By Peter Rueegg
1. Introduction
Texas is well known for its wealth of birds. Well over 600 species have been recorded, more than in any other state of the Union. Texas is famous for its fallouts of neotropical migrants in spring, huge concentrations of southbound raptors in autumn as well as a wide array of tropical species. The latter reach their northernmost breeding sites in Texas (eg. Green Jay, Hook-billed Kite). Good birding infrastructure, easy travelling and a lot of information available to birders, makes Texas a convenient and rewarding birding destination.
This trip was self-conducted. My only previous experience with nearctic birds came from a non-birding trip to British Columbia, Canada in 1997. For my travel mate, Hannes Klopfenstein (HK), this was the first visit to North America.
The trip was prepared by studying reports from other birders, notable A.J. Culshaw (1993) and Dirk de Moes (1987). I also bought the Lane Guide for the Lower Rio Grande Valley (1999) and the Falcon Guide (1998) in advance through www.amazon.com. Also the internet proved to be a valuable source of information. The car from Alamo and the KLM-flight was booked through a travel agency in Switzerland. All in all, I spent c. 3100 Swiss francs on the trip (books and films included).
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to my wife Martina particularly for taking care of the two children that were very demanding at the time. I can't take that for granted. I would also like to thank Hannes Klopfenstein for his great companionship. Thanks to Richard E. Gibbons (USA) for showing us around Corpus Christi, Andrew J. Culshaw (UK) for his support when I was preparing the trip. Many thanks to all the people we met en route who gave us important hints or pointed out birds we would not have found without their help.
Abbrevations used in text and the species list
oh. = over head, birds just passing by
h. = heard only
1,2 = 1 male + 2 females
m.= male
f. = female
SP = State Park
CP = County Park
NWR = National Wildlife Refuge
2. Daily accounts
8.4. KLM-Flight from Zurich - Amsterdam - Houston. We arrived in Houston in the early afternoon and picked up our car from Alamo. Drove to Katy Farmlands via Hwy 8 and Clay Road (take exit «Clay Road»), but took the wrong intersection and went south instead on Hwy 6. The instructions given in the Falcon Guide are useless to find your way to the best spots of this vast farmlands. We tried our best in the fading evening light. We birded parts of the Addicks Reservoir. Highlights: (anything was good. It was our first day in the States): Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Wood Duck, Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Swainson's Hawk (1), Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper (1), Carolina Chickadee.
We went back north and continued west on Clay Road which becomes FM 529 once you leave Houston. We birded until dusk along FM529 towards Sealy trough the southern portion of the Katy Farmlands. Birds: Pied-billed Grebe (50), Black-bellied Whistling Duck (2), Blue-winged Teal (30), Eastern Meadowlark, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike. We stayed at Ranch Motel near Sealy along I-10 (34 U$).
9.4. We spent the whole morning at Stephen Austin State Park where we birded around the entrance and along Willow trail which starts at the camp site. Early morning was rather productive, but after 10 am all birds seemed to have vanished. The weather had turned uncomfortably hot and there were strong southerly winds. Highlights: Mississippi Kite (25), Northern Caracara (1 on the way to the SP), Great Horned Owl (1 seen perfectly), Downy (1), Pileated (1) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (ca. 10), House Wren (1), Carolina Wren (<10), Northern Parula (<10), Black-throated Green Warbler (1), Mourning Warbler (1), White-throated Sparrow (3).
In the afternoon we headed south to the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. Before we reached the NWR, we stopped along FM 3013 to check out some partly flooded ricefields for shorebirds: both Yellowlegs, Dowitcher sp., Upland Sandpiper (8), Pectoral Sandpiper (10). At Attwater, we did the short auto loop only. This leads through wet prairies and along some rather large ponds with plenty of waterfowl. We birded till we run out of day light. Highlights: Neotropic Cormorant (20), Anhinga (2), White-faced Ibis (hundreds flying by at some distance), Mottled Duck (2), Fulvous Whistling Duck (70), Cinnamon Teal (3,0), White-tailed Hawk (1), Bobwhite (1,1), White-crowned Sparrow (8), Swamp Sparrow (2).
Drove to El Campo on Hwy 71 where we got to see our only living Nine-banded Armadillo crossing the road in a hurry (it sure knew why).
10.4. We left El Campo before sunrise in direction of Lake Texana on US Hwy 59, stopping for the first time at the Lake Texana boat ramp (CTC019) in the northern part of this huge artificial lake. We encountered very few birds: Anhinga (5), Caspian Tern (2), Belted Kingfisher (1), Marsh Wren (1h), Northern Parula (4h). After shopping in the town of Edna (with first Cedar Waxwing (70)) continued towards the entrance of Lake Texana SP off State Hwy 111 (Upland Sands few miles before turnoff in a field. The park was very quiet. It was hot and windy. We walked one of the trails were only few birds were seen. The highlight was a Copperhead, a venomous snake, a confinding Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a dead tree 50 m from the park road, the only Blue-headed Vireo and a flock of 15 American White Pelicans.
After lunch we went on to Palmetto Bend Dam (CTC022) via FM 1593 and FM 3131 (see Wauer & Elwonger for instructions), stopping at a designated parking lot from where a nest of Bald Eagle can be viewed. Within five minutes we got to see one adult bird landing in the nearby forest. In the nest there must have been two fledglings, but they were not clearly visible as the light was too bad.
We drove on without stopping to Goose Island SP (CTC048), where we pitched our tent for two nights. We did some birding in this park along the shoreline and along the loop drive on Park Rd 13. Highlights: Roseate Spoonbill (1), Redhead (1 m.), Red-breasted Merganser (1,1), terns and shorebirds, Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1). We went to Fulton for diner, but stopped after Copano Bay bridge (CTC049) to check some shorebirds on the left side of the road (American Oystercatcher).
11.4. Long before dawn we drove to a (former?) Prairie Chicken leck site along Hwy 35 southwest of Tivoli, but the wind was too strong. The only highlight was a flock of 70 Franklin's Gull migrating north. After searching for about one hour, we headed out to Aransas NWR. We were lucky to bump into a Danish birder who was arranging a boat trip to the Whooping Cranes. He also seemed happy to have met us, because he had found somebody to share the 150 U$ for the trip.
After 1 1/2 hours of fruitless birding at Aransas on the Rail Trail we raced back to Goose Island SP, where Captain Jim Friebele was already waiting at the pier with his small fishing boat. He did an excellent job. After about one hour of speeding along the coastline of the Aransas NWR, we got to see our first Whooper with many more to follow some at very close range! We also went to a small island, loaded with herons and spoonbills, nesting in sun flowers. This trip was a highlight of the whole trip and well worth the 50 bucks spent per person. Highlights: Whooping Crane (17), Reddish Egret (3, one white morph), Roseate Spoonbill (25), Wilson's Plover (5), American Avocet (2), Franklin's Gull (4), Belted Kingfisher (1), Seaside Sparrow (3, excellent views of this skulker); Bottle-nosed Dolphin (4, very close). On our way back, cold air hit the coast, blowing away the unbearable heat. In a constant drizzle, we birded the Fulton area according to the Falcon Guide in the afternoon with moderate success. Highlights: Redhead (1 m.), Reddish Egret (2), Roseate Spoonbill (1), Mississippi Kite (150), Franklin's Gull (10), Eastern Kingbird (1). We returned to the same restaurant as the night before and had a 12 oz. steak. Back at the camp site we heard our first Pauraque.
12.4. It was hot again. We returned to Aransas NWR. This was one of the most disappointing and frustrating birding experience in my entire life! There were hardly any birds to be found but the usual suspects. At 10 am everything was dead calm, except for the myriads of moskitos. We drove to the tower and walked a trail through a nearby oak forest. This forest was completely void of birds! After that (devoid of two litres of blood) we jumped into the car to flee the moscitos and left the area as fast as we could towards Corpus Christi. We stopped several times along the road (US Hwy 35, Port Aransas, Mustang Island SP) before we met a couple who told us that in Blucher Park (CTC071) downtown Corpus Christi, some warblers had been seen earlier that day. So we decided to give it a try. In the fading evening light we managed to see Common Yellowthroat (1,1), Northern Waterthrush (1), a stunning male Painted Bunting and Chuck-wills-Widow (1) flying around a street light. Here we met Richard Gibbons, a keen birder working for C.C. Audubon Society. He took us for a ride in his car to Pollywog Pond (CTC077) outside C.C. This is a hangout for the Barred Owl and Richard attracted it by imitating its call. We went back and after having a cup of tea in a kind of run down bar, we checked in at the Days Inn Motel northeast of downtown C.C. along State Hwy 181.
13.4. At daybreak Richard came to see us at the motel. He showed us around the whole day. We did the whole Corpus Christi Bay loop visiting many excellent bird places. In a cool drizzle we visited Indian Point (CTC 073) first. Here we found our first twitchable American Avocet (23) and Marbled Godwit (10). We continued to Sunset Lake near Portland, maybe 3 miles from the last stop: Snowy and Piping Plover (2) as well as 200 Black Skimmers were the highlights. Live Oak Park (CTC 055) was our next stop, but there were no warblers in the trees despite the bad weather. On a lake nearby, we saw Pied-billed Grebe (2), Fulvous Whistling Duck (10), Ruddy Duck (0,1).
We continued along Hwy 361, crossed on the ferry (free of charges) into Port Aransas. Our next target was Port Aransas Birding Center (CTC057). This is a fine place, one of the must sees in the C.C. area: We had excellent looks at a Sora and a Least Bittern. Other goodies: Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, shorebirds. After lunch in an Mexican restaurant at Port Aransas, we went for a walk on the slippery Port Aransas Jetty. Apart for some nice kettles of Brown Pelicans and terns on the beach, there were not too many birds, so we left and stopped at Port Aransas Wetland Park (CTC059). This was one of the finest shorebird spots along the route. The shallow pond was teeming with shorebirds, which were easily seen from an observation deck. Highlights: Marbled Godwit, American Golden Plover (1), Stilt Sandpiper (30). Richard showed us a small wood near Port Aransas, which had Yellow-breasted Chat (1 h) and Mourning Warbler (1). A quick stop at Mustang Island airfield produced a pair of Horned Lark. As we sped along Mustang Island, we spotted the only Long-billed Curlew of the trip from the car at Packery Channel (CTC062).
We turned right into Hwy 358, crossed Packery Channel and followed Richard into to the suburbs of C.C. In a garden Richard showed us a pair of Eastern Blue Birds, nesting in a box. In the late afternoon we proceeded south to Kingsville (with more American Golden Plovers en route) and further on Hwy. 77 to Sarita. The famous rest stop was under construction so it was not accessible for birding. Instead, Richard guided us to the village itself. Highlights included: Hooded Oriole (5), Great Kiskadee (1), Couch's Kingbird (1), Lesser Goldfinch (1 p), Lesser Nighthawk (1), Eastern Bluebird (2 ad, 3 juv.), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1m), Cactus Wren (1 singing on a TV antenna in the middle of the village). A nearby pond that used to yield Yellow-crowned Night Heron wasn't productive except for some cute Killdeer fledlings. After dark, we headed to Harlingen, where we spent the night in the «Save Inn» motel (30 U$ per night and person).
14.4. First thing in the morning we visited Hugh Ramsey Park on the outskirts of Harlingen (see Lane Guide for instructions). The park was still closed, so we took only a short stroll. This park gave us the first impression of mesquite brushland. Only few birds were present: Bewick's Wren (1), Olive Sparrow (1), Red-crowned Parrot (1 oh). So we drove quickly to Laguna Atascosa NWR as it already started getting hot by 8 am! Unfortunately we had to make a detour as the direct way was blocked by road work. We didn't arrive until 9.30 am because we stopped several times to watch some farmland birds like our first Lark Sparrow, Couch's Kingbird, more Olive Sparrows and Common Ground Dove. Near the entrance we saw a Coyote lying in the morning sun. First Chachalacas were heard in dense bush. Laguna Atascosa was very disappointing. It was unbearably hot and all the water holes were dry, including the laguna. We did the Kiskadee Trail first, than we went to the Osprey Outlook, and finally we managed to do the 16-miles loop drive in the search of Aplamado Falcon, which were seen the day before. Sadly, we were not lucky enough to spot any, so we went back to the HQ to bird the Kiskadee Trail in the evening again, which was much better than in the morning. Nevertheless it turned out to be a waste of time, as there were no birds, we didn't see earlier or later during this trip. Highlights: White-tailed Kite (2), Harris' Hawk (1), Plain Chachalaca (1h + 1), Common Ground-Dove (<20), Greater Roadrunner (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird (1 fem.), Buff-bellied Hummingbird (1), Golden-fronted Woodpecker (<10), Ladder-backed W. (1), Couch's Kingbird (2), Greater Kiskadee (2), Green Jay (<10), Horned Lark (1 p.), Verdin (1), Bewick's Wren (1), Long-billed Thrasher (3).
Drove back to Harlingen after sunset.
15.4. Again, long before sunrise we left the motel and drove to Sabal Palms Sanctuary. It got hot (90°F = 32°C) and windy, and very soon all bird activity stopped. Highlights: Least Grebe (15), White-tailed Kite (1), Plain Chachalaca (5), Northern Bobwhite (4), Buff-bellied Hummingbird (3), Brown-crested Flycatcher (1), Great Kiskadee (1), Green Jay (<10), Black-headed Grosbeak (1 m.), Lincoln's Sparrow (1), Hooded Oriole (1 f.), Altamira Oriole (1 at nest). So we were through it quickly and went on to the NOAA Wheater Radar (directions see Lane guide) where we easily spotted a pair of Tamaulipas Crows nesting under the soccer ball shaped radar dish. We went on for some parrot prowl in Brownsville. First we drove to Fort Brown. Red-crowned Parrot was nesting there in tree holes. Than we headed out to the Elk's Lodge where Green Parakeets were easily found. After that we drove west on Hwy 281 in direction of McAllen but did the Cannon Rd according to the GTCBT-map (LTC050) site. This place is famous for Tropical Kingbirds. After some searching and listening to the calls we eventually came down with a 100-percent bird. Other goodies: Harris' Hawk and Altamira Oriole. Last stop was Llano Grande Lake near Weslaco (after Lane Guide). This is a superb oxbow lake, with plenty of mudbanks. There were loads of shorebirds, pelicans and waders. Bird of the day was a male Wilson's Phalarope. This place is highly recommandable. After this we drove straight to Bentsen, and with Easter holiday now over the whole place was a big mess. Our reservation, done from Switzerland by e-mail turned out to be worthless. We didn't even have to show our reservation number.
16.4. The whole day was spent at Bentsen Rio Grande SP, known simply as Bentsen. Same story as yesterday: hot, windy, no birds. Best was early morning: We birded here from 7.15 till 10.00 am: Clay-colored Robin presented itself very well, as was Altamira Oriole building a nest, and of course many noisy Plain Chachalacas. After ten o'clock we just sat around, chatted with some American birders and went to Mission to buy new hiking boots for Hannes. We were back at Bentsen just in time for a very quick glance at two Northern Beardless Tyrannulets and an extraordinary evening show of raptors that seemed to drop out of the sky: hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks, Mississippi Kites (30), White-tailed Kite (1), Harris' Hawk (1) and Swainson's Hawk (10) came in to roost for the night. After that we waited for the Elf Owl to appear at the entrance of ist nesting hole in a dead tree along the loop drive. And it did! We started to drive around to catch up with some nightjars, so we drove the outer loop three times: Lesser Nighthawk, Pauraque, Chuck-wills-widow (only heard) and Whip-poor-will (1, photographic evidence) were seen sitting on the road.
17.4.We spent the whole day at Santa Ana NWR. We had a navigation problem to find the place straight away, but we still managed to be among the first birders to enter the reserve. We birded the Willow Lake first (American Wigeon), went on through mesquite bushland towards Pintail Lake, were we stayed till early afternoon. Again it was unbearably hot and bird activity was slow after 10 am The lakes were excellent with plenty of birds, but the Chaparral habitat was empty as ever. Around the lake we found Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Sora, Yellow-crowned Night Heron on a nest with a chick. Highlight was a flock of up to 1000 American White Pelicans soaring high in the sky. On our way back we made a detour to the bank of the Rio Grande without any notable birds. On our way back to the visitors center, nothing happened except for a Ringed Kingfisher that we flushed from a canal near the center. In the afternoon we birded again at Willow Lake before we headed out to Cattail Lake where a Masked Duck had been seen the day before. A thunderstorm was rolling in, and in cold wind we searched the pond for about half an hour without success. We left at 6 pm walked to Pintail Lake, flushed a Chuck-wills Widow from a woodland edge, and a Merlin was hunting swallows. At Pintail Lake many herons came in to roost. A Least Bittern flew over a pond, and a Purple Gallinule crossed the open water and landed into the reeds. At dusk we went back and bumped into a group of illegal immigrants from Mexico. I still don't know who was more shocked about this unexpected encounter...
18.4. First rain of our trip! The temperature dropped by 30° F. We even contemplated to go to the coast, but we decided to stay and visited nearby Anzalduas County Park from 9 am until 11 am We jumped out of the car, got 2 Blackburnian and 1 Black-throated Green Warbler in a tree. That was about all. After two hours of birding, we were rewarded with a Warbling Vireo. Other good birds: Altamira Oriole (1), Cedar Waxwing (40), Indigo and Painted Bunting (1 m.). We headed back to Bentsen to take down the tent, having lunch at the Eagle Pond. Just in time to see the eartufts of an Eastern Screech Owl, that was breeding in the nesting box by the pond. A bird wave produced Nashville, Tennessee, Black-and-White, Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warbler as well as the first Red-eyed Vireo of the trip. As the temperature increased, raptors started to leave their roosting sites. We were lucky enough to see a pair of the odd Hook-billed Kite and a kettle of 150 Mississippi Kites. After lunch we proceeded towards Falcon SP, not without making a dash to the so called Sparrow alley north of La Joya (for instructions see Lane Guide). This was not too bad: Pyrrhuloxia (1 p.), Vesper Sparrow, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin and Bullock's Oriole were observed. We checked in at Falcon SP, pitched the tent and went out to Saliñeno were we birded at the boat ramp until dusk. First Red-billed Pigeons (2) were easily spotted as were 2 Muscovy Ducks, but both species were rather far away. On our way back we had splendid views of a couple of Lesser Nighthawks that were hunting along the roadside. When we had our standard dinner at Falcon SP, a Great Horned Owl started to hoot just 100 meters away from the campground. It flew into a dead tree 50 meters away from us. Undoubtly one of the highlights of the day.
19.4. We made a dash to Chapeño, where Brown Jays were said to come to a feeder. And so they were! We waited for about 5 minutes and saw 3 of this elusive birds. Directions as in Lane Guide. After that we went to the area below Falcon Dam were a Muscovy Duck was sitting right on the wall by the parking lot! We birded the mesquite shrub and riparian forests downstreams as far as the old Girls Scout Campground. Here we found an Eastern Screech-Owl, Audubon's Oriole. Other goodies: Plain Chachalaca (c. 10), Red-billed Pigeon (4) at the camp, Green Kingfisher (1) at the shoreline (on mexican side), Nashville, Black-and-White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow (1), Red-eyed Vireo (1), Eastern Wood-Pewee (1).
We went back to the parking lot for lunch in a blistering heat though the sun was not shinging. Green Kingfisher showed up on the spillway and a Least Bittern crossed the Rio Grande. After an short excursion to the middle of the Falcon dam (American White Pelican (1), Osprey (2), Crested Caracara (2)), we went back to Falcon SP packed and left for good. In the mid-afternoon heat we tried Zapata city park for White-collared Seedeater, but no luck. After that, we drove on towards the Hill Country. In Catarina we decided to spend the night at Chaparral Wildlife Management Area. Here, we found the first stunning male of Vermillion Flycatcher. We pitched our tent at the official campsite and heard another Great Horned Owl in the vanishing evening light. Unfortunately we had to change the site, as a strong wind blew sand into the tent. At 10.30 pm, we finally got to rest.
20.4. At daybreak we were up again, doing the auto tour around the Chaparral WMA. It was not very productive. Highlights: White-tailed Kite (2), Harris's Hawk (2), Greater Roadrunner (1), Vermillion Flycatcher (2 m.), Painted Bunting (c. 30!), Verdin (1), Bewick's Wren (c. 10), Cactus Wren (2 ad.+3 juv.), Black-throated Sparrow (1), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (1), Pyrrhuloxia (1 m.), Bullock's Oriole (1).
We decided to leave as soon as possible and after 10.30 am, we drove to Garner SP. We had lunch at the Pecan Grove campsite (Eastern Phoebe (2), Summer Tanager (1 m.), House Finch) and left again for Neal's Lodge, where a Black-capped Vireo was said to have his territory behind cabin 61. The crowd was there but for the bird we had to wait for two hours. It showed itself for two seconds and was gone. Later, it was singing from dense cover nearby. Other good birds included: Zone-tailed Hawk (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird (3), Orange-crowned Warbler (2), Yellow-breasted Chat (1), Lesser Goldfinch (1), Olive Sparrow (1), Hooded Oriole (1 p.).
After this short encounter we returned to the car (Black Phoebe along Frio River) and drove down Hwy 127 towards the gate from where the tour to Frio Bat Cave starts. Along the road we saw Eastern Bluebird (2) and Grasshopper Sparrow (2). After 6 pm the convoy started to the Frio Bat Cave. At dusk, millions of Mexican Freetail Bats appear from this cave. This was one of the most impressive sights I had in my whole life, when all those little creatures came out. It looked like hell was raising. The sound from the flapping wings was undescribable. Along the way, we recorded Great Horned Owl (1 h.), Cave Swallow (20), Rock Wren (1 p.), Canyon Wren (1 h.). After dark we went back and heard Chuck-will's Widow at the entrance gate.
21.4. We drove to Lost Maples SP. Clouds covered the sky, it was windy and rather cool. Right by the parking lot, we saw a Canyon Wren singing from the roof of a hut. We birded slowly along East Ridge Trail to the ponds. Finally we found our first Golden-cheeked Warbler, a male singing atop of a juniper bush. But it was rather distant. Other good birds: Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Townsend's Solitaire (1), Yellow-breasted Vireo, Rufous-crowned Sparrow (1 at parking lot), Chipping Sparrow. After lunch we walked all over the ridge along East Trail which is a very beautiful walk, but not very productive for birds. The only Field Sparrow of the trip was heard and seen. Birding was better in the valley along the small river. We found: Yellow-rumped Warbler, and at the Maples Trail, a pair of Zone-tailed Hawk. Scott's Oriole was shown to us by two American birders. The bird was singing on a distant slope and finally flew overhead. At the end we tried the 100-percent site of Golden-cheeked Warbler near the parking lot, and after 10 minutes of waiting we succeeded in finding a brilliant male at close range and the female that was sitting on the nest. The nest was placed on a branch of a maple overhanging the trail. We went back via Utopia and FM 1050 where we were told of a Canyon Towhee site. We searched for an hour, but we couldn't find the birds. Instead another Wild Turkey came walking down a slope. Back in Leakey we ate at a «Mexican» restaurant (Mama Chole's). The food was terrible and thought me the Mexican quickstep.
22.4. We birded Frio River at Garner SP. It was still rather cool and pleasant. We were absolutely surprised to find a pair of Ringed Kingfishers up here. Other goodies included: Bushtit (1), Yellow-throated Warbler (2), Western Scrub-Jay (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We found another Golden-cheeked Warbler just near the road, not indicated to us by the park staff.
After 11 am we left and stopped again at FM 1050 (not only for birding, as the Mexican food still tried to leave my body as fast as possible), where we found to our surprise a Black-capped Vireo just by the road. This bird presented itself well, but only for brief moments. This site was probably not known to other birders. Access was easy. The rest of the day was spent driving back to Houston. We ended up in Conroe north of Houston, where we spent the night in another Save-Inn motel.
23.4. We made an early start to nearby W.G. Jones State Forest. First of all we visited a colony near Peoples Road. A Canadian birder from B.C. was there too. Despite careful listening and watching, we couldn't see any woodpecker. We left the area at 9.00 am and reported to the HQ, now open. Staff was very helpful showing us a way to an active colony which we spotted from the forest trail. Trees were marked with a green marker. Anyhow, active nest sites can't be missed as the trunk around a nesting hole is covered with sap. Very easily we spotted several Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Other highlights: Wood Duck (1 m.), American Kestrel (3), Red-headed Woodpecker (4), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Red-bellied Woodpecker (<4), Blue-winged Warbler (1), Hooded Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (common), Yellow-breasted Chat (2), and with much effort Brown-headed Nuthatch (2). After the big success with the woodpeckers, we went for brunch to a picnic site at Jones Road, where the only notable bird was a very confinding Yellow-throated Vireo.
Around noon we left the area in direction of High Island, but we made a detour over Liberty, because the Canadian birder told us a site for Swallow-tailed Kite. This place is the Walmart parking lot in Liberty, if you don't find Walmart, ask somebody for directions. Unfortunately, nobody had seen the birds this year at all, and we failed as well. Other interesting finds: Mississippi Kite (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (2), Cooper's Hawk (1).
We proceeded towards High Island, but had to stop north of Winnie along FM 1406, where some interesting looking ricefields were just about to be flooded. There were a lot of waders, best of all were 7 Buff-breasted Sandpipers. First Blue Grosbeaks dived into some bushes. With strong backlight, it was not worth looking for more, so we went on to Winnie, where we checked in at the Riceland Motel (30$/night), a somewhat run down place but idealy situated 20 miles north of High Island and Anahuac NWR.
In a rush, we drove to High Island, Smith Oaks Sanctuary where we arrived at about 5 pm We staied until sundown. There were plenty of good and colourful birds, bushes and trees had come alive with neotropical migrants. This was quite a change to what we experienced at the beginning of our trip. With one sweep of the telescope it was possible to see Scarlet and Summer Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Painted and Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Catbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. In the canopy there were different warblers, such as Chestnut-sided, Magnolia and Blackburnian. At sunset, 5 Roseate Spoonbills flew by. Have you ever seen more colourful birds at once? But there was still more to come. In the understorey, Kentucky Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush put in an appearance. Several Wood Thrushes and a Swainson's Thrsuh was flushed. As the sky grew darker, Common Nighthawks started the night shift. Incredible. But...
24.4. ..there was still more to come. During the night a cold front moved in. It rained hard for several hours, and stopped right in the morning. That was it! We rushed with 80 mph to High Island, Boy Scouts Wood. Three American Redstarts greeted us, as we left the car. The wood was alive with birds - and birders! First we thought that there were more birders than birds. But we were wrong. It was incredible. We stayed from 7.30 am till 12.00 am and we saw the following species: Black-billed Cuckoo, Ovenbird, Swainson's, Worm-eating, Cerulean, Canada, Hooded, Kentucky, Wilson's, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Protonothary, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, Veery, Wood Thrush, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, etc.
At lunchtime we moved southwest on TX 87 to Yacht Basin Rd. In the nearby field, we found five stunning Bobolink males dozens of Indogo Buntings and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in a bush. In a ditch further on, two birders had stalked a Clapper Rail, which only showed briefly. Thank god for their ID skills. After that short intermezzo we went back to Boy Scouts Wood, made a short round and proceeded to Smith Oaks Sanctuary. Near the entrance we birded with some English birders with a good sense of humour and we added two warbler species to the total tally of 24 species in one day: Yellow-rumped Warbler (1 fem.) and Yellow Warbler (1 m.). We spent the rest of the day at Smith Oaks but couldn't add anything to the daylist. Tired but very happy we returned to the scruffy Riceland Motel in Winnie.
25.4. We headed out to Anahuac NWR first thing in the morning. The wheater was fine again: not too windy, but rather hot. First stop was at the East Bayou Bay, some overgrown ricefields, where not much could be seen. Second stop was at the HQ of the reserve, where we had a badly needed coffee before we went out to the Moist Soil Unit and later to Shoveler Pond. Soon it got too hot, not many birds were around, but loads of Gators. Best spottings: Least Bittern (c. 10), Purple Gallinule (1), Roseate Spoonbill (1), Fulvous Whistling Duck (7), Tree Swallow (40), Marsh Wren (1 h), Yellow Warbler (2 m.), Northern Waterthrush (1), Scarlet Tanager (1 m.), Summer Tanager (4), Dickcissel (3), Orchard Oriole (1 m.). Anahuac was the only place were we saw Boat-tailed Grackle.
We went back to FM 1406 site, but in full afternoon sun, shorebirds were hard to detect, as many were just sitting flat on their bellies and didn't move. Nevertheless, we added White-rumped Sandpiper (7) to our list and got a record count for Buff-breasted Sandpiper (25).
We shot to Boy Scouts Wood, rushed through it and got four Catharus thrushes in just 30 minutes (Wood, Swainson's, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery, one was very confinding). There were still many warblers, but no more new species.
The rest of the day was spent at Anahuac NWR, this time at the southern part. In beautiful evening light we had a Merlin catching and eating a Pewee. More highlights: Sedge Wren and a splendid American Bittern that was just about to cross the road, but flew of when we got to close (less than 10 meters). The search for more rails was fruitless. In complete darkness we drove back to Winnie.
26.4. This was our shorebird day. We started early at FM 1406 site, with the usual suspects but in good numbers with 24 American Golden Plovers as a bonus, though the much wanted Baird's Sandpiper was missing. After two hours of intense watching we went to Anahuac NWR. The East Bayou Bay was just about being ploughed for the waders- too late for us, as we didn't have time to return to this site. We continued to the main refuge. With his unbeatable patience, Hannes found 2 Hudsonian Godwits in the Moist Soil Unit (I had already given up). After lunch at the Willows (Orchard Oriole), we went to Boy Scouts Wood, just in case. But nothing new had turned up, so we decided to drive to Bolivar Flats, where we arrived in the middle of the afternoon. This place was alive with waders and shorebirds, Pelicans, terns, gulls, and was likely one of the highlights of the whole trip. Many shorebirds gave very close looks, especially the stints. Absolutely superb. Highlights: Brown Pelican (110), Reddish Egret (3), Roseate Spoonbill (3), Wilson's Plover (2), Snowy Plover (1), Piping Plover (30!), American Oystercatcher (1), American Avocet (c. 500!), Marbled Godwit (20), White-rumped Sandpiper (1), Knot (15), Glaucous Gull (1 1st su), Black Tern (1), Black Skimmer (3), Horned Lark (2), Nelson's Saltmarsh Sparrow (1). Very satisfied, we drove back to Winnie, having seen a total of 31 shorebird species in a single day.
27.4. We left Winnie very early for the Big Thicket National Preserve. First of all, we went to the Information Center along FM 420, but as it was still closed, we drove on to Gore Store Road. Soon we found a plantation of small pines, where we got excellent views of a singing Prairie Warbler. We proceeded east on Gore Store Road and were looking for a spot which has been described as Bachmann's Sparrow hang out in the Lane Guide. The habitat has been destroyed recently, so this is not longer a good site for this species. Frustrated, we drove back to the information center at the Turkey Creek Unit, where we got some general information about the Big Thicket. Here, we went for a stroll on Kirby Nature Trail. This was very interesting because of the forest though there weren't any new species. HIghlights: Bay-breasted, Protonothary, Yellow-throated Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Gnatcatcher.
After that we drove to nearby Hickory Creek Unit, Sundew Trail, famous for its pitcher plants. The only part where those special plants grow was fenced off, so we didn't dare to cross the fence and took a long detour instead without seeing a single pitcher plant. A local botanist was kind enough to show us the right place. He just crept underneath the fence that kept us off!
As we approached Beaumont on our way back, we reconsidered to search for the Fish Crows. It was now rush hour, and we were caught in a terrible traffic jam. We turned to the right on to the FM 105 towards Sour Lake, and went straight to Liberty, giving the Fish Crow a miss. At Liberty, this was our last chance to see Swallow-tailed Kite, but the birds were still not present. Very disappointed, we drove to Dayton, stopped after Trinity River, and entered private property where Swallow-tailed Kite are also regularly seen. There was nothing but a Roseate Spoonbill and some herons. After 10 minutes, a "friendly" guy threw us out. He was talking something about putting our ass to jail. Is that normal? In Texas, it is. We stayed at Dayton for our last night.
28.4. The last morning of birding was spent at Jesse H. Jones County Park, a place notably good for Swainson's Warbler (see Lane Guide for instructions). It did not open until 8 am, so we had breakfast in the neighborhood, were we admired the neat lawns that were as sterile as can be. At the park, most ponds had shrunk to mere puddles and the habitat was not suitable anymore for Swainson's. So we birded very uninspired until 11 am studying trees and shrubs rather than the few birds: Highlights: Peregrine (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Acadian Flycatcher (3), Blue Jay (1), Wood Thrush (2), Gray-cheeked Thrush (1), Northern Parula (1 m.), Prothonotary Warbler (1), Hooded Warbler (1h), Summer Tanager (1,1).
After 11 am we ate all of the food that was left, packed our stuff and went to Alamo to return the car. We went to the airport and left Houston after 3 pm.towards....
29.4. Amsterdam Schiphol where we arrived Sunday morning. Boarded our connecting flight to Zurich and finally took off the bins.
3. Useful readings + contacts
Identification guide:
· Sibley, David A. (2000): The Sibley Guide to Birds, National Audubon Society; essential, forget about the National Geographic Guide and dump Peterson!
· Burt, W.H. & R.P. Grossenheider (1980): A field guide to the Mammals. North America north of Mexico. Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Chicago. Not too bad, but there must be better books.
Site guide:
· Lockwood, M.W. et al. (1999): A birder's guide to the Rio Grande Valley; ABA Lane Guide (revised ed.), 280 p. a very useful book with many up to date informations; essential.
· Hold, H.R. (1993): A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast, Lane/ABA Birdfinding Guide, 214 p. Also essential but a bit outdated for some places.
· Wauer, R.H. & A. Elwonger (1998): Birding Texas, Falcon Guide. Useful in some parts, but rather superficial information and useless maps, you have to refer to other books. Buy it only if you think you leave the classic birding areas along the coast and in the valley.
· The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Set of three maps, published by the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Parks and Wildlife; very useful, especially at the upper coast where the whole pineywoods region is included. The valley is covered too. Get it before you leave home. Can be bought or obtained for free at most of the state parks, NWRs etc. eg. Aransas, Attwater (free of charge). If you want to get a set of the maps before you leave, write to: Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, c/o Texas Parks and Wildlife Departement, Wildlife Diversity Program, 4200 Smith School Road, AustinTX 78744
Maps:
The most useful road map is published by the Texas Department of Transportation:
· Texas, Official Highway Travel Map
Addresses
Whooping Crane Tour with Jim Friebele (up to 5 persons)
Friebele's Guide Service
1105 W. Market
Rockport TX 78382
Tel. (361) 729 56 76
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
11.4. Two flocks of 23 and 4 birds on Jim's tour
13.4. 1 ad. Port Aransas Birding Center
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
First observation: 8.4. 50 ex. in a stock reservoir Katy farmlands
Other places, where this species was seen: Attwater, Goose Island SP, Fulton area, Live Oak Park, Port Aransas Birding Center, Sabal Palm, Weslaco Llano Grande, Santa Ana NWR, Saliñeno, Falcon Dam, High Island.
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)*
15.4. 15 ex. Sabal Palm
17.4. Santa Ana NWR: 4 birds Pintail Lake; 2 ex. Cattail Pond
18.4. 2 ex. Saliñeno
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)*
10.4. 15 ex. oh Lake Texana SP
11.4. 1 ex. pier Goose Island SP
15.4. ca. 20 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. 800-1000 ex. in one huge kettle oh Santa Ana NWR
19.4. 1 ex. below Falcon Dam on Mexican side
26.4. 36 ex. Bolivar Flats
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)*
10.4. 1 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. ca. 30 ex. on Jim's tour
12.4. 10 ex. Port Aransas ferry
13.4. 40 ex. Port Aransas ferry and 50 Port Aransas jetty
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. 110 ex. Bolivar Flats
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
First birds seen on 8.4. 1 ex. Addicks Reservoir. Seen on 9 days at following locations: Attwater, Lake Texana Boat ramp, Aransas, Rockport-Fulton area, Corpus Christi Bay, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Santa Ana NWR, Bentsen, Falcon Dam, Garner SP, Bolivar Flats.
Neotropic Cormorant (P. brasilianus)*
9.4. 20 ex. Attwater
10.4. 1 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. <10 on Jim's tour
15.4. 15 ex. Fort Brown, Brownsville; 1 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 ex. Bentsen
19.4. <4 ex. Falcon Dam
26.4. <4 ex. Bolivar Flats
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)*
9.4. 1,1 ex. Attwater
10.4. 10 ex. Lake Texana Boat ramp
11.4. 1 ex. Aransas NWR
17.4. 3 ex. Santa Ana NWR Pintail Lake
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)*
25.4. 1 ex. in a road ditch at Anahuac NWR
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)*
13.4. 2 ex. Aransas Pass Birding Center
17.4. 3,1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
19.4. 1 fem. Falcon Dam
25.4. c. 10 ex. Anahuac NWR
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
First birds seen on 9.4. 2 ex. Attwater. Seen at Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR, Rockport-Fulton area, Corpus Christi Bay, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Llano Grande Weslaco, Bentsen, Lost Maples,High Island Bolivar Flats, Liberty.
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
First birds seen on 9.4. <30 ex. Attwater. Also seen at Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR, Jim’s tour, Rockport-Fulton, Corpus Christi Bay loop, near Laguna Atascosa NWR, Llano Grande, Santa Ana NWR, Saliñeno, Falcon Dam, High Island, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats, Liberty.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)*
First birds seen on 9.4. 10 ex. Attwater. Also seen Lake Texana SP, Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR, Rockport-Fulton, Corpus Christi, Fort Brown, Llano Grande Weslaco, Santa Ana NWR, High Island, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats.
Reddish Egret (E. rufescens)*
11.4. 3 ex. on Jim's tour, one bird white morph / 1 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. 5 ex around Corpus Christi Bay; 1 ex. white morph Packery Channel Park
26.4. 3 ex. Bolivar Flats
Tricolored Heron (E. tricolor)*
10.4. 3 ex. Goose Island SP; 2 ex. loop drive Goose Island
11.4. Seen at all locations visited: Aransas NWR, Jim’s tour, Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
18.4. 1 ex. Bentsen
23.4. <10 ex. High Island
24.4. <4 ex. High Island, TX 87
25./26.4. <4 ex. resp. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR
Little Blue Heron (E. caerulea)*
First birds seen 8.4. 1 ex. oh Alamo office, Houston, 6 ex. Addicks Res. and 30 ex. Katy Farmlands. Also seen at Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR, Rockport-Fulton, Corpus Christi Bay, Santa Ana NWR, High Island, Anahuac NWR, Liberty.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
First birds seen on 8.4., 10 ex. Addicks Res. Other places: Attwater, Goose Island SP, Jim’s tour Aransas, Corpus Christi Bay loop, Santa Ana NWR, Anzalduas CP, Falcon Dam, High Island, TX 87, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats, near Liberty.
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
13.4. 3 ex. Port Aransas Birding Center; 1ex. in small wood nearby
15.4. 1 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
23.4. 4 ex. High Island
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
25./26.4. <10 ex. Anahuac NWR
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
9.4. 2 ex. Attwater
18.4. 1 ad. Bentsen
23.4. 3 ex. oh High Island
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanessa violacea)*
17.4. 3 ad .+ 2 juv. Santa Ana NWR, Pintail Lake
27.4. 2 ex. oh near Liberty
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)*
8.4. 2 ex. Addicks Res.
9.4. 30 ex. Attwater
10.4. 4 ex. oh Goose Island SP
11.4. Seen Jim's tour, Rockport-Fulton up to 50 ex.
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
23.4. <10 ex. High Island
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. <30 ex. Anahuac NWR
26.4. Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)*
seen most days with hundreds and thousands flying by in the evening near Attwater.
Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaia)*
seen most days with highest count 25 ex. Jim's tour.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)*
Rather common along entire coast: First birds seen on 8.4. 2 ex. Addicks Res. and 2 ex. Katy Farmlands
9.4. 5 ex. Attwater
10.4. Lake Texana SP
11.4. Seen at all locations visited: Aransas NWR, Jim's tour, Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
15.4. Sabal Palm, Fort Brown, Llano Grande
17.4. rather common Santa Ana NWR
18.4. <4 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 4 ex. oh Falcon Dam
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (D. bicolor)*
9.4. 70 ex. Attwater
10.4. 10 ex. Goose Island SP
13.4. 10 ex. Live Oak Park
15.4. 5 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
25./26.4. 7 ex. resp . 20 ex. Anahuac NWR
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)*
18.4. 2 ex. Saliñeno, sitting on tree at mexican side, easily found!
19.4. 3 ex. Falcon Dam, sitting on spillway!
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
8.4. 2 m. oh Addicks Res.
23.4. 1 m. oh W.G. Jones State Forest
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
11.4. 1 m. Rockport-Fulton
18.4. 2 ex. Saliñeno, mexican ssp.
Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula)*
9.4. 2 ex. Attwater / 2 ex. in field along FM 3013
11.4. <10 ex. Jim's tour / 4 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
15.4. 2 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.; <10 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
25./26.4. 3 ex. Anahuac NWR
Gadwall (A. strepera)
11.4. 10 ex. Rockport-Fulton
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. <10 ex. Saliñeno
Pintail (A. acuta)
10.4. 1 m. Goose Island SP
American Wigeon (A. americana)
17.4. 2 fem. Santa Ana NWR, Willow Lake
Shoveler (A. clypeata)
9.4. 2 ex. Attwater
10.4. 10 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. Seen on Jim's Tour and Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
Cinnamon Teal (A. cyanoptera)*
9.4. 3 m. Attwater
15.4. 2 m. Llano Grande
Blue-winged Teal (A. discors)
Rather common and widespread. First seen on 8.4. 30 ex. Katy farmlands. Seen in all kinds of wetlands.
Green-winged Teal (A. caroliniensis)*
13.4. 1 p. Port Aransas Birding Center
Redhead (Aythya americana)
10.4. 1 m. Goose Island SP loop drive
11.4. 1 m. Rockport-Fulton
12.4. 10 ex. Aransas NWR
13.4. 4 m. Packery Channel seen from the road
Greater Scaup (A. marila)
12.4. 1 m. Aransas NWR
Lesser Scaup (A. affinis)
12.4. at least 20 ex. Aransas NWR
13.4. 1 m. Port Aransas Birding Center
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
10.4. 1 p. Hwy 35 at southern end of Lyndon B. Johnson causeway
13.4. 1 fem. Indian Point
26.4. 1 p. Bolivar Flats
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
11.4. 1 fem. Rockport-Fulton
12.4. Several hundreds Aransas NWR
13.4. 1 fem. Live Oak Park; 20 ex. Port Aransas Birding Center
21.4. 2 fem. along FM 1050
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Common from the very first till the very last day.
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)*
Not as common but still widespread and seen almost daily in any region of Texas. First seen on 9.4. 1 ex. at Stephen Austin SP.
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
First birds seen on 8.4., 4 ex. Katy Farmlands. Further observations: Attwater, Goose Island SP, Aransas NWR, Rockport-Fulton, Port Aransas Birding Center, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Sabal Palm Grove Sanc., Falcon Dam, along Interstate 10, High Island, Anahuac NWR.
Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus)*
18.4. 1 p. oh at Bentsen
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)*
14.4. 2 ex. oh Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. 1 ex Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
16.4. 1 ex. oh Bentsen
18.4. 1 ex. oh Bentsen / 1 ex. Hwy 83
20.4. 2 ex. Chaparral WMA
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR
26.4. 1 ex. TX 87 north of Bolivar Flats
Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippensis)*
9.4. 20 ex. oh Stephen Austin SP / 4 ex. oh near Sealy supermarket
11.4. 150 ex. in a big kettle Rockport-Fulton
16.4. ca. 30 ex. oh Bentsen
17.4. 300 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 150 ex. oh Bentsen
23.4. 1 ex. oh Liberty Walmart parking lot
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)*
8.4. 1 ex. oh Addicks Res.
9.4. 1 ex. oh Sealy Supermarket parking lot
16.4. 2 ex. oh Bentsen
17.4. 3 ex. oh Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 ex. oh Bentsen
Cooper's Hawk (A. cooperii)*
22.4. 1 possible ex. along I-10 50 miles west of Houston
23.4. 1 imm. ex. oh Liberty Walmart parking lot
Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)*
14.4. 2 ex. oh Laguna Atascosa NWR, HQ
15.4. 3 ex. Cannon Rd. (site LTC050)
16.4. 1 ex. oh Bentsen
17.4. 2 ex. oh Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 2 ex. oh Saliñeno / 2 ex. Falcon SP
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon SP / 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
20.4. 2 ex. Chaparral WMA
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)*
20.4. 1 ad. Neal's Lodge
21.4. 1 pair near near nest site Lost Maples
Red-shouldered Hawk (B. lineatus)*
10.4. 1-2 ex. excellent views of a bird perched 50 m from the road at Lake Texana SP
23.4. 1 p. oh Liberty Walmart parking lot
27.4. 1 ex. oh Gore Store Rd., Big Thicket
Broad-winged Hawk (B. platypterus)*
11.4. 50 ex. in a kettle Rockport-Fulton; far away, ID not 100%
16.4. 500-800 ex. oh Bentsen in huge kettles
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. Anzalduas, Bentsen and Saliñeno each site up to 50 ex.
Swainson's Hawk (B. swainsoni)*
The most common of all hawks: First birds seen on 8.4. 1 ex. Addicks Res.; also seen on 11 days at Stephen F. Austin SP, Attwater, Sarita, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Sabal Palm Grove Sanc., Bentsen, Santa Ana NWR, Saliñeno, Falcon Dam, Chaparral WMA, Hill country, Garner SP – Houston, Anahuac NWR.
White-tailed Hawk (B. albicaudatus)*
9.4. 1 ex. Attwater
12.4. 1 p. north boundry of Aransas NWR, probably at nest
13.4. 1 ex. Mustang Island SP
Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis)
8.4. up to 10 ex. whole way between airport and Sealy
9.4. 10 ex. Attwater + Stephen Austin SP
10.4. 1 ex. near Lamar, Goose Island, with prey
20.4. 1 ex. Hill Country / 2 ex. Frio Batcave trying to catch bats
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
10.4. 1 ad. + 2 fully grown young in nest; Lake Texana Palmetta Bend Dam, FM 3131
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
11.4. 1 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. 1 ex. near Corpus Christi
14.4. 3 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. 2 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 ex. Anzalduas CP / 1 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 2 ex. Falcon Dam
Northern Caracara (Caracara cheriway)*
9.4. 1 ex. near entrance Stephen Austin SP / 1 ex. Attwater
10.4. 1 ex. Lake Texana boat ramp / 1 ex. SP / 1 ex. near Ganado Hwy 59
18.4. 4 ex. Sparrow alley near La Joya
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon SP / 1 Falcon Dam / 1 ex. near Chaparral WMA
20.4. 4 ex. Chaparral WMA
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR, only briefly seen
25.4. Anahuac NWR: 1 male hunting, catching and eating a pewee
American Kestrel (F. sparverius)
23.4. W.G. Jones State Forest up to 4 ex.
Peregrine (F. peregrinus)
28.4. Jesse H. Jones County Park 1 ad. oh
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)*
14.4. 1 ex. calling near Laguna Atascosa NWR; 2 ex. Mesquite trail
15./16.4. ca. 30 ex. Bentsen
17.4. <30 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. ca. 10 ex. Bentsen
19.4. <10 ex. Falcon Dam
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)*
9.4. 1 pair Attwater; feeding along roadside
12.4. 1 m. calling in bush near entrance of Goose Island SP
13.4. 1 ex. calling Sarita
15.4. 4 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
20.4. <10 ex. calling Chaparral WMA
26.4. 1 ex. h. FM 1406
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)*
20.4. 1 fem. Garner SP near entrance
21.4. 1 fem. FM 1050
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)*
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Pintail lake
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
9.4. 1 ex. Attwater
10.4. 2 ex. Goose Island SP
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
American Coot (Fulica americana)
Common in all kind of wetlands. First observation on 9.4. up to 50 ex. Attwater
Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris)*
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, Yacht Basin Rd.
Sora (Porzana carolina)*
13.4. 1 ex. Port Aransas Birding Center, marvellous views!
17.4. 4 ex. Santa Ana NWR (2 Willow Lake, 2 Pintail Lake)
19.4. 1 ex. calling Zapata
Whooping Crane (Grus americana)*
11.4. 17 ex. on Jim's tour; excellent views of birds close to the waterline
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
10.4. 1 ex. Hwy 35 at southern end of Lyndon B. Johnson causeway (CTC 49)
114. 1 on Jim's tour
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop in good numbers
23.4. <30 ex. FM 1406
24.4. 3 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. <4 ex. Anahuac NWR / <30 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
American Golden Plover (P. dominica)*
13.4. 1 ex. Port Aransas Wetland park; 12 ex. Hwy 70 west of Corpus Christi
26.4. 24 ex. FM 1406
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)*
13.4. 2 ex. Sunset Lake, Portland (near Indian Point)
26.4. 30 ex. Bolivar Flats
Semipalmated Plover (C. semipalmatus)
13.4. rather common around Corpus Christi Bay, first birds at Indian Point
14.4. 3 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. <30 ex. Llano Grande
23.4. 4 ex. FM 1406
24.4. 3 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. 2 ex. Anahuac NWR / 2 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Snowy Plover (C. alexandrinus)
13.4. 2 ex. Sunset Lake, Portland
26.4. 1 ex. Bolivar Flats
Wilson's Plover (C. wilsonia)*
11.4. 5 ex. on Jim's tour
14.4. 1 ex. at nest Laguna Atascosa NWR
Killdeer (C. vociferus)*
Widespread and rather common. First seen on 8.4. at Addicks Res. With 4 pulli at Sarita on 13.4.
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)*
10.4. 10 ex. Hwy 35 at southern end of Lyndon B. Johnson causeway (CTC 49)
11.4. <30 ex. on Jim's tour
13.4. Seen at Indian Point and Sunset Lake, Portland.
26.4. 1 ex. Bolivar Flats
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)*
11.4. 2 ex. on Jim's tour
13.4. 23 ex. Indian Point; 40 ex. Port Aransas Birding Center
15.4. 30 ex. Llano Grande
26.4. >500 ex. Bolivar Flats, feeding together, what a sight!
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)*
First birds seen on 8.4. <10 ex. Addicks Res., also seen on 10 days at Attwater, Goos Island SP, Aransas NWR, Rockport-Fulton, Corpus Christi Bay, Llano Grande, Santa Ana NWR, High Island, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
9.4. 1 ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater
11.4. 3 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. up to 10 ex. seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
23.4. 10 ex. FM 1406
25.4. 2 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes)*
One of the most common shorebirds: First birds seen on 8.4. 6 ex. Addicks Res. Also seen in field along FM 3013 near Attwater, Rockport-Fulton, Corpus Christi Bay, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Sabal Palm Grove Sanc., Llano Grande, Santa Ana NWR, FM 1406, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats.
Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria)*
8.4. 1 ex. Addicks Res.
17.4. 4 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Willow Lake
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR , Bayou tract, 3 ex. moist soil unit
26.4. 2 ex. Anahuac NWR
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)*
10.4. <4 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. Common on Jim's Tour and Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Common on Corpus Christi Bay loop
14.4. <4 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
23.4. 3 ex. FM 1406
24.4. <30 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. <4 ex. Anahuac NWR / <4 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
11.4. 2 ex. on Jim's tour
15.4. 1 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. 2 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Willow Lake
18.4. 1 ex. Saliñeno / 2 ex. Bentsen
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR
26.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR / 1 ex. Bolivar Flats
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)*
9.4. 8 ex. in short grass field along FM 3013 near Attwater
10.4. 2 ex. near Lake Texana SP on short grass field
13.4. 1 ex. Mustang Island airfield; 2 ex. Hwy 70 on dry field
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
14.4. 4 ex. oh Laguna Atascosa NWR
23.4. <10 ex. FM 1406
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Long-billed Curlew (N. americanus)*
13.4. 1 ex. Packery Channel Pass
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)*
26.4. 1 p. Anahuac NWR, moist soil unit
Marbled Godwit (L. fedoa)*
13.4. 10 ex. Indian Point; 20 ex. Port Aransas Wetland park
26.4. 20 ex. Bolivar Flats
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
10.4. 23 ex. Goose Island SP / 5 ex. Hwy 35 Lyndon B. Johnson causeway (CTC049)
11.4. 2 ex. on Jim's tour
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
14.4. <10 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <30 ex. Bolivar Flats
Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
26.4. c. 15 ex. Bolivar Flats
Sanderling (C. alba)
10.4. 4 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 1 ex. on Jim's tour
12.4. hundreds at Port Aransas jetty
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop, especially Port Aransas jetty
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <30 ex. Bolivar Flats
Dunlin (C. alpina)
9.4. 10 ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater
10.4. 3 ex. Goose Island SP
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
14.4. <10 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. Llano Grande
23.4. <10 ex. FM 1406
25.4. 2 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos)
9.4. 10 ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater
11.4. 3 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. 3 ex. Hwy 70
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
23.4. 1 ex. FM 1406
25.4. 7 ex. FM 1406
26.4. >50 ex. FM 1406
White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis)*
25.4. 7 ex. FM 1406
26.4. 1 ex. FM 1406 / 1 ex. Bolivar Flats
Western Sandpiper (C. mauri)
10.4. 5 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 2 ex. on Jim's tour
12.4. 3 ex .along Hwy 35 near Port Aransas
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
14.4. Seen Laguna Atascosa NWR, auto loop
15.4. 10 ex. Llano Grande
26.4. 10 ex. Bolivar Flats
Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilla)
12.4. 1 ex .along Hwy 35 near Port Aransas
13.4. 1 ex. Sunset Lake; 1 ex. Port Aransas Birding Center
15.4. 5 ex. Llano Grande
23.4. 2 ex. FM 1406
25.4. <10 ex. Anahuac NWR / <4 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats (hundreds)
Least Sandpiper (C. minutilla)
9.4. 10 ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater
10.4. 1 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 6 ex. on Jim's tour
13.4. <10 ex. Hwy 70
15.4. 50 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
23.4. <10 ex. FM 1406
25.4. <4 ex. Anahuac NWR / <4 ex. FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Stilt Sandpiper (C. himantopus)*
13.4. 40 ex. Port Aransas Wetland Park
15.4. 150 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Willow Lake
26.4. 1 ex. FM 1406
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)*
9.4. some ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater
13.4. c. 20 ex., some were calling at Port Aransas Birding Center
15.4. Llano Grande some
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Short-billed Dowitcher (L. griseus)
9.4. some ex. in field along FM 3013 near Attwater; call was heard
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop; calling
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Dowitcher spec.
10./11.4. Goose Island SP
12.4. 3 ex .along Hwy 35 near Port Aransas
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
15.4. Llano Grande
17.4. <100 ex. Santa Ana NWR, mostly Long-billed
23.4. <30 ex. FM 1406
25.4. Anahuac NWR / FM 1406
26.4. seen FM 1406 / Anahuac NWR / Bolivar Flats
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)
23.4. 10 ex. FM 1406
25.4. >25 ex. FM 1406
26.4. 15 ex. FM 1406
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)*
15.4. 1 m. bp Llano Grande
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR, moist soil unit (HK)
Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)*
11.4. 70 ex. near Tivoli / 4 ex. on Jim's tour / 10 ex. Rockport-Fulton area
13.4. 30 migrating to northwest Sarita
15.4. an unknown figure at Llano Grande
Laughing Gull (L. atricilla)*
First observation: 10.4., 1 ex. Lake Texana boat ramp. Very common along coast. Only one obs. In Rio Grande Valley 1 ex. at Saliñeno on 18th and below Falcon Dam on 19th.
Ring-billed Gull (L. delawarensis)
10.4. 3 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 1 ex. on Jim's tour
12.4. 30 ex. Port Aransas beach
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <30 ex. Bolivar Flats
Herring Gull (L. argentatus)
10.4. <15 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. <10 on Jim's tour
12.4. dozens Port Aransas beach
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
24.4. <4 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <50 ex. Bolivar Flats
Glaucous Gull (L. hyperboreus)
26.4. 1 ex. 1st summer Bolivar flats
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
10.4. 2 ex. Lake Texana Boat ramp
11.4. <10 ex. on Jim's tour / 3 ex. Rockport-Fulton
12.4. 1 ex. Port Aransas jetty
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. >10 ex. Bolivar Flats
Royal Tern (S. maxima)*
10.4. 3 ex. Goose Island SP / 4 ex .loop drive
11.4. <30 ex. on Jim's tour / <4 ex. Rockport-Fulton
12.4. 100 Port Aransas jetty
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
24.4. <10 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <500 ex. Bolivar Flats
Sandwich Tern (S. sandvicensis)
10.4. 4 ex. Goose Island SP / 10 ex. Hwy 35 at Lyndon B. Johnson causeway (CTC049)
11.4. <10 ex. on Jim's tour
12.4. 50 Port Aransas jetty
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
26.4. <50 ex. Bolivar Flats
Common Tern (S. hirundo)
10.4. 1 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 1 ex. on Jim's tour
26.4. 100 ex. Bolivar Flats
Forster's Tern (S. forsteri)
10.4. 30 ex. Goose Island Loop drive
11.4. <50 ex. on Jim's tour / <10 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
24.4. <4 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. 2 ex. Anahuac NWR
26.4. 1 ex. Bolivar Flats
Least Tern (S. antillarum)*
10.4. 1 ex. Goose Island loop drive
11.4. <10 ex. on Jim's tour
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop in good numbers
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
26.4. <10 ex. Bolivar Flats
Gull-billed Tern (S. nilotica)
10.4. 2 ex. Goose Island SP
11.4. 3 ex. Rockport-Fulton
13.4. 2 ex. over fields Hwy 361
14.4. 4 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
19.4. 6 ex. Falcon Dam
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, TX 87
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
26.4. 1 ex. flying by Bolivar Flats
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)*
13.4. 1 ex. Indian Point; 200 ex. Sunset Lake
26.4. 3 ex. Bolivar Flats
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Common. Seen daily from the very first day of our trip.
White-winged Dove (Z. asiatica)*
12.4. 3 ex. Blucher Park, Corpus Christi
16.4. common at Bentsen
17.4. <30 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. common at Bentsen
19.4. <10 ex. Falcon Dam area
20.4. <4 ex. Chaparral / <10 ex. Neal's Lodge
22.4. <4 ex. Garner SP
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
9.4. 1 ex. Sealy supermarket
10.4. 1 ex. Lolita
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)*
14.4. <10 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. <4 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
16.4. common at Bentsen
17.4. <30 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. common at Bentsen
Inca Dove (Columbina inca)*
10.4. 2 ex. Lake Texana SP / 4 ex. Goose Island SP
13.4. Seen on Corpus Christi Bay loop
16.4. ca. 10 ex. Bentsen
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. common at Bentsen
19.4. 2 ex. Zapata
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, Smith Oak Sanctuary
Common Ground-Dove (C. passerina)*
14.4. <30 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR and surrounding
15.4. <30 ex. whole stretch between Harlinen and Bentsen
16.4. ca. 10 ex. Bentsen
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 2 ex. Sparrow alley La Joya
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Seen daily
Red-billed Pigeon (C. flavirostris)*
18.4. 2 ex. Saliñeno sitting in treetops but far away
19.4. up to 10 ex. flying around Falcon Dam, Old Girl's scout camp
Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis)*
14.4. 1 ex. oh Hugh Ramsey CP
15.4. 1 ex. popping its head out of a nesting hole Fort Brown, Brownsville
Green Parakeet (Aratinga holochlora)*
15.4. c. 15 ex. around Elk's Lodge, Brownsville; some birds were nesting
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)*
23.4. 1 ex. High Island, Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, Yacht Basin Rd.
Black-billed Cuckoo (C. erythrophthalmus)*
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, Boy Scout Woods
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)*
14.4. 1 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
16.4. 1 ex. Bentsen (HK)
18.4. 1 ex. Falcon SP
19.4. 1 ex. on camp ground at Falcon SP / 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
20.4. 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
11.4. 1 ex. crossing road north boundry of Aransas NWR
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)*
9.4. 1 ex. Stephen Austin SP; the bird was sitting on a horizontal branch in the forest
18.4. 1 ex. hooting Falcon SP near camp ground, superb views of the bird!
19.4. 1 ex. hooting Falcon SP / 1 ex. hooting Chaparral WMA
20.4. 1 ex. calling Frio Bat cave
Barred Owl (Strix varia)*
12.4. 1 ex. Pollywog Pond, Corpus Christi (CTC077)
Elf Owl (Microathene whitneyi)*
16.4. 1 ex. at entrance of nesting hole at Bentsen
Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio)*
18.4. 1 ex. in nest box at Bentsen
19.4. 1 ex. roosting in a tree below Falcon Dam
Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)*
11.4. 1 ex. calling Goose Island SP
15.4. 1 ex. calling Bentsen
16.4. ca. 10 ex. calling; 1 seen on the road Bentsen
17.4. 4 ex. calling Bentsen
18.4. 2 ex. calling early morning Bentsen
Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)*
12.4. 1 ex. Blucher Park, Corpus Christi
16.4. 1 ex. calling Bentsen
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
20.4. 1 ex. calling near Frio Bat cave
Whip-poor-will (C. vociferus)*
15.4. 1 ex. calling Bentsen
16.4. 1ex. sitting on road at Bentsen (photographed)
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
23.4. 3 ex. oh High Island
24.4. 4 ex. oh TX 87, High Island
25.4. 5 ex. Anahuac NWR late evening
26.4. 3 ex. TX 87 north of Bolivar Flats
27.4. 1 ex. oh Dayton
Lesser Nighthawk (C. acutipennis)*
13.4. 1 ex. flying around Sarita
16.4. 1 ex. sitting on road Bentsen
18.4. 10 ex. Falcon SP at dusk / 2 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 2 ex. Falcon SP
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)*
First observation 10.4. 10 ex. El Campo. After that, often seen
Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis)*
14.4. 2 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR
15.4. 3 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc. at feeder
17.4. 3 ex. Santa Ana NWR
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)*
14.4. 1 fem. Laguna Atascosa NWR
20.4. 4-5 ex. Neal's lodge coming to feeder
21.4. <4 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. 1 fem. Garner SP
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (A. colubris)*
9.4. 1 m. Stephen Austin SP
11.4. 1 ex. Aransas NWR on feeder
18.4. 3 ex. Bentsen at entrance in flowering tree
19.4. 2 ex. in flowering tree Falcon Dam girl's scout camp
23.4. 1 fem. High Island, Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <4 ex. High Island, Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 2 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)
10.4. 1 ex. Lake Texana boat ramp
11.4. 1 ex. on Jim's tour
Ringed Kingfisher (C. torquata)*
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR
22.4. 1 p. Garner SP Rio Frio. Way out of normal range!
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)*
19.4. 1 ex. below Falcon Dam, 1 ex. sitting on spillway
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)*
23.4. 4 ex. W.G. Jones State Forest
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (M. aurifrons)*
First birds seen on 11.4. 2 ex. at intersection FM 774 and Hwy 35, Sarita, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Sabal Palm Grove Sanc., Bentsen, Santa Ana NWR, Anzalduas, Saliñeno, Falcon Dam - Chaparral WMA, Garner SP.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (M. carolinus)*
9.4. 10 ex. Stephen Austin SP
10.4. <10 ex. Lake Texana SP
23.4. 2 ex. W.G. Jones State Forest / 1ex. Liberty Walmart parking lot
27.4. 3 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
28.4. 2 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
9.4. 1 m. Stephen Austin SP
23./24.4. 1 ex. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR, the willows
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (P. borealis)*
23.4. 8-10 ex. W.G. Jones State Forest.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (P. scalaris)*
10.4. 1 m. Goose Island SP
14.4. 1 ex. Laguna Atascosa NWR, Mesquite trail
15.4. 3 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
16.4. common at Bentsen
18.4. <4 ex. Bentsen / <4 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 1 ex. Zapata
21.4. 2 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. 1 ex. calling Garner SP
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)*
9.4. 1 m. Stephen Austin SP
23.4. 1 ex. W.G. Jones State Forest
27.4. 1 ex. Dayton
Northern Beardless Tyrannulet (Camptostoma imberbe)*
16.4. 2 ex. Bentsen, Trailer area, only very brief views, but sufficient for positive ID
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)*
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
21.4. 4 ex. Lost Maples
23.4. 1 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR, diner for a Merlin
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)*
21.4. 4 ex. Lost Maples
27.4. 3 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
28.4. 3 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Empidonax spec.
25.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods, unidentifiable, but not the former species
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)*
20.4. 1 ex. Rio Frio, Neal's Lodge
Eastern Phoebe (S. phoebe)*
20.4. 1 ex. Neal's Lodge / 1 ex. Garner SP
21.4. <10 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. <4 ex. Garner SP
Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)*
19./20.4. up to 3,2 ex. Chaparral WMA
20.4. 1 fem. Neal's Lodge
21.4. 1 m. FM 1050
22.4. 1 p. Garner SP / 1 m. FM 1050
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)*
18.4. 3 ex. Falcon SP
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon SP
20.4. 2 ex. Neal's Lodge
21.4. <4 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. 1 ex. Garner SP
Brown-crested Flycatcher (M. tyrannulus)*
13.4. 2 ex. Sarita
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
16.4. <4 ex. Bentsen
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. <4 ex. Bentsen
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
Great Crested Flycatcher (M. crinitus)*
15.4. 1 ex. Cannon Rd.
23.4. 1 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
28.4. 1 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
First observation on 11.4. 1 ex. Fulton area on FM 1781. After that, in the east very common along the coast, e.g. on 25.4. at least 30 birds at Anahuac NWR + Boy Scout Woods
Tropical Kingbird (T. melancholicus)*
15.4. 1 ex. at Cannon Rd., ID based on voice
Couch's Kingbird (T. couchii)*
13.4. 1 ex. Sarita
14.4. 2 ex. Laguna Atascosa; 3 on the road
15.4. <4 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.; c. 5 ex. Cannon Rd.
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. seen at Anzalduas, Bentsen and Saliñeno
19.4. common roadside bird till Zapata
Western Kingbird (T. verticalis)
20.4. 2 ex. Neal's Lodge
22.4. 1 ex. Garner SP
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (T. forficatus)*
A common (though very welcome) sight along Highways in more or less open habitat. Observed almost daily from the very first day in good numbers.
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)*
13.4. 1 ex. Sarita
14.4. 2 ex. Laguna Atascosa, Kiskadee Trail
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.; 1 ex. Llano Grande
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. seen at Anzalduas, Bentsen and Saliñeno
19.4. seen at Falcon Dam / Zapata
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)*
First birds seen in the outskirts of Hoouston on 8.4. Astonishingly, this species seems to do quite well in heavily disturbed habitat. Fairly common in the east, absent in the west of the state except for the lower Rio Grande valley.
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)*
18.4. 1 ex. in birdwave Bentsen
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
21.4. 4 ex. h and seen Lost Maples
22.4. 1 ex. singing Garner SP
23.4. 2 ex. h W.G. Jones State Forest / 2 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 5 ex. Boy Scout Woods
26.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
27.4. >10 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
28.4. <4 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Warbling Vireo (V. gilvus)*
18.4. 1 ex. Anzalduas CP
Black-capped Vireo (V. atricapillus)*
20.4. 1 ex. briefly seen Neal's Lodge cabin 61 in juniper thicket
22.4. 1 m. singing FM 1050. After the unsatisfying observation at Neal's, we got really nice views of this one. The site is so easy to find, but probably not known to other birders.
White-eyed Vireo (V. griseus)*
First birds seen at S. Austin SP, up to 4 ex. The most widespread of all vireos, encountered almost daily.
Yellow-throated Vireo (V. flavifrons)*
21.4. 3 ex. Lost Maples
23.4. 1 ex. foraging W.G. Jones State Forest, very confinding bird
24.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Blue-headed Vireo (V. solitarius)*
10.4. 1 m. singing Lake Texana SP, camping area
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)*
9.4. 5 ex. S.F. Austin SP
10.4. 1 ex. Lolita
23.4. <4 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.-26.4. up to 10 ex. High Island
28.4. 1 ex. Jesse Jones CP, outside park in suburbs
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)*
22.4. 5 ex. Garner SP from the scenic overlook, fantastic views of the birds
Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)*
14.4. <10 ex. Laguna Atascosa around Headquarter
15.4. <10 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
16.4. <10 ex. Bentsen
17.4. <4 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. seen at Anzalduas, Bentsen and Saliñeno
19.4. <4 ex. Falcon Dam
Brown Jay (C. morio)*
19.4. 3 ex. coming to feeder Chapeño Camping
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
21.4. 2 ex. Lost Maples
Chihuahuan Raven (C. cryptoleucus)*
18.4. 5 ex. Falcon SP
19.4. rather common from Falcon SP till Chaparral WMA
20.4. <4 ex. Chaparral WMA
American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos)
Rather common in the east, not found in the west
Tamaulipas Crow (C. imparatus)*
15.4. 1 pair nesting under the NOAA Wheather Radar (see Lane Guide for instructions)
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
13.4. 1 pair Mustang Island Airport
14.4. 1 pair Laguna Atascosa, Loop drive
26.4. 1 pair Bolivar Flats
Purple Martin (Progne subis)*
8.4. 5 ex. Addicks Reservoir
10.4. <10 El Campo / 2 ex. Goose Island SP
13.4. seen around Corpus Christi Bay
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 2 ex. Saliñeno
20.4. 3 ex. Neal's Lodge
23.4. 1 p. breeding in a bird house Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <4 High Island
28.4. 1 pair Jesse Jones CP
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
First observation: 10.4. up to 50 ex. Lake Texana Boat ramp. After that, a common sight.
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
9.4. >10 ex. oh Sealy
18.4. <4 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. <30 ex. Falcon Dam
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
25.4. c. 40 ex. Anahuac NWR
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
First birds seen on 8.4. A common breeder under artificial structures such as bridges etc.
Cave Swallow (P. fulva)*
12.4. 2-3 ex. Indian Pt, Corpus Christi
20.4. c. 20 ex. emerging from Frio Bat Cave
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
A common sight. Recorded daily
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)*
First birds on 9.4. at S.F. Austin SP. Rather common throughout. Black-crested Titmouse on 14.4. at Laguna Atascosa.
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)*
First birds seen on 8.4. at Addicks Reservoir. Rather common in wooded areas in the east and the Hill Country
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)*
14.4. 1 ex. Laguna Atascosa, Redhead Outlook
18.4. 1 ex. Sparrow alley La Joya
20.4. 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)
22.4. 1 ex. Garner SP near Rio Frio
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)*
23.4. 2 ex. W.G. Jones State Forest. A tough species to find!
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicanus)*
9.4. 5 ex. S.F. Austin SP
10.4. up to 4 ex. at Lake Texana Boat ramp and SP
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
24.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)*
14.4. 1 ex. Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen; 1 ex. loop drive Laguna Atascosa
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam / 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
20.4. <10 ex. Chaparral WMA
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)*
9.4. 1 ex. S.F. Austin SP near entrance
16.4. 1 ex. Bentsen trailer loop
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)*
25.4. 1 ex. seen, 3 h at Anahuac NWR, Yellow Rail prairie
Marsh Wren (C. palustris)*
10.4. 1 ex. h, only seen dropping into the dense cattails on Lake Texana Boat ramp
11.4. 1 h Aransas NWR, rail trail
13.4. 2 h Port Aransas Birding Center
17.4. 2 ex. singing at Santa Ana NWR
25.4. 1 h and briefly seen Anahuac NWR
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)*
13.4. 1 singing on a antenna in Sarita
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon SP
20.4. 2 ad. + 3 juv. Chaparral WMA
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)*
20.4. 1 p. at entrance of Frio Bat Cave
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)*
20.4. 1 ex. singing Frio Bat Cave
21.4. 1 seen + <10 h Lost Maples
22.4. <4 ex. Garner SP, some birds were singing from roof tops!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
9.4. 1 ex. S.F. Austin SP
21.4. 1 ex. Camping A, Lost Maples
22.4. 1 ex. Garner SP
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)*
20.4. 1 ex. most likely this species at Chaparral WMA
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (P. caerulea)*
14.4. 1 ex. crossing road Laguna Atascosa
21.4. 2 ex. Lost Maples
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
21.4. 1 ex. Lost Maples, East Trail. This was a major rarity in this area.
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)*
13.4. 1 pair at nesting site downtown Corpus Christi; 1 pair feeding fledlings Sarita
20.4. 2 ex. near Neal's Lodge in open farmland
Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi)*
16.4. 1 ex. singing on the top of a tree at Bentsen
17.4. 1 ex. only heard Santa Ana NWR
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)*
11.4. 1 ex. Aransas NWR, rail trail
23.4. 4 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <10 ex. Boy Scout Woods + Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. <10 ex. Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 2 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)*
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
25.4. 2 ex., 1 extremly confinding as close as 2 meters away (!)
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Swainson's Thrush (C. ustulatus)
23.4. 1ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 3 ex. Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. minimus)*
25.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 1 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
23.4. <10 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.-26.4.common in Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oak Sanctuary, up to 20 birds daily
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus ployglottos)
Very common, seen daily in any semi-open habitat
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)*
10.4. 1 ex., not well seen, Lake Texana SP
13.4. 2 ex. at Sunset Lake, Portland
24.4. 1st 100% birds: 2 at Boy Scout Woods; 1 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Long-billed Thrasher (T. longirostre)*
11.4. 1 ex. singing Aransas NWR, rail trail
14.4. 3 ex. Laguna Atascosa, Kiskadee Trail
15.4. <10 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
17.4. 1 ex. singing Santa Ana NWR
18.4. Seen at Anzalduas and Bentsen
19.4. 2 ex. Falcon Dam
20.4. 1 ex. Neal's Lodge
Curve-billed Thrasher (T. curvirostre)*
18.4. 1 ex. Sparrow alley / 1 ex. Falcon SP
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Pest bird! Extremly common all over
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedorum)
10.4. 70 ex. in the small village of Edna
16.4. 7 ex. Bentsen
18.4. 40 ex. Anzalduas / 5 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 15 ex. Zapata
21.4. 50 ex. Leakey
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Northern Parula (Parula americana)*
9.4. up to 10 singing males S.F. Austin SP
10.4. 4 ex. singing Lake Texana Bota ramp
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 1 singing Jesse Jones CP
Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)*
20.4. 2 ex. Neal's Lodge
21.4. 2 ex. Lost Maples
Tennessee Warbler (V. peregrina)*
18.4. 3 ex. in bird wave at Bentsen
19.4. 2 ex. Falcon Dam
23.4. 2 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 50 ex. Boy Scout Woods + Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 ex. Anahuac NWR, The willows / 1 Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 3 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Blue-winged Warbler (V. pinus)*
23.4. 1 fem. W.G. Jones State Forest
24.4. 1 fem. Boy Scout Woods / 1 fem. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Golden-winged Warbler (V. chrysoptera)*
24.4. 2 m. Boy Scout Woods / 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Nashville Warbler (V. ruficapilla)*
18.4. 2 ex. in bird wave at Bentsen
19.4. 5 ex. Falcon Dam
21.4. <10 Lost Maples
22.4. 1 ex. h Garner SP
Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)
23.4. 1,1 Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 2 m. Anahuac NWR, The willows
Chestnut-sided Warbler (D. pensylvanica)*
23.4. 2 fem. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / <4 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
Magnolia Warbler (D. magnolia)*
23.4. 2ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 3 m. Boy Scout Woods / 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
27.4. 1 m. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Cerulean Warbler (D. cerulea)*
24.4. 1,1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Blackburnian Warbler (D. fusca)*
18.4. 2 males at Anzalduas CP
23.4. 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / <10 Smith Oak Sanctuary
Yellow-rumped Warbler (D. coronata)
10.4. 1 m. Goose Island SP Campground
13.4. 1 m. Sarita
21.4. 1 m. Lost Maples
24.4. 1 fem. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Black-throated Green Warbler (D. virens)*
9.4. 1 m. S.F. Austin SP
18.4. 1 m. Anzalduas CP / 1 ex. in bird wave at Bentsen
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / <10 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Golden-cheeked Warbler (D. chrysoparia)*
21.4. 1 m. singing + 3 h; 1 pair at nest which gave us excellent views of the foraging male.
22.4. 1 m. singing Garner SP near scenic outlook
Prairie Warbler (D. discolor)*
27.4. 2 + 3 h along Gore Store Rd., Big Thicket
Pine Warbler (D. pinus)*
23.4. common at W.G. Jones State Forest
27.4. 1 ex. + 1h Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Bay-breasted Warbler (D.castanea)*
24.4. 3 m. Boy Scout Woods / 2 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
27.4. 1 m. singing Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thickt
Blackpoll Warbler (D. sriata)*
24.4. 2 m. Boy Scout Woods / 2 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Yellow-throated Warbler (D. dominica)*
22.4. 2 ex. Garner SP, the habitat of choice are streamside Bald Cypresses
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivora)*
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
25.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)*
24.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 1 ex. Turkey Creek Unit, Big Thicket
28.4. 1 ex. Jesse Jones CP
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)*
16.4. 1 ex. Bentsen trailer loop
18.4. 1 ex. in bird wave at Bentsen
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam
21.4. <4 ex. h Lost Maples
23.4. 1,1 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / <10 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 3 ex. Boy Scout Woods
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)*
24.4. 4,1 ex. Boy Scout Woods / 2 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)*
24.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods; what a skulking bird!
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)*
24.4. 10 ex. Boy Scout Woods / 3 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Northern Waterthrush (S. noveboracensis)*
12.4. 2 ex. Blucher Park, Corpus Christi
21.4. 1 ex. seen in a creek Lost Maples; plumage features pointed to this species whereas the song we heard one hour later at the same spot was rather latter species. Very puzzling, as Louisiana is said to breed in Lost Maples.
23.4. 1ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 5 ex. Boy Scout Woods
25.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods / 1 ex. Anahuac NWR, The willows
26.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Louisiana Waterthrush (S. motacilla)*
23.4. 1 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary, identified by an american birder, seen only briefly by us
Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)*
23.4. 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 2 ex. Boy Scout Woods / 1 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary
Mourning Warbler (O. philadelphia)*
9.4. 1 fem. S.F. Austin SP
13.4. 1 ex. in a small wood near Port Aransas
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
9.4. 1 m. Attwater, Teal Marsh
12.4. 1,1 ex. Blucher Park, Corpus Christi
13.4. 1 m. near Kingsville
15.4. 1 m. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.; 1 m. Cannon Rd.
17.4. 3 ex. Santa Ana NWR near Pintail Lake
23.4. 2 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 m. singing Anahuac NWR
Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)*
24.4. 1 fem. Boy Scout Woods
Canada Warbler (W. canadensis)*
24.4. 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
Hooded Warbler (W. citrina)*
23.4. 1 m. singing + 1 h W.G. Jones State Forest / 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 2 m. Boy Scout Woods / 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 1 h Jesse Jones CP
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)*
13.4. 1 calling but not seen in a small wood near Port Aransas
20.4. 1 m. singing Neal's Lodge, superbly seen
23.4. 3 ex. singing W.G. Jones State Forest
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)*
20.4. 1 male Garner SP
21.4. 3,1 ex.; more heard calling Lost Maples
22.4. 1 m. Garner SP
23.4. 4 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary High Island
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / <10 Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 3 ex. Anahuac NWR, the willows / <4 Boy Scout Woods
28.4. 1 pair Jesse Jones CP
Scarlet Tanager (P. olivacea)*
23.4. 3,1 ex. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. <10 Boy Scout Woods / 1 m. Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 1 m. Anahuac NWR / 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
26.4. 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)*
18.4. 1 p. Sparrow alley La Joya / 1 ex. Falcon SP
19.4. 1 m. Falcon SP
20.4. 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
Northern Cardinal (C. cardinalis)*
A common sight in most places we visited.
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)*
15.4. 1 m. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus)*
23.4. <30 ex. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 5 ex. Boy Scout Woods / 1 Smith Oak Sanctuary
26.4. 1 ex. Boy Scout Woods
Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)*
23.4. 4 ex. FM 1406 / 3 m. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 2 ex. Smith Oak Sanctuary / 1 ex. Yacht Basin Rd.
27.4. 1 m. Gore Store Rd, Big Thicket
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)*
9.4. 1 m. S.F. Austin SP
11.4. 1 m. Aransas NWR, rail trail
17.4. 1 superb male Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 m. Anzalduas CP
19.4. 1 m. Falcon SP / 1 m. Zapata
21.4. 2 m. Lost Maples
23.4. 1 m. singing W.G. Jones State Forest / 10,3 Smith Oak Sanctuary High Island
24.4. 25 ex. Yacht Basin Rd
25.4. >10 Anahuac NWR + High Island
26.4. 1 pair Anahuac NWR
27.4. 1 m. Gore Store Rd., Big Thicket
Painted Bunting (P. ciris)*
12.4. First stunning m. at Blucher Park, Corpus Christi
18.4. 1 m. Anzalduas CP
19.4. 1 m. Falcon Dam / 5 ex. Zapata
20.4. <30 ex. many singing, Chaparral WMA./ 1m. Neal's Lodge
22.4. 1 m. FM 1050
25.4. 1m. at High Island Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 1 fem. Big Thicket Gore Store Rd.
Dickcissel (Spiza americana)*
18.4. 1 m. Sparrow alley La Joya
22.4. 1 m. Interstate 10 near Luling
23.4. 1 ex. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
25.4. 3 ex. Anahuac NWR
26.4. 1 ex. FM 1406 / 1ex. Anahuac NWR
Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus)*
14.4. 1ex. singing Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen; >4 ex. Laguna Atascosa
15.4. <10 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.; 1 ex. Cannon Rd.
16.4. <4 ex. singing at Bentsen
17.4. <10 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. <4 ex. heard at Bentsen
19.4. 2 ex. (1 only h.) Falcon Dam
20.4. < 4 ex. Chaparral WMA / 1 ex. Neal's Lodge at feeder
22.4. 1 ex. h Garner SP
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)*
21.4. 1 ex. parking lot Lost Maples
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)*
20.4. 1 m. singing Chaparral WMA
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)*
21.4. 1 ex. seen, 2 h Lost Maples
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)*
19.4. 2 ex. Falcon SP / 1 Falcon Dam
21.4. 2 ex. Lost Maples
Chipping Sparrow (S. passerina)*
9.4. 1 fem. Attwater, Teal Marsh
13.4. 3 ex. Sarita
21.4. <10 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. 2 ex. h Garner SP
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodrramus savannarum)*
20.4. 1 ex. singing along FM XXX near Neal's Lodge
21.4. 1 ex. h FM 1050
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (A. nelsoni)*
26.4. 1 ex. Bolivar Flats in marsh
Seaside Sparrow (A. maritimus)*
11.4. 3 ex. Aransas, boat trip; splendid views of all birds singing atop of low bushes
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)*
First obs. On 9.4. Attwater up to 5 ex. This was the most widespread species of sparrows, with >10 records all over the state.
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)*
18.4. 1 ex. flushed Sparrow alley La Joya
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)*
14.4. >10 ex. along FM 1807 and Laguna Atascosa, loop drive
15.4. 1 ex. along road near Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
18.4. 3 ex. Sparrow alley La Joya / 1 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. seen at Falcon Dam / Falcon SP / Zapata / Chaparral WMA
21.4. <10 along roads from Garner to Lost Maples
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)*
9.4. 3 ex. S.F. Austin SP
24./25.4. 1 ex. female-like Boy Scout Woods
27.4. 2 ex. Gore Store Rd, Big Thicket
White-crowned Sparrow (Z. leucophrys)
9.4. 8 ex. Attwater, Teal Marsh, feeding on a dirt road
19.4. 1 ex. Chaparral WMA
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)*
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Pintail Lake
19.4. 1 ex. in dry bushland, Falcon Dam
Swamp Sparrow (M. georgiana)*
9.4. 2 ex. Attwater, Teal Marsh
17.4. 1 ex. Santa Ana NWR, Pintail Lake
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)*
First observation on 8.4. 3 ex. Katy farmlands. This species was observed in any grassy area all over (>10 records).
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)*
24.4. 5 m. Yacht Basin Rd., near High Island
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)*
First observation on 10.4. Goose Island SP, loop drive Park Rd 13, >30 ex. After this, commonly seen all over.
Bronzed Cowbird (M. aeneus)*
First observation on 12.4. south of Tivoli, intersection FM xxxx and Hwy 35, 1 pair
Rather common on the lower coast, the valley and in the hill country.
24.4. 1 ex. High Island, Boy Scout Woods (rather rare up here)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Very common and widespread.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)*
Only common in the east, where still far less numerous than Great-tailed G. 13.4. 1 ex. Corpus Christi round trip was the westernmost record.
Boat-tailed Grackle (Q. major)*
25./26.4. <30 ex. at Anahuac NWR
Great-tailed Grackle (Q. mexicanus)*
Very common almost everywhere we went except for the Hill country.
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
18.4. 1 m. «Sparrow alley» north of La Joya; 1 m. Saliñeno
20.4. 1 m. Chaparral WMA
Baltimore Oriole (I. galbula)*
17.4. 1 m. Santa Ana NWR
23.4. up to 50 ex. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 10 ex. Boy Scout Woods; 5 ex. Yacht Basin Rd; Smith Oak Sanctuary 2 ex.
25.4. 1 m. Boy Scout Woods
Hooded Oriole (I. cuculatus)*
13.4. 5 m. Sarita
15.4. 1 fem. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc.
20.4. 1 m. Neal's Lodge
Orchard Oriole (I. spurius)*
23.4. 1 f. High Island Smith Oak Sanctuary
24.4. 1 m. High Island Boy Scout Woods
25./26.4. 1 m. Anahuac NWR «The Willows»
Altamira Oriole (I. gularis)*
15.4. 1 ex. Sabal Palm Grove Sanc. building a nest; 1 ex. Cannon Rd.
16.4. 1 p. Bentsen at nest
17.4. 2 ex. Santa Ana NWR
18.4. 1 ex. Anzalduas; 1 ex. Bentsen; 1 ex. Saliñeno
19.4. 1 ex. Falcon Dam girl's scout camp / 1 ex. Falcon SP in shrub habitat (!)
Scott's Oriole (I. parisorum)*
21.4. 1 m. observed singing Lost Maples
Audubon's Oriole (I. graduacauda)*
19.4. 1 ad. At the former Girl's Scout Camp below Falcon Dam
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
20.4. Garner SP and Neal's Lodge a rather common bird
21.4. Up to 10 ex. Lost Maples
22.4. Garner SP rather common; along FM 1050 we found an very oddly colored bird, resembling Purple Finch rather than former species. The bird was completly red. Unfortunatelly it was too far away on private property, which we couldn't enter.
Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)
21.4. 6 ex. Lost Maples; around upper parking lot
Lesser Goldfinch (C. psaltria)*
13.4. 1 p. Sarita
20.4. 1 f. Neal's Lodge
22.4. 1 m. performing song flight Garner SP
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Rather common and widespread.