up.
Prior to Lytle, the one and only late great Jim Lane deserves
some credit for some of the first national level widespread promotion
of Neals Lodges in Concan as a par excellance birding location.
It was originally mentioned in the first Birder's Guide to
the Rio Grande Valley 1972-3 or so), in the Edwards Plateau loop.
Neals Lodges is quintessential 'brush country meets hill country'.
That guide was co-authored by John Tveten, a (late) great Texas
naturalist, that probably showed it to Jim. John was a regular
leader for Nature Quest field trips when that festival was run
out of Concan. He was a one-of-a-kind naturalist, like Jim was.
As a funny aside... the last time I saw Jim Lane, at dinner he
said to me "have you been to Concan? GO to Concan, you'll
LOVE Concan". It was the words of a prophet. He would
have cracked up to know I ended up living in the vicinity.
Then more recently from the 80's I think through the oughts,
June Osborne was a great champion of Concan having a birding
residence at Neals Lodges a month or so each spring. She wrote
a wonderful loose-leaf booklet about bird-finding in the Concan
area, which covered much of Uvalde County. As well as articles
about it in national bird magazines. More recently, certainly
the first decade or so of the Nature Quest festival when based
in Concan helped make the area much more well known to many birders
too. Now about a half-dozen hotspots in Uvalde Co. get at least
some bit of coverage, and actually quite a bit compared to much
of the counties history prior in the last millenia. The last
almost twenty years since the new millenia, it has had coverage
at levels never known prior. Still 99% of the county is not
looked at 99% of the time. At the half-dozen hotspots that get
some coverage, most of it is during three months from spring to
early summer when the birder tourist season is at a mild roar.
~ ~ ~
On the current northward expansion of birds.
To help put the current situation of south Texas birds' northward
bird expansion in perspective... as of Lytle's 2002 UvCo
checklist, they had no White-tipped Dove record, he knew of
two Audubon's Oriole and a few Green Jay records (of singles)
in the county. That was it. Then winter of 2003 (I moved here
fall 2003) on the Uvalde CBC I found the first flock of wintering
Green Jay (5) and the next year on the 2004 CBC the first two
Audubon's Orioles they ever recorded, both were at Ft. Inge.
Both of which appeared in subsequent years. The Green Jay
appears to be nesting there, not leaving in summer within a few
years of discovery. I have had begging young at Cook's Slough
since as well. Then in winter and spring of 2008 the Green Jays invaded
north ONTO the Edwards Plateau in numbers for the first time ever.
There were several dozen on the plateau to Leakey, Concan and
Bandera amongst other places!! Finally, winter 2009 the first
3-4 were at Utopia a month plus at a (deer) corn feeder!
South is moving north. Winters are milder, birds restrained
by the cold move northward. And upslope. Seemingly progress is
around a couple miles per year on average. Olive Sparrow
has long been known from Cook's Slough, Ft. Inge, and
Concan. Now it nests all the way up the Sabinal River to
the headwaters at Lost Maples SNA in Bandera County!
Several White-tipped Doves were found (spring, summer and
winter) 2003 to 2012 around Uvalde County. It has exploded
northward since 2012 with multiples at Lost Maples, Park Chalk
Bluff, in Real Co., singles in Utopia last several years.
It is now breeding at Lost Maples SNA in Bandera County since
about 2016-17 or earlier. It may take birders to detect the
Olive Sparrow invasion, but these hill country people darn sure
would have noticed Green Jays at their deer corn feeders before.
The Olive Sparrow and White-tipped Dove are nesting at around
1700' altitude now at Lost Maples!
More recently I had a Roadside Hawk winter around Utopia, and
return another winter! I could never get a photo or nail it down
to a location but saw it a half-dozen times very well. I can't
even tell you about everything I have seen. Will mention I have
seen Aplomado Falcon here. In a decade or two, things have changed
radically, so far. I expect this will intensify. More Mexican
vagrants are showing up here in Texas, and in Arizona for instance,
and further north. Some in other states. We will see more here too.
Besides a few hundred to a thousand acres, in Uvalde County almost
all of the county, and everything between it and Mexico, remain
unlooked at, almost all the time. We really only have a very
foggy idea of the tip of the iceberg of what is going on here.
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ a note on the common Common Ravens here ~ ~ ~
Common Raven - all Ravens along the southern edge of the
Edwards Plateau, including out into the brush country to at
least Hwy. 90 should be considered Common until proven otherwise.
I had a note here about how there were some Chihuahuan Ravens here.
But thanks to this internet thing, I can change things as things
change. The first few years I was here there were a few resident
Chihuahuan Ravens here in the flatlands of the Sabinal Valley.
The Ravens I encountered at Ft. Inge, and in the brush country
to the south, were Chihuahuan. Since the exceptional seven year
exceptional drought (roughly 2008-15, but unrecovered still)
they have been absent. I have seen only a few fall migrants.
A very few. To update, I have seen no Chihuahuan Raven locally
in a few to several years now as of the end of 2019. If you can
see limestone cliffs of the Edwards Plateau in this south central
part of it, the ravens you see are Common. These are small compact
Common Ravens, but listen to them. They will tell you what they are.
Common Raven are now very common residents along the southern edge
of the plateau in all the major drainages, breeding at seemingly
any and every available cliff habitat, and also in Cypresses along
rivers. Possibly in big live-oaks as well.
As a rule I'd have said until a few years ago, the flatland
brush-country Raven sightings should be considered Chihuahuan first
as the default, and once up in the hills of the plateau where cliffs
and rock outcrops are visible, then Common become the default Raven.
As the drought set in, first I started seeing Common Raven along
the roads leaving the plateau heading south towards Hwy. 90, on 55,
83, and 187. Seemingly clearly working for roadkill. More recently
I have seen a few Commons along the roads in the northern brush country.
and now along Hwy. 90, even more recently along Old Sabinal Rd., south
of Hwy. 90! A year ago I saw one almost 10 miles south of Sabinal
way out in the brush country. Working 187 roadkill. Common Raven
has become much more numerous and widespread here in the last decade,
numbers have skyrocketed, it has exploded. The Chihuahuan are gone.
All Ravens on the plateau should be considered Common unless
irrefutable evidence shows otherwise. Ravens in the northern brush
country cannot be considered default Chihuahuan as I believe was the
case 15 years ago. Recently, all I am seeing have been Common in
the northern 20+ miles of brush country below the escarpment in
Uvalde County. Whilst there are a bazillion Chihuahuan Raven
reports in ebird for the area, none seem to have any evidence.
~ ~ ~ end raven rant ~ ~ ~
We hope you enjoyed this look into the brush country birds of Uvalde County!
See ya! Have a Green Jay!
The End
If you have arrived here from our Bird Photos page, you may close your
browser to return to the Bird Photos index.
Other visitors may click your "Back" button on your browser or select a link to keep visiting!