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Pearsall Park

pearsall-park-field.jpeg

The trail that leads from the dog park entrance of the park down to the river walking path.

Description

Pearsall Park is a 505-acre park that opened in 2016 on the South side of San Antonio, Texas. The park offers 5km of walking/running paths.

For birding, I start at the parking lot next to the dog park and take the trail down the hill to the river. This trail takes you through large fields where you’ll see Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Western Meadowlarks, and many other birds.

Flanking the trail is a power line that American Kestrels and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers like to perch on to watch for prey.

Address

4838 Old Pearsall Rd

San Antonio, TX 78242

Personal stats

First observation

📆 12/01/2013
📍 Los Angeles, California

Captured media details


 Male
 Female
 Unknown
📸 ✔️ ✔️
🎙️

 

Experiences & anecdotes

12/16/202213/22  - WhenThis is one of my favorite and most-frequented birding spots in San Antonio, partially because of proximity but also because it’s a great place to see a wide variety of birds. One of my most memorable experiences at this park was on October 16, 2021, when I livedarrived to find around 75 Western Meadowlarks flying all over the fields. They were on the ground, flying around in California,groups Ion onlyboth sawsides thisof birdthe occasionally.trail, Whileand Idoing waslots inof Huntingtonsinging Beach,and I remember a Kestrel fluttering around a park field.calling. It was perchingmy onfirst varioustime powerseeing polesso andmany wouldof flutterthese birds at once. The experience made for a great TikTok video that I created.

Upon further reading when I arrived home, I learned that Western Meadowlarks are found in thelarger airgroups andmore zipoften around.than Itheir stalkedEastern itcounterparts. aroundI’m honestly not able to tell the fielddifference watchingbetween itthe withtwo mybirds binoculars.

visually,

Nowadays,but hereMerlin inhelped Texas,me we seeidentify them allvia the time.noises I almost always spot them on power lines at Pearsall Park. Most aren’t skittish and will let me walk underneath them whilethat they stay perched on the lines.made.

Captured media

Photographs

american-kestrel-hovering.jpeg
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AnThe Americanwalking Kestrelpath hoveringthat infollows mid-airthe lookingriver. Parking is located at one end for aeasy snackaccess. | 10/16/202108/2/21


american-kestrel-2.jpeg
a2ab0e92-a862-4606-a4d6-14043880f19e.jpeg

A poofed-nice sunset on the trail leading back up Kestrelthe tryinghill to staythe warmdog park entrance.  | 10/16/202108/2/21


american-kestrel-3.jpeg63214430-bb01-4ed6-8309-3b3bcfb96f56.jpeg

The Americanbirders Kestrelwho looksattended offmy intofirst thebird distancewalk at Pearsall Park. | 10/02/202105/21/22

barred-owl-2.jpeg

Barred Owl we found on the first bird walk I led. 05/21/22

scissor-tailed-flycatcher3.jpeg

A great example of the varying tail lengths due to age. | 05/01/22

 

Audio recordings

  • ComingML380069681- soon0:10
    • This is the song of the adorable Killdeer. It’s a high-pitched, unique song that you often hear coming from the skies as the Killdeer fly above. 
  • ML380072711- 0:10
    • This recording is of the calls of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Portions of the clip are muted to strip out the errant noises.
  • ML361453361 - 0:50
    • A clear recording of the bouncy Carolina Wren call.
  • ML359538311 - 0:12
    • Listen to the complex song of the Bewick’s Wren.

From my blogs

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