Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Texas Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Wednesday, May 16 at 01:55 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo,©Sophie Webb

16 May Great day at Edith Moore, blurry bird photo id requested [Justin Bower ] 16 May Rufous-capped Warbler [dennis shepler ] 16 May Re: RFI: Birding app for Android phones [Bill Adams ] 16 May Today's bird walk at Kleb Woods ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 16 May Rice U birds May 16 [C-T Lee ] 16 May Re: Kindle Fire Apps. [Scotty Lofland ] 16 May Kindle Fire Apps. [mary ferguson ] 16 May CyFair Warblers ["Mohamed, Jeffrey D" ] 16 May Re: RFI: Birding app for Android phones [David Sarkozi ] 16 May RFI: Birding app for Android phones ["Stevan Hawkins" ] 15 May Laguna Gloria 5-15-15: Veery in the AM, 13 Warbler sp. [Sam Fason ] 15 May SPI photos [Robert Becker ] 15 May Black-billed Cuckoo and other migrants at South Padre Island and Resaca de La Palma [peter barnes ] 15 May Cleveland Birds [Bill Trelc ] 15 May Acorn Woodpecker in Lubbock [Anthony Hewetson ] 15 May Tuesday morning birding, Hagerman NWR [Jack Chiles ] 15 May Edwards Co hilites 5-15 [Brush Freeman ] 15 May Galveston to Anahuac on Sunday [Joseph Kennedy ] 15 May Birds in Russ Pitman Park [] 15 May CyFair College ["Mohamed, Jeffrey D" ] 15 May Black-whiskered Vireo on Matagorda Island [Petra Hockey ] 14 May Hepatic Tanager, singing male, Chisos Basin, BBNP, 13 May 2012 [Matthew York ] 14 May Grosbeaks ID at Hagerman NWR. [Jack Chiles ] 14 May Grosbeaks ID at Hagerman NWR. [Jack Chiles ] 14 May Laguna Gloria 5-14-12: Veery, 13 Warbler Species, etc. [Sam Fason ] 14 May Lafitte's 5/14 [John Tharp ] 14 May Lafitte's 5/14 [John Tharp ] 14 May Suggested Lubbock Area Birding [Penny Miller ] 14 May Re: Warbler help [Sam Fason ] 14 May Warbler help [Warbler Woods ] 14 May Laguna Gloria/Austin [Kenneth Williams ] 14 May The Subject line lable on TEXBIRDS [David Sarkozi ] 14 May South Padre Island migrants this afternoon [peter barnes ] 14 May Golden-cheeked fledglings [] 14 May flycatcher addendum [Brush Freeman ] 14 May Kinney Co. "Western" Flycatcher feedback.... [Brush Freeman ] 14 May Tropical Parula Santa Ana NWR [peter barnes ] 14 May big bend and more [Tripp Davenport ] 14 May Single female Rose-throated Becard looking for temporary domestic relationship., ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 14 May Rose-throated Becard, White-rumped Sandpiper [Robert Becker ] 14 May Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... [] 14 May Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 14 May Sandpipers [dennis shepler ] 14 May Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... [] 14 May Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to ID from today) [] 13 May Mystery Bird - Sound Recording - Birding Panola County - Pineywoods [LGPrice ] 13 May 13 Warbler Species at Laguna Gloria [Sam Fason ] 13 May 9 Warbler, 4 Vireo species, and other backyard birds ["gil.eckrich" ] 13 May Central Brazos Valley- 5/12 & 5/13 [Darrell Vollert ] 13 May Varied Bunting at Yturria Brush, 5/13/12 [] 13 May anahuac-high island ["Ray Porter" ] 13 May NEXRAD radar observations of migrating birds in the western Gulf coast region, 5/13 ["John Arvin" ] 13 May Re: Frontera Audubon Thicket, 5/11/12 [] 13 May Hudsonian Godwits @ Estero Llano [] 13 May Saturday & Sunday L. Tawakoni area reports [Richard ] 13 May Another Kinney Co. surprise (Flycatcher) etc. [Brush Freeman ] 13 May Lubbock Area Birding Summary for April - Long [Anthony Hewetson ] 13 May Yesterday's grounding [Margaret Sloan ] 13 May Hudsonian Godwits in Nueces County [] 13 May Correction - Golden-winged Warbler at Mayfield Preserve and NW Austin [Steven McDonald ] 13 May Golden-winged Warbler at Westcave Preserve and NW Austin [Steven McDonald ] 13 May Austin - Mayfield Nature Preserve [Nathan McGowan ] 13 May Bastrop County Along FM 969 Saturday 5-12-12 ["W. A. Jaeger" ] 13 May Highlights from Marathon, Brewster Co., May 12 [Pamela Pipes ] 13 May Yesterday (Satuday, 05/12/12) at SPI (Cameron Co.): Warbler wonderland! ["Rex Stanford" ] 13 May SE Dallas County ["Doug Hanna" ] 13 May Fwd: Pineywoods - Smith/Rusk County - Bobolinks [LGPrice ] 13 May Pineywoods - Smith/Rusk County - Bobolinks [LGPrice ] 12 May 15 Warbler Species at Laguna Gloria [Sam Fason ] 12 May Incredible fallout in Houston [John OBrien ] 12 May 5-12-12 Eleven Warbler sp @ Warbler Woods [Warbler Woods ] 12 May More on the Quintana Connecticut Warbler [Ron Weeks ] 12 May 1999-2000 Great Kiskadee record at Hagerman N.W.R. [Greg Lasley ] 12 May 1999-2000 Great Kiskadee record at Hagerman N.W.R. [Greg Lasley ] 12 May Sugar Land migrant grounding last night [Mark Scheuerman ] 12 May rookery on Dairy Ashford - Houston [Kiki Hummel ] Subject: Great day at Edith Moore, blurry bird photo id requested From: Justin Bower <justinbower AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 13:47:23 -0500 *(Sorry that this post is several days after the fact, I've been having issues getting setup on the new list...so my original post didn't seem to go through.) * I was busy all last weekend during the fallout conditions, but managed to sneak out for a couple hours of birding on Sunday morning. Since time was limited, I drove over to Edith Moore sanctuary in west Houston, near our home. There were a couple other stalwart birders out that day, and we were frankly amazed at what we found. The place was literally dripping with Magnolia Warblers and American Redstarts, to the point that they were a distraction in being able to see other birds. While I always enjoy a walk in Edith Moore, it's not usually as productive as some of the hot spots on the coast (as one might expect of a small urban sanctuary). However, the fallout from the fallout was still hanging around, and I counted 12 warbler species in about two hours (including Magnolia, Mourning, Redtstart, Black-throated Green, Canada, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Tennesee and others), and several more were reported on the board. There was also a nice selection of Vireos, Flycatchers, and Thrushes along with a solitary Mississippi Kite that watched it all from above. Not quite the same as the reports of 30+ warblers at High Island during migration, but for Edith Moore, this was a pretty fantastic day. While I was trying to get a picture of what turned out to be a Mourning Warbler, another bird popped in and out of low vegetation along a fence in a clearing. It was at a fairly good distance, and I didn't get a good look at him. I managed one shot, but given a combination of low light, far distance, and mediocre 300mm lens, it's pretty blurry. As seen at the links below, the bird is barely visible in the middle of the original shot, and at a 100% crop many identifying features are pretty blurry. What is noticeable is a pretty distinct eye ring that seems to be bisected by a dark eye line, and an unpatterened breast. I apologize for the horrendous picture. We never saw it again, and couldn't id it in the field, and had little luck when I took a look at the pic later. It was found in the company of the Mourning Warbler, the Tennessee, Magnolias and Redstarts. At first I thought it might just be an odd capture of a female Redstart, but it just doesn't seem to fit. Can anyone suggest what this might be? Fully cropped image - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmbower/7190547020/ Medium cropped image - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmbower/7205595306/ Original Image - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmbower/7205602238/ Regardless, great day at Edith Moore, hopefully some of the birds will linger until this weekend. Justin Bower Houston Subject: Rufous-capped Warbler From: dennis shepler <dawgler AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 13:29:55 -0500 Howdy texbirders, Has anyone seen the Warbler in the past few days? Thanks Dennis West Houston -- W. Dennis Shepler Subject: Re: RFI: Birding app for Android phones From: Bill Adams <ba1980 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 10:59:14 -0700 (PDT) I use Audubon Birds.  It usually costs $10, but is on sale right now for $2.99. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.audubon.mobile.android&hl=en Bill Adamswww.southernokphotography.com --- On Wed, 5/16/12, Stevan Hawkins wrote: From: Stevan Hawkins Subject: [texbirds] RFI: Birding app for Android phones To: "TexBirds" Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 6:15 AM TexBirders:  Does anyone out there have any recommendations or advice about birding apps, field guide supplements/replacements, for cell phones that use the Android operating system?  Thanks!  Steve  Stevan HawkinsSan Antonio TX   Subject: Today's bird walk at Kleb Woods From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT hctx.net> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:38:20 +0000 Today's walk was a good one with warblers and other migrants making a good showing. We tallied only 41 species but had a few nice surprises. Moccasin Marsh had a singing Mourning Warbler and three Nutmeg Manikins. Also at the marsh was a singing Painted Bunting. Near the clearing or on the farm trail is where most of the warblers were found. Golden-winged Warbler (heard only), Magnolia Warbler 4, Bay-breasted Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Pine Warbler 4, Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Canada Warbler 2, Blackpoll Warbler (heard only). Only a few flycatchers today and a fair number of Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Sure wish this rain and north wind would last but I imagine this is likely our final spring fling. Fred Collins (281) 357-5324 Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Commissioner Steve Radack Harris County Precinct 3 www.pct3.hctx.net Subject: Rice U birds May 16 From: C-T Lee <cintylee AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 11:06:46 -0500 hi there, mark kulstad and I birded the Rice U this morning, starting at the weedlot at dawn and working our way to the front of campus. Birds again were everywhere, though most were at the weedlot. We had 57 species of birds. Flycatchers seem to be coming in full force. We had 16 species of warblers, including a wave of Common Yellowthroats. The other interesting thing we've been seeing is a recent wave of migrating sparrows, starting with Savannah Sparrows late last week, a Lark Sparrow yesterday, a Lincoln's Sparrow today, and a Clay-colored Sparrow yesterday and continuing today. If you want to bird this weedlot, it is the small patch of overgrown weeds on the north side of campus along Rice Blvd at entrance 18. It is best before sunrise and for a couple hours after sunrise. Birds seem to funnel into here early am and then dissipate into the neighborhoods. C-T Lee Houston Great Blue Heron 2 Cattle Egret 4 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 6 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Rock Pigeon 50 White-winged Dove 40 Mourning Dove 15 Common Nighthawk 2 Chimney Swift 20 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 5 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Alder Flycatcher 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 10 Blue Jay 10 Barn Swallow 3 Carolina Chickadee 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Swainson's Thrush 3 American Robin 15 Gray Catbird 4 Northern Mockingbird 10 European Starling 40 Ovenbird 2 Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 15 American Redstart 7 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Pine Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 5 Canada Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 2 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 adult spizella; gray nape; pale eyebrow; buff ear patch with dark borders to it; pale lores; this was the same one seen yesterday by Mark kulstad and photographed Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 2 Indigo Bunting 3 Dickcissel 2 Great-tailed Grackle 25 Bronzed Cowbird 1 Orchard Oriole 1 House Finch 8 House Sparrow 40 Subject: Re: Kindle Fire Apps. From: Scotty Lofland <scotty76308 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 07:51:52 -0700 (PDT) Mary,   IBird Pro2 is on sale now for 99 cents (usually $9.99) and it is well worth the price.  Has a lot of nice features with free lifetime updates.  I wish it had a life list option, but you can put birds in as "favorites" which will keep a tally for you.   Scotty Lofland Archer City --- On Wed, 5/16/12, mary ferguson wrote: From: mary ferguson Subject: [texbirds] Kindle Fire Apps. To: texbirds AT freelists.org Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 9:12 AM Texbirders, My daughter bought us a Kindle Fire. I have looked on Amazon at the birding guides they offer, as well as Theyer's. I am a senior and have always relied on Peterson and then Kaufman guides. Any suggestions for birding apps? Thanks, Mary J. Ferguson koolspotbirder AT gmail.com Subject: Kindle Fire Apps. From: mary ferguson <koolspotbirder AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 09:12:32 -0500 Texbirders, My daughter bought us a Kindle Fire. I have looked on Amazon at the birding guides they offer, as well as Theyer's. I am a senior and have always relied on Peterson and then Kaufman guides. Any suggestions for birding apps? Thanks, Mary J. Ferguson koolspotbirder AT gmail.com Subject: CyFair Warblers From: "Mohamed, Jeffrey D" <Jeffrey.D.Mohamed AT lonestar.edu> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 08:16:54 -0500 Another good start to the day on the CyFair College campus. 15 minutes from 7:40 produced American Redstart and Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian and Yellow Warblers. Also Red-eyed Vireo and E Wood-Pewee. Gotta love these late songbird migration days! Jeff Mohamed Cypress Subject: Re: RFI: Birding app for Android phones From: David Sarkozi <david AT sarkozi.net> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 06:55:14 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org I've been using Birdseye Log NA for entering birds into eBird. I use an iPhone but I know the app is available for an Android phone. I can't say the app is perfect, eBird reviewers know I've fat fingered a bunch of unusual records, but most of those can be fixed if you just review your data before submitting it. The feature I love about this is you submit you data directly to eBird, right from the field. the interface to enter birds is nice and entry is easy. On Wed, May 16, 2012 at 6:15 AM, Stevan Hawkins wrote: > Does anyone out there have any recommendations or advice about birding apps, > field guide supplements/replacements, for cell phones that use the Android > operating system? -- David Sarkozi Houston, TX (713) 412-4409 twitter ID dsarkozi Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: RFI: Birding app for Android phones From: "Stevan Hawkins" <shawkins4 AT satx.rr.com> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 06:15:49 -0500 TexBirders: Does anyone out there have any recommendations or advice about birding apps, field guide supplements/replacements, for cell phones that use the Android operating system? Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: Laguna Gloria 5-15-15: Veery in the AM, 13 Warbler sp. From: Sam Fason <scfason AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 23:07:02 -0500 This evening i birded laguna gloria, and it seems the rain knocked down some stuff, with 13 species of warbler total today. the veery once again elluded me, but i got a report that it was seen in the morning. Several birders were around this evening, and I spent a bit of time birding with Chris Warren and Kenny Anderson. Least Flycatcher http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7207358016/ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher *Traill's *Flycatcher Philadelphia Vireo Veery - Sean Paul Kelley had the bird in the morning calling, then seen, in the morning. attempts to relocate the bird were in the evening unsuccessful\ Swainson's Thrush Gray Catbird Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Black-and-White Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7207360224/in/photostream/ Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Another pretty solid day Sam Fason, Austin Subject: SPI photos From: Robert Becker <robertjbecker AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 08:12:24 -0700 (PDT) As others have noted here SPI has been quite active the past four days or so, beginning with Friday's inclement weather that brought in many migrants. I got there on Sunday and enjoyed the afternoon's warbler, vireo, thrush and hummingbird bonanza. Photo highlights are here:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/13451078 AT N03/   and here:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/13451078 AT N03/page2/   Please correct any misidentifications I may have made.   Bob Becker Brownsville Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo and other migrants at South Padre Island and Resaca de La Palma From: peter barnes <pbarnes123 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 20:56:56 -0500 Ross Rickett and I birded the Convention Center and Sheepshead in the early to mid-afternoon today. There were fewer migrants than yesterday, but still a good showing, with 10 warbler species, including 2 Canada, 2 Ovenbirds, 4 Magnolia and 2 Chestnut-sided Warblers, 2 Yellow-bellied and 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher at Sheepshead, a Warbling and a Philadelphia Vireo, 3 Veeries and 3 Gray-cheeked Thrushes. The best bird was a Black-billed Cuckoo, which flew into the reeds by the marsh adjacent to the Convention Center at around 2 pm. This morning, at Resaca de La Palma, we had 1 Blackburnian, 2 Chestnut-sided, 2 Magnolia, 3 Yellow and 1 Kentucky Warbler, mostly along the Tram Road that goes left from the Visitors Center. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was perched outside the park entrance and 2 Altamira Orioles were going to a nest along the Tram Road. We had 1 Acadian, 2 Least and 4 Traill's Flycatchers, all of which remained frustratingly silent. Peter Barnes Tyler Subject: Cleveland Birds From: Bill Trelc <trelcjr AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 17:27:38 -0700 (PDT) Tonight in the wooded neighborhood behind the Holiday Inn Express in Cleveland I found lots of Orchard Orioles and a late flock of Common Grackles. Bill Trelc Greenville, TX What if there be no goose music? Aldo Leopold Subject: Acorn Woodpecker in Lubbock From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 17:13:52 -0700 (PDT) Greetings All: Jeremy Clark spotted an Acorn Woodpecker in the draw at the south end of the Lubbock Country Club earlier today.  This is the large golf course located just across the highway and to the south of the Lubbock airport.  For further details contact me at 806-252-1213 Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock Subject: Tuesday morning birding, Hagerman NWR From: Jack Chiles <chilesjack AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 19:09:51 -0500 A great morning of birding with a total of 89 species. Canada Goose 31 Wood Duck 4 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 2 Blue-winged Teal 12 Northern Shoveler 6 Wild Turkey 1 Neotropic Cormorant 2 Double-crested Cormorant 2 American White Pelican 4 Great Blue Heron 11 Great Egret 14 Snowy Egret 18 Little Blue Heron 7 Cattle Egret 175 Green Heron 2 White-faced Ibis 1 Black Vulture 3 Turkey Vulture 9 Mississippi Kite 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 American Coot 35 Black-bellied Plover 7 American Golden-Plover 3 Semipalmated Plover 2 Killdeer 5 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 8 Semipalmated Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 11 White-rumped Sandpiper 21 Baird's Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 8 Buff-breasted Sandpiper 2 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Franklin's Gull 40 Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 Mourning Dove 6 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 Greater Roadrunner 2 Red-headed Woodpecker 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Least Flycatcher 1 Empidonax sp. 2 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Western Kingbird 1 Eastern Kingbird 5 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 11 White-eyed Vireo 8 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Purple Martin 10 Barn Swallow 8 Cliff Swallow 43 Carolina Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 12 Carolina Wren 9 Bewick's Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5 Eastern Bluebird 10 Swainson's Thrush 1 Northern Mockingbird 10 European Starling 20 Prothonotary Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Yellow Warbler 10 Wilson's Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Lark Sparrow 3 Grasshopper Sparrow 2 Summer Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 10 Blue Grosbeak 5 Lazuli Bunting 1 Indigo Bunting 9 Painted Bunting 6 Dickcissel 39 Bobolink 8 Red-winged Blackbird 41 Eastern Meadowlark 9 Yellow-headed Blackbird 25 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 3 Orchard Oriole 2 House Sparrow 2 Jack Chiles Volunteer Hagerman NWR Subject: Edwards Co hilites 5-15 From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 18:52:22 -0500 Montezuma Quail HO Zone-tailed Hawk House Wrens singing away Carolina Chickadee...Only the second I have seen since May 2 Singing Vesper Sparrows Hutton's Vireos. -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas Subject: Galveston to Anahuac on Sunday From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 18:36:47 -0500 I started the day at Offut's Bayou which had one molting common loon which did not join a feeding frenzy at the bridge due to the speed boat traffic racing through the channel early in the am. A few migrants were at the A&M tract with the largest number a flock of eastern kingbirds. The original tropical kingbird nest had totally vanished and possible used to create a new nest 2 trees down. The second pair of tropicals was not seen either. Crossed the ferry but the deluge andor high tides had left Frenchtown Road totally full with no edge. Fort Travis is open but the only wet spot was near a large and early rising group of campers. The roads there are all paved now. The wet areas on Retillon, Johnson, and Yacht Basin roads was also replenished but very few shorebirds at any such. The horned larks were skylarking on Retillon Road and the northern harriers are still on territory. Offshore blue-winged teal, fulvous whistling ducks and cattle egrets were still heading upcoast. For those who like sargassum weed, Bolivar Flats has lots of it. As you go down past the bollards there a broken up beds a foot deep which get as deep as 2-3 feet as you get down further and it extends all the way to the vegetation line. One area has sand over a foot of very wet weed that you break through like walking on an ice crust over snow. Not much shorebird habitat but lots of dunlins, sanderling etc. Crystal Beach was alive with people celebrating mother's day. The Crystal Palace was full with those treating mother to her big day. No birds on the beach in the area. Bob Road was very full and no edge but many blue-winged teal. Yacht Basin Road had wet areas but no birds. Lots of people at rollover and the birds were out there. Hit High Island after mid-morning and Hooks woods had quite a few scattered birds. The road outside the woods was even better. Good scattering of warblers, thrushes etc. Boy Scout woods had more birds early. A calling immature broad-winged hawk with windows in the wings went over heading toward the beach. The windows were missing feathers. Boy Scout woods was quiet. Lots of water along 1985 from the deluge. The newly plowed areas looked great for shorebirds but did not have any. The large field along 1985 and Pear Orchard still had shorebirds but almost all were way off to the northwest. Almost all were white-rumped sandpipers which did lots of panic flying as a peregrine falcon spent a good amount of time helping them get flying exercise. Some appeared to be leaving but there is water everywhere so birds were all spread out. Maybe 1000 peeps left. The peregrine had a forked tail. It is possible that it had a radio attached to its tail feathers that wore/tore loose leaving a hole that is radio shaped. The wonderful habitat in Anahuac at the Oyster Bayou tract is completely flooded out. It appears that lots of black-necked stilts, killdeer and perhaps common nighthawks lost their nests. Lots of people touring and it was more like birding from the rear of non-birder caravans so I ended up and left. The really heavy rain apparently followed a very narrow path measured north to south. Way to the north on Jenkins Road, it appeared that there had been little or no rain. Roads were dust clouds and all the ditches were dry. Looked for kites further north but found none. Another one of those days that birds are seen late in the pm and a few spend the night but leave during the morning. Hard work would get a list though. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36 AT gmail.com Subject: Birds in Russ Pitman Park From: birds AT naturediscoverycenter.org Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 19:07:39 -0400 (EDT) Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Hi everyone, There were fewer birds in Russ Pitman Park today than on the weekend (of course when I was out of town) & yesterday, but here is what we had by about noon today: Chimney Swifts - 5+ overhead Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1f Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2+ Empid sp. - 2+ Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Purple Martins - overhead Wood Thrush - 1 Veery -1 Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 3 American Robin - 3 Blackburnian Warbler - 1f Black-throated Green Warbler - 1-2 American Redstart - 3f and of course the usual resident birds. The Nature Discovery Center is in Russ Pitman Park, located at 7112 Newcastle between Bellaire Blvd and Evergreen St just inside Loop 610 in Bellaire TX. 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 Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: CyFair College From: "Mohamed, Jeffrey D" <Jeffrey.D.Mohamed AT lonestar.edu> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 09:39:09 -0500 Rain brought in a nice flock of migrants to the campus this morning. At least three each of Blackburnian W, Black-throated Green W, Tennessee W and E Wood-pewee. Magnolia W and Prothonotary also. It could be another very good day around Houston. Jeff Mohamed Cypress Subject: Black-whiskered Vireo on Matagorda Island From: Petra Hockey <phockey AT tisd.net> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 08:11:32 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org TexBirders; Yesterday Ladd and I spent the entire day out on the bays, Matagorda Island and Peninsula. After several days of north wind hopes were high for some late migrants and I was not disappointed. Every little cluster of bushes and trees was loaded with cuckoos, pewees, empids, vireos (mostly Red-eyed) and an assortment of warblers, mostly females and second year birds. Dewberry thickets of only 1-2' height had buntings , grosbeaks and tanagers working through them but the berry peak had definitely passed already. The most available food was an abundance of little moths and butterflies and almost all birds, even the non traditional flycatchers, were taking advantage - some more graceful than others. Best find was a Black-whiskered Vireo in a lime prickly ash/mesquite cluster a couple of hundred yards south of the southernmost building of the old Army Base. Since I had left the snake leggings behind I couldn't approach closer than about 30 yards and didn't get any useful photos. I believe this is likely a first record for Matagorda Island and Calhoun Co.. I was also very satisfying to see and hear Bobwhites everywhere. They have gotten so rare in other places. The birding along the long row of salt cedars on the southernmost part of Matagorda Peninsula was considerably easier since the area is grazed and surrounding vegetation was short and chigger and snake free. I did, however, not crawl into the "tunnels" that the wild hogs and cows had pushed into the cedar thicket because mosquitoes were swarming inside. Flocks of Eastern Kingbirds worked the abundant insects in all directions, often sitting on thistle heads as these were the highest elevation perches except for the salt cedar row. It took me 3 hours to walk just once up and down this ca. half mile long row. Encountered impressive numbers of Veerys and Gray-cheecked Thrushes, 2 Black-billed Cuckoos, tons of Traill's Flycatchers and about 15 species of warblers. On the way over to Sundown Island, our local breeding bird colony for Brown Pelicans, herons, egrets, terns and skimmers, Ladd landed a nice 22' speckled trout at the big jetties. Motoring around the colony we saw the pelican chicks already quite big and exercising on top of their nests. The entire island is chock full of breeding birds, the noise and smell intense and the constant coming and going like a permanent rush hour. The wind is from the north again this morning. We are waiting for the choppy water to calm down a bit for another day of late spring birding and fishing. Petra Hockey Port O'Connor, Calhoun Co. Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Hepatic Tanager, singing male, Chisos Basin, BBNP, 13 May 2012 From: Matthew York <mwayork AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 21:48:07 -0500 *I tried to send this the other day to no avail...* This young male was observed behind the Visitor Center by the water station, then over to a large pine on the other backside of the building. It then flew toward the Window View "trail." Singing at each stop observed. Also ringing out in song in the immediate Chisos Basin area were Black-headed Grosbeaks and Black-chinned Sparrows. Numerous White-throated Swifts and all that.. -Matt York Marathon Brewster Co. -- Sent from my Laptop. http://bigbendnature.com -- Sent from my Laptop. http://bigbendnature.com Subject: Grosbeaks ID at Hagerman NWR. From: Jack Chiles <chilesjack AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 20:15:51 -0700 Please go to http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds and subscribe to the new server. Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Last Saturday, 05-12-12, Dr. Wayne Meyer and I went in search of the Lazuli Buntings that have been at the refuge for the last couple of weeks.  We found them right away and then noticed movement in some nearby trees and it was the Grosbeaks that are in the photos in this attachment.  It is a group of heavily cropped photos but hopefully they are good enough that you can make a determination as to the specie.  One of the shots is to demonstrate the color of the wing linings on one of the birds as it flew away.  We feel that one is definitely a Black-headed Grosbeak but don't know about the other.  Any comments or input from Texbirders would be appreciated. http://www.flickr.com/photos/17601271 AT N06/ TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds 7200473850/ Jack Chiles Volunteer Hagerman NWR Subject: Grosbeaks ID at Hagerman NWR. From: Jack Chiles <chilesjack AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:21 -0700 (PDT) Last Saturday, 05-12-12, Dr. Wayne Meyer and I went in search of the Lazuli Buntings that have been at the refuge for the last couple of weeks.  We found them right away and then noticed movement in some nearby trees and it was the Grosbeaks that are in the photos in this attachment.  It is a group of heavily cropped photos but hopefully they are good enough that you can make a determination as to the specie.  One of the shots is to demonstrate the color of the wing linings on one of the birds as it flew away.  We feel that one is definitely a Black-headed Grosbeak but don't know about the other.  Any comments or input from Texbirders would be appreciated. http://www.flickr.com/photos/17601271 AT N06/7200473850/ Jack Chiles Volunteer Hagerman NWR Subject: Laguna Gloria 5-14-12: Veery, 13 Warbler Species, etc. From: Sam Fason <scfason AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 22:17:18 -0500 I birded Laguna this afternoon only (because school is a thing), but from a few reports it sounds like it did not disappoint this morning. compiling my own observations, plus Jane Tillman's and Ken William's observations, im putting together a (possibly incomplete) list of the stuff seen today I personally had 10 warbler species this evening, and with reports from Ken and Jane, they had 3 i failed to get. i will indicated which birds where seen by who. here is a list of the noteworthy birds: Barred Owl (Sam, others maybe?) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Ken) Willow Flycatcher (Ken, Sam) Least Flycatcher (Ken) Warbling Vireo (Ken) Philadelphia Vireo (Ken, Sam) House Wren (Sam: singing in the cane thicket) http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7200665324/in/photostream/ VEERY - Jane Tillman reported a singing Veery from a poison ivy thicket in between the red trailor on the asphalt-paved loop trail and the big red sculpture in the clearing. looking back at my ebird data, the two Veerys i have had at Laguna have been earlier (5/2/10 and 5/4/11) but this is a great record and im confident in it. While trying to relocate this bird in the evening, i had a relatively bright rufous thrush spook and fly away, and i couldnt relocate it...could have been a more rufous Swainson's, or something else entirely, who knows. Swainson's Thrush (Sam) http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7200665902/in/photostream/ Ovenbird (Jane) Northern Waterthrush (Sam) Tennessee Warbler (Sam) Nashville Warbler (Sam) Mourning Warbler (Sam) Common Yellowthroat (Sam, im sure others) American Redstart (Ken, Sam) Magnolia Warbler (Ken, Sam) Yellow Warbler (Ken, Sam) Chestnut-sided Warbler (Ken, Sam) http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7200664436/in/photostream/ Black-throated Green Warbler (Ken) Canada Warbler (Ken) Wilson's Warbler (Ken, Sam) Summer Tanager (Sam) another good day, glad others had such good success Sam Fason, Austin Subject: Lafitte's 5/14 From: John Tharp <jlt290 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 22:14:42 -0500 A bit slow this afternoon but enough activity to make it worth a few laps. Still some shorebirds hanging out on Settegast and Sportsman Road. List of migrants is below. Solitary Sandpiper - Settegast Whimbrel - 1 Sportsman Least Sandpiper Bairds Sandpiper - 1 Sportsman Pectoral Sandpiper - several both Sportsman and Settegast Dunlin - 20 Sportsman Long Billed Dowitcher - Sportsman Black Billed Cuckoo - 1 Yellow Billed Cuckoo - 2 Common Nighthawk - 50, including one group of 35 passing over Lafitte's Ruby Throated Hummingbird - 6 Empid Species - 4 Eastern Kingbird Eastern Pewee - 4 White Eyed Vireo Yellow Throated Vireo - 2 Red Eyed Vireo - 8 Gray Cheeked Thrush - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 5 Wood Thrush - 1 Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 8 Black Throated Green Warbler - 2 Blackburnian Warbler - 1 Bay Breasted Warbler - 2m Black and White Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Hooded Warbler Summer Tanager Painted Bunting - 2 Indigo Bunting Good Birding, John Tharp Houston, TX Subject: Lafitte's 5/14 From: John Tharp <jlt290 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 22:13:42 -0500 Please go to http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds and subscribe to the new server. Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org A bit slow this afternoon but enough activity to make it worth a few laps. Still some shorebirds hanging out on Settegast and Sportsman Road. List of migrants is below. Solitary Sandpiper - Settegast Whimbrel - 1 Sportsman Least Sandpiper Bairds Sandpiper - 1 Sportsman Pectoral Sandpiper - several both Sportsman and Settegast Dunlin - 20 Sportsman Long Billed Dowitcher - Sportsman Black Billed Cuckoo - 1 Yellow Billed Cuckoo - 2 Common Nighthawk - 50, including one group of 35 passing over Lafitte's Ruby Throated Hummingbird - 6 Empid Species - 4 Eastern Kingbird Eastern Pewee - 4 White Eyed Vireo Yellow Throated Vireo - 2 Red Eyed Vireo - 8 Gray Cheeked Thrush - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 5 Wood Thrush - 1 Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 8 Black Throated Green Warbler - 2 Blackburnian Warbler - 1 Bay Breasted Warbler - 2m Black and White Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Hooded Warbler Summer Tanager Painted Bunting - 2 Indigo Bunting Good Birding, John Tharp Houston, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Suggested Lubbock Area Birding From: Penny Miller <txbirds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 21:21:27 -0500 I will be making a trip to Lubbock for business the 23rd and 24th. I'll have a couple of hours to bird the morning of the 24th. Any suggestions for a good place for a quick stop? -- Penny Miller Wichita Falls, TX http://charmoffinches.blogspot.com Subject: Re: Warbler help From: Sam Fason <scfason AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 21:06:45 -0500 looks like a MacGillavry's Warbler. nice Sam Fason, Austin Subject: Warbler help From: Warbler Woods <warblerwoods AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 21:03:27 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Can you check out this bird for me The eye arcs don't "pop" to me The tail extension seems short http://flic.kr/p/bYgg1m Susan Schaezler WarblerWoods.org 501(c)(3 ) Cibolo/Schertz Sent from my iPad Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Laguna Gloria/Austin From: Kenneth Williams <birder124247 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 18:01:10 -0700 (PDT) Hi,    Stopped by Laguna Gloria this morning to see if there was any migrates still around. There was alot of activity.   Warblers, Yellow,Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Wilsons, Black-throated Green, Canada, and American Redstart. Other birds of note, Willow and Yellow-bellied flycatchers calling. Least Flycatcher. Philadephia and Warblingh Vireo's Maybe Jan, Erin or Robin saw some other good birds after I left. I wish I could have stayed longer.   Kenneth Williams Austin Subject: The Subject line lable on TEXBIRDS From: David Sarkozi <david AT sarkozi.net> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 19:02:36 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org The results from my survey are in on the [texbirds} in the subject. Survey Monkey only allows me to see the first 100 answers without paying. We got about 150 results though. The first 100 were 98 to keep the [texbirds] and 2 to get ride of it. Since those 50 results I can't see won't change the final result I'm not going to worry about them, The [texbirds] will remain. Interesting I had about 74 responses in the first 10 minutes. wow, but a lot of people are reading texbirds during the day! -- David Sarkozi Houston, TX (713) 412-4409 twitter ID dsarkozi Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: South Padre Island migrants this afternoon From: peter barnes <pbarnes123 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 18:46:58 -0500 Ross Rickett and I birded the SPI Convention Center and Sheepshead late this afternoon. Both places were hopping with migrants. We had 12 warbler species, with approximately 15 American Redstarts, 6 Magnolia, 5 Yellow, 2 Tennessee, 3 Black and White, single Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green and Wilson's Warblers, 2 Ovenbirds, 3 Northern Waterthrushes and 4 Common Yellowthroats. There were also 6 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, 5 Veeries and 1 Swainson's Thrush, 1 Acadian Flycatcher, 2 Orchard and 2 Baltimore Orioles. Peter Barnes Tyler Subject: Golden-cheeked fledglings From: Antbird AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 18:29:15 -0400 (EDT) We had an adult male Golden-cheeked warbler feeding at least two fledglings in our yard this morning. Nice to see. Bill and Judy Quick Austin, TX Subject: flycatcher addendum From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 16:33:05 -0500 "Westerns" migrate thru the plains and western panhandle as well...I forgot to mention those.They are known to breed only in the higher elevations of the Trans Pecos....B Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas Subject: Kinney Co. "Western" Flycatcher feedback.... From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 16:12:12 -0500 ..is nearly unanimous on the individual found yesterday in the far northern most part of the county with a number of very experience folks adding kindly providing input. Naturally there is no real way to know for sure, especially with a migrating (?) bird, but the default in Texas would be Cordilleran...Documented spring migration records outside the Trans Pecos are very rare if there indeed any. I don't have BLOT or any of the published refs. with me out here, but I am curious as to what that source and some of the other key ref.s allow in spring for the remainder of the state. Thanks to the help and comments. Here is the link again. https://plus.google.com/photos/104451252411753205600/albums/5742107836414655249/5742107878685113090?authkey=CODriOeCqcnYQQ -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas Subject: Tropical Parula Santa Ana NWR From: peter barnes <pbarnes123 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 14:30:47 -0500 This morning, Ross Rickett and I birded Santa Ana NWR. We has most of the expected resident birds and 7 warbler species scattered about the Willow Lake, Chachalaca and Cattails Lake Trails. The highlight was great views of a singing Tropical Parula on the Chachalaca Trail. It was also nice to see a male Mourning Warbler on the Chachalaca Trail, 2 Magnolia Warblers and an American Redstart on the Cattail Lakes Trail, and 10 flycatcher species, including an Olive-sided and 2 Willow/Alder Flycatchers. Peter Barnes Tyler Subject: big bend and more From: Tripp Davenport <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 14:08:51 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org just got in from a mad dash to west Texas this weekend. Saturday spent hiking the pinnacles trail and over to boot canyon. Colima Warbler first sighting near the top of the pinnacles, more over in boot canyon 9 total. Near the switchbacks in the pinnacles trail was a Hammond's flycatcher. Dusky-capped flycatcher right over the summit of the pinnacles in the canyon below. Blue-throated hummingbirds in boot canyon near the springs. McGillivray's warbler, Townsends, Yellow-rumped, and Wilson's in Boot Canyon. For anyone interested, there is a fair amount of trickling water in boot canyon now. Also of note I had 3 swainson's thrushes along with the hermit thrushes, 2 in boot springs and 1 low on the pinnacles trail. Empids included the hammonds, cordilleran, gray, and dusky...Sunday made the trip to cattail falls...lucifers hummingbird, a few warblers, Cassin's kingbird, and varied buntings...did not hear the flammulated owls anywhere around the basin area, did hear elf owl both nights and on the way in Friday night stopped right before dark at the 385 rest area south of Ft. Stockton and heard 2 common poorwill calling from the canyon below...Sunday evening spent in Ft. Davis before heading home...depressing dry in the Davis mts. usual species with no Montezuma Quail...On a non-bird note, did see a black bear on the hike to cattail falls, awesome to see them, I always joke that every time I go to Big Bend, I run into a bear! This young male was so close that I could smell him...He gave me a good look and lifted his nose into the air to smell...I exclaimed, Hey bear... I am getting used to seeing you guys around here! He slowly headed up the hill glancing back to check on me a couple of times before disappearing over the ridge...In my many experiences with the bear in Big Bend, only one time was I concerned when last year in the same area, a female with cubs bristled her neck hair. She stood high on her front paws to give me a good looking over before gathering her young and heading up hill. I think the young male bear I saw this trip may have been one of those cubs from last year... Sent from my iPadEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Single female Rose-throated Becard looking for temporary domestic relationship., From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT hctx.net> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 19:05:32 +0000 Dear romantics and grandchildren poor seniors, I for one ,hate the plight of this single would-be mother working so futilely at Estero Llano Grande State Park. I would like to start a dowry for her so that a husband could be procured. I hate to resort to the prisons, but we are all desperate. I am sure the Mexican bird markets have incarcerated several male Rose-throated Becards, perhaps as close as Progresso. Certainly somewhere within a few hours driving distance. Perhaps a matchmaker could be found, who also drives a cab, who could purchase the freedom of one of the inmates and chauffer him to the international bridge near Estero where the becard would be released. The closest trees from that location are the Tropical area of the park, a mere 600 yards from the bridge, where I would think any reasonable becard would take refuge. Perhaps it would be love at first site! Perhaps Texas would again have native Texan becards? Who will contribute to the dowry? Fred Collins (281) 357-5324 Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Commissioner Steve Radack Harris County Precinct 3 www.pct3.hctx.net Subject: Rose-throated Becard, White-rumped Sandpiper From: Robert Becker <robertjbecker AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 06:59:45 -0700 (PDT) I apologize for this post not appearing sooner, as I sent it on Saturday and Sunday but it did not make it on the list.   I birded Estero llano Grande State Park Saturday morning on a very warm and humid morning. Highlight was the Rose-throated Becard that is very busy with nest-building. The bird was more easily observable than at other times over the winter. Who knows how long she will stay? On the bird walk we also saw a White-rumped Sandpiper, a probable Semipalmated (or Western) Sandpiper, Magnolia and Yellow warblers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Common Paraque, Orchard Oriole, Stilt Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, and Eastern Screech Owl.   Photo highlights are here:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/13451078 AT N03/   and here:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/13451078 AT N03/page2/   Bob Becker Brownsville         Subject: Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... From: mbb22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 14:11:50 -0400 (EDT) Thanks, Keith Than, I think, this is a very good candidate for a Veery. There is one more thing that does not look good for COWA but looks good for Veery and nobody mentioned it yet and, I forgot to write about it yesterday (was very late) tail length. All the best, Mark Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas -----Original Message----- From: Keith Arnold To: MBB22222 Sent: Mon, May 14, 2012 12:11 pm Subject: Re: [texbirds] Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... Mark, Western populatons of Verrys can be very dull. We had one in the collections that had been misiidentified, I think as Hermit.In 1979, when we hoarws the AOU meeting, Alan Phillips spent most of his time with the colletiobs and found this is identified bird. Keith On Mon, May 14, 2012 at 12:31 AM, wrote: I am half dead now after two full days in the field, already set my alarm clock and hope it will work. I do not know what this critter is but to me Veery is more reddish, have light throat, spots no hood, but who knows, bird was partially back lighted, rest body in shadow, bunch of sticks in the front of it. I had couple of seconds to shoot it. I am not suggesting that this bird is COWA but as so many people were looking for it want to show what was hiding in bushes. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field In a message dated 5/14/2012 12:17:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time, hurricanetg AT hotmail.com writes: i think i am way over my quota on sketchy bird discussions tonight, and am probably just digging myself another grave here . . . but why is this pic of the possible COWA not a Veery? the shape looks good, as does the eye-ring, leg color, flank color, underparts color, posture, and what appears to be a pinkish flush to the throat area, and Veery is a small, mousy thrush . . . and i fail to discern a hood here, while i acknowledge that could have been an attribute that Mark saw beyond the pic . . . and of course, regardless of what is in the pic it does NOT discount the presence of a Connecticut Warbler . . . tony gallucci ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 00:51:36 -0400 Subject: [texbirds] Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to ID from today) To: texbirds AT freelists.org As you all know Ron Weeks claimed that he heard and recorded Connecticut Warbler in Quintana on Saturday morning; more people heard that song later (me included so can I say ‘me too’ ;)) BTW one well known birder-photographer tried to use his magic during the whole day quest to find this warbler. He half succeeded; butterflies started to land on his hat. Not sure if that was what he wanted: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050 Bird was heard singing inside the loop in northern side, inside heavy bushed area. On that day I saw mouse with bill running a few inches above the ground from pile of dead sticks to bushy area outside the loop in north-west corner of sanctuary. Some people were sitting there later for hours but saw nothing. Today also a few people spent some time observing this corner and to my best knowledge did not see the COWA. Today, during the evening , when walking this corner (this time with camera ready) the scene from yesterday repeated in exact the same way (déjà vu I could say). This time I managed to get series of shots. Horrible ones - it is going to be the worst photo I ever posted but hopefully the warbler can be ID, Connecticut or not. Upper parts seem to be brown but as we checked in guide juvenile is brownish, no sure if that brownish., belly should be yellow is rather whitish, legs are pink. Thrushes are much larger and have spots, so does Ovenbird. And this bird seems to have solid hood. Eye ring is large and complete; not sure if this going to be well visible in low-res photo posted but even in camera and in viewfinder I could see it well. Well is getting really late - lets experts ID this bird. I also talked today about juvenile singing; had opinion that if this is a juvenile male then it could. I also think that there is possible that it might be more than one COWA there; why not? Only few days ago eastern species were there. Forgot to add that COMA song was heard today by several people. Here is photo (if there are questions I will try to answer them this evening): http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049 Word of caution - if this bird is a COWA my suggestion is to not sit there and wait but rather walk by from time to time. Both times I showed up bird run away; there is only a few second to have a look so be prepare. BTW it was incredible weekend in Quintana - maybe next week I will find time to post a few photos (up to 5 vireos today (no, none had whiskers) and much more. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas = Subject: Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT hctx.net> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 18:05:43 +0000 To my eye, if not a Veery, it would be easier to make a case for Russet Nightingale Thrush than Connecticut from this picture. ☹ 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 From: texbirds-bounce AT freelists.org [mailto:texbirds-bounce AT freelists.org] On Behalf Of MBB22222 AT aol.com Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 12:32 AM To: texbirds AT freelists.org Subject: [texbirds] Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... I am half dead now after two full days in the field, already set my alarm clock and hope it will work. I do not know what this critter is but to me Veery is more reddish, have light throat, spots no hood, but who knows, bird was partially back lighted, rest body in shadow, bunch of sticks in the front of it. I had couple of seconds to shoot it. I am not suggesting that this bird is COWA but as so many people were looking for it want to show what was hiding in bushes. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field In a message dated 5/14/2012 12:17:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time, hurricanetg AT hotmail.com writes: i think i am way over my quota on sketchy bird discussions tonight, and am probably just digging myself another grave here . . . but why is this pic of the possible COWA not a Veery? the shape looks good, as does the eye-ring, leg color, flank color, underparts color, posture, and what appears to be a pinkish flush to the throat area, and Veery is a small, mousy thrush . . . and i fail to discern a hood here, while i acknowledge that could have been an attribute that Mark saw beyond the pic . . . and of course, regardless of what is in the pic it does NOT discount the presence of a Connecticut Warbler . . . tony gallucci ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas ________________________________ From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 00:51:36 -0400 Subject: [texbirds] Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to ID from today) To: texbirds AT freelists.org As you all know Ron Weeks claimed that he heard and recorded Connecticut Warbler in Quintana on Saturday morning; more people heard that song later (me included so can I say ‘me too’ ;)) BTW one well known birder-photographer tried to use his magic during the whole day quest to find this warbler. He half succeeded; butterflies started to land on his hat. Not sure if that was what he wanted: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050 Bird was heard singing inside the loop in northern side, inside heavy bushed area. On that day I saw mouse with bill running a few inches above the ground from pile of dead sticks to bushy area outside the loop in north-west corner of sanctuary. Some people were sitting there later for hours but saw nothing. Today also a few people spent some time observing this corner and to my best knowledge did not see the COWA. Today, during the evening , when walking this corner (this time with camera ready) the scene from yesterday repeated in exact the same way (déjà vu I could say). This time I managed to get series of shots. Horrible ones - it is going to be the worst photo I ever posted but hopefully the warbler can be ID, Connecticut or not. Upper parts seem to be brown but as we checked in guide juvenile is brownish, no sure if that brownish., belly should be yellow is rather whitish, legs are pink. Thrushes are much larger and have spots, so does Ovenbird. And this bird seems to have solid hood. Eye ring is large and complete; not sure if this going to be well visible in low-res photo posted but even in camera and in viewfinder I could see it well. Well is getting really late - lets experts ID this bird. I also talked today about juvenile singing; had opinion that if this is a juvenile male then it could. I also think that there is possible that it might be more than one COWA there; why not? Only few days ago eastern species were there. Forgot to add that COMA song was heard today by several people. Here is photo (if there are questions I will try to answer them this evening): http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049 Word of caution - if this bird is a COWA my suggestion is to not sit there and wait but rather walk by from time to time. Both times I showed up bird run away; there is only a few second to have a look so be prepare. BTW it was incredible weekend in Quintana - maybe next week I will find time to post a few photos (up to 5 vireos today (no, none had whiskers) and much more. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas = Subject: Sandpipers From: dennis shepler <dawgler AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 11:39:53 -0500 Howdy Texbirders, A quick run to Waller County, this morning, yielded little in the way of sandpipers (no Hudsonian Godwits...bummer) other than a 100+ Buff-bellied at the turf farm on FM 529. Wonderful displaying males. Dennis West Houston -- W. Dennis Shepler Subject: Re: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to I... From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 01:31:46 -0400 (EDT) I am half dead now after two full days in the field, already set my alarm clock and hope it will work. I do not know what this critter is but to me Veery is more reddish, have light throat, spots no hood, but who knows, bird was partially back lighted, rest body in shadow, bunch of sticks in the front of it. I had couple of seconds to shoot it. I am not suggesting that this bird is COWA but as so many people were looking for it want to show what was hiding in bushes. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field) In a message dated 5/14/2012 12:17:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time, hurricanetg AT hotmail.com writes: i think i am way over my quota on sketchy bird discussions tonight, and am probably just digging myself another grave here . . . but why is this pic of the possible COWA not a Veery? the shape looks good, as does the eye-ring, leg color, flank color, underparts color, posture, and what appears to be a pinkish flush to the throat area, and Veery is a small, mousy thrush . . . and i fail to discern a hood here, while i acknowledge that could have been an attribute that Mark saw beyond the pic . . . and of course, regardless of what is in the pic it does NOT discount the presence of a Connecticut Warbler . . . tony gallucci ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas ____________________________________ From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 00:51:36 -0400 Subject: [texbirds] Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to ID from today) To: texbirds AT freelists.org As you all know Ron Weeks claimed that he heard and recorded Connecticut Warbler in Quintana on Saturday morning; more people heard that song later (me included so can I say ‘me too’ ;)) BTW one well known birder-photographer tried to use his magic during the whole day quest to find this warbler. He half succeeded; butterflies started to land on his hat. Not sure if that was what he wanted: _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050) Bird was heard singing inside the loop in northern side, inside heavy bushed area. On that day I saw mouse with bill running a few inches above the ground from pile of dead sticks to bushy area outside the loop in north-west corner of sanctuary. Some people were sitting there later for hours but saw nothing. Today also a few people spent some time observing this corner and to my best knowledge did not see the COWA. Today, during the evening , when walking this corner (this time with camera ready) the scene from yesterday repeated in exact the same way (déjà vu I could say). This time I managed to get series of shots. Horrible ones - it is going to be the worst photo I ever posted but hopefully the warbler can be ID, Connecticut or not. Upper parts seem to be brown but as we checked in guide juvenile is brownish, no sure if that brownish., belly should be yellow is rather whitish, legs are pink. Thrushes are much larger and have spots, so does Ovenbird. And this bird seems to have solid hood. Eye ring is large and complete; not sure if this going to be well visible in low-res photo posted but even in camera and in viewfinder I could see it well. Well is getting really late - lets experts ID this bird. I also talked today about juvenile singing; had opinion that if this is a juvenile male then it could. I also think that there is possible that it might be more than one COWA there; why not? Only few days ago eastern species were there. Forgot to add that COMA song was heard today by several people. Here is photo (if there are questions I will try to answer them this evening): _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049) Word of caution - if this bird is a COWA my suggestion is to not sit there and wait but rather walk by from time to time. Both times I showed up bird run away; there is only a few second to have a look so be prepare. BTW it was incredible weekend in Quintana - maybe next week I will find time to post a few photos (up to 5 vireos today (no, none had whiskers) and much more. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas = Subject: Others magic and Quintana Connecticut Warbler hunt (photo to ID from today) From: MBB22222 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 00:51:36 -0400 (EDT) As you all know Ron Weeks claimed that he heard and recorded Connecticut Warbler in Quintana on Saturday morning; more people heard that song later (me included so can I say ‘me too’ ;)) BTW one well known birder-photographer tried to use his magic during the whole day quest to find this warbler. He half succeeded; butterflies started to land on his hat. Not sure if that was what he wanted: _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297050) Bird was heard singing inside the loop in northern side, inside heavy bushed area. On that day I saw mouse with bill running a few inches above the ground from pile of dead sticks to bushy area outside the loop in north-west corner of sanctuary. Some people were sitting there later for hours but saw nothing. Today also a few people spent some time observing this corner and to my best knowledge did not see the COWA. Today, during the evening , when walking this corner (this time with camera ready) the scene from yesterday repeated in exact the same way (déjà vu I could say). This time I managed to get series of shots. Horrible ones - it is going to be the worst photo I ever posted but hopefully the warbler can be ID, Connecticut or not. Upper parts seem to be brown but as we checked in guide juvenile is brownish, no sure if that brownish., belly should be yellow is rather whitish, legs are pink. Thrushes are much larger and have spots, so does Ovenbird. And this bird seems to have solid hood. Eye ring is large and complete; not sure if this going to be well visible in low-res photo posted but even in camera and in viewfinder I could see it well. Well is getting really late - lets experts ID this bird. I also talked today about juvenile singing; had opinion that if this is a juvenile male then it could. I also think that there is possible that it might be more than one COWA there; why not? Only few days ago eastern species were there. Forgot to add that COMA song was heard today by several people. Here is photo (if there are questions I will try to answer them this evening): _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/143297049) Word of caution - if this bird is a COWA my suggestion is to not sit there and wait but rather walk by from time to time. Both times I showed up bird run away; there is only a few second to have a look so be prepare. BTW it was incredible weekend in Quintana - maybe next week I will find time to post a few photos (up to 5 vireos today (no, none had whiskers) and much more. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas Subject: Mystery Bird - Sound Recording - Birding Panola County - Pineywoods From: LGPrice <lprice AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 23:44:19 -0500 I spent the afternoon birding in Panola County. The highlights were: Wood Ducks - 5 Northern Bobwhite - 3 Inca Dove - 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1 Acadian Flycatcher - 2 Bell's Vireo - 1 Prairie Warbler - 3 American Redstart - 3 Canada Warbler - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 2 Pine Warbler Kentucky Warbler Hooded Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler -2 Black-and-white Warbler - 1 Baltimore Oriole - 4 Orchard Oriole - Many Now for the Mystery Bird. I have placed a recording and an explanation on my Bird Song Recording Blog. Here is the link. http://txbirdsong.me/2012/05/14/problem-mystery-bird/ The problem is that I found a bird that called like a cuckoo, but not a North American cuckoo species. I've thought at length as to whether there could be some wacky explanation and I just don't think so. I am pretty sure this mystery will never be solved, but if you want to take a listen and give me any ideas, that would be appreciated. (please do not suggest that there is a cuckoo clock hanging on a tree in the woods, I've already pondered that idea). Thanks, Linda Gail Price Longview, Texas Pineywoods NETFO Subject: 13 Warbler Species at Laguna Gloria From: Sam Fason <scfason AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 23:43:13 -0500 This morning and afternoon I birded Laguna Gloria (nothing new) Good warbler numbers, and pretty decent diversity. This morning i had 11 species, and added 2 more this afternoon (despite numbers being way down this afternoon) many people saw the Barred Owls and Northern Waterthrush, and everyone i talked to saw the singing male Blackburnian Warbler around the gazebo. i took over 200 pictures of the guy, here are a few of my best: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193638688/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193761004/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193639324/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193640182/in/photostream/ (I had a lot of fun with him, the most cooperative Blackburnian i have seen in a while) This afternoon i also birded Mayfield Park looking for the Prothonotary Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler reported earlier today...both species Ive seen at Laguna previously this year, but theyre two of my favorite warblers and I was hoping for some better view and pictures. but my horrid luck at mayfield continued, and the only bird of note was a male Chestnut-sided Warbler at the creek crossing. Here is a list of the notable birds today Barred Owl http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193650288/in/photostream/ Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo (evening, heard only) Swainson's Thrush Gray Catbird Black-and-white Warbler Northern Waterthrush http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193650642/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193651190/in/photostream/ Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7193641060/in/photostream/ Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler (working the Mayfield/Laguna fence line) Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Summer Tanager What an awesome spring migration so far Sam Fason, Austin Subject: 9 Warbler, 4 Vireo species, and other backyard birds From: "gil.eckrich" <gil.eckrich AT att.net> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 21:27:44 -0500 Had 9 Warbler species, 4 Vireo species and some other nice birds in my backyard (Bell County) on this beautiful Mothers Day. Great Blue Heron 3 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 2 White-winged Dove 6 Mourning Dove 2 Inca Dove 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Greater Roadrunner 1 Chimney Swift 6 Black-chinned Hummingbird 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Alder Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 White-eyed Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Blue Jay 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 6 Black-crested Titmouse 4 Carolina Wren 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Northern Mockingbird 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Redstart 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 6 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Golden-cheeked Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Summer Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 6 Indigo Bunting 1 Painted Bunting 1 House Finch 4 Gil Eckrich Belton Subject: Central Brazos Valley- 5/12 & 5/13 From: Darrell Vollert <dvollert1967 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 18:53:25 -0700 (PDT) Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Hello Texbirders, Saturday morning we birded a large privately-owned tract of land near Hearne in Robertson County. Birding was very good and the temperature was very pleasant. A good number of warblers were moving through the woods high in the trees and flying overhead that we could not get our binoculars on. Here are the birds we encountered from 7:30AM-11:30AM. Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk- 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Mourning Dove Inca Dove Barred Owl- a pair Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker- heard Eastern Wood-Pewee- 1 Acadian Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher- a pair White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Swainson's Thrush Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing- flock heard overhead Black-and-white Warbler- one female Swainson's Warbler- 2 Tennessee Warbler- one observed and several others heard Nashville Warbler- one Northern Parula- one observed singing American Redstart- 2 adult males and 2 female/imm. males Chestnut-sided Warbler- 2 Pine Warbler- one bird in juvenal plumage Canada Warbler- one heard singing Summer Tanager Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Orchard Oriole- one adult male On my way back to Chappell Hill on Saturday afternoon I stopped at a privately-owned property in the Peach Creek Community in southern Brazos County. I spent about two hours birding the property and birding was good. Highlights from the Navasota Bottoms. Wood Duck- a pair Chimney Swift- 2 Swainson's Thrush- 2 Northern Waterthrush- one heard Prothonotary Warbler- 4 Swainson's Warbler- 3, including one with a band(I've banded this species on the property, but not in two years.) Tennessee Warbler- 2 Mourning Warbler- 1 observed, possibly 2 birds American Redstart- 1 Northern Parula- 1 bird in juvenal plumage Magnolia Warbler- 2 Blackburnian Warbler- 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler- 1 Canada Warbler- 1 observed singing Wilson's Warbler- 1 This morning I birded my Chappell Hill property in Washington County from 7:10AM till around 8:30AM. Vireos and warblers were singing vigorously. Here's a partial list. Blue-headed Vireo- one(late for them here) Warbling Vireo- one Red-eyed Vireo- 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler- one male American Redstart- one adult male and one imm. male Black-throated Green Warbler- one male Magnolia Warbler- one male and female Common Yellowthroat- one male Darrell Vollert Chappell Hill Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Varied Bunting at Yturria Brush, 5/13/12 From: antshrike1 AT aol.com Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 20:45:54 -0400 (EDT) This cool breezy morning I walked the desert at Yturria Brush tract of the Lower Rio Grande NWR in my eternal quest for Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and Scaled Quail in Hidalgo County. I failed again but still had a fine morning of birding. My secondary goal was to get Varied Bunting and Blue Grosbeak for the county year list and I succeeded. The Varied Bunting was a singing basic plumaged bird in the first draw north of the high tension lines where the road jags. http://i45.tinypic.com/1pa2i0.jpg http://i47.tinypic.com/2a85nib.jpg Also interesting for the area was a sprinkling of migrants. There was an unIDed empid, Eastern Wood-Pewee and Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Mourning and MacGillivray's Warblers. Yturria Brush, Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR, Hidalgo, US-TX May 13, 2012 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.0 mile(s) 33 species (+1 other taxa) Northern Bobwhite 1 Turkey Vulture 8 Swainson's Hawk 1 Crested Caracara 1 Laughing Gull 4 Mourning Dove 10 Common Ground-Dove 5 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Empidonax sp. 1 Brown-crested Flycatcher 5 Couch's Kingbird 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1 White-eyed Vireo 2 Barn Swallow 2 Verdin 12 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 2 Long-billed Thrasher 2 MacGillivray's Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Olive Sparrow 15 Cassin's Sparrow 1 Lark Sparrow 4 Black-throated Sparrow 13 Northern Cardinal 15 Pyrrhuloxia 7 Blue Grosbeak 2 Varied Bunting 1 Painted Bunting 1 Great-tailed Grackle 1 Dan Jones, Weslaco Subject: anahuac-high island From: "Ray Porter" <ray.porter314 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 19:20:01 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org mostly the usuals and really disappointing warbler count the only highlite was the male western tanager (really nice cherry red head and face) at smith oaks seen this afternoon ray porter highlands texas Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: NEXRAD radar observations of migrating birds in the western Gulf coast region, 5/13 From: "John Arvin" <jarvin AT gcbo.org> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 16:10:13 -0500 Ground-thruthing via the internet it would appear that my forecast for the weekend was largely on target. That is extremely gratifying. Given the continuing N winds (until tomorrow) at coastal stopovers I expect good birding for trans-Gulf and circum-Gulf migrants for at least one more day. After tomorrow the spring migration should quickly wind down with a last gasp in early June. I will continue this exercise next spring. jca John C. Arvin Research Associate Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 West Hwy 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org Austin, Texas Subject: Re: Frontera Audubon Thicket, 5/11/12 From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 17:07:42 -0400 (EDT) Dan's post reminded me that I also had an interesting Catharus thrush at Frontera Saturday: my gut thought was Veery, but it just looked strange. Pictures are on the previously-referenced trip report for May 12th (or you can access it through the website below and follow the Big Year links). Feedback welcome! MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) In a message dated 5/11/2012 1:46:24 P.M. Central Daylight Time, antshrike1 AT aol.com writes: I got up this morning after last night's storm and racked up ten species of warblers and a Black-billed Cuckoo in my Weslaco yard before even putting my shoes on. So I headed over to Frontera Audubon Thicket where migrants were the most abundant I've seen in several years. Not a lot of diversity, only 14 species of warblers, but lots of birds. It was a good day to practice empid IDs. Best bird was a singing Bell's Vireo. Frontera Audubon Center, Hidalgo, US-TX May 11, 2012 9:45 AM - 12:45 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) 64 species (+2 other taxa) Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 3 Plain Chachalaca 10 Green Heron 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 15 White-tailed Kite 1 Mississippi Kite 1 Gray Hawk 1 White-winged Dove 10 Inca Dove 2 White-tipped Dove 4 Green Parakeet 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Groove-billed Ani 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Buff-bellied Hummingbird 5 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 4 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 10 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 8 Acadian Flycatcher 2 Willow Flycatcher 5 Least Flycatcher 12 Empidonax sp. 10 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Brown-crested Flycatcher 5 Great Kiskadee 1 Couch's Kingbird 2 White-eyed Vireo 3 Bell's Vireo 1 calling Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Black-crested Titmouse 6 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Clay-colored Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 10 Northern Mockingbird 3 Long-billed Thrasher 3 European Starling 2 Black-and-white Warbler 8 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 5 MacGillivray's Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 6 Magnolia Warbler 40 probably more Blackburnian Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 30 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 8 Wilson's Warbler 8 Northern Cardinal 4 Indigo Bunting 1 Great-tailed Grackle 5 Brown-headed Cowbird 3 Orchard Oriole 4 Baltimore Oriole 1 Lesser Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 2 Dan Jones, Weslaco Subject: Hudsonian Godwits @ Estero Llano From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 16:53:52 -0400 (EDT) Hi, all! We were without Internet access at the Ranch until about five minutes ago, so Saturday's report is getting out a day late... :-P But the highlight of migrant-chasing around Weslaco was definitely the four Hudsonian Godwits that came shooting at me over Ibis Pond, and I was able to get enough of a look through my bins to positively ID them before they wheeled over the butterfly garden and out of sight! Kyle and I headed over to Dowitcher Pond to see if perchance they landed there, but they didn't :-( so I'm not sure these are chaseable. Although not as birdy as I heard Friday was, I was certainly happy with the day's list with several new year birds, including Philadelphia Vireo at Frontera! Full trip report, photos, and recordings are here: _http://miriameaglemon.com/Big%20Year%202012/May/May%2012%20-%20Weslaco.html _ (http://miriameaglemon.com/Big%20Year%202012/May/May%2012%20-%20Weslaco.html) ...or go to the main page (below) and follow the Big Year links. Enjoy! MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) Subject: Saturday & Sunday L. Tawakoni area reports From: Richard <rdkrsh AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 16:30:31 -0400 (EDT) There were lots of species reported on Saturday under tough conditions-the birds were sitting and singing and not moving. Still an impressive array of migrants and unusual species were reported. From the 20+ birders here is what was reported or seen by myself or others. It was good to see so many friends including some I hadnt seen in awhile. I think this weekend there more birders at Lake Tawakoni State Park than any weekend UI can remember. Canada Goose Black-bellied Whistling Duck Neotropic Cormorant Mississippi Kite Cooper's Hawk Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood Pewee Acadian Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Traill's Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Cave Swallow House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet very late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Veery Swainson's Thrush -----zero reports Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler---very late Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prairie Warbler-on territory Blackpoll Saturday & Sunday 1 or 2 almost annual now Pine Warbler on territory American Redstart Swainson's Warbler on territory Prothontoary Warbler on territory Ovenbird Louisiana Waterthrush on territory Northern Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Grasshopper Sparrow Summer Tanager on territory Dickcissel Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Richard Kinney near Lake Tawakoni Subject: Another Kinney Co. surprise (Flycatcher) etc. From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 15:07:00 -0500 I watched and listened to this empid for a good while and for now have come to the conclusion this is a probable "Western", but I do not remember the call note for Cory's that well and this bird gave mostly a single soft call note several times from what I heard. Anyway Ebird shows no records for Kinney Co. and before I throw this bird into the county bucket I figure I best put it out there for review. I did have several distinct Leasts and at least one Willow today also. Here you go again... https://plus.google.com/photos/104451252411753205600/albums/5742107836414655249?authkey=CODriOeCqcnYQQ Other highlights on this mornings work included but were limited to... Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Western Tanager (f) 1 Lazuli Bunting 1 -- Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca de los Alacranes., Utley,Texas Subject: Lubbock Area Birding Summary for April - Long From: Anthony Hewetson <terrverts AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 12:30:24 -0700 (PDT) APRIL 2012 SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS: With 1.03 inches of rain during the month and 2.32 inches for the year, Lubbock finished up well below the average year-to-date total of 3.26 inches but, thankfully, well above the 2011 year-to-date total of 0.84 inches.  The region remains in exceptional drought and this shows in the increasing concentration of what few waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds remain to a few well-birded wet spots in the region - playas that are not directly or indirectly fed by human activity are virtually absent.  Migration was slow, with relatively poor numbers of the usual diversity of birds ... though things began spiking towards the last three days of the month.  Perhaps the May report will be a bit more thrilling.  The combination of intense observer effort at some locations and the increase in data due to e-bird has made it somewhat more difficult to separate individuals sightings - the algorithm I am using is relatively conservative and I am willing to share it with anybody who is interested. As always the county follows the site in () and birds are mentioned by virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity. CACKLING GOOSE: Eight reports of 3-12 birds in the region (Garza, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (SB, SC, QW, AnH, CR, BS) - RELATIVELY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND INDIVIDUALS, INDICATIVE OF THE RELATIVELY EARLY PULLOUT BY WATERFOWL THIS YEAR. TUNDRA SWAN: 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/12 (CC) - CLOSE TO ACCIDENTAL IN THE REGION; OUR 25th RECORD. WOOD DUCK: 4 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/12 (SC), 1 at Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock) on 4/13/12 (CR), and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 4/29/12 (CC, QE, AnH, CR)  - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS AND INDIVIDUALS; ANOTHER EARLY PULLOUT. 'MEXICAN DUCK': 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 4/23/12 (CC, SAC, AnH, CR, RT, pix) - STATUS IN THE REGION COMPLETELY UNKNOWN; THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT I HAVE SEEN OF THIS 'FORM' FROM THE REGION. 'MEXICAN' DUCK x MALLARD: 1 associated with the 'Mexican' Duck at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 4/23/12 and then persisted, on its own, through 4/27/12 (CC, SC, AnH, CR) - STATUS IN THE REGION COMPLETELY UNKNOWN; THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT I HAVE SEEN OF THIS 'HYBRID' FROM THE REGION. BLUE-WINGED TEAL: Well over fifty reports of 1-20 birds throughout the region (Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley) and period (SB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, AvH, JM, CR, BS, RT, SW) - IF ANYTHING, PARADOXICALLY MORE NUMEROUS THAN TO BE EXPECTED; PARTICULARLY PUZZLING IN COMPARISON TO THE UNUSUALLY LOW ABUNDANCE OF CINNAMON TEALS. CINNAMON TEAL: 5 at Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 4/1/12 (BS) and 3 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/12 (SC) the only reports - INCREDIBLY LOW. DABBLERS IN GENERAL: All in relatively low numbers with relatively low number of reports; EARLY PULLOUTS DUE TO CONTINUING AND INTENSE DROUGHT. CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD:  This subset of waterfowl, generally fairly common through the end of April, was present in very low numbers or absent altogether; LOW NUMBERS AND LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS, NO DOUBT DROUGHT-RELATED. LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN: 8 birds reported from a location in (Cochran) on 4/19/12 (CC) the only report - A TYPICAL SIGHTING FROM WHAT IS LEFT OF THE RANGE OF THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION - GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE. EARED GREBE: 1 in south Lubbock (Lubbock) from 4/14/12-4/15/12 (CC, CR, RT) and 1-6 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) through 4/29/12 (CC, QE, CR, RT) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS AND LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS. AMERICAN BITTERN: 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 4/18/12 (CC) - CLOSE TO ACCIDENTAL IN OUR REGION (POSSIBLY JUST UNDER-REPORTED); OUR 20th RECORD. GREAT EGRET: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/26/12 (CC) the only report - INCREDIBLY LOW; ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO RELATIVELY TYPICAL NUMBERS OF SNOWY EGRETS. SNOWY EGRET: Ten reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, CRo, FR, RT) - ABOUT AVERAGE; CONTRASTING STRANGELY WITH THE LOW NUMBERS OF GREAT EGRETS. LITTLE BLUE HERON: 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/12 (DU, CC, SC, RT) - VERY RARE, BUT ANNUAL, IN THE REGION - STILL A VERY GOOD BIRD TO SEE. GREEN HERON:  Eight reports of 1-2 birds at different sites in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, AnH, CR) - SOMEWHAT LOW. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at the Erskine Marshway (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH, CR) the only reports - LATE TO ARRIVE AND LOW IN NUMBERS. A DARK IBIS: observed at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/12 (CC, SC, CR, pix) was felt by some observers to be a GLOSSY x WHITE-FACED hybrid and, by many others, to be a GLOSSY/WHITE FACED HYBRID x GLOSSY IBIS backcross - AN INSTRUCTIVE BIRD AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND REPORTED FROM OUR REGION. WHITE-FACED IBIS: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 4/12/12 to 4/18/12 (CC), 20 at the Matador Sewage Ponds (Motley) on 4/20/12 (SW), 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/22/12 (RT), and 1-11 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) daily thru the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, CRo, FR) the only reports - A TAD LOW BUT VERY LITTLE SUITABLE HABITAT WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE MONTH. OSPREY: Eight reports of 1-2 birds at different sites in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, GJ, CR, DS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON MIGRANT. MISSISSIPPI KITE: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/12 (CC) were the first of the season and the species was very slow to fill in from that point on - LATE, BY RECENT STANDARDS, AND LOW IN NUMBER. NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 4/21/12 (AnH) the only report - VERY LOW; ANOTHER EARLY PULLOUT? SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the period (SB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, AvH, CR, RT) the only report - VERY LOW. COOPER'S HAWK: Five reports of single birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, QE, AnH, AvH, CR, RT) - ABOUT AVERAGE; ANOTHER INTERESTING CONTRAST; IN THIS CASE WITH THE VIRTUAL ABSENCE OF SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS DURING THE MONTH. HARRIS'S HAWK: At least two, probably, three nesting pairs in the TTU Rangeland/TTU HSC fields area (Lubbock) - THIS SITE HAS SUPPORTED ONE NESTING PAIR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS; THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WITH EVIDENCE SUGGESTING FULL COLONIZATION, SO TO SPEAK, OF THE SITE. SWAINSON'S HAWK: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/1/12 (CR) was the first of the season but the species has been slow to fill in since then - ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS ... SO FAR. BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 1 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/21/12 (SWt, WW) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) the only reports for the month - A TAD LOW. GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 second year bird near Idalou (Lubbock) on 4/21/12 (AnH) - AS THIS SPECIES APPEARS TO BE DECLINING IN OUR REGION, A WELCOME SIGHTING. MERLIN: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/1/12 (KH) and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/3/12 to 4/6/12 (CR, RT) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 at the TTU HSC (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (AnH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through 4/23/12 (CC, AnH, CR, RT) - ABOUT AVERAGE. VIRGINIA RAIL: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, CR) the only report - LOW. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 3 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, AvH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 25th RECORD. SNOWY PLOVER: 22 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, MDL, AvH, CR) the only report - GOOD NUMBERS BUT A BIT ON THE LOCALIZED SIDE. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 8 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, MDL, AvH, CR) the only report - VERY GOOD NUMBERS BUT, AGAIN, A BIT LOCALIZED. BLACK-NECKED STILTS and AMERICAN AVOCETS:  Numerous small groups were sighted throughout the region during the period - GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT NUMBERS, OVERALL, SOMEWHAT LOW. SPOTTED SANDPIPER: Eight reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the period (SB, CC, SC, AnH, AvH,. CR, BS, RT) - A TAD LOW. SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/9/12 (CC), 1 at TTU (Lubbock) on 4/19/12 (CC), 1 along the Erskine Marshway (Lubbock) on 4/19/12 (CR), 1-3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/22/12 to 4/30/12 (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/30/12 (KH) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE; MIGRATION FOR THIS USUALLY WIDESPREAD SPECIES CONCENTRATED TO A FEW, WELL-BIRDED SPOTS? GREATER YELLOWLEGS: At least ten reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Floyd, Garza, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley) during the period (SB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, AvH, JM, CR, RT, SW) - VERY LOW. WILLET: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/14/12 (CC, SC, CR) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE, BUT ANNUAL, MIGRANT. LESSER YELLOWLEGS: At least five reports of 1-3 birds in the region (Crosby, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, BS, SW) - VERY LOW. UPLAND SANDPIPER: 1 near Ralls (Crosby) on 4/28/12 (CC) the only report - VERY LOW. LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/1/12 (KH), 18 near Muleshoe (Bailey) on 4/16/12 (MS), and 1 at McAlister Park (Lubbock) on 4/24/12 (CC) the only reports - VERY LOW. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 5 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 4/1/12 (BS) and 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/14/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - LOW. WESTERN SANDPIPER: Six reports of 2-20 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the period (SB, CC, SC, MDL, AvH, CR, BS, RT, SW) the  only reports - VERY LOW. LEAST SANDPIEPR: Eight reports of 1-30 birds in the region (Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the period (SB, CC, SC, MDL, AvH,  CR, BS, SW) the only reports - VERY LOW. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: NO REPORTS AT ALL - LOW. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: NO REPORTS AT ALL - EXTRAORDINARILY LOW. PECTORAL SANDPIPER: NO REPORTS AT ALL - VERY LOW. STILT SANDPIPER: Five reports of 1-6 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock, Terry) during the period (CC, SC, JM, CR, RT, SW) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS, VERY LOW NUMBERS. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: Ten reports of 1-43 birds in the region (Crosby, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (CC, SC, CCR, BS, RT, SW) - VERY LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS, LOW NUMBERS. WILSON'S SNIPE: 1 in a Levelland yard (Hockley) on 4/1/12 (LS), 2 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 4/1/12 (BS), and 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/11/12 to 4/15/12 (CC, AnH, RT) the only reports - VERY LOW. WILSON'S PHALAROPE: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/14/12 (CC, SC, CR), 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/20/12 (SW), 15 at the Matador Sewage Ponds (Motley) on 4/23/12 (SW), 2-4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/26/12 to 4/28/12 (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR), and 300 at the Skeen Playa (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, AvH, CR) the only reports - LOW NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND, APART FROM THE LYNN COUNTY SIGHTING, VERY LOW NUMBERS. FRANKLIN'S GULL: 2 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 4/14/12 (SC) and 20 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (CRo, FR) the only reports - A TAD LOW. RING-BILLED GULL: 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) through 4/14/12 (CC, SC) and 1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through 4/29/12 (SC) the last reports of the season - A VERY EARLY PULLOUT. FORSTER'S TERN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/19/12 (QE) - THIS SPECIES IS HIGHLY VARIABLE IN NUMBERS DURING MIGRATION, SHOULD PICK UP IN MAY. INCA DOVE: 2 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/8/12 (GG), 1-2 in a Littlefield yard (Lamb) from 4/15/12 to 4/23/12 (AR), singletons in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/16/12 and 4/23/12 (CC, SC), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) from 4/26/12 to 4/29/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - A SPECIES OF CONCERN IN OUR REGION; WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE HOW WIDESPREAD AND HOW INTENSE THIS SPECIES' DECLINE HAS BEEN. COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 at Upper MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) the only report so far - ON TIME BUT LOW NUMBERS SO FAR. COMMON POORWILL: 1-4 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/17/12 to 4/27/12 (CC, SC, AnH, CR), 4 south of Floydada (Floyd) on 4/21/12 (AnH), 1 at TTU HSC (Lubbock) on 4/27/12 (DA, AnH), and 1 at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) - GOOD NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS STEALTH MIGRANT THROUGH OUR REGION. WHIP-POOR-WILL: 1 well-seen birds at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/27/12 (AnH) was, according to some authorities, unidentifiable and, according to others, a well-defined MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL - IN ANY EVENT, A VERY RARE EVENT IN OUR REGION; OUR 5th RECORD OF ANY KIND OF 'WHIP' FOR THE REGION. CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/12/12 (CC) was our first report of the season and they were slow to fill in after that - LATE AND LOW. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/19/12 (KH) the only report for the season - LOW. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 at the East Mound Cemetery (Motley) on 4/23/12 (SW) - THIS BIRD IS RARE IN OUR REGION AND IS RESTRICTED TO EASTERN LOCALES; THIS PARTICULAR SITE HAS BEEN GOOD. DOWNY WOODPECKER: A pair engaging in courtship behaviour in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/22/12 (JC) - A MOST SURPRISING REPORT, GIVEN THAT OUR FEW BREEDING RECORDS ARE FROM OUR EASTERNMOST COUNTIES. OLIVE-SIDE FLYCATCHER - NO REPORTS AT ALL - LOW. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE - NO REPORTS AT ALL - VERY LOW. WILLOW FLYCATCHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH) the only report - VERY LOW. LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC) the only report - VERY LOW. EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/12 (QE) the only report - LOW. SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 at the TTU Rangeland (Lubbock) from 4/4/12 to 4/5/12 (QE), 1 at Bole's Lake Road (Lubbock) on 4/12/12 (CC), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/18/12 (CC), 2 in (Cochran) on 4/19/12 9CC), 1 at Muleshoe NWR (Bailey) on 4/22/12 (RT), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (CC, AnH), and 2 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, MDL, AvH, CR) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SPREAD; ANOTHER GOOD SEASON FOR THIS DROUGHT-TOLERANT SPECIES. WESTERN KINGBIRD: 3 near Post (Garza) on 4/7/12 (AnH) the first of the season and very slow to fill in afterwards - LATE AND LOW. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER: 13 near Post (Garza) on 4/7/12 (AnH) the first of the season but filled in quickly thereafter - LATE BUT NORMAL NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE MONTH. WHITE-EYED VIREO: 1 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) from 4/20/12 to 4/22/12 (JC, CC, AnH) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 13th RECORD. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 1 near Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, MDL, AvH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; OUR 23rd RECORD. PLUMBEOUS VIREO: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/17/12 to 4/23/12 (CC, SC, AnH) - A RARE, BUT ANNUAL, MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION. COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Post (Garza) throughout the period (AnH, BS), 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) throughout the period (KH), 1 in (Dickens) on 4/15/12 (BS) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THE START OF THE BREEDING SEASON ... ALL BELOW THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. TREE SWALLOW: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/12 (SC), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/12 (CC, SC), 12 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/12 (CC), 2 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/30/12 (KH) - A TAD LOW. BANK SWALLOW: 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/14/12 (CC, CR), 6 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/15/12 (CC), 2-3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/12 (CC, AnH), 1 at Leftwich Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/12 (CC, SC), 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/25/12 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/25/12 (CC), and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/30/12 (KH) - AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS BUT NUMBERS SEEMED A BIT LOW. CAVE SWALLOW: 20 at the Brazos River crossing of Highway 380 (Garza) on 4/1/12 (BS), 4 near Roaring Springs (Motley) on 4/8/12 (CA, MA), 1-2 near Crosbyton (Crosby) from 4/15/12 to 4/22 12 (KH), and 6 near Floydada (Floyd) on 4/21/12 (AnH) the only reports so far - RIGHT ON TIME BUT NUMBERS SEEMED A TAD LOW. CANYON WREN: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE RESIDENT SPECIES ... AND AT A PROBABLE NESTING SITE. HOUSE WREN: Five reports of singles in (Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, MDL, AnH, AvH, CR) - LOW; A VERY POOR SPRING SPIKE SO FAR. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: Fiver reports of singles in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, AnH, CR, RT) - LOW; NO APPARENT SPRING SPIKE AT THIS POINT. EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 female at the White River crossing of Highway 207 (Floyd) on 4/21/12 (AnH, BW) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS VERY RARE BREEDING SPECIES; POTENTIALLY A NEW SITE, THOUGH. SWAINSON'S THRUSH: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) the only report - LATE AND LOW. HERMIT THRUSH: At least twelve reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Bailey, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, SC, QE, AnH, AvH, CR, RT) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS UNCOMMON TO COMMON SPRING MIGRANT. GRAY CATBIRD: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC, AnH) and 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CR) the only reports - A TAD LATE BUT ABOUT AVERAGE IN NUMBERS. SAGE THRASHER: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/1/12 (KH) - THE LAST HURRAH FOR AN EXCELLENT WINTER SEASON FOR THIS SPECIES IN OUR REGION. BROWN THRASHER: Two, possible three, pairs establishing nests in Clapp Park (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, RT) - AN EXCELLENT SHOWING FOR THIS SPECIES AT AN ABOVE THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT SITE. AMERICAN PIPIT: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/25/12 (CC) was the only report for the month - AS APRIL IS USUALLY A PEAK MONTH FOR THIS SPECIES, AS A MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION, THIS WAS A DISAPPOINTING SHOWING. WORM-EATING WARBLER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, CR, pix) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 24th RECORD. LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/8/12 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LOW. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/23/12 to 4/27/12 (CC, AnH, CR), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, SC, AnH, CR) the only reports - A TAD LOW. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/12 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LOW. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/22/12 to 4/23/12 (CC, AnH, CR) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 19th RECORD. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: A good number of sightings through the region though numbers seemed a bit low - A TAD LOW. NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, AnH, CR) the only report - A TAD LOW. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at Aztlan Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), 2 males at Mae Simmons Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), and 1 male at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, AnH, CR) the only reports - A TAD LOW. HOODED WARBLER:1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/22/12 to 4/23 12 (CC, SC, AnH, CR, pix) - A VERY RARE, BUT ANNUAL, SPRING MIGRANT - ALWAYS A NICE BIRD TO GET ON THE REGIONAL LIST. AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 male at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH) the only report - A TAD LOW. NORTHERN PARULA: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/15/12 (AnH) the only report - A VERY RARE, BUT ANNUAL, SPRING MIGRANT THROUGH THE REGION. YELLOW WARBLER: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (CC, AnH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - LATE AND VERY LOW IN NUMBER. BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/12 (CC, CR, pix) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 23rd RECORD. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/12 (CR) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 28th RECORD. WILSON'S WARBLER: Twenty or so reports of 1-9 birds in the region (Lubbock, Lynn) during the period (SB, CC, SC, MDL, KD, QE, AnH, AvH, GJ, CR) - THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT BUT BOTH THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND THE NUMBER OF BIRDS PER REPORT WERE LOW. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/19/12 (SB) and 1 in another Lubbock yard (Lubbock)on 4/29/12 (SC) the only reports - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE, BUT ANNUAL, SPRING MIGRANT. CHIPPING SPARROW: Around thirty reports of 1-10 birds, fifteen reports of 11-50 birds, and five reports of 51-100 birds in the region (Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry), mostly during the latter half of the month (CA, MA, SB, CC, SC, KD, QE, AnH, AvH, KH, GJ, JM, CR, RT, SW, WWt) - A GOOD NUMBER OF REPORTS BUT NUMBERS WERE NOT AS SOLID AS THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ... and THEY SEEMED TO DRAG IN A BIT LATE. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Thirteen reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-20 birds in the region (Cochran, Lubbock) during the period (SB, CC, SC, AnH, AvH, KH,CR) - BACK TO THE TYPICAL NUMBER OF REPORTS AND BIRDS, IN COMPARISON TO CHIPPING SPARROWS, AND WAY OFF IN TERMS OF NOMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND NUMBERS FROM THE LAST FEW YEARS. BREWER'S SPARROW: 3 at the Aday Ranch (Cochran) on 4/22/12 (SB), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/26/12 (CC, CR), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (SC), 3 at Tahoka Lake (Lynn) on 4/28/12 (SB, MDL, AvH, CR), and 2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE BUT THE SPECIES HAS PROBABLY BEEN SEVERELY UNDER-REPORTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. FIELD SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (CC, AnH, CR) the only report for the month - ANOTHER EARLY DEPARTURE? GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/18/12 (KH) and 4 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/30/12 (KH) the only reports - VERY LOW SO FAR THIS SEASON. FOX SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/12 (SB) - A FAIRLY LATE REPORT BUT NOT SURPRISING GIVEN THE SPECIES STELLAR SHOWING IN THE REGION THIS YEAR. SONG SPARROW: 1 at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/3/12 (SC) the only report for the month - A SURPRISINGLY STRONG AND EARLY PULLOUT FROM THE REGION. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (CC, AnH) - A FAIRLY LATE - AND SURPRISING - REPORT FOR THE REGION. SUMMER TANAGER: 1 male in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (AnH), 1 male at MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/30/12 (CC) - A TAD BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR APRIL; MAY IS USUALLY THE MONTH WHEN THIS SPECIES POPS. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 female and 1 male at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC) the only report - ABOUT AVERAGE; MAY IS USUALLY THE BETTER OF THE TWO SPRING MONTHS FOR THIS SPECIES. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: 1 female at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH) and 1 near Crosbyton (Crosby) on 4/30/12 (KH) the only reports - A TAD LOW; APRIL IS USUALLY THE BETTER OF THE TWO SPRING MONTHS FOR THIS SPECIES. BLUE GROSBEAK: 1 male near Cedar Hill (Floyd) on 4/21/12 (AnH) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, CR) the only reports - LATE AND LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS. LAZULI BUNTING: 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/27/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR EARLY IN THE SEASON. INDIGO BUNTING: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/4/12 (SB, CC, SC, QE), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/9/12 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/12/12 to 4/15/12 (CC, QE, AnH, CR), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/17/12 (CC), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (SC), 1 in a Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 4/26/12 (SC), 3 males at Clapp Park (Lubbock) from 4/29/12 to 4/30/12 (CC, AnH, CR), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC) - MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON; HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A GOOD YEAR FOR NEW BREEDING SITES IN THE REGION. PAINTED BUNTING: 1 male below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH) and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, SC, CR) - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW SO FAR. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD:  Eighteen reports of 1-10 birds, eleven reports of 11-50 birds, four reports of 51 to 125 birds in the region (Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, KH, CL, CR, PS, BS, RT, SW) - THOUGH NO TRULY LARGE FLOCKS WERE REPORTED THIS IS MUCH MORE LIKE THE SPRING INFLUX OF YORE. BRONZED COWBIRD: 1-2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) through the month (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR), 1 in Littlefield (Lamb) on 4/14/12 (AR), 1 in Dickens (Dickens) on 4/15/12 (BS), 2 on the Aday Ranch (Cochran) on 4/22/12 (SB), 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (CC, AnH), 1 female at the Erskine Marshway (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), 3 males at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), and 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, SC) - A NICE SHOWING FOR THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON. ORCHARD ORIOLE: 2 males below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (CC, AnH), 1 male at Upper MacKenzie Park (Lubbock) on 4/28/12 (AnH), 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (SC), and 1 male at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (AnH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR APRIL ARRIVAL. HOODED ORIOLE: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/23/12 (CR, SC) - ACCIDENTAL FOR THE REGION; OUR 8th RECORD. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: 1 below Lake Six (Lubbock) on 4/20/12 (CC) was the first of the season and they filled in slow thereafter - A TAD LATE AND A TAD LOW BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. PINE SISKIN: 1 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 4/20/12 (SC) and on 4/22/12 (CC) - A COUPLE OF NICE LATE REPORTS AFTER A VERY POOR WINTER FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION. LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/12/12 (CC), 1 at Cochran County Park (Cochran)on 4/22/12 (RT), 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 4/22/12 (CC, AnH), and 1-2 at Ransom Lake (Lubbock) on 4/29/12 (CC, SC, CR) - ARRIVED ON TIME, TRICKLING IN SLOWLY. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH:  Sixteen reports of 1-10 birds and two reports of 11-25 birds in (Lubbock) during the period (CC, SC, QE, AnH, CR, RT) - A BIT BETTER THAN AVERAGE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS AND NUMBERS; AT LEAST ONE SPECIES IS LINGERING IN THE REGION THIS SPRING. OBSERVERS: DA=Debbie Alberts, CA=Connie Andrus, MA=Marlin Andrus, SB=Susan Bergeson, C=Cameron Carver, JC=Jeremy Clark, SC=Steve Collins, MDL=Manuel De Leon, KD=Ken Dixon, QE=Quinn Emmering, GG=Greta Gorsuch, AnH=Anthony Hewetson, AvH=Aveline Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel, GJ=George Jury, CL=Chris Lee, JM=Jennifer Miller, CR=Clayton Rickett,  AR=Anona Roberts, CRo=Clarice Robertson, FR=Floyd Robertson, DS=David Shelburne, PS=Patrick Skinner, MS=Margaret Sloan, LS=Leanna Smith, BS=Brady Surber, RT=Ross Tsai, DU=Dixie Upton, SW=Steve Welborn, SWt=Sophie Wenthe, WWt=William Wenthe, BW=Bill Wright. Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson terrverts AT yahoo.com Bird Records Compiler, Llano Estacado Audubon Society www.llanoestacadoaudubon.org Subject: Yesterday's grounding From: Margaret Sloan <laumakani AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 14:01:06 -0500 I am still stunned by my good fortune yesterday. At the end of the day, I'd had 14 warbler species and a total of 35 migrant species. The yard total was 68 species. I spent most of the day going back and forth from the backyard to the front. The ash tree in the front was full of worms and there were warblers and vireos there all day. The orioles, most of the flycatchers and more warblers and vireos were in the back. My home is in a subdivision, but it backs up to Oyster Creek so that probably contributed to the great day. It ended on a high point with the sighting of a Mourning Warbler skulking in a flower bed. There are a few migrants hanging around, but most were gone this morning. Margaret Sloan Missouri City, TX Subject: Hudsonian Godwits in Nueces County From: lmj6464 AT aim.com Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 12:40:27 -0400 (EDT) Dear Texbirders, This morning Judith and I made our annual Botteri's Sparrow run down to Kleberg County (successful) and on the way back detoured onto the county roads northwest of Chapman Ranch. On Nueces Co Rd 14, just east of Co Rd 53 we found about 150 Hudsonian Godwits in a flooded field. There was a variety of other shorebirds including Pectoral Sandpiper. One other bird of note was a very late American Robin in Riviera Beach. Larry Jordan Corpus Christi Subject: Correction - Golden-winged Warbler at Mayfield Preserve and NW Austin From: Steven McDonald <skm0308 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 08:28:42 -0700 (PDT) Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org My apologies I meant Mayfield Nature Preserve. --- On Sun, 5/13/12, Steven McDonald wrote: > From: Steven McDonald > Subject: [texbirds] Golden-winged Warbler at Westcave Preserve and NW Austin > To: texbirds AT freelists.org > Date: Sunday, May 13, 2012, 10:25 AM > Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org > > Had a Golden-winged Warbler at the Westcave Preserve early > this morning at the Taylor Creek crossing and just had > another show up in the backyard of our NW Austin home.  > > > Steven McDonald > NW Austin Williamson Co. > Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at > http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds > > Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Golden-winged Warbler at Westcave Preserve and NW Austin From: Steven McDonald <skm0308 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 08:25:07 -0700 (PDT) Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Had a Golden-winged Warbler at the Westcave Preserve early this morning at the Taylor Creek crossing and just had another show up in the backyard of our NW Austin home. Steven McDonald NW Austin Williamson Co. Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Austin - Mayfield Nature Preserve From: Nathan McGowan <namcgowan AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 10:24:34 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org After arriving at Laguna Gloria this morning to find that the gates weren't to open until 11am, I trotted up the road to Mayfield Nature Preserve. While numbers were generally low, I was able to find Swainson's Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler. Nate McGowan AustinEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Bastrop County Along FM 969 Saturday 5-12-12 From: "W. A. Jaeger" <wajaeger AT austin.rr.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 10:20:37 -0500 Stan Wellso lead a group of birders from Bastrop County Audubon Society on a trek down FM 969. Here is the list of our observations: American Egret 1 Cattle Egret 15 Blue winged Teal 1 Black bellied Whistling Duck 6 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Crested Caracara 1 Black Vulture 8 Turkey Vulture 6 Killdeer 1 Mourning Dove 14 Rock Pigeon 1 White-winged Dove 12 Eurasian Collared-Dove 18 Inca Dove 3 Yellow billed Cuckoo 1 Ruby throated Hummingbird 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 12 Western Kingbird 5 Scissor tailed Flycatcher 35 Great crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 Northern Mockingbird 12 Loggerhead Shrike 1 American Crow 10 Cliff Swallow 45 Barn Swallow 5 Carolina Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 1 Yellow Warbler 15 Chestnut sided Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 European Starling 3 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Orchard Oriole 15 Baltimore Oriole 6 Red winged Blackbird 43 Great-tailed Grackle 86 House Sparrow 65 Savannah Sparrow 1 Lark Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 House Finch 10 Northern Cardinal 8 Dickcissel 30 Blue Grosbeak 1 Painted Bunting 1 Alan Jaeger Bastrop Subject: Highlights from Marathon, Brewster Co., May 12 From: Pamela Pipes <pspipes AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 09:58:05 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org We birded Marathon yesterday (May 12), including NE Marathon, Gage Gardens, Post Park, and the tank west of town (5 miles west, south side of highway 90). We recorded 46 species, including two highlights for us: a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (in a mulberry tree at the corner of 8th and Iron Mountain Road); a single male Bobolink (at the Gage Gardens). If any of you are interested in the complete list of sightings, please let me know - I will send it to you. Pamela and Chris Pipes Fort Davis, Texas Sent from my iPad Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: Yesterday (Satuday, 05/12/12) at SPI (Cameron Co.): Warbler wonderland! From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris AT mindspring.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 09:33:38 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org This report concerns almost exclusively the warblers seen yesterday (Saturday, 05/12/12) when we birded South Padre Island (SPI)--mainly the Convention Center, as Sheepshead was minimally productive. Yesterday provided the best day of warblering that we personally can remember, yielding 18 species: TENNESSEE (several), NASHVILLE (1), YELLOW (several), CHESTNUT-SIDED (several), MAGNOLIA (est. 8-10), CAPE MAY (1, male), BLACK-THROATED GREEN (several), YELLOW-THROATED (1), BAY-BREASTED (1, female), BLACKPOLL (1, male), BLACKBURNIAN (2, male), BLACK-AND-WHITE (2, at least), AMERICAN REDSTART (est. 10-12, but adult males a small minority), OVENBIRD (1), NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (1), MOURNING WARBLER (1, male), COMMON YELLOW THROAT (1 OR 2), and WILSON'S WARBLER (1 male, 1 female). That sometimes difficult-to-spot and -photograph skulker, the Mourning Warbler , always was seen near (or, occasionally, in) the water feature, often while it fed atop the railroad tie on the east side that feature, but it often crossed over to the west side, where it quickly became hard to see. Those patiently awaiting its reappearance near the water feature were very regularly rewarded. Most of its time, though, it seemed to be on the east side of the water feature, where it favored a very white, relatively slender rock or the aforementioned railroad tie--and surrounding dense understory or bushes, only rarely venturing higher, into the lower reaches of a tree. The brilliant and very photogenic Cape May male quickly became something of a favorite because of its inclination to forage on rather open, visible branches, sometimes out near the tip, and often staying for extended periods in the same general location--a great relief given the hyper-kinetic proclivity of most of the warbler species. Visitors should not ignore the trees at the rear of the Convention Center, which were favored locations for some species, especially the dazzling Blackburnians--two or three often in the same tree--and the Bay-breasted. It was a hot, humid day, and some of us came to feel a bit like we had been in a shower with clothes on, but such discomforts were easy to ignore in the presence of the brilliant, vivacious avian jewels that seemed everywhere yesterday. Several wished they had carried some water with them, for fear of missing some of these lovely creatures--or missing out on a closer or longer view of the fast-moving and very hungry birds--when they had to go back to a vehicle for water. In such heat, carrying some water is a good idea, both for not missing birds and for staying safe from heat exhaustion/prostration! Some who had been there on Friday reported that it had been substantially more birdy than yesterday, for the place had then been "dripping" with warblers. Vireos, for us, at least, were had to find yesterday, for we found only RED-EYED VIREO (2). Yesterday was a day that birders at the Convention Center surely will not forget! Wishing everyone the best of birding during this late-spring migration, Rex and Birgit Stanford McAllen, TX Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: SE Dallas County From: "Doug Hanna" <doug AT doughanna.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 00:55:45 -0500 Spent a couple hours this afternoon at the sod farms off of E Wolf Springs Rd in extreme SE Dallas county. After the rains we had yesterday, I thought I might find some of the great shorebirds being reported from places further south in the state. Not much variety, but a large flock of maybe 40 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (some doing wing flashing behavior and one in full display mode) were a treat along with the usual Killdeer. In the same general area were Eastern Bluebird, Painted Bunting, Cuckoo sp., Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler and many, many Dickcissel. ************************************************** Doug Hanna Dallas, TX Subject: Fwd: Pineywoods - Smith/Rusk County - Bobolinks From: LGPrice <lprice AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 00:40:20 -0500 It seems that freelists.org doesn't keep links in the archives or RSS feeds. I don't know if links in individual emails. At any rate, below is the full link to the checklist. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10727966 Begin forwarded message: > Ebird Checklist with photos and link to recording Linda Gail Price Longview, Texas Pineywoods NETFO Subject: Pineywoods - Smith/Rusk County - Bobolinks From: LGPrice <lprice AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 00:26:45 -0500 Ebird Checklist with photos and link to recording I found a small flock ( 15 birds ) of Bobolink on the Rusk/Smith County line just north of Overton. The flock was in a rural area in fields that held many Dickcissel and 30-40 Eastern Kingbirds. Linda Gail Price Longview, TX Pineywoods NETFO Subject: 15 Warbler Species at Laguna Gloria From: Sam Fason <scfason AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 22:16:58 -0500 I birded this morning and evening at Laguna Gloria, in the morning with the Wimberly Birding Group and Kenny Bader, this evening alone. Good to see quite a few other birders out and about at Laguna this morning! Highlights from the morning were at least one Blackburnian Warbler, singing Chestnut-sided Warbler, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Warbling and Blue-headed Vireo, and great looks at the Barred Owls ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7185545906/ ), Adults and fledgelings alike! (no Golden-winged Warbler, unfortunately) With the Wimberly group, i had 12 Warbler species (Canada and Black-throated Green were seen only by me, unfortunately), with everyone in the group seeing at least 8 species This evening, i went back hoping for some late afternoon arrivals, and i was not disappointed. Numbers were a bit down, but some new stuff was there, either that we overlooked this morning, or dropped in. The highlights were three new Warbler species for the day (Mourning, Ovenbird, and Northern Parula), plus a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. migrants from the day: Least Flycatchers Willow Flycatcher (calling) *Traill's *Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher (may or may not be migrants) Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7185541294/in/photostream/ Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7185541556/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/57637231 AT N04/7185541874/in/photostream/ Clay-colored Sparrow Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole overall a fantastic day! Sam Fason, Austin Subject: Incredible fallout in Houston From: John OBrien <j26.obrien AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 21:35:50 -0500 Heavy rains overnight brought an amazing fallout of migrants at our house this morning. When I stepped out of the house at 7:00 there were migrants flying everywhere, lots of calling and lots of singing. I spent as much time outside as compatible with getting family fed and watered. A partial list is below. For perspective, our house is in a pretty much urban environment with only 1/6 acre of land. This was by far the biggest grounding of migrants I have ever seen here. It bumped the yard list up to 155. Birds thinned out later in the morning; probably seeking out larger woodlots. Russ Pitman Park (about 3 miles away) should have been fantastic today and will probably be so tomorrow as well. John O'Brien Houston Harris, US-TX May 12, 2012 7:00 AM - 10:34 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Incredible fallout at the house. Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.4.4 54 species (+1 other taxa) Neotropic Cormorant 1 Great Egret 1 Green Heron 3 peep sp. 1 Largish and pale; could have been a white-rump Laughing Gull 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Only the second ever for the yard BELTED KINGFISHER 1 Flew over calling, heading north Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 calling; possibly more than one Least Flycatcher 1 Singing 'Che-bek' Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Singing Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 13 Many singing Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Cave Swallow 1 First for the yard Swainson's Thrush 2 One or more singing American Robin 7 All flying over in a flock Cedar Waxwing 17 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Tennessee Warbler 8 Nashville Warbler 1 American Redstart 17 Many singing Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 12 Many singing Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 12 (!!) One or two singing. Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 17 Many singing Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Singing at a distance Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Singing and calling Indigo Bunting 1 Dickcissel 3 Baltimore Oriole 1 Singing and calling This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: 5-12-12 Eleven Warbler sp @ Warbler Woods From: Warbler Woods <warblerwoods AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 21:34:34 -0500 5-12-12 Eleven Warbler sp AT Warbler Woods What a wonderful day! Slow, but at the end of the day, great birds! 67 species, 11 warbler sp, Verdin by Mike Crease, Eastern Kingbird by Sam Taylor, Bell's Vireo by Comal Birders and Hutton's Vireo for most. Comal Birders had 54 species. Thanks to all! Carlos early, 10 Comal Birders, Victor Emanuel and friends, Peter Barnes and Tyler Audubon, And a total of 35 visitors from all over! It is so much fun sharing our paradise with you! First visitors arrived before 7 am and last left at 730 pm. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! Susan Schaezler WarblerWoods.org 501(c)(3 ) Cibolo/Schertz Sent from my iPad Subject: More on the Quintana Connecticut Warbler From: Ron Weeks <ronweeks AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 19:20:01 -0700 (PDT) TexBirders, This morning I waited out some dawn thunderstorms in my car and was the first one in the Quintana sanctuary.  On my first loop, I heard a loud warbler song that immediately made me think Connecticut Warbler, a bird I have heard many times when I lived in Michigan.  The bird was singing almost continuously as the rain let up and the sun started to peak through.  I pulled out my iPhone and started recording the bird which was at times only about five to ten feet away.  The bird sang off and on until it was last heard at 1:30 PM allowing many to hear its song and compare it to recordings.  I know in one case later in the day after I had left, the bird reportedly answered a recording a couple of times. No one was able to see the bird all day which did not surprise me given the habits of the species - in migration most commonly on or within a foot or two of the ground.  Since it was singing from a densely foliated part of the sanctuary, there was almost no chance to get a glimpse of it on the ground.  In a couple of cases some thought they saw it fly across the trail, but no one got a decent look. Not much more to say other than it does fit the habits and migration window of the species.  And the recent weather patterns also have been bringing an eastern flavor to the migration.  Will be writing up what I heard and sending it along with the recordings to the TBRC.  We listened for it at dusk tonight with no luck.  Hopefully, it will be singing there again in the morning.  If you go and have luck with it, please try and obtain some additional documentation (further recordings or a photo). Good Birding, Ron Weeks Lake Jaackson Subject: 1999-2000 Great Kiskadee record at Hagerman N.W.R. From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 16:13:01 -0500 Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Please go to http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds and subscribe to the new server. Please start sending your posts to texbirds AT freelists.org Friends, In the fall and winter of 1999-2000 there was a Great Kiskadee reported at Hagerman N.W.R., in north Texas. At that time I was still writing the North American Birds report for Texas and in that capacity I was sent a few photos of that bird since it is a very unusual bird for north Texas. At that time I felt that the photos I had seen (made from a VHS tape) were suggestive of Social Flycatcher rather than a kiskadee, but several experts felt it was simply a kiskadee and as far as I can recall nothing ever became of the record expect for providing a first kiskadee record for that area of Texas. In the past day this record has been brought up again, and there are some photos taken by Matt White posted at: http://www.nctexasbirds.com/sightings-and-photos/great-kiskadee I believe these are the same shots I saw in 2000. In these images the back looks more olive-brown than rufous and the bird looks small-billed for a Great Kiskadee. Written descriptions, however, suggest the bird did indeed have rufous flight feathers. It would be very interesting to examine any other photos that might be available on this bird. Several people who have a great deal of tropical experience, including myself, just do not feel the bird in the photos looks right for a kiskadee. The film color may certainly be way off and the photo angle may create a shortened look to the bill, but it certainly looks very interesting at least. So, if anyone has some images of the Hagerman bird from 1999-2000 that might have been scanned, I'd certainly be very interested in seeing them. My email is . If a case can be made for some species other than a Great Kiskadee, the information will be submitted to the TBRC. Since this bird was at this location for several months, surely there are other pictures of it. Thank you. Greg Lasley Dripping Springs, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at http://www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Subject: 1999-2000 Great Kiskadee record at Hagerman N.W.R. From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 16:16:32 -0500 Friends, In the fall and winter of 1999-2000 there was a Great Kiskadee reported at Hagerman N.W.R., in north Texas. At that time I was still writing the North American Birds report for Texas and in that capacity I was sent a few photos of that bird since it is a very unusual bird for north Texas. At that time I felt that the photos I had seen (made from a VHS tape) were suggestive of Social Flycatcher rather than a kiskadee, but several experts felt it was simply a kiskadee and as far as I can recall nothing ever became of the record expect for providing a first kiskadee record for that area of Texas. In the past day this record has been brought up again, and there are some photos taken by Matt White posted at: http://www.nctexasbirds.com/sightings-and-photos/great-kiskadee I believe these are the same shots I saw in 2000. In these images the back looks more olive-brown than rufous and the bird looks small-billed for a Great Kiskadee. Written descriptions, however, suggest the bird did indeed have rufous flight feathers. It would be very interesting to examine any other photos that might be available on this bird. Several people who have a great deal of tropical experience, including myself, just do not feel the bird in the photos looks right for a kiskadee. The film color may certainly be way off and the photo angle may create a shortened look to the bill, but it certainly looks very interesting at least. So, if anyone has some images of the Hagerman bird from 1999-2000 that might have been scanned, I'd certainly be very interested in seeing them. My email is . If a case can be made for some species other than a Great Kiskadee, the information will be submitted to the TBRC. Since this bird was at this location for several months, surely there are other pictures of it. Thank you. Greg Lasley Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Sugar Land migrant grounding last night From: Mark Scheuerman <mark.scheuerman AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 18:36:32 -0500 Texbirders, Sugar Land also had tremendous numbers of migrants today. The Brazos River bottom behind my house was alive with warbler and other migrants songs and calls as well as the almost deafening chorus of happy frogs in the vernal oxbow behind my house. I tallied 85 species in my "patch" this am in about 3 hrs including my 2nd ever Black-billed Cuckoo and 3rd ever Olive-sided Flycatcher. 14 species of warblers. Only twice before in over 12 years here have there been so many birds! The list totals are conservative! See eBird list below. Mark Scheuerman Sugar Land, TX Riverpark (Sugar Land), Fort Bend, US-TX > May 12, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM > Protocol: Area > 165.0 ac > Comments: WOW! Major grounding last night. Birds everywhere this am. > Hundreds of warbs & other migrants. Over 6 inches of rain last night and NW > wind. Lots of wet migrants this am as the rain stopped about 6:00 am. > 85 species (+1 other taxa) > > Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 10 > Great Egret 2 > Snowy Egret 2 > Little Blue Heron 4 > Cattle Egret 8 > Green Heron 7 > Black-crowned Night-Heron 3 > Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2 > White Ibis 2 > Black Vulture 4 > Turkey Vulture 6 > Mississippi Kite 3 > Red-shouldered Hawk 2 > Killdeer 1 > Spotted Sandpiper 1 > Rock Pigeon 12 > White-winged Dove 15 > Mourning Dove 25 > Yellow-billed Cuckoo 7 > Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Cuckoo with all black bill, red orbital ring, > and no noticeable rufous in wings. > Common Nighthawk 4 > Chimney Swift 2 > Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 > Belted Kingfisher 1 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 > Downy Woodpecker 3 > Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 > Eastern Wood-Pewee 25 > Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 12 > Acadian Flycatcher 15 > Alder Flycatcher 2 > Willow Flycatcher 12 > Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 15 > Least Flycatcher 8 Major grounding of migrants today! > Great Crested Flycatcher 6 > Eastern Kingbird 6 > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1 > Loggerhead Shrike 2 > White-eyed Vireo 2 > Warbling Vireo 3 > Philadelphia Vireo 6 Major grounding of migrants today! > Red-eyed Vireo 20 > Blue Jay 5 > American Crow 3 > Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 > Purple Martin 12 > Barn Swallow 6 > Cliff Swallow 60 > Carolina Chickadee 12 > Tufted Titmouse 4 > Carolina Wren 10 > Veery 2 > Gray-cheeked Thrush 2 > Swainson's Thrush 15 Major grounding of migrants today! > Gray Catbird 3 > Northern Mockingbird 6 > European Starling 6 > Cedar Waxwing 3 > Ovenbird 1 > Northern Waterthrush 2 > Black-and-white Warbler 1 > Tennessee Warbler 25 > Common Yellowthroat 4 > American Redstart 20 > Magnolia Warbler 15 > Bay-breasted Warbler 6 > Blackburnian Warbler 35 Major grounding of migrants today! > Yellow Warbler 25 > Chestnut-sided Warbler 30 Major grounding of migrants today! > Black-throated Green Warbler 1 > Canada Warbler 15 > Yellow-breasted Chat 1 > Summer Tanager 1 > Scarlet Tanager 2 > Northern Cardinal 18 > Indigo Bunting 30 > Painted Bunting 3 > Dickcissel 3 > Red-winged Blackbird 10 > Common Grackle 15 > Great-tailed Grackle 6 > Brown-headed Cowbird 6 > Orchard Oriole 6 > Baltimore Oriole 12 Major grounding of migrants today! > House Finch 5 > House Sparrow 3 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) > Subject: rookery on Dairy Ashford - Houston From: Kiki Hummel <khummel7 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 10:36:54 -0500 There is a huge rookery on the west side of Dairy Ashford about a block or so south of the Westpark Tollroad in a very commerical area. You can park across the street in the stadium parking lot to the high school to view it. All I could really see this morning were cattle egrets and white ibis but I've seen pictures of spoonbills nesting there as well. -- Kiki Hummel khummel7 AT gmail.com