Birding Eldorado Water Treatment Ponds

As you know, Ann and I recently took a five day trip to the Big Bend area.  Upon returning, we were barely unpacked, when our friends Sid and Suzanne Johnson called from Eldorado.  They had been birding the water treatment ponds a few days before and had seen a Black Scoter, Least Grebe, Common Golden-eye, and a Sora.  Holey Moley, Batman!!  All four of those are relatively rare to these parts.  That was Tuesday morning.  We had errands and chores to do so we were unable to go immediately, even though we were pretty excited!

So, keeping our eyes and fingers crossed that the birds would stay longer, we finally got away Wednesday morning.  Eldorado is only about 40 miles away from San Angelo, and easy 30 minute trip. 🙂

We met up with the Johnsons and headed to the ponds.  There were ducks of all descriptions there.  The water was fairly calm and it made for somewhat easier photography.  I say somewhat easy, because the ducks are always on the other side of the pond, but nevertheless, with my long lens I was able to come up with some images.  Alas, we found only two of the four fore-mentioned species, the Black Scoter and the Least Grebe.  Oh well, two out of four isn’t bad.

Here are those images plus a few others that I managed to photograph.

Least Grebe

Black Scoter

Lesser Scaup

American Pippit

Wilson’s Snipe

Marsh Wren

Along with those birds we saw Buffleheads, Redheads, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Pintails, Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teals, Northern Shovelers, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a Great Blue Heron.  I think that about covers it.

Anyway, it was much fun!  I hope to get back down there soon and look for those that we missed. 🙂