K B Srinivas: Lake Tawakoni and White Rock Lake

Winter has started and with it we see lot of ducks coming in as part of their winter migration. There are few lake around Dallas which I planned on visiting before I head back to India. One was Lake Hagerman which I visited few's back and another was Lake Tawakoni which does seem to boast good number of winter fowl and infact best known for warbler migration during spring. There are atleast 3 more lakes which I would like to visit before heading back.

Directions and birding spots around the lake were shared in audobon forums. Thanks to Betsy and Richard Kinney for providing detailed directions to each birding spot around the lake.

Reached the park around 6:30AM. There is a 5$ entrance fee into the state park. The trees around the parking area itself is very productive birding spot. Did some birding around the parking area before heading walked through the Nature Trail area. Got to see good number of birds around the area. There were lot of American Pipits and lot of Sparrows feeding actively. On the lake there were few ring billed gulls along few Forster's Terns. There were few Egrets, Pied Billed Grebes and few Coots. Could not see any other ducks in the lake. While walking through the trail saw some of the Wood Ducks. Saw some Double Crested Cormorants flying over. And after a while saw couple of Hooded Merganasers flying over the lake. Also saw a Belted kingfisher flying over the lake.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

American Pippit

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Forster's Terns

Belted Kingfisher

Ring-billed Gull

Killdeer

Hooded Merganser

Northern Mockingbird

Wood duck

Field Sparrow

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Pied-billed Grebe

Pine Warbler

After this I headed to see sparrows in the fields close to the park. In one of the roads 3808 got to see lot of sparrows and the best was seeing lot Meadowlarks and hearing them sing. It was beautiful. Also saw couple of Red-Tailed Hawks flying over the fields probably looks for breakfast. There was one American Kestrel doing some rounds too.

White-Crowned sparrow

Red-Tailed Hawk

After this took road 3708 and on this road I saw a Northern Harrier flying over the fields. After this headed towards Holiday Marina. And here all I saw was a lone Spotted sandpiper, lot of Coots, Ring Billed Gulls and Forster Terns. Also saw a lone Franklins Gull among lot of Ring Billed Gulls and Terns.

After this headed towards the over-spill or the dam area to see if I can spot any other winter fowls. On the way saw lot of American Kestrels and couple of Hawks along the way. Near the dam I only saw few coots, again a lone pied billed grebe and near the woods saw some Woodpeckers but nothing much. Probably I should have gone much earlier for better sightings.

On the way back saw a lone Crested Caracara in the fields and strangely did see couple of Scissor-tailed flycatchers. I thought they would have moved south by this time of the year.

Franklin's gull among Forster's terns

Spotted sandpiper

Loggerhead Shrike

Eurasian Collared Dove

Crested Caracara

On the way back thought of doing a quick visit to my favorite lake here, White Rock Lake. Near the sunset bay I saw there were lots of coots, along with our regular Geese. There were lot of Cormorants along with few Gulls doing rounds.At a distance did see few Ruddy rucks. And Horned Grebe decided to give us a Visit. What a beautiful Grebe, had seen this bird earlier in Hagerman but it was way too far. Here this one was a little adventurous and was not worried to get little close. Also some pelicans decided to visit us but they left soon because of some disturbance from few folks who tired fishing.

American White Pelican

Horned Grebe

Ruddy ducks

After this headed towards the Spill-way and near the bridgeI saw lot of Pelicans busy feeding. Had see JRcomptons photos of these same birds fishing and thought I will give it a try and got lucky to get this photo where we can see these small fishes in their mouth. Also saw them bullying the Cormorants to give up their catch so many times. Also present were lot of egrets waiting to fish. Also a long great blue heron came and joined these Egrets. And near the spill-way saw lot few Gadwalls. My first sighting of these beautiful ducks. Hope to see many more before the winter ends.