All out fall out at the home patch!

After the severe thunderstorm last night, I headed over to El Franco Lee Park hoping something may have dropped in. The soccer fields were flooded when I arrived and I made a quick stop to check for shorebirds. In a nearby puddle I spotted a lone Solitary Sandpiper (redundant) along with several Least Sandpipers. I scanned some fields further away and was blown away by what I saw, in the distance, one of the soccer fields seemed covered with birds. After a quick drive over I wasn’t disappointed. About 400 shorebirds were actively feeding in the grass, remember these are just flooded soccer fields. A quick scan revealed most of them to be Pectoral Sandpipers with two Buff-breasted Sandpipers (new park bird) mixed in. On closer inspection there were many White-rumped Sandpipers, several Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, one or two Baird’s along with a single SHort-billed Dowitcher. In the ditches Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were present with a few Stilt Sandpipers. Nearly a dozen Wilson’s Phalaropes bobbed about, some females in full breeding plumage. At first I was disappointed I didn’t bring my scope, but shouldn’t have worried, the birds were as approachable as starlings. A lone Spotted Sandpiper added to the mix and a single Dunlin was found on the way out.

If the fields were this good I wondered what the forest held. In the first brush I stumbled upon Yellow and Canada Warblers and yes it was busy. The overall tally included (rough numbers) Yellow (10), Magnolia (12), Chestnut-sided (15), Blackburnian (8), Black-throated Green (6), Bay-breasted (5), Black-and-white (3), American Redstart (14), Tennessee (10) Warblers, Northern Waterthrush (1), Kentucky (1), Mourning (1), Canada (10) Warblers, Common Yellowthroat. Other migrants included large numbers of flycatchers with Yellow-bellied the most numerous Empid (10), Least (2), Willow/Alder (1), Olive-sided (1), and lots of Eastern Wood-Pewees. Eastern Kingbirds were everywhere. Two female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks dropped in and a single Summer Tanager was present with a few Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Lots of Indigo Buntings and other odd and ends included Philadelphia Vireo (2) (new park bird) and Red-eyed Vireo, plus Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Overhead Judy Behrens and I picked up ten Black Terns and a handful of Franklin’s Gulls (new park bird) mixed in with Laughing. Overall a fantastic day.

Willow Flycatchers at the home patch

This pm I rushed over to the park and fortunately ran into Judy who had been checking on things all day. She informed me that a few migrants were still about. After checking on a Red-shouldered Hawk nest that may have not survived last night’s storm we came upon some migrants. First Judy got me on a brilliant Blackburnian Warbler followed by a Yellow Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo. Eastern Wood Pewees were common and we spied the odd Willow/Alder Flycatcher. After pishing up a Canada Warbler and Judy just missing a Swainson’s Thrush we headed back. I heard distinct “whit” calls from the willows and we were able to closely observe and listen to two “whitting” Willow Flycatchers. We compared their calls to recordings, got great views of the “field marks”, and finally I had my Willow Flycatcher for the park, actually for Texas. An awesome finish to a quick visit.

Yes, there are migrants at the home patch!

I met Judy at the Audubon Meeting Wednesday night and she brought the good news that El Franco Lee Park had hosted a few migrants that day. Thus, after work on Thursday I made my way over there in the evening. The vegetation has become thick and rank and things started out quiet until I eventually found some titmice and chickadees. Straining my neck and pishing I eventually caught glimpses of a Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, and best of all a Bay-breasted Warbler. I walked into the woods and followed the flock, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Magnolia Warbler showed themselves, a female Summer Tanager made a brief appearance. Further down the trail I flushed a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and then came across more Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers, at the sharp turn I added my first Swainson’s Thrush to my park list. On the return there were literally flocks of warblers and I added Tennessee. Overall a pretty good evening.

Tropical Mockingbird in Texas

After being locked into a school field trip yesterday I made the trip to Sabine Woods for the Tropical Mockingbird today. I ran a little late, but left the house at 5:30 am and after stretching the limits of the speed restrictions a bit arrived at the sanctuary by 7:00 am. I was surprised to see the parking lot empty and headed to the clearing where the bird had been reported. One or two folks were already looking. I wandered towards the edge of the woods and then back to the clearing. I caught a Northern Mockingbird that seemed to be interacting with another bird deeper in the foliage and there it was, the Tropical Mockingbird hopped into view.

Tropical Mockingbird Sabine Woods, Texas Photo Stephan Lorenz

I and many other observed the bird for nearly an hour as it flew back and forth, often perching high up in the open. It closely associated with a Northern Mockingbird the entire time, often following the Northern. From what I could observe only the Northern sang on what seemed like a territory. At one point I observed both bird foraging within a foot of each other. It will be interesting to see whether these birds will pair up and attempt a hybrid nesting, which likely would be a first as these two species do not overlap in range. As to origin, natural vagrancy appears likely. Even though the species is non-migratory, Tropical Mockingbirds have expanded their range in places like the Lesser Antilles, as such at least “wandering individuals” occur. In addition the species is common in the Yucatan Peninsula and after crossing the gulf northward, the first and only landfall would be the US coast. It will be interesting to see further discussions. Raffaele’s Birds of the West Indies provides good plates that show both species. The Tropical Mockingbird showed its distinct tail pattern clearly several times while flying across the clearing. Overall a great bird to add to the ABA list.

Tropical and Northern Mockingbird pair? Photo Stephan Lorenz

I walked towards the area where the Black-whiskered Vireo had been observed and the first bird that flew across the trail turned out to be just that. Great looks where had by all as the bird foraged right out in the open, maybe another visitor from further south instead of east.

Black-whiskered Vireo Sabine Woods Texas, Photo Stephan Lorenz

On the way home I checked the turf farms in east Harris Co. and came up with a few Upland Sandpipers and Whimbrels.

30 minute birding after the storm

Hail and rain and 60 mph winds, fortunately I was cocooned in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, but as soon as I got out I made my way to Russ Pitman Park, hoping for some birds that were blown in. The rain abated and with my pupils still slightly dilated from the eye exam I came across a Veery as the first bird and seconds later flushed a Chuck-will’s-widow. Things looked promising, but then it went quiet. 30 minutes later I managed to add Swainson’s Thrush for an overall quiet evening, but still new county birds for the list.

Chuck-will's-widow Russ Pitman park Harris Co., Photo Stephan Lorenz

Parking lot birding take two

I couldn’t help but take another look around this am. Orioles of both species continued with Scarlet Tanagers and Summer Tanagers showing really well. There were more Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and the first big surprise was a Yellow-breasted Chat, actually two, which came right out into the open near the mulberries. A single male Common Yellowthroat in the hedges along a balcony was the only warbler and an eastern Wood-Pewee called from an open perch. Cedar Waxwings continued in large numbers and the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers hung about. Quite interesting to see what else may show up. The few trees in the apartment complex do not look very impressive and the main action occurs around the mulberries, but one oak attracts most birds.

Parking lot birding

This morning the familiar American Robin was singing right above my parked car and I almost got in a drove off when the chatter of a Baltimore Oriole caused me to look up. I saw the bird, a male and enjoyed it for a minute, when a female Orchard Oriole appeared. I grabbed the binoculars and waited a few more minutes. Before long I had about 20 male Baltimore Orioles, several Orchard Orioles moving rapidly through the trees. A Summer Tanager popped in and a sluggish male Rode-breasted Grosbeak followed. I walked across the lot to some fruiting mulberry where Cedar Waxwings had been busy all winter. The waxwings were still there, but so were more orioles and Scarlet Tanagers (2), a single Tennessee Warbler was on the only warbler. Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers chased each other about. Back at the main oak an Indigo Bunting literally dropped out of the sky and both species of tanagers sat in the same binocular field. Unfortunately I had to tear myself away, but will pay more attention to the trees in the apartments, pretty incredible given the location. Two Northern Parulas had shown up earlier in the Spring, maybe time to start a list (100 would be the goal).

Spring is here

Prothonotary Warbler Brazos Bend SP Texas, Photo Stephan Lorenz

New county birds close to home

El Franco Lee Park was quiet as it has been for the past several visits. Except for several Eastern Kingbirds and two Indigo Buntings there were no migrants. A pair of Ring-necked Ducks remains, but otherwise the wetlands are empty. To use the rest of daylight I made a mad dash to Russ Pitman Park from home and found a handful of migrants. Things started well with a male American Redstart and Acadian Flycatcher, before quieting. I came across a secretive Kentucky Warbler. With a few minutes of light remaining a male Summer Tanager appeared and at the 11th hour the hoped for Blue-winged Warbler, two hyperactive birds that were difficult to observe. Looks like Spring is well under way.

This weekend I spent three days leading tours at FeatherFest in Galveston under difficult conditions. With strong south winds the birding was slow, except Whimbrels, Upland Sandpipers, and American Golden Plovers. I actually found the best birds Sunday (04/15) afternoon after the festival, when about 30 Red Knots showed very well on east beach among hundreds of shorebirds, gulls, and terns.

Birding East Harris Co.

Things started off well behind the Monument Inn with a large flock of gulls and terns loafing. Among the hundreds of Laughing Gulls I found a single Franklin’s Gull and a Common Tern. At Baytown Nature Center things slowed, but I was surprised to still find lots of sparrows, including White-crowned, White-throated, and Swamp. Otherwise I realized I wasn’t the only one enjoying the day off and the nice weather as all boat ramps were busy with fishermen. Despite some effort I couldn’t turn up anything else.

Franklin's Gull Harris Co. Photo Stephan Lorenz