Josey Ranch Birds
/The lake at Josey Ranch in Carrollton, Texas is my favorite place to look for water birds. There were not very many this time…only a few of the winter birds have arrived. The two resident swans were still there, and they were both on the water preening.
A Great Egret was in the shallows near the cattail bed. I didn’t see it get any fish was it was strutting around
And flying short distances to continue searching. By the time I left, it was standing almost hidden by the cattails…looking out toward the lake.
There were mallard pairs – probably year-round residents.
The American Coots were the most numerous birds. They were interacting with each other…seemingly having spats…taking off running across the water to separate themselves.
There were a few Ruddy Ducks…with their upright tails.
The first Northern Shovellers had arrived. One male looked scruffy (and angry) to me!
As the season progresses, there will be bore Ruddy Ducks and Northern Shovellers…Scaups will also appear. In the previous winters, there always seem to be a few Bufflehead as well. I saw a cormorant in the air but didn’t see any in the lake this time.
