Early 2020 Birding

It's been a while since my last post, but that doesn't mean the birding has taken a hiatus! I have made a few exciting trips, but before we get to those I have to make an important announcement: I'm moving to Dallas. The main reason for my lack of posts has been because I had been traveling for a few interviews, wrapping up work in Houston, and packing to move.

American Bittern

My first real stop of 2020 was to Brazoria NWR in an effort to hit the century mark in Brazoria County. I've been to San Bernard already this year so I wanted to try something new. I started out at Bobcat Woods at their boardwalk. I was blown away by the boardwalk. An American Bittern offered the best looks of one I've ever seen. A cooperative Pileated Woodpecker gave great looks, and got to see a few House Wrens. Such a small area was teeming with birdlife, and it was amazing. As I was walking out I even had a Gray Catbird! Along another trail around the marsh I had a Common Yellowthroat and a surprising Gull-billed Tern. The ponds were really productive with various ducks and terns, but it was a Vermillion Flycatcher that stole the show. I made a stop at Rail Pond on my way out and I was greatly rewarded. Geese and Sandhill Cranes were abundant. I had both Greater White-fronted and Snow, but I was unable to find Ross's. Overall a great day, and I even got over 100 in Brazoria County!

Snow Geese (white) with Greater White-fronted Geese (gray)

Sandhill Cranes with a blue morph Snow Goose in the background

My next stop took me to San Antonio. I had a job interview in the afternoon, which of course means I had to go see some birds. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is a renowned birding location in San Antonio. The site is massive with a ton of trails, and I only had time for a few. A ton of waterfowl are in the ponds, which is where a lot of the action lies. After getting a few tips I was able to get on Cinnamon Teal and Least Grebe! These are two birds I really wanted to get, and Long-billed Thrasher. I cannot recommend this place enough, and I'm sure it is incredible during shorebird and warbler migration.

Least Grebes

Cinnamon Teal

My last stop of the birding sprint was at Fairfield Lake State Park. A few Black Scoters had been spotted, which is an incredible find for the area. Black Scoters are sea ducks normally found way north of Texas. A few pop up here and there along the upper Texas coast in the winter, but to get one as far inland as Fairfield Lake is pretty amazing. And as luck would have it I would be passing through the area. I had a job interview in Dallas, and on my way back to Houston I made the short detour, only about 20 minutes from the highway. Immediately at the boat ramp I saw them: BLACK SCOTER! I was really pumped about this because it is a Texas lifer for me (I saw them in Maine in 2018) and it's a great Freestone County bird. I could only stay for a few minutes to get some photos, I had to get back to watch the Super Bowl!

Black Scoters

I should be birded out after all that, right? WRONG! Tomorrow I leave to spend a few days camping in the Panhandle to try to get some new birds. I really want to get all over the state to bird, and I have ignored the Panhandle so far since it is so far away from Houston and College Station. Now that I am back in Dallas it is much more accessible. I cannot wait, there should be some outstanding birds, and the area is criminally underbirded at this time of year so who knows what will show up. My first stop will be Palo Duro Canyon State Park, then I will head to Buffalo Lake NWR, some cattle lots that could hold some rarities like Gray-crowned Rosy Finch or Black-billed Magpie, and then to Rita Blanca National Grassland. Afterwards I'll head through the eastern panhandle to Lake Marvin and Lake McClellan to look for swans, finishing at Caprock Canyons State Park. It's gonna be cold but let's get some lifers!