Josey Ranch – November 2022
/Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was the birding highpoint of my last road trip to Texas, but the big ponds at Josey Ranch are too convenient to not visit every time I am in Carrollton. I was rewarded with even more wintering birds than I had seen in October.
American Coots. There were a few last month…more were on the water in November.
Northern Shovelers had arrived. There were actively feeding. They are easy to ID with their ‘shoveler’ bill.
Lesser Scaups were also new in November. There markings and bill color are distinctive – nothing drab about the birds even in winter.
American Wigeon would be prettier on a sunny day (with the iridescent green swipe on their heads)…but I wanted to document their presence at Josey Ranch even if the day was cloudy.
Ruddy Ducks were around last month. There didn’t seem to be as many this time. I had thought they were just migrating through but maybe some of them stay around.
Mallards are year-round residents. I photographed three birds….feeding in the shallows (2 males and a female). I watched for several minutes; at no time were all three heads visible!
