The San Antonio River, Eagleland Reach, Winter's Early Arrival

Today's photos:

A strong cold front blew in during the weekend bringing winter to South Texas a few weeks earlier than usual. The weather the past couple of days and forecast for the next several is more typical of the end of December, not the beginning of this month. Needless to say, it is cold with a biting north wind. So, in those terms, it was not a very pleasant walk.

As with Friday's walk, however, the photographic opportunity made up for the physical discomfort. The river was just above its normal bank level and flowing swiftly from the previous night's rain. Field sparrows, lesser goldfinches, mallards and more were active. The tree and shrub planting that I described in the Tuesday, November 29 post is limited to the section of river from Lone Star Blvd to just south of the confluence with San Pedro Creek, so the vegetation in the Eagleland Reach is uncut with much of it going to seed.

The above photo's more than adequately communicate the experience of the walk, but I will post photos and the story that were the ultimate reward tomorrow and Thursday. Mother Nature truly rewards those who pay attention.