Golden-cheeked Warblers Are Back

This is the first Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) of the year at Pedernales Falls State Park. I wanted to check-in on all the year-round resident birds to catch a few early breeders like the woodpeckers, and look for early arrivals of some migrants.

Overcast skies made for comfortable travels via mountain bike and hiking up and down the rocky slopes adjacent to the Pedernales River. Temperatures reached 80 degrees while I was in the park.

The highlight of the day is seeing the return of Golden-cheeked Warblers, 15 males singing along Wolf Mountain Trail as well as at most of my survey points.

I heard a Greater Roadrunner across the river from Tobacco Creek. Its call is similar to a cooing dove. American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins are hanging out in loose flocks eating the newly emerging buds of the trees along the river. The Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are on territory and in pairs.

At Hackenberg Creek there was a beautiful pair of Blue-winged Teal preening on a rock in the river.
One final note of the day, the Buckeye are beginning to bloom. Soon the hummingbirds will follow. Due to the drought the buckeye may not have as many flowers as last year. They look stressed as well as other trees including the Ash Juniper.