texas region nalswere quite productive, while neotropi- the caveatof beinga raw,unedited, until- calmigrant passerines (e.g. Purple Martins, tered source of data. Golden-cheekedWarblers) were struggling We appreciatethe help this seasonof to produceany young. Some observers felt Linda Hedgeswith the compilationof the that seedeaterssuch as cardinals,sparrows, Trans-Pecos information. and buntingswere more successfulthan true insectivores(although we know that Abbreviations:L.R.G.V. (Lower Rio Grande the formergroup dine on insectsextensive- Valley);S.S.W.T.R (South Side Water Treatment ly duringthe nestingseason). Did their Plant, Dallas);T.C.W.C. (Texas Cooperative capacityto subsiston the seedcrop from WildlifeCollection/Texas A&M University); springgrasses and flowersgive them an U.T.C.(Upper Texas Coast). The following are advantagethat strict insectivoreslacked? shortenednames for the respectivecounty, Understandably,birds in well-watered state,or nationalparks, wildlife refuges, etc.: urban habitats--suchas jays, starlings, Anahuac, Aransas, Attwater, Balcones mockingbirds,and grackles--seemedto do Canyonlands,Bentsen, Big Bend, Colorado GREGW. LASLEY,CHUCK SEXTON, fine relativeto birds in the countryside. Bend, Hagerman,Hueco Tanks, Kickapoo, HARKLOCKWOOD, Hummingbirds,as nectarfee&rs, perhaps LagunaAtascosa, San Bernard, and Santa Ana. and CLIFF SHACKELFORD sufferedthe worst impact on nestingefforts. Breedingsuccess of Broad-tailedsin the GREBES TO STORKS montane west and of Archilochus in central LeastGrebes apparently had a goodnesting ' washissummer,"hotter 'n even hell;"bySeyffert Texan instandards, the Pan- and eastTexas was poor. Interestingly, colo- season in the L.R.G.V. where water was handle dismissed that as an understate- nial waterbirds at coastal and inland rook- available;three at SanAntonio's Mitchell L. ment.In hisregion a recordtemperature of erieswere mostly very productive. all summerwere odd (m.ob.). A pair of 108øF was set. A core area of central and Junewas filled with morethan a typical Eared Grebes with one juvenile was at north Texas from Austin north to the Red load of late-lingering northbound mi- MitchellL. June18 (BDo). Both spedesof River found itself trappedunder a high grants.Were these the resultof wind and Aechmophorusgrebes were at severalTrans- pressuredome of sinkingair which pro- stormpatterns, or couldthe drought condi- Pecos reservoirs;however no definite nest- ducedlong stretchesof brutal 100øFand tions havehalted some weakened (or unin- ing evidencewas observed (BZ, JPa,MAd). above weather. spired) birds in mid-migration?As the Amos found two beached Greater Shear- Numericallythis was among the hottest stunningheat of Juneand July set i.n, whole waters,one on MustangI., Nueces,June 29 and driest summers on record statewide. ecosystemsseemed to go into dormancy. and anotheron SanJose I., Aransas,July 30 Rainfallwas sparse to nonexistentin most The fate of many youngbirds produced (both * to T.C.W.C.);these represent the 8th areas(e.g. Edinburgreceived 0.0" for the early in the seasonmay be rightly ques- and 9th documentedTexas records. A July two months; some areasof the Trans-Pecos tioned;young Purple Martins were report- 20 pelagicoff Freeport,Brazoria, yielded received0.17"'between January and June). edly"fried" in their housesin northTexas. two Leach's Storm-Petrels, nine Band- The monsoonseason brought some relief Observershad to wonderif food supplies rumpedStorm-Petrels, and four Audubon's rains to the mountains of the Trans-Pecos couldsustain the youngof anyspecies and Shearwaters (DPe, RG, • RWe, m.ob.). in luly and therewere some local showers whetherthey would be able to survivethe Weeksreported a high numberof Masked elsewhere,but soakingrains would not stressfulheat and dryness.By July,many Boobies found dead or turned in for rehab showup until August.National news arti- nestingbirds, young and adults alike, aban- on the U.T.C., with five from Brazoriaalone. des cataloguedthe terrible toll on the donedbreeding grounds early to fend for BrownPelicans had a phenomenalnesting human environment, which included well themselvesor to try to reachmore equable seasonin GalvestonBay, with 1000+fledg- over 100 fatalities ascribed to the heat. Here climates.This report is repletewith sight- lingsin July(WB, BGa) furtherdocument- we try to sort out the effectsof these ingsof earlysouthbound migrants; we sus- ing their recoveryin recentyears. Three extreme environmental conditions on the pectthis is a symptomof the exodus,par- Double-crested Cormorants at Mitchall L. avian world. ticularlyamong breeding birds of the suf- in July(GSc) were unusual, as were scattered To be truthful, there were ambivalent feringsouthern U.S. latitudes. individualsin the High Plains,Panhandle, and even contradictoryclues during this There seemed to be at least a modest and n.c.Texas (m.ob.). The nestingcolony nestingseason. As we headedinto June, upward trend of the numbersof birders of Double-cresteds at Palo Duro L., somespecies seemed to be well-represented bravingthe heat.The timelyconveyance of Hansford,increased over the previousyear by noisybroods in manyareas. This was discoveries on such forums as Audubon's (KS). In the absenceof any tropicalstorm particularlytrue for cavitynesters such as TexBirdslistserver was clearlyan inspira- activity,a frigatebirdsp. over BastropJune chickadees,titmice, and wrens. If there was tional avenue of communications. TexBirds 29 (BFr) wasa bizarresighting. Two Least anygeneral pattern (and this is notyet con- alsoprovides an importantarchive of many Bitternswere found in MidlandJuly 3 8½4 firmed by quantitativeobservations), it detailsof birding reportsthat we cannot for onlythe 2ndcounty record (JHe). seemedas if residentspecies such as cardi- includehere, although it obviouslycarries City officialsfrom Carrollton,Dallas,

VOLUHE5:' (1998), ISSUE4 475 reactingto complaintsof unpleasantodors another in Houston (m. ob.). The Swallow- and noisefrom a localheron rookery, bull- tailed Kitesin Orangefledged two young dozedthe site at 4 a.m.July 23. It is estimat- (fideCSh). A lateMississippi Kite was noted ed that 1000+ heronsand egrets(mostly in SanAntonio June 8 (KBa),while an early Cattle Egrets) were killed. Hundreds of migrantwas at Smithville,Bastrop, July 12 juvenilebirds were rescued by localrehab- (BFr); the speciesis not knownto nestin bers.This eventsparked much controversy theseareas. A N. Harrierat S.S.W.T.P.July 16 in the media and on the Internet. (MWh, MGa) provideda first Julyrecord A pair of Great BlueHerons nesting at for Dallas. Three Sharp-shinnedHawks McNary,Hudspeth, June 13 (BZ) provided were in the Davis Mts. June20-24 (KB, JKa, the firstTrans-Pecos breeding in decades.A m.ob.),an areawhere nesting is not known. TricoloredHeron was very much a rarityin Unusualrecords of GrayHawks included an Yoakum,July 31 (C&FR). An ad. Yellow- adult in Ft. Davis June 6 (KB) and two It wasan exceptionalsummer for shore- crownedNight-Heron at McNary June13 immatures at Big Bend's Santa Elena birdsbridging the gapbetween spring (BZ) provideda rare Trans-Pecossummer CanyonJuly 19 (MAd). Justas last year, a and autumnmigration. These Marbled record. There was an incursion of White nestingpair of Com. Black-Hawksat Big Godwitsat LakeBalmorhee, Reeves Ibisesinto c. andn.e. Texas; up to 30 werein Bend'sRio GrandeVillage was not success- County,Texas, on June18, lggS, were Wacoduring July (EGW) and 100+were at ful (MF1 et al.) but a pair in Tom Green the first in summer for West Texas. CooperL., Delta/Hopkins,throughout the raisedone young (TM). Twoor threenest- Photograph/GregLasley period(K&MWh). Nestingwas suspected ing pairs of Broad-wingedHawks were at the latter location.Rare but expected, noted in the Austin area, a bit more than wereone Solitary Sandpiper at AustinJune singleGlossy Ibises were at MitchellL. June typicallyfound on the edgeof their breed- 13(BFr); three Willets at HagermanJune 11 16 (BDo) and in BeaumontJuly 4 (JWh). ing range (m.ob.). The Short-tailedHawk (WM, KaH); an Upland Sandpiperat There were some very early Roseate from the springat SantaAna wasreported Cooper L. June 30-July 1 (MWh); two Spoonbillrecords inland: 15 at Mitchell L. aslate asJune 30 (TB). A Zone-tailedHawk Long-billedCurlews at L. BalmorheaJune June5 (fideGSc) and threeat Salado,Bell, June6 in n. Hidalgo(ph., TU) wasout-of- 18 (ph.GL, RW); a Sanderlingat CactusL., July6-26 (RPi). A largeconcentration of place.Three activeAplomado Falcon nests Moore,July 17 (KS);two Stilt Sandpipers at 300 Wood Storks was found at Mitchell L. were observedin the Brownsvillearea; all six June 17 (KBa). adults were banded birds from the U.S. Fish Corpus Christi July 12 (M&AC); four Long-billedDowitchers at CactusL. June & Wildlife Service/PeregrineFund hacking 27 (EK);a Corn.Snipe at CooperL., Delta, WATERFOWL program(fide BMc). A PrairieFalcon was an July26 (M&KWh);a Red-neckedPhalarope An unusuale. Texasnesting record was pro- unforeseen find on the Rita Bianca National at CooperL. July 18-20 (ph., M&KWh); videdby sixad. and 10young Black-bellied Grasslands,Dallam, June 14 (KS). Single and 27 Wilson'sPhalaropes near Utley, Whistling-Ducksin TrinityJune 14 (DAn). PeregrineFalcons away from breeding areas Bastrop,June 27 (BFr). Eight Marbled Two FulvousWhistling-Ducks at Mitchell were noted at KarnesJune 5 (WS), Waco Godwitsat L. BalmorheaJune 18 (ph.,GL, L. June18-July 4 weresomewhat surprising June 28 (fide EGW), and L. Balmorhea, RW) providedthe first documentedsum- (BDo).A FulvousWhistling-Duck lingered Reeves,June 28 (MAd).The Big Bend popu- mer record for the Trans-Pecos; at least one at V.C.D.B. until June 14 (JWS). Four lationfledged only three, a significantdrop Mottled Ducksat Mitchell L. throughthe fromlast year's 17 fledglings. remainedinto July(KB). Another Marbled period were unusual(WS). There werean wasat ImperialRes. July 11 (MAd). We had inordinatenumber of unexpectedwater- QUAILS TO SHOREBIRDS 2 confirmednesting records for Spotted Sandpipers:a juvenilewas at the Sanford fowl; the most notable induded ten Blue- Dry yearsare hard on quail,and with the Dam marshes, L. Meredith, Hutchinson, wingedTea] in HudspethJune 27 (MAd); impactof fire ants,N. Bobwhitesseemed to July 7 (KS), and an adult with flightless two CinnamonTeal at S.S.W.T.P.July 19-25 havea verybad seasonin partsof c. Texas. (LHa, RR); a Green-wingedTeal in Jeff A King Rail wasagain found in marshesat youngwere found in Coke(AKa). Equally Davis June 19 (GL, RW); singleCanvas- L. Meredith, Hutchinson,July 7 (KS). excitingwas an ad.Wilson's Phalarope with backsat Mitchell L. June3-July 8 (m.ob) Discoveryof 105nests of SnowyPlovers at two young in Carson (WC, Texas andTarrant in July(m.ob.); a GreaterScaup salinelakes (primarily in the s. half of the Tech./TPWD).Both of thelatter species are at Tornillo, El Paso,June 13 (BZ); a Red- Panhandleand on Red R., Childress)was extremelyrare nesters in Texas.An oddAm. breastedMerganser on theRed R., Grayson, verygratifying (WC, aspart of an ongoing Woodcockspent the period at Victoria June 22-July 18 (LL); and two Com. TexasTech Univ./TPWD shorebirdstudy). (JDa). Mergansersat Tornillo Res.June 13 (BZ). A count of 229 Wilson's Ploverson San Jose Giventhe droughtin the Panhandle,a sur- I., Aransas,July 14 was excellent(TA). JAEGERS AND TERNS prise œmdwas a hen N. Shovelerwith six Another good shorebirdcount was 37 Rare,but not unexpected,single Pomarine chicksin RandallJuly 1 (KS). A Masked Black-neckedStilts at ImperialRes., Pecos, Jaegerswere found along the coast June 2 at Duck was presentthrough the seasonon July11 (MAd). One-threeAm. Avocetsat PadreI., Kenedy(BSa), and June10 at the privateproperty in Cameron(ph., TC). S.S.W.T.P.in mid-June (BSt, MWh) and mouth of the San Bernard R., Brazoria one at Cooper L. June 15 (MWh) were (R&KL). An ad. LaughingGull was at RAPTORS unseasonable.Among the interesting "sum- McNary June 13+ (ph., JPa,BZ), a rare Ospreysnested at 2 locationsin s.e.Texas; mer" shorebird records (which are often Trans-Pecos record_ There were a smatter- one at the s. end of Toledo Bend Res. and hardto describeas late, early, or lingerers) ing of late,lingering Franldin's Gulls dis-

476 FIELD NOTES texas

May 14 throughat leastJuly 27 (ph.,MEf) providingthe first inlande.c. Texas record. Well out-of-rangewas a Blue-throated Hummingbirdin Elgin, Bastrop,July 30 (MeB,fide BFr).A CalliopeHummingbird was observedin Amarillo, Randall,July 21-22 (RSc) and anotherwas in Canyon, Randall,July 29-30 (A&MS, TF). A very late Broad-tailedHummingbird for the Panhandlewas in Amarillo June9 (RSc). Red-cockadedWoodpeckers are some- timesfound on privateland in Texas,but it Thewestern Gulf Coast is becomiaga nightmarishplace for thosewho are savinggulls is veryexceptional; the specieswas detected for their old age. Thisis especiallyso for the largerdark-backed gulls. Several in MontgomeryJune 8 and in NewtonJune identificatioaswere proposedfor this gull at Surfside,Brazoria County, Texas, on July9, 10 (RM). On state-ownedproperty, the 1998. Perhapsmost plausible given its two-yearmaturation is Yellow-footedGull, specieswas still found at the Huntsville thusexplaining the tail bandwith a singlenewly tooltad ractrix, outer primary pattern, StateFish Hatchery, Walker, July 24 (RM). and the darksmudge on the culmea.Another troubliag identification put forwardwas Herringx KelpGnll which was all too possible,see the CentralSouthern regional report. FLYCATCHERS TO SI/VALLOWS Photograph/RonWeeks. A singingGreater Pewee was documented persedover Texas, the latest a bird in Huds- nisheda first Ddta record.The presenceof with photographsand tape recordingsin pethJune 27 (MAd). A 2nd-yearCalifornia these birds in n.e. Texas in the absence of a the high DavisMts. June21-24 (•'GL JKa, Gull wasat Ft. Hancock,Hudspeth, July 1 tropicalstorm is curious. KB,RW et aL);because the bird wassinging (•-JPa);presumably the samebird was at sopersistently and movedover a verylarge TornilloRes. July 14. DOVES TO WOODPECKI•S area, we think it was unmated. Two W. Weeks photographedan interesting A greatfind was a Band-tailedPigeon in Wood-Pewees,notorious for lingeringin the dark-backedgull at Surfside,Brazoria, July LubbockJune 10 (JCI);there are 3 previous Panhandle,were singing in DallamJune 14 (KS). LateEmpidonax flycatchers at Quin- 6-Aug. 7. Photosposted on the Internet summerrecords for the High Plains/Pan- tana, Brazoria,included a Yellow-belliedand stirredgreat debate by expertsworldwide. handlearea. New countyrecords were pro- a Willow, both seenand heard June 6 & 7 Identificationsuggestions included Yellow- videdby White-wingedDoves in Lipscomb looted Gull (which would be a first Texas (J&WRi), while a Yellow-bellied and an June10 (A&FS),and in HockleyJune 22-25 Alder were at Colorado Bend, San Saba, record),Kelp x Herringhybrid, and an odd (LeS).An influx of Corn.Ground-Doves was LesserBlack-backed, among others. As of June4 (ML). In their only known Texas seenn. of their normalrange in c. Texasby this writing we are still not certainof this breedinglocations, singing Gray Flycatchers earlyJune; singing birds were fairly routine birds identity. were noted in the Davis Mts. June 20-24 at BalconesCanyonlands (CS) anda single A fatty-looking first-summerGreat (JKa, KB, GL, RW). A Black Phoebe in bird was in Midland July 26 (D&AKe). Black-backed Gull was at Lubbock June MidlandJuly 26 provideda firstJuly county There were 2 more reports of Corn. 28-July2 (ph., •-CSt,JH, m.ob); this is only record (DKe). In the same location where Ground-Dovesin HudspethJune 3 andJuly the 3rd summer record for Texas. Unusual the GreaterPewee was found, up to four 7 (JS,JF, BZ), wherethey are locallyrare. inland, a Royal Tern was at L. Tawakoni Dusky-capped Flycatchers were pho- Verylate was a Black-billedCuckoo June 7 at June23-July 11 (ph., M&KWh, RK, MG). tographedand tape recorded June 21-24 for San Bernard,Brazoria (R&KL). Somewhat It's gratifyingto see increasingsummer about the 10th or 11th documented Texas reportsof LeastTerns in the Trans-Pecos surprisingwere three Groove-billed Anis at record(•'KB, JKA, GL, RW). Out-of-range and Panhandle.Numbers were reported at BigBend's Rio GrandeVillage July 27 (ph., wasa GreatCrested Flycatcher in Lubbock Ft. Hancock, Imperial Res., and on the BZ, VE, m.ob.). Another Groove-billedAni June 10 (JH), as was a Brown-crestedin Canadianand Red rivers(m. ob.). Nesting at Kerrville,Kerr, July 31 (ph.,KWi) provid- BrazoriaJune 6 (DVe,RWe, ph., MG). In the colonies were located at.the latter 2 loca- ed a first countyrecord. A Corn.Pauraque Trans-Pecos,a Brown-crested Flycatcher at tions.Elsewhere, nesting Least Terns were along the Karnes/Wilsonline throughout Indian Hot Springs,Hudspeth, July 7 pro- noted at new sites at Twin Buttes Res., Tom Junewas n. of whereexpected (WS). Two videda firstcounty record (BZ). Up to four Green(fide TM); S.S.W.T.P.;and CooperL., LesserNighthawks in Hamiltonduring June TropicalKingbirds remained at Big Bend's Ddta (m.ob.). The July 20 pelagic off (EGW) were n. of their typical range. CottonwoodCampground through the sea- Freeporttallied 60 SootyTerns. Following Chimney Swifts were reported in the son.Tropical Kingbirds nested in Rancho the springreports of noddieson the coast, L.R.G.V.and at Ft. Davisin areaswhere they Viejo and Harlingen,Cameron (BMc et al.). anotherBrown l•oddy wasphotographed hadnot previously nested (TB, KB). Two- threeCouch's Kingbirds were report- on PadreI., Kened?,June 19 & 24 (J- ph., This summer'sGreen Violet-ear reports ed at Mitchell L. June 6-9 (GSc) and a BSa),while remarkably a Black l•oddy was included one at Comfort, Kendall, June 24 Tropical/Couch'sKingbird was in Jefferson photographedon the jetty at San JoseI., (•- ES) and anotherin CenterPt., Kerr,July July5 (JWh).A Cassin'sKingbird in Texline, Aransas,July 27 (J- ph., CMc). A Black 15-21 (•'C&CO, SWie). The Broad-billed Dallam, June 14 (KS) was one of few sum- Skimmerat V.C.D.B.June 21 provideda Hummingbirdin Ft. Davislingered until mer reportsfor the Panhandle;Seyffert 2nd Tarrant record (MR, JWS et al.), while July10 (KB).A Buff-belliedHummingbird foundthe speciesto be unusuallycommon one at CooperL. June27 (ph., MWh) fur- visiteda ChappellHill, Washington,feeder on a BreedingBird Surveyroute in nearby

VOLUHE52 (lggs), ISSUE4 477 n.e. New Mexico the previousday. Even in Ft. Davis June 1 (ph. GP), a Mac- more unexpectedwere four Cassin'sKing- Gillivray'snear Canyon June 4-14 (I&WD), birdsnear Hueco Tanks June 12 (SW). Log- a HoodedWarbler w. of AustinJune 23 (fide gerheadShrikes were particularly sparse in AD), and a CanadaWarbler at BentsenJune n.e. Texasin areaswhere they were fairly i 4 (TB). Northern Parula continuedto show easyto locateonly a few yearsago; the signsof a rangeexpansion in n.e. Texas; droughtmay have played a role. they probablynested along the SabineR. Bell'sVireo hasalmost disappeared as a below L. Tawakoni for the first time (RK, breedingspecies in the Panhandle,so one MWh). Followinglast year'sPine Warbler singingJune 6 in Hemphillfurnished a good invasion,a pair remainedto nestin Grayson find (KS).Drought conditions in •. and w. for a firstbreeding record there (WM). In Texasplayed hard on the nestingsuccess of n.e. Texas, Corn. Yellowthroats and Yellow- the endangeredBlack-capped Vireo. The breasted Chats had a successfulseason, dry conditionsin Big Bend apparently while Black-and-whiteand Kentuckywar- inhibitedegg-laying (fu/e MF) andrelatively bierswere nearly absent by earlyJune. few young were raised at well-surveyed A silent male MacGillivray'sWarbler coloniesat Kickapooand Balcones Canyon- observed at 8200 ft. near the summit of Mt. lands (DStu, CS). This offsetan increasein Livermorein the Davis Mts. June 24 (KB, the number of territorial birds which result- Presumablya non-breediagwanderer was this Wood Thrush well west of normal GL, RW) wasa surprise.The spedesis not ed from lastyear's production. breedJagaad migratoryterritory at Lake known to nest in Texas;however, this is the Away from its known nestingarea, a Balmofheain WestTexas oa lune 18, 2nd observationof MacGillivray'sin suit- WarblingVireo in HartleyJuly11 (PT et al.) IggS. This was the first ever found in this able habitat during midsummerin this was noteworthy.Elsewhere, we receiveda part of the state in summer. area. Probablysymptomatic of the poor remarkablereport of WarblingVireo nest- Photogreph/GregLasley nesting season, a wandering Golden- ing•n Johnson atL. Pat Cleburne (CE), pro- cheeked Warbler showed up off the vidingnot only a first countyrecord but a around for several seasons, but one at EdwardsPlateau in BastropJune 3 (BFr). very rare nestingrecord for that area of VolenteJuly 23 was inexplicable(AD). A Anotherindicator of the early exodusof Texas.Following up on lastspring's flurry CarolinaWren at Zimmer'syard in E1Paso breedingspecies in drought-strickenareas of reports,Yellow-green Vireos again made July21 representeda 3rd countyrecord and were reportsof Black-and-whiteWarblers news. One-two Yellow-greenswere at the first for summer(ph. BZ). An early in s. Texasin mid-July(HB, m.ob.),and an Quintana,Brazoria, June 1-7 ($RWe et al.), southboundmigrant was a Blue-grayGnat- amazing report of an individual in s. and a 3rd wasat anothernearby location catcherat AransasPass July 30 (E&NA). Veracruz, Mexico, July 13 (CG, PS). June 5-10 (tJ&WRi). Closer to their Two pairs of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers Probablyout of its breedingrange was a expectedrange, one was heard at SantaAna nestedat Kickapoo(DSTu, KB), establish- presumed southboundAm. Redstart in July15 (TB) and anotherwas near Harlin- ing a first breedingrecord for the Edwards CollegeStation, Brazos, July 17 (E1R). genJuly 26 (• OC). In BigBend, yet anoth- Plateau. One-two Swainson's Thrushes lin- er Yellow-greenVireo wasat DugoutWells geredat BalmorheaS.P. until June17 (TJ), TANAGERS TO FINCHES June7 (• MF). while a Wood Thrush there June18 (ph. Therewere 2 recordsof SummerTanagers FishCrows were seen on the SulphurR. GL, RW) providedthe latestever "spring" awayfrom breeding areas; one in PaloDuro w. to Cooper L., Delta (MWh), but the record for the Trans-Pecos,well w. of their CanyonJune 12 (BiMc, RSc),and another numbers were down from the last 2-3 usualmigration route. Clay-colored Robins in McAllenJune 22 (TB). HepaticTanager years.By late July,large Purple Martin were reported all seasonat McAllen and is knownas a breedingbird in Texasonly in roostshad begun to build up in c. Texas;at Anzalduas (m.ob.). There were 3 curious the mountains of the Trans-Pecos.Thus, an Waco 25,000+ were at one site (EGW, KK) summerPhainopepla records: June 10 and ad. male Hepatic banded and pho- and a roost in Austin had 30,000+ (AD et July4 at 2 locationsin Midland (JMe,GG) tographedat Devil's River State Natural al.).Add CooperL. to the shortlist of local- andanother bird in EdwardsJuly 22 (SS). Area, Val Verde,June 20 wasout-of-place ities where Tree Swallows nest in Texas; Two Texasspecialties, the Colima and (RD, BO). Remarkably,the male was after4 yearsof summerrecords they were Golden-cheekedwarblers, apparently had accompaniedby a femaleand two streaked finally confirmedwith young (MWh). A poor nestingseasons due to the drought; juveniles.This site is a few thousandft. flock of 5000+ Bank Swallows near Harlin- most individuals of both specieshad lower in elevation and at least 60 mi n.e. of genJuly 26 wasnoteworthy in numberand departedtheir breedinggrounds by late in the nearest known breeding areas in early date. SeveralCave Swallownesting the season(MF, GL, CS, ML, m.ob.). As Mexico. locations were noted in both Brazos and with shorebirds,we had a smatteringof late A male White-collared Seedeater seen at Brazoria,there were first breedingrecords northbound warblers as follows: a N. Parula SantaAna June30 andJuly 15 was evident- for Montagueand Wise(RG), and a Cave well to the westin CrosbyJuly 1 (RLo), a ly of thew. Mexicorace S. t. torqueola,quite Swallowin ThrockmortonJune 6 (RR) pro- Yellow Warbler in Lubbock June 10 (JC1), distinctin plumagefrom the n.e. Mexico videda firstcounty record. singleChestnut-sideds in KerrvilleJune 3 & sharpeirace (TB). We are awareof 2 addi- 4 (LR), a CapeMay in BrazoriaJune 5-7 tionalphotographed records of thisrace in NUTHATCHES TO WARBLERS (I&WRi), a handful of Am. Redstartsand Hidalgoand El Paso;the origin of these A White-breastedNuthatch reported July 9 Ovenbirds at coastal and c. Texas locations birds is unknown.The Botteri'sSparrows at Webberville, Travis (BFr), had been (m.ob.),a MourningWarbler out-of-range foundbreeding in Presidiolast year did not

478 FIELD NOTES texas showup thisyear (MAd). Therewere indi- public,the excellentphotos obtained will Merkord,Joann Merritt (JMe),Wayne Mey- cations in Travisand Johnsonof a drift of provideTexas with onlyits 2nd document- er, CharlesMills, Carroll Moore (CMo), breedingCassin's Sparrows e. of their nor- ed record.We alsoreceived a late reportof Laura Moore, Brent Oftego, Charles& realrange, as expected in dryyears (CE, CS, an apparentTropical Parula May 13 near CarolynOverstreet, Wyatt Partney, Jim Pat- GL) A Black-throatedSparrow near Loren- BuffaloGap, Taylor ('• TE); therehave been on (JPa),Dick Payne,Dwight Peake (DPe), zo,Crosb)4 July 1 (RLo)may alko have been a few recentrecords of thisspecies in the s. GeorgePeck, Randy Pinkston, Truman & a similar indicator of drought-induced Hill Country,but thisis yet another160 mi SharonPowell (T&SPo), RossRasmussen, movements.A VesperSparrow in the Pan- farther north. Ellen Ratoosh(E1R), Eddie Ray, Jim Ray, handlein HartleyJuly 11 (EK et al.) was Martin Reid, Bill Reiner, Maria Riddle- early(or late?). Clited Obsservers(subregional editnrs in spurger,Linda Riner, Jan & Will Risser Two Dark-eyedJuncos lingering in the boldface): Peggy Acord, Mark Adams (J&WRi),Clarice & FloydRobertson, Bob DavisMts. in late Junewere puzzling: an (MAd), TonyAmos, Dick Anderson (DAn), Rozinski(BRo), Sid& ShirleyRucker, Rod "Oregon"June 20 (KB,JKa, GL, RW) anda Keith Arnold, Nina & Eddie Arnold, John Rylander,Billy Sandifer(BSa), Laura Sare "Gray-headed"June 21 (D&LH). The near- Arvin, MargaretBailey, Merle Barrington (LSa), Adriel & Fay Schoenhals,Monty estbreeding station for the latterrace is in (MeB),Keith Barrels (KBa), Kay Baughman Schoenhals,Georgina Schwartze(GSc), the GuadalupeMrs.', 90 mi to thenorth. An (KBau),Sue Bayley, Phil Beckhelm,Steve RosemaryScott (RSc), Willie Selada(Cen- lmm grosbeakJuly 7 at PaloDuro (EK et Bentsen,Nancy Bird , Lorie Black,Nick tral Texas:7063 Co. Rd. 228, FailsCity, TX al ) wasidentified as a Rose-breasted,but it Block,Hazel Bluhm, SarahBourbon (SBo), 78113-2627. email: [email protected]), is not clearwhich specieswould be more David Bradford (DBr) (U.T.C.: 18046 Chuck Sexton,Ken Seyffert(Panhandle expectedat that dateand location, and the Green Hazel, Houston, TX 77084. email: 2206 S. Lipscomb,Amarillo, TX 79109), identification of imm. Black-headed/Rose- [email protected]),Hugh Brown, Tim Cliff Shackelford(CSh) (EastTexas: Texas breastedGrosbeaks can be tricky. Else- Brush,Kelly Bryan (Trans-Pecos: EO. Box Parks& WildlifeDept., 4200 SmithSchool where,there were 3 reportsof Black-head- 786, Ft. Davis, TX 79734. email: Rd., Austin,TX 78744. email: clifford.shack- edsaway from breedingareas: one at Inks [email protected]),Winnie Burk- [email protected]),Wendy Shattfi L, Burnet,June 17 (fideAD), onein Lamp- ett, Mary Campbell,Oscar Carmorea, Gary (WSh), Mark Shavers(MSh), J.W. Sifford asasJuly 24-25 (DHo), and anotherin Clark,Jeremy Clark (JC1), Warren Conway, (JWS), Leanna Smith (LeS), Sylvestre MidlandJuly 26 (D&AKe). Arlie & Mel Gooksey(South Texas: 15825 Sorola, John Sproul, Darleen Stevens Williams said that Bronzed Cowbird SocorroLoop, Corpus Christi, TX 78418. (DSte), Elton Stilwell,Cliff Stogner(CSt), numbershad tripledor quadrupledin the eraall: [email protected]),Tim Cooper, DixieStogner (DSto), Bob Stone (BSt), Phil Midland area this summer; both Bullock's Carolyn Cuthbertson(CCu), Jean Dake Stouffer,Dave Stuart (DStu), Ken Sztraky, andOrchard Orioles were observed feeding (JDa), Isabel& Walt Davis,Ross Dawkins, PeggyTrosper, Tom Urban,Leila Vaughan, fledglingcowbirds. Quite remarkable was a Louis Debetaz, Bob Doe (BDo), Andrew Donald Verser(DVe), Darrell Vollert, Hlra •Fuerte's'• OrchardOriole (Icterusspurius Donnelly,Ed Dutchover,Charles Easley, Walker, Ro Wauer, David Weaver, Ron fuertesi)in Arroyo City, Cameron,present Mark & MaryannEastman, Marcia Effinger Weeks (RWe), Steve West, Ed Wetzel, Donald White, Kristin & Matt White sinceApril, but not identifieduntil June 15; (MEf), TroyEttel, Bill Evans,Mira Evans, thebird remained until at leastJuly 11 (ph., Philip Faurot,Rob Fergus,Mark Flippo, (K&MWh) (N.C. Texas: 2518 Monroe, Commerce,TX 75428. email: mwhite@sul- •' KBau,BMc, JA, LM et al.). Thisrepresents AnthonyFloyd, Connie Fordham,Tyler only the 2nd documentedrecord of this Fordham,Wendy Forster,Jane Fowler, phur-springs.isd.tenet.edu),.E.G. White- Mexicansubspecies for Texas;its regular Brush Freeman, Bert Frenz (BeF), Bob Swift (EGW), JoeWhitehead, John Whittle range reachess. Tamaulipas.A pair of Gallaway(BGa), Murray Gardler(MGa), (JWh),Egon & SueWiedenfeld (E&SWie), FrancesWilliams, Kathleen Withers (KW 0, HoodedOrioles feeding young at Mitchell Brian Gibbons (BGi), Catherine Graham, L (BDo et al.) June27 wasa nicefind. Russell Graham, Michael Gray, Gene BarryZimmer. A RedCrossbill near Merkel, Taylor, July Grimes,Ken Hackman,Karl Hailer (KaH), 8 (fide LB) wasvery interestingsince the LaurensHalsey .(LHa), George Harmon, Jill TX 78745-6527(email: glasley@earthlink. net) speciesnested in nearbyAbilene last sum- Haukos,David & LindaHedges, Ruth Heino and Chuck Sexton. 101 E. 54th St.,Aust•n, mer Perhapsa final strayrelated to the (RHe), Dick Henderson (DHe), Jim TX 78751-1232(email: cwsexton@onr. com). droughtconditions was a LesserGoldfinch Henderson (JHe), Tommy Hinkle, Dan at RitaBianca L., Hartley,July 11 (LSa). Hodges(DHo), Winifred Holmes,Sallie Homan, Joe Hopkins OHo), Brian Hud- ADDENDUM gens,Ron Huffman, David Hurt, JoeIdeker, We recentlybecame aware of the existence FrancieJeffery, Tom Johnson, Hilde Kaigler, of a Jabiruspecimen in the collectionof JohnKarges (JKa), Laura Karr, Andy Kasner Placenames that are frequentlymen- Umv of Texas-PanAmerican, Edinburg; (AKa), Donna & Alvin Kelly (D&AKe), tioned,but very long, may be abbreviat- the bird wasfound dead in Hidalgoin Keith Kimmerle,Richard Kinney, Phillip ed in a form such as "C.B.B.T." or September1972 and savedas a skeleton. Kite (PKi), AudreyKitten, Ed Kutac,Greg "W.P.B.O:' Such local abbreviations will Thiswill giveus a totalof 7 acceptedTexas Lasley,Lee Lemmons, Mark Lockwood, Ron be explainedin a key at the beginning records.We receiveda late, well-document- Lockwood(RLo), Robert & KayLooking- of the particular regional report in ed reportof an imm.Snail Kite from pri- bill, Guy & JoanLuneau (G&JLu), Ricky whichthey are used. Standard abbrevi- vateproperty in Hidalgo(? ph.,WSh, BRo) Maxey, Terry Maxwell, Craig Mcintyre ationsthat are usedthroughout Field May 17-29, 1998.Although this stunning (CMc), Debra McKee, Bill McKinney Notesare keyed on page428. find couldnot be sharedwith the birding (BiMc), Brad McKinney (BMc), Chris

VOLUME5Z (1998)? ISSUE4 479