Bird (and nature) News Archive # 43
Jaanuary 1 to June 30, 2025

Old Bird News XXXXIII

Some commonly used abbreviations used are:
"in town" - means in Utopia
sps. - species
(ph.) = photo obtained
ad.=adult; imm.=immature; ma.=male; fem.=female; juv.=juvenile
odes=Odonata = dragonflies and damselflies; leps=Lepidoptera (butterflies)
FOS - "First of Season" (usually used for 1st spring or fall migrant to show up locally)
FOY - First of year - 1st one seen this year
FOF - First of fall
LTA - Less than Annual
UP - Utopia Park on 1050 just west of 187
UR - Utopia on the River
LM - Lost Maples SNA; GSP - Garner St. Pk.
SRV - Sabinal River Valley
SR - Seco Ridge a couple miles west of Utopia in Uvalde County
 (our yard March 2005 to Mar. 2013)
BanCo - Bandera County
UvCo - Uvalde County
WU = Weather Underground (sometimes local station readings referenced)


Bird News Archives Index

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Bird News Archive XXXXIII (#43) ~ Jan. 1 - June 30, 2025

.... in reverse chronological order, unless you scroll to end and read from the bottom up.

BIRD & NATURE NEWS 2025

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. Ready, steady, go!

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Jan. through June, 2025


Read from bottom up to view in chronological order.

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~ ~ ~ March summary ~ ~ ~

We finally broke our dry spell and got some rain, 3" at our place, this month. Was late in month so too late for March flowers, the bloom of which was very poor at best. Drought stage remains D3 leaning worse end of that. Not sure we froze in March, but had some 30's F early in month.

Odes, dragonflies, broke the dry spell too, with one seen on the 30th, our FOY, Dot-winged Baskettail as expected. Butterflies were weak without the spring flowers. Missed checking any Redbud or Agarita some no Elfin for me so far. Did have a male Orangetip, which is alwyas great. Just a few things starting to fly.

Birds are always great in March as all our migratory friends that breed here start returning. Not usually a great time for rare unusual stuff. The long-staying Anna's Hummingbird that wintered at our place left on March 31, so spent over three months here. Syliva Hilbig saw both Common Yellowthroat and Warbling Vireo in later March, when good birds here..

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~ ~ ~ ~ March update header archive copy ~ ~

March ~ The 1st were my FOS Sandhill Crane northbound of the spring. Our FOS Black-chinned Hummingbird was on the 6th, first female the next day. One Anna's Hummer still here the 7th. Sylvia Hilbig saw her GREEN JAY again March 7, now five weeks in her area in BanCo a couple miles NW of town. My FOS Lark Sparrow was singing in yard on the 9th. Later on the 9th my FOS N. Rough-winged Swallow flew over. At dawn the 10th I heard my FOS White-eyed Vireo out back. My FOS Ash-throated Flycatcher was on the 12th. Kathy saw a FOY E. Tiger Swallowtail the 13th. On the 14th we had two FOS Yellow-throated Warbler singing, one in town, another at the park. Heard my FOS Black-and-white Warbler singing on the 19th. My FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was the 20th. My FOS Barn Swallow were the 24th. I heard my FOS Yellow-throated Vireo give two measures of song the 26th. The FOS RAIN came on the 26th, and a bunch of it, finally. Most was the 26th but by the 27th it was THREE INCHES here! Evening of 26th after most of the rain my FOY Barking Frog announced its presence. A spring migrant Olive Sparrow is neat, on the 28th. On the 30th we had four singing Golden-cheeked Warbler near our place south of town. A FOS Summer Tanager showed up on the 31st, which was also the last day the wintering male Anna's Hummingbird was seen.

Sylvia Hilbig sent me some of her March FOS dates in BanCo a few miles NW of town. Some interesting ones that add to the picture were: Turkey Vulture the 2nd, Common Yellowthroat the 23rd, Warbling Vireo on the 29th, and Scissor-tail on the 30th.

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March 31 ~ And there goes the first quarter of the year. Certainly looking and sounding like spring out there now. Was about 68 overnight, getting near balmy already. I heard the 9 Anna's Hummingbird first thing (and at last light last night), but then did not hear it all day. It left, for fear of becoming my first April date for one here. In arrivals there was a singing Summer Tanager here this morning, likely our returning breeder. Also heard a B-n-W Warbler sing to north mid-morn. Heard a Gnatcatcher late in the day.

March 30 ~ Low about 67F and still overcast with mist and near-fog. Now we are just two days from our first April Anna's Hummingbird record. After breakfast in late morning we rolled a mile over to the south (1450') knoll and the ridgelet between it and our place. We had four singing Golden-cheeked Warbler, our FOS. They have been back weeks, we just have not been able to get out. We walked a mile around the knoll. Did not hear a Black-capped Vireo. Did have a singing Black-and-white Warbler, and thought I heard a distant Olive Sparrow sing. No Long-billed Thrasher was heard. Kathy caught a glimpse of a few Turkey Vulture before they went behind clouds. Our FOS here! Very little for flowers but great to see a few. There was Paralena, Diamentia, Blackfoot Daisy, Whitlow-grass, and Kathy saw one flower head of Dakota Verbena. All were FOY for us. Spring flowers! Kathy spotted the FOY dragonfly, a Dot-winged Baskettail, as expected.

March 29 ~ About 65F all night, still drizzle and was fog early. Only migrant through the yard over the day was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Hutton's Vireo sang out back in the afternoon. Anna's Hummer still here, as is the White-crowned Sparrow and Canyon Towhee. Hackberries are leafing out well and turning green. The Mesquites are too. Forgot to mention at the park yesterday the Willows were leafed out and looked good. The Cypress trees are just barely breaking stem here and there.





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Mar. 28 ~ Flatlined about 60F for the overnight, some drizzle, it had rained a bit more late yesterday evening, a couple tenths. So we are 3" plus for the event. Incredible. The Anna's Hummer is still here and if it sticks until Tuesday it will be my first April record for one here. Great was hearing an Olive Sparrow sing a hundred yards or so south of the house. A spring migrant Olive Sparrow. A tantalizing hummingbird report came from Kelly at the P.O. that had a hummer (north of B and R in Bandera Co.) with purple gorget splays. So either a Costa's or a more likely Lucifer, yesterday. Town run and park check. One Myrtle Warbler, but no other migrant passerines. Water came up quite a bit but still not to spillway overflow. A cruise around the Mesquites where Bell's Vireo are, but none are back yet at the usual spots. Several Yellow-throated Warbler singing around town. No Scissor-tails along roads yet. Kathy saw the FOY Straggler Daisy out front today, and at the store I saw my FOY Yellow Wood-Sorrel.

Mar. 27 ~ Flatlined at 60F all night. No more rain yet, but is progged for today and tomorrow. Let 'er rip! Anna's Hummer still here chasing Black-chins. The rest was the same gang. Nothing was moving in that rain. Thought I heard a Black-n-white Warbler uphill sing a few times. Mocker still here singing, and getting louder. The HiLo records for today at SAT per WU are 39 and 100F!

Mar. 26 ~ A balmy 65F all night, and clouds moved in. Rain chances begin this afternoon. In the morning I heard a couple measures of song from a FOS for me Yellow-throated Vireo uphill behind us in the live-oaks. The rest was the same gang. Surprised I have not heard a Clay-colored Sparrow yet. The rain came, finally. Our first spring rain this year. The March bloom is lost, but we should salvage an April one now. Started about 4:30 south of town here, and was over 2.5" by 7:30 p.m.! Weewow! We needed that worse than badly. It was so parched Jan. through yesterday, the Hackberries and our native Plum both have leafed out, WITHOUT flowering! It may be too late for lots of Laurels too. If you are wondering it was an upper level short wave over the Rio Grande and N. Mexico. Later in evening another 2two tenths fell, so we can call it 2.75" for the day here. Amazing! Then about 11 p.m. I heard my FOS Barking Frog. All we had to do was add water.

Mar. 25 ~ Low about 57F, KERV had 55. Loving that dawn chorus now. Another day of the same stuff. Heard and saw nothing different. See last few days notes. Got hotter though, it was 90F in the afternoon, though dry due to being western air. There is a Blanchards's Cricket-frog over at one of the corral troughs so it is clicking quite a bit, loudly. If the rain happens in a day or two that should bring Chorus Frog out. Rio Grande Leopard are at the other trough further away, and likely why the Cricket-frog is at this one. The rim is 3 feet off the ground so they have quite a jump to get wet.

Mar. 24 ~ Low about 52F is great. Overcast. New was singing from a Common Ground-Dove, first I have heard this spring. The Mocker that wintered in the corral is still singing at half volume. Weird not having a pair of Carolina Wren belting out all the time right out the windows. I did hear one today, but the pair we had for years here still has not been replaced. Saw a report that SAT normally gets just under 2" of rain in Jan. and Feb., and has had two-thirds of one inch. Still hoping for some flowers, but we ha are passing the window of few pretty soon. Late in day I heard by FOS Barn Swallows high overhead.

Mar. 23 ~ Low about 64F and overcast. Anna's Hummer out there early. Mostly the same today. One Anna's Hummer male that won't come in if I am out there with a camera. Still a female Canyon Towhee, great having a couple Lark Sparrow going off vocally, and heard a Hutton's Vireo in the live-oaks out back. Martins overhead, as well as some N. Rough-winged Swallow. Seems like Ladder-backed Woodpecker must be nesting in the big dead Hackberry. Also seems like Titmouse and Bewick's Wren is nesting in yard. A long line of thunderstorms moved SE across the hill country but was just NE of town so we missed it. Great was hearing the first Barred Owl I have heard over at the river in maybe 10 months.

Mar. 22 ~ Low about 52F. Sunny and calm in early morn, but wind picking back up before noon. Great was hearing my FOS migrant Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the spring. None wintered as is typical when we are in drought times. So I had not heard one since December. Later in morning I heard a singing White-crowned Sparrow, which clearly was not our default pink-billed eastern leucophrys. I asked Kathy if she saw the bill color on it yesterday and she said not well thought it was orange. Which matches my song, and it is likely a western Gambell's type. Which we get regularly in spring. Kathy saw two Lincoln's Sparrow at the birdbath. Best thing all day for me was a male Falcate Orangetip butterfly. In these drought years they can be easy to miss, and only fly early in spring. So that was great.

Of course all these moth pics I have been putting up will end up on the moths page. This was just a good way to get it going.



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Mar. 21 ~ Low about 41F, KERV had a quick 39 in the wee hours, but warmed a few dF by sunrise. Great dawn chorus mostly from residents, but a few of the migratory breeders are now on board. Like White-eyed Vireo (2) and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Mid-morn I heard a White-crowned Sparrow boiking in a stick and limb pile. An hour later Kathy said she saw an adult out by patio.

The big news is there IS an Anna's Hummingbird here still. I think it is the immature male that became second dog when the adult showed up. It seemed to me when the Black-chins showed uup, it did not chase them off the, its, feeders. It only seemed to chase the imm. or sub-ad. male away. But which continued sneaking in and out best it could. Feeders on three sides of house ensured it would always have one. The adult does seem to have departed, and now the imm. or sub-ad. male is still here. This birds long or chase call is different from the one that has been dominant. I did not even hear it yesterday, but our neighbor has a feeders so we felt it was up there too. And it may have been where the female went.

Mar. 20 ~ Happy equinox, and spring! Stay calm now folks. Low was about 34=35F. KERV had 32.9, and was NOAA progged for 39, another half a category miss on lows after blows. Twenty years and still wrong all the time. Great was hearing a FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the morning. Still hardly any leaves out there, and the live-oaks are in full yellow and drop mode too. The big change today was NO Anna's Hummingbird for the first time in months. I presume it left yesterday afternoon. I heard it at some point after noon, but not sure how late. It was not out there today. We helped it get through the winter anyway. Almost forgot, heard my first begging juvenile bird of the year today. A Carolina Chickadee. It seems they only got one young out this first and rather early go-ground. Figure about a month from egg laying to fleding.

Mar. 19 ~ Low about 60F. Another Red Flag warning blower of a day, with extra added free blowing dust. Heard a FOS Black-and-white Warbler about 9 a.m. uphill in the big live-oaks behind us. Great to hear again! Mr. Anna's still here chasing things. Then the wind blew all day. I saw at KERV 25 gusting to 35 mph! A wee bit lower here, but too windy. The Mulberry and a Hackberry have but out their first green flower buds which will open shortly. After the wind supposed to have a chilly night. Heard the Canyon Towhee.

Mar. 18 ~ Low about 55F and the hot day before another dry windy front. We often just get the tail ends like this, the dry and windy part. Tomorrow is another big blower of a day. It is parched out there and March rains are critical for lots of flowers, which I am not seeing. At least one Anna's Hummer out there doing long or chase calls. Canyon Towhee still here too. Ash-throat in yard might be one of a pair that often uses a box at NE corner of yard. Heard a or the Lincoln's Sparrow again. I think it is one that has been around a couple weeks. Got up about 86F in the afternoon. Must be over a couple dozen Black-chinned Humingbirds here now.

Mar. 17 ~ Low was about 38F here, KERV had 32.2! NOAA had them progged for 39, so more than half a category off, underestimating the low temp. Heard Turkey gobbling, Hutton's and White-eyed Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher, singing Chickadee and Roadrunner, and the Bewick's Wrens are in overdrive. At least one male Anna's Hummingbird still here, as well as the presumed female Canyon Towhee.

Mar. 16 ~ Low about 38F here, KERV had 34.7F. NOAA progged them for 42. Day after front, off by over half a category on how cold it will be. For twenty years straight and constant updating of their best modeling. Let's hear it for algorithms and modeling. Surely weather modeling must be one of the oldest and most refined uses? Hear at least one Anna's Hummer, Canyon Towhee, a Robin. It was all the same. Note today is the EQUILUX. The actual day with 12 hours daylength, and nightlength. The equinox is a misnomer. Today is the equal light day.

Mar. 15 ~ Low about 60F and another big blow from a dry frontal passage. We are going to miss a spring bloom again if we do not get some precip. Another Red Flag warning day too. Thought I heard two Anna's Hummer this morn. My vision has been too impaired to keep track of them. Still a Canyon Towhee out there not singing. And a Lincoln's Sparrow. And the wind howled. It was NW 20-25 mph sustained with local areas had gusts at 40-45 mph! The Mocker that wintered is still tuning up singing at half volume over in the corral.



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March 14 ~ Low about 58F, which lasted a moment or two. The heat continues, day three now at 90F or so. We went to town and there and had our FOS Yellow-throated Warbler, two singing males. One in town live-oaks and one at the park. Also at park were a half-dozen Myrtle The thing of interest was a floating log out in the pond. Turtletopia. Kathy counted over 30 on the log and ten more in the water around it. Create the habitat and they will come. They just need a safe place to sun. Red-eared Sliders and Texas River Cooter. Will wait for photos to see ratio. Warbler and a Belted Kingfisher. No Bell's Vireo yet at the usual spots at NW corner of town and Post Office. Late afternoon local WU stations were reporting 93-96F temps. They showed the SAT record high for today as 91, so it was record heat here surely. The Redbuds in front of the library were in full roaring bloom.

March 13 ~ Low about 50 briefly. Was 60 until the last couple hours of dark. Heard my FOY Turkey gobbling at dawn. Just hear one Robin this morn, likely our faithful one. Hear an Ash-throated Flyc. up hill, and Martins overhead. No freeze on the 10-day which puts us past our average date of last freeze. Hear the Canyon Towhee and at least one Anna's Hummingbird. The racket from the residents singing is picking up steam well now.

March 12 ~ Low about 50F, a day hot day ahead with a blowing dust warning for the afternoon. Sounds fun. Mid-morn heard my FOS Ash-throated Flycatcher uphill behind us in the live-oaks. Heard a Lincoln's Sparrow and singing Roadrunner. About 3 p.m. it was 88F here and a few local WU stations, KERV was 90! Humidity was a mere TEN percent!

March 11 ~ Low about 37F or so, KERV had 35. The Robins, Waxwings and Red-wings were all out there early at dawn. Lots of Titmouse singing. The Rough-winged Swallows were over front yard again, so surely the local breeders. Heard a second of year White-eyed Vireo across road in the afternoon. At least one Anna's Hummer here, probably a dozen or more Black-chinned. Thought I heard both White-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrow.

March 10 ~ We gave 32F a quick peck on the cheek this morn, KERV had 31. They were NOAA progged for 36, so note another half-category miss on the cold after the front. Some things never change. Great at dawn was a calling White-eyed Vireo, my FOS. A couple N. Rough-winged Swallow over the front yard, likely birds that nest in the river banks right near here. Still a Canyon Towhee and at least one Anna's Hummingbird. Kathy thought she might have had an imm. White-crowned Sparrow.

March 9 ~ Low about 38F, KERV had 37. Mostly the same until mid-morning when my FOS Lark Sparrow burst into song. What a great singer, and fantastic to hear. No doubt one of yardish returning breeders. Where do they go for 3-4 months? Mexico? Blew from the north again all day today. About 3 p.m. I had my FOS Northern Rough-winged Swallow go over northward. Barn should be here soon if not here already. Kathy had a FOY flower in yard, which was likely Anemone. She also saw a Vesta Crescent.

March 8 ~ Low about 64F. A front is passing. Winds picking up by mid-morn. At least one Anna's Hummer giving long calls and chasing. Several Black-chinned here now. I bet there are Golden-cheeked Warbler around by now, at least the first males to arrive back. Maybe Black-and-white Warbler too. At least some Robin and Waxwing around. And some Red-wings, but fewer of them. Canon Towhee still here no singing.



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March 7 ~ Flatlined about 64F all night. The low was cancelled. Big warmup day in front of a front. A gaggle of Robin singing early, and some waxwings. The Roadrunner is singing. A male Black-chinned Hummingbird is out there, besides an Anna's. Two Roadrunner are singing, one uphill behind us, the other across the road towards the river. There is a non-singing Canyon Towhee out there. I suspect a female. Great news from Sylvia Hilbig today, she saw her Green Jay again today. So it is still there in BanCo a couple miles NW of town. Outstanding record. Got my first spring chigger today, though I did harvest a few over the winter. Kathy spotted an orange billed White-crowned Sparrow on the patio late in the day. These are western, probably gambelli subspecies. Which we get very small numbers of some years in spring. One neat thing today was the Mockingbird that wintered in the corral, often visiting our yard. It was the first one we had winter in proximity where we heard it chip regularly. It was not full volume, but about half, maybe, but it was full-blown Mocker song.

March 6 ~ Low about 45F here, but varied wildly locally. One WU site showed 50 for a low, KERV had 37! Must have been a thermocline between us and them. It was a swamped day at the desk so not much time outside. Red-wings, Robins, some waxwings. Great though was a FOS Black-chinned Hummingbird. I heard it it come in to a feeder but could not see it. I knew it was not the Anna's by the sound of the wing-hum. Told Kathy and just before dark she saw it at a feeder to confirm my wing-hum ID. Thought I may have heard the sssseeee note of a Canyon Towhee.

March 5 ~ Low about 57F, light breeze and sunny. Sunrise was at 7 a.m. this morn. Record hi-low temps this date at SAT are 24 and 100, wow. We did a town run today as we skipped last Friday. The park pond was devoid of the Ring-necked Ducks that had wintered, suspect they have gone north. There were some Myrtle Warbler around the spillway. Water still about three feet from going over. Nothing else avian. But the FOY Blanchard's Cricket-Frog. Here at the house I heard singing Roadrunner.

March 4 ~ Was about 65F most of the night until 5 a.m. when the Pacific cold front got here. Whence it dropped to 50 and dropped a quarter-inch of rain on us!Still an Anna's Hummingbird here. What a howler of a day. The winds were Westerly, at 30 mph gusting to 50! Hondo had a 54, KERV a 51, and so on. We have a hillet to our west with big live-oaks on it, so, we do not get a direct hit from westerlies, being in a bit of a hole. The Red-wing racket was about the only thing I could hear over the howling winds. It finally blew itself out at around dusk. Kathy heard a Canyon Towhee call at the tub pond late in day. After not having our singing bird here the last five pus days, I am sure this must also be a transient bird on the move. Maybe one that has been here before?

March 3 ~ Low about 64F with fog-mist. Mist off and on all day, but just a trace of precip. The Robins were uphill this morn, the Red-wings lots of the rest of the day. So nicely noisy. Some waxwings out there in the afternoon. Still seemingly only one hummer here. We have a big wind warning for tomorrow.

March 2 ~ Low about 60F an dquite a ruckus of birdsong first thing. Cardinal, Carolina and Bewick's Wren, Eastern Phoebe and Black-crested Titmouse were the five most vociferous. Sounds great out there now. Like spring is on the way. The Robins were around chorusing for a bit, with some sawxings with them. About mid-morn the nice calm conditions ended as strong SE winds picked up. It blew 20 mph gusting to 30 all day. Thought I glimpsed a large black butterfly, of which Black Swallowtail should be out now.

March 1 ~ Low about 35F and a high today around 82F. Pretty nice spread. The big FOS spring migrant of the day was hearing Sandhill Cranes going north late this morning. A sign of spring if there ever was one. At least one Anna's Hummer still here. Kathy saw a FOY Checkered White butterfly as well as a Dainty Sulphur, and maybe a Little Yellow. Still did not make it uphill to see if Agarita blooming and with butterflies. Thursday to Saturday are all busy work desk days for me.





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~ ~ ~ February summary~ ~ ~

A typical cold and dry month. There were two events of three days hovering around freezing. It was an icebox. Park pond remains three feet below spillway overflow, most of the river not flowing and drought stage is D3 heading for D4 again. Lack of wild food crops has bird numbers way down.

Insects were scarce as expected. No odes (dragonflies) of course. Only a few individual overwintering butterflies. One Red Admiral may have been a fresh emergence. Maybe four species of butterfly.

The birds of the month were Syliva Hibig's Green Jay on the 1st and 8th, and her record early Purple Martin on the 4th. The Long-eared Owl continued around our place past the middle of month at least. There were three Anna's Hummingbird here at start of month, seemingly only one the last week of it though. So far topping out at maybe 4-5 dozen each of Robin and Waxwing around us. Another juncoless winter, no Siskins either. Lack of wild food crops has bird numbers way down Lots of birdsong from the resident non-migratory species by the end of the month is great.

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February ~ Some birds are singing! Sylvia Hilbig leads the way with two great reports the first few days of the month. On the 1st she had a GREEN JAY a couple miles NW of town in BanCo. Then the 4th she had a FOS Purple Martin! My prior earliest was the 7th, so a new early date. Great reports and thanks Sylvia! South of town the first week of Feb. we have continuing Long-eared Owl and a few Anna's Hummingbird wintering. Another three-day freeze event Feb. 17-20. Having a cold winter here. Four Purple Martin we skimming the park pond on Feb. 22.

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~ ~ ~ back to the regularly scheduled drivel~ ~ ~

Feb. 28 ~ Low about 58Fafter the barely sorta cod front. Hear the Robins chorusing again this morning but a hundred yards upriver mostly. They are probably moving up the valley cleaning all the Juniper and Hackberry fruits that has ripened. Again today I did not hear the Canyon Towhee. Only surely had one hummingbird too. Thought I might have heard a Lincoln's Sparrow, which I haven't in over a week. It could be a spring migrant now. Some of them push back early. I was going to try to sneak up the hill and check for Agarita blooms and a few species of butterfly for the month but was too busy. We put off a town run until early next week Too swamped.

Feb. 27 ~ Low of 78F with the northerlies of a cold front so breey. We are just getting the back dry end of it, no rain. Another great Robin chorusing this morn, along with a few waxwings. Until the Cooper's Hawk showed up it was wonderful. At least one hummer here first thing. Not hearing the Canyon Towhee for the second dayHave a lone male Brown-headed Cowbird out there. I will cal this a FOS spring migrant. This is when the first show in spring. We get a very few in winter, strictly in the Red-winged Blackbird flock. Singles and small groups show up in late February. So a FOS migrant..

Feb. 26 ~ Low about 54F and overcast. Mid-morn some birds showed up. There were a few dozen Red-winged Blackbird, a dozen or so Cedar Waxwing, and maybe two dozen Robin. Which were caroling wonderfully. First time this winter I heard a good round of that, and my how nice. Hit about 80F again this afternoon, two days in a row. I bet there are open Agarita and Redbud out there. Have not had a chance to look and missed checking the Redbuds at the library in town last Saturday. Did not hear the Canyon Towhee today.

Feb. 25 ~ Low about 39F, KERV had a 37, and were progged for 44. Sunny and brisk early, with lots of singing Cardinals. At least four around the yard. Myrtle must be sleeping here, it was out there before sunup. One hummer was too. Otherwise birds were the same. Kathy saw a Snout butterfly along with the wintering Red Admiral. I see the first new Cattail shoots sprouting out of the water in the tub pond. Last week there was a half-inch of ice on the surface on a couple days. I am amazed how the Money-Dollar- or Penny- wort has kept green leaves through the ice event. Amazing stuff, widely considered an introduced pest in many parts of the world.

Feb. 24 ~ Low about 36F or so. KERV had a quick 32 for a couple readings pre-dawn. The chill is gone. Got up to about 76F or so, wonderful. Heard the Robin and Myrtle Warbler, the Canyon Towhee and at least one hummer. Best hearing a Purple Martin, first one from the yard this year. Have not mentioned the lack of Ruby-crowned kinglet for the last nearly two months. When we are in sever or worse drought, and there are no insects in the foilage, they seem to fairly vacate the area for the worst couple months of cold. When we are in a wet cycle and there are lots of insects, they stay in fair numbers through the winter. Not this year So awaiting the reappearance of them as spring migrants start to move north, which should be soon for them. At different times Kathy and I both glimpsed a yellow butterfly, which I thought was an Orange Sulphur.

Feb. 23 ~ Finally a low not around freezing! About 45F and it felt great. Had the same gang for the most part. Canyon Towhee singing, at leasty one hummingbird coming in and out, a Robin, an American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow singing, and heard Red-tailed Hawks over at the river, so that pair back and at it. In the afternoon I heard long or chase calls from a hummer, so there must be two still here, at least. That 70F afternoon felt great. Open up an dflush the air.

Feb. 22 ~ Misty all night with a low about 44F. Cool and damp. Nice to not freeze though. Did hear a hummingbird first thing. Canyon Towhee singing. Heard some waxwings as well. We did a town run today since warmer. At the park pond Kathy spotted 4 Purple Martin, our FOS, though Sylvia Hilbig had one over two weeks ago. Again about 10 Ring-necked Duck. At least a half-dozen Myrtle Warbler is an increase, and a few more were around town. I suspect like Eastern Phoebe, they are starting to push north from more southerly wintering areas. Heard more waxwings in town too.



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Feb. 21 ~ Low about 18F again. High in the 30's again for third day straight. Living in an icebox here. It was too cold so we skipped the town run, will do it tomorrow when it will be over 40. The Canyon Towhee was here, but again not seeing any hummingbird. Must be using another nearby feeder? The rest sounded the same. Was not out there much. Third day consecutive of not breaking out of the 30's. The last two with 18dF morning lows.

Feb. 20 ~ Low about 18F (!) with some wind so single-digit- chill factors. KERV had a 15point something, and at 9 a.m.they were 18 with 8 for a wind chill. After not seeing or hearing a single hummer yesterday one was out there 15 minutes before sunrise. Also a Canyon Towhee was out there first thing after not seeing or hearing it yesterday. Even yard birds can be missed any given day. Saw and heard both off and on all day. One American Goldfinch is still showing up occasionally. Heard a Robin. The Myrtle Warbler might have been taking some white millet off the ground. At least it appeared that way.

Feb. 19 ~ Low was 20F at best, KERV had 17 with a chill factor of 1! Near 10 a.m. they were 19 with a chill of 3. Come on down, it's wonderful out! Extra seed rations the next three days. Herd of Red-wings out there early will make short work of it.The big bird news of the day is concerning. We saw and heard NO hummingbirds today. They should have been camped on the feeders all day. Nothing. What the heck? No Canyon Towhee heard or seen either. Was it just too cold to even call? I make ten trips outside every day, and the last 6 weeks on a hal-dozen I see or hear an Anna's Hummer, or two, or three. Nothing this day it barely broke freezing? Will have to wait a day and see whaddup.

Feb. 18 ~ Was about 57F over night. Over ast. Warming to 70 today and then a three-day freeze event begins tonight. Hoo boy here we go again. Heard one American Goldfinch. It has not been around much lately, figured it found someone with more seed. Some Red-wings around, but not the big flock. Chipping Sparrow might be near 70 birds now. I expect with the cold the next three days of freezing, everything will show up. Must have been 5-6 accipiter flushings today. Kathy saw one was an adult Coopoer's Hawk. Neither of us saw or heard the Canyon Towhee today. It may have departed. The attack of the cold air hit in the evening. By 11 it was about 28F with 15-25 mph northerlies and a chill factor of 15 at KERV, we were about the same.

Feb. 17 ~ Low about 30F, KERV had 28. Wed.-Fri. we will hover around freezing. Another three-day freeze event. First thing this morning I heard a Robin, some Red-wings, one Anna's Hummingbird, and some Red-winged Blackbird. Of course the usual Cardinals, Carolina nd Bewick's Wren, House Finch and Chipping Sparrow all out there too. Saw a 62 at one local WU station this afternoon, never felt like that here, the air was cold all breezy day. Some bees at the hummer feeders were only bugs I saw today.

Feb. 16 ~ Welcome back to winter. It was about 35F this morn with wind north at 10-25 mph, chill factor is about 25dF. Will be mostly inside a battoned down house today. And this week as a second front arrives Tuesday with Wed.-Fri. predicted to be very cold (teens at worst). oh boy! Heard a Robin first thing. I saw nothing different, but did hear the Red-tailed Hawks calling. Been hearing the Red-shouldered too. Wind is stopping around dark and temps dropping fast.

Feb. 15 ~ About 47F all night. Big warmup before the cold front today. Canyon Towhee singing at dawn, and Anna's Hummers at feeders. The rest seemed the same. Except the 78F afternoon temps. Next week will be a cold one again. Finally cut all the Lantana stalks from llast year. Since that Bambi from hell ate all our Tropical Sage last year, the Lantanas saved our yard butterfly season last fall. And even though introduced and non-native, it did provide many a passing nectar to fuel their journeys when due to drought there would have been nothing..

We will get back to brown moths shortly, but you get a reprieve for a week...



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Feb. 14 ~ Low around 46F, overcast and chilly. The herd of Red-winged Blackbird were out there early. That chorusing is incredible. There are at least five different calls being made. So you have the strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, you got it all! It is an entire single-species symphony of sound. Town run and park check. Might have been 10 Ring-necked Duck on the pond.

Feb. 13 ~ Winter is back today. Low about 34F with 10-20 mph northerlies on it, chills in the 20's. Not pleasant out there. I won't be looking around much out there today. Seed tosses will be it. Heard at least two Anna's Hummers, at least one Robin, the Canyon Towhee. In the afternoon a Hutton's Vireo was singing uphill in the live-oaks behind us. Some local WU stations showed 50F in the afternoon briefly, after the wind stopped.

Feb. 12 ~ About 50F at midnight, and 55 by dawn. Overcast but precip ended. We got about .15 of an inch or so. One Robin out there early, and a few Red-winged Blackbird. I expect the whoe herd later. Got nice out in the afternoon ahead of another inbound cold front tonight. Kathy saw the Red Admiral. The birdsong sure is great to hear out there now.

Feb. 11 ~ About 54F at midnight, near 58 at dawn. Fog and mist, the real precip missed us. I see a few hundredths. Heard Robin and waxwings early, but no guess on number. Hear three Eastern Phoebe at once out there now. Which means phoebe migration is underway. The ones that just winter here, or pass through in fall go through early in spring. Appears the movement has started. The big treat of the day was when the local wintering flock of Red-winged Blackbird came by and spent an hour loudly chorusing. It was a spectacular symphony. So I forgave them pigging out on the white millet. The flock is 80 (at least - Kathy) to-100 (my guess) birds. Later after counting birds in a photo I took, it was 98 birds! My photo count probably missed a couple birds. My guestimate shows the value of raising a kid doing Christmas bird counts. They get good at estimating a flock of birds bare-eyed. About 10 p.m. we got a light shower.

Feb. 10 ~ Low about 50F or so, though KERV was showing a 44, we were not that cold. Overcast and some near-mist. Birds were the same gang as expected. Off and on mist all day with temps staying about 54F maybe. Not going down much tonight, but supposed to rain. Kathy had two Phoebe at opposite sides of yard, lkely a transient in passage. It was quiet due to the wet, and I was out there little for the same reason.

Feb. 9 ~ Upper 60's at midnight, lower, about 64 at dawn. A little fog and mist.. Cold front is arriving. By the afternoon it was about 56F. About 25 dF cooler than yesterday afternoon. Still no freeze on the ten day forecast. Birds were the same gang. The winter of Anna's Hummingbird here. A couple accipiter flushings over the day as usual. Canyon Towhee singing still. The daylength today is a half-minute less than 11 hours.

Feb. 8 ~ Flatlined at 67F all night. Got up to 82-84 locally in afternoon. Weewow! All seemed the same here, though as yesterday I heard at least one Robin in the morning. Kathy is taking care of the Barham's dogs and in late afternoon when walking back just on the other side of the draw a flock of over 40 Robin flushed. The draw has Hackberries and Junipers both of which have ripening berries right now. Might be the high count of the winter here. Heard the Flicker again in the afternoon. Today's heat was ahead of a (not very) cold front tomorrow.



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Feb. 7 ~ Low about 60F at midnight, for a couple hours, when it rose 5dF for a 65F the rest of the night. Fog and some mist again, same pattern. Not missing the cold though. Town run day and quick check of park. There were a handful of Ring-necked Duck there, just one drake. There and around town totalled maybe 4 Myrtle Warbler. Canyon Towhee singing still. If it is as I suppose the first bird to show up last year, it has been here over SIX months now. So expecting it to leave to go wherever it breeds very soon.

Feb. 6 ~ Another night of clear until midnight or after, then the clouds, then the fog, and by dawn, misting again. Flat-lined at about 64F all night. Weird winter weather. Kathy had 24 Cedar Waxwings in Hackberries early in morn. Highest count for us here recently. Otherwise it seemed about the same. Chasing fighting Anna's Hummingbird is weird too. Cleared after noon, and saw about 77F in the afternoon sun. With this heat we should see Redbud and Agarita flowers pretty soon now.

Feb. 5 ~ Another overcast balmy night flatlined at 64F. Almost got foggy, was a bit of mist and damp ground. Duelling Bewick's Wren is a great song battle in the yard. House Finch are getting going more too. Ladder-backed Woodpecker drumming lots now too. Heard the Flicker in the afternoon. They leave early in spring. Heard Long-eared and Great Horned Owls after dark. A few Red-winged Blackbird were around a couple times.

Feb. 4 ~ A low if you can call it that in February, was about 65F! Some fog and mist with it, My we are in a mild spell. warm moist air. First morning I heard actual song from a Titmouse (Black-crested). Still sounds like three hummers out there. Eastern Phoebe singing a bit. Great bluebird song going now. The Field Sparrow really got going today. Got up to near 80F again in afternoon. Amazing warm spell. The highlight of the day was an email from Sylvia Hilbig with new of the FOS Purple Martin at their place NW of town in BanCo. Earliest local date I know of, beating my old Feb. 7 date. GREAT find and THANKS for the note Sylvia!

February 3 ~ Low about 50F with some fog. Burned off quickly and began warming. Around 3:30 local WU stations were showing 81-84F. Another air-out day. Nothing different with birds best I could tell. More singing is it. Which is great if you ask me. We are nearing the ' one month to Golden-cheeks' mark, within a few days. Kathy flushed that cat again. I know it is taking birds. As if the relentless accipiters are not enough. I wish the Coyotes were not so adamant about not entering the yard. They are welcome. The Gray Foxes do not mess with the feral cats.

February 2 ~ Low about 38F or so, KERV had 36. Clear and a big warmup today. A happy mid-winter to everyone. Today is half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. We are adding almost a minute-and-a-half every day, and daylength is 45 minutes longer than at the winter solstice. Birds were no change. First heard an Acridid, short-horned Grasshoper, such as the orange-winged type, but did not see it. Heard my first tuning up of Field Sparrow so far this year. The Bluebirds will be glad to see that. Honeybee and Red Admiral were the only other two insects I saw. At least one local WU station had 80F today! We were more like 78 at best, which was great.

February 1 ~ We were about 33F for a low, KERV had a 29! They were NOAA progged for 36, a pretty major miss. Funny how their AI logos modeling has not corrected this constant error in 20 years of operation. It warmed up tomaybe 74F in the afternoon. Great to open up and air out. There must be about two dozen White-winged and over a dozen Moiuirning Dove here now. At least when they all show up. Love hearing that bird song getting going again. Just a few residents so far, but Carolina and Bewick's Wren, and Cardinal, can make a lot of noise. Toss in White-wings and soon there will be a chorus. The live-oaks are yellowing up the hill behind us, they will be dropping leaves soon. A Red Admiral wanted to be the first butterfly I saw this month so badly it kept landing on me. This just in: Sylvia Hilbig sent an email, with news of a GREEN JAY at their place NW of town a few miles in Bandera Co.! OUTSTANDING news! Thanks for the great report Sylvia!



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~ ~ ~ January summary ~ ~ ~

It was a cold month with a couple polar air multi-day events of freezing and near-freezing temps. There was a little rain when any in winter is great since our usual dry spell. Maybe 1.5". Drought stage remains D3 - extreme, and water is over three feet below the spillway at the park pond (e.g. normal).

Saw no odes (dragonflies) as expected, and only a few butterflies were leftover from December. It was six species in January, Red Admiral is likely the only to make it to end of month. N. Mestra and Cloudless Sulphur were good for January though.

Birds are way down this winter overall, likely from the last four winters of poor wild food crops due to drought. Everything is connected. Cardinal and Chipping Sparrow are a quarter of the normal numbers. Very few Robin and waxwing around. The dearth of birds is not a figment of your imagination.

The Long-eared Owl continued in its fourth winter here. The big surprise was THREE ANNA's Hummingbird at once from Jan. 7 on. Incredible. Two males and a female, one male is a first winter as is the female. A couple encounters with Pyrrhuloxia and Hutton's Vireo were the only other scarcer things noted.

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January ~ The immature male Anna's Hummingbird at our place since Dec. 20 started trying to sing Jan. 2. Five days of hard-freeze lows was had Jan. 6-10. OMG there are TWO hummingbirds here at our place this 24F morning Jan. 7! ZOMG there are THREE Anna's Hummingbird here Jan. 7-24 so far. The Long-eared Owl was heard just after midnight Jan. 10 and more since. The 9th there was 1.25" of cold rain, Another arctic air deep freeze vent hit Jan. 19-24th.

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Jan. 31 ~ Low in wee hours was 37F which is near the 36 KERV showed. Sunny and clear, going to 70 today. Great to hear the Cardinals singing more. Hummers active early of course. Still just as ginchy as since they got here. Only the female allows views. She comes in when I am near the feeder, as I suspect she knows the males will not so has some protection by my presence. Town run and park check where nothing. That 72F in the afternoon was certainly delightful. Had to go out and do my lizard impression. Shirley at the store told me of someone in Vanderpool that had a Screech-Owl getting into an enclosure and taking the heads off of some quail they are raising.

Jan. 30 ~ Yesterday evening the temps rose to 66F at midnight! A couple hours later then it dropped reaching 63F or so by dawn. Calm and the fog burned off as quickly as the sun rose. We get a warmish air-out day today! It is the little thngs... I think it is about 5 mm of rain, to add to the 5 mm in the three days prior, makes about 10 mm, a hair over a third of an inch. A little something. Still hearing three hummers, the singing Canyon Towhee. Again before dark, heck the sun was still on the river Cypresses, the Long-eared Owl was calling. Sure moves around a lot.

Jan. 29 ~ Low about 58F and foggy with drizzle and mist. Nothing has changed in three days, now this is the fourth. Better than arctic cold though. Might have racked up another mm or so of precip over the day. Chance for more overnight. Birds were the same but as it was misty I was not out there much. Still sounds like three hummingbirds. Did hear two Myrtle Warbler though. Love hearing that Long-eared Owl. Tonight it was calling before it got dark out!

Jan. 28 ~ Low in upper 40's F, still overcast with fog to mist conditions. Flock of Red-winged Blackbird out there in morn, a couple dozen at least. Might go as high as 60 Chipping Sparrow here now. Always hearing a few Field around too. Might have gotten up to 52F or so, and damp with mist, maybe another millimeter. Just enough to make it wet out there. Long-eared Owl after dark. In case anyone missed it, didja see in the Bandera Electric news mag a Black Bear was trapped by TPWD west of Uvalde last year. I presume along the Nueces River. Amazing.

Jan. 27 ~ Low about 56F, still cloudy with some drizzle or mist off and on. Actually was a light shower for a bit. Maybe another couple mm of precip. Temps dropped and was 48F or so in the afternoon. Did not see anything different for birds. Three hummers and a Canyon Towhee. Had the Hermit Thrush getting some seed (white millet). One Mocker seems to have stuck and continues over in the corral Junipers mostly. Cold and wet. I am holding out for more comfortable conditions for viewing. It is supposed to be viewing pleasure, not pain.   ;)    Today I acquired chigger No. 3 of the year. Heard the Long-eared and Great Horned Owls after dark.

Jan. 26 ~ Temps did not drop overnight. It flatlined about 58F or so. So there was fog-mist. A treat to not be freezing! Had three hummers early. Cold air and a northerly flow arrived shortly after noon. From noon to 3 p.m. it went from 60F to 50F. No big blow it seems, but cold air with warm moist Gulf air over it, so drizzle. By afternoon it might have added up to a couple mm. Birds were all the same gang. After dark the Long-eared Owl was close, not far past the road. Surely it has been IN our yard at some time.

Jan. 25 ~ Low about 38F is a treat these days. KERV had 37, one local WU station was only 50. Before sunup I heard both Great Horned and Long-eared Owl calling over in river habitat corridor. There was a little sun and in the afternoon it warmed up to about 64F maybe, so a great thawing. I heard when that system went by a few days ago, there was some snow up on the top high parts of the plateau just north of our area. North of Lost Maples it climbs to 2000' immediately. Did have three hummers here today. Heard the N. Flicker that has been in the vicinity all winter. I might go 60 on the Chipping Sparrow now. That cold brought some in.

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Note the annual summary is now up, though still missing totals for species and rain. The important sightings and non-sightings are compiled. It is a few weeks back at the annual break.



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Jan. 24 ~ Near 20F at sunup, though I saw KERV had 16F about 6 a.m., and I suspect we hit the teens as well. Mid-morn heard Kestrel and Killdeer over at the airstrip. Did a town run noonish. A quick park check had a couple Myrtle Warbler and a Belted Kingfisher. We did get to 50F in the afternoon but the wind was so cold you would have never guessed it. Per forecast this morn was the coldest one on the ten-day. We need a break.

Jan. 23 ~ Low about 28F, still freezing here. Heard a distant Kestrel mid-morn. Too busy at the work desk today to look out much. Saw the three hummers, heard the Canyon Towhee and a Lincoln's Sparrow. Otherwise it sounded the same. Might have hit a toasty 54F in the afternoon. Long-eared Owl calling after dark. Kathy saw a gorget on one of the Anna's Hummingbird here, so we have an adult male, an imm. male, and an immature female.

Jan. 22 ~ Low was in upper teens after midnight, but warmed to about 20F by sunup.Very cold. At least we missed the snow that hit to our east along the Gulf. I had to go to SAT again for another eye-scan. So missed most of the day here. I see a toasty 50F in the afternoon when I got back. At least there was a little thawing out. Chipping Sparrow is likely over 50 now. Heard the Long-eared Owl after dark, and of course the Great Horned, the E. Screech- are not yet going off.

Jan. 21 ~ Low around 27F or so, felt colder. Hummers out there first thing. We had the feeders inside overnight to lose the slushy. The possible precip did not happen here so dry, and clearing out early. Tomorrow morn slated to be the coldest one, in the teens. Then we slowly thaw back to normal winter conditions. We have the place fairly sealed up so only a few openings to peek at birds. I hope I do not see anything that would make me want to go out there in it to get a pic. I heard the Say's Phoebe over in the corral in the afternoon. A good bet for an insect moving. Might have hit 40F in the sunny afternoon. Heard the Long-eared Owl after dark. Was 22F by 11 p.m., and dropping.

Jan. 20 ~ Was about 20F here this morning, KERV had 18.5. Hummer feeders were slushy. Had to swap out for warm ones. It is cold out there. Hid inside all day except for the seed toss rounds. Might have gotten up to 34F or so. Brutal out there today. Wind picking back up later in day for a second punch of cold with possible wintry mix as NOAA calls it. Did have three Anna's Hummingbird today. Seemingly cold ones. The rest was the usual but I am not hanging around out there looking for anything.

Jan. 19 ~ Low about 25F, northerlies at 15 mph gusting to 25, chills about 15! Hummers camping on feeders. Another five-day Arctic air major freeze event starts now. Wind blew all night and most of the day. Might have hit 42F or so, with an icy breeze. Had the three hummers. Kathy got some pix of one through window and screen. They were close to feeders all day. Other than them it was the same gang of winterers. Thought I heard Lincoln's Sparrow again. Picked up a second matching chigger today, so now there is one on the inside of both thighs.

Jan. 18 ~ Was around 45F at midnight, went up to about 50 by 3 a.m. or so. Afternoon got up to a blazing 67F or so, almost sunbathing weather. Again thought I heard a Lincoln's Sparrow, there must be one sneaking around out there. The three Anna's continue. Time to batton down the hatches as another Arctic air cold event arrives tonight, lasting through next week. Here we go again. I would say we are having a cold winter. Slow to get here, but lots of very cold when it did.


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Jan. 17 ~ Was about 45F at midnight, and 48 at sunup. We have added a half-hour to daylength since the solstice, and are gaining a minute per day now. Heard Robin in the morning, and the usual gang. We did a town run noonish. Heard 4-5 Myrtle Warbler at the park, where water is 3 FEET below spillway, at least. There was a male Lesser Goldfinch in town. Back here in the afternoon I had the 3 Anna's Hummingbird at once.

Jan. 16 ~ Low about 30F, KERV had a quick 28 and 29. Hearing the Red-tailed Hawk pair over at river, they are back at it for another cycle. They disappear when the young fledge (June to Aug.) and are not around until later Dec. or Jan., so are absent most of four months. Where do they go? Hear a herd of Anna's Hummers out there in morn. At least one Robin. Hutton's Vireo singing behind us in big live-oaks again. Noonish I realized I had made my first harvest of the year when tossing seed in the morn, a chigger! Heard the Long-eared Owl after dark.

Jan. 15 ~ We flatlined all night at about 48F! Sure is nice to not be cold for a change. Heard the Hutton's Vireo singing uphill behind us in the giant live-oaks. In the afternoon there were three Anna's Hummingbird. Two males and a female being displayed at. Lots of display dives today. Amazing to see that here. Next week we have a couple more days that will hover around freezing all day. They better fatten up. It got up to about 65F in the afternoon, which felt outstanding. And dry too finally. Heard the Long-eared Owl calling shortly after dusk.

Jan. 14 ~ Low about 28F, KERV had 26 and was progged for 31. A half-category miss. There were about 6 Robin first thing early. A couple Anna's early, and did have 3 at once in the afternoon. Great hearing the Canyon Towhee tuning up with various jumbled garbled song notes. Might have hit 57F or so at peak heat. Overcast all day. Kathy flushed a Gray Fox out of the flower bed at the front porch. Amazing to spend an evening at about 48F or so and it not get cold at dark. Very pleasant.

Jan. 13 ~ Low about 34F which is what KERV showed too. Heard a Robin in the big dead Pecan first thing. Mid-morn heard the Pyrrhuloxia out by the wellhouse. In the afternoon Kathy saw an accipiter fly across the yard... and found a pile of male Cardinal feathers. Right on the stone steps by the front porch. No doubt one we see daily, that eats the Lantana berries. Got up to about 57F or so at peak heat. Nice to warm up. I heard the musical mechanical pop of an Anna's Hummingbird display dive. First of that so far. Males do this at perched females usually.

Jan. 12 ~ Low about 30F or so, maybe cooler, KERV had 27F. A barely freeze. First hummer was about 7:25 a.m., sunrise is listed as 7:35 per WU Utopia stats. Did have three out there mid-afternoon. Got more shots of what I think was the female again. Thought I heard a Lincoln's Sparrow again. Myrtle Warbler through yard every day, just like last couple winters, and I would not be surprised if it were the same male. Warmed to about 58F or so which felt great.

January 11 ~ I think we were about 20F this frigid morning. We went to town today after it warmed to 34F or so. I heard reports in town of 15-20 for lows in the area. KERV had a 19F. Coldest morn this winter so far, to cap a week of freezing our ferns. The SAT record hi-low for today is 10 and 81F.

In the late morn I had a single blackbird fly over calling that looked and sounded a Rusty Blackbird to me. Surely it was one. We did a town run today after it warmed a bit. On way back at the corrals on 360 just east of river there was the usual blackbird flock, and Kathy spotted at least 6 Killdeer in a bare field. Wintering birds from northward.

In the afternoon I did hear three Anna's Hummingbird out there so they all made it through 20F fine. The Canyon Towhee did some first song type noises I have heard from it since it got here in August. The birds seemed to like the warmup, a fair bit of singing is great to hear. After dark the Long-eared and Great Horned Owl were calling.



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January 10 ~ The Long-eared Owl called just after midnight, early early this morn. The precip ended before midnight and temps were above freezing so no ice here. Was about 34-36F all night. The cold front got here at dawn with 20 mph winds gusting to 30, so wind chill in upper 20's F now. Lovely. Not sure I feel like a town run in it today. Once the wind stops this evening it will get real cold, low tomorrow about 24F or so, but 54 in afternoon. They are showing 42-44F out there this afternoon, but chill is 34 in the wind. Passed on the town run, will go tomorrow when getting past 50F.

January 9 ~ Looked like it was about 34F all day With a very cold rain on it. Nearing dark it looks close to an inch or so of precip. I did not lollygag around out there much today and ran through the seed tosses as quickly as I could. Did hear three humingbirds that all sound identical. The windows are all very covered to keep cold out, so not much visibility from inside either. Tomorrow the front blows through and Sat. morn is the real cold one.The final rain total after some evening showers is 32-33mm. Over 1.25" but under 1..3". A greaet much needed total, and one of the coldest rains you can get at 34F all day.

January 8 ~ Low about 32F, not as cold as progged. Overcast and humid, cold. Had at least two hummers at once early. I am not going to stand out there freezing to work on them today, just keeping now three feeders with unfrozen fluid for them. Heard the Canyon Towhee, and again maybe two, but not together. In the afternoon around 3 p.m. I had a flocklet of waxwings, less than ten, and some Red-winged Blackbird. Also definitely heard THREE hummingbirds, and which all sound identical. I think it is three Anna's here now!

January 7 ~ Low about 24F or so, maybe lower, KERV had 22. Hummer feeders not frozen though. Let's hear it for the lowered freeze point due to higher specific gravity (like saltwater) of the sugar water. OMG there are TWO hummingbirds here this morning! Kathy confirmed it and then mentioned she wondered the other day if there might be two. Incredible. Just when we figured the first one out, a second shows up. The feeders have terrible lighting when seen from inside the house much of the time.

Which means I will have to spend time out in the cold to try to get a shot. So I did. And I did. A bird landed on the front feeder whilst I was there waiting motionless for an extraordinary amount of time. I presumed it was the new bird since the imm male has not come in if I am out there. Sure enough it has white-tipped rectrices (tail feathers) and is an immature or female. I had already said to Kathy it sounds like another Anna's. From the poor pics I would say it is indeed an imm. female Anna's. ZOMG!

It kept getting worse... Nearing 3 p.m. after the afternoon seed toss event I sat sunning on side porch. I could hear the two Anna's ticking from each end of yard. A THIRD hummer flew in to front porch feeder. Which I could not see but heard its wings humming as it fed. The two Anna's remained perched ticking where they were. There are THREE hummers here now!?!?! ZOMG! Just when I thought I had the situation nailed down and under control, bam! we still have an as of yet un-ID'sd hummer here!

January 6 ~ Low about 26F, clear, wind blew all night to morn. Bird bath frozen, hummer is near feeders. At least one local WU station was showing 50F, not sure we had that. Tomorrow morn is progged to be the coldest one. Oh boy we can't wait. Nothing different except did hear one Robin around, which I had not the last few days.

January 5 ~ Low about 62F at dawn, with a serious cold front inbound today. Lows will be in 20's all week! Hummer is out there early, Hope it can handle the cold. We will likely have to do some feeder rotating with a warmed one. Got up to upper 50's F in afternoon despite northerlies, which started by noon or so. In butterflies saw one Red Admiral, a Sleepy Orange, and a Cloudless Sulphur, and Kathy added a Dainty Sulphur. In the afternoon heard a Golden-crowned Kinglet in yard. Titmice and Chickadees in overdrive getting sunflower seeds, presumedly for stashing. Here comes the cold. Brace for impact. Which is what we did much of the day.

Jan. 4 ~ Was about 52F and clear just after midnight, when I heard the Long-eared Owl again, and about 58F or warmer and foggy at dawn. Hummer out there making noises. Heard a waxwing or two in the morn. Kathy heard cranes southbound late in afternoon. She also saw a N. Mestra. The butterflies will be mostly toast after the big freeze starting Monday.


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January 3 ~ Was around 45F at midnight, warmed to 50 for a bit, and then dropped to 47 around dawn. Clear and sunny. I see the 10-day shows freezes all week next week, and low high with it So, winter will return next week. This benign period has been very nice. Heard the hummer early in morn. Might have heard two Canyon Towhee, on opposite sides of yard again. Town run and park check, to no avail at the park. A couple Myrtle Warbler was it.

January 2 ~ Was clear and about 44F just after midnight, 50 and foggy by sunup. The immature male Anna's Hummingbird was trying to sing, the first of that I have heard. If you think the adult male singing is a screeching grating mess, you should hear the imm. males learning that symphony. This is day 14 for the hummer here. I heard a Hutton's Vireo for the first time in a while. They have not been around much lately. The rest was the same as it ever was. Chipping Sparrow seems a few more, maybe 30 or more.

January 1 ~ Happy New Year! About 42F at sunup but certainly was in 30's overnight. KERV had a 34F around 2:30 am.. Great Horned Owl was likely the first bird I heard as I went out for the morning seed tossing rounds at 7. At 9 heard the hummingbird come in. Got my year Anna's out of the way. Heard the Canyon Towhee, Carolina Wren doing a bit of singing in the morning. At least one Accipiter flushing looked a Sharp-shinned. Only got to low 60's F so not much for butterflies out. Heard a couple Cedar Waxwing, which is about once a week lately.

~ ~ ~ end of year ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ 2024 summary ~ ~ ~

This was another drought year to add on the last few. Some couple or few months were in only D2 severe drought. Most of it was D3 extreme, and some was D4 exceptional. The environment shows the results, or lack thereof, of extended extreme drought. Most of the year the river was not flowing, so tourism was way down again. I still have to add up a rain total. There was very little wildflower bloom all year. We have two dying old climax Hackberry trees, besides the biggest one lost already. We lost a 200 year old Pecan in the yard. Some Sycamore and Cypress along the river bed are dying. The water table is twice as low as it usually is, many wells are dry.

Insect numbers are way way down. Lots of nights a porch light barely got any moths. Due to repeated years of drought and a dry river for the most part the dragonflies were pitiful, and generally very hard to come by. They were scarce this year again. No rare or unusual types were found. A few Red-tailed Pennant were regularly at the park and i think some emerged there. Barely managed to scrape up Widow or Roseate Skimmer. It is an unimagineable dearth compared to what it was not very long ago. For the first summer in 21 years I did not see any Orange-striped Threadtail damselfly at Utopia Park where a population has been since I got here.

Butterflies were also very low in numbers and diversity. If it were not for our watered garden we would have seen very few. Many species were absent, like Arizona Sister, Viceroy, Crimson Patch, Great Purple Hairstreak, etc. Did not see one Monarch all fall for the first time ever in 21 years. Small stuff was almost MIA. Very few hairstreaks, blues, and other smaller stuff. Only two metalmarks all year. Skippers were amazingly few. Worst year ever here. There was just one rare butterfly seen, a Giant White on our Lantana Sept. 22. It was quite torn and frayed. Only my second one photographed, though saw one or two with no pics. They are very rare here. It was the best bug of the year here. Many of the species seen were only one or a few invidicuals. In moths 17 Polyphemus moth at the general store Aug. 7 was fairly spectacular.A local photographed a male IO moth Aug. 11. as well.

One nearish-by mammal deserves mention since it never has been here. TPWD trapped a Black Bear west of Uvalde this year. I wonder when the last record in Uvalde County was? Likely about 50 air miles away from us here.

Birds were way off like everything else. Spring and fall migration were both very weak. Breeding season was poor for most of the local species. They mostly nested only twice and only fledged a young or two at most both cycles. The Red-tails only fledged one young, the Great Horned Owls fledged two. Most of the passerines were the same.

We started and ended the year with the returning Long-eared Owl, now on its fourth winter here. It was last heard April 11 and returned Sept. 17 for its fourth winter here. Last January we had a one visit Pine Siskin, only one last winter, and none yet this winter. A Couch's Kingbird showed up March 15, our earliest spring migrant ever, and stayed until early October. Was seen seemingly consorting with a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at one point. Early April a Common Black-Hawk at Lost Maples (by others) is a local highlight. As were a couple Prothonotary Warbler at Corneilius Rd in April. Our bird of the spring and maybe year here was a male Golden-winged Warbler at our bath April 30. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher May 17 was nice, easy to miss any spring. A female MacGillivray's Warbler on June 3rd is my first June record. My THIRD Canyon Wren at Utopia Park was Aug. 23. Our only Mourning Warbler of the fall was Oct. 2 in front porch flower beds. Oct. 7 is an early date for Red-naped Sapsucker. A Pyrrhuloxia around our place Nov. 6 was still around in January. Nov. 9-15 we had a very tardy Ruby-throated Hummingbird, imm. male. November 21 was probably the bird of the year, an American Crow. I have one other record here, which was Nov. 23, 2016. This is actually rarer here than the Golden-winged Warbler. The warbler looked better though. Dec. 20 an Anna's Hummingbird showed up which by early January was THREE Anna's here. Still have to get annual species total estimate.

~ ~ ~ end 2024 summary ~ ~ ~