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© www.utopianature.com 2006-2008 All Rights Reserved |
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The Birds of Utopia - List |
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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Roadrunner, Vermilion Flycatcher (male), Painted Bunting (male), Green Kingfisher (male) |
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Actually it should be birds of the Sabinal River Valley (SRV), but that just doesn't have the ring Utopia does. The list covers the area from the north end of the valley at Lost Maples, the Sabinal River's headwaters, in a true canyon, south through the broad, flat valley the river meanders down, to Clayton Grade about 8 miles south of Utopia. Utopia is about midway from the north end to the south end of the valley, which is at the very edge of the Balcones Escarpment. These valleys are also known as "canyonlands," and are intermediate between brushlands off the plateau, and the "top" of the plateau. They have faunal characteristics of both as well as some of their own unique flavors. In fact, each canyon is unique, the Sabinal being the broadest and flattest, most brush country like. All of the land in the (Sabinal) valley is private, though many (Uvalde or Bandera) county dirt roads transect many areas allowing at least some visual access, besides Hwy. 187 that traverses the valley north to south. This list replaced the "old yard list" pages, with the entire area list. Besides an idea of seasonality and abundance, several codes or abbreviations are behind the bird's name to indicate where it has been seen. The (former) yard list is now indicated with the "TC" designation (see below), and the Utopia Park birds are found easily with a UP behind those species seen there. If a species is so far unrecorded around Utopia, but is on the Lost Maples list, it is included here as occurring in the Sabinal River Valley area. However, not all species found at Lost Maples are called out. Knowing which "different" species have been seen "just up the road a piece" helps complete the picture of what occurs here, since there was a bit of coverage there. Note that Lost Maples has had thousands of hours of birder coverage, primarily during a three month period in spring and early summer. Most of the 20 or so species listed from there, only, so far, are accidentals or very rare migrants, and surely came or went via the SRV, and probably have occurred nearer Utopia. Be sure to pick up the great TPWD park bird list for Lost Maples SNA by Roy Heideman, May 2002. |
To complicate things the valley is cut in half politically.
The northern half with the canyon and Lost Maples are in
Bandera County (as is "TC" and the SLC ponds). The southern
flat open half of the the SRV (e.g., Utopia and Utopia Park)
are in Uvalde County. So, I have to keep two county lists,
and a "Sabinal River Valley" list!!! What a pain!
Here we have as of August '09 almost 327 species listed
known from the Sabinal River Valley bio-geographic area.
A remarkable total for a small inland lakeless habitat. There are
4 introduced non-native species preceeded by an "I".
There are a number of unverified hypothetical reports not included
(mostly my own). It is truly amazing that over 300 species occur
in the SRV !! Which is about a mile wide on average and 20 miles long.
The birds are listed fairly close to Taxonomic Order of the 7th AOU,
which is the order used on most except the most recent bird lists or books,
to help ease finding a given species. They are also mostly grouped
into family groups, but some small families have been joined though.
If you've seen a bird species locally, that is not on the list,
please let me know so we can add it, if approved by the
Utopia Rare Birds Records Committee. Rarities need documentation.
That means a picture, video, tape recording, pencil sketch, or
a description of field marks noted while watching the bird.
A crummy digital picture is often enough to prove identity.
Believe me, I take lots of them. Write notes while observing.
The list consists of the species name, followed by an indication
of its local abundance and seasonality, followed by initials
denoting sites of occurrence and nesting status (N = nests).
As of August 2009 there were 323 native species on the list,
known or believed to have occurred from Lost Maples to Clayton Grade,
in the Sabinal Valley. I've personally seen 303 or so
of them in 6 years, and the other 20 are from all the years of
birder coverage at Lost Maples.
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THE BIRDS OF UTOPIA Including the Sabinal River Valley vicinity |
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Pied-billed Grebe - occasional in winter, migrant; UP;LC American White Pelican - rare spring migrant; U;LM Neotropic Cormorant - accidental fall migrant; U Double-crested Cormorant - rare fall migrant; UP Great Blue Heron - low numbers year round; TC;UP;LC;BCP;N? Great Egret - rare spring, late summer, fall migrant; UP Snowy Egret - rare spring migrant; LC;UP Little Blue Heron - very rare in spring and fall; LC;UP (ph.) Tricolored Heron - rare fall vagrant; UP (ph.) Cattle Egret - occasional migrant, mostly fall; TC;UP;LC Green Heron - few nest along river; UP;N Yellow-crowned Night-heron - rare late summer visitor; UP;U Black-crowned Night-Heron - very rare spring migrant: U White-faced Ibis - very rare spring or fall migrant; LC;SR Wood Stork - accidental July 11 '08 at SR (ph.) Black Vulture - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Turkey Vulture - common spring to fall; rare in winter; TC;UP;U;N Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - occasional spring to fall; TC;UP;U;LC;SR;BCP;N Fulvous Whistling-Duck - flock of 3 flew over SR July 7 '08 Greater White-fronted Goose - occasional spring or fall migrant; TC;U;SR Ross's Goose - accidental in winter; SR Cackling Goose - accidental in spring (w/White-fronts);SR Wood Duck - irregular when water present, spring to late fall; TC;UP;LC;N Gadwall - occasional migrant or winter; TC;U;LC;SR;BCP American Wigeon - occasional to rare migrant or winter; LC;SR;BCP Mallard - occasional to rare in winter; U;SR;BCP Blue-winged Teal - uncommon to occasional migrant; TC;UP;LC;U;BCP Cinnamon Teal - accidental Dec. 10, 05, Sept. 12, 09 (ph.); UP Northern Shoveller - uncommon to occasional migrant; UP;LC;SR;BCP Northern Pintail - rare in winter; SR;BCP Green-winged Teal - occasional to rare migrant; LC;BCP Redhead - very rare in winter; UP;U;BCP Ring-necked Duck - occasional to rare migrant; UP;TC;LC;BCP Lesser Scaup - rare in winter; UP;SR;BCP Bufflehead - accidental fall migrant; UP Hooded Merganser - accidental fall migrant; LC Ruddy Duck - accidental spring migrant; UP Osprey - occasional migrant, once 1 wintered on trout; TC;U;LM Swallow-tailed Kite - accidental July 30, 2009; SR White-tailed Kite - accidental spring @ 3 mi. x-ing Mississippi Kite - occasional migrant; TC;U Bald Eagle - very rare to accidental; LM Northern Harrier - occasional fall to spring; TC;UP Sharp-shinned Hawk - uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP Cooper's Hawk - rare & local in summer, uncommon fall to spring;TC;UP;N Northern Goshawk - accidental in winter; TC;SR Common Black-Hawk - accidental in summer; LM;SR Harris's Hawk - rare migrant; TC;UP;SR Red-shouldered Hawk - uncommon resident; TC;UP;LC;N Broad-winged Hawk - rare in spring very rare in fall; TC;LM;U Short-tailed Hawk - very very rare spring early summer; TC;SR;LM Swainson's Hawk - uncommon migrant; TC;UP Zone-tailed Hawk - uncommon spring to fall, rare in winter; TC;UP;U;LM;N Red-tailed Hawk - uncommon resident (fuertesi), other types in winter; TC;UP;U;N a) Harlan's Hawk - accidental in winter; U; ph. Ferruginous Hawk - accidental in winter & spring; SR;LM Golden Eagle - very rare in winter; TC;LM Crested Caracara - uncommon resident; TC;U;LC;N American Kestrel - common to uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP;U;LC;N? Merlin - rare mostly in winter; TC;UP;LM Aplomado Falcon - accidental twice in fall; SR Sept.'06 Peregrine Falcon - rare migrant; TC;U Prairie Falcon - accidental in spring; SR Wild Turkey - common resident, often hard to find, but easy to see; TC;U;N Northern Bobwhite - uncommon resident (natives or releasees?); TC;LC;N * Quail sps. - one sighting of a pair of probable Montezuma Quail at SR Purple Gallinule - accidental at LM American Coot - occasional migrant; UP;LC Sandhill Crane - occasional migrant late fall or early spring; TC;UP;U American Golden-Plover - accidental spring as calling noct. migrant; SR Killdeer - uncommon spring to fall; rarer in winter; U;UP;LC;N Greater Yellowlegs - occasional mostly spring migrant; LC Lesser Yellowlegs - occasional mostly spring migrant; LC Solitary Sandpiper - occasional mostly spring migrant; LC;U;BCP Willet - accidental flock of 32 on Hwy 187 4/25/08 Bandera Co. Spotted Sandpiper - occasional migrant; UP;LC;BCP Upland Sandpiper - uncommon fall migrant, heard after dark & at dawn; TC;LM;U Long-billed Curlew - accidental spring (calling nocturnal migrant) & fall;SR Marbled Godwit - accidental - calling nocturnal migrant Aug. 2009; SR Baird's Sandpiper - occasional spring migrant; LC Pectoral Sandpiper - occasional spring migrant; U;LC Wilson's (Common) Snipe - uncommon migrant; UP;LC;BCP American Woodcock - accidental in winter (12/27/05 at UP-ph.) Wilson's Phalarope - accidental fall migrant; U (SR) Jaeger sps. - accidental fall migrant: U (SR) (Long-tail or Parasitic) Laughing Gull - accidental 4/20/06 over SR eastbound on outflow Franklin's Gull - rare spring migrant; U(SR);LM I - Rock (Feral) Pigeon - uncommon resident; TC;UP;U;N I - Eurasian Collared-Dove - uncommon resident; TC;UP;U;N White-winged Dove - common spring to fall, rare in winter; TC;UP;U;N Mourning Dove - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Inca Dove - uncommon resident; TC;UP;U;LM;N Common Ground-Dove - uncommon resident; TC;U;N Ruddy Ground-Dove - accidental; TC White-tipped Dove - accidental once each in summer and winter; SR (ph.) Black-billed Cuckoo - accidental in fall; SR;ca.TC;LM (not on LM list) Yellow-billed Cuckoo - uncommon spring and summer; TC;UP;LM Greater Roadrunner - uncommon resident; TC;UP;U;N Groove-billed Ani - accidental; LM Barn Owl - uncommon to occasional and probably resident; TC;U Eastern Screech-Owl - uncommon resident; TC;U;N Great Horned Owl - uncommon resident; TC;N Barred Owl - uncommon to occasional local resident; TC;UP;N Long-eared Owl - accidental; TC Lesser Nighthawk - uncommon spring to fall; TC;U:N Common Nighthawk - common spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Common Poorwill - common spring to fall, rare in winter; TC;U;N Chuck-wills-widow - common early April to late July; TC;U;N Whip-poor-will - accidental at LM White-collared Swift - accidental in May at SR Chimney Swift - common spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Green Violetear - accidental in summer; LM; SR;heard at TC Broad-billed Hummingbird - accidental: Dan Sherick ph. at LM April 09 White-eared Hummingbird - accidental July 07 SR; ph. Blue-throated Hummingbird - accidental; LM Lucifer Hummingbird - accidental in fall; TC Ruby-throated Hummingbird - uncommon spring, common fall; TC;UP;U Black-chinned Hummingbird - common spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Anna's Hummingbird - accidental in late fall '05; 2 at SR - ph. Costa's Hummingbird - accidental in March; SR Calliope Hummingbird - rare in fall; TC;U;SR;ph. Broad-tailed Hummingbird - rare mostly in fall; TC;U;SR;ph. Rufous Hummingbird - rare in fall; TC;U;SR; ph. Allen's Hummingbird - accidental; TC;SR; ph. Ringed Kingfisher - very rare in fall and winter; SR;UP Belted Kingfisher - uncommon fall to spring; UP;LC;BCP Green Kingfisher - uncommon resident; UP;LC;LM;N Lewis's Woodpecker - accidental in winter; U Red-headed Woodpecker - accidental winter to spring (at Roy Heideman's) Golden-fronted Woodpecker - uncommon resident; TC;UP;U:N Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP;LM Red-naped Sapsucker - rare fall to early spring; UP;LM; ph. Ladder-backed Woodpecker - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Downy Woodpecker - very rare in winter (1 in 6 years); UP Northern Flicker - uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP a) "Red-shafted" occasional - TC;UP b) "Yellow-shafted" uncommon - TC;UP (many hybrids: underwing color not sufficient for ID) Olive-sided Flycatcher - occasional spring and fall migrant; TC;UP;SR Western Wood-Pewee - accidental in spring; LM;UP Eastern Wood-Pewee - common spring to late summer; TC;UP;LM;N Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - rare in spring, very rare in fall; TC;UP;UR Acadian Flycatcher - uncommon late April to August; UP;LM;N Alder Flyc. - very rare in spring, accidental in fall; TC;UP Willow Flycatcher - uncommon in spring, occasional in fall ; TC;UP;LM Least Flycatcher - uncommon in spring, occasional in fall; TC;UP;LM Hammond's Flycatcher - accidental in winter (12/25/05+ Bandera Co. - ph.) Gray Flycatcher - accidental in fall; TC Dusky Flycatcher - accidental in fall; U Black Phoebe - uncommon resident; UP;LM Eastern Phoebe - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Say's Phoebe - uncommon to rare fall to winter; LM;U;UP;BCP Vermilion Flycatcher - uncommon spring to fall, rare in winter; TC;UP;LC;N Ash-throated Flycatcher - common early March to early August; TC;UP;LM;N Great Crested Flycatcher - uncommon spring to late summer; TC;UP Brown-crested Flycatcher - rare and local late spring to early summer; UP;N Couch's Kingbird - rare nearly year-round; UP; prob.TC;BCP Cassin's Kingbird - accidental at LM May 07; ph. Western Kingbird - uncommon to common spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Eastern Kingbird - uncommon spring migrant; TC;UP;LM;U Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - common spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Great Kiskadee - 2 undocumented sight reports probably valid records;U Loggerhead Shrike - uncommon fall to spring; TC;U White-eyed Vireo - common spring to fall; very few in winter; TC;UP;U;N Bell's Vireo - uncommon spring to fall; TC;UP;U;N Black-capped Vireo - uncommon (hard to see) late spring to late summer; LM;N Gray Vireo - accidental June; SR Yellow-throated Vireo - uncommon spring to summer; TC;UP;LM;N Philadelphia Vireo - very rare in spring; UP;U;LM Plumbeous Vireo - accidental - one reported near town fall '06 Blue-headed Vireo - uncommon spring or fall; very rare in winter; TC;UP Hutton's Vireo - rare resident; UP;TC;U;LM(not on list though);SR Warbling Vireo - occasional spring migrant; TC;UP;LM (Not on LM list) Philadelphia Vireo - very rare in spring; UP;U;LM Red-eyed Vireo - uncommon spring to late summer; TC;UP;LM;N Blue Jay - occasional local resident; UP;U;N;SR Green Jay - accidental, four Dec. 08 - Jan. 09 (ph.); U Western Scrub-Jay - common resident; TC;U;LM;N Chihuahuan Raven - sometime resident in flatlands; TC;UP;U;N Common Raven - increasing resident in canyons/near cliffs; TC;UP;LM;N Purple Martin - common early spring to late summer; TC;UP;U;N Gray-breasted Martin - accidental; (SR 7/21/05); Sept'06 (after Lane); 10/15/07 Tree Swallow - very rare fall migrant; UP No. Rough-winged Swallow - uncommon spring to late summer; TC;UP;LC;N Bank Swallow - rare mostly spring migrant; UP Cliff Swallow - common spring to late summer; TC;UP;N Cave Swallow - locally common spring to late summer; TC;UP;N Barn Swallow - common spring to late summer; TC;UP;U;N Carolina Chickadee - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Black-crested Titmouse - very common resident; TC;UP;U;N Verdin - rare in winter; U; Bushtit - uncommon resident; TC;LM;N * Black-eared morph very rare Red-breasted Nuthatch - very rare in winter; U;LM White-breasted Nuthatch - accidental; LM Brown Creeper - rare migrant Nov.-Feb.; UP;LM Cactus Wren - very rare and very local; LM;N Rock Wren - very rare, very local; LM; Canyon Wren - common in canyons/cliffs; LM;N Carolina Wren - common resident; TC;UP;U;LM;N Bewick's Wren - common resident; TC;LM;U;N House Wren - uncommon migrant; TC;UP Winter Wren - (Eastern) rare in winter; UP;LM * one western "race" record, calling at UP 2 weeks Sedge Wren - accidental 5/14/08 ; UP Marsh Wren - very rare in spring ; LM;SR;UP Golden-crowned Kinglet - uncommon fall to spring; TC;LM Ruby-crowned Kinglet - common fall to spring; TC;UP;U Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - common spring to fall; TC;UP;U Eastern Bluebird - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Western Bluebird - accidental in winter; SR Mountain Bluebird - accidental in winter; SR;U;LM Townsend's Solitaire - accidental in winter; LM Gray-cheeked Thrush - accidental in spring; UP Swainson's Thrush - rare migrant; TC;UP;LM Hermit Thrush - common fall to spring; TC;UP;LM Clay-colored Thrush - accidental 5/11/08; UP American Robin - usually common fall to spring; rare in summer;N?;TC;UP; Varied Thrush - accidental winter (heard at SR) Gray Catbird - uncommon spring and rare fall migrant; TC;UP;LM Northern Mockingbird - common spring to fall, uncommon in winter; TC;UP;N Brown Thrasher - very rare to accidental in winter; UP Long-billed Thrasher - uncommon to occasional resident; TC;LM;N? Curve-billed Thrasher - rare to very rare resident; local; UP;U Sage Thrasher - rare late fall and winter; U; SR I - European Starling - uncommon spring to fall; UP;U;N American Pipit - occasional migrant; UP;TC;SLC;BCP Sprague's Pipit - very rare fall migrant; TC Bohemian Waxwing - accidental in winter; TC Cedar Waxwing - common to uncommon winter to spring; TC;UP WARBLERS: 38 species Blue-winged Warbler - accidental in spring; LM Golden-winged Warbler - accidental in spring; LM Tennessee Warbler - occasional to rare in spring, accidental in fall; UP;U Orange-crowned Warbler - uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP Nashville Warbler - common spring and uncommon fall migant; TC;UP Northern Parula - rare in spring; UP Tropical Parula - accidental spring and winter; UP;LM;UR; Yellow Warbler - common spring and uncommon fall migrant; TC;UP Chestnut-sided Warbler - rare spring migrant; U;LM Magnolia Warbler - rare spring migrant; UP;U Yellow-rumped Warbler - common fall to spring; TC;UP a) "Myrtle" - TC;UP b) "Audubon's" - TC;UP Black-throated Gray Warbler - accidental fall and spring; TC;UP Golden-cheeked Warbler - common but local March to early Aug.; TC;LM;U;N Black-throated Green Warbler - uncommon spring and rare fall migrant; TC;UP Townsend's Warbler - accidental in fall; LM Blackburnian Warbler - rare spring migrant; TC;UP;U;LM Yellow-throated Warbler - uncommon spring to summer, very rare fall; TC;UP;N Pine Warbler - rare in late fall; TC;UP;SR Palm Warbler - accidental early spring; UP Blackpoll - accidental in spring; LM Cerulean Warbler - accidental in spring; LM Black-and-white Warbler - common spring to late summer; TC;UP;LM;N American Redstart - rare spring migrant; very rare in fall; TC;UP Prothonotary Warbler - accidental in spring; U;LM Worm-eating Warbler - accidental in spring; LM Ovenbird - very rare in spring; UP;LM Northern Waterthrush - very rare in spring and fall; UP;LM Louisiana Waterthrush - local along creeks at LM late March-Aug+; N Kentucky Warbler - accidental in spring and fall; TC;LM;UP ph. Connecticut Warbler - accidental in May at UP Mourning Warbler - rare in spring and fall; UP;LM;U;UR;SR MacGillivray's Warbler - rare but regular in spring; UP;LM Oporornis sps. - TC Common Yellowthroat - occasional migrant; TC;UP Hooded Warbler - accidental in fall; TC; Wilson's Warbler - Occasional migrant; TC;UP;LM Canada Warbler - very rare in spring; accidental in fall; UP;LM Painted Redstart - accidental; LM Rufous-capped Warbler - very rare - any season possible; TC;LM;Concan Yellow-breasted Chat - uncommon spring and summer locally; TC;UP;U (7 are accidental vagrant records from LM only) Hepatic Tanager - accidental 6/86 LM ph. (not on list); U; Summer Tanager - common spring to fall; TC;UP;N Scarlet Tanager - accidental April 09 near UR; Western Tanager - accidental spring and fall; SR;U;LM;UP Olive Sparrow - resident locally at Clayton Grade; accid.at UP;N Spotted Towhee - uncommon fall to spring; TC;SR;LM;U Canyon Towhee - uncommon resident; TC;SR;U;N Cassin's Sparrow - rare and local spring to summer; UP;LM Rufous-crowned Sparrow - common (but hard to see) resident; LM;N Chipping Sparrow - common fall to spring, few locally in summer; TC;UP Clay-colored Sparrow - uncommon migrant; TC;UP Brewer's Sparrow - accidental in spring; UP;SR Field Sparrow - uncommon resident; TC;LM;N Vesper Sparrow - common fall to spring; TC;U;UP Lark Sparrow - common spring to fall, fewer in winter; TC;Y;U;N;UP Black-throated Sparrow - rare to very rare; LM;ca.U Lark Bunting - occasional to rare migrant; U;LM Savannah Sparrow - common fall to spring; TC;UP;U Grasshopper Sparrow - rarely seen mostly in spring; TC;U;UP Fox Sparrow - very rare in winter; SR Song Sparrow - occasional to rare fall to spring; TC;UP;LC Lincoln's Sparrow - common migrant, uncommon in winter, TC;UP Swamp Sparrow - rare in winter; UP;UR White-throated Sparrow - occasional to rare in winter; TC;UP Harris's Sparrow - accidental in winter; U White-crowned Sparrow - uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP Dark-eyed Junco - uncommon locally fall to spring; TC;U a) "Slate-colored" - uncommon: TC;U b)"Oregon" - very rare to accidental; TC c)"Pink-sided" - accidental; U Smith's Longspur - accidental; U (SR-ph.9/06/05) Chestnut-collared Longspur - accidental in fall: calling flyovers; U;LM;SR Northern Cardinal - common resident; TC;UP;U;N Pyrrhuloxia - occasional fall to winter; U;N Rose-breasted Grosbeak - rare mostly spring migrant; TC;U;UP(ph.) Black-headed Grosbeak - rare mostly spring migrant; TC;LM;SR Blue Grosbeak - uncommon spring to fall; TC;UP;N Lazuli Bunting - rare spring migrant; accid. in fall; TC;U;LM Indigo Bunting - uncommon spring to fall; TC;UP;N Varied Bunting - rare spring and summer, accid. in fall;UP;LM;SR Painted Bunting - common late April to August; TC;UP;N Dickcissel - common to rare spring to fall; TC;UP;LM;N Red-winged Blackbird - uncommon fall & spring, rare in winter; TC;UP;N Eastern Meadowlark - uncommon fall to spring; rare in summer;N?;U;UP Western Meadowlark - common fall to spring; U:UP Meadowlark sps. - TC;SR (fly-overs) Yellow-headed Blackbird - rare in spring; U;SR;UP Rusty Blackbird - very rare in winter; UP Brewer's Blackbird - common to uncommon fall to spring; TC;UP; Common Grackle - uncommon spring & fall; few breed locally; TC;UP;N Great-tailed Grackle - uncommon to occasional in fall mostly; TC;UP;N Bronzed Cowbird - uncommon spring to summer; rare in fall; TC;UP;N Brown-headed Cowbird - common spring to fall; TC;UP;N Orchard Oriole - uncommon migrant, some still nest (decreasing); UP;TC;U;N Hooded Oriole - rare in spring, summer and fall; TC;U;SR;N;UP Audubon's Oriole - few resident at SR vic.; also at TC;LM;UP;N Baltimore Oriole - uncommon migrant; TC;UP;LM Bullock's Oriole - occasional migrant; TC;UP Scott's Oriole - common March to August; UP;TC;U;LM;N Purple Finch - now very rare in winter, formerly regular; TC;LM Cassin's Finch - accidental Nov. 07 (ph.); SR House Finch - common resident; TC;UP;N Red Crossbill - accidental; LM Pine Siskin - uncommon fall and winter; TC;UP;LM Lesser (Black-backed) Goldfinch - common spring to fall; TC;UP;N American Goldfinch - uncommon to common mid-late Nov to April; TC;UP I - House Sparrow - common in town or around barns; TC;UP;N; |
If you see something in the area that is rare or even
not on the list, please please let us know! :):)
A link to our e-mail is below.
I saw about 245 species of birds in the Sabinal River Valley,
in the 19 months from Nov. 03 to May 05. 98% of it within
5 miles of Utopia. (Update: 11/05 now 255 in SRV in two years)
Adding the 25 Lost Maples accidentals I haven't seen in the
SRV yet, that equals a total list of over 280 species from the SRV!
Significantly more than the 215 or so on the Lost Maples list,
which has had "tons" of coverage by comparison, over the last 25 years.
A couple "tanks" (farm or flood ponds) with water make the biggest
difference in the lists - waterbirds. Ducks, herons and egrets,
sandpipers, etc. (especially at the "South Little Creek ponds"
(historic buffalo wallows - WHEN they have water), are better represented
in the valley, than in the canyons at Lost Maples SNA, of course!
The TC list (our first yard here) finished at 170 or so
from within about an acre or so of 22, for 16 months.
I left the original notes below, but added updates to show growth.
WAS: The UP list (Utopia Pk.) is at about 155 for 18 months.
NOW: The UP list (Utopia Pk.) is at about 185 for 44 months.
Dec. 2008 update: Long-billed Thrasher was #200 at UP for me!
WAS: The SR (current yard) list is 150+ for the first Year.
NOW: The SR (current yard) list is 203+ for 27 months from one spot.
UPDATE Sept. 09 a nocturnal calling migrant Marbled Godwit was #300
for the Sabinal River Valley for me personally. 300 species is
not bad for little ol' Utopia and vicinity.
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