Lou & Jan's Excellent Birding Adventures

Trip Report San Antonio

Date:

January 8-17 2017

Spring jacket weather was cool but not too cold to keep us indoors. Morning cloudiness often accompanied by fog was more troubling, especially the fog, and prevented us from getting better photos.

San Antonio has some beautiful parks and other locations for birding. And it's always exciting, as northeasterners, to easily see species such as Black-crested Titmouse, White-winged Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, and Orange-crowned Warblers (one of my favorites). We were particularly excited to get photos of an Orange-crowned in a bird bath -- the wind fluffing out his orange head feathers, and whitish side feathers -- features not easily ordinarily seen.

1. American Goldfinch
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

2. Black Vulture
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

best and virtually the only place to find this bird in America is around San Antonio

3. Black-crested Titmouse
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

4. Carolina Wren
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

5. Eastern Phoebe
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

6. Great-tailed Grackle
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

7. Eastern Meadowlark
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

8. Loggerhead Shrike
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

9. Mourning Dove
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

most common bird around here this time of year

10. Northern Cardinal
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

11. Northern Mockingbird
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

hardly ever get to see the orange feathers on the top of the head, no less fluffed up

12. Orange-crowned Warbler
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

13. Pied-billed Grebe
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

14. Red-shouldered Hawk
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

15. Red-tailed Hawk
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

16. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

17. Turkey Vulture
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

common as dirt around San Antonio

18. White-winged Dove
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler

19. Myrtle Warbler
     Location:  Tom Slick Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

20. American Coot
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

21. Double-crested Cormorant
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

22. Gadwall
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

23. Great Blue Heron
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

24. Great Egret
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

25. House Sparrow
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

26. Egyptian Goose
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

27. Muscovy Duck
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

28. Mallard
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

29. Little Blue Heron
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

30. Killdeer
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

male

female

31. Lesser Scaup
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

32. Neotropic Cormorant
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

33. Northern Shoveler
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

34. Ring-billed Gull
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

35. Ring-necked Duck
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

36. Rock Pigeon
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

37. Ruddy Duck
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

38. Snowy Egret
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

39. Spotted Sandpiper
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

40. Green Heron
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09
     out of season

41. Least Sandpiper
     Location:  Woodlawn Island Park
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-09

42. American Wigeon
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

43. Bewick's Wren
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

44. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

45. Brown-headed Cowbird
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

46. Bufflehead
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

47. Carolina Chickadee
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

48. Cooper's Hawk
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

49. Golden-fronted Woodpecker
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

50. Green-winged Teal
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

51. Harris's Hawk
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

52. Harris's Sparrow
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

53. House Finch
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

cute little cotton balls (from the rear)

54. Least Grebe
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

55. Red-winged Blackbird
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

with his lady friends Ms. House Finch and Ms. Northern Cardinal

56. White-crowned Sparrow
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

57. White-eyed Vireo
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

58. American Kestrel
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

59. American White Pelican
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

60. Belted Kingfisher
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

61. Black-crowned Night-Heron
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

62. Bonaparte's Gull
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

63. Crested Caracara
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

64. Eared Grebe
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

65. Hooded Merganser
     Location:  Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-10

66. Blue Jay
     Location:  Buddy Calk Tr
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-11

67. European Starling
     Location:  Buddy Calk Tr
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-11

68. Lincoln's Sparrow
     Location:  Buddy Calk Tr
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-11

69. Common Raven
     Location:  Bamberger Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-11

70. American Crow
     Location:  Stone Oak Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-12

71. American Robin
     Location:  Stone Oak Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-12

now known as Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

72. Western Scrub-Jay
     Location:  Stone Oak Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-12

73. Sage Thrasher
     Location:  Stone Oak Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-12

74. Lesser Goldfinch
     Location:  Stone Oak Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-12

75. Chipping Sparrow
     Location:  Cibolo Nature Center
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

76. Eastern Bluebird
     Location:  Cibolo Nature Center
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

77. Swamp Sparrow
     Location:  Cibolo Nature Center
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

78. Common Yellowthroat
     Location:  Cibolo Nature Center
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

79. Domestic White Duck
     Location:  Boerne River Road Pk
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

80. Chinese Goose
     Location:  Boerne River Road Pk
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

81. Graylag Goose
     Location:  Boerne River Road Pk
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

totally unexpected

82. Canada Goose
     Location:  Boerne River Road Pk
     County: Kendall  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

83. Hermit Thrush
     Location:  Friedrich WP
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-13

84. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
     Location:  Brackingridge Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

85. Inca Dove
     Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

86. Black-chinned Hummingbird
     Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

87. Ladder-backed Woodpecker
     Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

88. Long-billed Thrasher
     Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

shouldn't be around here until March or April

89. Summer Tanager
     Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-14

90. Northern Harrier
     Location:  Ponder Rd @ Cagnon Rd
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-15

91. White-tailed Hawk
     Location:  Ponder Rd @ Cagnon Rd
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-15
     widely reported rarity in the area

92. Eurasian Collared-Dove
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

93. Osprey
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

94. Forster's Tern
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

95. Sharp-shinned Hawk
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

96. Savannah Sparrow
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

97. White-faced Ibis
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

98. Tricolored Heron
     Location:  Calaveras Lake Pk
     County: Bexar  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-16

99. Blue-winged Teal
     Location:  El Franco Lee Pk
     County: Harris  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-17

100. White Ibis
     Location:  El Franco Lee Pk
     County: Harris  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-17

101. Laughing Gull
     Location:  Houston Hobby area McDonald's lot
     County: Harris  State: TX  Country: US
     Date: 2017-01-17

NOTE: Photos are best-of-trip and thus may not be from the location where
the species was first seen.

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