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19 Jun Full Report from Plains II BBS - 17 June 2013 [Anthony Hewetson ] 19 Jun Higlights from Plains II BBS [Anthony Hewetson ] 19 Jun West Nile Virus and birds ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 19 Jun Re: Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas [] 19 Jun Re: Bushtits [Tripp Davenport ] 19 Jun Re: Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas [Matthew Sim ] 19 Jun UFO birds [Jamie ] 19 Jun Bushtits ["Terry Hibbitts" ] 18 Jun Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas [] 18 Jun Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding [Cecilia-home ] 18 Jun Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival [] 18 Jun Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding [Eric Carpenter ] 18 Jun Steve Stewart [Steve Stewart ] 18 Jun Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival [Kelly Bryan ] 18 Jun Green-tailed Towhee [Susan Knock ] 18 Jun Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival [Heidi Trudell ] 18 Jun Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival [Heidi Trudell ] 18 Jun Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival [] 18 Jun Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival ["Judy Sharp" ] 18 Jun Re: Larry Kirby [] 18 Jun Larry Kirby [Larry Kirby ] 18 Jun Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding [Martin Reid ] 18 Jun Bushtits in eastern Edwards Plateau? [Chuck Sexton ] 18 Jun Re: ABA area Photo Big Year update [alan olson ] 18 Jun Llano County Breeding Bird surprises - Sunday 6-16-13 - Belted Kingfishers and White-tailed Kite [] 17 Jun Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding [Susan Schaezler ] 17 Jun Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding [Susan Schaezler ] 17 Jun Texbirds and South Texas birding [Jon McIntyre ] 17 Jun Christmas Mountains and Big Bend trip 6/15-17/13 [] 17 Jun Austin (Travis/Williamson Co.) - breeding birds of note (local interest) [Rich Kostecke ] 17 Jun Photos from April and May 2013 [paul sellin ] 17 Jun Re: ABA area Photo Big Year update [Jon McIntyre ] 17 Jun ABA area Photo Big Year update ["Sanchez, Isaac C" ] 17 Jun Interesting bird photography [Dan Smith ] 17 Jun Sulphur-bellied Flycater from 15 June 2013, blog entry. [Matthew York ] 17 Jun Looking for kites yesterday [Joseph Kennedy ] 17 Jun New Utopia Yard Bird [Judy Bailey ] 16 Jun Verdin, Hooded Orioles and Yellow-Green Vireo [Robert Becker ] 16 Jun Mitchell lake , San Antonio June 16 ["Georgina Schwartz" ] 16 Jun Zone-tailed Hawks [Michael Stewart ] 16 Jun Green-tailed towhee [Susan Knock ] 16 Jun Ful Report from Post BBS - 15 June 2013 [Anthony Hewetson ] 16 Jun Full Report from Dougherty BBS - 2 June 2013 [Anthony Hewetson ] 16 Jun Full Report from Circle BBS - 1 June 2013 [Anthony Hewetson ] 16 Jun Some highlights from the Post BBS - yesterday [Anthony Hewetson ] 16 Jun SPI Convention Center & Sheepshead Lots - 6/10/2013 (late report) [Brad Lirette ] 16 Jun Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher---- NO [] 16 Jun Correction on Quinta Parrot [] 15 Jun Bachman's Sparrow? [Marie Stewart ] 15 Jun Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher [] 15 Jun NEW YARD BIRD: PEARLAND [Mira M Pellerin ] 15 Jun Varied Bunting YES (Bentsen SP) [] 15 Jun Leakey Hacienda birds. [Collins & Charmaine Ganson ] 15 Jun Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher at Christmas Mountains Oasis [] 15 Jun Summer birds at Quinta Mazatlan [John Brush ] 15 Jun Utley [Brush Freeman ] 15 Jun Bill Trelc [Bill Trelc ] 15 Jun Valley Nature Center Trip to Starr Co. Next Week [] 14 Jun Re: RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - June 14, 2013 [Tim Brush ] 14 Jun RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - June 14, 2013 [Mary Gustafson ] 14 Jun yesterdays pictures, youngsters and mostly mystery shorebirds, and 200+ pelicans [Joseph Kennedy ] 14 Jun Lubbock Area Birding Summary for May - Long [Anthony Hewetson ] 14 Jun Recent Sightings @ the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands ["Monica Barrera" ] 14 Jun yard birding, slow but hawks and owls etc [Joseph Kennedy ] 14 Jun West Nile Virus near Lake Houston and musings about Fish Crows ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 14 Jun Clapp Park, Lubbock...and moving on... [L Markoff ] 14 Jun Re: Anhuac to Quintana today, summer doldrums, but lingering birds [Ruth ] 13 Jun Anhuac to Quintana today, summer doldrums, but lingering birds [Joseph Kennedy ] 13 Jun Austin Area RBA [Kenny Anderson ] 13 Jun Cameron Co. (06/12/13): shorebirds incl. late Whimbrels + more ["Rex Stanford" ] 13 Jun Re: Brush Comes Out of The Closet? [Brush Freeman ] 13 Jun Brush Comes Out of The Closet? [Ron Weeks ] 13 Jun King, Knox and Haskell Co.s [Brush Freeman ] 13 Jun Lake Somerville birds (Lee and Burleson Counties) - Wood Storks, cormorants and an Eastern Phoebe - from Saturday 6-8-13 [] 12 Jun Baytown Nature Center Bird Count 6/20/13 [] 12 Jun Trinity River birding. [David Bryant ] Subject: Full Report from Plains II BBS - 17 June 2013 From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:33 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: I completed the Plains II BBS (Yoakum and Cochran Counties) on 75 June 2013. The route which runs generally northward from a point a few miles northwest of Plains was surprisingly damp with lots of flooded ditches, damp fields, and difficult to negotiate stretches of road. This stretch of habitat was fairly green by the drought-stricken region's standards and there was a decent supply of critters about - much better than last year. The entire list of critters seen on the Plains II BBS: 1 Common Checkered Skipper 1 Common Sootywing 2 Dotted Roadside Skippers 1 Nysa Roadside Skipper 1 Pipevine Swallowtail 1 Black Swallowtail 3 Checkered Whites 2 Dainty Sulphurs 1 Gray Hairstreak 2 Marine Blues 4 Reakirt's Blues 3 Variegated Fritillaries 1 Yellow Mud Turtle 1 Side-blotched Lizard 1 Texas Horned Lizard 1 Checkered Garter Snake 1 Eastern Glossy Snake 1 Prairie Rattlesnake 7 Scaled Quails 12 Northern Bobwhites 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken 8 Turkey Vultures 8 Swainson's Hawks 3 Killdeers 6 Eurasian Collared Doves 109 Mourning Doves 1 Greater Roadrunner 29 Burrowing Owls 34 Common Nighthawks 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers 1 American Kestrel 3 Ash-throated Flycatchers 114 Western Kingbirds 13 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 1 Loggerhead Shrike 3 Chihuahuan Ravens 10 Horned Larks 12 Barn Swallows 13 Northern Mockingbirds 1 Curve-billed Thrasher 7 European Starlings 2 Canyon Towhees 30 Cassin's Sparrows 9 Lark Sparrows 1 Grasshopper Sparrow 5 Blue Grosbeaks 1 Painted Bunting 1 Dickcissel 2 Red-winged Blackbirds 3 meadowlarks 11 Eastern Meadowlarks 7 Western Meadowlarks 2 Great-tailed Grackles 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds 12 Bullock's Orioles 1 House Finch 3 House Sparrows 1 Black-tailed Jackrabbit 4 Desert Cottontails 8 Black-tailed Prairie Dogs 4 Spotted Ground Squirrels 1 North American Porcupine 3 Pronghorns Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Higlights from Plains II BBS From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:56:24 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: On Monday, 17 June 2013, I completed the Plains II Breeding Bird Survey which runs north from a point northwest of Plains from Yoakum County into Cochran County. It was fairly good birding (a full report will follow) but yielded little in the way of highlights. I did see 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken, ambling across a chunk of oak-infested grassland, on the Yoakum County side of the route. I also had 2 Canyon Towhees in a yard dotted with farm equipment, on the Cochran County side of the route. This is a species that is rarely seen away from canyons or isolated chunks of rimrock. These birds were a long way from either, the first I have ever recorded along the route, and probably represent my second sighting for the county. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: West Nile Virus and birds From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT hctx.net> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:47:39 +0000 If you have ever wondered about the connection between birds and West Nile
Virus we will have a program tomorrow at Kleb Woods that will explain that. The
session will start with a bird catching, bleeding and banding demonstration.
Hope you will join us. The announcement for the program is below.
Hello all,
Kleb Woods will be having a special presentation, Everything you don't want to
know about mosquitos but should. The program will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
this Thursday, June 20th. Vence Salvato, Technical Operations Analyst for
Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services Mosquito Control Division,
will be presenting. We will start by setting mist nets to catch birds.
Technicians then band the birds and take blood from them to test for disease.
Vence will then give a presentation in the auditorium on mosquito biology and
the diseases they transmit, including West Nile Virus and St. Louis
Encephalitis.
This program is free and open to the public. It will be a great way for
everyone, young and old, to learn about both bird banding and mosquitos. We
hope to see you all there.
Fred Collins
(281) 357-5324
Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center
Cypress Top Historical Park
Commissioner Steve Radack
Harris County Precinct 3
www.pct3.hctx.net
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
Subject: Re: Texbirds posts and UFOs in TexasFrom: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:17:30 -0400 (EDT) Hi Matthew, I am delight to see that so young person can be more mature than some of those who walk on Earth already 2-6 times longer … All the best, Mark Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field In a message dated 6/19/2013 11:48:24 A.M. Central Daylight Time, redcrossbills AT yahoo.com writes: I am going to weigh into this simply because I am, quite frankly, tired of it all. I am 15 and have been birding for 4 years now in which time I've joined several birding listserves. Sure, there have been minor disagreements on all of them however nothing like on texbirds. To be honest and rather blunt, I find this rather childish and immature. As many have mentioned before, if you do not want to read a post, don't! I delete half the posts without opening them because they are of no interest to me. If you do open a post you didn't want to read, by all means, write up a reply; just don't send it!! Think about it overnight, ask yourself if it is really a good idea to send it and if you would be doing the birding community any good. If you still think it's a good idea the next day, perhaps the original post is not the problem... By starting all this, we are doing absolutely no good, and in fact, we're losing out. Beginning birders won't want to wade into this and others, including young birders like myself, will feel alienated and leave. We are only hurting ourselves. I think Mark is completely right in that we need to accept and respect everyone's right to post. So come one, lets be more tolerant and focus on the birds. Matthew Sim, a young, disgruntled birder Houston, Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Bushtits From: Tripp Davenport <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:16:27 -0500 ditto for Real Co. Big Springs Ranch, still have canyon towhee around our deep creek ranch and have seen a couple (usual numbers) at big springs ranch but bushtits have been absent this year, I noticed that Charmaine G. had seen some at their Leakey property weeks back... Tripp Davenport Uvalde Texas On Jun 19, 2013, at 9:06 AM, "Terry Hibbitts"Subject: Re: Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas From: Matthew Sim <redcrossbills AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:47:41 -0700 (PDT) I am going to weigh into this simply because I am, quite frankly, tired of it all. I am 15 and have been birding for 4 years now in which time I've joined several birding listserves. Sure, there have been minor disagreements on all of them however nothing like on texbirds. To be honest and rather blunt, I find this rather childish and immature. As many have mentioned before, if you do not want to read a post, don't! I delete half the posts without opening them because they are of no interest to me. If you do open a post you didn't want to read, by all means, write up a reply; just don't send it!! Think about it overnight, ask yourself if it is really a good idea to send it and if you would be doing the birding community any good. If you still think it's a good idea the next day, perhaps the original post is not the problem... By starting all this, we are doing absolutely no good, and in fact, we're losing out. Beginning birders won't want to wade into this and others, including young birders like myself, will feel alienated and leave. We are only hurting ourselves. I think Mark is completely right in that we need to accept and respect everyone's right to post. So come one, lets be more tolerant and focus on the birds. Matthew Sim, a young, disgruntled birder Houston, Texas --- On Wed, 6/19/13, MBB22222 AT aol.com wrote: > From: MBB22222 AT aol.com > Subject: [texbirds] Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas > To: texbirds AT freelists.org > Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 2:40 AM > I read original post about > “Texbirds and South Texas birding” after seeing > a few replies in my email box and accidentally clicking on > one (original > title did not trigger my interest). > > I am not on this listserv from the beginning but I noted > some sad changes > over past few years. I think, perhaps I am wrong, that this > community just > grown too big and in consequence many small > sub-communities evolved; each > one having members that seem to believe that only > their group represents > great values, serves the whole community right and > fits perfectly into Texbirds > rules. With deferent approach to birds; birders vs. > birdwatchers vs. bird > guides vs. equipment salesmen vs. photographers, > evolutionists vs. > creationists, green vs. I do not care, etc there are > enough members now to form > large sub-communities. Some members are silent but > unhappy seeing posts from > other groups and some groups have leaders who, from > time to time, are > loudly protesting and trying to criticize approach to > birds that they do not > like for whatever reason. It was posted before - there > is no reason to not let > somebody enjoying a cardinal that visited his/her > backyard - one does not > have to read every post … Being a member of a > very large community require > acceptance of the fact that many (most) other members > might have different > opinions on many subjects (this has nothing to do who > is right or wrong), > enjoy different approach to birds and find different > posts interesting. > Trying to force our own opinions to be accepted by > others is not only rude but > tells me, IMHO, that one who does that might have many > weaknesses and > cannot be happy no matter what … > > And birds that we can find and see in TEXAS are incredible. > Not long time > ago I found one alien that visited the state. Recently > I found and add to > my collection another one. > > These who are easy to get scare, do not like photos or read > but do not like > my post - they do not have to click on the link below. If > some believe > these are not birds but extraterrestrial beings - I > cannot guarantee that > those two are birds`but both were seen in Texas > … > > http://www.pbase.com/image/150870101 > > If only a few would like them I did not waste my time. BTW, > somebody else > have seen and photographed other alien birds in Texas? > > Mark B Bartosik > Houston, Texas > http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field > Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at > http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds > > Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without > seeking permission > from the List Owner > > > Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: UFO birds From: Jamie <j.c.fairchild AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:44:58 -0500 (GMT-05:00) I like. :) Your mission accomplished. From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:40:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [texbirds] Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas Jamie Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Bushtits From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:06:04 -0500 I have lived in Camp Wood Hills since June of 2005. The first few years I saw Bushtits at least once or twice a year. I have not seen any on the property now for three years. On a bird survey last year 20 Feb 2012 I saw a small group on a hillside north of Barksdale. These are the only ones I have seen on the three properties I do surveys. So I guess I would agree with Chuck that the Bushtit population tends to be down in eastern Edwards County. Another bird that has dropped in population in this area (I think) is Canyon Towhee. Terry Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX www.thehibbitts.net Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Texbirds posts and UFOs in Texas From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:40:58 -0400 (EDT) I read original post about “Texbirds and South Texas birding” after seeing a few replies in my email box and accidentally clicking on one (original title did not trigger my interest). I am not on this listserv from the beginning but I noted some sad changes over past few years. I think, perhaps I am wrong, that this community just grown too big and in consequence many small sub-communities evolved; each one having members that seem to believe that only their group represents great values, serves the whole community right and fits perfectly into Texbirds rules. With deferent approach to birds; birders vs. birdwatchers vs. bird guides vs. equipment salesmen vs. photographers, evolutionists vs. creationists, green vs. I do not care, etc there are enough members now to form large sub-communities. Some members are silent but unhappy seeing posts from other groups and some groups have leaders who, from time to time, are loudly protesting and trying to criticize approach to birds that they do not like for whatever reason. It was posted before - there is no reason to not let somebody enjoying a cardinal that visited his/her backyard - one does not have to read every post … Being a member of a very large community require acceptance of the fact that many (most) other members might have different opinions on many subjects (this has nothing to do who is right or wrong), enjoy different approach to birds and find different posts interesting. Trying to force our own opinions to be accepted by others is not only rude but tells me, IMHO, that one who does that might have many weaknesses and cannot be happy no matter what … And birds that we can find and see in TEXAS are incredible. Not long time ago I found one alien that visited the state. Recently I found and add to my collection another one. These who are easy to get scare, do not like photos or read but do not like my post - they do not have to click on the link below. If some believe these are not birds but extraterrestrial beings - I cannot guarantee that those two are birds`but both were seen in Texas … http://www.pbase.com/image/150870101 If only a few would like them I did not waste my time. BTW, somebody else have seen and photographed other alien birds in Texas? Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Cecilia-home <criley02 AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:38:00 -0500 All of us would benefit from a bit of patience. Tolerance (and the use of the delete key) would serve as a good moderator. Let's all concentrate on the big picture, birds, their conservation, and big life lists. That should keep us all happily posting with respect for all. Life is better with birds! Cecilia M Riley Sent from my iPad On Jun 18, 2013, at 11:08 AM, Martin ReidSubject: Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: carolynohl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:30:17 -0400 (EDT) Thank you Heidi and Kelly for providing more accurate information than I was able to. I now remember Kelly telling me about the Chamber of Commerce trying to put together the festival. I think having my phone and computer down for 3 days, and counting, has stressed me to the point of affecting my memory,not to mention my ability to gather the facts, so I should have just let that one go by. My intention was to stimulate a response. Did that anyway, but in hindsight, I realize it would've happened without my help/hindrance. So do not contact the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute. Sorry if I caused anyone inconvenience. Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area -----Original Message----- From: Kelly BryanSubject: Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:36:29 -0500 I like Isaac's photos and also enjoy reading Jon's posts. I see nothing wrong with Isaac's note in regard to the rules of this list, which are: "TEXBIRDS encourages the open discussion of Texas birds and birding. In general, we ask that participants limit their messages to matters related to birds and birding within our state, although information about bird-related issues in other states that may interest Texas birders and has a Texas tie-in are welcomed." If you read the post that started this, you'll see where it mentions over 200 species were photographed in Texas. It's not surprising since Isaac lives and birds mostly in Texas and if you go to his site, you'll see that there are indeed a large number of birds photo'ed in Texas. Yes, not exclusively about Texas but certainly the note is germane and does include easy tie-ins to Texas birding. Jon and others may have legitimate gripes about what folks post to different groups they belong to, but linking those issues with Isaac's post seems to be a stretch. -- Eric Eric Carpenter Austin On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 11:08 AM, Martin ReidSubject: Steve Stewart From: Steve Stewart <ss4275 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:04:10 -0700 (PDT) wer http://impact49.crispmail.com/ywb/spjladssnvrcedq/tbldwoui/hwbauhqomcj.php Steve Stewart Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: Kelly Bryan <kelly.b.bryan AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:05:33 -0500 Heidi is right about what I know of the details. Please be advised that the Fort Davis thing does not have anything what-so-ever to do with the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute. A new Chamber director took over a few months ago and the Limpia Hotel hired a new PR person. They are the ones who put the dates on the calendar without consulting anyone at all. The contact location is the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce and I have already had a thorough discussion with them. The plan as I know it is just as Heidi described with no presentations of note. Furthermore, there will be no access to the high country except in one location, the Davis Mountains Preserve. That is already one of my sampling sites for my hummingbird banding project. I am committed to the Birds and Butterflies Festival at the Gage Hotel in Marathon. I too do not know the schedule of events but I believe that Joel Simon is the keynote speaker. We will be banding hummingbirds at this festival and hope to get at least Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Ruby-throated, and Lucifer. I would advise that you check out the details before committing to either. KBB On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 1:29 PM, Heidi TrudellSubject: Green-tailed Towhee From: Susan Knock <knocks AT tamug.edu> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:42:26 +0000 I had a green-tailed towhee in my birdbath on Sunday morning in Bastrop County. This was a new Yard Bird for me. Unfortunately it did not stay around long enough for me to get a photo. Susan L. Knock in Smithville, TXEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: Heidi Trudell <heidi AT bigbendnature.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:29:23 -0500 Not to give contact info preference re: the festivals, but I do not have the name nor contact info of the main contact for the hummingbird festival. Apologies if there seems to be a bias there! Last year we did serve as consultants and leaders for the Gage event but this year have only fielded the occasional email question... that may change at the last minute, but for now we do not anticipate any change of status! -h On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 1:22 PM, Heidi TrudellSubject: Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: Heidi Trudell <heidi AT bigbendnature.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:22:42 -0500 Excellent points - West Texas is festival rich this August, but information poor! I have heard that the Fort Davis hummingbird festival will be held the same weekend as the Gage's event - one of the organizers contacted me and it sounds like there will be some sort of initial gathering/registration and maps will be handed out so folks can go to various residences that have feeders up and subsequent evening activities will involve comparing notes to see who saw what. Considering the Gage event snagged their hummingbird expert for a banding session, it might be a little strange! The Gage coordinator did email me a 'save the date' pdf; still not sure how to register (I suppose one could email and ask about pre-reservation or have a space held) and their site doesn't say anything. Ann Urban is the new event coordinator and the contact person for the event: ann AT gagehotel.com - she can at least send y'all the 'save the date' info that has (or should have) been sent to last year's participants. Good luck, everyone! -h Heidi Trudell Marathon, TX On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 12:50 PM,Subject: Re: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: carolynohl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:50:27 -0400 (EDT) I hadn't heard that the Davis Mountains festival is going to be held. You would need to check with Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute for information. Just google it. I hear the Marathon festival will be held this year. I'm sure Heidi Trudell will respond about that. (My computer is down or I would provide more info on both festivals). Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area -----Original Message----- From: Judy SharpSubject: Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival From: "Judy Sharp" <catbird7 AT att.net> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:18:24 -0500 Does anyone know if the Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival will be held this year? I thought it had been discontinued a few years back, but several Fort Davis websites have it listed as being held August 9-11, 2013. If it is being held, can you provide a link for more information? I also found a mention of a nature/birding festival at the Gage Hotel in Marathon August 8-11 on www.westtexashummingbirds.com but didn't see any further info on the link listed. Thanks, Judy Sharp Houston Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Larry Kirby From: Stenmead AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:44:46 -0400 (EDT) Likely a hack. In a message dated 6/18/2013 11:30:45 A.M. Central Daylight Time, lkirbytx AT yahoo.com writes: orai http://glenbrookpets.com/cyxzag/RNDCHR,3,15%/btwenndilvetg/vgnbo/jdbbqqmwyrdogwc.htm hbk Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Larry Kirby From: Larry Kirby <lkirbytx AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:30:02 -0700 (PDT) orai http://glenbrookpets.com/cyxzag/RNDCHR,3,15%/btwenndilvetg/vgnbo/jdbbqqmwyrdogwc.htm hbk Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:08:45 -0500 Dear All, I'm with John on this, even though I might have tried (and maybe failed...) to be less blunt! Perhaps it should have been left to the List Moderator to make a statement about the Photo Big Year post, but such admonitions have not always been forthcoming so it's hard to sit on ones hands, especially if you've been the recipient of rapid Moderator admonitions in the past ;-) I can only speculate that John has received some ugly emails about his post. If so, do any of those emailers have the guts to make their comments to him public? This medium is a minefield for those of us who are prone to knee-jerk reactions. This is a classic occurrence in EmailLand, where person X breaks the rules, then person Y else tells them so without using carefully parsed ultra-neutral language so that no-one could possibly be upset by it... - then person Y gets slammed for offending some people (usually a very small but vocal number of people) rather than the focus remaining on the original breaking of the rules! ugh! Personally I think John's post was accurate, blunt and a bit terse, but certainly not offensive. I can understand his frustrated reaction because this seems to be a recurring issue with many of the groups I belong to. Martin --- Martin Reid San Antonio www.martinreid.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Bushtits in eastern Edwards Plateau? From: Chuck Sexton <gcwarbler AT austin.rr.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:06:32 -0500 TexBirders, As I was compiling my notes for the Spring report for North American Birds, it occurred to me that I had seen very few Bushtits away from the Trans-Pecos in the past year or so. I began to wonder if the species has been especially hard hit by the drought conditions, particularly in the eastern Edwards Plateau. I began to study eBird reports and it seems to confirm my impressions. There is only one report in 2013 of a Bushtit in the region substantially N and E of Interstate 10: a single report at Fort Hood (Coryell Co.) in February. There is a small handful of reports in the San Antonio region and points W and slightly NW. The species is still being seen (apparently) in the Trans-Pecos, but it's hard to judge the abundance without a more detailed analysis. I'm wondering if other TexBirders have noticed a decrease in Bushtits, particularly in the eastern Edwards Plateau. This can be a difficult question because the species is so nomadic and sporadic in occurrence in this region to start with. Is this just a sampling bias? An eBird bias? Or have Bushtits actually declined in this region? Two additional thoughts: 1. The drought has actually been worse in the western part of the Hill Country, but that is where the species has historically been more numerous. Are the more westerly Bushtits simply better adapted to withstand such a long stretch of harsh habitat conditions? 2. The (apparent) Bushtit pattern seems to contrast with the Hutton's Vireo situation, a species I might think had similar ecological adaptations and habitat preferences, but which seems to be continuing its increase in abundance and distribution eastward. Why the difference in the two? Chuck Sexton Austin Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: ABA area Photo Big Year update From: alan olson <alanolson270 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:05:31 -0500 BRAVO AT ! > Subject: [texbirds] Re: ABA area Photo Big Year update > From: mcintyrebirds AT hotmail.com > Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:15:26 -0500 > To: sanchez AT che.utexas.edu; texbirds AT freelists.org > > I'm pretty sure Texbirds is for Texas bird sightings. Lets at least keep it in the right country for crying out loud. If you want to show off your year list, find another place to do it. > > Jon McIntyre > Ingelside > > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jun 17, 2013, at 4:52 PM, "Sanchez, Isaac C"Subject: Llano County Breeding Bird surprises - Sunday 6-16-13 - Belted Kingfishers and White-tailed Kite From: drbirdie AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:25:52 -0400 (EDT) Hi Texbirders, I conducted the Valley Spring BBS on Sunday morning June 16, and wanted to share a brief report and a couple of surprises. Range conditions looked surprisingly good, especially grasses, and especially in the eastern part of this route, which starts in San Saba County near Cherokee. The wildflower show is mostly over, and perhaps wasn't as good as usual, but numbers of Northern Bobwhite were surprisingly good. Painted Buntings put on a great show as usual, and Summer Tanager numbers seem up a bit. I had 4 species of sparrows (Lark, Chipping and singles of Black-throated and Field), but missed Canyon Towhee and Rufous-crowned Sparrow, neither of which are ever numerous on this route. I also missed Cassin's Sparrow, which was a bit of a surprise given the good condition of native grasses. The biggest surprises were on a stretch of Llano CR 408 northeast of Valley Spring, where I had a brief look at a hovering White-tailed Kite, and then three stops later I had a pair (male and female) of Belted Kingfishers near a series of stock tanks, one of which has a utility wire that runs across it. The pair were initially perched on the utility wire and I was able to snap a picture of the female. I don't think that either of these species have ever been recorded on this BBS route. No other major surprises, except that the skies were a bit overcast and it was slightly cooler than usual, and a light rain started just as I wrapped up the survey in late morning. It was a good morning to be afield in the Llano Uplift. Good birding ya'll, Byron Stone, Austin Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Susan Schaezler <warblerwoods AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:15:38 -0500 I'm confused, wasn't the discussion on posting on Texas Birds to TXBirds? I had to dig the old post out of trash to check, so why are you leaving? I thought that was the rule and other than you bringing it up instead of David, it was ok. I learn from all of you and hate to lose any of you. Some of you are indicators on what is coming my way, hopefully. Susan Schaezler WarblerWoods.org 501(c)(3) Cibolo/Schertz Lone Star Land Steward Winner 2011. GCBO Site Partner Life member TOS, SAAS, TAS On Jun 17, 2013, at 10:24 PM, Jon McIntyreSubject: Re: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Susan Schaezler <warblerwoods AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:41:29 -0500 I'm confused, wasn't the discussion on posting on Texas Birds to TXBirds? I had to dig the old post out of trash to check, so why are you leaving? I thought that was the rule and other than you bringing it up instead of David, it was ok. I learn from all of you and hate to lose any of you. Some of you are indicators on what is coming my way, hopefully. Susan Schaezler WarblerWoods.org 501(c)(3) Cibolo/Schertz Lone Star Land Steward Winner 2011. GCBO Site Partner Life member TOS, SAAS, TAS On Jun 17, 2013, at 10:24 PM, Jon McIntyreSubject: Texbirds and South Texas birding From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:24:46 -0500 Due to some posts and responses from fellow Texbirders, this will be my final post to Texbirds. Both Texbirds and the Facebook Texbirds page has become a place for showing off pictures or year lists to others instead of simply posting sightings. I'm sure that I have had many people enjoy my posts over the years, as well as dislike them. Hopefully I've helped some birders find some life or year birds. If anyone would like to continue to see my posts they can view my website which I will keep up to date (I can not post the address due to Texbirds rules). You may check the Facebook Texbirds to find the website address. Jon McIntyre Ingelside, Texas Sent from my iPhoneEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Christmas Mountains and Big Bend trip 6/15-17/13 From: dhanson139 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:46:28 -0400 (EDT) rolyn Ohl-Johnson's place and yes we saw some Black-chinned and Lucifers Hummingbirds as well as?Scaled Quail, Black-throated Sparrow, House Finches, WW Doves, Bronze Cowbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Before we left Alpine though we went out to the Cemetery and saw Bronze Cowbirds, Western Tanagers, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrashers, and of course European Starlings. ? Yesterday 6/16 we took the hike up to Boot Canyon in Big Bend and after Jan gave up and went down a ways and sat down for awhile I finally after 1.5 hrs found the Western and Flame Colored Tanagers. The bird was eventually a little further down the trail but is was very actively chasing the female Western Tanager through the trees and was very hard to get a good look at. I had heard the bird several times before finally catching a very quick look at both of them I finally saw them about 3 different times but was never able to catch up to them and get a picture and finally gave up because it was getting late. We also saw Bush Tit's, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Black-crested Titmice, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Scotts Orioles, Mexican Jays and on the way down a Hepatic Tanager which I did get pictures of. Also a couple of Flycatchers I might need help ID'ing later. I think one was a Ash-throated Flycatcher but I need to look at the pictures when I get time. None of the flycatchers were calling at all. It was mid afternoon after all. ? Today 6/17 we drove from Big Bend to Fort Davis with plans to stay at the state park. It was so early we decided to go out and check out the Madera Canyon Trail the Natures Conservancy owns, It had been raining when we got to Fort Davis and it was nice maybe mid 70's. We started the hike and had gone to the pond and were making the loop when another thunderstorm threatened so we were walking real fast to get back before it hit. The wind was blowing real hard so singing birds were hard to hear and we saw very few up there. About 600 yds from making it down the bottom fell out and we ended up making it back to the car in a downpour and hail storm. It rained so hard the road was already starting to go under at the creek crossing and numerous other places along the way back. By the way that trail head is about 8 miles past the McDonald Observatory. ? Pictures when I get time and better internet access. ? David and Jan Hanson Baytown/Mont Belvieu Area currently in Fort Davis Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Austin (Travis/Williamson Co.) - breeding birds of note (local interest) From: Rich Kostecke <rkost73 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:05:23 -0700 (PDT) I just wanted to report a few locally breeding birds that I found interesting here in Austin. In my NW Austin (Williamson Co.) neighborhood, there appears to be a pair of Broad-winged Hawks. They were circling overhead and calling yesterday and this evening I observed one being mobbed by a grackle. On Saturday June 15th, after a nice hike led by Mikael Behrens on behalf of the Hill Country Conservancy at their Nalle Bunny Run Preserve (Travis Co.) where I got Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Warbler, Veena Mohan and I did a little exploring of some other nearby areas. Namely, Emma Long Park, the north end of which is in my patch. We did not actually spend much time in the park, but we did drive Pearce Road, along which there was a singing Northern Parula down by the river and a singing Chipping Sparrow up on the mesa top. Rich Richard Kostecke, Ph.D. The Nature Conservancy 318 Congress Ave., Austin,Texas 78701 Email: rkost73 AT yahoo.com or rkostecke AT tnc.org Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Photos from April and May 2013 From: paul sellin <pjsellin AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:17:11 -0700 (PDT) I've added 34 photos to my Flickr photostream. They cover the period from mid-April to the end of May 2013. Photos are from LaFitte's Cove (Galveston),Quintana NBS, Kerr WMA, Judge Roy Bean SP, Big Bend NP, Davis Mountains SP, Franklin Mountains SP, and a few Portal/Paradise, AZ birds. The AZ photos are of birds that have been seen inTX this spring, except, I believe,the Yellow-eyed Junco. http://www.flickr.com/photos/43703131 AT N05/ I welcome comments. Take care, Paul Sellin SW Houston Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: ABA area Photo Big Year update From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:15:26 -0500 I'm pretty sure Texbirds is for Texas bird sightings. Lets at least keep it in the right country for crying out loud. If you want to show off your year list, find another place to do it. Jon McIntyre Ingelside Sent from my iPhone On Jun 17, 2013, at 4:52 PM, "Sanchez, Isaac C"Subject: ABA area Photo Big Year update From: "Sanchez, Isaac C" <sanchez AT che.utexas.edu> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:51:19 +0000 Hi Fellow TEXBIRDERS: Just got back from Canada: birded 7 days in Calgary, Banff NP, and Jasper NP. Added 18 birds to my year list (490 total). All 490 can be seen on my Flickr site (one image per species in chronological order): http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaaccsanchez/sets/72157632513641635/ If you click on the photo and scroll down you will find location info (over 200 birds in Texas). Total number of year birds seen and/or heard is 502; so I have only missed 12 birds (there is always tomorrow). Best trip birds: GREAT GRAY OWL, (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaaccsanchez/9070027652/in/set-72157634182458430 ) AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaaccsanchez/9070029234/in/set-72157634182458430 BOREAL CHICKADEE http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaaccsanchez/9070027630/in/set-72157634182458430 Next birding adventure will take my wife and I on a short 3 day trip to New England. Bird on, Isaac Sanchez Austin Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Interesting bird photography From: Dan Smith <dan AT wordsmithofaustin.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:07:23 -0500 There is an interesting photo essay in today's Slate on birds in flight. Captures them in a kind of flight disarray that we (or at least I) do not perceive when watching them in motion. http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2013/06/14/_aviary_is_a_study_of_birds_in_flight_captured_in_photo_booth_style_photos.html Dan Smith dan AT wordsmithofaustin.com 512-451-2632 http://www.wordsmithofaustin.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Sulphur-bellied Flycater from 15 June 2013, blog entry. From: Matthew York <mwayork AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:16:40 -0500 http://www.bigbendnature.com/2013/06/a-funny-thing-happened.html A meager entry, no ecology nor elegant prose. However, I thought some might like to see a few more images from Carolyn Ohl's Christmas Mtns Oasis in south Brewster County. What a great record for the trans-Pecos! Only record number two for the region. I certainly wish it would have stayed around a little longer. Thanks again, Carolyn, for all the work you've done and continue to do for the habitat you've created and maintain. We know it isn't easy. Matt York Marathon Brewster Co. -- www.bigbendnature.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Looking for kites yesterday From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:27:26 -0500 I worked the area going north from cove and then the Dayton-liberty stretch for kites and other good birds yesterday morning without seeing any except for a single Mississippi kite on travis street in liberty which flew to what appeared to be a nest in a backyard. Lots of common birds singing but no kites. The best bird of the day was a male painted bunting down at the deck in the park service land in the trinity bottoms. It hung around the portapotty attracted by eau de portapotty or the bugs attracted to that. It used the signs and my car for a song perch. Your mother probably told you always to wear clean underwear in case you get taken to the emergency room but you should also wash your car in the event birds use it as a photographed song perch. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827439 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827437 It also sang from the posts http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827440 signs http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827434 and hopped around my feet, often too close to photograph http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827432 I headed home by way of Crosby and did find swallow-tailed kites there. They were up and about but covering large areas. One had a 15 inch snake which it took off to the south and this bird was carrying the remains of a meal around for a good bit http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827426 Which are the very used hindquarters of a squab or other young bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827425 the kites kept getting higher http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150827424 and eventually went above the clouds and vanished. 4 birds were in sight at one time but the there may have been a couple more as the snake eater vanished off and did not seem to return. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: New Utopia Yard Bird From: Judy Bailey <jubailey AT ista-na.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:36:35 -0500 We had a yellow-billed cuckoo near the road Saturday morning. Judy Bailey Utopia/Houston This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error destroy it immediately. **** ista Confidential **** Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Verdin, Hooded Orioles and Yellow-Green Vireo From: Robert Becker <robertjbecker AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:18:24 -0700 (PDT) I birded Palo Alto National Historical Park this morning and I found two pairs of Verdin calling to one another near the park headquarters and out on the walking trail near where it splits into a Y. I got good looks at the birds, which have always been very elusive for me. There also was a pair of Caracaras doing a flyover and a separate raptor flying over that I think was a White-tailed Hawk. Wrens also were calling but I did not get a good look. Yesterday I birded the UTB campus and located a brilliantly-colored male and a female Hooded Oriole that I have been observing for several weeks. I think they are nestingnear the Fort Brown Resaca. There also was a Muscovy Duck in the Resaca, and a few regulars including Tri-colored Heron and Snowy Egret. There also is a Mourning Dove sitting on her second clutch of eggs this spring. Last weekend I found the Yellow-green Vireo and managed a poor photo by standing next to a tree trunk and shooting upwards through the foliage. The bird was calling and moving about the parking island area adjacent to the Visitor's Center. I also photographed a Carolina Wren that was up and singing. Photo highlights are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13451078 AT N03/ Bob Becker Rancho Viejo. Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Mitchell lake , San Antonio June 16 From: "Georgina Schwartz" <gbird AT att.net> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:02:18 -0500 Since several ladies from Houston Joined us this morning on our regular 3rd Sunday tour, I am posting the list. We have had lots of rain and the basins are all full, no shoreline for our shorebirds that we had before May 25. Still there were several interesting sightings. I thought 54 species was pretty good for June. Georgina Schwartz San Antonio Mitchell Lake, Bexar, US-TX Jun 16, 2013 7:30 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: Mike Creese, Helen Rejzek, Chris Bailey, Marilyn McCullum, Georgina Schwartz 54 species Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 3 Blue-winged Teal 1 Ruddy Duck 2 Neotropic Cormorant 40 Double-crested Cormorant 1 This bird is not rare at the Mitchell Lake They often spend the summer here American White Pelican 35 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 13 Snowy Egret 40 Tricolored Heron 1 Cattle Egret 7 Green Heron 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 American Coot 4 Killdeer 1 White-winged Dove 26 Mourning Dove 50 Inca Dove 2 Common Ground-Dove 4 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4 one on a nest in basin 2 Chimney Swift 3 Black-chinned Hummingbird 6 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Crested Caracara 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 Brown-crested Flycatcher 1 Western Kingbird 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 6 White-eyed Vireo 3 Bell's Vireo 2 Purple Martin 6 Barn Swallow 16 Cliff Swallow 1 Cave Swallow 1 Black-crested Titmouse 1 Verdin 3 Bewick's Wren 1 Carolina Wren 1 Northern Mockingbird 12 Long-billed Thrasher 2 seen by Chris near the center Yellow-breasted Chat 1 seen along bird pond road north of Ernie's bridge Olive Sparrow 1 Heard Northern Cardinal 15 Painted Bunting 5 Dickcissel 12 Red-winged Blackbird 16 Great-tailed Grackle 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 15 Bullock's Oriole 2 House Finch 16 House Sparrow 12 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14436612 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Zone-tailed Hawks From: Michael Stewart <acridotheres.tristis AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:22:49 -0500 I have seen a Zone-tailed Hawk on two other visits to Colorado Bend SP, but yesterday I saw one fly to its nest. A pair has a nest with two young in it right across the river from the southeast parking lot near the river group camping area, and they're very easy to see. Mike Stewart Ft. Hood Sent from my iPhoneEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Green-tailed towhee From: Susan Knock <knocks AT TAMUG.EDU> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:31:08 -0500 ****** MESSAGE POSTED TO THE OLD LIST ******* I don't know how common a green-tailed towhee is for the rest of Bastrop County, but we had our first taking a bath in the birdbath today. Sadly, he finished before I could get to the camera. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirdsSubject: Ful Report from Post BBS - 15 June 2013 From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:04:36 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: I completed the Post BBS (Garza County) on 15 June 2013. The route which runs generally eastward from the Lynn/Garza County line to Post and then northeastward along FM 651, was almost as dry as I have ever seen it and, though birding wasn't as bad as last year, the ongoing drought has really had a negative impact on butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, water-loving birds, and small mammals. Some relief had come the night before in the shape of very spotty showers and I actually had one overflowing stock pond, one muddy playa, and several water-filled ditches to contend with.. The entire list of critters seen on the Post BBS: 2 Reakirt's Blue many Spotted Chorus Frogs 1 Round-tailed Horned Lizard 1 Common Kingsnake 8 Northern Bobwhites 2 Black-crowned Night Herons 7 Turkey Vultures 7 Mississippi Kite 2 Swainson's Hawks 2 Red-tailed Hawks 5 Killdeers 2 Black-necked Stilts 14 Rock Pigeons 29 Eurasian Collared Doves 2 White-winged Doves 48 Mourning Doves 1 Burrowing Owl 12 Common Nighthawks 5 Chimney Swifts 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 3 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers 4 American Kestrels 9 Ash-throated Flycatchers 62 Western Kingbirds 28 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 3 Bell's Vireos 3 Blue Jays 3 Chihuahuan Ravens 9 Horned Larks 1 Purple Martin 27 Barn Swallows 370 Cliff Swallows 28 Cave Swallows 1 Bewick's Wren 2 American Robins 24 Northern Mockingbirds 3 Curve-billed Thrashers 8 European Starlings 2 Cassin's Sparrows 1 Field Sparrow 9 Lark Sparrows 2 Grasshopper Sparrows 5 Northern Cardinals 3 Pyrrhuloxias 4 Blue Grosbeaks 15 Painted Buntings 1 Dickcissel 19 Red-winged Blackbirds 1 Eastern Meadowlark 5 Western Meadowlarks 3 Common Grackles 24 Great-tailed Grackles 5 Bronzed Cowbirds 9 Brown-headed Cowbirds 7 Bullock's Orioles 13 House Finches 6 Lesser Goldfinches 2 House Sparrows 1 Black-tailed Jackrabbit 1 Plains Pocket Gopher 1 Coyote Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Full Report from Dougherty BBS - 2 June 2013 From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:52:30 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: I completed the Dougherty BBS (Floyd County) on 2 June 2013. The route which runs generally westward from Dougherty to well southwest of Floydada was almost as dry as I have ever seen it and, though birding wasn't as bad as last year, the ongoing drought has really had a negative impact on butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, water-loving birds, and small mammals. Some relief had come the night before in the shape of very spotty showers and I actually had one damp playa and one water-filled ditch along the route. The entire list of critters seen on the Dougherty BBS: 1 Common Checkered Skipper 1 Gray Hairstreak many Plains Spadefoots 2 Mallards 5 Northern Bobwhites 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 37 Cattle Egrets 42 White-faced Ibises 2 Turkey Vultures 1 Mississippi Kite 2 Swainson's Hawks 5 Killdeers 3 Eurasian Collared Doves 48 Mourning Doves 1 Greater Roadrunner 5 Burrowing Owls 1 Common Nighthawk 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 5 American Kestrels 1 Western Wood Pewee 3 Ash-throated Flycatchers 92 Western Kingbirds 6 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 2 Common Ravens 64 Horned Larks 8 Barn Swallows 2 Cliff Swallows 1 Bewick's Wren 9 Northern Mockingbirds 1 Curve-billed Thrasher 5 European Starlings 1 MacGillivray's Warbler 1 Cassin's Sparrow 17 Lark Sparrows 3 Grasshopper Sparrows 5 Blue Grosbeaks 3 Painted Buntings 5 Dickcissels 18 Red-winged Blackbirds 7 Eastern Meadowlarks 31 Western Meadowlarks 1 Common Grackle 12 Great-tailed Grackles 2 Bronzed Cowbirds 1 Orchard Oriole 7 Bullock's Orioles 2 House Finches 16 House Sparrows 1 Black-tailed Jackrabbit 1 Desert Cottontail 24 Black-tailed Prairie Dogs Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Full Report from Circle BBS - 1 June 2013 From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:41:46 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: I completed the Circle BBS (Lamb County) on 1 June 2013. The route which runs generally westward from Circle to well west of Earth was as dry as I have ever seen it and, though birding wasn't as bad as last year, the ongoing drought has really had a negative impact on butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, water-loving birds, and small mammals. The entire list of critters seen on the Circle BBS: 1 Common Checkered Skipper 1 Dainty Sulphur 7 Northern Bobwhites 5 Ring-necked Pheasants 8 Black-crowned Night Herons 6 Swainson's Hawks 5 Killdeers 20 Eurasian Collared Doves 74 Mourning Doves 2 Burrowing Owls 3 American Kestrels 1 Willow Flycatcher 160 Western Kingbirds 2 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 1 Loggerhead Shrike 1 Blue Jay 2 Chihuahuan Ravens 104 Horned Larks 33 Barn Swallows 2 Cliff Swallows 1 American Robin 5 Northern Mockingbirds 4 European Starlings 6 Cassin's Sparrows 5 Lark Sparrows 6 Lark Buntings 5 Blue Grosbeaks 1 Dickcissel 74 Red-winged Blackbirds 5 meadowlarks 6 Eastern Meadowlarks 22 Western Meadowlarks 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird 2 Common Grackles 41 Great-tailed Grackles 2 Bronzed Cowbirds 6 Brown-headed Cowbirds 12 Bullock's Orioles 2 House Finches 63 House Sparrows 7 Desert Cottontails 1 Hispid Cotton Rat 1 Coyote 1 Striped Skunk 1 Mule Deer Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Some highlights from the Post BBS - yesterday From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:21:52 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: I ran the Post Breeding Bird Survey (Garza County) yesterday. Highlights from the route (multiple listings of certain species involve sighting at different points) included: 2 Black-necked Stilts west of Post, 2 Cave Swallows west of Post, 8 Cave Swallows west of Post, 8 Cave Swallows west of Post, 2 Lesser Goldfinches west of Post, 2 Bell's Vireos in Post, 1 Purple Martin in Post, 2 Cave Swallows in Post, 1 Bell's Vireo northeast of Post, 2 Cave Swallows northeast of Post, 4 Cave Swallows northeast of Post, 2 Cave Swallows northeast of Post, 1 Field Sparrow northeast of Post, 1 Pyrrhuloxia northeast of Post, 2 Pyrrhuloxias northeast of Post, 1 male Bronzed Cowbird northeast of Post, 2 male Bronzed Cowbirds northeast of Post, 1 male Bronzed Cowbird northeast of Post. Some incidental highlights from Lubbock County: 6 Snowy Egrets and 22 Cattle Egrets at Leroy Elmore Park. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: SPI Convention Center & Sheepshead Lots - 6/10/2013 (late report) From: Brad Lirette <lirettb AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:26:31 -0700 (PDT) Texbirders, I spent a week with the family vacationing in SPI last week and did manage to bird a little bit. After taking the kids on a Dolphin Tour with Scarlet Colley (highly recommended - kids loved it and Scarlet pointed out many birds I needed for my county list), I went to the SPI convention center on Scarlet's recommendation and found a silent Empid and a Northern Waterthrush. I then stopped at the Sheepshead lots and had a singing Black-and-White Warbler. I left the camera at the hotel room so did not get pictures of the Empid:-( I was planning a try for the Mangrove Warbler, but the winds stayed in the 15-20 mph range which would make the warbler hard to find.....GuessI will have to returnnext year:-) Good Birding! Brad Lirette Pearland, Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher---- NO From: carolynohl AT aol.com Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:16:31 -0400 (EDT) Last seen around 8:30 PM yesterday. Not seen today and the birders have all left now. It was first seen around 11:AM yesterday at the same time as the Western Wood-Pewee was seen. Both were here thereafter, and neither today. Maybe they're travelling together. Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Correction on Quinta Parrot From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:40:54 -0400 (EDT) Hi, all! Yep--several people concurred that the parrot I photographed and assumed was a Redcrown was actually a Lilac-crowned (another field mark that frankly bothered me for not fitting Redcrown, and pointed out by Rex Stanford, was the lack of a yellow terminal bank on the tail). Website is being corrected as soon as it connects with the server! :-) Thanks for the feedback, MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Bachman's Sparrow? From: Marie Stewart <littlebitrv AT fastmail.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:25:56 -0500 Hi, I am going to be in Conroe TX area for 3 weeks starting 19 June. A friend will be joining me from the Rio Grand Valley to bird. We will be looking for a Bachman's Sparrow which will be a Life bird for her. What I am trying to find out is the best places to look for them and if you have seen them there and when. We will be very thankful for any information you can provide. Thanks for your time, Marie Stewart Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher From: carolynohl AT aol.com Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:54:37 -0400 (EDT) It's still present at Christmas Mountains Oasis and hopefully will be tomorrow, since quite a few people are coming to see it. We didn't get rain today so the roads won't be muddy tomorrow. I posted a photo of it on my blog http://cmoasis.blogspot.com for those of you that don't do facebook. Speculating, perhaps floods, drought, fires, or something caused the flycatcher to leave its territory. If it finds enough to eat here it may stay around until it migrates south in the fall. Normally, there isn't much competition here, as far as flycatchers go, but this year I have kingbirds nesting for the first time, and a batch of Ash-throated Flycatchers just fledged. The Say's Phoebe is on her second nest. We'll just have to see... I don't know how long it has been here. No one has birded here since June 7, including me. Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: NEW YARD BIRD: PEARLAND From: Mira M Pellerin <mirampellerin AT aol.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:00:11 -0400 (EDT) I saw my first yard bird this AM: a Tufted Titmouse! I know that this is a common bird in this part of Texas, but I had never seen one in my yard or in my neighborhood until today. I was beginning to wonder why. Mira M. Pellerin Pearland, TX Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Varied Bunting YES (Bentsen SP) From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:34:53 -0400 (EDT) Hi, all! First off, I wanted to pass on that the Varied Bunting was very visible today, but along the RIGHT fork of the Rio Grande Trail; I first heard the bird at the traditional spot by Marker 10 along the left fork, but he was WAY out there, so on the way out I decided to check out the right fork, and there he was, not yards off the trail! There were really no landmarks along to trail to point out his position; best advice I can give is to familiarize yourself with the song and let your ears guide you! Other Bentsen highlights included a pair of soaring Anhingas, and a Bronzed Cowbird performing "The Helicopter" at the Rio Grande Trailhead tram stop. I actually started at Quinta Mazatlan, where the best bird was a female-type Black-and-white Warbler! Ran into John Brush and friend, where a Red-crowned Parrot obligingly came in (although in the photos the red crown looks rather dark, yet it doesn't strike me as a Lilac-crowned; feedback is welcome). At any rate, real Red-crowns were calling up a storm early on! Dipped on Dan Jones' odes, but a pretty Bordered Patch was the consolation prize. Pictures and a recording of the Varied Bunting are here: http://miriameaglemon.com/photo_gallery/2013%20Field%20Trips/June/Quinta%20M azatlan.html Bird List (those seen only at one location or the other are annotated): QM: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula BSP: Anhinga Anhinga anhinga QM: Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Inca Dove Columbina inca White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi BSP: Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica Buff-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris QM: Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora QM: Red-crowned Parrot Amazona viridigenalis\ BSP: Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii BSP: Green Jay Cyanocorax yncas BSP: Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva BSP: Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus atricristatus BSP: Verdin Auriparus flaviceps QM: Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus BSP: Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii QM: Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos QM: Long-billed Thrasher Toxostoma longirostre QM: Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre QM: European Starling Sturnus vulgaris QM: Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Olive Sparrow Arremonops rufivirgatus Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis BSP: Varied Bunting Passerina versicolor QM: Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus BSP: Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus QM: Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater QM: Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus BSP: Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis QM: Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria QM: House Sparrow Passer domesticus 42 SPECIES Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Leakey Hacienda birds. From: Collins & Charmaine Ganson <cgtimes2 AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:43:14 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Had a great day so far off the back porch and deck here in Leakey. 32 species so far. The highlights of the day had to be a flock of Bush Tits and a male Black & White Warbler. The Golden-fronted Woodpeckers have fledged 2 youngsters. All day the adult male is staying with the young female & mom is staying with the young male. The list of birds seen follows. 32 species Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2 Wild Turkey 1 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 White-winged Dove 4 Mourning Dove 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Female & Male Golden-fronted Woodpecker 3 Male & Female with young. Eastern Phoebe 2 Vermilion Flycatcher 1 Female Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 Male & Female Brown-crested Flycatcher 1 Bell's Vireo 1 Short stubby beak compared to other Vireos. Western Scrub-Jay 1 Common Raven 1 Carolina Chickadee 1 Black-crested Titmouse 4 2 adults with young. Bushtit 5 Bewick's Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 2 A pair Black-and-white Warbler 1 Adult male Chipping Sparrow 3 Field Sparrow 1 Male singing. Summer Tanager 2 2 Males chasing each other. Northern Cardinal 3 2 Males & Female Blue Grosbeak 1 Immature male. Painted Bunting 1 Male Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Male & Female House Finch 7 3 adult Males, 2 Adult female 2juvenile females Lesser Goldfinch 2 Male & Female Charmaine & Collins Ganson Leakey, Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher at Christmas Mountains Oasis From: carolynohl AT aol.com Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 14:10:12 -0400 (EDT) We found the bird about an hour ago. David and Jan Hanson are here birding and I took time out from my water pumping to chat with them. Dave saw a Western Wood-Pewee that disappeared before he could photograph it. He expressed the desire to get photos of it, so I went looking for it. I didn't find it but did get a quick glimpse of a flycatcher I couldn't ID. After a couple times of that, Dave got a good look and said it was a Sulphur-bellied. He and Jan got good photos of it. I posted (TEXBIRDS facebook) a poor photo I took of it. Am going to try for better photos. Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Summer birds at Quinta Mazatlan From: John Brush <jsbrush10 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:31:01 -0500 Summer is in full swing here at Quinta Mazatlan. Lots of breeding activity continues in the park, as some birds are on their second brood. Over the past couple weeks the *Red-crowned Parrots* (with a *Lilac-crowned Parrot* often with them) have been seen fairly regularly in the park. You can also drive through some South McAllen neighborhoods to try for them. *Green Parakeets* have also been more regular in the park the past few weeks as well. *Tropical Kingbirds* are nesting on the adjacent golf course. At least one *Clay-colored Thrush* is nesting the park, still sitting on eggs. Regards, -- John Brush Edinburg, Texas Interpretive Guide Quinta Mazatlan WBC Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Utley From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:04:17 -0500 ************************************************************************************************************* After a long stint away from home I returned home for a bit. Within minutes of arriving and even before I unlocked the house, I could hear a Brown-crested Flycatcher down the way on a neighboring property. I am out watering the parched remainders of what plants I figure might still make it and had it calling just moments ago from a dead oak just down the road to the house on my property. A little over a decade ago someone reporting a BCFL from around here would have been stoned to a pulp for reporting one in the area without photos....I guess they are now just junk birds. The Crow people successfully reared two new members for the tribe while I was away. A Northern. Parula is here singing and enjoying the water sprinklers. Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 Cell http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Bill Trelc From: Bill Trelc <trelcjr AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:54:37 -0700 (PDT) yrfe http://www.willakanada.pl/phqqgnj/radmurjuaajzny/dgqmm.php Bill Trelc ipbtu Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Valley Nature Center Trip to Starr Co. Next Week From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:57:35 -0400 (EDT) Hi, all! VNC's monthly field trip for June (Saturday the 22nd) will be to Salineno and Falcon Parks (both state and county), and if time and energy permits, a stop at Roma on the way back for Black-chinned Hummingbird and butterflies (due to the heat, the plan is for a half-day only). Target birds (not guaranteed by a long shot but we can hope) include Red-billed Pigeon, Audubon's Oriole, Muscovy Duck, Scaled Quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Black-throated Sparrow, and whatever else may show up. Meet at the Whataburger in La Joya at 6:00 to carpool. Cost is $5.00 and all proceeds go to sponsor a school field trip to VNC. See you there! MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - June 14, 2013 From: Tim Brush <txbrush5 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:20:08 -0500 Update on the Varied Bunting--in the same area as before along the Rio Grande Hiking Trail, at Bentsen, this morning (June 14)--still singing quite a bit. Regards, Tim and John Brush Edinburg, TX On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 4:03 PM, Mary GustafsonSubject: RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - June 14, 2013 From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:03:38 -0400 (EDT) . * Texas * Lower Rio Grande Valley * June 13, 2013 . To report rare birds, e-mail rgvbirds AT hotmail.com(preferred) or call (956)584-2731 option 3. . Updates can be seen on the web athttp://rgvbirds.blogspot.com . Capitalized birds marked with a + are Review Species forTexas. Please send sightings/photographs to the Texas Bird Review Committee:ecarpeATgmail.com. . NOTE: Monday-Wednesday bothBentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and Resaca de la Palma State Park willhave their offices closed but the park open (NO TRAM, self check-in at the IronRanger) and full services Thursday-Sunday. . NOTE: Monday-Tuesday EsteroLlano Grande State Park offices will be closed but the park open (self check-inat the Iron Ranger) and full services Wednesday-Sunday. . Our rare bird alert this week includes: . Yellow-green Vireo Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler Varied Bunting . This is a general reminder that playing recordings is notallowed in Texas State Parks nor in many LRGV birding sites. All State Park andNational Wildlife Refuge visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation. . The Valley from east to west. . Mangrove Warbler, a well-marked subspecies of YellowWarbler that may be distinct enough to warrant full species status, can be seenby contacting the Sealife Center at (956) 299-1957. . A Yellow-green Vireo was found at Resaca de la PalmaState Park on May 26 and continues near the parking lot. Another was found in urban Brownsville June6, no more recent reports. And a thirdwas in a closed area in Hidalgo County! Keep your eyes and ears open! . A Chestnut-sided Warbler was a surprise singing away inEdinburg on 6/13! The local Blue Jayshave been detected a few times, but they are not easy to locate. . A male Varied Bunting was found at Bentsen-Rio GrandeValley State Park on May 22 and continued through at least June 4 on the RioGrande Trail (take the left fork and look for the bird between signposts 10-14). . PARROT REPORT Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas ofQuinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Valley Nature Center in Weslaco in the evening,Calvary Baptist Church in Harlingen (1815 N 7th Street). Brownsville’s OliveiraPark (Los Ebanos Road/El Paso Road across from Pace High School) hasRed-crowned Parrots as well, mingling at dusk with escaped Yellow-headed,White-fronted, Lilac-crowned and Red-lored Parrots. Red-crowned Parrots andGreen Parakeets are seen in urban areas irregularly all over the Valley. . Green Parakeets can be seen staging in McAllen near 10thand Dove in the evening, sometimes winging a few blocks over to Nolana xMcColl. Watch for a couple of Mitred Parakeets that sometimes mingle with them. . In Hidalgo, at 5th and Gardenia near the HidalgoPumphouse World Birding Center, a few Monk Parakeets have taken up residencebuilding nests on telephone poles, keeping company with an escaped Rose-ringedParakeet. These birds have been present since winter 2010. . WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER INFORMATION - Most sites forWhite-collared Seedeaters are in Zapata and Webb counties. Information isprovided as a service to visiting birders. Sites to check include the SanYgnacio County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary at the foot of Washington Street in SanYgnacio, the Raptor Trail at the west end of San Ygnacio, the library pond inZapata, and Laredo's Las Palmas Trail, North Central and Father McNaboe Park.Access to La Laja Ranch, also a Seedeater site, is by advance reservationsonly. E-mail the owner at Edward.herbst AT att.net. This is a fee site. . FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL INFORMATION - FerruginousPygmy-Owls are present at El Canelo, San Miguelito Ranch and King Ranch (NoriasDivision only). Recent reports have *not* found Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls at SanMiguelito Ranch or El Canelo. This owl is very difficult to find at any otherlocation at present and has not been seen or heard at Bentsen-Rio Grande ValleyState Park since the summer of 2010, when the park was inundated by the RioGrande. . Seehttp://rgvbirds.blogspot.com/p/ferruginous-pygmy-owl-sites.html for moreinformation. . Directions are provided only for sites not included inthe ABA Birders' Guide to the Rio Grande Valley or the Birders' Guide to theTexas Coast. These guides are indispensable for visiting birders. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Site Closures: Allen Williams Wildscape, Pharr, open by appointmentONLY; Call or text 956-460-9864. Bentsen-RGV State Park, building/store closed/no trams onMonday-Wednesday but the grounds are open (self-pay station). Edinburg Scenic Wetlands World Birding Center, buildingand grounds both closed on Sundays. Estero Llano Grande State Park, building/store openWednesday-Sunday. Frontera Audubon Thicket, Weslaco, closed Sunday morningsand all day Mondays except by appointment. Los Ebanos Preserve, San Benito, Appointment ONLY;956-241-2494. Methodist Camp Thicket, Weslaco, group reservations (fee)only. Contact Estero LlanoGrande State Park. Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, closed Sundays and Mondays. Resaca de la Palma State Park, building/store closed/notrams Monday-Wednesday starting June 1, grounds open (self-pay station). Building/store closed/no trams Monday & Tuesdayin May. Salineno –feeding station closed for the summer. San Miguelito Ranch – Closed until March 2014. Santa Ana NWR- closed to bicycles Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, closed Sunday mornings andMondays. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: yesterdays pictures, youngsters and mostly mystery shorebirds, and 200+ pelicans From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:32:12 -0500 The seasons are changing. The first of the year's crop of cattle egrets were out at Anahuac http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787965 And last year's young black-crowned night herons are molting into adult plumage starting at the back http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787962 Lots of cliff swallows were sitting on the wires http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787969 the numbers became lots as they were being joined by youngsters and the parents could sit around a little. Still lots of birds in nests http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787967 Marsh wrens were harder to squeak out http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787966 Reddish egrets are gathering but no youngsters seen yesterday http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787978 I counted just short of 200 white pelicans at rollover pass. There are additional birds behind the island but all I got was a glimpse of a head popping up now and then. By far the most summering birds I have seen. There are 2 more pictures to get this group in with another flock further along http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787979 The breeding plumage horned grebe at the Quintana hurricane levee appears to be losing a little of his color but never stopped preening to really pose. Far away in lots of haze and shimmer http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150788003 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150788002 The peeps in the lagoons were really hard to id due to distance and light. I think that this bird was a western http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787988 but it has no semipalmations http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787987 It is good that semipalmated sandpipers are much smaller http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787989 A couple of snowy plovers. Both appear to be males but there was a young bird that apparently did not get into a picture or had its back to me http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787990 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787991 This bird was a western sandpiper http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787993 And there were several white-rumped sandpipers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787994 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787995 A young of the year Wilson's plover looked like it could fly well but did not. Note the sort of crest where downy feathers remain among the new feathers. This will last for a month or so and can be even more distinct. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/150787996 Challenging birding to say the least. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Lubbock Area Birding Summary for May - Long From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:27:17 -0700 (PDT) MAY 2013 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS: With 1.15 inches of rain during the month, far below the average rainfall for the month of 2.31 inches, Lubbock is now at 3.42 inches for the year, over two inches below the average year-to-date total of 5.57 inches. Drought monitors still have the bulk of the region in the two worst drought categories and long range forecasts continue to be discouraging. May highlights were an interesting mix wandering waterbirds, the typical mix of eastern and western migrant shorebirds/songbirds the region is blessed with (albeit more concentrated at the few remaining riparian areas than is typical), quite a few late migrants and persistently lingering sparrows, and a startling delay in the flip flog of our three goldfinch species. The combination of intense observer effort at some locations and the increase in data due to e-bird has made it somewhat more difficult to separate individuals sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively conservative and I am willing to share it with anybody who is interested. As always the county follows the site in () and birds are mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. CACKLING GOOSE: 2-9 birds, mostly injured, persisted at Lake Six (Lubbock) through the end of the month (SC, AnH, CR), 1 injured bird persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the end of the month (SC), and 6 were reported from MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (RW) - MORE THAN EXPECTED THIS LATE IN THE YEAR BUT TYPICAL OF THE PATTERN OF INJURED GEESE PERSISTING AT PROTECTED AREAS IN THE REGION. WOOD DUCK: 1-2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through 5/12/13 (CC, HT) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE. AMERICAN WIGEON: 1-2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) through 5/11/13 (PB, CC, CR), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/3 (SC), 1 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/26/13 (BS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE LINGERER INTO MAY. CINNAMON TEAL: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC) the only report - VERY LOW; ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ABUNDANCE AND CONCENTRATION OF BLUE-WINGED TEALS IN THE REGION THIS SPRING. GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 2-5 at Reese Center (Lubbock) through 5/8/13 (CC, SC, AnH, HT), 20 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC), and 3 at the Springlake Sewage Pond (Lamb) on 5/25/13 (BS) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. REDHEAD: 1-3 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (CC, SC, QE, NM) the only reports - LOW. RING-NECKED DUCK: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, CR), 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 1 male at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (AnH), 2 at Post City Park (Garza) on 5/13/13 (PB), and2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. LESSER SCAUP: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) through 5/8/13 (CC, SC, HT) - LOW. BUFFLEHEAD: 1 at Huneke Park (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (HT) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE MONTH. THE 5th MAY RECORD FOR OUR REGION. EARED GREBE: 1-2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) through the end of the month (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE BREEDER IN THE REGION. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: 2 persisted at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, SC, HT) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; NOW SEEMS TO BE ESTABLISHED AS A VERY RARE SUMMER RESIDENT. GREAT EGRET: 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS; BREEDING OF THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER CASUALTY OF ONGOING DROUGHT. SNOWY EGRET: 2-8 at or immediately below Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the month (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR), 2-15 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (CC, SC, AnH, HT), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (PB, CC, CR, RW), 1-3 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) throughout the month (CC, SC, AnH, HT), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) - ABOUT AVERAGE; THIS SPECIES SEEMS TO BE SUMMERING IN THE REGION IN REASONABLE NUMBERS DESPITE THE DROUGHT. LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 persisted in the area below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/3/13 (AnH) - RARE BUT ANNUAL IN THE REGION WITH REPORTS INCREASING DURING THE LAST DECADE. CATTLE EGRET: 1-6 at or below Lake Six (Lubbock) throughout the month (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR), 6 steadily rose to 38 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) during the month (CC, SC, AnH), 7 near Petersburg (Hale) on 5/6/13 (KH), 7 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC), 18 at Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), and 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 5/25/13 (AnH) - NOT UP TO HISTORICAL NUMBERS BUT NOT ALL THAT BAD CONSIDERING THE DRYNESS OF IT ALL. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through at least 5/16/13 (CC, QE, AnH), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) through at least 5/19/13 (CC, SC), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC) the only reports - LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS BUT PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS HORRIBLY DRY YEAR. WHITE-FACED IBIS: 37 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (CC, AnH), 26 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 2 at Tech Terrace on 5/11/13 (CC), 2-8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (PB, SC, CR), 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), 10 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC), 5 in (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 10 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/20/13 (RR), 5 at Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/24/13 (JL), 7 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/26/13 (SC), 3 in Brownfield (Terry) on 5/27/13 (BS), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/31/13 (SC) - A DECENT NUMBER OF REPORTS AND A GOOD SPREAD BUT NUMBERS ARE VERY LOW THIS SEASON. GLOSSYxWHITE-FACED IBIS: 2 well photographed birds at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC) - A RARE BUT REGULAR HYBRID EVENT FOR OUR REGION. OSPREY: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH) and 1 near Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (JL) - CASUAL, AT BEST, THIS LATE IN THE MIGRATORY SEASON. NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 at Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM), 1 at Lubbock City Farm (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC), and 1 at Quitaque Creek Canyon (Floyd) on 5/4/13 (KH) the last reports of the season - NOT BAD OFR THIS LATE IN THE SPRING. COOPER'S HAWK: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) the last reports of the season - NOTEWORTHY AS THE SPECIES IS CASUAL, AT BEST, IN MAY. COMMON GALLINULE: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH) were quite a ways downstream from Mae Simmons Park; the only known breeding site in our region. SNOWY PLOVER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC0 the only report - LOW. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC) and 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (AnH) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE MIGRANT. BLACK-NECKED STILT and AMERICAN AVOCET: SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBERS OF BOTH SPECIES PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN THE FEW REFUGIA LEFT BY ONGOING DROUGHT. SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Roughly thirty reports of 1-4 birds at at least fourteen sites scattered across the region (Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (PB, BB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, RR, BS, HT) - A SURPRISINGLY GOOD NUMBER AND SCATTER GIVEN THE DROUGHT - THANK GOODNESS FOR EXPOSED ROCKS, I GUESS. SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1-2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/7/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 5/6/13 to 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/26/13 (BS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON SPRING MIGRANT. GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH) and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only reports - VERY LOW. WILLET: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, JT) and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC) - THE VERY GOOD PASSAGE OF WILLETS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL CONTINUED THROUGH MAY AS WELL. LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (CC, SC, HT), 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (SC), 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 5/9/13 (BB), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 5/11/13 through 5/16/13 (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (SC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) frm 5/15/13 through 5/16/13 (CC, AnH), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) from 5/19/13 through 5/26/13 (CC, BS) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE PAUCITY OF GREATER YELLOWLEGS. UPLAND SANDPIPER: 3 flying over Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH) the only report - VERY LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CR), 14 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC, RW), and 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH) the only reports - VERY LOW. WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH), and 10 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC) the only reports - INCREDIBLY LOW. LEAST SANDPIPER: Ten reports of 1-8 birds at various sites in (Lubbock) during the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR, HT, RW) the only reports - VERY LOW. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) from 5/12/13 thoguh 5/16/13 (CC, SC, AnH) the only reports - LOW. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 3 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 3 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC, RW), 8 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC), 1 at Guy Park (Lubbock) on 5/25/13 (AnH), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only reports - LOW. PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (CC, HT), 4 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC, SC, RW), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE - SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH! STILT SANDPIPER: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH), 6 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 CC), and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only reports - VERY LOW. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (CC, HT), 7 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC), 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC), and 1-2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (SC, AnH) the only reports - INCREDIBLY LOW. WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 1-3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/16/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR, WW) with a spike of 37 on 5/9/13 (AnH), 60 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (CC, HT) declined to 2-19 on 5/8/13 (SC, AnH), 400 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/8/13 (SC) declined to 100 on 5/19/13 (CC) and then down to 5 on 5/26/13 (BS), 4 near Brownfield (Terry) on 5/9/13 (HT), 6 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 2 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH) - AVERAGE NUMBERS BUT VERY SHORT STAYS WITH LITTLE, IF ANY, EVIDENCE OF BIRDS REMAINING IN THE REGION TO BREED. BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 bird in subadult plumage at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/2/13 through 5/3/13 CC, SC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; THE REGION'S VERY FIRST MAY RECORD. FRANKLIN'S GULL: 4-5 adult birds at Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR, WW) and 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (RW) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS INCREASINGLY RARE SPRING MIGRANT. RING-BILLED GULL: 22 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 peaked at 26 on 5/11/13 and then declined to 1 by 5/26/13 (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR), 10 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 peaked at 11 on 5/11/13 and then declined to 1 by 5/31/13 (CC, SC, AnH, HT), 1 at Huneke Park (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (HT), and 4 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (RW) - QUITE GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. LEAST TERN: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR) - CASUAL, CLOSING IN ON ANNUAL, IN THE REGION DURING SPRING MIGRATION. CASPIAN TERN: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/3/13 through 5/4/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL; THE 7th RECORD FOR THE REGION AND THE FIRST RECORD IN OVER A DECADE! BLACK TERN: 2-7 at Lake Six (Lubbock) daily from 5/11/13 through 5/16/13 (PB, CC, SC, AnH, CR, WW) - LOW. FORSTER'S TERN: 2-8 at Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/2/13 through 5/12/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE. INCA DOVE: 4 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC), 6 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) the only reports - AT THIS POINT, THE SPECIES IS CLOSE TO VANISHING IN OUR REGION. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH) and 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/31/13 (BN) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND VERY POOR NUMBERS. COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 5/9/13 (KH) was the first of the season and numbers remained low throughout the remainder of the month - ON TIME, MORE OR LESS, BUT VERY LOW NUMBERS. COMMON POORWILL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/6/13 (SC) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) the only reports - LOW. CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (fide RL) was brought into the SPWRC but had to be euthanized - A VERY LOW DENSITY MIGRANT TO AND BREEDER IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES; RECORDS FROM ATOP THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT ARE FEW INDEED. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 5/9/13 (CC, HT), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC, SC) the only reports - LOW. PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC) - CASUAL, AT BEST, IN MAY. FORMERLY BRED, ALBEIT RARELY, AT TWO SITES IN LUBBOCK: LATE SPRING AND SUMMER RECORDS NOW SEEM TO INVOLVE NON-REPRODUCTIVE BIRDS. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC, QE), 1 possibly different bird at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/22/13 (QE), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only reports - LATE AND LOW. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC), 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC, AnH), 1 in Yellowhouse Canyon (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 6 in Teck Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/20/13 (JD), 1 in (Hale) on 5/21/13 (RR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS), 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 5/26/13 (BS), and 4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/31/13 (SC) - LATE TO ARRIVE BUT CLOSE TO AVERAGE NUMBERS ONCE THEY FINALLY SHOWED UP. WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/9/13 through 5/10/13 (CC, AnH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 2-3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC, AnH), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 2 near Spade (Lamb) on 5/20/13 (AR), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS), and 1 at Windmill Motte (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND A TAD LOW THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5?19/13 (CC, AnH) , and 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 5/27/13 (BS) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND VERY LOW THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. DUSKY FLYCATCHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC, AnH) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW KNOWN TO BE A REGULAR MIGRANT; THE 32nd and 33rd RECORDS FOR THE REGION. GRAY FLYCATCHER: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/25/13 (AvH, TT) the only report - LATE AND LOW. CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBER. EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC), 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/14/13 (BN), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/25/13 (AvH, TT), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS), and 2 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/31/13 (BN) - A BIT OF A PICK UP OVER LAST SPRING; CONDITIONS ARE MARGINALLY DAMPER AND THERE MAY BE MORE IN THE WAY OF GOOD BREEDING SITES THIS YEAR. SAY'S PHOEBE: 2 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) the only report - LOW. VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at Windmill Motte (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION, NOW ANNUAL AND CAN BE EXPECTED IN ANY PART OF THE REGION AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR - A SITUATION WELL WORTH WATCHING. EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock)on 5/11/13 (CC, SC) may be the same bird that was seen in late April - VERY RARE IN THE REGION OVERALL; CLOSE TO ACCIDENTAL ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. BELL'S VIREO: 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) - FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION, ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A WIDESPREAD, ALBEIT IN VERY LOW NUMBERS, BREEDER THROUGHOUT. CASSIN'S VIREO: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (CC, AnH) the second report for the spring - AN ANNUAL, ALBEIT RARE, STRAY TO THE REGION. PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) were the second and third reports for the spring - AN ANNUAL, IF SPARSE, MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION. WARBLING VIREO: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH), 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 5/9/13 (CC, HT), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), and 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS) - BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS, NICE SCATTER AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS FORMERLY MUCH MORE COMMON MIGRANT. COMMON RAVEN: 1 near Dougherty (Floyd) on 5/3/13 (KK), 2 in Floydada (Floyd) on 5/4/13 (KH), 1 in Lakeview (Floyd) on 5/4/13 (KH), and 1-2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) from 5/5/13 through 5/30/13 (KH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RESURGENT RESIDENT IN THE REGION. PURPLE MARTIN: 1-2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC, SC) the only report - VERY LOW THIS YEAR. TREE SWALLOW: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM), 3 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, CR), 1 at/below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 SC, AnH, CR), and 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (AnH) - A TAD LOW. BANK SWALLOW: 4 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM), 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, CR), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, CR), 1-2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC, AnH), 2-6 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, HT), 8 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 ( CC, HT), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC), 10-12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC, SC), and 1 at Post City Park (Garza) on 5/13/13 (PB) - VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD FOR SO LATE IN THE SEASON. CAVE SWALLOW: 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (AnH) , 15 at theSilver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/14/13 (BN), and 28 at the Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/31/13 (BN) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND ALMOST NO SCATTER. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (KD) and 1 in another Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/20/13 (JD) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; OUR 3rd and 4th MAY RECORDS. HOUSE WREN: Twenty-four reports of 1-3 birds throughout the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (PB, CC, SC, NG, AnH, KH, BN, CR, RR, HT) - AN EXCELLENT MOVEMENT OF THIS SPECIES THROUGH THE REGION THIS SPRING. BEWICK'S WREN: Eight reports of 1-3 birds throughout the region (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (CC, AnH, BN, RR, BS) - THIS SPECIES SEEMS TO BE ON THE DECLINE IN THE REGION; INCREASINGLY SCATTERED AND HARD TO FIND. CAROLINA WREN: 1-2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) through the month (PB, CC, CR) and 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/22/13 (QE) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LOW DENSITY - ATOP THE CAPROCK - BREEDER. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 4 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (SC), 2 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/15 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC) the only reports - A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE FROM THE RECORD NUMBERS SEEN, IN PASSAGE, DURING APRIL OF THIS YEAR. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 1-2 persisted at/below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (CC, AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), and 1 on the TTU campus (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (SC) - PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/213 (CR) - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; THE REGION'S 2nd MAY RECORD! SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 and 5/3/13 (CC, SC, CR), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CR), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/6/13 (AnH), 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/8/13 (RR), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 2 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/11/13 (RR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC)1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH)1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), and 1 at the CR 60 Pond (Hale) on 5/21/13 (RR) - EVEN ASSUMING SOME OVERLAP, A VERY GOOD SPRING SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION. HERMIT THRUSH: Nineteen reports of 1-5 birds throughout the region (Bailey, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (CC, SC, JC, AnH, KH, JL, CR, HT) - A TAD ABOVE AVERAGE, PERHAPS - NOTHING SO STELLAR AS THE SWAINSON'S THRUSH MOVEMENT. GRAY CATBIRD: 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (AnH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (DH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) - AVERAGE NUMBERS; BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTS. BROWN THRASHER: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (SC, AnH, CR) and 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/7/13 (RR) - THE ONLY REPORTS FROM ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. CEDAR WAXWING: 75 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (CR) peaked at 100 on 5/3/13 (CC, SC) and then declined to 2 by 5/16/13 (CC). There was also 1 seen in Tech Terrace on 5/19/13 (CC) - A MIGRATORY FLUSH AFTER A POOR WINTER/EARLY SPRING. OVENBIRD: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CR), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH) - CASUAL, AT BEST, DURING SPRING MIGRATION - THREE SEPARATE REPORTS IS A GOOD SEASON! WORM-EATING WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 and 5/3/13 (SC, CR) - CASUAL OR ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 24th RECORD. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: Six reports of 1-2 birds spread across four sites in (Lubbock) during the first three weeks of the period (PB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR) - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS BUT DROUGHT HAS ELIMINATED SEVERAL OF OUR BETTER SITES FROM CONSIDERATION. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH) - VERY LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; HARDER TO FIND DURING DROUGHT YEARS. TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR) the only report for the month - A TAD LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; ANOTHER SPECIES THAT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENTLY FOUND DURING DAMPER - GREENER- SPRINGS. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Seventeen reports of 1-10 birds in the region (Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (PB, CC, SC, AnH, NM, CR, HT) - EVEN ASSUMING NO OVERLAP AT ALL, LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND LOW NUMBERS. NASHVILLE WARBLER: Twenty-three reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Hale, Lubbock) during the period (PB, CC, SC, QE, NM, NP, CR, RR) - EVEN ALLOWING FOR SOME OVERLAP, A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS AND GENERALLY GOOD NUMBERS. CONSIDERING APRIL'S NUMBERS, A VERY GOOD SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: Thirty-two reports of 1-10 birds and one report of 26 birds from at least twenty-three sites in (Bailey, Crosby, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (CC, SC,JC, KD, NG, AnH, KH, GJ, NM, CR, RR, AR, BS, HT) - I BELIEVE THE CONTEMPORARY TERM IS 'OFF THE HOOK' - A REMARKABLE MOVEMENT OF THIS SPECIES FOR OUR REGION; THE BEST I HAVE SEEN IN FIFTEEN YEARS! KENTUCKY WARBLER: 1 persisted at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 4/30/13 through 5/2/13 (CR, SC) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 14th RECORD. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (AnH), 1 female and 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/10/13 through 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR)), 1-2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC, SC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1-2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, CR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), and 1 female and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) - NOT A STELLAR MIGRATORY PERFORMANCE FOR THIS SPECIES. HOODED WARBLER: 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 female in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (NG , photograph) the only report - A TAD LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. NORTHERN PARULA: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH, CR) and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/10/13 through 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION DURING SPRING MIGRATION; NOW ANNUAL ALBEIT IN SMALL NUMBERS. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/18/13 (NG, photograph) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 23rd RECORD. YELLOW WARBLER: Twenty-six reports of 1-9 birds at eleven sites in the region (Bailey, Cochran, Lamb, Lubbock, Yoakum) during the period (PB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, AR, BS, HT) - EVEN ASSUMING SOME OVERLAP IN SIGHTINGS, GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER DESPITE AT RELATIVELY LATE PASSAGE. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 5/19/13 (CC), and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) - CASUAL IN THE REGION DURING SPRING MIGRATION; THREE REPORTS IN A SINGLE SEASON IS QUITE REMARKABLE. BLACKPOLL WARBELR: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/2/13 through 5/3/13 (CC, SC, CR, photograph) and 1 female below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH, CR, photograph) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; THIS SPECIES IS EITHER MOVING THROUGH THE REGION MORE REGULARLY OR IS BEING DETECTED MORE EFFECTIVELY; OUR 27th AND 28th RECORDS FOLLOWING FOUR SPRING RECORDS FROM 2012. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: WE EXPECT DECENT NUMBERS OF THIS SPECIES TO LINGER THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY BUT THEY GENERALLY THIN OUT QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY SHORTLY THEREAFTER. IT WAS POSSIBLE TO LOCATE DOUBLE DIGIT NUMBERS OF THE SPECIES WELL INTO THE THIRD WEEK AND I AM INCLUDING SOME OF THE MORE REMARKABLE REPORTS - 50 were seen at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 75-110 birds were below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 11 were below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 16 were at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (SC) 6 were below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 11 were at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 1 was at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/22/13 (QE) - PERSISTED IN GOOD NUMBERS LONGER THAN USUAL THIS SEASON AND SOME NUMBERS WERE TRULY ASTOUNDING. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR) the only report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. WILSON'S WARBLER: Single to low double digit numbers of this species could be encountered at favored sites throughout the region through the first three weeks of the period - AVERAGE BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS; GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock)on 5/3/13 (AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 9CC, SC), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) - THESE WERE MOST LIKELY MIGRANTS - LOCAL BREEDING SITES HAVE NOT BEEN SURVEYED YET THIS YEAR. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 5/1/13 through 5/5/13 (KD), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, CR), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT. SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 in a Lubbok yard (Lubbock) from 5/1/13 through 5/5/13 (KD), 6 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (CC, AnH), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (AnH), and 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/12/13 (RR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND PERSISTENCE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. CHIPPING SPARROW: Thirty-one reports of 1-10 birds, fifteen reports of 11-50 birds, and one report of 78 birds spread across eighteen sites in the region (Crosby, Hale, Lubbock, Terry, Yoakum) during the first three weeks of the period (PB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, KH, CH, RH, NM, CR, RR, HT) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD RUNNING A LITTLE LATE INTO THE PERIOD. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Thirty-six reports of 1-10 birds spread across sixteen sites in the region (Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Lubbock) during the first three weeks of the period (PB, CC, SC, KD, QE, AnH, KH, RR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD RUNNING A LITTLE LATE INTO THE PERIOD. NOTE THE TYPICAL NUMERICAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE GENERALLY MUCH MORE COMMON CHIPPING SPAROW. BREWER'S SPARROW: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/6/13 and 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), and 1 below Lake Six on 5/11/13 (PB, CR) - CASUAL IN MAY; THIS SPECIES RAN A LITTLE LATE INTO THE SEASON AS WELL. VESPER SPARROW: 15-20 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC), 5 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (SC), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/6/13 (KH), 4 at the CR 209 Playa (Crosby) on 5/9/13 (KH), and 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 5/12/13 (KH) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE LINGERING BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. SAVANNAH SPARROW: 5 at Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), and 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/10/13 (CC) - MORE IN THE WAY OF SPARROWS LINGERING LATER THAN USUAL. SONG SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH) - VERY LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES. LINCOLN'S SPARROW: The many reports in the first half of May were not terribly surprising but 3 lingering at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (AnH), 4 lingering at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (CC), 1 lingering below Lake Six (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (CC), 1 lingering in Plainview (Hale) through 5/21/13 (RR), and 1 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/31/13 (BN) - WERE ALL QUITE LATE IN THE SEASON. SWAMP SPARROW: 1 lingered at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 5/15/13 (CC, SC, AnH) and 1 was below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC) - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; THE TWO LATEST RECORDS ON FILE AT THIS POINT. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 persisted at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 5/6/13 (SC, CR) and 1 persisted at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) through 5/11/13 (PB, CC, CR) - ACCIDENTAL THIS LATE IN THE SEASON; SOME OF THE LATEST RECORDS ON FILE. SUMMER TANAGER: 1 first spring male was at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 5/19/13 (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR), 1 male at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (AnH, CR), 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/7/13 (RR), 1 female below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/9/13 through 5/11/13 (CC, SC, AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC) - FORMERLY CASUAL IN THE REGION; NOW ANNUAL AS A MIGRANT AND BREEDING IN AT LEAS TWO OF OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. HEPATIC TANAGER: 1 female at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC, AnH, photographs) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; THE BIRD OF THE MONTH WITH ONLY THREE PREVIOUS RECORDS IN THE REGION - THE LAST WAY BACK IN 1993. WESTERN TANAGER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC), 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH), 2 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC, AnH), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 2 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 5/20/13 (AR, JR), 2 males in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/20/13 (JD), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 5/25/13 through 5/27/13 (SC), and 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/26/13 (AnH) - A BIT LATE TO ARRIVE BUT GOOD NUMBERS. PYRRHULOXIA: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 5/24/13 through 5/25/13 (Di) - VERY RARE ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT DURING THE BREEDING SEASON. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC), 1 female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), 1 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 5/9/13 (CC, HT), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC, SC), 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/11/13 (RR), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE SPRING MIGRANT. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 at Clapp Park from 5/6/13 through 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC, SC), 1 female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), and 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (JC) - A TAD LOW; GENERALLY A BIT MORE COMMON THAN ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK IN MAY. LAZULI BUNTING: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC0, 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC0, 1 male on the TTU Campus (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (AB), 1 female below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1-2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, CR), 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), a copulating pair at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH) were also seen on 5/16/13 9CC), a first spring male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 5/26/13 (BS0, and 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 5/27/13 (BS) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE. INDIGO BUNTING: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (CR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 2 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (CR), 3 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, CR), 1-4 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 3 in Tech Terrace on 5/3/13 (CC), 1 female and 2 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (AnH) 1 female at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC), 1 female and 2 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 1-2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR), 1 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (AnH), 1 female and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), and 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 5/27/13 (BS) - EVEN ALLOWING FOR SOME OVERLAP, BETTER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS. DICKCISSEL: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH) the first and only report for the period - LATE AND VERY LOW. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Ten reports of 1-10 birds, ten reports of 11-50 birds, two reports of 51-100 birds, two reports of 101-250 birds, 1 report of 350 birds, and one report of 410 birds in the region (Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (PB, CC, SC, DH, AnH, KH, CR) - GOOD SCATTER AND VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR MAY; THIS SPECIES GENERALLY PEAKS IN APRIL - NOT SO THIS YEAR. BRONZED COWBIRD: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) throughout the period (CC, SC, AnH), 2 males at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (AnH), 1 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (SC), 2 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/9/13 (AnH), 2 at Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 5/9/13 (CC, HT), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CR), 5 at Whisperwood Pond (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (AnH)1 male in Littlefield (Lamb) on 5/20/13 (AR), and 1 in (Bailey) on 5/25/13 (BS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BREEDER. PINE SISKIN: 6-12 in Littlefield (Lamb) through 5/6/13 (AR, JR), 1-2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) through 5/7/13 (SC)2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, NM), 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) from 5/2/13 through 5/3/13 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC), 35 in Tech Terrace on 5/3/13 (CC), 18- 20 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), 9 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/8/13 (RR), 2 at TTU (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (SC), 7 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/9/13 (RR), 5 in Stanford Park (Yoakum) on 5/9/13 (CC, HT), 16 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/11/13 (RR), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (SB), 33 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 6 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/12/13 (RR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (SC), 9 at Silver Falls Rest Area (Crosby) on 5/14/13 (BN), 2-3 in Plainview from 5/15/13 through 5/19/13 (RR), 1-3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 5/19/13 through 5/21/12 (Di), 2 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 5/20/13 (AR, JR) - INCREDIBLY GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR MAY - PERSISTING VERY LATE IN THE REGION THIS YEAR. LESSER GOLDFINCH: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (AnH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (SB), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (CC, SC), 1-2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) from 5/17/13 through 5/31/13 (Di), and 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/21/13 (RR) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE THIS YEAR AND VERY LOW NUMBERS EVEN AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (CR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/1/13 (SC, QE, NM), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC), 6 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/2/13 (SC, NM), 1 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC, HT), 4 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (SC), 20 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/3/13 (CC), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/4/13 (SC), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/5/13 (Di), 35 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/6/13 (RR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/6/13 (SC), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/6/13 (SC), 30 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/7/13 (RR), 5-10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC, AnH), in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/7/13 (SC), 70 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/8/13 (RR), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/8/13 (SC), 20 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/9/13 (RR), 5 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/10/13 (RR), 4 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/10/13 (CC), 20 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/11/13 (RR), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (SB), 10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/11/13 (CC), 10 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/12/13 (RR), 1-2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (PB, CC, SC, CR), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/12/13 (SC), 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/13/13 (Di), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/13/13 (SC), 5 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/15/13 (RR), 3 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/15/13 (Di), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (Di), 3-10 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/16/13 (CC, QE), 5 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/17/13 (RR), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/17/13 (Di), 5 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/18/13 (RR), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (AnH), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 5/17/13 (AnH), 2 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 3 in Tech Terrace (Lubbock) on 5/19/13 (CC), 9 in Plainview (Hale) on 5/20/13 (RR), 2 at the Himmel Farm (Crosby) on 5/22/13 (KH), 2 at Reese Center (Lubbock) on 5/26/13 (AnH), and 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran) on 5/27/13 (BS) - EVEN ALLOWING FOR SOME OVERLAP, A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND VERY LARGE NUMBERS FOR MAY. MAY IS USUALLY THE MONTH DURING WHICH LESSER GOLDFINCHES INCREASE TO UNCOMMON STATUS AND PINE SISKINS AND AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES VANISH - NOT SO THIS YEAR. OBSERVERS: PB=Peter Barnes, ABron Benson, SB=Susan Bergeson, BBnji Brooks, CCmeron Carver, SC=Steve Collins, JC=Jim Crites, KD=Ken Dixon, JD=Jewel Downing, QE=Quinn Emmering, NG=Natasja Gestel, DHnny Hancock, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, Di=Donn ianuzi, GJ=George Jury, JL=Jimmy Lovering, NM=Nancy McIntyre, BN=Bob Neiman, NP=Niler Pyeatt, CR=Clayton (Ross) Rickett, RR=Robert Rios, AR=Anona Roberts, JR=Jerry Roberts, BS=Brady Surber, TT=Tess Trost, HT=Heidi Trudell, RW=Ryan Webb, WW=William Wenthe. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson terrverts AT yahoo.com Bird Records Compiler, Llano Estacado Audubon Society www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Recent Sightings @ the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands From: "Monica Barrera" <mbarrera AT cityofedinburg.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:22:25 +0000 Hello All! Pretty humid morning today, but I'm glad we got a bit of rain! I took a group of camp kids grades 1st-5th out on a bird walk the other day andthey were incredible on their bird knowledge! They knew pretty much every localbird we came across along the grounds. Very exciting to see such young kids beso knowledgeable and enthusiastic about birds and nature! The grounds wereactive with the songs/calls of the Long-billed Thrashers, Northern Mockingbirdsand White-eyed Vireos as they ventured along the gardens. The North Pond waspretty empty without the migrating ducks, but Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets,Neotropic Cormorants, American Coots and the Great Blue Heron were still seenhanging around the pond. At our soon-to-be new overlook area along our canalswe saw Killdeer, Black-necked Stilts and of course Great-tailed Grackles whoseem to get a kick out of chasing the poor Killdeer away from time to time. Weobserved many dove species nesting on various trees, in particular the Ebonytrees, and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds were zooming their way through thevegetation, frequently stopping at the flowers (and our feeders) to get a sipof nectar. We also saw the Black-chinned hummingbird at what seems to be hisusual spot our by South Pond, and a few Fulvous Whistling Ducks were spottedout there as well. I have also occasionally been spotting a Yellow-crowned Night Heron along the trails (I usually see them at the canal but this one was walking along North Pond for a bit until it saw me and flew off), and a Green Heron at our Dragonfly Pond. I also saw a few Scissor-tailed Flycatchers the other day as well, beautiful birds! Have a great day! Monica Barrera Interpretive Naturalist Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center P.O. Box 1079 Edinburg, Texas 78540 956.381.9922 O 956.381.0715 F mbarrera AT cityofedinburg.com www.cityofedinburg.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: yard birding, slow but hawks and owls etc From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:51:56 -0500 Not much happening around the house as many of the nesting birds are getting quiet for a bit as they work second broods. The titmice and chickadee young have figured out how to get food from the feeders for themselves. The red-headed woodpeckers are still keeping a distance, maybe due to too many red-bellies but they dominate red-bellies when they are together. Crested flycatchers have learned not to trespass but that will end when the young fledge. The barred owl family moved after the young fledged and are in a woodier area rather than a wooded back yard. Not much calling either although one adult was noisy this morning. I had thought that the red-tailed hawks had moved on as I had not heard nor seen a bird for over a month and more. Then about 10 days ago I heard calling but since the alarm jay does a good imitation I could not be sure if it was young red-tails. They fledged a week ago and I still have not seen much but lots of hearing. There are 3 and they are sitting in different spots and squealing much of the day for food. The parents are sneaky this year in feeding them and not much soaring either. One youngster is using the same tree that a youngster chose last year. Swainson's hawks are a good ways up the street along Voss north of Woodway north of Buffalo Bayou. Based on birds seen carrying stuff, the nest is off to the east. Randalls closed its store on Voss and that will be hard on the hawks as they fed at the dumpsters off and on for more than 30 years. A pine warbler is singing out along the bayou off and on for my first summer singer following the female that brought a youngster to the feeder for the first time. It has been joined by a white-eyed vireo that only whisper sings from deep in cover but has been doing it for several days. Another yard summer first. Stuff is growing up very dense and thick after Ike greatly pruned the upperstory making for a different local habitat. Do not need that to happen again though for the sake of a couple of new birds. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: West Nile Virus near Lake Houston and musings about Fish Crows From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT hctx.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:49:18 +0000 Today on my e-mail this notice popped up. I suggest birders chasing birds in NE
Harris County should be cautious.
"Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) Mosquito Control
has confirmed that a Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito sample has tested positive
for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Harris County.
The positive sample was collected from a mosquito trapping site in northeast
Harris County, ZIP Code 77346.
This is the first confirmed mosquito sample in Harris County this year that has
tested positive for West Nile Virus. "
If you do not have proper respect for mosquito borne diseases I have a reading
suggestion for you, An American Plague by Jim Murphy. This book while
non-fiction reads more like a sci-fi thriller with a little horror thrown in.
It's a great who done it, a great story of extreme dedication.
I have made a couple of recent jaunts into NE Harris County very near the area
where the mosquito was detected. One bird I was particularly interested in was
Fish Crow. I have found them in several locations on each trip. One on the very
busy commercial section of 1960, some in a neighborhood in Summerwood and of
course the reliable boat ramp birds at Deusen Park. I got my lifer Fish Crow at
the Lake Houston Dam in 1971 so the birds have long been in the area. However,
they were very limited in number and range in 1971. Today they seem common
throughout the area. Most jays and crows have had population declines since
West Nile became common. The Fish Crow seems to buck that trend. Are Fish Crows
less affected by West Nile? Are they taking advantage of less competition from
other corvids whose populations are depressed by West Nile?
If this is a redundant and a well-known fact, I apologize. These thoughts just
popped up and I have not tried to research the topic.
Cross posted to TX-Ornithology
Fred Collins
(281) 357-5324
Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center
Cypress Top Historical Park
Commissioner Steve Radack
Harris County Precinct 3
www.pct3.hctx.net
Subject: Clapp Park, Lubbock...and moving on...From: L Markoff <canyoneaglej AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:07:13 -0500 Hi Texbirds, Reading Anthony Hewetson's reports about Clapp Park piqued my interest in visiting the place. This morning I finally had the opportunity to do so. Thanks to Anthony's tips about parking and the best spots to check, I was able to make the most of my short time there. I found some good birds such as Black-crowned Night-Heron (1), Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (1), and Black-necked Stilt (2). But the best was NESTING Mississippi Kites. For over an hour I was immersed in the beauty of those birds. I have included a few photos of one that had a dragonfly. It seemed to be preparing it, rather than eating it, so I wondered if it was taking it back to its nestlings. A squirrel came on to the scene and it moved away and waited. That made me wonder if it didn't want the squirrel to see where its nest was, fearful that the industrious rodent might pilfer the nest. It was dawn so the light was low, resulting in somewhat blurry photos, but they give you the idea. http://flickr.com/gp/canyoneagle/i0r5G7/ Thank you Anthony, you have given me a grand finale to my Texas birding adventures. We are moving to Eugene, OR, and will hit the road in a few minutes, headed northwest. Thanks to all the wonderful folks on Texbirds who have helped me learn about Texas birds over the last decade. Love and best wishes to all, Lori Markoff of no fixed address at the moment, but migrating to Eugene, OR...will say hi once in a while...feel free to say hi if you visit Oregon... Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Anhuac to Quintana today, summer doldrums, but lingering birds From: Ruth <twofried AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:37:14 -0500 Joseph and Texbirders, We made a quick run to Quintana and Bryan Beach yesterday after work. Our primary target was the full cycle Lesser Back-backed Gull that you reported last week. No luck on that species although we did see many of the same nice species you report below. A few additional sightings include Semi-palmated Plover (1) at the lagoons, Painted Bunting (3) in brush along the levee and Magnificent Frigatebirds (12) soaring just offshore in several spots. We made 2 passes around the lagoons; the first at about 5 and the second at about 6:30. On the second pass we picked up the SPPL, a pair of Fulvous Whistling Duck and a few additional Blue-winged Teal. I suppose some of these birds are using the lagoons to roost overnight. It was also very cool to see some young ones that must have been in the grass on our first pass around the lagoon. We had 2 pair of almost fledged Willet young and 3 Black-necked Stilt young that appeared to be about a week old. Momma Stilt was quite concerned for the little ones and let us know that we were not welcome, even viewing from them from our car on the road. All in all and very nice couple of hours at the coast. Let us know if the LBBG re-appears. Thanks, Bob Friedrichs Houston, Texas On Jun 13, 2013, at 7:42 PM, Joseph KennedySubject: Anhuac to Quintana today, summer doldrums, but lingering birds From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:42:16 -0500 The forecast for a nice sunny day was a little wrong with 2 rain showers and one additional thunder session. Not much wind until the pm so there was very little soaring or birds along the ferry ride etc. Normal birds at Anahuac featuring the purple gallinules, least bitterns, rails etc. The neatest birds were several tree swallows using or at least poking into the cliff swallow nests on the refuge. Tree swallows are hole nesters and the cliff swallow nest fills the bill. I did not get close so could not tell if they were staying in the nests. A couple of years ago I had fledged tree swallows sitting next to the colony despite having no trees or holes nearby. I also have pictures of tree swallows exploring cliff swallow nests at the old boathouse at searim state park but did not go back later to see if they stayed. Maybe an adaptation to lack of trees in coastal areas when the birds are spreading their nesting range south. I worked most of the day counting shorebirds. Or trying to as there is a considerable lack of summering birds except at the Bryan Beach lagoons. Rollover pass was again covered with both pelican species. Over 100 white pelicans on the island where I wondered if they might try nesting a couple of years ago. Took some distant pictures to get an accurate count. Started with 1 sanderling east of high island out to the start of the wildlife refuge. 2 black-bellied plovers at rollover pass along with zero other non-willets. 11 black-bellied plovers did fly over yacht basin road which also had only willets. Bob road was high water with several Wilson's plovers and 1 semipalmated plover. No birds on the crystal beach beach but lots of drunks and near drunks. The area between Magnolia and Retillon roads had 25 all white sanderlings and 1 western willet. Bolivar flats had 5 greater yellowlegs, 12 sanderlings and 13 western willets. The only black terns of the day were there with over 100 birds including many all black birds. The pelican island tropical kingbirds are still trying for nesting success on their 3rd try for the year. Very quiet around noon. Headed down to Brazoria where Olney pond had dried entirely. One wet area in Crossroads was the only wet. It had avocets, willets, blue-winged teals and both species of yellowlegs. On Quintana, the neotropic sanctuary loggerhead shrikelets were out and about along with young grackles and mourning doves. The beaches had as many people as I have seen a real lack of birds. There was little gulfweed on the beaches of Bolivar and almost no fresh but there are huge piles of fresh weed all along Quintana and bryan beaches. The lagoons are really drying but still had lots of birds (for the summer). The 14 redheads are still lingering. Maybe 35 peeps including western and white-rumped. Took pictures of others to the west in the sun so may have some other id's. Also short-billed dowitchers, both yellowlegs including 12 greaters, avocets etc. There were crabbers along the road so birds were off a way. The best birds were at least 4 snowy plovers out there, one of which is likely a young of the year bird but I need to remind myself what they look like. A very strange plover finally called and was revealed by a concerned parent to be an almost fledged Wilson's plover. Last stop was on the hurricane levee where the breeding plumage horned grebe was in close to the shoreline vegetation along with 7 ruddy ducks. They were hard to see except when they moved out a little with the grebe preening the entire time. Summer is here and the summer doldrums have set in. It is another 2 weeks until the shorebirds start returning and migration really get going. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Austin Area RBA From: Kenny Anderson <kennya290 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:33:40 -0500 The Austin area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 6:50 on June 13, 2013. Send interesting sightings- complete with species name, LOCATION, and contact information- to Kenny Anderson at kennya290 AT gmail.com -Rarities Found This Week- A Brown Pelican photographed at Lake Bastrop is a very nice inland find 6/1 (Bastrop County). A 2nd cycle Herring Gull was photographed at Friendship Park on Granger Lake in Williamson County on 5/31. A 1st cycle Herring Gull was photographed on 6/4,8 at Decker Lake in Travis County. A Caspian Tern described at Hornsby Bend on 6/4 was a good find. A pair of Brown-crested Flycatchers were on Kellam Lane in the Elroy area of Travis County on 6/9. An Osprey is a nice bird to see in June in the area. One was described at Lake Bastrop on 6/8. A Willet was described at Hornsby Bend on 6/2. American Redstarts are getting late with reports from an Austin home 6/9 and a bird photographed at Warbler Woods 6/5 in Guadalupe County. I would love to hear reports from the area. There's stuff out there, but it is hard to see from the sofa. Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60 mile radius, centered from the Capitol in downtown Austin. Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered and scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine. When documentation or photographs were provided that is mentioned, along with the other information about the bird(s) being seen. For questions or updates about birds mentioned here or to report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin area, please send an e-mail to kennya290 AT gmail.com Kenny Anderson Austin Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Cameron Co. (06/12/13): shorebirds incl. late Whimbrels + more From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris AT mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:11:57 -0500 Yesterday (Wednesday, 06/12/13), after far too long an absence from shorebirding, we visited Cameron County, Hwy. 4 (Boca Chica Blvd.), studying the bayshore area to its south (to the north was dry) as one approaches the Gulf and, in late afternoon, the Hwy. 48 boat launch (east side of highway) between Brownsville and Port Isabel. Given that the spring shorebird migration was coming to a close, we were not surprised to find relatively few species (along with local breeders), but our finds included some quite late surprise species that we were delighted to see. HWY. 4 (BOCA CHICA BLVD.): Shorebirds were not easy to find here and were usually few and far between, and places safely to pull off the road without a nasty encounter with mud were even fewer. We found only 7 species of shorebirds. Nonetheless there were two pleasant surprises. One was PIPING PLOVER (1, possibly 2), a very late migratory species that we had had trouble finding during the major spring migration. The other substantially late migrant was a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (1), possibly the same individual as had been seen by Mary Beth Stowe and Pat Heirs on Sunday, June 9 (see MB's TEXBIRDS REPORT). This individual was surprising by its lateness and because it was found on the shore of this shallow bay, although they most often are found in watery areas with some grass or vegetation, or on such substrates as sod fields. This individual foraged on a long finger of sandbar with something of a green tinge to it (but what created that coloration could not be determined). Our four other shorebird species along Hwy. 4 were: SNOWY PLOVER (1), WILSON'S PLOVER (6 or 7), KILLDEER (1), BLACK-NECKED STILT (2, at least), and WILLET (widely distributed but not counted). Just as we left the area, the overflight of a beautiful adult WHITE-TAILED HAWK was a thrilling sight. HWY. 48 BOAT LAUNCH: Our visit began about 5:00 PM and provided by far the most gratifying birding of the day, including seeing all the birds in wonderful low-angle, relatively late day light--not to mention with cooling breezes right off the water. (Late afternoon on weekdays--too much disturbance on weekends and on holidays--is usually a good time to visit this site where the birds, shorebirds or whatever, will be lighted from more or less behind the birder, who mainly will be looking east or southeast.) Seeing the birds adequately here, as along Hwy. 4, requires, in most instances, a spotting scope. Our species of the day, an unexpected species at this date, was WHIMBREL (4). All the members of this curlew quartet were in spectacularly beautiful, clean, crisp breeding plumage, a joy to see and a pleasure to watch while they busily fed. Initially they were found on the south side of the channel but were flushed by the passage in the channel of a motorized boat. They then moved as a group to the north side of the channel, closer to our point of observation. Through our scope they were truly spiffy-looking birds. They remained there at least until we left, shortly after 6:00 PM, despite some brief harassment by a WILLET (dozens, widely distributed and heard resoundingly in the air). Despite that disturbance by a Willet, the Whimbrels quickly regained their composure and continued foraging. The second best highlight of yesterday was, for us, 15 ROSEATE SPOONBILLS distributed in three groups of closely associated individuals situated northeast, southeast, and almost due east of the east end of the parking lot. All were in high breeding plumage of dazzling intensity. Our third highlight of this site was the continuing presence of 2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, a fully adult parent bird and an immature offspring, individuals whom we have seen here on multiple visits (although missing this time, as quite often, was a second adult who sometimes is in their company, presumably the other parent). The youngster's lower mandible by now had half of its length a bright orange color instead of its original dusky color. Both oystercatchers fed much of the time on a large dead fish a short distance from the shoreline, possibly stranded in a tidal pool when the tide had receded. This offering of nature was much appreciated by both individuals. At one point something long and pinkish had been extracted from the fish, probably part of its digestive tract, and the youngster was allowed to take charge of it. Next, this youngster took the approximately 9-10 inch long morsel over to the water and repeatedly doused and shook it in the water, apparently as an act of cleansing. The bird would hold onto it near one end, submerse most of the remainder, swish it about in the water and then seemly try to bite off for consumption the part of it that had been submersed. We, though, did not observe this with sufficient continuity or carefulness to be sure of what happened next. We had become distracted by watching the Whimbrels, and when we looked again later, the lengthy morsel was no longer seen. We were pretty sure of where it had gone! The other shorebirds at this boat-launch area were BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (8-10, widely dispersed north of the channel), SNOWY PLOVER (1), WILSON'S PLOVER (10-12, dashing about wildly in pursuit of prey), and PIPING PLOVER (1). The scenario was graced by the presence of several tern species, each in small numbers yesterday: CASPIAN, GULL-BILLED, ROYAL, and LEAST. Also present were BLACK SKIMMER (ca. 20-25) and 3 common wader species. Inspired by a day of birding along the shores, we headed to SPI for a seafood dinner. Rex and Birgit Stanford McAllen, TX Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Re: Brush Comes Out of The Closet? From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:08:19 -0500 Nope not just yet :-)...Just wanted to see the country again, especially Guthrie....But I always bird every mile and every minute of the day wherever I am when traveling about if only thru the windshield...I had extremely little time for much out of truck birding, except where I was designated. I was driving and looking at country I have not seen in decades, some places since I was just a kid up that way, it did lead me into a sort of vain indulgence for old times sake..Except in town(s) it looks as I pretty much remembered except the trees in Guthrie seem a lot bigger.....I have a few photos of some old landmarks I will post to my FB soon.......B. ************************************************************************************************************* Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 Cell http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 3:21 PM, Ron WeeksSubject: Brush Comes Out of The Closet? From: Ron Weeks <ronweeks AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:21:56 -0700 (PDT) TexBirders, Read with interest Brush's notestating"could not help myself but to glide over to King Co., the second least populated Co in the continental US...Am. Kestrel, 4 Long-billed Curlew, Horned Larks, Bullock's Orioles, and Western Meadowlarks....Added the most species seen in the "oasis" that is Gutherie but nothing uncommon." Sure sounds like long distance county listing to me. Welcome to the club, Brush!:) Ron Weeks Lake Jackson Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: King, Knox and Haskell Co.s From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:42:27 -0500 ************************************************************************************************************* I was in Knox Co. this morning and after wrapping up there, I could not help myself but to glide over to King Co., the second least populated Co in the continental US and maybe Canada. Loving Co. precedes it as the least populated with Kenedy coming in as a near runner up. Wheat fields and enormous skies. Hilites. ... Am. Kestrel, 4 Long-billed Curlew, Horned Larks, Bullock's Orioles, and Western Meadowlarks....Added the most species seen in the "oasis" that is Gutherie but nothing uncommon. Interesting country especially after they actually got a bit of rain. The King Co. visit was just a tourist desire. Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 Cell http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Lake Somerville birds (Lee and Burleson Counties) - Wood Storks, cormorants and an Eastern Phoebe - from Saturday 6-8-13 From: drbirdie AT aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:32:51 -0400 (EDT) Hi Texbirders, I've been intrigued for several weeks about reports of unusual numbers of White Pelicans and large waders coming from the upper end of Lake Somerville, primarily from the Nail's Creek unit of Lake Somerville State Park, and I finally made it over there last Saturday afternoon to check it out. Lake Somerville had some good rain sometime between last fall and this spring, and the upper end,which is beginning to draw down now, is holding quite a few water birds, including transient Wood Storks and large numbers of Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons and smaller numbers of Snowy Egrets. I was especially interested to check out the cormorants, as there have been reports of Double-crested Cormorants there in good numbers. I had about 40 cormorants there Saturday afternoon, but they all appeared to me to be Neotropic Cormorants (slender, long-tailed and with acute angles of the rear of the gular skin patch). Despite what the printed park bird checklist says, Neotropic Cormorant is the expected cormorant here during the summer, and DC Cormorants tend to be rare in the summer. If anyone visits there this summer and gets photos of one or more DC Cormorants, I would be interested to see them. I had 8 Wood Storks initially on the Lee County side of the lake, but they lifted off and soared away to the north, over Burleson County. I missed the Roseate Spoonbills that have been present periodically. There were at least 3 Black-necked Stilts working the shoreline over in Burleson County, but they subsequently moved to a point that may be in Lee County or on the county line. Most of the waterbird action is visible from the area near the boat ramp at Nail's Creek Park. You will be standing in Lee County at the boat ramp, but many or most of the birds on the far shore (to the north) are actually in Burleson County. You can also walk along the trail(s) to the northwest of the boat ramp, and occasionally get a closer vantage point. To actually walk along the shore of the lake will require some bushwhacking, but could probably be done. Do NOT go over to Flagg Pond for water birds. Flagg Pond has been completely dry for a couple of years, and is grown up in brushy vegetation. It will take a lot of water to fill Flagg Pond, and it looks like there has been some work done there recently, so I don't even know if it will hold water now. There were a few Dickcissels over there, and the woods near there had Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo and a Pileated Woodpecker. Another interesting bird was an Eastern Phoebe at a small horse corral along the entry road to Flagg Pond. This is not a regular summer breeder here, so I may try to get back over there sometime in the next month or so to see if I can find any evidence of breeding. Without additional rain this summer, the lake will continue to draw down, and I suspect the area will get even better for waders and shorebirds. Good birding ya'll, Byron Stone, Austin Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Baytown Nature Center Bird Count 6/20/13 From: DHanson139 AT aol.com Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:34:51 -0400 (EDT) This is a reminder that the Baytown Nature Center Bird Count will be Thursday June 20th and will start at 7 AM at the Entrance parking lot. David Hanson Baytown/Mont Belvieu Area Chambers Co Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalist TOS Member 281-303-0166 hm 281-813-2657 cell Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List OwnerSubject: Trinity River birding. From: David Bryant <highlandbirds AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:35:28 -0700 (PDT) I spent a few hours this morning mostly driving along the east and west sides of the Trinity below I10. Wallisville rookery had Anhinga and Egret nests with lots of baby birds. At the Mayes tract, there were Fulvous Whistling ducks and numerous Morehens with chicks. We saw one strange heron that we decided might be a young Great Blue. It had a dark body with a white neck and head. It had the familiar dark streak along the top of the head. It was also on the small side for a Great Blue. Other birds seen during the morning: Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Snowey Egret White Ibis Roseate Spoonbill Green Heron Double_crested Comerant Stilt Black_bellied Whistling Duck Mottled Duck Red_winged Blackbird All the grackles Eastern Kingbird Dicksissel Brown_headed Cowbird Coot Mourning Dove White Pelican Swallows In addition to lots of birds, we spotted an otter and a very large Alligator. David Bryant Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner |