New Location for September Birding Hike

   Our monthly birding hike traveled to a new and rewarding location this month.  Stephen Ramirez met us at Five Mile Dam on the Blanco River early on the first Saturday of September. The Hays County park is located on Stagecoach Road north of San Marcos.

Looking at a Green Heron across the bank.

   Whenever there is water there are birds and this was certainly true as we spied a number of species not normally seen on previous hikes. The Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper and Loggerhead Shrike were all welcome additions.
    Although we are currently in a drought the Blanco River had sufficient water to offer respite for most of the birds we saw. The complete listing, provided again by Colton Robbins, lists 29 species. The short hike along the river lasted less than 90 minutes.
   The group of early morning risers stays pretty constant at around an even dozen with a handful of regulars and another group of avid birders that participate on an intermittent basis. The hikes are open to all levels of interest and Stephen is certainly knowledgeable enough to answer most birding questions. Contact him at Stephen@Birdsiview.org to be included in next month's hike.  --LJ

Five Mile Dam, Blanco River September 6, 2014

Great Blue Heron                       4

Green Heron                                1

Red-tailed Hawk                         1

Killdeer                                         8

Spotted Sandpiper                       1

Inca Dove                                      6

White-winged Dove                    101

Mourning Dove                           8

Golden-fronted Woodpecker    1

Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1

Eastern Phoebe                           3

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher           1

Loggerhead Shrike                     2

White-eyed Vireo                        1

American Crow                           1

Barn Swallow                               2

Swallow sp.                                   20

Black-crested Titmouse             2

Canyon Wren                               1

Carolina Wren                             1

Bewick’s Wren                             1

Northern Mockingbird              35

Yellow Warbler                           4

Lark Sparrow                               2

Northern Cardinal                      3

Painted Bunting                          1

Great-tailed Grackle                   3

Brown-headed Cowbird             2