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Selected Bird Reports, November 2005
Documentation for highlighted birds has been reviewed and the record accepted by the San Antonio Bird Records Committee.

Geese are rare any time in Bexar County, so flocks of reported Canada Geese and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose over Mitchell Lake were a thrill (24th, CMc). Truly wild Mallards are also rare in Bexar County, but Mallards at Mitchell Lake (8th-13th, HR, m.o.) were probably wild birds. The only Cinnamon Teal reported for the fall was found at Mitchell Lake (8th, HR). Lesser Scaup (8th, SC) became common there as the month progressed. Redhead and Canvasback were seen intermittently for most of the month (m.o.). Hooded Mergansers were first reported on the 10th (GS) and remained more or less visible throughout the month.

Wild Turkey are rarely reported in the county, but 8 were reported (13th, SH) in northern Bexar County. Least Grebe continued throughout the month at Mitchell Lake, but 7 with a chick at recently re-filled Live Oak City Park Lake (23rd, GT) suggest a late nesting. The Brown Pelican at Mitchell Lake, originally reported in late October, stayed throughout the month (m.o.). An American Bittern photographed at Mitchell Lake (5th, RH) was seen regularly until the 8th (m.o.) and last seen on the 13th (CMc). Roseate Spoonbills and White Ibis continued at Mitchell Lake throughout the month (m.o.). Zone-tailed Hawks were reported 3 times around the area; once at Cibolo Nature Center in Kendall County (25th, BB) and two reports on the 27th, at Blue Wing Road (BW) and Mitchell Lake (GS) A rare immature White-Tailed Hawk was seen ( 21st, MR) on Loop 410 near Espada Road.

Rails are usually hard to see, so finding Virginia Rail and Sora at Calaveras Lake (5th, MC) is noteworthy. Shorebirds continued to find Mitchell Lake attractive, after a good fall season. Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers continued all month. Stilt Sandpipers and Wilson’s Phalaropes were seen intermittently throughout the month (m.o.). Three Dunlin were found there (16th, BD) and continued at least until the 19th. Mountain Plovers were reported (29th, BD) along Mechlar Road. A Solitary Sandpiper was seen along the San Antonio River at Roosevelt (13th, BW). A lone Long-billed Curlew flew over Mitchell Lake (6th, AWG).

A Burrowing Owl (5th, RE) along Mechlar Road continued throughout the month. Common Nighthawks often stay into October, but one seen on the 20th along Perrin Creek (MG) seems late. Rufous Hummingbirds coming to feeders (m.o.) are expected, but an Anna’s Hummingbird in Comal County (6th through at least 21st, LL) and a female Calliope at Fall’s City (20th, WS) are rare. Say’s Phoebe were widely reported throughout the county throughout the month (m.o.). A Hutton’s Vireo was reported from Friedrich Park (30th, HR). Green Jays continue to approach Bexar County, with reports in November from south of Hondo (RL), Uvalde (MH) and Pleasanton (MP). A Common Raven was reported (8th, SH) from Bulverde Road. Horned Larks were reported (29th, BD) along Mechlar Road. Winter Wren were reported in a backyard (10th, RG) and along the Medina River (28th, BD). This seems to be an irruption year for Golden-crowned Kinglets, as they were reported from virtually every wooded location in the county (m.o.). A Sage Thrasher was reported in Medina County (22nd, JMc). Sprague’s Pipits were reported along Mechlar Road (5th, RE) (21st, MR).

Warbler migration was winding down, with scattered reports of Nashville Warbler (13th, BW; 20th DB), and Black-throated Green Warbler (12-13th, m.o.). The first Pine Warblers were reported on the 12th at Avenue A (BD), and subsequently on the 20th at Judson Nature Trails (KB, DB). Sparrows continued to slowly increase throughout the month. A Fox Sparrow was photographed in a backyard (10th LAMc). Several LeConte’s Sparrows were found in Guadalupe County during the SAAS Field trip to the Schaezler Ranch on the 20th. Lark Buntings were reported sporadically from Mechlar Road throughout the month (m.o.) after being first found on the 9th (DE). A Lapland Longspur (28th BW) and McCown’s Longspurs (29th, BD) were reported along Mechlar Road. Pine Siskins are plentiful north and west (BD, LL, JMc), but have yet to be reported from Bexar County.

OBSERVERS: Dick Bartels (DB), Keith Bartels (KB), Brandon Best (BB), Sheridan Coffey (SC), Bill and Marian Collins (BMC), Mike Creese (MC), Bob Doe (BD), Rowe Elliott (RE), Dodge Engleman (DE), Andy and Wendy Garcia (AWG), Mariann Golden (MG), Barbara and John Gore (BJG), Richard Grant (RG), Curt Harwerth (CH), ), Steve Hawkins (SH), Maury Heiman, (MH), Mitch Heindel (MiH), Ron Hillstromb (RH), Linda Koehler (LK), Leslie Linehan (LL), Curt McCamy (CMc), Jan McClintock (JMc), Linda and Alex McMahan (LAMc), Bob Norris (BN), Robin Nowak (RN), Mike Paul (MP), Martin Reid (MR), Roy Reinarz (RR), Helen Rejzek (HR), Susan Schaezler (SS ), Georgina Schwartz (GS), Willie Sekula (WS), Ginger Travis (GT), Ricy Walker (RW), Brad Weir (BW)

The San Antonio Bird Records Committee has reviewed and accepted as records:
Dunlin, Mitchell Lake, 16-19 Nov 2005
Fox Sparrow, Shavano Park, 10 Nov 2005
Green Jay, 5 Miles south of Hondo, 13 Nov 2005
Lark Bunting, Mechlar Road, 9-29 Nov 2005
Zone-tailed Hawk, Mitchell Lake, 27 Nov 2005

Reports are compiled by Georgina Schwartz and written up by Bob Doe. All reports go to the Bird Records Committee, even if they don’t appear here. Thanks for your submissions! Send your reports to <birdreports@saaudubon.org> or Bob Doe, 748 Copper Rim, Spring Branch, TX 78070. Report your birds using the online form at <www.saaudubon.org/birdreportform.html>, call them to the club’s tape at 308-6788, or paper forms can be had at any SAAS meeting or by mail from the club address.

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