Saturday 30 April 2011

One good tern…

…deserves several more. Following on from yesterday’s Royal extravaganza, here are some more Texan terns. First up, something familiar from home: Sandwich Terns.

sandwich_tern2sandwich_tern3sandwich_tern4

Another familiar bird from Europe, but one I wasn’t really expecting to see in good numbers on the coast: we came across several groups of 50+ Black Terns, pausing on their northward migration. Individual birds could be found in just about any state of moult between full winter and full summer plumage… this one is at the former end of the scale.

black_tern

We also came across a few Least Terns, with birds showing particularly well off the jetty at Quintana. The light was very harsh during the middle of the day, which made it difficult to get good sharp photos, especially of predominantly white birds!

least_tern

And finally, something very unfamiliar, a bird that I’d been really keen to see: Black Skimmer. They proved to be pretty widespread and easily seen along the coast. The most showy and approachable birds were at Rockport beach, where you can drive alongside them.

skimmer2

skimmer1

Friday 29 April 2011

A Royal occasion

No, not that Royal occasion – there’s more than enough web space wasted on devoted to today’s events in London already! Staunch Republicans can read on in safety.

In Texas we encountered Royal Terns all along the coast, frequently showing very well in nice light for photography. Suzanne will testify that I spent quite some time enjoying them… but I think the results are worth it! These were taken in Rockport and Port Aransas.

royal_tern3

royal_tern2

royal_tern4

royal_tern5

royal_tern6

royal_tern7

royal_tern1

Thursday 28 April 2011

Texas: the List!

Since getting home, I’ve fielded several questions about what I saw in Texas – so here’s the definitive answer, for those who like that sort of thing. Obviously I forced myself to keep track of things during the trip, having no interest in lists whatsoever…

#

Species

Sites / comments

Lifer?

1

Common Loon

1 at Quintana

 

2

Pied-billed Grebe

various sites e.g. Brazos Bend, Aransas

 

3

Least Grebe

surprisingly easy to find: 4 at Aransas, 1 at Santa Ana

X

4

American White Pelican

few on roadside pools near Quintana, plus one at Rollover Pass

 

5

Brown Pelican

common

X

6

Magnificent Frigatebird

one from East Reef Beach Park, Galveston; one from Yacht Basin Road (High Island)

X

7

Anhinga

few at Brazos Bend, plus few in flight (e.g. thermalling at Santa Ana)

X

8

Double-crested Cormorant

various coastal sites

 

9

Neotropic Cormorant

various sites

X

10

American Bittern

3+ at Brazos Bend

 

11

Least Bittern

one almost flew into me at the Port Aransas Birding Center; others at Anahuac

X

12

Great Blue Heron

common

 

13

Great Egret

abundant

 

14

Snowy Egret

common

X

15

Reddish Egret

noted at Laguna Atascosa, Rockport Beach Park, Eight Mile Road (Galveston), Rollover Pass

X

16

Little Blue Heron

common

X

17

Tricolored Heron

common

X

18

Cattle Egret

common

 

19

Green Heron

common

 

20

Black-crowned Night Heron

noted at Brazos Bend, and a few in flight from car

 

21

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

noted at Brazos Bend, and a few in flight from car

X

22

White-faced Ibis

various sites

X

23

White Ibis

common

X

24

Roseate Spoonbill

noted at Smith Oaks rookery and various coastal sites

X

25

Fulvous Whistling Duck

only a few seen, on pools from Eight Mile Rd (Galveston)

 

26

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

common

X

27

Wood Duck

4 in flight at Brazos Bend; 2 in suitable breeding habitat at WG Jones State Park

 

28

Mottled Duck

common

X

29

Pintail

noted at Laguna Atascosa

 

30

Shoveler

e.g. Anahuac, Laguna Atascosa, Quintana

 

31

Blue-winged Teal

common

 

32

Green-winged Teal

one at Aransas

 

33

Redhead

few at Port Aransas Birding Center

 

34

Lesser Scaup

pair on roadside channel near Quintana, at least

 

35

Red-breasted Merganser

few singles e.g. Laguna Atascosa

 

36

Ruddy Duck

numerous on pools near Quintana

 

37

Black Vulture

relatively common, though less so than Turkey Vulture

X

38

Turkey Vulture

abundant

 

39

Osprey

various coastal sites; at least 5 at Laguna Atascosa

 

40

White-tailed Kite

just one from Santa Ana hawkwatch tower

X

41

Swallow-tailed Kite

one from roadside along Trinity River valley btw Dayton & Liberty

X

42

Mississippi Kite

good numbers on migration over RGV (e.g 250+ over Santa Ana; 500+ over Bentsen)

X

43

Sharp-shinned Hawk

several singles, plus c5 from Santa Ana

 

44

Cooper's Hawk

c10 from Santa Ana plus one near Neals Lodge

 

45

Northern Harrier

fairly regular in suitable habitat e.g 4+ at San Bernard Refuge

 

46

Harris's Hawk

singles at Falcon State Park, and from roadside south of Kingsville

X

47

Red-shouldered Hawk

one at Santa Ana

X

48

Gray Hawk

one at Frontera Audubon, Weslaco

X

49

Zone-tailed Hawk

one near Neals Lodge

X

50

Broad-winged Hawk

c10 from Santa Ana and similar numbers over Bentsen the following day

X

51

Red-tailed Hawk

the commonest roadside Buteo

 

52

White-tailed Hawk

one adult at Laguna Atascosa, after much searching

X

53

Swainson's Hawk

c10 from Santa Ana, few other small numbers

X

54

Bald Eagle

one near Aransas was a surprise

 

55

Crested Caracara

reasonably common roadside bird; noted as far north as Galveston

X

56

American Kestrel

just a couple - one at Laguna Atascosa, one at Santa Ana

 

57

Merlin

two at the Concan Bat Cave

 

58

Plain Chachalaca

easily seen at e.g. Santa Ana, Laguna Atascosa, Bentsen

X

59

Wild Turkey

seen well at Aransas

X

60

Northern Bobwhite

brief views on the Laguna Atascosa approach road, and at Anahuac

X

61

Clapper Rail

superb views several times on Yacht Basin Road

X

62

Sora Rail

various suitable sites

 

63

Common Moorhen

various suitable sites

 

64

American Purple Gallinule

just one, at Anahuac

X

65

American Coot

common

 

66

Black-bellied Plover

various

 

67

American Golden Plover

noted at South Padre Island and Rollover Pass

 

68

Killdeer

common

 

69

Semipalmated Plover

various coastal sites

 

70

Piping Plover

only noted from East Reef Beach Park, Galveston

X

71

Wilson's Plover

Laguna Atascosa; Rollover Pass

X

72

American Oystercatcher

various coastal sites from Galveston north

X

73

Black-necked Stilt

various suitable sites

X

74

American Avocet

c200 on pools near Quintana; ,much smaller numbers at e.g. Rollover Pass

X

75

Greater Yellowlegs

common

 

76

Lesser Yellowlegs

common

 

77

Solitary Sandpiper

noted at South Padre Island, Lafitte's Cove, Boy Scout Wood

 

78

Spotted Sandpiper

few singles e.g. South Padre Island Birding Center

 

79

Willet

common

X

80

Marbled Godwit

only noted at Rollover Pass

X

81

Whimbrel

various sites e.g. Laguna Atascosa; rice fields near Winnie

 

82

Long-billed Curlew

several at Laguna Atascosa

X

83

Upland Sandpiper

four at La Feria sod fields

 

84

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

15 in rice fields near Winnie

 

85

Ruddy Turnstone

common on the coast

 

86

Sanderling

common on the coast

 

87

Dunlin

common on the coast

 

88

Pectoral Sandpiper

noted in small numbers at South Padre Island and Aransas, and c50 in rice fields near Winnie

 

89

White-rumped Sandpiper

small numbers on pools on Pelican Island, Galveston

 

90

Semipalmated Sandpiper

various coastal sites

 

91

Western Sandpiper

20+ on pools on Pelican Island, Galveston

 

92

Least Sandpiper

commonest peep, present in most suitable habitat

 

93

Stilt Sandpiper

various sites e.g South Padre Island; Port Aransas Birding Center

 

94

Long-billed Dowitcher

various sites

 

95

Short-billed Dowitcher

various sites

 

96

Wilson's Snipe

singles at Anahuac and Aransas

 

97

Wilson's Phalarope

single at Laguna Atascosa was well received by other birders, plus two in rice fields near Winnie

 

98

Laughing Gull

abundant

 

99

Franklin's Gull

a group of 15 moved purposefully north near Indianola - no others noted

 

100

Ring-billed Gull

small numbers at various coastal sites

 

101

American Herring Gull

small numbers at various coastal sites - almost invariably pretty ugly brutes

 

102

Black Tern

c50 at each of Rollover Pass and Port Aransas Jetty

 

103

Caspian Tern

ones and twos at various sites with many Royal Terns

 

104

Gull-billed Tern

small numbers away from the coast e.g. Laguna Atascosa

 

105

Royal Tern

common on the coast

 

106

Sandwich Tern

common on the coast

 

107

Forster's Tern

various sites e.g. Rollover Pass

X

108

Common Tern

only a couple noted, at Quintana

 

109

Least Tern

various sites; showed well at Quintana

X

110

Black Skimmer

great views at Rockport Beach Park; also noted at various coastal sites

X

111

Rock Dove

common (feral birds)

 

112

White-winged Dove

common

X

113

Mourning Dove

abundant

 

114

Inca Dove

various sites e.g. Frontera Audubon; Smith Oaks

X

115

Common Ground-Dove

only specifically noted near Pollywog Pond

X

116

Eurasian Collared Dove

various sites around towns

 

117

White-tipped Dove

common in LRGV

X

118

Green Parakeet

c250 in pre-roost at junction of 10th / Violet in McAllen

X

119

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

singles at Smith Oaks and Sabine Woods

X

120

Greater Roadrunner

1 of 3 was very well seen at Laguna Atascosa; another confiding bird at Falcon State Park, plus calling birds near Neals Lodge

X

121

Great Horned Owl

heard at Concan Bat Cave; one downy youngster at a nest site in High Island

 

122

Common Nighthawk

one hawking over Sheepshead Rd, South Padre Island then subsequently roosted; at least 4 at Anahuac showed very well; heard at Sabine Woods and Boy Scout Wood

 

123

Common Poorwill

heard at Concan Bat Cave, and from Neals Lodge

X

124

Chimney Swift

common

X

125

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

not uncommon on passage; seen well at feeders at Bentsen

X

126

Black-chinned Hummingbird

common in Hill Country; well seen around Neals Lodge feeders

X

127

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

noted at Laguna Atascosa and Bentsen, at least

X

128

Belted Kingfisher

one at Anahuac

 

129

Ringed Kingfisher

one at Santa Ana

X

130

Green Kingfisher

one at Frontera Audubon, Weslaco

X

131

Red-headed Woodpecker

several at WG Jones State Park

X

132

Red-bellied Woodpecker

several sites e.g. Brazos Bend, Sabine Woods; WG Jones State Park

X

133

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

common in LRGV

X

134

Downy Woodpecker

noted at Rockport Demo Garden; pair at Sabine Woods, plus other sites

 

135

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

relatively common in LRGV

X

136

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

one showed well at WG Jones State Park

X

137

Pileated Woodpecker

one showed well at WG Jones State Park

X

138

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

pair nestbuilding at Bentsen

X

139

Eastern Wood-Pewee

singles at Paradise Pond (Port Aransas), Smith Oaks, Sabine Woods

X

140

Eastern Phoebe

several around Neals Lodge and Lost Maples

X

141

Black Phoebe

well seen along the river at Laredo and at Neals Lodge

X

142

Vermilion Flycatcher

Chalk Bluff Park and Neals Lodge

X

143

Ash-throated Flycatcher

just one specifically identified, near Neals Lodge - though I may have been throwing these away as Brown-crested when not calling

X

144

Brown-crested Flycatcher

several in LRGV and one heard at Neals Lodge

X

145

Great Crested Flycatcher

singles at various sites in LRGV, also Aransas

X

146

Western Kingbird

one at Sabine Woods

 

147

Eastern Kingbird

common on the Upper Coast

 

148

Couch's Kingbird

few singles - non calling birds assumed to be this species rather than Tropical

X

149

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

common roadside bid

X

150

Great Kiskadee

several sites in LRGV, and also Aransas

X

151

Loggerhead Shrike

common on Upper and Central coast

X

152

Warbling Vireo

few single passage birds noted e.g. Port Aransas, South Padre Island, Smith Oaks

 

153

Philadelphia Vireo

one at Boy Scout Wood on 20/4

X

154

White-eyed Vireo

reasonably common: loads singing in dense scrub at Aransas, plus smaller numbers elsewhere on the coast

X

155

Bell's Vireo

pair at Neals Lodge

X

156

Black-capped Vireo

pair well seen, plus another singing male, on the plateau on the East Trail at Lost Maples

X

157

Red-eyed Vireo

singing bird at Lost Maples, plus singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

 

158

Yellow-throated Vireo

single at Sabine Woods was the only one of the trip

X

159

Blue-headed Vireo

single outside our cabin at Neals Lodge, plus another heard at Lost Maples

X

160

Blue Jay

one particularly tame bird at Sabine Woods was gathering nesting material; also plenty in WG Jones State Park

 

161

Green Jay

seen well at Laguna Atascosa, Bentsen and Santa Ana

X

162

Western Scrub-Jay

couple at Lost Maples

X

163

American Crow

only seen in the north of the area (e.g. sites east of Houston); one non-calling bird at Sabine Woods could have been this species or Fish Crow!

 

164

Common Raven

several in the Hill Country e.g. Lost Maples

 

165

Chihuahan Raven

noted at Falcon State Park, and from the car in the same area

X

166

Horned Lark

three at La Feria sod fields

 

167

Barn Swallow

common

 

168

Cliff Swallow

reasonably regularly seen, with breeding colonies under many road bridges (though NB Cave Swallow not usually explicitly eliminated!)

X

169

Cave Swallow

100+ from Concan Bat Cave; also a small colony noted breeding under a concrete pier near Port Aransas ferry dock

X

170

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

various sites

X

171

Bank Swallow

only noted at Zapata near suitable breeding site; others may have been overlooked

 

172

Tree Swallow

reasonably common on the upper coast e.g. over Sabine Woods and Boy Scout Wood

X

173

Purple Martin

common - just look for the boxes in people's garden!

X

174

Carolina Chickadee

various sites in the north e.g. Brazos Bend; Jesse Jones State Park; Sabine Woods

X

175

Tufted Titmouse

only noted at Jesse Jones State Park, in Houston

X

176

Black-crested Titmouse

various wooded sites e.g. Santa Ana

X

177

Brown-headed Nuthatch

easily found at WG Jones State Park

X

178

Verdin

couple around Neals Lodge and nearby roadside brushy habitat

X

179

Cactus Wren

heard several times, and seen badly in flight only, near Neals Lodge

X

180

Marsh Wren

   

181

Sedge Wren

couple of vocal birds showed briefly at Aransas

X

182

Canyon Wren

heard only while waiting for the bats to emerge near Neals Lodge

 

183

Carolina Wren

pretty common (and vocal)

X

184

Bewick's Wren

one holding territory and visiting a nest at Neals Lodge; others at Chalk Bluff Park

 

185

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

passage bird at Paradise Pond, and singing birds on territory at Lost Maples

X

186

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

noted at Santa Ana and Bentsen

X

187

Eastern Bluebird

several at WG Jones State Park

X

188

Swainson's Thrush

one at Smith Oaks

 

189

Veery

one appeared in front of the photography blind late evening at Boy Scout Wood on 21st and 22nd

X

190

Gray-cheeked Thrush

one at South Padre Island, one at Boy Scout Wood

 

191

Wood Thrush

one late evening at Boy Scout Wood showed superbly

X

192

Clay-colored Robin

one at Santa Ana

X

193

Gray Catbird

common

 

194

Northern Mockingbird

abundant

X

195

Brown Thrasher

noted at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

X

196

Long-billed Thrasher

showy birds at Laguna Atascosa, plus others seen in LRGV

X

197

Curve-billed Thrasher

one singing bird at Magic Ridge, near Indianola, was the only one seen

X

198

Sprague's Pipit

one found by Suzanne while driving at La Feria sod farm: "Stop, stop, there's a little thing down there!"

X

199

European Starling

all too common!

 

200

Tennessee Warbler

probably the most commonly seen warbler, both on the coast and inland

X

201

Nashville Warbler

regularly seen, often in small groups of up to six birds, during the first week of the trip, but sightings dried up later on

 

202

Orange-crowned Warbler

only specifically noted at Lost Maples, but others possibly overlooked

 

203

Blue-winged Warbler

seen at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

X

204

Northern Parula

two at South Padre Island, other singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

X

205

Yellow Warbler

relatively common at coastal migration watchpoints

 

206

Chestnut-sided Warbler

three in a single bush at Smith Oaks, plus singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Wood

X

207

Magnolia Warbler

three together (with the Chestnut-sideds) at Smith Oaks, plus single at Boy Scout Wood. Probably my favourite Dendroica!

X

208

Blackburnian Warbler

just one seen, a female on the edge of Boy Scout Wood. Still want good views of a flaming male!

X

209

Cerulean Warbler

one seen briefly by Suzanne at Sabine Woods could not be relocated, to both our frustration

 

210

Black-throated Green Warbler

several at Boy Scout Wood, plus a single at Smith Oaks

X

211

Golden-cheeked Warbler

easily found along the East Trail at Lost Maples - we must've heard at least 10 singing birds, some showing well

X

212

Yellow-rumped Warbler

just one or two noted early in the trip e.g. Port Aransas

 

213

Pine Warbler

a common bird on breeding terrory e.g. at WG Jones State Park, but not noted on the coast

X

214

Blackpoll Warbler

smart males noted at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

 

215

Bay-breasted Warbler

singles at Boy Scout Wood and Smith Oaks

X

216

Yellow-throated Warbler

another stunner: seen on passage at Port Aransas, and on territory at and near Neals Lodge

X

217

Black-and-white Warbler

a particularly showy individual at Port Aransas, plus others in the High Island area. Also at least four singing males at Lost Maples

X

218

American Redstart

a male at South Padre Island, plus females at Smith Oaks and in the carpark at Boy Scout Wood

 

219

Prothonotary Warbler

one showing well on territory at Lake Charlotte

X

220

Common Yellowthroat

pretty common in suitable breeding habitat, and also on passage

 

221

Kentucky Warbler

one from the photo blind at Boy Scout Wood

X

222

Northern Waterthrush

one at Boy Scout Wood near Purkey's Pond

 

223

Ovenbird

one at South Padre Island

X

224

Swainson's Warbler

one showing well from the photo bling at Boy Scout Wood

X

225

Hooded Warbler

a male at Port Aransas and a female at Boy Scout Wood

X

226

Wilson's Warbler

one at South Padre Island

 

227

Yellow-breasted Chat

several singles seen e.g. Chalk Bluff Park; near Neals Lodge; Frontera Audubon

X

228

Scarlet Tanager

not uncommon at migration watchpoint sites e.g. Smith Oaks

X

229

Summer Tanager

as Scarlet Tanager, plus a few territorial birds in the Hill Countrt e.g. Chalk Bluff Park

X

230

Western Tanager

a single at Smith Oaks was rather smart

 

231

Dickcissel

singles at Sabine Woods and near Winnie, plus four on Pelican Island near Galveston

X

232

Blue Grosbeak

a single male at Lost Maples feeding station, plus three at WG Jones State Park

X

233

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

several around High Island sites, plus one at Lafitte's Cove

X

234

Indigo Bunting

relatively common: seen at most coastal migration sites in small numbers, plus a few in LRGV

X

235

Painted Bunting

small numbers at several sites: one at Rockport Demo Garden; one at Neals Lodge; two females and a male at Sabine Woods; one at Boy Scout Wood

X

236

Northern Cardinal

abundant - tracking down diverse songs and calls took me quite some time!

X

237

Pyrrhuloxia

only noted at Falcon State Park, where small groups showed wel

X

238

Spotted Towhee

single at feeders at Neals Lodge

 

239

Canyon Towhee

only seen at and near Neals Lodge

X

240

Olive Sparrow

easily found at Laguna Atascosa and other LRGV sites

X

241

White-collared Seedeater

one female on the Las Palmas Trail in Laredo

X

242

Black-throated Sparrow

two or three near Neals Lodge, and one at the Concan Bat Cave

X

243

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

one at Neals Lodge, plus a small group on the plateau on the Lost Maples East Trail

X

244

Chipping Sparrow

one of the commoner sparrows

 

245

Clay-colored Sparrow

reasonably common, seen at various sites

X

246

Field Sparrow

singing bird/s on the plateau on the Lost Maples East Trail

X

247

Vesper Sparrow

just one seen, at Neals Lodge

X

248

Lark Sparrow

plenty around the Hill Country, and on inland ranches e.g. near Kingsville

 

249

Grasshopper Sparrow

just one, at Bentsen

X

250

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

about five seen well early morning along Yacht Basin Road near Rollover Pass - but note I completely failed to find any in exactly the same area in two attempts during the middle of the day

X

251

Seaside Sparrow

easily found near Frozen Point at Anahuac

X

252

Savannah Sparrow

another relatively common sparrow in open country

 

253

Lincoln's Sparrow

several singles seen, generally in shady cover e.g. Neals Lodge feeders; South Padre Island convention center

X

254

Swamp Sparrow

singles at Port Aransas and Anahuac at least

X

255

White-crowned Sparrow

several on the coast and one at Neals Lodge

 

256

White-throated Sparrow

lingering birds at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods

 

257

Baltimore Oriole

easily seen at various coastal sites

 

258

Orchard Oriole

the commonest oriole on the coast, e.g. 20+ at Sabine Woods

X

259

Hooded Oriole

a cracking male noted at Neals Lodge

X

260

Altamira Oriole

another superb oriole - just one male seen briefly at Bentsen

X

261

Audubon's Oriole

unfortunately heard only, at Lost Maples

X

262

Scott's Oriole

one singing and showing well, on the plateau of the Lost Maples East Trail

X

263

Eastern Meadowlark

regularly seen and heard in suitable habitat; all non-singing Meadowlarks assumed to be this species

X

264

Red-winged Blackbird

abundant

 

265

Common Grackle

easily seen on the Upper Coast

X

266

Great-tailed Grackle

abundant

X

267

Boat-tailed Grackle

only specifically noted at Brazos Bend

X

268

Brown-headed Cowbird

common

 

269

Bronzed Cowbird

only noted at Rockport Demo Garden, but quite likely overlooked

X

270

House Sparrow

common in urban areas

 

271

Lesser Goldfinch

easily seen around Neals Lodge

X

272

Pine Siskin

several at Neals Lodge feeders

 

273

House Finch

several around Neals Lodge

 

PS – have another Laughing Gull, I’ve got loads.

laughing_gull