Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Texas Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, July 3 at 10:42 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Greyish Saltator,©Dan Lane

3 Jul Fayette County [Ted Eubanks ] 3 Jul Iron Bridge Park, Leon River/Belton Lake, Bell Co. 3 July 2009 [Rich Kostecke ] 3 Jul summer birds at TSP [Boyd Sanders ] 3 Jul West Kerr - Sunset Cemetery [Tom Collins ] 3 Jul need (at least) 4 more for 7/25 Pelagic Trip ["Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" ] 2 Jul Least Grebes at the Triangle [Priscilla Murr ] 2 Jul Galveston [Marshall Reid ] 2 Jul Swifts over Dayton & Swallow-tailed Kites [James & Barbara Tilton ] 2 Jul Re: looking for additional participants for the July 25th pelagic trip [Andy Garcia ] 2 Jul looking for additional participants for the July 25th pelagic trip [Eric Carpenter ] 2 Jul Magnificent Frigatebird Roost [Jack Coker ] 2 Jul RBA Lower Rio Grande Valley Rare Bird Alert, July 2 2009 [Mary Gustafson ] 2 Jul Brazos Bend State Park this morning, 5 tree swallows [Joseph Kennedy ] 2 Jul Black Terns, Lewisville [KEITH LOCKHART ] 2 Jul West Houston Surprises [Harry Elliott ] 2 Jul GC-Warbler and BC-Vireo Help (NO SIGHTING) [No Name ] 1 Jul Long-billed Curlew Kenedy County [Lamont Brown ] 1 Jul BBS Kenedy Co The Wind Farm route [Lamont Brown ] 1 Jul Looking for Birds [John Schueler &/or Emie Stewart ] 1 Jul BLOT reprinting? [Ian Paulsen ] 1 Jul Near George Bush Park in West Houston [judy bell ] 1 Jul Fw: hummers [John Lumb ] 1 Jul Anahuac to Galveston East Beach today ending with a common loon [Joseph Kennedy ] 1 Jul [Fwd: Re: [texbirds] The Webberville Egret/Heron rookery] [dt ] 1 Jul Uvalde Summer Birds...Black-bellied Questions [] 1 Jul Least Grebe returns to Village Creek Drying Beds [Cameron Carver ] 1 Jul Another Least Grebe nest in Austin [James Giroux ] 30 Jun Bell, Coryell, Lampasas counties June 2009 birding summary [Rich Kostecke ] 30 Jun Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds, [Mitch ] 30 Jun Birding Hagerman NWR Grayson Co. [Lee Lemmons ] 30 Jun Yard Babies in Lake Jackson [] 30 Jun Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 [] 30 Jun more Tree Swallows at BBSP from Monday [Frank Farese ] 30 Jun Nesting Killdeer migh just make it. [Brush Freeman ] 30 Jun Scarlet Tanager [] 30 Jun Re: Early migrant GCFL (?) [Bob Thompson ] 30 Jun Anahuac NWR [Dwayne Litteer ] 30 Jun Re: Early migrant GCFL (?) ["Mason, Greg" ] 30 Jun Jabiru correction [Brush Freeman ] 30 Jun Jabiru [Brush Freeman ] 30 Jun Sandy..... [Brush Freeman ] 30 Jun bird count 6-30-09 [Quinta Mazatlan WBC ] 30 Jun Wood Storks in Gonzalez [Jon McIntyre ] 30 Jun Please delete me from the email list [] 30 Jun birds and foggy beaches [Bob Thompson ] 29 Jun Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 [Brush Freeman ] 30 Jun Swifts Over Houston 6/23-26 [] 29 Jun nests in Austin - western kingbird, stilts, least grebes [Melody Lytle ] 29 Jun Re: Happens in Tx. too... [Cecilia Riley ] 29 Jun Concan area and Uvalde County birds, Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 [] 29 Jun Sad note on Zone-tailed Hawk in Junction [RHANDY HELTON ] 29 Jun Re: American Golden-Plover, Franklin's Gull at Hargill, 6/20/09 [Bob Thompson ] 29 Jun Happens in Tx. too... [Brush Freeman ] 29 Jun American Golden-Plover, Franklin's Gull at Hargill, 6/20/09 [Dan Jones ] 29 Jun Results fromthe Plains I Breeding Bird Survey - Saturday [] 29 Jun Results from the Plains II Breeding Bird Survey - Friday [] 29 Jun Birds in Vernon, Wilbarger Co. [Brady Surber ] 29 Jun Some highlights from the weekend [] 29 Jun Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. [Tim Whitehouse ] 29 Jun gbh fighting full out battle [] 29 Jun Broad-billed Hummingbird, Timbercreek Canyon, Randall County, 17/19-June, 2009 [Barrett Pierce ] 28 Jun Tree Swallows are Fledged at Brazos Bend State Park, Sunday evening [Frank Farese ] 28 Jun Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. [Rex Stanford ] 28 Jun Central Brazos Valley birding [] 28 Jun 6-28-09 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher @ Warbler Woods [Susan Schaezler ] 28 Jun Broad-billed Hummingbird Continues, Timbercreek Canyon, 28-June, 2009 [] 28 Jun Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. [Tim Brush ] 28 Jun Big Bend Nat. Park, 6/25-26/09 [Dan Jones ] 28 Jun Re: Brazos Bend State Park Tree Swallow Update, Photos [] 28 Jun GC Flycatcher at Nature Discovery Center in Russ Pitman Park [Nature Discovery Center ] 28 Jun Alligator Pond Trail at Laguna Atascosa NWR [Stacy Sanchez ] 28 Jun Brazoria County Pine Warbler and Brazos Bend SP Tree Swallow June 27th [Ron Weeks ] 28 Jun Calhoun Co. Guadalupe Delta 6/28 etc. [Brush Freeman ] 27 Jun Least Grebes at Triangle Pond, Austin, have hatched [Melody Lytle ] 28 Jun Re: Tropical or Couch's ["bradmckinney AT juno.com" ] 28 Jun Brazos Bend State Park Tree Swallows [Bill Wright ] Subject: Fayette County From: Ted Eubanks <eubanks AT IO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:21:23 -0500 5 Wood Storks and 1 Roseate Spoonbill in Fayette County. Map on www.birdspert.blogspot.com Ted Eubanks Galveston TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Iron Bridge Park, Leon River/Belton Lake, Bell Co. 3 July 2009 From: Rich Kostecke <rkost73 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:59:57 -0700 I birded Iron Bridge Park and WMAs in Bell Co. on 3 July 2009. The Park and WMAs are situated along the Leon River where it opens out into Belton Lake. Despite some rumors that run-off in the Leon River drainage could have raised water levels, I found no evidence that upstream precipitation had raised water levels. Indeed, there was exposed shoreline along the Leon River and most of the backwater sloughs were dry. Some fairly expansive mudflats exist where the Leon River enters Belton Lake. Conditions look sweet for post-breeding wandering waders and southbound shorebirds. It is still a bit early for good numbers of such species, but I did have some birds (pintail, Cinnamon Teal, a nice mix of waders, and a Solitary Sandpiper). Compared to previous years, the giant ragweed is not as vibrant, undoubtedly affected by recent drought conditions. In total, I tallied 45 species. Wood Duck 6 Cinnamon Teal 2 (pair - molting) Northern Pintail 1 (drake - molting) Great Blue Heron 11 Great Egret 27 Snowy Egret 1 Little Blue Heron 1 Cattle Egret 30 Green Heron 6 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 (adult) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 3 Black Vulture 89 Turkey Vulture 21 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Killdeer 27 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 12 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 13 Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 8 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Eastern Phoebe 6 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 7 White-eyed Vireo 20 Red-eyed Vireo 2 American Crow 9 Cliff Swallow 6 Cave Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 3 Carolina Chickadee 15 Black-crested Titmouse 3 Canyon Wren 2 Carolina Wren 15 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 21 Eastern Bluebird 6 Northern Mockingbird 2 Summer Tanager 4 Northern Cardinal 51 Indigo Bunting 16 Painted Bunting 16 Red-winged Blackbird 33 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Orchard Oriole 1 Richard Kostecke, Ph.D. The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 5190, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-0190 Phone:  254-288-2088  Fax: 254-288-5039 E-mail: rkost73 AT yahoo.com or rkostecke AT tnc.org   TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: summer birds at TSP From: Boyd Sanders <boyd.sanders AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:30:51 -0500 Howdy All! I was surprised to find a few birds out this afternoon in the 1,000,000 degree heat. The Indigo Buntings are out singing and zipping around the Blackjack Nature trail. I've been hearing lots of Summer Tanagers, Red- eyed and White-eyed Vireos, you know the usual summer stuff. Did get a great look at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and while we were looking at it a curious little warbler showed up. The best that I can figure is was a very dark, maybe melanistic (maybe 3rd degree burns), Pine Warbler. The birding isn't to shabby around here even with the heat. Good Birding (with lots o' water), Boyd Sanders Interpreter/Exhibit Tech Tyler State Park boyd.sanders AT tpwd.state.tx.us (903)597-5338 “Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati” (When All Else Fails, Play Dead)- Red Green TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: West Kerr - Sunset Cemetery From: Tom Collins <towhee AT HCTC.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:53:21 -0500 Took a late morning run up to Sunset Cemetery where Tony Gallucci had Parula's in an earlier report. I spent a hour there with no success, but had a nice list is a very beautiful site. Probably best birded early in the morning and not at 11:00am. Location: Sunset Cemetery at Heart of the Hills Fish Hatchery (HOTW 070) Observation date: 7/3/09 Number of species: 25 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Vermilion Flycatcher 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 White-eyed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Barn Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 2 Black-crested Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 2 Bewick's Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 3 Summer Tanager 1 Lark Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 5 Painted Bunting 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Scott's Oriole 1 House Finch 2 Lesser Goldfinch 2 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: need (at least) 4 more for 7/25 Pelagic Trip From: "Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" <alterna2627 AT SWTEXAS.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:51:36 -0500 When my wife & I signed up for the 7/25 Pelagic Trip yesterday, they said we needed at least 4 more birders for the trip to "make". Anyone out there interested should get on the WBC website and call the number to sign up! Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Least Grebes at the Triangle From: Priscilla Murr <priscillamurr AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:57:36 -0500 We went to the Triangle last night to see the baby least Grebes. There were only four babies in evidence. We watched a very long time, the mother was working very hard diving and feeding, but a fifth baby never turned up. Too bad. Priscilla Murr Austin, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Galveston From: Marshall Reid <mreid72 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:11:02 -0700 Hi all.   My family and I are headed to Galveston for the 4th.  Is there anything worth seeing down there right now?  I know it's summer, but is the State Park open and does it have any birding opportunities right now?   Thanks.     Marshall Reid TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds La Porte, TX Subject: Swifts over Dayton & Swallow-tailed Kites From: James & Barbara Tilton <bjtilton2 AT IMSDAY.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:55:27 -0500 Tonight we counted 90 chimney swifts as they went to roost in the old rice dryer in Dayton. This morning about 10:45am I saw 5 swallow-tailed kites between Dayton and Liberty. Coming back through about 11:40am I didn't see any. Barbara Tilton Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club Liberty County TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: looking for additional participants for the July 25th pelagic trip From: Andy Garcia <agarcia101 AT SATX.RR.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:12:49 -0500 Texbirders: Unfortunately, I have a wedding to go to and will not be able to attend. I have gone on almost every pelagic trip since I don't know when - remember the South Polar Skua? I hope it rains here in San Antonio on that wedding day - but that's another story. In order to make the trip happen rather than cancelling, I would be willing to sponsor "one" birder in my place for this trip, this one time only. I have no criteria for, let's say, a young birder or an elderly birder. If you are a birder or know a birder who would like to go please send me a small note on why I should sponsor you this one time. I hope this is not off topic. Pelagic trips in south Texas are important and should continue. Deadline: 7/5/09. Thanks. Andy Garcia San Antonio, TX. Pelagic birders, The World Birding Center has organized a pelagic trip that will be leaving out of Port Isabel/South Padre Island Saturday, July 25th at 6.00am (must be at the dock at 5.30am). The trip is a 12-hour trip where the focus is to seek out the pelagic bird species in deepwater off the continental shelf. This is a not-for-profit trip where the cost per participant is $150. As of the moment, there are NOT enough participants signed up to cover the cost of the charter and the trip is in danger of being canceled. I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in the trips to contact Cate Ball and the folks at World Birding Center at (956) 761-3000 to let them know you'd like a spot on-board. The boat must have enough participants signed up by next Friday (July 11th) or it likely won't make it out. These Gulf of Mexico trips don't yield huge numbers of birds but we seem to always make up for it with a high quality sighting or find. Last year we had great looks at a Greater Shearwater on one trip, and a cooperative Long-tailed Jaeger on the other trip. The year before that, it was the mixed species flock that included a Brown Noddy & a Brown Booby. And...I'm sure many has heard me mention the Yellow-nosed Albatross we had in 2003...it is possibilities like that that keep me coming back for more. The July 25th trip is just the first of three trips being offered this summer/fall. The other two are scheduled for Saturday, August 29th and Saturday, September 19th. Leaders for these three trips will include Mary Gustafson, Brad McKiinney, Petra Hockey, Randy Pinkston, Dwight Peake and myself. More information on these trips and on Texas pelagics can be found at: http://www.texaspelagics.com/ I hope you'll join us. -- Eric Carpenter Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: looking for additional participants for the July 25th pelagic trip From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:22:21 -0500 Pelagic birders, The World Birding Center has organized a pelagic trip that will be leaving out of Port Isabel/South Padre Island Saturday, July 25th at 6.00am (must be at the dock at 5.30am). The trip is a 12-hour trip where the focus is to seek out the pelagic bird species in deepwater off the continental shelf. This is a not-for-profit trip where the cost per participant is $150. As of the moment, there are NOT enough participants signed up to cover the cost of the charter and the trip is in danger of being canceled. I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in the trips to contact Cate Ball and the folks at World Birding Center at (956) 761-3000 to let them know you'd like a spot on-board. The boat must have enough participants signed up by next Friday (July 11th) or it likely won't make it out. These Gulf of Mexico trips don't yield huge numbers of birds but we seem to always make up for it with a high quality sighting or find. Last year we had great looks at a Greater Shearwater on one trip, and a cooperative Long-tailed Jaeger on the other trip. The year before that, it was the mixed species flock that included a Brown Noddy & a Brown Booby. And...I'm sure many has heard me mention the Yellow-nosed Albatross we had in 2003...it is possibilities like that that keep me coming back for more. The July 25th trip is just the first of three trips being offered this summer/fall. The other two are scheduled for Saturday, August 29th and Saturday, September 19th. Leaders for these three trips will include Mary Gustafson, Brad McKiinney, Petra Hockey, Randy Pinkston, Dwight Peake and myself. More information on these trips and on Texas pelagics can be found at: http://www.texaspelagics.com/ I hope you'll join us. -- Eric Carpenter Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Magnificent Frigatebird Roost From: Jack Coker <lorellpeace AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:45:33 -0500 I went fishing offshore from Freeport Sat. & Sun. Spent Sat. night offshore. There were a few birds out to around the State Waters line (9 NM), but beyond that out to about 45 mi. birds were very scarce ... a handful of gulls and terns and one frigatebird. There is very little weed offshore, so that may help account for the dearth of birds. I also went on Wed. when conditions were the same except for a number of frigatebirds roosting on a platform about 9 or 10 miles out. I counted 22 of them. This was a little before 8 AM. They didn't seem to be much disturbed by our attempts to catch bait around the pipestand. Here are some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22016074 AT N02/sets/72157620738650889/ Jack Coker Sugar Land TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: RBA Lower Rio Grande Valley Rare Bird Alert, July 2 2009 From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:31:00 -0400 RBA . * Texas * Lower Rio Grande Valley * July 2, 2009 . + (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us) . Our rare bird alert includes recent reports of... . +Masked Duck (no recent sightings) Yellow-green Vireo Mangrove Warbler . hotline: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline number: (956) 584-2731 to report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or (956) 584-2731 option 3 compilers: Mary Gustafson (Rio Grande Joint Venture) and Jennifer Owen (Estero Llano Grande State Park). We’re also on the web at http://www.rgvbirds.blogspot.com! . - 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 normally updated Thursdays by 5 PM. Please send observations to Texbirds or to the hotline email address. Thank you to those who sent reports! . This is a general reminder that tapes are not allowed in Texas State Parks and many LRGV birding sites. All State Park visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation. . Birding site closures: Quinta Mazatlan is closed on Sunday and Monday, and Valley Nature Center is closed Sunday morning and Monday. Audubon’s Sabal Palm Sanctuary is closed, access is restricted to pre-arranged groups until October 15. Frontera Audubon Sa nctuary is closed on Sundays. . Shorebirds are in good numbers very early this year. . The RGV Report, generally from E to W. . Mangrove Warblers are a well-marked subspecies of Yellow Warbler that may be distinct enough to warrant full species status. For more information on seeing Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler contact the Sealife Center at (956) 299-1957. . Magnificent Frigatebirds are seen almost daily near South Padre Island. . At Laguna Atascosa, the trail out to Alligator Pond has reopened. This is the site where two female-plumaged Masked Ducks were present through May 30, when the trail was closed. Please report any sightings of these birds, as Masked Duck are TBRC Review Species. . A Yellow-green Vireo has returned to a Brownsville neighborhood for the sixth year. From Boca Chica Blvd. (Rte 4) between Billy Mitchell Blvd. and Clubhouse Rd. take E. Cowan Terrace north to Heather Lane through at least June 16. The Yellow-green Vireo’s territory is centered on this intersection. Please, be considerate when birding in residential neighborhoods. . A Wood Thrush was in Edinburg through June 21. . A Hook-billed Kite was near Pintail Lakes at Santa Ana NWR on May 28. A Yellow-green Vireo was singing from the levee road east of the main road on June 16 and continued in the Pintail Lakes area June 24. Three Purple Gallinules were also present. . At Bentsen RGV State Park, a Peregrine F alcon was seen over the park on June 26 and 27. . Red-crowned Parrots are wandering more widely to feed and roost and are not always easy to find in the summer, as their locations are more unpredictable. They are most often seen in flight. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the area of Quinta Mazatlan, Valley Nature Center and Estero Llano Grande State Park. Green Parakeets often stage before going to roost in McAllen on North 10th Street between Violet and Dove in the evening. Both Green Parakeet and Red-crowned Parrot have been seen in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park), Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and Brownsville. . At Salineno, Red-billed Pigeon and Muscovy Duck are presumably still present along the river near Salineno although we have no recent reports. . Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are at San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville. There is a fee to access this site, and prior arrangements are required (Leticia Tijerina, 956-369-3118 or buny55ATaol.com). Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are found on the King Ranch (Norias Division) and often at El Canelo (no recent news). They are also heard (and rarely seen) at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the pre-dawn hours. Remember, the use of tapes is not allowed at Bentsen or many LRGV sites. Always ask before using tapes. . Traditional sites for White-collared Seedeaters are at the San Ygnacio County Par k/Seedeater Sanctuary (still flooded?), Zapata near the pond at the south end of 9th Street, and Laredo. . The Wikibird guide provides birding site information for the Rio Grande Valley at http://wikibird.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Valley_birding_guide . Thanks to Tim Whitehouse for this great service! Many RGV specialties like Clay-colored Thrush are covered in the RGV recent sightings information in greater detail than we can cover in the hotline. . Please report sightings to rgvbirdsAThotmail.com (Replace AT with AT ) or (956) 584-2731 option 3. Thanks to everyone who reported their sightings to Texbirds or the compilers. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Brazos Bend State Park this morning, 5 tree swallows From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:55:29 -0500 I spent the morning at Brazos Bend and had a very good day other than it being a little humid to go with the heat for a change. As I arrived at the park a little after sunrise, a single wood stork flew out of the area. The tree swallows are still around the nesting area and the young do expect to be fed but were having a little trouble with getting lots of goodies. There were 5 tree swallows present with 3 being young birds. The 5th bird perched with the 2 young once but was not with them on a regular basis. I got pictures of all 5. The calls of the young birds can easily be distinguished from the calls of the adults and can be picked out at a long distance. More babies around the park. On the trail between 40 acre and elm lake and just past the causeway/bridge, 2 prothonotary broods and their parents were having a boundary dispute and the melee was joined by a family of northern parulas and a family of chickadees and several upset red-bellied woodpeckers. Great todo and a great chance to see the little ones. I found one prothonotary nest but heard no young and it appears that the male is feeding the female inside the nest. He is finding large green caterpillars on the hackberry tree just adjacent to the nest. A ruby-throated hummingbird was eating little spiders or trapped insects from the webs of the golden orb spiders. The cattle egret rookery to the north of the tower appears to be very busy with large numbers of the egrets coming into the park to feed as the cut the grass. There appear to be more anhingas also coming to the area to rest. Most appear to be males. The gallinule chicks continue to grow and I did not see any new chicks. One purple gallinule was mainly feathered with little down. I think I saw 1 green heron fledgling but it did not stay long enough to check for down on the head. Lots of alligators snatching dragonflies along the trail out to the tower on the north side of 40 acre lake. Several mississippi kites were soaring over the parking lot of the visitor center. Only a few vultures were in the air and I saw no other hawks. Barred owls went to roost just after I arrived and provided a nice view as they flew over the lake and then they all tuned up around 10 am. A pair of birds flew over the road just after you enter the long straightaway heading toward the visitor center. The were some sort of orange oriole and my impression was baltimore but all unorchard orioles are unexpected in the area at this time of year. It is something to look for but you cannot park in the area to look. It was a great day to be out in the park with lots of birds. It looks like the place will be busy for the holiday as trailers were pulling in while I was in the back of the park. Lots of rain crows were calling but all were lying as there was no rain. The pileated woodpecker family that lives around the 40 acre lake parking lot has fully grown youngsters. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Black Terns, Lewisville From: KEITH LOCKHART <keithlockhart AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:30:01 -0500 This morning there were two juvenile Black Terns at Lewisville Lake Park. There were also 8 Least Terns: 4 adult and 4 juvenile. Keith Lockhart Highland Village, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: West Houston Surprises From: Harry Elliott <harry_s_elliott AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:30:51 -0700 My purpose was to walk the dogs along the ditch south of Richmond Ave and west of Dairy Ashford.  However, unusual birds kept appearing including: Little Blue Heron Egrets, Snowy and Great Yellow-crowned Night Heron Mississippi Kite Western Kingbird (on power stanciions) Monk Parakeet and another stranger exotic Pin-tailed Whynah, male with a foot long tail attached to a finch body, red bill, and black cap native to Africa. My books didn't have the Waynah either, so I went to the www. Harry Elliott     TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds   Subject: GC-Warbler and BC-Vireo Help (NO SIGHTING) From: No Name <mfriedel3 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:23:25 -0500 My family and I just arrived in Austin this evening from Illinois. We had to do the family thing this evening, but we're hoping to get out early tomorrow morning (Thursday) and were hoping we'd see some area specialties. :c) Does anyone have any suggestions on good places, or any recent sightings? I know we might be a little late for singing males.... Thanks! Michael Friedel TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Long-billed Curlew Kenedy County From: Lamont Brown <lamont AT WHN.ORG> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:22:35 -0500 Sorry for late post. This past Sunday, 28 June, while driving to Harlingen from No. Texas about dusk I saw a Long-billed Curlew fly from the west side of Hwy 77 to the east side. This was about 15 miles south of the Sarita Rest Stop. Based on distance off the ground on both sides of the road and trajectory, it was most likely changing/scouting locations. Lamont Brown Harlingen TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: BBS Kenedy Co The Wind Farm route From: Lamont Brown <lamont AT WHN.ORG> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:16:25 -0500 I ran the San Pedro BBS route which is on the Kenedy Ranch, Kenedy County six weeks ago on 15 May. Sorry my schedule/travel has precluded me from submitting data until this week. This is the route that has two stops on the leased property that is fast becoming a Wind Farm. More on that below. The day was quite good, from 78F to 88F with winds from 3 mph to 13 mph and no clouds after 7:30 a.m. This was my first time to run this route. It had only been run once since 2003, in 2006. It had been run eight times since 1996. These eight sets of date comprise the averages to which I make comparisons. There were some real nice surprises on both the top and bottom sides. I counted 61 species [second high to the 1998 count of 63] versus 54 average, but only saw 539 individuals versus 612 average individuals. Real surprises: Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, +100% increase, counted 4 vs. 2 avg, tied for highest year with 1997 Wild Turkey, +94%, counted 31 vs. 16 avg, second highest year to 1999[45] Northern Bobwhite, +64%, counted 54 vs. 33 avg, second highest year to 2003[60] Olive-sided Flycatcher, +1000%, counted 10 vs. 1 avg, highest year Ash-throated Flycatcher, +88%, counted 17 vs. 9 avg White-eyed Vireo, +86%, counted 28 vs. 15 avg, highest year Black Vulture, - 75% decrease, counted 1 vs. 4 avg, second lowest year Turkey Vulture, -85% counted 3 vs. 20 avg, this is a new low year Black-crested Titmouse, -70%, counted 6 vs. 20 avg, new low year Summer Tanager, -86%, counted 3 vs. 17 avg, new low year Painted Bunting, -96%, counted 1 vs. 21 avg, but only 4 recorded in 2006 Lesser Goldfinch, -100%, counted zero vs. 19 avg All other species were in expected ranges. The Wind Farm: Stop #48 is 200 yards from the lease property which comprises the Wind Farm; Stops 49 & 50 are on the Wind Farm. On these 3 stops I saw Cassin's Sparrow on #48, none on #49 and Botteri's Sparrow and Mourning Dove on #50, 1 each. On my submitted BBS report I stated where these stops were located and how revealing the data could be in a few years for these stops versus data for pre-wind farm years. I spent several hours the week before running the route building relationships with the Kenedy Ranch Foreman, The Division Foreman of the ranch where this BBS is located as well as the office personnel in the Kenedy Museum. I hoped this would serve us [the BBS data/birding community] well in the future. The Division Foreman graciously drove me over the route. That was a big help, especially since he had a 4WD and I didn't, which is needed for about 10 real sandy stops. And he told me to call him for next years BBS run. All construction on the wind farm is due to be completed this summer, if all stays on schedule. Data will be submitted within 24 hours and available for inspection from BBS website. Lamont Brown Harlingen TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Looking for Birds From: John Schueler &/or Emie Stewart <schueler AT FLASH.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:42:18 -0500 I am going to be in Austin for a couple days in the latter part of July, and I'm looking for recommendations for good birding spots in the area. If it is not too late for them, I'd obviously love to try to see Golden-Cheeked Warblers and Black-Capped Vireos, but I'm primarily just looking for some fun birding. Any advice is welcome. Thanks, John Schueler Fort Worth TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: BLOT reprinting? From: Ian Paulsen <birdbooker AT ZIPCON.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:42:32 -0700 HI ALL: The University of Texas Press has started reprinting their out-of-print titles which includes Oberholser's Birdlife of Texas. It's a Print-On-Demand system, which mean YOU have to demand it! If you want BLOT reprinted contact UTP at: utpress AT uts.cc.utexas.edu sincerely -- Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA " Which just goes to show that a passion for books is extremely unhealthy." from Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart". TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Near George Bush Park in West Houston From: judy bell <jfyebell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:33:51 -0700 As I was driving east on FM 1093 (Westheimer Road) near George Bush Park at approximately 10:00 a.m. this morning, I noticed a group of birds circling over FM 1093 and slowly moving south toward the Westpark Toll Road.  I counted at least 30 birds in this group.  I grabbed my old binoculars that I keep in my car and quickly realized there was another group of at least 60 birds probably 300 feet higher, also slowly moving south toward the Westpark Toll Road.  Did anyone else see these birds?  If I had to guess I would say they were white-faced ibis.  I would appreciate any feedback. Judy Bell west of Katy TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fw: hummers From: John Lumb <jlumbtx AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:49:45 -0700 >From New Scientist Magazine:  Talk about showing off for your lady. During courtship flights, male Anna's hummingbirds sustain accelerations that would cause a fighter jet pilot to pass out.   Read more:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17277-male-hummingbirds-break-speed-record-for-love.html?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=dn17277   John Lumb TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Houston Subject: Anahuac to Galveston East Beach today ending with a common loon From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:41:04 -0500 I started the day at White park where there are still red-headed woodpeckers. On the way down to Anahuac ran through some major cleanup in progress with lots of trucks etc. The bird of the day on the refuge was the recently fledged eastern kingbirds. Only found one nest with a sitting eastern kingbird this trip and many of the kingbirds and orchard orioles that were there last time had moved to a better hunting ground. But there were still lots of both species around the refuge. There were also newly fledged white ibis, forster's terns and seaside sparrows. Common nighthawks were flying around with a putting call in some sort of territorial display. Had a total of 12 herons on the ground in the refuge. On High Island, stopped at the top of the hill in Smith Oaks and had blue jays and cardinals. Same birds on 1st street. Rollover Pass had lots of activity on the nesting islands to the north with large number of herons and terns resident. About 25 marbled godwits were resting in close along with several western sandpipers and maybe 15 sanderlings. Also several semipalmated plover, 7 black-bellied plover, and 35 western willets. Large numbers of young brown pelicans. Yacht Basin Road is becoming very dry but has had the worst of the debris cleaned. Tuna Road had 3 white-rumped sandpipers, and a flock of mainly western willets. Bob Road is starting to dry with a substantial fish kill. The fish are being attended by terns and laughing gulls and a scattering of other birds but no shorebirds. The beach drive along Bolivar Flats was devoid of birds. The tide was a little low for the first time since spring so I walked and then rock-hopped the jetty. Lots of willets, almost all eastern including many young of the year birds, totaling more than 350. This would be a partly a pre-migratory gathering and partly a result of so many places willet spots drying up. There were 7 dowitchers way off to the east, several marbled godwit, 2 american oystercatchers, several young of the year forster's terns begging, and 32 reddish egrets. One could rock hop way out there and get off on what appears to be fairly solid sand and progress out to the bay front; or alternatively, one could sink up to ones waist. Least terns were catching minnows and taking them back to the flats. Out on east beach, there was a good sized flock of black terns out on the outer bar along with some sanderlings, semipalmated plover, 1 marbled godwit, and some peeps way off. My first fledged least tern was begging off out the outer bar and the parent objected to my head being across the water. The beast bird of the day was a breeding plumage common loon that flew across in front of me just after I crossed the causeway but before I reached the second smaller bridge. I think that it had been on the water to the right. Went on to Tom Bass Park and had the 3 summering goose species and found the pair of black vultures in their cave. Things are getting dryer but there were some puddles at Anahuac but none on Bolivar or High Island. Some of the vegetation that had started to cover the sand on Bolivar is going. Anahuac is drying up except for the ditches and a couple of small areas in Shoveler Pond. The mottled ducks are gathering there with several well grown broods. Most black-necked stilts appear to have given up trying to nest and all flocks flying were 100% adult. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: [Fwd: Re: [texbirds] The Webberville Egret/Heron rookery] From: dt <daletx AT NEWSGUY.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:21:08 -0500 Where is (was) the Webberville Egret/Heron rookery? I live off 969 just east of the Bastrop County line. I'd like to keep an eye on it, see if maybe they come back. thanks, Dale Tilson Elgin, Texas wbburkett AT AOL.COM wrote: > I would expect thatthis will happen at many inland rookeries as the drought deepens. It is not uncommon for nesting birds to abandon their young when food resources decline. My father censuses waterbird colonies in South Florida and last year and this most of the early heron/egret nests failed and birds are starting to nest again now. > Winnie Burkett > Friendswood > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brush Freeman > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > Sent: Thu, Jun 25, 2009 6:11 am > Subject: [texbirds] The Webberville Egret/Heron rookery > > > > ...has completely failed. I was by there briefly a few days ago and there > was not a living bird to be seen. For such a huge rookery to have been > abandoned while young were in the nests something very traumatic must have > occurred be it human intervention, predation, the drought and starvation > etc. I found one nest with desiccated young and several dead adult birds > hanging in the trees or on the ground. In anticipation of the query, I > don't think such a large number of birds will relocate and try to breed > again this year but I could be wrong. At any rate the Cattle Egrets > appeared have moved on elsewhere. I did not see a single bird in the area > during my short visit there. > > Brush Freeman > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.90/2199 - Release Date: 06/24/09 06:23:00 > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Uvalde Summer Birds...Black-bellied Questions From: bobolink AT STX.RR.COM Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:28:23 +0000 I talked with Chuck yesterday yesterday who lives in an apartment area overrun with cats. He said the black-bellied whistling ducks were falling out of trees and just out in the open to the cats. He put a couple in a box today and we did take 'em to Cook's Slough...what is the normal procedure for these birds to get out of dodge???????????? http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114493874 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114493878 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114493880 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114493879 Also Byron Stone mentioned he saw a Summer Tanager with a gray to black beak...I had one with a beige and one with a gray today http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114493890 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114494200 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114494201 Also: my Black Vulture baby is doing just fine...he even flew away to the top of a tree today...I've been watching his lonely progress...watch what you wish for... http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114494095 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/114494090 http://www.pbase.com/bobsnature/image/113683194 early on photo of Fledged Black Vulture is fledged correct...hadn't flown yet...today's bird a fledge...still has beige feathers... Also: lots of painted buntings...blue grosbeaks...yellow-billed cuckoos...Pyrrhuloxias...Red-tail and Swainson's together today both vocalizing...doesn't get any better than that...delightful walk in Summer ...come join me...you can look at other pictures by just clicking on pictures...need to clean up one of these days but fine for now...any want of pictures just email me...free for asking... Bob Rasa Uvalde County Birds and other things that move... enjoying retirement TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Least Grebe returns to Village Creek Drying Beds From: Cameron Carver <narsepoo AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:58:37 -0500 On the day of 6/27 a Least Grebe was observed three times throughout the day on Pond 15 at the Drying Beds in Tarrant County. The next day I observed the bird for over an hour starting at 1:48 and ending at 3:20. I was able to take several pictures although he was very elusive. This is the second year in a row Least Grebes have been at the Drying Beds and also the second year that it has been on Pond 15. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3669620072_ea77fd258a_b.jpg Cameron Carver, Arlington, Tx TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Another Least Grebe nest in Austin From: James Giroux <jgiroux AT COOPERCONSULTING.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:51:14 -0500 Yesterday evening I was delighted to find a Least Grebe family (at least 3 young) at the small pond behind the Convict Hill library in south Austin. (5125 Convict Hill Rd.) Another nest is located in a pond at the northeast corner of W. 45th St. and Triangle Ave. James Giroux Austin, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bell, Coryell, Lampasas counties June 2009 birding summary From: Rich Kostecke <rkost73 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:16:02 -0700 June is arguably the slowest birding month in Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties. With the exception of a few lingering migrants early in the month and post-breeding wanders late in the month, observations pertain mostly to breeding species. This year, there were few lingering migrants. As expected, a few post-breeding wanderers began to show late in the month. Unlike June 2008, which was wetter, there was a rather poor showing for summering waterbirds this June. Although the tri-county area is currently categorized as being only abnormally dry or, at worse, in moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor, we received little rain (<0.5”) during the month. Coupled with triple digit temperatures during the last third of the month, creeks, ponds, and the area reservoirs quickly began to dry down. Currently both Belton and Stillhouse Hollow reservoirs are 2-3’ below normal lake level and seem to be on their way to perhaps providing some interesting late summer habitat for waders and shorebirds. In general, it seems to have been a good breeding season for many species as there are now plenty of fledglings out and about. It was a particularly interesting month for raptors with evidence of breeding for several of our rarer summering species. BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK – May have bred in the Rogers area, but the birds reported further west are undoubtedly post-breeding wanderers. 15-16 Rogers area ponds (Bell) 18 [RKo] and 21 [RPi] June 2 Slough Pond, Shallowford Road, Temple (Bell) 24 June [RPi] 2 Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 27 June [GEc, SNi] BLUE-WINGED TEAL 2 north shore Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 3 June [GEc] – Late migrants. NORTHERN SHOVELER 4 north shore Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 3 June [GEc] – Late migrants. REDHEAD 1 drake with probable hen Knob Hill Road (Bell) 21 June [RPi] RING-NECKED DUCK 1 drake Lometa Reservoir (Lampasas) through 14 June [BSt] PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Fort Hood (Coryell) 11 June [RKo] – Although grebes have bred at this pond in past years, apparently this grebe was a late migrant as it was not observed on subsequent visits to the pond. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT 1 Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 19 June [RKo] TRICOLORED HERON 1 Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 27 June [GEc, SNi] – 1st pots-breeding wanderer of the season. CATTLE EGRET – First post-breeding wanderers of the season. 30 Slough Pond, Shallowford Road, Temple (Bell) 29 June [RPi] 4 Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 30 June [GEc] WHITE IBIS 2 (adult and immature) Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) 12 June [ERu] 1 adult Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) 16 June [RKo] 1 immature Slough Pond, Shallowford Road, Temple (Bell) 29 June [RPi] WHITE-FACED IBIS 9 flying over Highway 190 west of Killeen (Bell/Coryell) 13 June [GEc] – Early post-breeding wanderers? MISSISSIPPI KITE 1-2 adults along Salado Creek, Mill Creek Golf Community, Salado (Bell) 21-27 June [DPi, RPi]; nest located by RPi along Salado Creek on 27 June. Based on sightings from early July 2008 and previous summer sightings in the early 2000s, kites have probably been breeding in Salado for several years now. COOPER’S HAWK 2 lower Stampede Creek, Fort Hood (Coryell) 7 June [RKo] – Likely a nesting pair. 2+ (family group vocalizing – adult kekking calls and immature begging calls) in thick woods near confluence of Clear and House Creeks, Fort Hood (Coryell) 26 June [RKo] SWAINSON’S HAWK – Possibly a more common summer and breeding resident east if I-35 from where we receive few reports. 1 Killeen Airport tarmac (Bell) 1 June [SSu] 1 over Temple (Bell) 14 June [RPi] 1 over East Range Road, Fort Hood (Bell) 18 June [RKo] ZONE-TAILED HAWK 2 nest building Colorado Bend State Park (Lampasas) 20 June [BSt] BROAD-WINGED HAWK – Likely locally breeding individuals. 1 Temple (Bell) 8 June [RPi] 1 over “Vireo Alley”, Fort Hood (Coryell) 23 June [DCi, RKo, GEc] AMERICAN KESTREL 5, assumedly a family group, Hood Army Air Field, Fort Hood (Bell) through 12 June [fide CPe] – Rare breeding event in the tri-county area. 1 Taylor Valley Road, Fort Hood (Bell) 15 June [SSu] COMMON MOORHEN 1 Lake Rogers (Bell) 21 June [RPi] AMERICAN COOT 1 Slough Pond, Shallowford Road, Temple (Bell) 26 June [RPi] 1 Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 27 June [RKo] SPOTTED SANDPIPER 2 Eister Lake, Fort Hood (Coryell) 3 June [RKo] – Late migrant. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – Late migrants. 17 Eister Lake, Fort Hood (Coryell) 3 June [RKo] Up to 75 north shore Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 3-4 June [GEc] 1 north shore Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 6 June [RKo] PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1 Eister Lake, Fort Hood (Coryell) 3 June [RKo] – Late migrant. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 north shore Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 3-4 June [GEc] – Late migrant. COMMON GROUND-DOVE – After being absent or at least very scarce on Fort Hood during the past few years, they have made a strong showing on Fort Hood and perhaps regionally this year. Up to 3 Vireo Alley, Fort Hood (Coryell) through 10 June [DCi, SSu, RKo] 3 Table Rock Creek, Fort Hood (Coryell) 24 June [RKo] EASTERN SCREECH-OWL 1 red-morph Temple yard (Bell) throughout the month [RPi] CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW – Few reports of this secretive, nocturnal species after the spring. 1 calling Temple yard (Bell) 23 June [RPi] MONK PARAKEET 1 Lampasas (Lampasas) 20 June [BSt] BELTED KINGFISHER 1 Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) 17 [CEn] and 25 June [GEC, ERu] PILEATED WOODPECKER 1 Leon River, North Fort Hood (Coryell) 4 June [RKo] ACADIAN FLYCATCHER 1 maybe 2 Bear Springs, Fort Hood (Bell) 13 June [RPi, RKo] 2 Owl Creek drainage, Fort Hood (Bell) 25 June [RKo] 1 Bear Springs, Fort Hood (Bell) 27 June [RKo] 1 Bear Creek, Fort Hood (Bell) 27 June [RKo] EASTERN KINGBIRD 1 Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) 25 June [RKo] – Post-breeding wanderer/fall migrant or potential breeder? Behavior might suggest the former. BLACK-CAPPED VIREO – Few reports off of Fort Hood. 2 males Briggs Road (western Bell) 7 June [RPi] 1 Kempner area (Lampasas) 7 June [DCi] PURPLE MARTIN ~30 hatch-years Slough Pond, Shallowford Road, Temple (Bell) 23-29 June [RPi] TREE SWALLOW 2 south shore of Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 6 June [RKo] BUSHTIT 1 heard along the Kempner BBS Route (Lampasas) 14 June [BSt]; follow-up by BSt on 20 June revealed a pair. NORTHERN PARULA 1 Bear Springs, Fort Hood (Bell) 13, 22, and 27 June [RKo, RPi, GEc, TTS] YELLOW WARBLER 1 persistently singing male east-most intersection of Phyllis Dr. and Tyler Dr., southwest Copperas Cove (Coryell) 12 June [RKo] – Assumedly on territory as he has been singing from the same live oak trees for several weeks now; however, he was not heard or seen after the 12th. GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER - Few reports off of Fort Hood or away from GEc house on Stillhouse Hollow Lake. 1 male Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children (Bell) 25 June [GCr] AMERICAN REDSTART 1 first summer male photographed below Heiner Lake, Fort Hood (Bell) 17 June [ERu] – Post-breeding wanderer? PROTHONOTARY WARBLER 1-2 (adults and at least one hatch-year warbler) Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) throughout the month [RKo, ERu, CEn] LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH 1 upper Bear Creek, Fort Hood (Bell) 6 June [RKo] 1 singing Cowhouse Creek, Fort Hood (Coryell) 11 June [RKo] 2-3 Bear Springs, Fort Hood (Bell) 13 and 22 June [RKo, RPi, GEc, TTS] 1 Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) through 17 June [CEn] COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 1 probable based on call, Cowhouse Creek willows, Fort Hood (Bell) 17 June [CEn] YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT Up to 15/day Fort Hood (Bell/Coryell) throughout the month [RKo, DCi] CASSIN’S SPARROW Up to 3/day Fort Hood (Bell/Coryell) through 11 June [RKo] FIELD SPARROW Up to 7/day Fort Hood (Bell/Coryell) throughout the month [RKo] Observers: BSt = Byron Stone, CEn = Catherine Engelman, CPe = Charles Pekins, DCi = David Cimprich, DPi = David Pinkston, ERu = Eric Runfeldt, GEc = Gil Eckrich, RKo = Rich Kostecke, RPi = Randy Pinkston, SNi = Sabrina Nicholson, SSu = Scott Summers, TTS = Toni Taylor-Salisbury Richard Kostecke, Ph.D. The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 5190, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-0190 Phone:  254-288-2088  Fax: 254-288-5039 E-mail: rkost73 AT yahoo.com or rkostecke AT tnc.org   TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds, From: Mitch <mitch AT UTOPIANATURE.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:50:26 -0500 Hi all, A) A fair number of summer tanagers here show a bill that is gray along the culmen with the typical yellower, straw, color restricted to sides of bill, particularly the area along the cutting edges. Not all here are all yellow, but some are. Many show varying degrees of gray on the bill here, some appear mostly gray though close inspection usually reveals yellow at least along cutting edges. No, I don't know what it means. B) If a day is spent in summer at Ft. Inge, Cook's Slough, and the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery, I would be suprised if you didn't see 50-100 Bank Swallows. You just have to catch them when they come in to drink. At least this has been the case for 6 wonderful summers now. I strongly suspect they are nesting in some of the tall deep sandy cuts of the Nueces, Frio, or other in Uvalde County. They are findable daily in fair numbers all summer, but easy to miss. I seriously doubt they are commuting from the Rio Grande. :) C) I had no Golden-cheeked Warbler detections at Lost Maples SNA on June 28. :( It's over. Mitch Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX www.utopianature.com Dr. Birdie wrote: >> I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with atypical bill coloration in Summer Tanager. ? >> 3 or 4 Bank Swallows, which surprised me, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer. >>It's getting late for Golden-cheeks, so they may have vacated the area already. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Birding Hagerman NWR Grayson Co. From: Lee Lemmons <leelemmons76 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:35:55 +0000 Jack,Dick & myself got 52 sps. in 5hrs. Hilite were black tern, least tern & Miss.kite, the cookies were great good birding y'all lee Leelemmons Denison _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Yard Babies in Lake Jackson From: lkirbytx AT YAHOO.COM Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:53:26 -0700 This morning we had 20+ baby Black Bellied Whistling Ducks walking through our yard and across the street to a creek.   http://picasaweb.google.com/lkirbytx/BBWhistlingDuckBabies?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLig86mmMjf_AE#5353108026278177874 http://picasaweb.google.com/lkirbytx/BBWhistlingDuckBabies?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLig86mmMjf_AE#5353108128292968194 How large is their normal brood?  Although we've seen Black Bellied Whistling Ducks in our neighborhood before, we haven't seen them nesting here. Larry and Vicki Kirby Lake Jackson, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 From: jarvin1 AT COMCAST.NET Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:45:15 +0000 Brush, Byron, et al. Bank Swallow is rather common as a breeder along the Rio Grande below Falcon Dam (and perhaps above Falcon Lake). Some colonies have been quite large (>700 nests). I have also found colonies in the cut banks of gravel pits in the area upstream from Mission. Northern Rough-winged Swallows also breed in the area, albeit in much smaller numbers (i.e. in man made drainage pipes in concrete walls of the spillways of both Anzaldus and Falcon Dams). John Arvin Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Lake Jackson, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brush Freeman" To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 10:12:15 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [texbirds] Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 Byron that is a great report and I envy your weekend. I have not seen or heard a BCVI this year as strange as that might sound and I don't know how to explain the deal with the Summer Tanager though I am not sure how significant that is (?) I have seen a distinct decline in the numbers of SUTAs this year off the Plateau...I assume to the drought. Tough to come by even at Webberville. I would remark on one comment of yours regarding the Bank Swallow, you wrote ............."This bird doesn't nest in central Texas, but I see that some range maps (like NGS fifth edition) show a disjunct breeding population along a section of the Rio Grande, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer." They do breed in Central Texas in small numbers or at least they did once....Before and just after the hwy. 360 bridge was built over Lk. Austin they nested in cavities on the west side of that uncompleted highway on the north side of the lake ..Holes in the limestone cliff. I can not remember who discovered this now but I did see it. They also bred just below the dam at Stillhouse Hollow Lk. in Bell Co. in small numbers. I remember visiting there in the summer with a couple of folks years ago and seeing them going in and out of cavities on the "cliff" north side of the river. Was that with K. Johnson?...Hmm? They have also nested on the banks of the San Marcos R. south of San Marcos and are suspected, though not confirmed to have bred in Gonzales Co. (I would very much like to know exactly where) ...Just another one of those fun things to follow up on in the summer. Granted it has been years (in some cases more than 20) since I or anyone I know has revisited these places to check on any continued nesting. Rough-wings nest in Bastrop Co. or did at one time on the river just downstream of the golf course south of Tahitian Village in the cliffs there. Fun stuff. Brush Freeman . > [Original Message] > From: > To: > Date: 6/29/2009 9:05:25 PM > Subject: [texbirds] Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 > > Hi Texbirders, > My 13 y.o. nephew was visiting last week from Wisconsin, and I decided that a quick trip to Concan would indulge his budding (and my confirmed) interest in birds, yet provide ample opportunities for other recreation and respite from the record heat for him and his 10 y.o. cousin, who also has the birding bug. > > I'm not sure we could have done any better than to drive three hours to Concan, where we spent two nights in a cozy but comfortable (and air-conditioned) cabin, and I was able to get out early for the dawn chorus, then take the boys out after sunrise for a couple of hours of cool birding, and then hit the swimming hole in the Frio River late in the morning, and again later in the day after the peak UV intensity subsided. Man it felt good to get back in the river Saturday evening and let the gentle breeze cool me sufficiently to raise a few goose bumps! > > *** > > Birding highlights included the early morning breakfast buffet for birds served outside Neal's cafe just before sunrise each morning, when 1 or 2 Vermilion Flycatchers, 2 - 3 Yellow-throated Warblers, a Summer Tanager, multiple Carolina Wrens, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe (joined Sunday by an Eastern Wood-Pewee), a couple of Chipping Sparrows a House Sparrow or two, and on Sunday a male Black-and-White Warbler feasted on moths and other bugs harvested from the asphalt, and from cracks and crevices in or near light poles and utility boxes. What a treat to watch these various birds at close range gathering the insectivorous flotsam from the night before. The human vacationers who strolled into the cafe a mere hour and a half later had no idea what they'd missed by not being "early birders." > > > > > Other highlights included a pair of Black Phoebes nesting and hanging out near the river crossing at Concan, 2 or more Black-capped Vireos heard singing and glimpsed at close range along the Buchanan Trail, two singing Long-billed Thrashers also along the Buchanan Trail, singing Olive Sparrows each day, Vermilion Flycatchers in multiple locations, a family group of Brown-crested Flycatchers along the Cattleguard Trail behind the Concan Bank building, and a low overflight by an adult Zone-tailed Hawk Sunday morning after spending the weekend scrutinizing every Turkey Vulture in sight for this prospect. > > > > > PS - the male "Summer Tanager" which I observed Saturday at the breakfast buffet had an unusual appearance, with more gray than usual on the upperparts and with a dark gray bill. I began to wonder if I had another species, then checked Sibley's and was shocked to find the bill of Summer Tanager depicted in that tome as dark gray. Puzzled, I checked NGS and found the bill of Summer Tanager (male, female and juvies) depicted as straw-colored, which is what I have come to expect. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with atypical bill coloration in Summer Tanager. ? > > *** > > We did make a brief trip to Cook's Slough on Saturday afternoon, and picked up Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, single Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons, and a small flock of swallows foraging over the pond near the shaded pavilion. This flock of swallows included?3 or 4 Bank Swallows, which surprised me. This bird doesn't nest in central Texas, but I see that some range maps (like NGS fifth edition) show a disjunct breeding population along a section of the Rio Grande, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer. > > Unfortunately, the gate to the Cook's Slough boardwalk and pavilion was locked, so my brother Matt and I had to walk the 150+ yards to the pavilion. It felt like 500 yards in the 104 degree heat of the afternoon, so we didn't explore further than the deck at the shaded pavilion. > > *** > > Several notable misses in the Concan area included Hutton's Vireo - didn't see or hear one, although I could have missed it, perhaps mistaking it for a monotonous titmouse. We also missed Golden-cheeked Warbler - didn't see or hear one although we hiked appropriate areas. It's getting late for Golden-cheeks, so they may have vacated the area already. A surprising miss was Black-throated Sparrow - I can now vouch for the fact that one can spend a day and a half birding the Concan area and come away without seeing this bird. > > *** > > Altogether, this was a memorable trip, and it was a great place to take impressionable young birders who (perhaps fortunately) haven't yet reached the stage where they are willing to spend the entire day looking for every last avian denizen of a given locale. Thanks to Bob Rasa, who provided tips on birding localities, and to the staff at Neal's Lodge, who were very helpful and friendly to a first-time birding visitor. > > Driving back through Kerr County, we found a few spots where the grass was green from recent rains, but all locations in Uvalde County and almost everywhere else appeared remarkably dry. The flow in the Frio River has diminished to levels approaching the historic lows recorded in the drought of the early 1950's. Let's all pray for rain! > > > > > An annotated birdlist folllows: > > > > > Birdlist for Stone family, Friday June 26 through Sunday June 28, 2009, Medina and Uvalde Counties > > > > > CN = Concan area > > CS = Cook's Slough, Uvalde > > > > > > Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 6 adults, 14 ducklings > > Great Blue Heron - 1 - CN > > Great Egret - 1 CS > > Little Blue Heron - 1 adult CS > > Black Vulture - 6+ birds each day, CN > > Turkey Vulture - 10+ each day, CN; 2 CS > > Zone-tailed Hawk - 1 CN Sunday morning, flew directly overhead on Cattleguard trail, affording all great views > > Red-tailed Hawk - 1 en route > > Rock Pigeon - 6+, Uvalde > > Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1 CN, 2 Uvalde > > White-winged Dove - 10+ each day CN > > Mourning Dove - 4+ each day CN > > Inca Dove - 1-2 each day, CN > > Common Ground-Dove - 2 Saturday, 1 calling Sunday CN > > Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1-2 ea. day CN > > Common Nighthawk - 2 Castroville (Medina County) Friday night > > Chuck-will's-widow - 1 heard only Saturday morning CN > > Chimney Swift - 1-2 ea. day CN > > Black-chinned Hummingbird - 7+ each day, mostly females & imm.s > > Green Kingfisher - 1 Saturday CN > > Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 4 - 6 each day CN > > Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 1 each day CN > > Eastern Wood-Pewee - each day CN (heard only) > > Black Phoebe - pair nesting at river bridge, CN > > Eastern Phoebe - 1 each day CN > > Vermilion Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds each day, CN > > Ash-throated Flycatcher - 4 - 6 birds each day CN > > Brown-crested Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds Sunday, CN, Cattleguard trail > > Western Kingbird - several in and near town of Uvalde > > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 1 Saturday CN, multiple en route > > White-eyed Vireo - 4-6 birds each day CN > > Bell's Vireo - 2 birds each day CN, Buchanan Trail (near Cabin 61) and Cattleguard Trail > > Black-capped Vireo - 3 birds Saturday, Buchanan Trail (2 males, 1 female or other) > > Yellow-throated Vireo - 2 birds Saturday CN, near river > > Red-eyed Vireo - 1 possible heard-only bird, Sunday CN, Pecan Grove > > Common Raven - 6 - 8 birds Saturday, Pecan Grove, CN > > Purple Martin - 1 pair Sunday, Cattleguard Trail > > Bank Swallow - 3 or 4 birds, Saturday, Cook's Slough, Uvalde > > Cliff Swallow - 1 Saturday CS > > Cave Swallow - 1 Saturday CS > > Barn Swallow - 6+ each day CN and CS > > Carolina Chickadee - 1 - 3 birds each day CN > > Black-crested Titmouse - 4 - 6 birds each day CN > > Canyon Wren - 1 bird heard once Saturday, CN, north bluff near swimming hole > > Carolina Wren - 3 - 6 birds each day CN > > Bewick's Wren - 2 birds each day CN > > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 birds (adults) each day CN > > Northern Mockingbird - 1 each day CN, 1 or 2 in Uvalde > > Long-billed Thrasher - 3 birds Saturday CN (2 singing males) > > Yellow-throated Warbler - 3 - 7 birds each day CN, hard to miss if you know their song > > Black-and-white Warbler - 1 male Sunday CN near cafe > > Summer Tanager - 3 - 6 birds each day CN, including two begging juveniles Saturday; 1 Saturday CS > > Canyon Towhee - 3 birds Sunday CN, Cattleguard trail, 2 singing males > > Rufous-crowned Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day CN > > Chipping Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day, including a juvenal-plumaged bird near office feeder and (same bird?) near cafe Sunday CN > > Field Sparrow - 1 heard only near Wildflower Trail (en route to Pecan Grove) Saturday CN > > Lark Sparrow - 4 birds Saturday CN, Buchanan Trail > > Northern Cardinal - 6 - 12 birds each day CN > > Pyrrhuloxia - 1 possible Saturday afternoon CS > > Blue Grosbeak - 1-2 males each day CN, singing near river > > Indigo Bunting - 1 male singing at south edge of Pecan Grove, CN, Saturday > > Painted Bunting - 3 - 5 birds each day CN, 1 Saturday CS > > Red-winged Blackbird - 15+ Saturday CS > > Great-tailed Grackle - 10+ Saturday Uvalde > > Bronzed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN, 3 Saturday CS > > Brown-headed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN > > Hooded Oriole - 1 pair near cafe Saturday CN, plus another (?) male Saturday afternoon near Cabin 61 > > House Finch - 3-6 birds each day CN > > Lesser Goldfinch - 5 - 15 birds each day CN > > House Sparrow - 3-5 birds each day CN, 20+ CS Saturday > > > > > Number of Species: 70 > > > > > > Good birding Ya'll, > > Byron Stone, Austin > > > > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: more Tree Swallows at BBSP from Monday From: Frank Farese <frankjfjrus AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:49:31 -0500 I went back to Brazos Bend State Park Monday to observe the Tree Sparrows at 40 Acre Lake. They were in the same vicinity and still being fed by the parents. I began watching them at 7:30 a.m. They react with gaping mouths whenever any bird flies near, whether Barn Swallow, a sibling, or one of the parents. By mid morning I noticed that the juveniles were attempting to grab dragonflies that were perched nearby on the same limb. They were flying about, seemingly enjoying themselves immensely, as they chased one another. I wandered around shadier areas of the park-yes, we broke another heat record and it was quite warm in the sun. But I was enjoying the park for all of the juvenile birds-moorhens, gallinules, grackles, titmice etc, and Herons and Anhingas in breeding and juvenile plumage, two gorgeous Prothonotary Warblers, and the Miss Kites. The heat gets largely forgotten when so occupied, and then you realize you need some cool air and a Dr. Pepper. The nature center helped with that and I studied the dragonfly collection for a long while! When I returned mid-afternoon to watch the Tree Swallows, all four (2 adults and the 2 juvies) were flying around after the abundant dragonflies. They occasionally perched in the same group of trees on the island, but they were using other distant trees as well. I left around 4:30. Sunday's shots of feeding were at 7:40 and had the glow of sunset on the birds btw. These new Monday pictures include the parents feeding the young birds on the fly, a juvenile reacting for feeding by gaping when a sibling flies in, adult birds perched, and some shots flying. http://birder.smugmug.com/gallery/8743583_PHj2t#578431727_4XAss Frank Farese W. Houston www.frankfarese.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Nesting Killdeer migh just make it. From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:20:44 -0500 If you know anything about Port O'Connor you will know that the front beach is a terrible place to be on the 4th of July with the 1000's of people that come to watch the fireworks...Sorry POC COC about that! A Killdeer has a nest directly across the street. Have been monitoring it closely. Today the county moved in to mow grass that has not grown in months for the 3rd time this month in preparation for the big day...Make work I was able to ward off the mowers as just today the eggs all hatched giving the chicks at least a few days to get their legs and maybe move elsewhere before the crowds come...That is if the gulls do not get them first which is often the case here. Here are a couple of photos of newly hatched chicks and if you look closely you will see a tiny hole in the remaining egg as the last chick was just beginning to hatch..Within 10 minutes that chick was out of the egg. Don't worry I did not linger there more than 40 seconds. I did want to show the guys mowing this event and get these crumby photos. One of the guys was completely wowed by this....The last time the Killdeer nested I was not here and the nest was mowed. This is her 2nd or 3rd attempt. Crazy birds. http://tinyurl.com/klpwdv Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Scarlet Tanager From: lmj6464 AT AIM.COM Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:33:21 -0400 Dear Texbirders, My sister-in-law, Karen Smith, asked me to report that she has had a male Scarlet Tanager in her yard in the Calallen area of Corpus Christi, She saw it on Friday and on?Sunday. This is a pretty unusual sighting, but Karen was certain of what she saw and a male Scarlet Tanager is pretty much unmistakeable. I saw in Oberholser that there wre several Texas?records of Scarlet Tanager in summer, including one?from Jim Wells County. Larry Jordan Corpus Christi TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Early migrant GCFL (?) From: Bob Thompson <bobthompson456 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:34:39 -0500 Purple Martins are our earliest migrants, and may be seen traveling south in flocks throughout June, and even occasionally in late May. They are rarel seen after September. Bob Houston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mason, Greg" To: Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:01 AM Subject: Re: Early migrant GCFL (?) Saturday after a Ike related clean up at the Scenic Galveston's new Harbor Side preserve, Lalise and I encountered about 100 Purple Martins on a Power line on the Scenic Galveston's Virginia Point Preserve on Galveston Bay. The fall migration has began. Greg Mason Rice University area of Houston -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of Cecilia Riley Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 6:08 PM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: Re: [texbirds] Early migrant GCFL (?) Definitely some birds are moving around...on Friday as I arrived to work at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (Lake Jackson) Sue Heath and I observed two Orchard Orioles. Haven't seen them here since spring migration. Cecilia M. Riley Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 West Hwy. 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 www.gcbo.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brush Freeman" To: Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 11:57 AM Subject: [texbirds] Early migrant GCFL (?) > This morning a Great Crested Flycatcher appeared suddenly in Port > O'connor. GCFL do not breed here and this is the first I have seen in > more > than a month. BLOT provides early date of fall migrants as June 26. > Hmmm. > > > Brush Freeman > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds *Please note the new format for e-mail addresses reflecting the merger of SUEZ with GDF. Our physical office addresses and telephone numbers remain the same. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Anahuac NWR From: Dwayne Litteer <dlitteer AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:08:13 -0500 I got up early and birded at Anahuac NWR from 6:30 to 9:00 am this morning. I drove the road back to Frozen Point on East Bay and also drove the Shoveler Pond Loop. Anahuac NWR continues to recover from Hurricane Ike and much of the marsh looks pretty good now. Shoveler Pond still looks bad, but some green is showing up in this area also. There is very little water in Shoveler Pond and not much anywhere except in the irrigation channels. Still birding was pretty good. Orchard Orioles, Eastern Kingbirds, Black-necked Stilts, Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles were plentiful. I saw 25 Seaside Sparrows, 4 King Rails and 10 Least Bittern on the road to East Bay. There were 8 Common Night-hawks, 4 Clapper Rails, and lots of Willets along East Bay . Not very much action on the bay, except for 5 American White Pelicans at the end of the road. There were more than 20 Mottled Ducks, including a bunch of ducklings, on Shoveler Pond. There were at least 8 Wood Storks flying around over the Shoveler Pond Loop area. My e-Bird list is below. Dwayne Litteer Baytown, TX Location: Anahuac NWR (UTC 049) Observation date: 6/30/09 Notes: Drove Frozen Point Road to the end of the road along East Bay and also Shoveler Pond Loop. Cloudy, overcast, 85 to 90 deg. F. Very little wind. Number of species: 40 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2 Mottled Duck 20 American White Pelican 5 Least Bittern 10 Great Egret 5 Little Blue Heron 3 Tricolored Heron 1 Green Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2 White Ibis 60 White-faced Ibis 8 Roseate Spoonbill 4 Wood Stork 8 Turkey Vulture 1 Clapper Rail 4 King Rail 4 Purple Gallinule 2 Black-bellied Plover 1 Killdeer 15 Black-necked Stilt 30 Willet 15 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Laughing Gull 25 Forster's Tern 2 Sandwich Tern 2 Mourning Dove 6 Common Nighthawk 8 Eastern Kingbird 12 Purple Martin 12 Cave Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 50 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 15 Seaside Sparrow 25 Dickcissel 1 Red-winged Blackbird 40 Common Grackle 20 Great-tailed Grackle 30 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Orchard Oriole 20 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/tx) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Early migrant GCFL (?) From: "Mason, Greg" <greg.mason AT GDFSUEZNA.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:01:44 -0500 Saturday after a Ike related clean up at the Scenic Galveston's new Harbor Side preserve, Lalise and I encountered about 100 Purple Martins on a Power line on the Scenic Galveston's Virginia Point Preserve on Galveston Bay. The fall migration has began. Greg Mason Rice University area of Houston -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of Cecilia Riley Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 6:08 PM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: Re: [texbirds] Early migrant GCFL (?) Definitely some birds are moving around...on Friday as I arrived to work at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (Lake Jackson) Sue Heath and I observed two Orchard Orioles. Haven't seen them here since spring migration. Cecilia M. Riley Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 West Hwy. 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 www.gcbo.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brush Freeman" To: Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 11:57 AM Subject: [texbirds] Early migrant GCFL (?) > This morning a Great Crested Flycatcher appeared suddenly in Port > O'connor. GCFL do not breed here and this is the first I have seen in > more > than a month. BLOT provides early date of fall migrants as June 26. > Hmmm. > > > Brush Freeman > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds *Please note the new format for e-mail addresses reflecting the merger of SUEZ with GDF. Our physical office addresses and telephone numbers remain the same. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Jabiru correction From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:37:51 -0500 Oops the bird was actually in San Patricio Co south of Odem...I am getting slightly mixed signals....Sorry Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Jabiru From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:30:13 -0500 I meant to post this yesterday and got off track. A Jabiru was found and photo'ed on a closed (?) property in Nueces Co. It apparently was not present yesterday and has likely moved to elsewhere on the coast...My gut feeling is it is moving north along the coast but that may be wistful thinking on my part :-) Hyne's Bay WMA near Austwell, The Indianola area or the Guadalupe Delta might be prime places to check considering this on-going drought. This is all I know and can allow for...for now. Thank to the folks that have clued me in. Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Sandy..... From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:35:03 -0500 ..... made quite the flight yesterday and is now in Texas. http://www.birdsnebraska.org/index.php?p=1_4_Tracking-Sandy Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: bird count 6-30-09 From: Quinta Mazatlan WBC <quintamazatlan_wbc AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:25:34 -0700 Location:     Quinta Mazatlan WBC (McAllen) (LTC 063) Observation date:     6/30/09 Notes:     List compiled by Quinta Mazatlan staff member John Brush. Number of species:     33 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     3 Plain Chachalaca     12 Rock Pigeon     2 White-winged Dove     30 Inca Dove     3 White-tipped Dove     4 Green Parakeet     8 Red-crowned Parrot     2 Eastern Screech-Owl     1 Chimney Swift     2 Buff-bellied Hummingbird     3 Black-chinned Hummingbird     1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker     12 Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1 Brown-crested Flycatcher     2 Great Kiskadee     4 Couch's Kingbird     2 White-eyed Vireo     1 Purple Martin     1 Cave Swallow     2 Black-crested Titmouse     1 Carolina Wren     3 Clay-colored Thrush     3 Northern Mockingbird     5 Long-billed Thrasher     2 Curve-billed Thrasher     4 European Starling     5 Olive Sparrow     2 Northern Cardinal     2 Great-tailed Grackle     8 Brown-headed Cowbird     1 Lesser Goldfinch     1 House Sparrow     10 The birds sure didn't mind the heat and humidity today; they were going crazy! They were singing, foraging, feeding young, and doing who knows what, the whole time I was out walking. There were several Chachalaca young walking about, accompanied by the parents as normal. When the Red-crowned Parrots and a small flock of Green Parakeets got together in the main driveway and Cactus Garden area it got very noisy. There was a little family group of Clay-colored Thrushes it appeared, in the Huisache on the edge of the wooded meadow; I confirmed at least one adult and one young bird, the other was unknown. I also heard a very interesting Carolina Wren song, one that had me thinking I was about to get a rariety of some sort. The song was almost like a White-eyed Vireo in the respect of it being a little catchy phrase, but it was very musical as typical of Carolina Wrens. I ended up seeing the pair of wrens foraging in the undergrowth, and eventually heard their normal song. On a seperate note, the Night-blooming Sirius was flowering like crazy; it was spectacular! All in all (including a enourmous toad), it was a great morning.   John Brush Quinta Mazatlan WBC McAllen, Texas 78503 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds   Subject: Wood Storks in Gonzalez From: Jon McIntyre <offshorebirding AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:25:12 -0500 While driving to Austin on 183 yesterday I had about 10 Wood Storks in a small pond about 1/2 mile North of Gonzalez. Jon McIntyre _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Please delete me from the email list From: myfe AT MWMLC.COM Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:17:57 +0000 I'll be traveling and would like to be deleted from your list until I return. Thank you, Myfe Moore Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: birds and foggy beaches From: Bob Thompson <bobthompson456 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:15:33 -0500 Birds are often in heavy fog along the Washington (and Oregon) Coast where Brush's article came from, due to the adjacent Alaskan Current. Even people have been run over. However, those same conditions occur on the Texas coast in late winter when the water cools sufficiently (although less so in recent years). Of ocurse, with enough speed, it can even happen, as Cecilia reports, in clear weather. Most "shore"birds are meat-eaters (live meat or dead) and badly need to digest their meals without stress (and it takes meat a while). It has sometimes surprised me that cars are allowed to drive through these birds at any speed, given that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act supposedly protects virtually all birds from harassment. I guess one can always pray that corrosion eats up their trucks. Bob Houston TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:12:15 -0500 Byron that is a great report and I envy your weekend. I have not seen or heard a BCVI this year as strange as that might sound and I don't know how to explain the deal with the Summer Tanager though I am not sure how significant that is (?) I have seen a distinct decline in the numbers of SUTAs this year off the Plateau...I assume to the drought. Tough to come by even at Webberville. I would remark on one comment of yours regarding the Bank Swallow, you wrote ............."This bird doesn't nest in central Texas, but I see that some range maps (like NGS fifth edition) show a disjunct breeding population along a section of the Rio Grande, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer." They do breed in Central Texas in small numbers or at least they did once....Before and just after the hwy. 360 bridge was built over Lk. Austin they nested in cavities on the west side of that uncompleted highway on the north side of the lake ..Holes in the limestone cliff. I can not remember who discovered this now but I did see it. They also bred just below the dam at Stillhouse Hollow Lk. in Bell Co. in small numbers. I remember visiting there in the summer with a couple of folks years ago and seeing them going in and out of cavities on the "cliff" north side of the river. Was that with K. Johnson?...Hmm? They have also nested on the banks of the San Marcos R. south of San Marcos and are suspected, though not confirmed to have bred in Gonzales Co. (I would very much like to know exactly where) ...Just another one of those fun things to follow up on in the summer. Granted it has been years (in some cases more than 20) since I or anyone I know has revisited these places to check on any continued nesting. Rough-wings nest in Bastrop Co. or did at one time on the river just downstream of the golf course south of Tahitian Village in the cliffs there. Fun stuff. Brush Freeman . > [Original Message] > From: > To: > Date: 6/29/2009 9:05:25 PM > Subject: [texbirds] Concan area and Uvalde County birds,Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 > > Hi Texbirders, > My 13 y.o. nephew was visiting last week from Wisconsin, and I decided that a quick trip to Concan would indulge his budding (and my confirmed) interest in birds, yet provide ample opportunities for other recreation and respite from the record heat for him and his 10 y.o. cousin, who also has the birding bug. > > I'm not sure we could have done any better than to drive three hours to Concan, where we spent two nights in a cozy but comfortable (and air-conditioned) cabin, and I was able to get out early for the dawn chorus, then take the boys out after sunrise for a couple of hours of cool birding, and then hit the swimming hole in the Frio River late in the morning, and again later in the day after the peak UV intensity subsided. Man it felt good to get back in the river Saturday evening and let the gentle breeze cool me sufficiently to raise a few goose bumps! > > *** > > Birding highlights included the early morning breakfast buffet for birds served outside Neal's cafe just before sunrise each morning, when 1 or 2 Vermilion Flycatchers, 2 - 3 Yellow-throated Warblers, a Summer Tanager, multiple Carolina Wrens, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe (joined Sunday by an Eastern Wood-Pewee), a couple of Chipping Sparrows a House Sparrow or two, and on Sunday a male Black-and-White Warbler feasted on moths and other bugs harvested from the asphalt, and from cracks and crevices in or near light poles and utility boxes. What a treat to watch these various birds at close range gathering the insectivorous flotsam from the night before. The human vacationers who strolled into the cafe a mere hour and a half later had no idea what they'd missed by not being "early birders." > > > > > Other highlights included a pair of Black Phoebes nesting and hanging out near the river crossing at Concan, 2 or more Black-capped Vireos heard singing and glimpsed at close range along the Buchanan Trail, two singing Long-billed Thrashers also along the Buchanan Trail, singing Olive Sparrows each day, Vermilion Flycatchers in multiple locations, a family group of Brown-crested Flycatchers along the Cattleguard Trail behind the Concan Bank building, and a low overflight by an adult Zone-tailed Hawk Sunday morning after spending the weekend scrutinizing every Turkey Vulture in sight for this prospect. > > > > > PS - the male "Summer Tanager" which I observed Saturday at the breakfast buffet had an unusual appearance, with more gray than usual on the upperparts and with a dark gray bill. I began to wonder if I had another species, then checked Sibley's and was shocked to find the bill of Summer Tanager depicted in that tome as dark gray. Puzzled, I checked NGS and found the bill of Summer Tanager (male, female and juvies) depicted as straw-colored, which is what I have come to expect. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with atypical bill coloration in Summer Tanager. ? > > *** > > We did make a brief trip to Cook's Slough on Saturday afternoon, and picked up Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, single Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons, and a small flock of swallows foraging over the pond near the shaded pavilion. This flock of swallows included?3 or 4 Bank Swallows, which surprised me. This bird doesn't nest in central Texas, but I see that some range maps (like NGS fifth edition) show a disjunct breeding population along a section of the Rio Grande, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer. > > Unfortunately, the gate to the Cook's Slough boardwalk and pavilion was locked, so my brother Matt and I had to walk the 150+ yards to the pavilion. It felt like 500 yards in the 104 degree heat of the afternoon, so we didn't explore further than the deck at the shaded pavilion. > > *** > > Several notable misses in the Concan area included Hutton's Vireo - didn't see or hear one, although I could have missed it, perhaps mistaking it for a monotonous titmouse. We also missed Golden-cheeked Warbler - didn't see or hear one although we hiked appropriate areas. It's getting late for Golden-cheeks, so they may have vacated the area already. A surprising miss was Black-throated Sparrow - I can now vouch for the fact that one can spend a day and a half birding the Concan area and come away without seeing this bird. > > *** > > Altogether, this was a memorable trip, and it was a great place to take impressionable young birders who (perhaps fortunately) haven't yet reached the stage where they are willing to spend the entire day looking for every last avian denizen of a given locale. Thanks to Bob Rasa, who provided tips on birding localities, and to the staff at Neal's Lodge, who were very helpful and friendly to a first-time birding visitor. > > Driving back through Kerr County, we found a few spots where the grass was green from recent rains, but all locations in Uvalde County and almost everywhere else appeared remarkably dry. The flow in the Frio River has diminished to levels approaching the historic lows recorded in the drought of the early 1950's. Let's all pray for rain! > > > > > An annotated birdlist folllows: > > > > > Birdlist for Stone family, Friday June 26 through Sunday June 28, 2009, Medina and Uvalde Counties > > > > > CN = Concan area > > CS = Cook's Slough, Uvalde > > > > > > Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 6 adults, 14 ducklings > > Great Blue Heron - 1 - CN > > Great Egret - 1 CS > > Little Blue Heron - 1 adult CS > > Black Vulture - 6+ birds each day, CN > > Turkey Vulture - 10+ each day, CN; 2 CS > > Zone-tailed Hawk - 1 CN Sunday morning, flew directly overhead on Cattleguard trail, affording all great views > > Red-tailed Hawk - 1 en route > > Rock Pigeon - 6+, Uvalde > > Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1 CN, 2 Uvalde > > White-winged Dove - 10+ each day CN > > Mourning Dove - 4+ each day CN > > Inca Dove - 1-2 each day, CN > > Common Ground-Dove - 2 Saturday, 1 calling Sunday CN > > Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1-2 ea. day CN > > Common Nighthawk - 2 Castroville (Medina County) Friday night > > Chuck-will's-widow - 1 heard only Saturday morning CN > > Chimney Swift - 1-2 ea. day CN > > Black-chinned Hummingbird - 7+ each day, mostly females & imm.s > > Green Kingfisher - 1 Saturday CN > > Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 4 - 6 each day CN > > Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 1 each day CN > > Eastern Wood-Pewee - each day CN (heard only) > > Black Phoebe - pair nesting at river bridge, CN > > Eastern Phoebe - 1 each day CN > > Vermilion Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds each day, CN > > Ash-throated Flycatcher - 4 - 6 birds each day CN > > Brown-crested Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds Sunday, CN, Cattleguard trail > > Western Kingbird - several in and near town of Uvalde > > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 1 Saturday CN, multiple en route > > White-eyed Vireo - 4-6 birds each day CN > > Bell's Vireo - 2 birds each day CN, Buchanan Trail (near Cabin 61) and Cattleguard Trail > > Black-capped Vireo - 3 birds Saturday, Buchanan Trail (2 males, 1 female or other) > > Yellow-throated Vireo - 2 birds Saturday CN, near river > > Red-eyed Vireo - 1 possible heard-only bird, Sunday CN, Pecan Grove > > Common Raven - 6 - 8 birds Saturday, Pecan Grove, CN > > Purple Martin - 1 pair Sunday, Cattleguard Trail > > Bank Swallow - 3 or 4 birds, Saturday, Cook's Slough, Uvalde > > Cliff Swallow - 1 Saturday CS > > Cave Swallow - 1 Saturday CS > > Barn Swallow - 6+ each day CN and CS > > Carolina Chickadee - 1 - 3 birds each day CN > > Black-crested Titmouse - 4 - 6 birds each day CN > > Canyon Wren - 1 bird heard once Saturday, CN, north bluff near swimming hole > > Carolina Wren - 3 - 6 birds each day CN > > Bewick's Wren - 2 birds each day CN > > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 birds (adults) each day CN > > Northern Mockingbird - 1 each day CN, 1 or 2 in Uvalde > > Long-billed Thrasher - 3 birds Saturday CN (2 singing males) > > Yellow-throated Warbler - 3 - 7 birds each day CN, hard to miss if you know their song > > Black-and-white Warbler - 1 male Sunday CN near cafe > > Summer Tanager - 3 - 6 birds each day CN, including two begging juveniles Saturday; 1 Saturday CS > > Canyon Towhee - 3 birds Sunday CN, Cattleguard trail, 2 singing males > > Rufous-crowned Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day CN > > Chipping Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day, including a juvenal-plumaged bird near office feeder and (same bird?) near cafe Sunday CN > > Field Sparrow - 1 heard only near Wildflower Trail (en route to Pecan Grove) Saturday CN > > Lark Sparrow - 4 birds Saturday CN, Buchanan Trail > > Northern Cardinal - 6 - 12 birds each day CN > > Pyrrhuloxia - 1 possible Saturday afternoon CS > > Blue Grosbeak - 1-2 males each day CN, singing near river > > Indigo Bunting - 1 male singing at south edge of Pecan Grove, CN, Saturday > > Painted Bunting - 3 - 5 birds each day CN, 1 Saturday CS > > Red-winged Blackbird - 15+ Saturday CS > > Great-tailed Grackle - 10+ Saturday Uvalde > > Bronzed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN, 3 Saturday CS > > Brown-headed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN > > Hooded Oriole - 1 pair near cafe Saturday CN, plus another (?) male Saturday afternoon near Cabin 61 > > House Finch - 3-6 birds each day CN > > Lesser Goldfinch - 5 - 15 birds each day CN > > House Sparrow - 3-5 birds each day CN, 20+ CS Saturday > > > > > Number of Species: 70 > > > > > > Good birding Ya'll, > > Byron Stone, Austin > > > > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Swifts Over Houston 6/23-26 From: pjsmolen AT ATT.NET Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:34:09 +0000 On Tuesday night, 6/23, we counted 9 swifts entering the Whole Foods chimney. We also counted 101 swifts entering the chimney at Pershing. I counted 158 swifts at St Paul's on Thursday, 6/25. Billie Strickland counted 51 swifts at Sutton Elementary school on 6/25. Four swifts were counted entering the North Tower at Russ Pitman Park on 6/26. The numbers at Pershing and St Paul's both increased by about 25 swifts over the last week. It will be interesting to see what happens this week. We will count Tuesday evening at Whole Foods and Pershing. We will meet about 8:20 - 8:30 pm. Pam Smolen Houston TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: nests in Austin - western kingbird, stilts, least grebes From: Melody Lytle <mlytle AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:30:25 -0500 I have been photo-monitoring a few nests around town. New photos of Western Kingbird, Least Grebes and a Red-bellied woodpecker excavating a hole are now up. See my website's New Photos index at http://www.karenmelody.com/nufotoz/nufotoz.htm There will be more stilt photos soon. Melody Lytle Austin, Texas Melody Lytle You might like to see my latest bird photos - see http://karenmelody.com/Birds/brdndx.htm Check out the rest of my website at http://www.karenmelody.com/ TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Happens in Tx. too... From: Cecilia Riley <criley02 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:25:40 -0500 What terrible (human) behavior. My sister Joan and I witnessed almost the same slaughter of gulls and terns loafing near the South Jetty in Port Aransas many years ago. Also- a few young men with nothing better to do on the beach. We did follow the car to their home and then awaited the police that we called. I think the young men talked their way out of any trouble, but perhaps learned a lesson and we think they were a little scared when two angry women took off fast, following them through town, honking and trying to get them to pull over, finally stopping in front of the house that they ran too. Kind of funny really looking back on our own behavior-could have been dangerous for my sister and I. It really brought out the beast in us seeing these birds attacked for no reason at all. Cecilia M. Riley Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 West Hwy. 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 www.gcbo.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brush Freeman" To: Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 4:01 PM Subject: [texbirds] Happens in Tx. too... > http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_re_us/us_beach_bird_kill > > Brush Freeman > . > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Concan area and Uvalde County birds, Saturday and Sunday 6/27 & 6/28/09 From: drbirdie AT AOL.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:48:14 -0400 Hi Texbirders, My 13 y.o. nephew was visiting last week from Wisconsin, and I decided that a quick trip to Concan would indulge his budding (and my confirmed) interest in birds, yet provide ample opportunities for other recreation and respite from the record heat for him and his 10 y.o. cousin, who also has the birding bug. I'm not sure we could have done any better than to drive three hours to Concan, where we spent two nights in a cozy but comfortable (and air-conditioned) cabin, and I was able to get out early for the dawn chorus, then take the boys out after sunrise for a couple of hours of cool birding, and then hit the swimming hole in the Frio River late in the morning, and again later in the day after the peak UV intensity subsided. Man it felt good to get back in the river Saturday evening and let the gentle breeze cool me sufficiently to raise a few goose bumps! *** Birding highlights included the early morning breakfast buffet for birds served outside Neal's cafe just before sunrise each morning, when 1 or 2 Vermilion Flycatchers, 2 - 3 Yellow-throated Warblers, a Summer Tanager, multiple Carolina Wrens, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe (joined Sunday by an Eastern Wood-Pewee), a couple of Chipping Sparrows a House Sparrow or two, and on Sunday a male Black-and-White Warbler feasted on moths and other bugs harvested from the asphalt, and from cracks and crevices in or near light poles and utility boxes. What a treat to watch these various birds at close range gathering the insectivorous flotsam from the night before. The human vacationers who strolled into the cafe a mere hour and a half later had no idea what they'd missed by not being "early birders." Other highlights included a pair of Black Phoebes nesting and hanging out near the river crossing at Concan, 2 or more Black-capped Vireos heard singing and glimpsed at close range along the Buchanan Trail, two singing Long-billed Thrashers also along the Buchanan Trail, singing Olive Sparrows each day, Vermilion Flycatchers in multiple locations, a family group of Brown-crested Flycatchers along the Cattleguard Trail behind the Concan Bank building, and a low overflight by an adult Zone-tailed Hawk Sunday morning after spending the weekend scrutinizing every Turkey Vulture in sight for this prospect. PS - the male "Summer Tanager" which I observed Saturday at the breakfast buffet had an unusual appearance, with more gray than usual on the upperparts and with a dark gray bill. I began to wonder if I had another species, then checked Sibley's and was shocked to find the bill of Summer Tanager depicted in that tome as dark gray. Puzzled, I checked NGS and found the bill of Summer Tanager (male, female and juvies) depicted as straw-colored, which is what I have come to expect. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with atypical bill coloration in Summer Tanager. ? *** We did make a brief trip to Cook's Slough on Saturday afternoon, and picked up Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, single Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons, and a small flock of swallows foraging over the pond near the shaded pavilion. This flock of swallows included?3 or 4 Bank Swallows, which surprised me. This bird doesn't nest in central Texas, but I see that some range maps (like NGS fifth edition) show a disjunct breeding population along a section of the Rio Grande, so I suppose the species may be regular here in the summer. Unfortunately, the gate to the Cook's Slough boardwalk and pavilion was locked, so my brother Matt and I had to walk the 150+ yards to the pavilion. It felt like 500 yards in the 104 degree heat of the afternoon, so we didn't explore further than the deck at the shaded pavilion. *** Several notable misses in the Concan area included Hutton's Vireo - didn't see or hear one, although I could have missed it, perhaps mistaking it for a monotonous titmouse. We also missed Golden-cheeked Warbler - didn't see or hear one although we hiked appropriate areas. It's getting late for Golden-cheeks, so they may have vacated the area already. A surprising miss was Black-throated Sparrow - I can now vouch for the fact that one can spend a day and a half birding the Concan area and come away without seeing this bird. *** Altogether, this was a memorable trip, and it was a great place to take impressionable young birders who (perhaps fortunately) haven't yet reached the stage where they are willing to spend the entire day looking for every last avian denizen of a given locale. Thanks to Bob Rasa, who provided tips on birding localities, and to the staff at Neal's Lodge, who were very helpful and friendly to a first-time birding visitor. Driving back through Kerr County, we found a few spots where the grass was green from recent rains, but all locations in Uvalde County and almost everywhere else appeared remarkably dry. The flow in the Frio River has diminished to levels approaching the historic lows recorded in the drought of the early 1950's. Let's all pray for rain! An annotated birdlist folllows: Birdlist for Stone family, Friday June 26 through Sunday June 28, 2009, Medina and Uvalde Counties CN = Concan area CS = Cook's Slough, Uvalde Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 6 adults, 14 ducklings Great Blue Heron - 1 - CN Great Egret - 1 CS Little Blue Heron - 1 adult CS Black Vulture - 6+ birds each day, CN Turkey Vulture - 10+ each day, CN; 2 CS Zone-tailed Hawk - 1 CN Sunday morning, flew directly overhead on Cattleguard trail, affording all great views Red-tailed Hawk - 1 en route Rock Pigeon - 6+, Uvalde Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1 CN, 2 Uvalde White-winged Dove - 10+ each day CN Mourning Dove - 4+ each day CN Inca Dove - 1-2 each day, CN Common Ground-Dove - 2 Saturday, 1 calling Sunday CN Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1-2 ea. day CN Common Nighthawk - 2 Castroville (Medina County) Friday night Chuck-will's-widow - 1 heard only Saturday morning CN Chimney Swift - 1-2 ea. day CN Black-chinned Hummingbird - 7+ each day, mostly females & imm.s Green Kingfisher - 1 Saturday CN Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 4 - 6 each day CN Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 1 each day CN Eastern Wood-Pewee - each day CN (heard only) Black Phoebe - pair nesting at river bridge, CN Eastern Phoebe - 1 each day CN Vermilion Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds each day, CN Ash-throated Flycatcher - 4 - 6 birds each day CN Brown-crested Flycatcher - 3 or 4 birds Sunday, CN, Cattleguard trail Western Kingbird - several in and near town of Uvalde Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 1 Saturday CN, multiple en route White-eyed Vireo - 4-6 birds each day CN Bell's Vireo - 2 birds each day CN, Buchanan Trail (near Cabin 61) and Cattleguard Trail Black-capped Vireo - 3 birds Saturday, Buchanan Trail (2 males, 1 female or other) Yellow-throated Vireo - 2 birds Saturday CN, near river Red-eyed Vireo - 1 possible heard-only bird, Sunday CN, Pecan Grove Common Raven - 6 - 8 birds Saturday, Pecan Grove, CN Purple Martin - 1 pair Sunday, Cattleguard Trail Bank Swallow - 3 or 4 birds, Saturday, Cook's Slough, Uvalde Cliff Swallow - 1 Saturday CS Cave Swallow - 1 Saturday CS Barn Swallow - 6+ each day CN and CS Carolina Chickadee - 1 - 3 birds each day CN Black-crested Titmouse - 4 - 6 birds each day CN Canyon Wren - 1 bird heard once Saturday, CN, north bluff near swimming hole Carolina Wren - 3 - 6 birds each day CN Bewick's Wren - 2 birds each day CN Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 birds (adults) each day CN Northern Mockingbird - 1 each day CN, 1 or 2 in Uvalde Long-billed Thrasher - 3 birds Saturday CN (2 singing males) Yellow-throated Warbler - 3 - 7 birds each day CN, hard to miss if you know their song Black-and-white Warbler - 1 male Sunday CN near cafe Summer Tanager - 3 - 6 birds each day CN, including two begging juveniles Saturday; 1 Saturday CS Canyon Towhee - 3 birds Sunday CN, Cattleguard trail, 2 singing males Rufous-crowned Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day CN Chipping Sparrow - 1 - 3 birds each day, including a juvenal-plumaged bird near office feeder and (same bird?) near cafe Sunday CN Field Sparrow - 1 heard only near Wildflower Trail (en route to Pecan Grove) Saturday CN Lark Sparrow - 4 birds Saturday CN, Buchanan Trail Northern Cardinal - 6 - 12 birds each day CN Pyrrhuloxia - 1 possible Saturday afternoon CS Blue Grosbeak - 1-2 males each day CN, singing near river Indigo Bunting - 1 male singing at south edge of Pecan Grove, CN, Saturday Painted Bunting - 3 - 5 birds each day CN, 1 Saturday CS Red-winged Blackbird - 15+ Saturday CS Great-tailed Grackle - 10+ Saturday Uvalde Bronzed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN, 3 Saturday CS Brown-headed Cowbird - 1-2 each day CN Hooded Oriole - 1 pair near cafe Saturday CN, plus another (?) male Saturday afternoon near Cabin 61 House Finch - 3-6 birds each day CN Lesser Goldfinch - 5 - 15 birds each day CN House Sparrow - 3-5 birds each day CN, 20+ CS Saturday Number of Species: 70 Good birding Ya'll, Byron Stone, Austin TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Sad note on Zone-tailed Hawk in Junction From: RHANDY HELTON <rjhelton AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:40:45 -0500 A Zone-tailed Hawk was hit by a car on a city street in Junction this a.m (6/29/09). The bird was not killed but has a serious left wing injury. The bird is now in the possession of Jayson May, TPWD Park Interpreter at South Llano River State Park, and tomorrow the bird will be transported to John Karger of Last Chance Forever in San Antonio. I just hope this bird can fly again. This is probably the same hawk I observed Saturday morning flying low near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 377 South, or for those familiar with Junction, near the only red light in town. I think during summer Zoney's spend considerable time hunting right over town and probably come down to street level chasing prey (squirrels). I have a photo should anyone be interested. Rhandy J. Helton TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Junction, Tx. Subject: Re: American Golden-Plover, Franklin's Gull at Hargill, 6/20/09 From: Bob Thompson <bobthompson456 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:10:59 -0500 Dan, et al, I sure would like to see one of these FRGU summering in Texas in a normal, "Peterson" kind of pose - not bending over, from the back, or whatever. Doubting Thompson Houston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Jones" To: Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 2:48 PM Subject: American Golden-Plover, Franklin's Gull at Hargill, 6/20/09 > This morning I did the eastern Hidalgo County loop. > > Delta Lake (Hidalgo Co.) - Water is still high. Nothing going on. > > CR 2500 and FM 88 pond (Willacy Co.) - Lots of stuff here. Nothing usual > except for a Wilson's Plover with a fuzzy chick. > > Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2 > Fulvous Whistling-Duck 4 > Mottled Duck 5 > Blue-winged Teal 1 > Least Grebe 30 > Neotropic Cormorant 12 > Anhinga 3 > Great Blue Heron 2 > Great Egret 28 > Snowy Egret 110 > Tricolored Heron 4 > Green Heron 1 > Black-crowned Night-Heron 2 > White Ibis 5 > Roseate Spoonbill 11 > Wood Stork 2 > Common Moorhen 10 > American Coot 8 > Wilson's Plover 2 > Killdeer 5 > Black-necked Stilt 2 > Laughing Gull 1 > Gull-billed Tern 2 > Great Horned Owl 2 > > Hargill (Hidalgo Co.) - Heavy rain put a little water back into the dry > playas. Five Wilson's Plovers were on the north playa long with a few > Gull- > billed Terns, a Least Tern and eight Lesser Yellowlegs. > > Bucy Road Pond (Hidalgo Co.) - Once again this place was rockin! The > heat, > stench of rotting dead fish and lots of birds reminded me of a miniature > Salton Sea. The controversial Franklin's gull was still present as was > the > injured American Golden-Plover. Here's some pics. > > http://i41.tinypic.com/161x8qg.jpg > http://i44.tinypic.com/fc3f3s.jpg > http://i43.tinypic.com/290ugcl.jpg > http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9xf5s.jpg > > Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 6 > Mottled Duck 20 > Ruddy Duck 8 > Northern Bobwhite 1 > Least Grebe 40 > American White Pelican 54 > Neotropic Cormorant 60 > Great Blue Heron 3 > Great Egret 2 > Snowy Egret 40 > Tricolored Heron 3 > Black-crowned Night-Heron 4 > White-faced Ibis 3 > Roseate Spoonbill 21 > Wood Stork 19 > Black Vulture 20 > Turkey Vulture 8 > Common Moorhen 50 > American Golden-Plover 1 > Killdeer 4 > Black-necked Stilt 50 > American Avocet 2 > Lesser Yellowlegs 11 > Least Sandpiper 3 > Stilt Sandpiper 4 > Long-billed Dowitcher 3 > Laughing Gull 10 > Franklin's Gull 1 > Gull-billed Tern 3 > Common Nighthawk 1 > Horned Lark 6 > > Brushline Road ponds (Hidalgo Co.) - Nothing unusual but lots of Fulvous > Whistling-Ducks and Ibis. Looks like a great place for a Jacana or a > Jabiru. > > Dan Jones in Weslaco > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Happens in Tx. too... From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:01:09 -0500 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_re_us/us_beach_bird_kill Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: American Golden-Plover, Franklin's Gull at Hargill, 6/20/09 From: Dan Jones <antshrike1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:48:03 -0500 This morning I did the eastern Hidalgo County loop. Delta Lake (Hidalgo Co.) - Water is still high. Nothing going on. CR 2500 and FM 88 pond (Willacy Co.) - Lots of stuff here. Nothing usual except for a Wilson's Plover with a fuzzy chick. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2 Fulvous Whistling-Duck 4 Mottled Duck 5 Blue-winged Teal 1 Least Grebe 30 Neotropic Cormorant 12 Anhinga 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 28 Snowy Egret 110 Tricolored Heron 4 Green Heron 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 2 White Ibis 5 Roseate Spoonbill 11 Wood Stork 2 Common Moorhen 10 American Coot 8 Wilson's Plover 2 Killdeer 5 Black-necked Stilt 2 Laughing Gull 1 Gull-billed Tern 2 Great Horned Owl 2 Hargill (Hidalgo Co.) - Heavy rain put a little water back into the dry playas. Five Wilson's Plovers were on the north playa long with a few Gull- billed Terns, a Least Tern and eight Lesser Yellowlegs. Bucy Road Pond (Hidalgo Co.) - Once again this place was rockin! The heat, stench of rotting dead fish and lots of birds reminded me of a miniature Salton Sea. The controversial Franklin's gull was still present as was the injured American Golden-Plover. Here's some pics. http://i41.tinypic.com/161x8qg.jpg http://i44.tinypic.com/fc3f3s.jpg http://i43.tinypic.com/290ugcl.jpg http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9xf5s.jpg Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 6 Mottled Duck 20 Ruddy Duck 8 Northern Bobwhite 1 Least Grebe 40 American White Pelican 54 Neotropic Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 40 Tricolored Heron 3 Black-crowned Night-Heron 4 White-faced Ibis 3 Roseate Spoonbill 21 Wood Stork 19 Black Vulture 20 Turkey Vulture 8 Common Moorhen 50 American Golden-Plover 1 Killdeer 4 Black-necked Stilt 50 American Avocet 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 11 Least Sandpiper 3 Stilt Sandpiper 4 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 Laughing Gull 10 Franklin's Gull 1 Gull-billed Tern 3 Common Nighthawk 1 Horned Lark 6 Brushline Road ponds (Hidalgo Co.) - Nothing unusual but lots of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks and Ibis. Looks like a great place for a Jacana or a Jabiru. Dan Jones in Weslaco TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Results fromthe Plains I Breeding Bird Survey - Saturday From: terrverts AT YAHOO.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:33:26 -0700 I ran the Plains I Breeding Bird Survey (Yoakum and Coc Greetings All: I ran the Plains I Breeding Bird Survey (Yoakum and Cochran Counties) on 27 June 2009.  Conditions ranged from 71 degrees, clear, and calm to 90 degrees, mostly clear, and slightly breezy.  The route, which runs from a point northwest of Plains generally northward into Cochran County, was reasonably dry though there were a few adventurously damp patches along the dirt roads and ditches were, in many places, full of water.  If there are any playas along this route, they were empty - no waterbirds were seen. Of particular note: this is the westernmost of the six routes I run and it had the highest percentage of Eastern Meadowlarks/total meadowlarks! Critters tallied along the nine stops in Yoakum County were: 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken 17 Northern Bobwhites 2 Swainson's Hawks 1 American Kestrel 16 Mourning Doves 6 Common Nighthawks 10 Western Kingbirds 5 Horned Larks 4 Northern Mockingbirds 12 Cassin's Sparrows 1 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Dickcissel 5 Eastern Meadowlarks 10 Western Meadowlarks 1 House Sparrow 1 Coyote 9 Pronghorns Critters tallied along the 41 stops in Cochran County were: 1 Common Checkered Skipper 2 Common Sootywings 1 Strecker's Giant Skipper 2 Black Swallowtails 18 Checkered Whites 8 Orange Sulphurs 4 Sleepy Oranges 2 Dainty Sulphurs 1 Gray Hairstreak 9 Reakirt's Blue 17 Variegated Fritillaries 1 Fulvia Checkerspot 3 Ornate Box Turtles 2 Texas Horned Lizards 1 Six-lined Racerunner 1 Gopher Snake 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken 7 Scaled Quails 25 Northern Bobwhites 3 Swainson's Hawks 2 Rock Pigeons 15 Eurasian Collared Doves 93 Mourning Doves 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 Greater Roadrunners 6 Burrowing Owls 5 Common Nighthawks 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 4 Ash-throated Flycatchers 114 Western Kingbirds 13 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 3 Chihuahuan Ravens 5 Horned Larks 18 Barn Swallows 35 Northern Mockingbirds 5 Curve-billed Thrashers 1 European Starling 58 Cassin's Sparrows 19 Lark Sparrows 4 Grasshopper Sparrows 1 Northern Cardinal 7 Blue Grosbeaks 3 Painted Buntings 1 Dickcissel 2 Red-winged Blackbirds 7 Eastern Meadowlarks 16 Western Meadowlarks 2 Great-tailed Grackles 3 Brown-headed Cowbirds 23 Bullock's Orioles 2 House Finches 2 House Sparrows 1 Desert Cottontail 76 Black-tailed Prairie Dogs 1 Plains Pocket Gopher 6 Pronghorns. Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Results from the Plains II Breeding Bird Survey - Friday From: terrverts AT YAHOO.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:20:58 -0700 I ran the Plains II Breeding Bird Survy (Yoakum County) Greetings All: I ran the Plains II Breeding Bird Survy (Yoakum County) on 26 June 2009.  Conditions ranged from 73 degrees, clear, and calm to 91 degrees, clear, and slightly breezy.  The route, which is generally northwest or west of Plains on dirt roads, was barely drivable in spots due to recent rains - which have filled ditches - though playas in the area remain empty - and made some roads a bit like slip-n-slides.  I also had to contend with long stretches of deep sand in spots: always an adventure in a Honda Civic:) Critters tallied along the route: 2 Common Checkered Skippers 4 Common Sootywings 1 Sachem 1 Nysa Roadside Skipper 1 Eufala Skipper 2 Black Swallowtails 53 Checkered Whites 5 Orange Sulphurs 3 Southern Dogfaces 1 Cloudless Sulphur 2 Reakirt's Blues 1 Monarch 2 Queens 2 Variegated Fritillaries 1 Common Buckeye 2 American Ladies 2 Mallards 3 Lesser Prairie Chickens 19 Northern Bobwhites 3 Swainson's Hawks 2 Killdeers 2 American Avocets 5 Rock Pigeons 8 Eurasian Collared Doves 77 Mourning Doves 2 Burrowing Owls 8 Common Nighthawks 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 121 Western Kingbirds 8 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers 2 Chihuahuan Ravens 48 Horned Larks 4 Cliff Swallows 39 Barn Swallows 2 American Robins 9 Northern Mockingbirds 3 Curve-billed Thrashers 32 Cassin's Sparrows 27 Lark Sparrows 7 Lark Buntings 6 Grasshopper Sparrows 5 Blue Grosbeaks 50 Red-winged Blackbirds 3 Eastern Meadowlarks 42 Western Meadowlarks 4 Common Grackles 31 Great-tailed Grackles 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds 6 Bullock's Orioles 2 House Finches 12 House Sparrows 2 Black-tailed Jackrabbits 1 Coyote Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Birds in Vernon, Wilbarger Co. From: Brady Surber <supersurber AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:05:12 -0500 Hi all, After recent brain surgery, I have not been able to bird much farther than my backyard. Today I saw a Bronzed Cowbird. I have only seen this species one other time in Wilbarger Co. and it was over ten years ago. Yesterday evening we had two Black-chinned Hummers coming to our feeders. Not to much else. Nothing too much of note. Take care and good birdin, Brady Surber Vernon, TX _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Some highlights from the weekend From: terrverts AT YAHOO.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:48:05 -0700 On Friday and Saturday I comp      Greetings All:      On Friday and Saturday I completed the BBS just northeast of Plains, birded Gaines and Andrews Counties, and completed the BBS just north of Plains.  I will post reports for the two BBSs separately: the following are the outright highlights.      Terry County on Friday: 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken on the Terry County side of County Line Road north of Highway 380.      Yoakum County on Friday: 2 Lesser Prairie Chickens just northeast of Plains.      Gaines County on Friday: 8 Cave Swallows just south of Seagraves, 4 Painted Buntings and 2 Orchard Orioles at Gaines County Park, 3 Painted Buntings and 2 Orchard Orioles just southeast of Seagraves.      Andrews County on Friday: 2 Snowy Plovers and 1 Pyrrhuloxia at Shafter Lake, 4 Cave Swallows just west of Andrews, 1 Painted Bunting and 2 Orchard Orioles at Flory County Park.      Yoakum County on Saturday: 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken northwest of Plains.      Cochran County on Saturday: 1 Lesser Prairie Chicken southwest of Lehman.      Lubbock County on Saturday: 2 Snowy Egrets at Whisperwood Park.      The Lesser Prairie Chickens were all singles seen while scanning from various points along the BBS routes. They were not vocalizing.      Anthony Hewetson; Lubbock TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. From: Tim Whitehouse <tim AT WIKIBIRD.ORG> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:38:21 -0500 In 2005 I went about once a week to La Sal del Rey and stayed until sunset to count the curlews. I didn't start until late July so I don't have early counts. Anyway, I'm posting these number just to record them in case they might be useful to someone. I recall seeing much greater number the year before when the lake was higher. The numbers are fairly rough. The curlews are still coming in after it's too dark to count them. 7/23/05 - 65 7/30/05 - 290 8/6/05 - 370 8/12/05 - 250 8/20/05 - 320 8/27/05 - 390 9/3/05 - 400 9/10/05 - 490 9/24/05 - 500 10/1/05 - 275 10/15/05 - 1500 10/22/05 - 850 Tim Whitehouse Edinburg, TX Tim Brush wrote: > John and I saw a few groups of Long-billed Curlews this weekend in coastal Cameron Co.: about 25 in a V over Route 100 4-5 miles west of Laguna Vista on Friday the 26th (evening). We saw one at the SPI Convention Center on the 27th, and 7 at Laguna Atascosa NWR this morning. With Bailey flying through the Valley on her way to extreme northeastern Mexico, there seems to be a movement of curlews through S. TX. I have not been birding much near the coast the past few months, but I seem to recall that late June is when the species typically reappears here (will have to check my notes). > > Regards, > Tim Brush > Edinburg, TX > > > > > ________________________________ > From: "wbburkett AT AOL.COM" > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:39:21 PM > Subject: Re: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. > > Saw a flock of around 100 shorebirds today they were too far away to id. > > > > Winnie Burkett > > Friendswood > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3) > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > Sent: Wed, Jun 24, 2009 5:33 pm > Subject: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. > > > > > I am a member of a Long-billed Curlew network and received information > about a Long-billed Curlew that nested in the Sandhills of Nebraska this > spring and has already returned to Texas and is now just north of Ft. > Worth. You can track this bird "Bailey" and another that has not yet > left Nebraska "Sandy" by going to the web site below. > > www.BirdsNebraska.org > > It appears that fall migration is upon us. Time to dust off the > binoculars and get out into that 100 degrees. > > 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 > > > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmount > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > aingroup.com/texbirds > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: gbh fighting full out battle From: mangrovewarb AT AOL.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:06:04 EDT I suppose this is a territorial dispute it happened in the intracoastal in front of long island village in port isabel, see clips of this fight you can search for scargeo on youtube where I posted the mangrove warbler footage going to film the new baby mangrove warblers this week,, Scarlet Colley Port Isabel/spi cameron county **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823281x1201398699/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Broad-billed Hummingbird, Timbercreek Canyon, Randall County, 17/19-June, 2009 From: Barrett Pierce <bpierce AT RIOPETRO.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:54:43 -0500 Apparently my original posting did not go through--here it is. Barrett Pierce -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of Barrett Pierce Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:51 AM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: [texbirds] Broad-billed Hummingbird, Timbercreek Canyon, Randall County, 17/19-June, 2009 On Wednesday, 17-June, 2009, I identified a Broad-billed Hummingbird in Timbercreek Canyon, Randall Co, TX. The adult male came to a hummingbird feeder at a private residence at 6:15 pm. Over the next two afternoons I saw the bird once each evening between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Both of these were brief flybys: One was a pass by the feeder and the other was along the creek. During the "feeder flyby" the hummingbird checked out the blossoms on a mimosa tree which is just beginning to flower and in which the feeder is located. On the 19-June flyby the bird flew down the creek toward Palisades and Lake Tanglewood. The owners first saw the hummingbird late in the day beginning about 13-June, using their feeder. Last summer, also in June, I was invited out to the same residence to help identify a "red" billed hummingbird which was coming to the same feeder but I was not able to see the bird well enough to identify it. Timbercreek Canyon is a gated community. Barrett Pierce TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Tree Swallows are Fledged at Brazos Bend State Park, Sunday evening From: Frank Farese <frankjfjrus AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:49:14 -0500 My wife and I went to BBSP from 4-8 today. If the large & menacing alligator had not blocked our path on 40 Acre lake, we would have missed the Tree Swallows being fed by their parents at 7:40 this evening. We kept seeing the Tree swallows, but on the fly feeding and perched. the fledglings are hanging out in the pictured tree and still begging for food, just not doing it from their nest hole. As everyone has reported the baby Moorhens and Gallinules are just everywhere and cool. We saw soaring Wood Storks and had great looks at flying Mississippi Kites and Wood Ducks. As we left the Barred Owls were hooting back and forth to one another. Every season is great at BBSP, even iin the blazing heat when such wonders are about. Photos of Tree Swallows being fed: http://birder.smugmug.com/gallery/8724073_vRycR/1/#576737018_BBbRt-A-LB Frank Farese W. Houston TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. From: Rex Stanford <calidris AT MINDSPRING.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:01:46 -0500 Given Tim's discussion (below) and interest in the summer pattern in coastal Cameron Co. for Long-billed Curlews, let me throw into the hopper the experiences of my wife and I with that species at Laguna Atascosa NWR (LANWR) during three occasions this month. The first was June 1, when only 1 was found (on Bayside Drive, on rapidly diminishing Pelican Lake), despite attentive searching. The second was June 21, when we had a total of 15 Long-billed Curlews, based on 7 at Pelican Lake and, not far northeast of there, as viewed from the Plover Point Overlook, 8 in a substantial tidal pool a short distance north-northwest of the viewing platform. (There is a possibility that some or all of the Pelican Lake birds had flown over to the Plover Point area from the Pelican Lake area, but we certainly noticed no such flight on our drive to Plover Point from Pelican Lake, nor did we see the birds fly into the tidal pool when we were at Plover Point. These 8 birds seemed to have been there when we arrived.) Then, yesterday (June 27) we were unable to find any of this species at LANWR. Pelican Lake was now reduced to a few very shallow and, possibly, stagnant pools, and the tidal pool near Plover Point had disappeared entirely. We recognize that the 15 found on June 21 might not have involved southbound migrants, for it is our understanding that a few hang out in the area most summers (and the date would be very early for migrants of this species). The number noted on that day might have been due, at least in part, to a concentration of this species in two of the very few remaining, suitable, feeding areas, on account of the continuing, intense, drought. Rex Stanford McAllen, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Brush" To: Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:39 PM Subject: Re: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. John and I saw a few groups of Long-billed Curlews this weekend in coastal Cameron Co.: about 25 in a V over Route 100 4-5 miles west of Laguna Vista on Friday the 26th (evening). We saw one at the SPI Convention Center on the 27th, and 7 at Laguna Atascosa NWR this morning. With Bailey flying through the Valley on her way to extreme northeastern Mexico, there seems to be a movement of curlews through S. TX. I have not been birding much near the coast the past few months, but I seem to recall that late June is when the species typically reappears here (will have to check my notes). Regards, Tim Brush Edinburg, TX ________________________________ From: "wbburkett AT AOL.COM" To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:39:21 PM Subject: Re: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. Saw a flock of around 100 shorebirds today they were too far away to id. Winnie Burkett Friendswood -----Original Message----- From: Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3) To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Wed, Jun 24, 2009 5:33 pm Subject: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. I am a member of a Long-billed Curlew network and received information about a Long-billed Curlew that nested in the Sandhills of Nebraska this spring and has already returned to Texas and is now just north of Ft. Worth. You can track this bird "Bailey" and another that has not yet left Nebraska "Sandy" by going to the web site below. www.BirdsNebraska.org It appears that fall migration is upon us. Time to dust off the binoculars and get out into that 100 degrees. 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 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmount TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds aingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Central Brazos Valley birding From: dvollert1967 AT YAHOO.COM Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:31:31 -0700 Hello Texbirders, Birding has been good this month in the Central Brazos Valley. On Thursday, June 18th I netted a male Swainson's Warbler on privately-owned land in Cat Spring, Austin County. Another male is singing on the property, but we failed to catch him. The property also has among other things nesting Wild Turkey, Northern Parula, Pine Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Painted Bunting. Tuesday, June 23rd I birded with Gil and Deb on a privately-owned property in the Peach Creek community in southern Brazos County. Had the following highlights: 3 adult Wood Ducks(one male and 2 females) and 8 ducklings, 1 Wood Stork, 4 Anhingas, 2 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1 calling Acadian Flycatcher, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 4 Northern Parulas, 4 Prothonotary Warblers, 1 singing Swainson's Warbler, 1 singing Kentucky Warbler, 1 second-year male Summer Tanager, 4 Indigo Buntings, and 3 Painted Buntings. At 8am on June 24th I spotted a Ladder-backed Woodpecker on a utility pole in the front yard of a residence in the Zionsville community in Washington County. This is the first Ladder-back that I have seen in Washington County. They are a very rare visitor in the Central Brazos Valley. Thursday, June 25th a pair of Orchard Orioles were observed at a residence in Chappell Hills Subdivision north of Chappell Hill in Washington County. These birds were migrants, as they do not nest at this location. Two male Orchard Orioles have been singing in the Brazos River bottom east of Chappell Hill this nesting season. This species has been absent the past few nesting seasons in the Brazos Bottoms east of Chappell Hill. Best regards, Darrell Vollert Chappell Hill TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: 6-28-09 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher @ Warbler Woods From: Susan Schaezler <warblerwoods AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:28:42 -0500 6-28-09 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher AT Warbler Woods Don had a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher today-hadn't seen one since late Spring. The ponds in early evening continue to be fun-Painted Buntings singing and seen, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Green Heron, Great-Horned Owl, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, and all the "expected" birds. Sandi saw the Long-billed Thrasher last week. The Chucks continue to call. Susan Schaezler...twitter.com/susanwarbler Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary, 501 ( c )(3) www.warblerwoods.com San Antonio/New Braunfels GCBO Site Partner TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Broad-billed Hummingbird Continues, Timbercreek Canyon, 28-June, 2009 From: bpierce AT RIOPETRO.COM Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:26:49 -0500 The Broad-billed Hummingbird in Timbercreek Canyon, Randall County was reported through Thursday, 25-June, by the property owners. It was seen at 8:00-8:30 pm feeding in the mimosa tree. Barrett Pierce TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. From: Tim Brush <txbrush AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:39:42 -0700 John and I saw a few groups of Long-billed Curlews this weekend in coastal Cameron Co.: about 25 in a V over Route 100 4-5 miles west of Laguna Vista on Friday the 26th (evening). We saw one at the SPI Convention Center on the 27th, and 7 at Laguna Atascosa NWR this morning. With Bailey flying through the Valley on her way to extreme northeastern Mexico, there seems to be a movement of curlews through S. TX. I have not been birding much near the coast the past few months, but I seem to recall that late June is when the species typically reappears here (will have to check my notes). Regards, Tim Brush Edinburg, TX ________________________________ From: "wbburkett AT AOL.COM" To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:39:21 PM Subject: Re: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. Saw a flock of around 100 shorebirds today they were too far away to id. Winnie Burkett Friendswood -----Original Message----- From: Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3) To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Wed, Jun 24, 2009 5:33 pm Subject: [texbirds] Long-billed Curlew returns to Texas for the fall. I am a member of a Long-billed Curlew network and received information about a Long-billed Curlew that nested in the Sandhills of Nebraska this spring and has already returned to Texas and is now just north of Ft. Worth. You can track this bird "Bailey" and another that has not yet left Nebraska "Sandy" by going to the web site below. www.BirdsNebraska.org  It appears that fall migration is upon us. Time to dust off the binoculars and get out into that 100 degrees. 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 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmount TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds aingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Big Bend Nat. Park, 6/25-26/09 From: Dan Jones <antshrike1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:21:44 -0500 I just got back from a short birding trip to Beg Bend. They've had some rain out there and the park looks great. Boot Canyon has lots of water and there was water coming over the pouroff in Pine Canyon. Flowers are just starting to come out. 6/25 I spent the morning in Pine Canyon. The road up is in pretty good shape, easily pasable in my CRV. Not much going on. I saw a Colima Warbler and a Blue-throated Hummingbird. No sign of Northern Pygmy-Owls. A noon stop at Rio Grande Village produced the pair of Common Black Hawks with a large youngster. A Gray Hawk was also in the area. 6/26 I started up the Pinnacles Trail at 5 AM. The moist shady area on the north side below the Pinnacles was very productive. Here I had a two Ducky- capped Flycatchers, two Western Wood-Pewees, Colima Warbler, Painted Redstart and Blue-throated Hummingbird. Across Pinnacle Pass I found two more Painted Redstarts and plenty of Colima Warblers. A tanager was calling and singing that was either a Western or A Flame-colored but I could never see it. I found one more Painted Redstart near campsite 4 in Boot Canyon. There were several Blue-throated Hummingbirds scattered up and down the Canyon with a Lucifer above Boot Springs. There was also a pair of Cordilleran Flycatchers above Boot Springs. 6/27 A brief stop at the Post south of Marathon turned up a surprise calling Couch's Kingbird. Dan Jones in Weslaco TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Brazos Bend State Park Tree Swallow Update, Photos From: pjsmolen AT ATT.NET Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:46:29 +0000 Joanne - Thanks for pointing me in the correct direction of the tree swallow nest! I found it after we talked (about 11:45 am). I saw a parent come to the nest 2 times to feed a young bird (approx. 15 minute period). It looked like one swallow, but it was hard to tell from that distance. Pam Smolen Houston -------------- Original message from Joanne0987 AT AOL.COM: -------------- > I was at BBSP Friday and Saturday morning and decided to try my luck seeing > the tree swallows while photographing other stuff. I didn't spend all my > time watching them, but did periodically walk over to see what was going > on. The photos are not very sharp due to the distance to the nest. > > Friday, 6/26: > Two people were already there, and they showed me where the nest was; > otherwise, I probably wouldn't have found it (Thank you!) > > There were 2 heads peering out of the hole at times, and sometimes 1. > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349241_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349241) >> > > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349164>_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349164>) > > > The parents were going to the nest and feeding them regularly. > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349162>_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349162) > > > > At times, the parents would stand guard watching the nest from other trees, > but I could see them and they were frequently visible. > > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349159>_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349159) > > > > Saturday 6/27: > I only saw 1 head peering out of the nest after birds that had perched on > the nest stump flew away. > > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349153>_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349153) > > > At about 9 am, I looked up in a willow tree I was sitting next to, which > was directly across the lake from the nest (next to the hiking trail) and > spotted a juvenile swallow! I suspected it was a juve tree swallow because > it looked like it'd been sitting there for a while, not knowing what to do, > so just sitting there. When I looked at the nest hole, there were no heads > peering out. Eventually the juve in the tree flew off somewhere. It had > been sitting there quite some time. > > Looking at Sibley's, it does appear to be a juve tree swallow because of > the uniform gray upperside, white tips on tertials, sharp contrast on side of > head, and pale grayish breastband. > I never saw the parents go to the nest while I was there, and I didn't see > them watching the nest cavity. > > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349144_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349144) >> > > <<_http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349087_ > (http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/114349087) >> > > > I went home late morning, and that was about it. The nest seemed empty > and the parents not around. > > I'd appreciate any help or confirmation on the juve tree swallow ID. > > Joanne Kamo > Houston, TX > > > > > > > > > **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the > grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: GC Flycatcher at Nature Discovery Center in Russ Pitman Park From: Nature Discovery Center <birds AT NATUREDISCOVERYCENTER.ORG> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:29:00 -0500 Hi, The Great Crested Flycatchers nest box was confirmed this morning in Russ Pitman Park. They were observed bringing mouthfuls of insects to the box. Although this is within their nesting range, it is the first time I know of that a pair has nested here since it has been a park and the area has been so developed. I do want to add that the birds are often seen near the "Pocket Prairie" which was created last year with rescued & relocated native coastal prairie plants from Saum's prairie and other places that no longer exist. Since the "Pocket Prairie" here was planted, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the biodiversity of insects in that part of the park, and who knows, that may have encouraged them to nest here. This is a good reason to consider Douglas Tallamy's request in his book "Bringing Nature Home" to chose native plants for our yards in support of birdlife and other wildlife. The Nature Discovery Center and Russ Pitman Park are located at 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, Texas, just inside the West 610 Loop, between Bellaire Blvd. and Evergreen St. Please do not leave valuables in your car in the parking lot! Happy birding, Mary Ann Mary Ann Beauchemin Senior Naturalist Nature Discovery Center mbeauch AT naturediscoverycenter.org 713-667-6550 (phone) 713-667-7654 (fax) For more information about the Nature Discovery Center, our programs and how you can support our work, visit www.naturediscoverycenter.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Alligator Pond Trail at Laguna Atascosa NWR From: Stacy Sanchez <silverdrop61 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:36:30 -0500 All: Alligator Pond Trail is now open and freshly paved. Also Osprey Overlook got a new look as well. Prior to construction in that area we did have two masked ducks in the Alligator Pond. I have not seen them lately but there are a lot of vegetation in the pond causing a lot of nice hiding spots. If anyone sees them could you let the staff in the Visitor Center know. Also the Visitor Center and main office will be closed July 3rd and 4th. However, the refuge walking trails and driving trails are open from sunrise to sunset on these days. Have a safe 4th of July holiday! Stacy M. Sanchez Ranger Laguna Atascosa NWR South Texas Refuges Complex 22817 Ocelot Road Los Fresnos, TX 78566 (956) 748-3607 x119 office www.friendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Brazoria County Pine Warbler and Brazos Bend SP Tree Swallow June 27th From: Ron Weeks <ronweeks AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:07:42 -0700 Took a different route to Brazos Bend SP on Saturday morni TexBirders, Took a different route to Brazos Bend SP on Saturday morning exiting 288 at the Business 288 access on the north side of Angleton.  Decided on a whim to check for Pine Warbler in the plantation pines between 288 and FM521.  Had looked at these pines since I moved here (12 years ago) every time I drove by time after time on 288 en route to Houston.  Found Pine Warblers there in the winter before, but yesterday I found a singing bird at my first stop.  Pine Warblers nest in NE Brazoria County near Alvin but this was a new nesting location for me. Got to Brazos Bend and three gaping mouths were sticking out the Tree Swallow nest hole every time an adult flew near by.  Wonder what happened with the probable nest sites at Bay Area Park that Heidi Trudell and Charmaine Ganson found shortly after the Brazos Bend nest was found?  Definitely a banner year for Tree Swallows on the UTC this summer. No sign of Wood Storks but they should be around the park soon. Did see some Laughing Gulls on Smithers Lake - a surprising hard bird to get in Fort Bend County. Ron Weeks TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Lake Jackson Subject: Calhoun Co. Guadalupe Delta 6/28 etc. From: Brush Freeman <brushf AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:37:16 -0500 Pretty avg. birding for the date with only a few finds of interest, mainly only to me. Very hot and steamy beginning around 8:30A. Bailey is not alone. I had two of her peers this morning, though of course it is possible they over-summered as they do on parts of the coast. Several (6-8) Tree Swallows were noted over a marshy area. Delta: Least Grebe 8 Anhinga 4 Least Bittern 2 King Rail 1 Purple Gallinule 3 Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1 HO) Barred Owl 1 Couch's Kingbirds 6 Brown-cresteds 4 Kiskadee 2 Tree Swallows 6-8 Tivoli: Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 Brown-cresteds 2 at cemetery Near Dow Chemical: Long-billed Curlew 2 Port O'Connor: Marbled Godwit 1 Least Sandpipers 2 (first in a while here) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ......first I have seen since migration. There is a distinct shortage of Ibis this summer in the area. Even in the rice they are few, I suppose it is due to the extreme drought conditions and or nesting duties. Brush Freeman . TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Least Grebes at Triangle Pond, Austin, have hatched From: Melody Lytle <mlytle AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:17:57 -0500 There are five least grebe chicks at Austin's Triangle pond. See http://www.karenmelody.com/nufotoz/legr01.htm for the first of ten photos. Check the New Photos index http://www.karenmelody.com/nufotoz/nufotoz.htm for links to nesting black-necked stilts at Hornsby, juvenile ibis and cliff swallows at Hornsby, nesting Western Kingbirds in an urban parking lot and several other urban Austin birds photographed in June. Melody Lytle Austin, Texas Melody Lytle You might like to see my latest bird photos - see http://karenmelody.com/Birds/brdndx.htm Check out the rest of my website at http://www.karenmelody.com/ TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Tropical or Couch's From: "bradmckinney AT juno.com" <bradmckinney@JUNO.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:23:18 GMT Cameron, Your two photographs are in perfect profile allowing one to fairly accurately assess bill shape/length, an often difficult task. To my eye, the long evenly tapered bill of your kingbird looks to be more in the Tropical Kingbird range. In my experience, the bill length of this individual would be on the extreme end of the spectrum for Couch's. It must be noted that this lone field mark can be subjective as there is some overlap in bill length between the two species. Making this ID a little easier is the fact that Tropical Kingbirds have been established on SPI for at least 7-8 years, sometimes heard in the vicinity of the water tower by the World Birding Center and Convention Center. Couch's Kingbird on the otherhand is possibly only a very rare migrant on the barrier island. As far as I know, there are no known breeding records for Couch's kingbird on SPI. As John Arvin, Tim Brush, and others have mentioned on past TexBird posts, the two kingbirds have different habitat preferences, with Tropicals favoring more open and disturbed habitats compared to Couch's. Because SPI has only a few scattered woodlots, it's not surprising the Tropicals have become established there. Silent kingbirds at a place like Laguna Atascosa NWR where both species occur can certainly be a challenge. It is nice when your silent kingbird finally lets out a twittering (Tropical) or breezy (Couch's) call. Again, thanks for providing the nice photos. Brad McKinney Rancho Viejo ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Cameron Carver To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: [texbirds] Tropical or Couch's Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:50:48 -0500 I kept forgetting to post this, but now here it is. At the woodlot at South Padre Island, a Kingbird flew in and it looked a little different. It never would call so I couldnt ID by sound but I did take some pictures. I do realize that it is very hard to ID by photo but it's worth a try. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3652338298_6ed9e7a6f5.jpg?v=0 and http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3652338938_c92664e111.jpg?v=0 Thanks TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds ____________________________________________________________ Victim of medical malpractice? Click here to find an expert lawyer to help pursue your case. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOiLQ6fTPIVl13LZp8hqmD TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds cHZPz2MQdpuXVKgxJ0tk2LvaKVVEPHC/ Subject: Brazos Bend State Park Tree Swallows From: Bill Wright <wmewrght AT HAL-PC.ORG> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:01:54 -0500 As a follow-up to Joanne's photos and comments. I was at Brazos Bend Friday afternoon. I had the scope aimed at what I thought was the tree swallow hole. I did not see any activity. I finally saw two or more tree swallows flying around, but they did not go near the nest hole. Could the juveniles have left the nest and now be on their own? Bill Wright Houston, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds