Published: October 11, 2008 09:56 am      

October features turning leaves and foaming beer

Birding with Jerry Hall

Let’s hear it for October, a marvelous month for turning leaves, soaring footballs, foaming beer and fascinating birds.

You’ll find the leaves, a colorful collection of reds, greens, yellows and browns, at Lost Maples State Natural Area, just north of Vanderpool. It covers over 2,000 acres and features scenic trails winding along the banks of the sparkling Sabinal River.

Bigtooth maples, sycamores, red oaks and lacy oaks all contribute to the color and more than 200,000 people visit annually. In fact, it sometimes feels like they’re all there on the same weekend. Try to go on a weekday, and the last two weeks of October and first two weeks of November are usually the best times. Call 800 697-4200 for foliage updates and visit www.tpwd. state.tx.us/park/lostmap for more information.

As to football, I’ll be watching the Texas vs. Missouri game in Austin on Oct. 18, and pulling for the Longhorns. You may have other pigskin preferences, may even – heaven forbid – root for Missouri, but as in religion and politics, to each his own. If you have no special team, let me suggest Slippery Rock. The fighting Rock has played more like a pebble recently, being rolled 34-10 by Mercyhurst College, which clearly showed little mercy, and Slippery can use all the support you care to give. Check out rockathletics.com for upcoming games.

Foaming beer is found in abundance at the legendary Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Unfortunately, that grand festival has come and gone, starting on Sept. 20 and ending on Oct. 5. They hold it mostly in September because the weather is better then.

It is not too late for Wurstfest in New Braunfels, billed as a “salute to sausage,” but also a fine festival for sipping suds. It runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 9, and at past fests, my favorite thing was to get stuffed on Germanic food, down a few beers and then do the chicken dance to the lively oompah music provided by the late, great Myron Florin.

Call 800 221-4369 or visit wurstfest.com for more information.

Fantastic birds are also a part of October’s charm. According to Travis Audubon Society’s rare bird alert, some exceptional early fall sightings have been claimed in our central Texas area.

A green jay was reported at a private residence in Dripping Springs and there was an unconfirmed report of a green jay in the Wimberley area. No photos have been forthcoming, but if this lovely jay has indeed been spotted, it would mark a historic first for our area. The green jay usually abides in far south Texas.

Hurricane Ike apparently swept many birds from their usual habitats. For example, flamingoes, possibly from Cuba, turned up in Mississippi and Florida. Many offshore species were blown inland and in our area, Caspian terns were seen around Granger Lake. Other notable sightings included Couch’s kingbirds at New Braunfel’s Landa Park and at Aquarena in San Marcos. A calliope hummingbird was seen in south Austin and long-tailed thrasher, MacGillivray’s warbler and broad-tailed hummingbird were identified at Schaezler’s Warbler Woods near Cibolo. Two reddish egrets were seen on Canyon Lake.

Hutton’s vireo, glossy ibis, cerulean warbler, snowy plover, ring-billed gull and buff-bellied hummingbird were all reported in our area so it’s obvious fall birding is off to a roaring start.

Since rarity sightings have come from all over the area, you really don’t have to go anywhere to participate in this birding bonanza. Just look out your window or take a walk around the neighborhood.

No telling what might show up. And if it’s a flamingo, take a quick photo and then call me — I’ll be right over.