Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Upper Texas Coast
Whirlwind Migration
25 April – 2 May 2013
Tour Leader: Cameron Cox
All photos taken by leader Cameron Cox
Birds indicated in RED are shown in the photos.
American Avocets feeding voraciously along the Bolivar Peninsula
Introduction:
The Upper Texas Coast and, particularly, High Island are long intertwined with legends of spring migration and with the magical word “Fallout”! With good reason as this area is probably the most exciting place to watch birds during April and early May in all of North America. It’s not just the possibility of fallout, with warblers, tanagers, buntings, and orioles dripping from the trees, which makes it so exciting. Overall it is the diversity, the shear numbers, and close encounters with birds that sets this area apart. Gorgeous Roseate Spoonbills and Reddish Egrets work the coastal estuaries, Piping and Wilson’s Plovers are found on the sandy beaches, the marshes are full of rails, wading birds, and yapping Black-necked Stilts, many species of terns patrol the air, Seaside Sparrows whisper from clumps of Spartina grass, flashy Purple Gallinules strut their stuff, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers chatter from fence lines. It is an avian extravaganza not to be missed!
Our tour was based primarily in Winnie, a small community a short ways north of the internationally famous, among birders at least, hamlet of High Island. While most of our focus was on High Island and the neighboring Bolivar Peninsula we also ventured out to Galveston Island, Sabine Woods, Beaumont, and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. We also spent a night in the East Texas Pineywoods and mopped up many southeastern specialties like Red-
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Swainson’s Warbler the following morning. Our final day we explored areas southwest of Houston like Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and the Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary before end the trip near the Houston Airport. In all we totaled 224 species of birds, including 25 species of warblers, 33 species of shorebirds, and 16 species of wading birds! One of the highlights was finding a Whimbrel of the European subspecies, the first record in Texas for that taxa! In all it was an outstanding trip where the excitement of birding in Texas during migration was witnessed in full force!
Daily Summary:
April 25: Waiting at the airport for the group to arrive, the excitement mounted, as did the anxiety. Reports were flying out from birders on the nearby coast saying things like "...birds everywhere...", "biggest fallout in five years...", and "get to the coast pronto!". We desperately wanted to do as these reports suggested but on leaving the airport it was clear we would not make it to the coast before dark. We settled instead for birding some of the wooded bayous along I-10. Our first stop was a classic southern swampy bayou behind the Anahuac NWR refuge headquarters building, complete with Spanish moss draped over the limbs of Bald Cypress trees and chocolate brown, tannin stained water. It also held one of the characteristic species of this habitat, a gorgeous, glowing yellow male Prothonotary Warbler! His ringing song proclaimed that this was his swamp and all others were visitors. We also saw Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers and Eastern Kingbird, but it was apparent the massive grounding of birds occurring on the coast had not reached this far inland. Only as we were leaving did we get our first small taste of migrants, two Blackburnian Warblers in the garden behind the refuge headquarters. A few miles down the road, a stop at Whites County Park confirmed that few migrants were present away from the coast and we proceeded to our hotel and a taste of Cajun food at the iconic Al T's restaurant before resting for the big day of migrant chasing to follow.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
April 26: Along the Gulf Coast, the day after a major grounding of migrants is typically quite good as well, so it was with great anticipation that we pulled into High Island early on the second day of the tour. Exiting the van we were immediately engulfed in birds and for several minutes we barely moved, held captive but the show that unfolded alongside the road near Houston Audubon’s Boy Scout Woods. The bottle bushes at the Tropical Birding Info center were simply crawling with Tennessee Warblers as well as a stunning Prothonotary Warbler yet to stake his claim to a patch of swamp. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were positively swarming the mulberry trees, high, low, within arms-reach, all greedily munching on berries.
Once we entered the famous Boy Scout Woods sanctuary, our group spotted a Black-billed Cuckoo at the bleachers that stayed long enough for everyone to get scope views. Blue-winged, Worm-eating, and Kentucky Warblers quickly followed along with a host of other migrants. Both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles were everywhere and a female Bullock's Oriole became the first rarity of the trip. A Yellow-breasted Chat tooted from the brush and finally came out for quick scope views. We also had our first interesting mammal of the trip, a coyote ambling along in the back of the sanctuary. After several bird-filled hours we moved from Boy Scout Woods to Smith Oaks Woods on the other side of town.
Smith Oaks was carpeted in Indigo Bunting punctuated by a few Blue Grosbeaks. The numbers of orioles, tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were even higher here than Boy Scout Woods, literally in droves on the mulberry trees. Yellow-billed Cuckoos were also present in large numbers; every time we turned a corner we flushed a few and we had excellent scope views of several gorging themselves on caterpillars. And warblers, we had warblers! Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Tennessee Warblers everywhere, golden Prothonotary Warblers, burning Blackburnians, skulking Ovenbirds! It was a great day.
After a solid morning of birding, our heads where spinning with the kaleidoscopic of spring colors, it was time to break for lunch and for some marsh birds. We began the afternoon on the Bolivar Peninsula by birding Tuna Road. Here we encountered our first shorebirds with great looks at Black-necked Stilts, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Stilt Sandpipers. We also enjoyed excellent looks at a cooperative Savannah Sparrow and brief looks at a more sought after sparrow, a skulking Seaside Sparrow. We did not tarry long in the marsh though, as this was an exceptional day to work the woods and we returned to find it much as we had left it, filled with birds. While working one of the trails near the pond in Smith Oaks we encountered an unusual roadblock, two American Alligators blocking the trail. Despite our gentle encouragement these 'gators show a distinct reluctance to cede the path, so we left them in their sunny spot and backtracked, eventually finding ourselves in the famous High Island Rookery.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
I had planned to save the rookery until later in the tour, but when you are redirected by gators you go with the flow! The rookery was in full swing, the guttural calls of Snowy Egrets filling the air, Great Egrets, with their flowing aigrettes and brilliant lime-green lores, jockeyed for nesting space with breathtaking Roseate Spoonbills. The high breeding colors of the few Tricolored Herons were particularly spectacular, the intense blue of their bills set off by their showy white head plumes and glowing red eyes. Large numbers of the more austerely plumaged Neotropic Cormorants observed this lively scene serenely.
Sunset found us at Rollover Pass where things were slow but a Ruddy Turnstone already dressed in its arctic finery delighted several in our group. We soon called it a long but satisfying and bird filled day.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
April 27: On our third day we headed back towards High Island from Winnie but began birding before we even reached it. We were distracted by a Swainson's Hawk close to the road and pulled over to get a better look. We were further distracted by a Crested Caracara, then a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and then by a mixed flock of Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks that circled us calling loudly! After this unscheduled Texas birding bonanza we finish the trip to High Island. After the splendor of the prior day High Island seemed a bit lackluster though there were still plenty of birds around. Tennessee Warblers still infested the bottle brush bushes outside the TB Info Center, there were still plenty of Scarlet Tanagers and gorgeous Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. We had excellent looks at several male Hooded Warblers and added Painted Bunting to our trip list, though we only found females. Funny thing about Painted Buntings, everyone really likes the females, but only after they have seen a male! The pressure was definitely on to find a male Painted Bunting! We soon headed to the Bolivar Peninsula to look for waterbirds. Our first stop was at a little housing development with the hope of finding grassy shorebirds. No luck with grasspipers but we had terrific look at a male Baltimore Oriole perched on a barbed wire fence, then at Sora walking obligingly in the open at the edge of a marshy pool, then we hit paydirt! I yelled "Least Bittern flying left!" as one of these secretive herons broke from cover and flew a short distance. Everyone piled out of the van and enjoyed extended scope views of a gorgeous male Least Bittern! When then continued onto Fort Travis where the grass lawn hosted our first American Golden-Plover as well as a number of Black-bellied Plovers include some striking birds in full breeding plumage! To my great surprise we also found an American Pipit, a bird that should have headed north two weeks prior. In the marsh we were treated to views of several species of shorebirds and herons, but the Clapper Rails stole the show! Clapper Rails were popping up everywhere and we even witness some aggressive interaction between two rivals! Next up was north jetty access of Bolivar Flats. A
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 scan of the flats reveled stunning numbers of American Avocets; 10,000 at a minimum! Towering above the avocet horde was a flock of American White Pelicans and amid a mass of Snowy Egrets hunting in the shallows were a few Reddish Egrets doing their frenetic dancing. Closer to us were a couple of always engaging male Piping Plovers.
Our first stop after lunch was the Skillern Tract of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge where we able to watch a flock of several hundred Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, their buffy orange chests gleaming, along with a few vocal Black- bellied Whistling-Ducks showing off their lipstick pink bills. We also got our first quality views of White-faced Ibis and Mottled Ducks. A sudden storm modified our plans and we headed back to High Island hoping a grounding of migrants would accompany the rain. Our first stop was Texas Ornithological Society's Hook Woods Sanctuary. We were met largely with silence, the hoped for fallout failed to materialize. We did salvage the visit with excellent view of a Gray-cheeked Thrush bathing in the water feature and several cooperative Hooded Warblers. The standout bird however was the only Bronzed Cowbird of the trip that perched for a moment on top of a telephone pole. Since migrant songbirds were not cooperating we tried some wetlands south of High Island to view shorebirds. Unlike warblers, the shorebirds were more than happy to perform and in no time we had excellent views of Stilt Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes including several showy females, great comparisons White-rumped Sandpipers next to Semipalmated Sandpipers, and both Wilson's and Snowy Plovers. Pleased with this excellent haul we headed to dinner just as another rain showers struck.
April 28: The plan to start the fourth day of the tour was to work the rice fields near Winnie for freshwater shorebirds. After viewing several fields and getting views of many of the typical shorebirds including White- rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers we hit a small snag. A snag in the shape of a dirt road that looked solid but as 6 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected] Page
Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 we tried to leave it became apparent that the road wanted us to stay. To quickly skim over a long, messy situation, after fantastic display of teamwork we got the van back to the paved road. We were all a bit muddier than when we started but still in good spirits! We were immediately rewarded with good looks at the notoriously skulky Sedge Wren. Loading back on the van we continued onto Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge with a spectacular shower of mud spraying from the tires behind us!
After the dramatic start to the day it seemed likely that our trip to Anahuac would be anticlimactic, but no, as soon as we entered the refuge interesting birds started coming one after another. First while we registered at the entrance one of our group spotted a Common Nighthawk perched out in the open on a low tree branch, we put it in the scope, then realized that there were three other nighthawks perched nearby! Then before we could head farther into the refuge a Solitary Sandpiper flew over calling and landed nearby allowing excellent scope views. Then a Northern Bobwhite, a species that has become scarce in many areas where they were formerly common including the upper Texas coast, started giving its namesake call. We located it and enjoyed watching it throw its head back and delivery its each call with gusto! Eventually we tired of scope views of bobwhite and proceeded to drive into the refuge. We did not make it far! A loudly vocalizing King Rail caught our attention and on exiting the van we found the bird was sitting uncharacteristically right out in the open! Scope views and “ewwws” and “ahhhs” followed and by the time we left the bird had attracted a small crowd of additional admirers including several photographers with formidable lenses! Our next highlight was not a bird but, much to the delight of several inland dwelling members of the group, a number of large American Alligators sunning themselves near the road. If you 7 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected] Page
Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 have not seen them before a ten-foot creature with a toothy grin leaves quite an impression! Farther along we were able to get everyone on a Seaside Sparrow, improving on the brief views from several days before. A trip to Yellow Rail Prairie produced bug bites, sweat, and unsatisfying views of LeConte's Sparrow, but not the bird for which the prairie was named. Another attempt would have to be made, but now it was time for lunch.
After lunch we headed to Galveston, where our first stop was Pelican Island. Pulling into the parking lot at a small shrubby woodlot I felt my heart rise and then plummet as a male Painted Bunting, a bird that everyone in the group was frothing to see, popped up momentarily but then went streaking away. We began searching for it buoyed by the fact that the area was clearly very birdy, a flock of Indigo Bunting fed in the grass, as did the first Dickcissels of the trip that were willing to giving good views. There was a western component to the birds here not typically found at High Island, a suspiciously dull female hummingbird became a Black-chinned Hummingbird when the characteristic primary shape was viewed in the scope, then a Lincoln's Sparrow popped up briefly, then we flushed a small, buffy nighthawk that perched in the open for scope views proved to be a Lesser Nighthawk. All these birds were great bonus birds but they were not a male Painted Bunting nor were they the bird I had brought the group to this location to see. I left the group near where the Painted Bunting had last made an appearance and went looking for the stakeout species. I quickly found it and turned back to retrieve the group only to find them all grinning broadly when I returned. They had relocated the male Painted Bunting and seen it well! Wheeww, what a relief! We then drove down to where the stakeout was. In many areas where Tropical Birding runs tours this species is one that is largely ignored, but this far north and east a Tropical Kingbird is special we soon had it in view, a first for TB's Upper Texas Coast tour!
We then head to the newly famous Lafitte's Cove, with a quick stop at to pick up a few lingering Common Loons. Soon we were pulling into Lafitte's and right off the bat we picked up a Lark Sparrow amid a flock of Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks. We entered the woods and immediately it was apparent that this was a good day. There were warblers around every corner. In a few hours we had Bay-breasted, multiple Blue-winged, Black- throated Greens everywhere, tons of Tennessees, so many Magnolias that people where no longer raising their binoculars for them, great looks at Chestnut-sided, and a very quick look at a Golden-winged among others. Philadelphia Vireo was the non-warbler highlight along with multiple Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, and dozens of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. It began to get dark before we ran out of birds so we headed back to Winnie for the night.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
April 29 : The next morning found us back at HAS Smith Oaks Woods in High Island. Compared to the number of birds we had seen at Lafitte's Cove the night before it seem relatively dead, but the birds we did see were high quality. It started with a singing Golden- winged Warbler but like the Golden-winged from yesterday it refused to cooperate. Soon though this defeat was forgotten as we found a Black-billed Cuckoo giving jaw-dropping views! Still reveling in the cuckoo we finally found a male Golden-winged Warbler to perform for the group! Excellent looks were had by all of this stunning creature! We rounded out the visit with great looks at Kentucky and Bay- breasted Warblers along with some of the more regular migrants.
The mudflats of Rollover Pass were our next stop and soon we had seen all the expected terns of the Texas Coast including Sandwich and Black Tern as well as Black Skimmer. We also netted Marbled Godwit, both Snowy and Piping Plovers, and closer looks at American White Pelicans in direct comparison with the emblem of the Gulf Coast, Brown Pelicans. Farther down the Bolivar Peninsula Bob Road was our next stop. Things seemed pretty slow at Bob Road but a Whimbrel stood in the middle of the road right in front of us. We stopped to take a good look at this obliging curlew when another car came whizzing down this typically deserted road, whipped around us nearly hitting the Whimbrel, and sped down the road. Momentarily distracted by this display of recklessness, I did not 9 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected] Page
Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 look back toward the Whimbrel for a few seconds, but when I did the bird fleeing the reckless driver flying across a pond did not look like a normal Whimbrel, it had a huge pale V extending up the back and flashed pale underwings! As the bird banked and alighted on the far bank of the pond I saw the decurved beak and typical Whimbrel head stripes and realization struck that we had found a Eurasian Whimbrel! Unfortunately while my brain was aware of what the bird was, in my excitement my mouth failed me and instead of the words Eurasian Whimbrel the words that came to my lips where “Eurasian Curlew”, a very different bird! I was not around to explain my mistake though, having bailed out of the van clutching my scope and camera in a frenzy to document this rare sighting! The rest of the group was right behind me and only a little disappointing when I explained that I had misspoken. Our main problem at the moment was that the bird had disappeared into the marsh. But a few minutes later it flew back across the pond and landed distantly in the marsh on the other side of the road. We could see the bird but the field marks we needed to document the sighting where invisible while the bird was sitting. Several minutes later though it took flight again and I was able to get distant photos of the white back. It landed farther down the road at a location we could approach and we did so cautiously and where able to creep very close to the bird before it took flight and I was able to get much improved photos. Excellent! It's not everyday you find a first state record for Texas even if it is just a first subspecies record! After this triumph we had earned lunch!
After lunch we were back scouring the rice fields between Winnie and Anahuac looking for freshwater shorebirds with the assistance of Andres Vasquez. Andres pulled out a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and I located a Baird's Sandpiper for the group rounding out our shorebird list nicely.
We then tried once again for Yellow Rail at Yellow Rail Prairie. Once again it was hot, buggy, and entirely uncomfortable but we did get reasonable looks at LeConte's Sparrow after chasing them for a while. Just as we were leaving the prairie we picked up a surprising bonus bird, an American Bittern that gave great looks and posed for photos! Excellent! Usually they are gone by this date but this one hung around late just for us! On this note we headed to Al T's for an inspired dinner!
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
April 30: We headed east early arriving in the Sabine Pass area, near the border with Louisiana, soon after sunrise. We stopped at a beach access in McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and found our first Caspian Terns of the rip and went over the finer points of Common and Forster's Tern identification. Soon after we were putting on bug spray and mentally preparing ourselves for the mosquito endurance showdown that is birding in Sabine Woods! Fortunately the mosquitos, while bad, were tolerable, but migrants, though not entirely lacking, were fairly scarce. A Gray-cheeked Thrush showed off in one of the water features, a Bay-breasted Warbler gave us incredible views, and we reveled in yet another gorgeous Chestnut-sided Warbler. What we were looking for was not a warbler though. The past few years Sabine Woods had hosted a small, isolated population of Golden-fronted Woodpeckers. We first found an odd looking woodpecker that looked like neither Red-bellied nor Golden-fronted but had some characteristics of both, a probable hybrid. Only after an extensive searching did we find a female Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Our quarry found, we had planned to head north towards the Pineywoods of East Texas. Our plans were modified by an unexpected blockage of the only road that cuts north through the industrial slums on the south side of Port Arthur. A cement truck had made an overly sharp turn and flipped over blocking the road. To kill the time until the road reopened we headed into the extensive coastal marshes that surround Sabine Pass. Soon we were discussing the differences between Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs as we had an excellent comparison of both species side-by-side. Then we found a flock of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 standing in a field with a single Fulvous Whistling-Duck in their midst. After these two educational experiences plus a particularly cooperative Eastern Kingbird we headed back north only to find the road still blocked. We retreated to Sabine Pass where we consumed greasy food from a roadside diner/food cart. The best option we had and not half bad actually. While eating we heard the local gossip that the road was open again, so we headed north and to our joy we were able to escape Port Arthur!
Our next stop was in Beaumont at the local sewage treatment plant (every birding trip needs a trip to Sewage Treatment facility!) where we picked up several Cave Swallows amid Cliff and Barn Swallows. We then caught a glimpse of a Fish Crow, a species found only in this part of Texas, but much better views were needed. We hoped to get better views at the Tyrrell Park Cattail Marsh down the street but Fish Crows were absent. We did get distant views of a young Bald Eagle still sitting in its nest, our first of the trip. The road north to the Pineywoods was calling us so we headed to Jasper to rest for the all-out birding blitz the following day.
May 1: Our morning in the Pineywoods started early and started well with a predawn Chuck-wills-widow that flew between members of the group after a little coaxing! We then made tracks for a Red-cockaded Woodpecker colony nearby. Unfortunately, the woodpeckers did exactly what I hoped they wouldn't do. On leaving their snug holes for the morning they immediately took off and flew across the road far from their colony. We chased them around for a while and finally everyone got looks in the scope. While we were chasing the woodpeckers we also picked up several of the other characteristic birds of the region, a cooperative Bachman's Sparrow, several Pine Warblers, and a pair of Brown- headed Nuthatches. With these specialties in hand our next stop was the magic woodpecker location near Lake Sam Rayburn. On the way in we picked up House Finch, a scarce bird in East Texas, and our first Eastern Bluebirds. At the woodpecker spot Red-headed Woodpeckers were everywhere and we had repeated excellent views in the scope of this showy species. A Northern Flicker stuck its head out of its hole and surveyed us. We also saw several Red-bellied Woodpeckers. In addition to woodpeckers, several Bald Eagles flew past out on the lake but none stopped to give us a good look. We encountered a second pair of Brown-headed Nuthatches and were able to improve on our views from earlier. A Kentucky Warbler sang loudly nearby. On our way out I was happy to encounter a Hairy Woodpecker, a very difficult bird in this part of Texas. We stopped at Ebenezer Park and finally got a look at a perched adult Bald Eagle before heading south.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
A quick stop at a clearcut produced good looks at Prairie Warbler and a Yellow- breasted Chat doing its weird flight display. Another quick stop netted scope looks at a singing Lark Sparrow, a rare breeder in East Texas. Soon after we arrived at breeding warbler Mecca, Martin Dies Jr. State Park! While we could hear Prothonotarys, Kentuckys, and many other species of warblers singing had a few targets that we had not picked up in the coastal migrant traps. Our most important was Swainson's Warbler and we soon were enjoying crushing views of this secretive skulker! This was a major target for everyone on the trip so picking it up easily and seeing it well really made the day, but there was more to come! We also picked up good views of the gorgeous Yellow-throated Warbler and good views of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher which we had missed in the migrant traps. We shifted gears and went to look for waterbirds and soon had our first Anhingas of the trip as well as a number of Purple Gallinules. In the distance a Red-shouldered Hawk soared. As we were leaving a Pileated Woodpecker flew in front of us! Our last pineywoods target in hand it was time to head south. The drive back toward Beaumont has long been good for Mississippi Kites and several in the group really wanted that bird and were on high alert as we sped south. Before long my copilot spotted a soaring raptor and glancing at it I saw the unmistakable silhouette of a Mississippi Kite. I pulled the van to the side of the road and everyone piled out quickly. The first bird to pop from behind the trees and drift over the road was not a Mississippi Kite though, it was something much less expected. "SWALLOW-TAILED KITE" I yelled as this most elegant of North American raptors calmly drifted over the trees. It did not stay in view for long but the looks we had were close and excellent, an unexpected bonus bird! We had not yet seen the Mississippi Kite though as one member of the group reminded me, so stepping back a bit I spotted the Mississippi Kite and call the group's attention to it. Soon several Mississippi Kites were soaring above us and a Broad-winged Hawk made a brief appearance to
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 round out an excellent unscheduled stop! Everyone was quite satisfied except for their stomachs which were hungry! Instead of stopping locally we hurried straight to Beaumont and enjoyed a late but exception lunch at Pappadeaux's! An after lunch stop back at Tyrrell Park did produce a cooperative and highly vocal Fish Crow to slam the door on East Texas specialty breeders! We got them all so we headed back to High Island.
After checking into our hotel he hit the south oil fields again and racked up on shorebirds. We had great views of Baird's Sandpipers, White-rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers in direct comparison with Semipalmated Sandpipers. Great views of a showy female Wilson's Phalaropes, good looks at Lesser Scaup, and more Caspian Terns. We finished the birding for the day in the High Island Rookery, enjoying the finery of the nest wading birds. We were able to view baby Roseate Spoonbills and learn that their skin is pink in addition to their feathers! Awkward baby Great Egrets entertained us with their antics while the adults preened and strutted. Though we had seen many, everyone wanted one last scope view of Purple Gallinule so we closed the day with that.
May 2: Our final day began at Rollover Pass at dawn. The normal horde of Black Skimmers, terns, and avocets greeted us. American Oystercatchers had eluded us on our prior trip to Rollover, but not this morning! We got excellent looks at this odd shorebird before turning our attention to some several Snowy Plovers that were feeding actively on the nearby mudflat. As we were leaving Rollover a small flycatcher flew in front of the van and landed in a bush. Close scrutiny revealed it to be a Least Flycatcher, a scarce migrant on the upper Texas coast and a new bird for our trip list.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
We next stopped at Bob Road to find that our Eurasian Whimbrel was still there. A female Red-breasted Merganser made another new bird for our trip list. Perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser though was our second American Bittern of the trip. Once again a close and cooperative individual.
Bolivar Flats, like Rollover Pass, was loaded with birds. Hoards of Least Terns, flocks of Sanderlings, and stately Brown Pelicans, but we had a specific target in mind. Shortly after arriving we spotted our target, a beautiful Red Knot, foraging along shore, then another, then a small flock. While the demise of this striking shorebird in the Delaware Bay has been well publicized, it has declined of the Gulf Coast as well so that every sighting is treasured. While Red Knot was our main target, we could not pass up point blank looks at a Marbled Godwit just along the road as we were leaving. A quick side trip to Port Bolivar produced crushing looks at Clapper Rail and then we were on the ferry and head back over to Galveston.
On arriving in Galveston we when directly to East Beach to look for a Glaucous Gull that had been seen recently. Amid a distant flock of gulls and tern we spotted a hulking, ghostly shape that was unmistakeably a Glaucous Gull, but we walked closer for a better look. As we approached I looked up to see a Magnificent Frigatebird sailing low, directly above our heads! The juxtaposition of the black, tropical scavenger with the snowy white arctic gull was quite interesting, but we had ground to cover and little time to ponder interesting coincidences. Leaving East Beach we had a Lesser Black-backed Gull cruise past us but it did not stick around for a better look.
Lafitte's Cove was our next stop, and though a strong northern front was bearing down on us, it was clear that the fallout had yet to occur. The woods were mostly empty but we did salvage excellent looks and American Redstart
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 and Bay-breasted Warbler, as well as several lingering Redhead in a small pond. We continued west on Galveston Island and just before reaching San Luis Pass lucked into two Long-billed Curlews, a species I assumed we would miss as they are typically quite early migrants.
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge was baking hot with heavy, moisture-laden air just prior to the storm in the early afternoon. We managed to obtain excellent looks at Gull-billed Terns flying in and out of a small pond along the refuge loop road. Farther along the loop we added Gadwall and American Wigeon to our trip list along with extremely close Wilson's Phalaropes. The alligator spectacle almost stole top billing from the birds though! They were numerous and close, though characteristically lethargic. Our closest view yet of a Crested Caracara capped our Brazoria visit and we headed back to the coast hoping that the impending storm would have put down some birds.
At Quintana sanctuary it quickly became apparent that we were still too early for a fallout. The migrants were scarce and the humidity was stifling. The number of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds was notable though, so we enjoyed close looks at these feathered jewels foraging amid numerous flowers. A Northern Parula decided to take advantage of the same nectar bounty that the hummingbirds were using and stayed long enough to pose for photos. Looking up we were rewarded with the sight of a swirling flock of Anhingas working into what was now a fair stout north wind as the storm broke. As it would clearly be hours before any fallout would develop and with flights to catch the following morning we reluctantly left the coast and headed to Houston, a fortunate decision in hindsight as this front did not produce a significant grounding of birds. We ended our tour the right way though,
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013 with a magnificent dinner at Pappas Seafood House followed by dessert! Full and tired the group said their farewells and retired to rest before flight home the following morning.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Trip List
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl):
Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
American Wigeon Anas americana
Gadwall Anas strepera
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Redhead Aythya americana
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Gaviidae (Loons):
Common Loon Gavia immer
Podicipedidae (Grebes):
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags):
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhingidae (Anhingas):
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
Pelecanidae (Pelicans):
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns):
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 18 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected] Page
Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Great Egret Ardea alba
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills):
White Ibis Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
Cathartidae (New World Vultures):
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Pandionidae (Osprey):
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites):
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots):
Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris
King Rail Rallus elegans
Sora Porzana carolina
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
American Coot Fulica americana
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets):
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers):
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings):
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies):
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
"Eastern" Willet Tringa semipalmata semipalmatus
"Western" Willet Tringa semipalmata inornatus
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flaviples
"Hudsonian" Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus
"European" Whimbrel* Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
*First Texas record for this subspecies that is likely to be split from the North American "Hudsonian" Whimbrel at some point. Found by our tour on the Bolivar Peninsula.
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers):
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
American Herring Gull Larus (argentatus) smithsonianus
Lesser Black-backed Gull* Larus fuscus
*Galveston Island. Rare but regular on the Upper Texas Coast.
Glaucous Gull* Larus hyperboreus
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
*Galveston Island. Rare but regular on the Upper Texas Coast in spring.
Least Tern Sternula antillarum
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidron nilotica
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern Childonius niger
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves):
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
Inca Dove Columbina inca
Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina
Cuculidae (Cuckoos):
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Strigidae (Owls):
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies):
Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis
Apodidae (Swifts):
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds):
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers):
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Picidae (Woodpeckers):
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
(Yellow-shafted)
Pileated Woodpecker Drycopus pileatus
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras):
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
Merlin Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers):
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Tropical Kingbird* Tyrannus melancholicus
Rare. Stakeout. First for TB’s UTC tour
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus
Laniidae (Shrikes):
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Vireonidae (Vireos):
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies):
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Alaudidae (Larks):
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
Hirundinidae (Swallows):
N. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple Martin Progne subis
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits):
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Sittidae (Nuthatches):
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla
Troglodytidae (Wrens):
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
Carolina Wren Thyrothorus ludovicianus
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers):
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies):
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Veery Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers):
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Sturnidae (Starlings):
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits):
American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Bombycillidae (Waxwings):
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Parulidae (New World Warblers):
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows):
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus
Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Bachman's Sparrow Aimophila aestivalis
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies):
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Upper Texas Coast: April-May 2013
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
Dickcissel Spiza americana
Icteridae (Troupials, Blackbirds, and Allies):
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies):
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows):
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
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