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Updated on Friday, October 19 at 09:24 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

The list owner  graciously approved posting this  excellent editorial on the 
Border Fence that appeared in the Houston  Chronicle Editorial Section .
 
Enjoy, 
 
Stennie Meadours 
San Leon
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/side2/5186236.html

Haste  lays waste: Ill-planned security fencing along the border  would
ravage the communities it's meant to protect

The brand-new Texas  Border Security Council had a rough time of it last
week in McAllen. The  group was created to advise Gov. Rick Perry on how
to maximize Texas'  anti-terrorism dollars. But its debut public meeting
devolved into a bitter  complaint session about the topic foremost in
border officials minds: the  federal government's security fence along
the U.S.-Mexico  border.

According to the first detailed maps for fence segments in Texas,  the
installation will visit huge damage on the Rio Grande  Valley's
commercial and natural resources.

In one respect, Texas is  relatively lucky. Unlike Arizona, where the
bulldozing has already started,  Texas must undergo environmental impact
and engineering studies before any  fencing construction begins.

But lower Valley residents, led by their  political and public safety
officials, are horrified by what they already  have seen.

The hapless Border Security Council — which has no  jurisdiction over
the fence — listened attentively to their concerns. But it  will be hard
to influence a politically influenced plan cobbled by  Congress.

From sheriffs to mayors to the Sierra Club, representatives of  border
residents are demanding that lawmakers pay attention to the damage  the
planned Rio Grande fence would do and to either change the location  —
or use better technology.

As planned, the fence will block access to  a unique national treasure:
the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife  Refuge.

These 88,000 acres of land along the river are the fruit of  decades of
painstaking cooperation between the Fish and Wildlife Service  and
nonprofit conservation groups.

The partnership poured $70 million  into saving this stretch of habitat
along the Rio Grande. Clearing it now to  build a fence, then cutting it
off from public use would inflict a double  blow to the local community.

This is the most popular and productive  birding destination in the
United States, said Nancy Millar of the McAllen  convention bureau. If
its value as a national resource is incalculable, the  impact on
McCallen is easy to figure.

Cutting it off will rob the area  of $150 million in yearly income,
Millar said.

The fence's hostile  symbolism also will have tangible costs. McAllen is
the No. 1 shopping  destination in America for Mexican residents. That
business relationship  accounts for more than one-third of all McAllen
retail, Millar  said.

These concerns might be moot if a border fence magically could  end
illegal immigration — and Americans' massive demand for it. The  fence's
placement might also be defensible if it could guarantee  Americans'
safety from terrorists.

It will do neither, of  course.

That's why border officials, public safety experts, and state  law
enforcers last week turned the security council meeting into  an
impromptu protest."

A fence isn't going to work. It's not the  solution," Steve McCraw,
Texas' homeland security director, said bluntly.  What Texas needs
instead of a fence, officials said over and over, are  infrastructure,
improved technology and more boots on the ground.

No  one knows better than Rio Grande Valley residents that illegal
immigration  contributes to overcrowded schools and overburdened
hospitals.

The  answer, though, is not a fence that would despoil a Texas wildlife
preserve  and kill pivotal commerce. One after another, border officials
made the point  to the state Security Council. Sens. Kay Bailey
Hutchison and John Cornyn  should be listening, too.


Brought to you by the  HoustonChronicle.com








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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

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Yesterday at Brazos Bend State Park, the Coastal Prairie Chapter of Master 
Naturalists were treated to a wonderful bird hike led by Cecilia Riley of GCBO. 
During all the fun, Cecilia spotted a Reddish Egret over 40 acre lake, probably 
wondering, "Where is Bolivar Flats!" This is an exceptional sighting as the 
last such recorded visit was over 15 years ago. 


Regular fall and winter hikes commence next Friday, October 26 at 8 a.m. at 40 
acre lake. See the schedule at www.brazosbend.org. 


Bill Godley
Brazos Bend State Park

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

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Jim Stevenson has had clients solid for about a week, and passed on a few 
sightings of the past three days that may be of possible interest: 


Today: 

Franklin's Gull, one at Bryan Beach

Wilson's Phalaropes present all week near Bryan Beach

Com Ground-Dove- In Jim's cul-de-sac

ST Flycatchers - hundreds today in both coastal counties

Songbiurd migrants at Quintana: Redstart, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia W, N 
Parula, several Indigo Buntings 



Yesterday (10/18) Thayer's Gull off Bolivar Ferry

Also, 15-20 Frigatebirds off ferry

GB Ani at Jim's off sky deck (I got to hear it calling!) [see-quoit!]


Wednesday (10/17) Winter Wren at Quintana

Baird's Sandpipers (2) along Follet's Island Beach (photo)

Western Kingbird in Jim's cul-de-sac


Keena Acock
GOS Assistant Director
Dickinson, TX

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

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Joseph and TexBirders,

Siskins have already shown up in West Texas. I reported a flock of 
about 40 birds last week. These birds are probably from the Rocky 
Mountains, which are only 350-400 miles away from Andrews as the 
Siskin flies. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I think the next several weeks (up to mid-November) will be the 
indicator if we are going to have an "invasion" year of northern 
Finches, Grosbeaks, etc. Maybe we'll get some raptors, too? Snowy 
Owl...Northern Goshawk...? John Mc. already has a report of 
Long-tailed Duck from Corpus Christi. Keep your eyes open!

Erik Breden
Andrews, TX

At 06:07 PM 10/19/2007, you wrote:
>---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
>Siskins have started south and are moving through Minnesota. The Canadian
>finch forecast is for a good move of the birds south. Of course some birds
>passing Duluth will not get here such as the numbers of black-backed
>woodpeckers. But one can always hope that one of the numbers of goshawks
>will join his winter texans friends and pass through the hawk watch to say
>hello.
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

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Today promised to be a great day at the hawk watch with a north wind and
basically the anniversary of the golden eagle last year. The skies were
empty when I arrived but around 9:30 birds started getting up and about an
hour later several hundred birds were scattered out along the point.

Most were broad-wings but there were migrating turkey vultures which acted
very differently from the local birds. A few others were tossed in including
storks, anhingas, swainson's and cooper's hawks.

I went out on the point and watched part of the group climb very high and
head off across the bay to the west. The group included vultures, storks and
broadwings. The last part of the group headed north and was not seen again.
I got the impression that some of the other birds also went across after
some false starts.

The wind shifted from northish to southeasterly a bit after one but hawks
had stopped moving prior to that so the upper winds might already have
shifted as they would with a warm front or reversing cold front. Clouds were
off to the south and east all day but the tower remained in the sun.
Temperatures in the 80's showed that the cold front was not really one but
now they say that next week might have some real cold. Of course they have
been saying that for more than a month but one can hope that there will be
some fall migration before winter is over.

One flock of about 200 franklin's gulls passed off to the west and headed
straight across the bay to the south. Kevin saw a couple of other flocks off
in the distance.

The main land bird migrants were scissor-tails and eastern phoebes. One trip
out to the point had 257 scissor-tails. Later in the afternoon, they spent
more time feeding and did not seem inclined to move across the bay like many
of the morning birds. They generally ignored the hawks until a low flying
local merlin passed and the scissor-tails all gained altitude above the
falcon either in the air on the high utility lines.

The swallows at the point were rough-wings but a couple of miles up the road
there was more of a mix including tree, barn and cave. 22 oystercatchers
were at the park or oyster shell mound.


-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Siskins have started south and are moving through Minnesota. The Canadian
finch forecast is for a good move of the birds south. Of course some birds
passing Duluth will not get here such as the numbers of black-backed
woodpeckers. But one can always hope that one of the numbers of goshawks
will join his winter texans friends and pass through the hawk watch to say
hello.

On 10/19/07, Bill Trelc  wrote:
>
> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> Texbirders,
>
> I can now join the chorus. Today while filling my feeders I heard and saw
> Red-breasted Nuthatches in the yard.
>
> Does anyone recall about 4 years ago when large numbers of Red-breasteds
> came calling. We also had many Purple Finches and Pine Siskins at the
> feeders all winter long. Take closer looks at your House Finches and
> Goldfinches!!
>
>
> Bill Trelc
> Greenville, TX
> trelcjr AT earthlink.net
>
> "What if there be no more goose music?" Aldo Leopold
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
> http://www.texbirds.org
>



-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Texbirders,

I can now join the chorus. Today while filling my feeders I heard and saw 
Red-breasted Nuthatches in the yard. 


Does anyone recall about 4 years ago when large numbers of Red-breasteds came 
calling. We also had many Purple Finches and Pine Siskins at the feeders all 
winter long. Take closer looks at your House Finches and Goldfinches!! 



Bill Trelc
Greenville, TX
trelcjr AT earthlink.net

"What if there be no more goose music?" Aldo Leopold

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Greetings, all!

October 18, 2007

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks = 60
Red-tailed Hawks = 2
Swainson's Hawks = 12
Unknown Buteos = 2
Turkey Vultures = 146
Black Vultures = 8
Sharp-shinned Hawks = 17
Cooper's Hawks = 17
Unknown Accips = 2
American Kestrel = 1
Peregrine Falcons = 2
Osprey = 1
Northern Harriers = 2
Crested Caracaras = 2
White-tailed Hawk = 1
Ferruginous Hawk = 1
Harris's Hawk = 1
Unknown Raptor = 1
Total = 278

On a blistering day (heat index 104 at 5pm); we had a great time.

We were unable to age the Ferruginous Hawk because of poor light. However, 
what an awesome Bird! With a wingspan of up to 5 feet, and weighing up to 
4.5 pounds, this tremendous Bird makes a lasting impression on those lucky 
enough to see one. With an Eagle-like head projection, and tapered but 
powerful wings - the Hawkwatchers of Hazel salute this beautiful Buteo; 
here's to you, fantastic Ferruginous Hawk...

Looking at the numbers, one can see that we are getting some sweet 
diversity in migrating Raptors. This should actually continue, and is 
likely to improve; as today (Friday the 19th) north to northeast winds are 
predicted.

So this weekend would be a good time to come out to Hazel Bazemore and get 
your Raptor fix - plus you never know what other Birds may show themselves; 
because as we all know, Hazel definitely rocks!

-----

Thanks, Dane! Ferrugies are among my favorite raptor. They're just plain 
cool. I miss the one that used to overwinter on Mustang Island. She was 
awesome and surprisingly tolerant of other winter residents. It was nothing 
to see her perched on the same pole as the peregrine falcon that liked the 
same territory. Even ospreys could sit by her quietly. Well, except that 
one visiting osprey that one winter day decided he wanted the exact spot 
where she was perched on her pole and flew sorties at her for days on end. 
She stood her ground and the osprey eventually found a new pole, but we did 
get some excellent views of talon-defense displays as she jumped up from 
her perch with talons extended to meet the in-flight osprey descending on 
her with its talons jutting out. No hits, no misses; just some awesome 
intimidation runs.

Cheers,
Patty Waits Beasley
Corpus Christi, TX

Season total to date:
57..........Black vulture
1610........Turkey vulture
221.........Osprey
168.........Swallow-tailed kite
1...........White-tailed kite
27286.......Mississippi kite
0 ..........Hook-billed kite
5...........Bald eagle
139.........Northern harrier
1339........Sharp-shinned hawk
996.........Cooper's hawk
0 ..........Northern goshawk
13..........Red-shouldered hawk
569616......Broad-winged hawk (18 DM)
345.........Swainson's hawk
59..........Red-tailed hawk
2...........Ferruginous hawk
20..........White-tailed hawk
1...........Short-tailed hawk
18..........Zone-tailed hawk
5...........Harris's hawk
0...........Rough-legged hawk
0...........Common black hawk
0...........Golden eagle
806.........American kestrel
80..........Merlin
238.........Peregrine falcon
6...........Prairie falcon
4...........Aplomado falcon
7...........Crested caracara
171.........Unknown accipiters
44..........Unknown buteos
14..........Unknown falcons
0 ..........Unknown eagles
84..........Unknown raptors
------------------------
603,355.... Season total to 10/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our 2007 HWI crew: Joel Simon, Dane Ferrell, Libby Even
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All reports, including photographs and videos, are posted on our web site.
Drop on by the Texas Hawk Watches web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

          Red-breasted Nuthatches out in Bear Creek Park are increasing in 
numbers. This week I have seen at least 3 new birds, all female/immature types. 

I think we now have 6 or 7 birds hanging around Restroom #10. They are pretty 
easy to find. It looks as though this years irruption is better than 2 yrs. 
ago. Waiting for Crossbills!!!   

Jim Hinson
Houston, Tx.    
Astro99fan AT aol.com


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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
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White Rock Lake, Dallas County

No Sabine�s this morning.  The whole lake was void of any gulls except for a
lone Franklin�s & a few Ring-bills.  Plenty of Coots, & Pied-billed Grebes,
Cormorants, a couple of Terns and some Wh. Pelicans.  We were there for
about 1 � hours mid morning.  There a gentleman that drove up from Houston
who had been there since 7:30am.  Another couple was leaving as we arrived.
We were joined by 2 more birders.  All of us unsuccessful.  We assume the
cold front pushed the S. Gull out of the area.  Like I always say, �there
are no guarantees when dealing with Mother Nature or children!�  Next time!

Sue ~^/^~

Highland Village, a N. burb of Dallas

Denton Co. 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Greetings, all!

October 17, 2007

Libby's report:

Broad-wing:  24 (1 dark)
Swainson:  1
White-tail:  1
Turkey Vulture:  81
Sharp-shin:  9
Cooper's:  3
Am. Kestrel:  4
Peregrine:  2
Osprey:  1

Total:  126

Strong southeast winds again today.  The raptors are struggling.  Our 
largest kettle of 15 broadies contained one dark morph - we could see these 
naked eye.  Awesome escort by one of our local White-tailed Hawks who had 
to dive on the migrant WT only 4 times before it decided to keep on moving.

Pray for us to get the promised wind change in the next couple days - this 
weekend could be a hoot!

-----

Thanks, Libby! Oh, joy, north winds are finally going to actually reach us 
this season! I know, I know, all you northern folks are thinking we're 
crazy, begging for north winds, ha! But you know, that's the best 
opportunity for our fall watch to enjoy the bounty of bundled-up raptors 
massing up in the wake of fronts (of which we've had NONE this fall!). The 
front's coming through overnight and on Friday we should be seeing the good 
results of better winds. Which also bodes very well for this coming 
weekend. We'll get some nice groups in, I just know it! A stronger front is 
promised us for early next week, and we're holding the weather folks to 
their promise. We're finally getting to that time of year when they'll 
actually start getting all the way down to us.

Cheers,
Patty Waits Beasley
Corpus Christi, TX

Season total to date:
49..........Black vulture
1464........Turkey vulture
220.........Osprey
168 ........Swallow-tailed kite
1 ..........White-tailed kite
27286.......Mississippi kite
0 ..........Hook-billed kite
5...........Bald eagle
137.........Northern harrier
1322........Sharp-shinned hawk
979.........Cooper's hawk
0 ..........Northern goshawk
13..........Red-shouldered hawk
569556......Broad-winged hawk (18 DM)
333.........Swainson's hawk
57..........Red-tailed hawk
1...........Ferruginous hawk
19..........White-tailed hawk
1...........Short-tailed hawk
18..........Zone-tailed hawk
4...........Harris's hawk
0...........Rough-legged hawk
0...........Common black hawk
0...........Golden eagle
805.........American kestrel
80..........Merlin
236.........Peregrine falcon
6...........Prairie falcon
4...........Aplomado falcon
5...........Crested caracara
169.........Unknown accipiters
42..........Unknown buteos
14..........Unknown falcons
0 ..........Unknown eagles
83..........Unknown raptors
------------------------
603,077.... Season total to 10/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our 2007 HWI crew: Joel Simon, Dane Ferrell, Libby Even
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All reports, including photographs and videos, are posted on our web site.
Drop on by the Texas Hawk Watches web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I constantly threaten myself with unsubscribing to this list because of all 
the bickering, but I'm going to stay on because I just had a red-breasted 
nuthatch at my feeder here in  W. Houston on Buffalo Bayou at Dairy Ashford, 
and if I hadn't been following the discussion of the irruption, I would have 
not given it a second look and written it off as a carolina wren.  I heard 
one last week along the Buffalo Bayou trail just behind my house and I'm 
going to go out and toss some more peanuts in the feeder right now.

Kiki Hummel
W. Houston 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Just had a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatches working over the post oaks in 
my yard. A new yard bird, as well as first Texas sighting for me!
   Louise Ridlon
   Cedar Creek,
   SW Bastrop Co.

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Harris's are winter residents here (32.1 N latitude), but do not arrive
until November.

Just by coincidence we saw the first of the year co generic White Crowned
Sparrow today, right on usual schedule.         

Gregg Lee
12 miles sw of Glen Rose

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

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Hi TexBirders,

Just to add to the recent Big Sit reports, our team here managed 64
species last Sunday. This was not so bad given that one of our team
members was struck down by illness, leaving us without coverage from 4
to 9 AM. We had no big surprises, except in the misses; we saw not one
single species of waterfowl! And only two warbler species. But we did
see thirteen raptors, including a Merlin spotted by Don Carrell; John
Yochum noted all three kingfishers; and I picked through the evening
Swallow madness long enough to see Cave, Cliff, Rough-winged, and Bank
among the thousands of Barns. Speaking of birds named for barns, the
Barn Owls put on a great show after sunset, with a pair interacting in
mid-air over the resaca, then a fly-by very close to our circle at
Kingfisher Overlook, and two flying around screeching well after dark,
visible in the glare of the nearby lamp-post. Park ranger Rey Trevino
and I were joined in the count circle by an Armadillo at one point
around 4:30 PM, but the armadillo did not see any bird species new to
our count total.

I spent yesterday leading a trip for the Texas Butterfly Festival, which
left John Y in charge of the night program. He just called on my phone
and informed me that they encountered at least three Ferruginous
Pygmy-owls right around 9 PM, and had great looks at one near the Green
Jay Blind! The Pygmies are generally much more difficult to see or hear
at this time of year than they are in the spring...

Good birding,

Josh


Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
Program Specialist
World Birding Center
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 
http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml 
joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us  x 236

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Flocks of migrating Harris's Sparrows in the LRGV would be an unprecedented
event. This sparrow is among the last to arrive on the upper Texas coast,
and is not expected until later in the fall. Harris's Sparrow only occurs in
the Valley as a vagrant. 

Ted Eubanks
Austin

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I have either been on the road or in Galveston for the past few weeks, and I
have spent little time in Austin. On Wednesday, as I sat on my front porch
putting on my shoes before my walk, I noticed a Rufous buzzing the tree
branch where I normally keep a feeder in winter. I immediately placed three
feeders in the yard, and this morning I have at least two Selasphorus
working the feeders.

Ted Eubanks
Austin

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Thought I was on the buttefly listserv - senior moment -

All have to do now is cut and paste ---

Tom Collins
Center Point 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

TexButterfliers:

Just before sunset I observed over 100 Monarchs landing in the large Oaks 
around my barn.  I did quick walk up the ranch road with the temps 
dropping fairly fast and saw Monarchs landing in trees all along the 
roadside.

During the afternoon I sat in the shade watching butterflies and moth feed 
on my Blue Mistflower plants and had the following list in two hours of 
easy buttefly watching - two new species for the ranch(*).

Butterflies

1.	Pipevine Swallowtail – 1
2.	Orange Sulphur – 1
3.	Southern Dogface – 3
4.	Cloudless Sulphur – 1
5.	Little Yellow – 3
6.	Sleepy Orange - 2
7.	Dainty Sulphur – 4
8.	Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak – 1
9.	Gulf Fritillary – 1
10.	Phaon Crescent – 1
11.	Common Buckeye – 1
12.	Arizona Sister – 1 flyover
13.	Common Mestra – 7 Only one feed
14.	Monarch – 100+ only two came to the Mistflower
15.	Queen – 15
16.	Common/White Checkered Skipper – 2
17.	*Julia’s Skipper – 2
18.	Sachem – 2
19.	Eufala Skipper – 1


Moths

1.	*Texas Wasp Moth (Horama panthalon texana)

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon
Society. This update is as of 9.00am, October 18th, 2007:

--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---

The first GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa) of the fall was
seen at the Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo on October
15th.

The first sightings of BURROWING OWLS (Athene cunicularia) in the
Granger area this fall came on October 14th with 2 birds at locations
where birds spent the winter last year.

--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) first seen at a
private residence near Bee Caves and 360 in southwest Austin on August
27th was still being seen as of October 16th.

LESSER NIGHTHAWKS (Chordeiles acutipennis) have been reported at the
Schaezler's Warbler Woods property near Cibolo, with the most recent
sightings as of October 15th.

A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora pinus) put in an appearance at the
West Bouldin Greenbelt in Austin on September 12th and has been seen
in the area on and off as recently as September 28th.

--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---

Interesting birds noted near Utley in eastern Bastrop County on
October 9th & 10th include a BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), an
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica), two RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES (Sitta canadensis) and a WHIP-POOR-WILL (Caprimulgus
vociferus).

A WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) and a NORTHERN PARULA (Parula
americana) passed thru a private Georgetown residence on October 9th.

Late MISSISSIPPI KITES (Ictinia mississippiensis) are still being seen
at the Hornsby Bend Hawkwatch with 2 on October 5th and 1 noted
October 8th.

A JAEGER, not identified to species, was present on Granger Lake on
October 7th. The bird was seen only from quite a distance and was in
an area where only a boat would provide close access. A brief
discussion with a fisherman at the lake indicated that the bird might
have been present for a couple days prior.

Two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (Tryngites subruficollis) were at Sore
Finger WMA on Granger Lake on October 7th.

Two silent Couch's/Tropical-type Kingbirds were seen briefly near
Zilker Park in Austin on October 6th.

Two BALD EAGLES (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were along the Colorado
River near Bastrop on October 6th.

A late SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) was spotted at St. Edwards Park
in Austin on October 5th.

A RINGED KINGFISHER (Ceryle torquatus) was along the Colorado River at
Hornsby Bend on October 5th.

A PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) briefly graced the Hornsby Bend
Hawkwatch on October 1st.

A visit to Lake Buchanan on September 30th was productive with 10+
RING-BILLED GULLS (Larus delawarensis) and a lone FRANKLIN'S GULL
(Larus pipixcan). A WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) was seen
from Cedar Point and is perhaps the same bird reported near there
several weeks ago.

An OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) was seen at Hornsby Bend on
September 30th while another was at the West Bouldin Greenbelt in
Austin on September 28th.

A WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) was seen at Chalk Ridge Falls Park off
Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir on September 29th.

--------------

Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60-mile radius centered in
downtown Austin. This circle extends north to Belton Lake (Bell
County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to Somerville WMA
(Lee/Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County).

Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered & 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.

The most recent update can always be found at:

 http://www.travisaudubon.org/rba.html

Visit Travis Audubon online at:

 http://www.travisaudubon.org

--------------
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
ecarpe AT gmail.com.

--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

On October 15 & 17 two flocks of migrating Harris sparrows were seen on South 
Loop 499, Harlingen, TX in two fields that had plants that contained seeds. One 
flock was approximately 50 birds, and the other was approx 75 birds. Each flock 
was seen between 8:45 & 9:15 a.m. 


Happy Birding!

Nick Ilnicky

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Started the day at Anahuac where a young-red-shouldered hawk perched on the
sign pointing to Shoveler Pond just past the visitor center.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Heading down Bolivar there were a few shorebirds including least sandpiper
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

and greater yellowlegs
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

A non-adult herring gull on east beach was the first arrival
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

A peregrine falcon was giving flying lessons to birds at east beach. The
pictures provide a good opportunity to count species in a flock
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Two white pelicans have claimed ownership of the first bait cleaning station
at the texas city dike
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Several snowy plovers were also at the roosting area
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Another restful black skimmer
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Skimmer feet with long toe talons
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

One of the sandwich terns threatened every bird flying over
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

And the feet which are now black
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

A single franklin's gull was with the laughing gulls and terns at the end of
the dike
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

the birds insisted on facing into the wind and it was hard to get a side
view showing the wing pattern on the young bird
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

A nice facial shot
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

This is the only picture showing the tail pattern
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Resting shots
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

And another portrait
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Waking up
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

Walking for a drink
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

At the water
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/

This is the only shot with the franklin's gull standing next to a laughing
gull although at a distance. The size difference shows up in similar aged
birds
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/


-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

The following is an eBird report for the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and
World Birding Center.  For information about our site as well as
upcoming programs, visit < www.edinburgwbc.org
  >.
 
Location:     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC 061)
Observation date:     10/18/07
Number of species:     46
 
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     35
Blue-winged Teal     30
Least Grebe     4
Pied-billed Grebe     6
Neotropic Cormorant     30
Double-crested Cormorant     5
Anhinga     2
Great Blue Heron     5
Great Egret     10
Snowy Egret     6
Little Blue Heron     3
Tricolored Heron     1
Cattle Egret     350
Green Heron     2
Black-crowned Night-Heron     2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     4
Osprey     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Common Moorhen     2
American Coot     8
Killdeer     1
Black-necked Stilt     2
Rock Pigeon     2
Mourning Dove     4
Common Ground-Dove     2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     20
Rufous Hummingbird     1
Belted Kingfisher     3
Green Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     1
Great Kiskadee     4
Couch's Kingbird     1
Barn Swallow     10
House Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern Mockingbird     4
Long-billed Thrasher     2
Curve-billed Thrasher     4
Common Yellowthroat     1
Lincoln's Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal     1
Great-tailed Grackle     20
Lesser Goldfinch     4
House Sparrow     6
 
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/tx)
 
Good birding!
 
Javier de Leon
Interpretive Naturalist
Edinburg World Birding Center
714 Raul Longoria Rd.
P.O. Box 1079
Edinburg, TX 78540

 
 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

It really does help to write letters.  The Corps has halted more than
one development and severely curtailed numerous others in order to
protect wetlands in the Bolivar/Galveston area.

Send your letter  "regarding SWG-"  to

Jayson M Hudson
Regulatory Branch, CESWG-PE-RB
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, TX  

Thanks from those of us who live, or visit, on the coast.

Susan Fennewald
Galveston 

-----Original Message-----
From: Birding discussion list for Texas
[mailto:TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU] On Behalf Of Winnie Burkett
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 2:03 PM
To: TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Subject: [TEXBIRDS] Take action to Bolivar Flats

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Bolivar Holdings, LLC proposes to build a 37.95 acre 150+ unit
development on land surrounded by Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. A
permit application has been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers outlining the wetland impacts of the development and proposed
mitigation. Please consider writing a letter to the Corps of Engineers
stating your concerns about the impact of the development on the
sanctuary. For more information about the development and the issues
involved please go to the Houston Audubon website
www/houstonaudubon.org.

Winnie Burkett
Sanctuary Manager
Houston Audubon
________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
http://www.texbirds.org

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

TexBirders,

 

Well if you thought yesterday was bad�..  Kevin Georg reports one raptor at
10:00am, a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  The 40 mph south winds kept everything down
including the local Broad-wings, Red-shoulders, and Red-tails.

 

Maybe there�s hope for tomorrow.

 

Sue

 

Susan A. Heath

Avian Conservation Biologist

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

103 W. Hwy 332

Lake Jackson, TX 77566

HYPERLINK "http://www.gcbo.org"www.gcbo.org


 


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9:54 AM
 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

 Hawk movement over Warbler Woods

At 1145 a.m., I started seeing a line of Broad-winged Hawks, heading
South on the same bearing, single-file.  As the front started arriving,
I then saw a large kettle of Broad-winged Hawks and they quickly headed
South.

Susan
San Antonio/New Braunfels

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

- RBA

* Texas

* Lower Rio Grande Valley

* October 18, 2007

- Birds Mentioned

+ (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us)

.

Our rare bird alert includes recent reports of...

.

Masked Duck

Mangrove Warbler

.

hotline: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding 

Hotline

number:

to report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or  option 

3

compilers: Mary Gustafson (Rio Grande Joint Venture), Jennifer Owen 

(Estero Llano Grande State Park) and John Yochum (Bentsen Rio Grande
Valley State Park).

.

- Transcript

 

Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline 

sponsored by Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife, 

and the World Birding Center. This hotline is updated Thursdays by 5 

PM.  Please send observations to Texbirds or to the hotline email 

address.  Thank you to those who sent reports!

.

Raptor migration continues this week with dwindling hawk numbers
(consisting mostly of

Swainson's, Broad-winged, and Cooper's Hawks) and increasing numbers of
migrating Turkey Vultures.

.

A Masked Duck was reported from Santa Ana NWR south of Alamo on October
5

and was reported again on October 8.  The report was from the north or
east end of Pintail Lake. 

This is a TBRC Review Species, please document this bird if you see it.


.

Near South Padre Island, Mangrove Yellow Warblers are resident in 

mangroves accessible by boat.  This is a distinctive bird currently 

classified as a subspecies of Yellow Warbler.   The plumage and 

vocalizations are quite different. For more information on seeing the 

Mangrove (Yellow) Warblers contact the South Padre Island Nature Center 

at .

.

In Weslaco, more migrants were present over the weekend at Frontera 

Audubon Sanctuary, with Hooded, Wilson's, Black-and-white, Yellow, 

Yellow-throated Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, and American 

Redstarts.  Red-crowed Parrots are evident and vocal in the morning.  

Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and American Avocet can be seen at 

Estero Llano Grande State Park or the adjacent Llano Grande Flood 

Channel.  Shorebirds are increasing, with large numbers of Stilt 

Sandpipers present with smaller numbers of Least and Baird's 

Sandpipers, and Long-billed Dowitchers.

.

At Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, the WBC Headquarters, four owl 

species continue to be regularly heard or seen (resident Ferruginous 

Pygmy-Owls, Barn, Screech, and Great-horned Owls) as well as Pauraque.  

Gray Hawk, Verdin and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet are still vocal.   

.

Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets can be seen or heard in many 

valley cities, especially early and late in the day.  In McAllen, both 

species have been seen or heard at Quinta Mazatlan WBC, and Green 

Parakeets stage on 10th Street between Violet and Dove.  In Weslaco try 

Oklahoma and 11th street, a few blocks west of Frontera Audubon 

Sanctuary.  In Harlingen, Pendleton Park at the intersection of Grimes 

and Morgan is a good place to watch Red-crowned Parrots in the evening. 

  Fort Brown in Brownsville has both Red-crowned Parrots and Green 

Parakeets.  Green Parakeets fly over the Alamo Walmart parking lot

(just off 83 at Alamo Road) at dusk.

.

We have had reports from Chapeno of three brown jays- two adults 

and one immature. Locals have been quoted as saying they've been

back for about a week. Audubon's oriole was also reported.

.  

Access to the river at Chapeno is by prior arrangement only, contact 

the owner at  or fax him after hours at .  The 

feeding station is open for a small fee.  Efforts to see Red-billed 

Pigeon are hit and miss.  Early morning is best, and the Roma Bluffs 

WBC site, Salineno, or Chapeno are the best areas to try, success was 

had at Salineno on September 6 with 6 birds perched on the island 

upstream from the boat landing.

.

Finally, we have an October 12 unconfirmed report from Laguna Atascoa
via a visiting Dallas birder concerning an Orange-Billed
Nightingale-Thrush: "I was driving the 15 mile loop at Laguna Atascosa
when I saw a bird go into a bush/tree by the road.  I got out of my car
and approached and saw a bird, white chest, rust colored back that I
knew I had not seen before...I was able to sit with my book and the bird
not more than 25 feet away and compare.  I also birdwatch with 10x42
Swarovski binoculars...I only report this in the hopes that others will
be on the look out for such a wonderful bird which I am sure is in that
area."  Some may recall the banding of the very first United States
Orange-Billed Nightingale-Thrush was at Laguna Atascosa 4/6/1996.

 

 

This hotline covers birds and birding in Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, and 

Willacy counties.  Directions to sites mentioned in this tape can be 

found in A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley by McKinney et. al, 

or the Birding and Butterfly map of the Rio Grande Valley that is 

available free of charge at Estero Llano Grande State Park.

.

Please report sightings to rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (Replace AT with  AT ) 

or  option 3. Thanks to everyone who reported their 

sightings to Texbirds or the compilers.

.

If you would like to replay this message, please press *. For a menu of 

other options, please press #. To end this call, please hang up.

 

Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline, this 

is Jennifer Owen for Estero Llano Grande State Park  wishing you good 

birding!

 

 

Jennifer Owen

Natural Resource Specialist

Estero Llano Grande State Park

World Birding Center

154A Lakeview Dr.

Weslaco, Texas 78596
 ext. 258

 

 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

 
To add to Winnie's information, the proposed development is directly  
adjacent to Retillion Rd.(the blacktop road used to reach Bolivar Flats) on the 
east 

and includes the beachfront. The north and eastern most  boundaries  of the 
development are Bolivar Shorebird Sanctuary property  lines.  This location is 
where I most often saw the  White-tailed Hawk this last year.
 
Stennie Meadours
San Leon




************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Bolivar Holdings, LLC proposes to build a 37.95 acre 150+ unit development on 
land surrounded by Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. A permit application has 
been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers outlining the wetland 
impacts of the development and proposed mitigation. Please consider writing a 
letter to the Corps of Engineers stating your concerns about the impact of the 
development on the sanctuary. For more information about the development and 
the issues involved please go to the Houston Audubon website 
www/houstonaudubon.org. 


Winnie Burkett
Sanctuary Manager
Houston Audubon
________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I took a hike at midday on Tuesday, Oct. 16, on a trail about a mile N of
our HQ and heard the distinct sound of an American Woodcock which I flushed
(unseen) from deep leaf litter under a riparian woodland.  First of season
for me.  [I have been so intent at studying butterflies in recent weeks
that I barely made a note in my field journal about the woodcock and forgot
to post this for a couple of days!]

Chuck Sexton, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist
Balcones Canyonlands NWR

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

The Cave Swallow has continued to expand it's winter range in Texas; we have 
had them in B-CS for the past three College Station CBCs, I think.  The 
species now nests up to [and probably beyond] the Red River, so I'm not too 
surprised at the current reports coming from southeast Texas.

Incidentaly, I sure wish I had known about the Cave Swallows in that 
freezer!

Keith Arnold
Bryan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Winnie Burkett" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 8:32 PM
Subject: Re: [TEXBIRDS] More on Cave Swallows (Jefferson County)


> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> Several years ago a flock of Cave Swallows showed up in High Island during 
> the winter. They were roosting around the motel and one cold night several 
> died. The motel owner had them in her freezer for a while.
>
> Also one Dec we had a flock of 20+ at San Bernard NWR during a Christmas 
> Count.
>
> The mystery continues.
>
> Winnie Burkett
> Friendswood
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joseph Kennedy 
> To: TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU
> Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 7:39 pm
> Subject: Re: [TEXBIRDS] More on Cave Swallows (Jefferson County)
>
>
>
> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> If any people are out east of Houston in the next few days, it could prove
> interesting to really look at groups of swallows migrating and feeding for
> cave swallows. Southwesterly winds today and westerly some tomorrow 
> changing
> to northwest on Friday and then northeast on Saturday could drift cave
> swallows east of Houston and the weather on the weekend would let them 
> move
> back through areas like Anahuac, Smith Point, Texas City and Galveston.
>
> I had 4 birds way out on the texas city dike this afternoon trying to go
> south but not doing well and basically went inland along the dike.
>
>
> On 10/17/07, John A. Whittle  wrote:
>>
>> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>>
>> On Sunday October 14, we saw at least 15 Cave Swallows in a flock of
>> perhaps 75 Barn Swallows congregating on utility wires on League Road, 
>> near
>> the intersection with Johnson Road in west Jefferson County.?(That? 
>> location
>> is about 20 miles NNE of Anahuac NWR.)??There were also flocks of Tree
>> Swallows in the vicinity and one lone Cliff Swallow was noted?in one of
>> them.? There were a few Barn Swallows in the various Tree Swallow flocks,
>> but the flocks were?otherwise either almost all Barn or almost all Tree.?
>>
>> Like Joe Kennedy, we too wondered where the Cave Swallows?might have come
>> from, since the expected migration path for Cave Swallows would certainly 
>> be
>> from the northeast to the southwest. We also do not?know of any breeding
>> populations of Cave Swallows to the northeast of Jefferson County.? Joe
>> accurately describes the situation in that there have been small numbers
>> along the coast for a few years, at the boat ramp at Sea Rim State Park
>> (although none reported there in the past two or more years),?under the
>> causeway bridge over the mouth of Sabine Lake on TX82/LA82 (typically on 
>> the
>> Louisiana side), and scattered reports of ones and two in various places 
>> in
>> southwest Louisiana well south of IH-10.? But the known numbers would not
>> account for the numbers of Cave Swallows last weekend in Jefferson and
>> Chambers counties. Is this very late post breeding dispersal of Cave
>> Swallows from?further west in Texas?? Has the population increased to the
>> point that the species is looking t!
>> o expand its range?along the coastal plain eastwards in winter as well as
>> for breeding?
>>
>> Very close to where the?Cave Swallows were seen was a subadult/second 
>> year
>> White-tailed Hawk.? For the past few years, White-tailed Hawks have?been
>> seen?during prescribed burns at Anahuac NWR, and there have been very
>> occasional sightings in Jefferson County.? However, a pair has been seen
>> regularly this fall along Highway 87 just east of Sea Rim, typically on 
>> the
>> poles leading to the H&B Ranch.? (Also, Crested Caracaras are rapidly
>> becoming?so common in Chambers and Jefferson counties that they are no
>> longer cause much excitement!)
>>
>> John?and Jana Whittle
>> Nederland, Texas
>>
>>
>> ________________________________________________________________________
>> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
>> http://mail.aol.com
>>
>> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
>> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
>> http://www.texbirds.org
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Joseph C. Kennedy
> on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
> Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at 
> http://www.texbirds.org
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
> http://mail.aol.com
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at 
> http://www.texbirds.org 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Went out to White Rock Lake (just NE of Dallas) this morning.  Drove the 
one-way Lawther Drive from the Botanical Gardens north, stopping along the 
way.  The first gull I saw was the immature Sabine's Gull toward the 
middle of the resevoir, directly across from Winfrey Point to the west.  
It was flying for a while and then resting on the water (repeat as 
necessary).  I lost it from view for a while but it appeared again in the 
original location after 20 or 30 minutes.  As I left, the bird was flying 
towards the south part of the resevoir (towards the dam and spillway) 
along the west shore.  Arrived about 9:00 am and left about 10:00 am.  The 
back pattern is striking but the bird can be distant.  There are also Ring-
bills, Bonapartes and Terns around.  Once you pick it up, the bird is 
obvious.  A scope helps locate it.

*****
Doug Hanna
Dallas, TX

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

TPWD had the opportunity to acquire this land and turned it down. They 
should have no standing with regard to what the NPS does with the land if 
the NPS wants to acquire it. The land was specifically given to the State 
for Conservation and we should honor that. It isn't as if we don't have 
plenty of land for hunting already. Driving out to West Texas you can see 
nothing but deer leases for miles and miles. What Texas lacks is public 
conservation space. Whether the issue is ultimately about guns or hunting 
(or something they don't want us to know about), it is obvious that the 
interests behind the opposition to the NPS acquiring the land have 
priorities that supercede conservation. That is bad for birds and other 
living creatures, most notably people.

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

TexBirders,

 

High water and strong south winds hampered the Smith Point Hawkwatch on
Wednesday resulting in low numbers and lack of diversity.

 

Osprey 1

Northern Harrier 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 15

Cooper�s Hawk 2

American Kestrel 1

Peregrine Falcon 2

 

Sue

 

Susan A. Heath

Avian Conservation Biologist

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

103 W. Hwy 332

Lake Jackson, TX 77566

HYPERLINK "http://www.gcbo.org"www.gcbo.org


 


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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Texbirders,
 
A juvenile Sabine's Gull was present at Lake Meredith in the late afternoon of 
Wednesday, Oct. 17th. It was close to the eastern shore of the lake, accessed 
by taking Lakeview Drive west from Hwy. 136 on the south side of Fritch down to 
the end of the road. Fritch is about 10 miles west of Borger. Lakeview Drive 
descends to the lake, ending at a National Recreation Area park -- you can 
follow the paved road to the park and then continue through the park first on 
paved road and then moving onto a good dirt road to get close to the lake 
shore. The bird was probably pushed to the eastern shore by a stiff 
southwestern wind so if the wind changes I'd expect it to move. Also lots of 
Coots, some Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Killdeer, and Greater 
Yellowlegs, a few Franklin's Gulls, a Black Tern, and possibly a California 
Gull, although between the distance and the wind I wouldn't swear to it, only 
at it. 

 
Regards,
 
Paul Sunby
Austin

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Texbirders:

Had a bald eagle in NW Harris County at Hegar Lakes just after sunset 
tonight. It was either a 4th year or full adult (lighting wasn't perfect). 
It swooped down over the the lake surface attempting to catch something 
under the water (fish?) on the western side of Hegar rd (not too far from 
the road) causing a  large mixed flock of birds to take off. I last had an 
adult bald eagle at Hegar Lakes on May 6 but did not see one there over 
the summer.

There were also at least ten fulvous whistling ducks right near the road 
which have been there for weeks.

Eubanks and Weeks UTC book has FWD present until mid-November but they do 
get a bit harder to find this time of year. For example, the twenty-nine 
other FWD observations in ebird for Harris County are all earlier than Oct 
17. See graph including my new observation 

[may need to paste link into your browser instead of just clicking]

http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/GuideMe?
step=saveChoices&getLocations=counties&parentState=US-TX&speird, 
ciesCodes=fuwduc&bMonth=01&bYear=2003&eMonth=12&eYear=2007&reportType=speci
es&counties=US-TX-201&continue.x=65&continue.y=10


In the 7-county UTC region (on ebird) FWD frequency in the third week of 
October (1.6% of lists) is just one-sixth the frequency of mid-June 
(~9.5%).


[may need to paste link into your browser instead of just clicking]

http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/GuideMe?
cmd=quickPick&bMonth=01&bYear=2003&eMonth=12&eYear=2007&getLocations=counti
es&locRSID=RS2450086&counties=US-TX-039%2CUS-TX-071%2CUS-TX-157%2CUS-TX-
167%2CUS-TX-201%2CUS-TX-245%2CUS-TX-473&parentState=US-
TX&reportType=species&matchStr=&speciesCodes=fuwduc&continue.x=42&continue.
y=10

Also, although I was (again) unsuccessful in locating one of the resident 
Greater Roadrunners at Kleb Woods (although one was reported yesterday), I 
did see 3 Nutmeg Mannikins eating seed just S. of the parking lot on the 
path to the nature center (the usual place for them). Best chance to see 
them is first thing in the morning or just before dark as people walking 
on the path scare them off.

Thanks to Ted Eubanks for starting Texas ebird and to many of you who are 
using ebird to store your obseravtions. As of tonight there are now 43,747 
observation lists of over 600 species stored in Texas ebird . Usage is 
growing--lists submitted in 2007 are up 26% from similar period in 2006.

John Berner
Katy/W. Houston

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

There were three brown jays at Trevino's place off Chapeno Rd - two adults 
and one immature. Locals say they have been back for about a week. 
Audubon's oriole also present.

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I saw 12 Scissortails on the power lines along Summit, between FM 407 (Justin 
Rd) and Grandy's Lane. 

Time: 6:00 PM. 

JW Wilson

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Several years ago a flock of Cave Swallows showed up in High Island during the 
winter. They were roosting around the motel and one cold night several died. 
The motel owner had them in her freezer for a while. 


Also one Dec we had a flock of 20+ at San Bernard NWR during a Christmas Count.

The mystery continues.

Winnie Burkett
Friendswood


-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Kennedy 
To: TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 7:39 pm
Subject: Re: [TEXBIRDS] More on Cave Swallows (Jefferson County)



---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

If any people are out east of Houston in the next few days, it could prove
interesting to really look at groups of swallows migrating and feeding for
cave swallows. Southwesterly winds today and westerly some tomorrow changing
to northwest on Friday and then northeast on Saturday could drift cave
swallows east of Houston and the weather on the weekend would let them move
back through areas like Anahuac, Smith Point, Texas City and Galveston.

I had 4 birds way out on the texas city dike this afternoon trying to go
south but not doing well and basically went inland along the dike.


On 10/17/07, John A. Whittle  wrote:
>
> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> On Sunday October 14, we saw at least 15 Cave Swallows in a flock of
> perhaps 75 Barn Swallows congregating on utility wires on League Road, near
> the intersection with Johnson Road in west Jefferson County.?(That? location
> is about 20 miles NNE of Anahuac NWR.)??There were also flocks of Tree
> Swallows in the vicinity and one lone Cliff Swallow was noted?in one of
> them.? There were a few Barn Swallows in the various Tree Swallow flocks,
> but the flocks were?otherwise either almost all Barn or almost all Tree.?
>
> Like Joe Kennedy, we too wondered where the Cave Swallows?might have come
> from, since the expected migration path for Cave Swallows would certainly be
> from the northeast to the southwest. We also do not?know of any breeding
> populations of Cave Swallows to the northeast of Jefferson County.? Joe
> accurately describes the situation in that there have been small numbers
> along the coast for a few years, at the boat ramp at Sea Rim State Park
> (although none reported there in the past two or more years),?under the
> causeway bridge over the mouth of Sabine Lake on TX82/LA82 (typically on the
> Louisiana side), and scattered reports of ones and two in various places in
> southwest Louisiana well south of IH-10.? But the known numbers would not
> account for the numbers of Cave Swallows last weekend in Jefferson and
> Chambers counties. Is this very late post breeding dispersal of Cave
> Swallows from?further west in Texas?? Has the population increased to the
> point that the species is looking t!
> o expand its range?along the coastal plain eastwards in winter as well as
> for breeding?
>
> Very close to where the?Cave Swallows were seen was a subadult/second year
> White-tailed Hawk.? For the past few years, White-tailed Hawks have?been
> seen?during prescribed burns at Anahuac NWR, and there have been very
> occasional sightings in Jefferson County.? However, a pair has been seen
> regularly this fall along Highway 87 just east of Sea Rim, typically on the
> poles leading to the H&B Ranch.? (Also, Crested Caracaras are rapidly
> becoming?so common in Chambers and Jefferson counties that they are no
> longer cause much excitement!)
>
> John?and Jana Whittle
> Nederland, Texas
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
> http://mail.aol.com
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
> http://www.texbirds.org
>



-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org


________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Texbirders,

A basic-plumaged adult Ross's Gull was studied over the weekend at John Martin 
Reservoir, 

near Lamar, Colorado. This is roughly 100 miles north of the Texas/Oklahoma 
line. 

The bird has not been seen since Sunday. It may have moved south.

I would be very curious what is going on at places like Palo Duro Reservoir, 
Lake Meredith, 

Cactus Lake or some of the other bodies of water in the Panhandle. There is no 
record 

for this species in Texas.

Mel Cooksey
Corpus Christi

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Birded Bolivar today and could see shorebirds from the tower out on far edges 
of the marsh. Avocets could been seen from the North Jetty. They were swimming 
along the edge of the marsh. 


Winnie Burkett
Friendswood


-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Kennedy 
To: TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 8:57 pm
Subject: [TEXBIRDS] Anahuac to Texas City today, 1 franklin's gull on the Texas 
City Dike 




---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I had hoped to spend a good part of the day today sorting through the flocks
of seagulls for exotics and rarities and all that stuff. The weather did not
really allow much effort. Rain at Anahuac etc until about 11 when I reached
the coast.

Tides were very high everywhere as was the wind. Very few land birds

No habitat at Rollover pass and water had been over Yacht Basin Road. All
rails sparrows etc in the marsh elsewhere with quite a few willets, curlews
and godwits in the trailer park grass resting.

Tuna road underwater.

Bolivar flats underwater to the dune at Retillon Road. A pickup was bogged
down about 20 yards out. The wind had shifted to southwest and the deep
water was gone. Water was up almost to the pavement along Retillon.

The road along the bay to Apfel Park at east beach had been flooded. More
than half of the parking area at east beach was covered with water on both
sides of the building.

Water had flowed over the road at the Texas City Dike and waves hitting the
rocks slopped and hit my windshield.

Anahuac still had 2 adult purple gallinules, one on shoveler pond and one on
crossover road. A vermilion flycatcher on the wire at the back gate to the
equipment area across from the visitor center. One american bittern and one
merlin. Fair numbers of sedge and house wrens, swamp and savannah sparrows.

5 frigatebirds over the ferry.

Texas City dike had one young of the year franklin's gull near the end as
well as godwits, snowy and piping plover and a scattering of terns and
gulls.

The mystery is where all the shorebirds go on such a day. Obviously none
were at Bolivar Flats and only a couple of birds were up the beach where it
could be driven. Maybe only 200 total shorebirds at Apfel Park. More terns
and gulls but a peregrine kept giving them flying lessons. Fewer birds
than a week ago at the dike. Maybe they are out on the drying fill areas on
pelican island to roost until the water goes down. Good numbers of common
and sandwich terns and 2 immature lesser black-backed gulls. The same mix
but fewer birds were at Texas City. Herring gull numbers slowly going up and
ring-billed gulls increasing more rapidly.

-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org


________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I had hoped to spend a good part of the day today sorting through the flocks
of seagulls for exotics and rarities and all that stuff. The weather did not
really allow much effort. Rain at Anahuac etc until about 11 when I reached
the coast.

Tides were very high everywhere as was the wind. Very few land birds

No habitat at Rollover pass and water had been over Yacht Basin Road. All
rails sparrows etc in the marsh elsewhere with quite a few willets, curlews
and godwits in the trailer park grass resting.

Tuna road underwater.

Bolivar flats underwater to the dune at Retillon Road. A pickup was bogged
down about 20 yards out. The wind had shifted to southwest and the deep
water was gone. Water was up almost to the pavement along Retillon.

The road along the bay to Apfel Park at east beach had been flooded. More
than half of the parking area at east beach was covered with water on both
sides of the building.

Water had flowed over the road at the Texas City Dike and waves hitting the
rocks slopped and hit my windshield.

Anahuac still had 2 adult purple gallinules, one on shoveler pond and one on
crossover road. A vermilion flycatcher on the wire at the back gate to the
equipment area across from the visitor center. One american bittern and one
merlin. Fair numbers of sedge and house wrens, swamp and savannah sparrows.

5 frigatebirds over the ferry.

Texas City dike had one young of the year franklin's gull near the end as
well as godwits, snowy and piping plover and a scattering of terns and
gulls.

The mystery is where all the shorebirds go on such a day. Obviously none
were at Bolivar Flats and only a couple of birds were up the beach where it
could be driven. Maybe only 200 total shorebirds at Apfel Park. More terns
and gulls but a peregrine kept giving them flying lessons. Fewer birds
than a week ago at the dike. Maybe they are out on the drying fill areas on
pelican island to roost until the water goes down. Good numbers of common
and sandwich terns and 2 immature lesser black-backed gulls. The same mix
but fewer birds were at Texas City. Herring gull numbers slowly going up and
ring-billed gulls increasing more rapidly.

-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

TexBirders:

For close to a month I had not heard or seen any Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 
during the walks that I take around the Harcourt campus during lunch and 
breaks. This evening, about 7:00 p.m., while leaving the Rolling Oaks mall, in 
NE Bexar County, I heard one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher calling near the lights 
over the parking lot. Looking a bit closer that "one" turned out to be closer 
to a dozen, possibly more. Think that this is called a migratory concentration, 
especially in such good habitat:---) 


Onward!

Steve

Stevan Hawkins
San Antonio

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Nick Cooney, Jan (sorry about last name) and myself saw the Sabine's Gull 
this afternoon from 1 to 1:30.  It was first sitting on the water across 
from Winfrey Point, looking WSW, close to the opposite shore.  It then 
flew to the north end of the lake.  It later returned to the same area 
where we first saw it sitting on the water.
Lucie Bruce
Plano, TX

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

If any people are out east of Houston in the next few days, it could prove
interesting to really look at groups of swallows migrating and feeding for
cave swallows. Southwesterly winds today and westerly some tomorrow changing
to northwest on Friday and then northeast on Saturday could drift cave
swallows east of Houston and the weather on the weekend would let them move
back through areas like Anahuac, Smith Point, Texas City and Galveston.

I had 4 birds way out on the texas city dike this afternoon trying to go
south but not doing well and basically went inland along the dike.


On 10/17/07, John A. Whittle  wrote:
>
> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> On Sunday October 14, we saw at least 15 Cave Swallows in a flock of
> perhaps 75 Barn Swallows congregating on utility wires on League Road, near
> the intersection with Johnson Road in west Jefferson County.?(That? location
> is about 20 miles NNE of Anahuac NWR.)??There were also flocks of Tree
> Swallows in the vicinity and one lone Cliff Swallow was noted?in one of
> them.? There were a few Barn Swallows in the various Tree Swallow flocks,
> but the flocks were?otherwise either almost all Barn or almost all Tree.?
>
> Like Joe Kennedy, we too wondered where the Cave Swallows?might have come
> from, since the expected migration path for Cave Swallows would certainly be
> from the northeast to the southwest. We also do not?know of any breeding
> populations of Cave Swallows to the northeast of Jefferson County.? Joe
> accurately describes the situation in that there have been small numbers
> along the coast for a few years, at the boat ramp at Sea Rim State Park
> (although none reported there in the past two or more years),?under the
> causeway bridge over the mouth of Sabine Lake on TX82/LA82 (typically on the
> Louisiana side), and scattered reports of ones and two in various places in
> southwest Louisiana well south of IH-10.? But the known numbers would not
> account for the numbers of Cave Swallows last weekend in Jefferson and
> Chambers counties. Is this very late post breeding dispersal of Cave
> Swallows from?further west in Texas?? Has the population increased to the
> point that the species is looking t!
> o expand its range?along the coastal plain eastwards in winter as well as
> for breeding?
>
> Very close to where the?Cave Swallows were seen was a subadult/second year
> White-tailed Hawk.? For the past few years, White-tailed Hawks have?been
> seen?during prescribed burns at Anahuac NWR, and there have been very
> occasional sightings in Jefferson County.? However, a pair has been seen
> regularly this fall along Highway 87 just east of Sea Rim, typically on the
> poles leading to the H&B Ranch.? (Also, Crested Caracaras are rapidly
> becoming?so common in Chambers and Jefferson counties that they are no
> longer cause much excitement!)
>
> John?and Jana Whittle
> Nederland, Texas
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
> http://mail.aol.com
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
> http://www.texbirds.org
>



-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

The fish jumping are mullets which come upstream in the fall like redfish. I
have had redfish swimming below my window in Buffalo Bayou. We had mullet
jumping a couple of weeks ago when we saw the large flock of bishops. There
are also large numbers of carp, tilapia, catfish, bass, bream, sacalait and
whatever. The herons and ibis appear to scarf up tilapia that are washed
into the flood basins and then stranded as the water drains.



On 10/17/07, Rusty Alderson  wrote:
>
> Being in Houston for a few days, and staying just a couple o
> ---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---
>
> TEXBIRDs,
>
> Being in Houston for a few days, and staying just a couple of blocks from
> Arthur Storey Park where Joseph Kennedy sighted a small group of orange
> bishops yesterday, I decided to go in to the office a little late so I could
> try to get this "lifer."
>
> Alas, (does anyone ever use this expression anymore?) I had no luck with
> orange bishops, but saw some very nice birds.  Except where the bird was
> heard only (HO) or is listed as "possible" or "unidentified" I was able to
> get some decent pictures:
>
> eastern meadowlark - 1 HO
> northern flicker - 1 HO
> roseate spoonbill - 5
> white ibis - 7
> snowy egret - many
> great egret - 4
> great blue heron - 3
> green heron - 1
> tri-colored heron - 1
> yellow-crowned night heron - 5
> double-crested cormorant - 20
> scissortail flycatcher - 2
> possible purple martin
> unidentified gull - 2
>
> As an aside, while walking along the bayou, I saw (several times) some
> good-sized fish (8" - 14") jumping frantically out of the water in a series
> of leaps, indicating that some underwater predator was in pursuit.  I saw a
> couple of snapping turtles, but I'm not sure if snapping turtles can swim
> fast enough to give fish of this size anything to fear.  If not snapping
> turtles, what do you suppose was giving chase?  Perhaps a cormorant?  I know
> they can stay submerged for a while and are decent swimmers, but in none of
> the observed instances did I see a cormorant emerge after the chase(s)
> subsided.
>
> --Rusty Alderson
> Leander, Texas (currently in Houston)
>
> For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
> Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at
> http://www.texbirds.org
>



-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

This morning I found a beautiful male Long-Tailed Duck near Packery Channel 
in Corpus Christi.  The bird was about 1/4 mile past the big causeway bridge 
on the left side (heading away from Corpus).  I saw it this morning at about 
10am and again at 4:30PM.  Also, there were several shorebirds under the 
intracoastal turnaround, including about 10 red knots.

Jon McIntyre

_________________________________________________________________
Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Caf�. Stop by 
today! 

http://www.cafemessenger.com/info/info_sweetstuff2.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_OctHMtagline 


For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Hi,
Brenda Prothro and I went out to find Sabine's Gull described in several 
posts on TexBirds-I have been out of the US and was catching up on my email.   
Made the entire circuit of both sides of White Rock and found no Sabine's and 
almost no gulls.   There were about 8 Ring-billed Gulls sitting with DC 
Cormorants and that was it. It was windy and they weren't flying. If anyone 
sees it 

today, please post so I can give it another try before leaving Dallas 
tomorrow.

Carol Ferguson
RVing Birder currently in Boerne, Tx



**************************************
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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Greetings, all!

October 16, 2007

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks = 28
Red-shouldered Hawk = 1
Unknown Buteo = 1
Turkey Vultures = 40
Black Vultures = 2
Sharp-shinned Hawks = 27
Cooper's Hawks = 10
Unknown Accips = 2
American Kestrels = 6
Peregrine Falcons = 5
Merlin = 1
Osprey = 1
Northern Harriers = 5
Harris's Hawk = 1
White-tailed Hawk = 1
Zone-tailed Hawk = 1
Unknown Raptor = 1
Total = 133

No big numbers perhaps, but classic Hazel diversity.

Zone-tailed was an adult, and wowed us by flying no more than 50 feet 
overhead. What a beauty! This is definitely the year of the Zone-tailed 
Hawk at Hazel Bazemore. Awesome, simply awesome.

So, an adult Peregrine Falcon is resting on the cellphone tower. One of our 
local Red-shouldered Hawks (an adult Bird) flies by the tower, and issues a 
very antagonistic oral challenge. P-bird takes off and quickly answers said 
challenge, by engaging Red-shouldered Hawk in a dogfight. Now, 
Red-shouldered Hawks are pretty awesome fliers, but obviously no match for 
Peregrines. The P-bird made several astounding maneuvers that would have 
made the Red Baron very proud. Ultimately no physical damage was inflicted, 
but one would think that the Red-shouldered Hawk may think twice before 
challenging a P-bird again.

We also had a brief look at an adult male Merlin.

On the non-Raptor side, waterfowl types are flying over more frequently, 
and we had 12 American Avocets flyover.

Needless to say, Hazel rocks...
-----

Thanks, Dane!

Cheers,
Patty Waits Beasley
Corpus Christi, TX

Season total to date:
49..........Black vulture
1383........Turkey vulture
219.........Osprey
168 ........Swallow-tailed kite
1 ..........White-tailed kite
27286.......Mississippi kite
0 ..........Hook-billed kite
5...........Bald eagle
137.........Northern harrier
1313........Sharp-shinned hawk
976.........Cooper's hawk
0 ..........Northern goshawk
13..........Red-shouldered hawk
569532......Broad-winged hawk (17 DM)
332.........Swainson's hawk
57..........Red-tailed hawk
1...........Ferruginous hawk
18..........White-tailed hawk
1...........Short-tailed hawk
18..........Zone-tailed hawk
4...........Harris's hawk
0...........Rough-legged hawk
0...........Common black hawk
0...........Golden eagle
801.........American kestrel
80..........Merlin
234.........Peregrine falcon
6...........Prairie falcon
4...........Aplomado falcon
5...........Crested caracara
169.........Unknown accipiters
42..........Unknown buteos
14..........Unknown falcons
0 ..........Unknown eagles
83..........Unknown raptors
------------------------
602,951.... Season total to 10/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our 2007 HWI crew: Joel Simon, Dane Ferrell, Libby Even
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All reports, including photographs and videos, are posted on our web site.
Drop on by the Texas Hawk Watches web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Scheduling interfered with this month's survey but we finally got it done. 
Thanks to JD Cortez, Javier de Leon, Mike Delesantos, Mary Gustafson and Renee 
Rubin. Dan Jones' Saturday survey gave us a heads up and between the two counts 
we recorded a total of 62 species. Species Dan noted on Saturady and we missed 
on Sunday are noted as ** 

   
    Plain Chachalaca - 10
  Great Egret - 1
  Cooper's Hawk ** - 1
  Gray Hawk - 1
  Broad-winged Hawk -1
  Killdeer - 2
  Rock Pigeon - 16
  Eurasian Collared-Dove -1
  White-winged Dove - 40
  Inca Dove - 15
  White-tipped Dove - 4
  Green Parakeet - 4
  Red-crowned Parrot - auduble only
  Common Pauraque - 1
  Chimney Swift - 30
  Buff-bellied Hummingbird - 6
  Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
  Ringed Kingfisher - 2
  Belted Kingfisher - 1
  Green Kingfisher - 1
  Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 6
  Eastern Phoebe - 1
  Great Kiskadee - 8
  Couch's Kingbird - 2
  White-eyed Vireo - 8
  Green Jay - 3
  Tree Swallow - 1
  Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 7
  Cave Swallow ** - 1
  Barn Swallow - 50
  Black-crested Titmouse - 4
  Carolina Wren - 1
  House Wren - 2
  Ruby-crowned Kingket - 1
  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 6
  Clay-colored Robin ** - 1
  Gray catbird - 1
  Northern Mockingbird - 12
  Long-billed Thrasher - 2
  Curved-billed Thrasher - 2
  European Starling - 6
  Orange-crowned Warbler ** - 2
  Nashville Warbler - 3
  Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
  Black-and-white Warbler - 3
  American Redstart - 2
  Ovenbird ** - 2
  Mourning Warbler - 1
  Wilson's Warbler - 2
  Canada Warbler - 1
  Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
  Olive Sparrow ** - 2
  Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
  Northern Cardinal - 2
  Blue Grosbeak -1
  Indigo Bunting - 4
  Red-winged Blackbird - no count
  Great-tailed Grackle - 20
  Bronzed Cowbird - 16
  Lesser Goldfinch - 1
House Sparrow - 5


Wayne Bartholomew
  Executive Director
  Frontera Audubon Society
  Weslaco, Texas
   
  ofc.
  cell
  fax

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for the update. Are concealed handguns really the hangup? I'd 
heard that it had to do with access for hunters (i.e. allowing hunting, 
which TPWD wants), a somewhat different issue.
Byron Stone, Austin

-----Original Message-----
From: Carolyn 
To: TEXBIRDS AT LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:54 am
Subject: [TEXBIRDS] Christmas Mountains -----Help save

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <--- 
 

Here is a portion of a very long email I received. I would appreciate
it if you would take a minute to fill out the form on the enclosed
link. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll email it to you
directly. Thanks. 
 

On Friday, the National Park Service announced they would like to add 

 the Christmas Mountains to Big Bend National Park. Big Bend's 

 superintendent asked Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson to delay the
sale of the 

 Christmas Mountains to private interests in order to give them time to 

 put together a proposal. 
 

Unfortunately, Patterson turned the park service down, saying he didn't 

 want them to manage the property unless they changed their policy that 

 prohibits concealed hand guns on the property. This is a completely 

  unrelated issue and shouldn't stand in the way of the protection of 
the 

 Christmas Mountains. 
 

The good news is that Patterson is only one of three votes on the 

 School Land Board, the body which will decide what to do with the
Christmas 

 Mountains. The other two members are appointees of Gov. Rick Perry and 

 Attorney General Greg Abbott. 
 

Please sign our petition to Gov. Perry and Attorney General Abbott 

 asking them to direct their appointees to stop the sale of the
Christmas 

 Mountains. 
 

https://www.environmenttexas.org/action/preserving-texas/perry?id4=ES 
 

 

Carolyn Ohl-Johnson 

Christmas Mountains 
 

________________________________________________________________________ 


Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com 
 

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas 

Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at 
http://www.texbirds.org 






________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

          Was able to find 2 Merlins this morning out in Bear Creek Park. A 
male and a female, both hanging around Pavillion #5.

Jim Hinson
Houston, Tx.    
Astro99fan AT aol.com


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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org