TEXAS TRIP REPORT - 31ST MARCH - 9TH APRIL 2001
Systematic List
Key:
BB - Brazos Bend State Park
GF - Galveston Ferry
BF - Bolivar Flats
HI - High Island / Boy Scout Wood / Smith Oaks
CT - Captain Teds Whooping Crane Tour
GI - Goose Island
HWY 77 - Highway 77 / Sarita
SPI - South Padre Island
SPS - Sable Palm Sanctuary
SA - Santa Ana
B - Bentsen State Park
ANZ - Anzalduaz
McA - McAllen / McAllen Sewage Farm
LJ - La Joya Sparrow Road
S - Salineno
SMR - Santa Marguerita Ranch
C - Chapeno
FSP - Falcon State Park
Z - Zapata
NL - Neals Lodges
LM - Lost Maples
WMP - White Memorial Park
RGV - Rio Grande Valley
Species:
Great Northern Diver : 15 - CT.
Least Grebe: 6 - HWY77, 30 - SPS / SA, 2 - B.
Pied-billed Grebe: Few each day.
Eared Grebe: 1 - CT.
Double-crested Cormorant: Few to many each day.
Olivacious Cormorant: 1 - SA, 4 - B.
Anhinga: 1 - BB, 40 - B.
White Pelican: 200 - GF.
Brown Pelican: 50 - GF, 20 - CT.
Reddish Egret: 5 - BF, 1 - CT.
Tri-coloured Heron: several most days.
Little Blue Heron: several most days.
Snowy Egret: several most days.
Great Blue Heron: several most days.
Great White Egret: several most days.
Cattle Egret: many each day.
Green Heron: few each day.
Black-crowned Night Heron: 3 - BB, 20 - BF, 8 - CT.
American Bittern: 1 - BB.
White Ibis: several to many (day1 - day 4).
White-faced Ibis: 30 - BB, 3 - BF.
Roseate Spoonbill: 15 - BB, 40 - BF.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck: few to many each day.
Ruddy Duck: 25 - HWY77, 10 - SP / SA.
Muscovy Duck: 1 - B.
Wood Duck: 3 - S, 2 - WMP.
American Wigeon: 3 - SPS, 20 - S.
Gadwall: 4 - HWY77, 10 - SA, 2 - B.
Green-winged Teal: 2 - HI, 5 - McA.
Mallard: 1 - BB, 2 - BF.
Mexican Duck: 2 - SA, 2 - S.
Mottled Duck: 1 - HI, 1 - BF, 8 - HWY77, 1 - S, 1 - CT.
Blue-winged Teal: few to many most days.
Northern Shoveler: few to several most days.
Canvasback: 4 - CT
Redhead: 3 - CT, 2 - SA.
Ring-necked Duck: 1 - CT.
Lesser Scaup: 150 - BF, 40 - CT.
Surf Scoter: 7 - BF, 2 - CT.
Bufflehead: 4 - CT, 1 - SPI.
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 - BF, 5 - CT, 3 - SPI.
American Black Vulture: singles to several most days.
Turkey Vulture: can't miss 'em.
White-tailed Kite: 7 - BF / HI, 1 - HWY77, 3 - SA, 4 - B.
Northern Harrier: scattered sightings most days.
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2 - S, 1 - SMR, 1 - FSP.
Coopers Hawk: 1 - BB.
Harris Hawk: scattered sightings in R.G.Valley.
Gray Hawk: 1 - ANZ.
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 - LM.
Broad-winged Hawk: 2000 - Brownsville, 4000 - Bentsen.
Swainson's Hawk: scattered sightings - HWY77, RGV.
White-tailed Hawk: 1 - CT, 5 - HWY77.
Zone-tailed Hawk: 1 - LM.
Red-tailed Hawk: scattered singles most days.
Osprey: singles most days.
Crested Caracara: singles (max 5) most days.
American Kestrel: singles, scattered.
Peregrine: 1 - SPI, 1 - B, 1- NL.
Plain Chacalaca: 5- SPS, 12 - B & SA.
Wild Turkey: 1 - Bat cave.
Northern Bobwhite: 10 - LJ, 2 - FSP.
Clapper Rail: 1 - BF.
Sora: 3 - SPA.
Moorhen: 60+ - BB, then most days in suitable habitat.
American Coot: loads most days.
Whooping Crane: 9 - CT.
Black-necked Stilt: many most days.
American Oystercatcher: 2 - CT, 2 - SPI.
American Avocet: 100 - BF, 30 - CT, 2 - SPI.
American Golden Plover: 20 - BF, 30 - CT, 5 - SPI.
Grey Plover: 20 - BF, 30 - CT, 5 - SPI.
Semi-palmated Plover: 3 - BF.
Wilsons Plover: 3 - BF.
Killdeer: singles most days.
Piping Plover: 4 - BF.
Snowy Plover: 1 - SPI.
Mountain Plover: 1 - LJ.
Common Snipe: 3 - CT.
Marbled Godwit: 8 - BF.
Long-billed Curlew: 2 - BF, 3 - CT.
Greater Yellowlegs: 2 - SA, 1 - McA.
Lesser Yellowlegs: several most days.
Solitary Sandpiper: singles, scattered.
Spotted Sandpiper: 2 - CT, 1 - SPS, 2 - McA.
Willet: 60+ - BF, 20 - CT, 10 - SPI.
Ruddy Turnstone: 1 - CT.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 50 - BF, 20 - CT.
Long-billed Dowitcher: 6 - CT.
Red Knot: 4 - BF.
Sanderling: 2 - BF.
Western Sandpiper: 100's - BF, 10 - CT, 20 - SPI.
Least Sandpiper: 1 - BB, 1 - HWY77, 14 - SA, 15 - McA.
Baird's Sandpiper: 1 - BB, 4 - McA.
Dunlin: 20 - BF.
Stilt Sandpiper: 20 - McA.
Ring-billed Gull: 1 - BF, 2 - CT.
Herring Gull: 2 - BB, 10 - BF, 10 - CT.
Laughing Gull: 100's.
Franklins Gull: 4 - CT.
Gull-billed Tern: singles most days.
Caspian Tern: 2 - SPI.
Royal Tern: 100 - GF, 30 - CT, 40 - SPI.
Sandwich Tern: 5 - GF, 12 - CT, 2 - SPI.
Forsters Tern: 100 - GF, 20 - CT.
Least Tern: 10 - GF.
Black Skimmer: 100's - GF / BF, 30 - CT, 20 - SPI.
Feral Pigeon: ++
Mourning Dove: ++
White-winged Dove: 2 - HWY77, 30 - NL+LM.
Inca Dove: 3 - HI, 10 - GI+HWY77, 10 - RGV.
Common Ground Dove: 2 - HI, 4 - SPS, 5 - B.
White-tipped Dove: 30 - SPS, 100+ - RGV.
Green Parakeet: 30+ - roost in McA.
Roadrunner: 1 - C, 4 - FSP.
Barn Owl: 1 - C.
Eastern Screech Owl: 1 - B.
Great-horned Owl: 1 - CT, 1 - Batcave.
Barred Owl: 2 - BB.
Elf Owl: 1 - B.
Lesser Nighthawk: 1 - B, 4 - S.
Pauraque: 1 - SA, 1 - B.
Chimney Swift: up to 30, various sites.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird: 3 - SPS.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 4 - HI, 4 - GI, 3 - HI.
Black-chinned Hummingbird: 20 - NL.
Belted Kingfisher: 2 - HI, 2 - SA, 1 - B, 1 - S.
Ringed Kingfisher: 1 - B, 2 - S.
Green Kingfisher: 1 - S.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker: many scattered - RGV,
Ladder-backed Woodpecker: few, scattered - RGV.
Northern Flicker: 2 - HI.
Pileated Woodpecker: 2 - BB
Northern Beardless Tyranulet: 2 - B
Arcadian Flycatcher: 1 - NL
Eastern Phoebe: 1 - SPS, 5 - NL / LM
Vermillion Flycatcher: scattered singles - RGV
Ash-throated Flycatcher: 3 - S, 1 - LM
Great Crested Flycatcher: 12 - GI
Brown Crested Flycatcher: 1 - B, 1 - S
Couch's Kingbird: several (20+) scattered - RGV
Western Kingbird: 2 - SA, 1 - SMR
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: seen every day, 100s - CT
Eastern Kingbird: 6 - HI
Great Kiskadee: singles scattered - RGV
Rose-throated Becard: 1 - ANZ
Horned Lark: 15 - BF
Barn Swallow: ++
Tree Swallow: 20 - HI, 5 - GI, 4 - SPS
Purple Martin: 40 - BF / HI, seen most days
Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 10 - 20 + most days
Sand Martin: 4 - S
Cliff Swallow: 10 - HWY 77, 10 - B / SA
Cave Swallow: 300 -– ANZ
Cactus Wren: 2 - S
Canyon Wren: 2 - LM
Marsh Wren: 2 - BB
Bewicks Wren: 2 - S, 4 - NL / LM
Carolina Wren: 1 - BB, 1 - LM
Gray Catbird: 2 - HI
Northern Mockingbird: ++
Brown Thrasher: 6 - HI, 1 - GI
Long-billed Thrasher: 4 - SPS, 1 - SMR, 2 - NL
Curved-billed Thrasher: 3 - SMR
Eastern Bluebird: 1 - GI
Hermit Thrush: 2 - NL
Wood Thrush: 1 - HI
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1 - HI, 3 - NL, 1 - S
Verdin: 1 - S, 1 - LM
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: up to 10 each day - RGV
Bush Tit: 3 - LM
Carolina Chickadee: 6 - LM
Tit Mouse: up to 20 each day - RGV
Loggerhead Shrike: singles every day
Northern Shrike: 1 - SPI
Blue Jay: 5 - HI
Western Scrub Jay: 1 - LM
Green Jay: 7 - SPS, 10 - SA, 4 - B, 2 - S
American Crow: 16 - HI
Chihuahuan Raven: 2 Brownsville, 10 - C / Z
Common Raven: 6 - NL
Common Starling: ++
House Sparrow: ++
Bell's Vireo: 1 - LM
White-eyed Vireo: 2 - HI, 2 - GI, 2 - LM
Blue-headed Vireo: 2 - B, 2 - HI
Black-capped Vireo: 1 - NL
Yellow-throated Vireo: 1 - HI
Warbling Vireo: 1 - GI
American Goldfinch: 2 - NL
Lesser Goldfinch: 1 - HWY77
House Finch: 40 - NL
Blue-winged Warbler: 2 - HI
Orange-crowned Warbler: 1 - HI, 4 - GI, 4 - NL / LM
Nashville Warbler: singles - RGV
Northern Parula: 4 - HI, 1 - GI
Tropical Parula: 1 - B, 2 - ANZ
Myrtle Warbler: 1 - HI, 3 - GI, 1 - SA, 4 - SMR
Black-throated Warbler: 3 - GI, 1 - SPI, 1 - B, 1 - S
Golden-cheeked Warbler: 1 - NL
Yellow-throated Warbler: 2 - GI
Black and White Warbler: 2 - GI
Worm-eating Warbler: 1 - HI
Ovenbird: 1 - HI
Northern Waterthrush: 1 - HI
Louisiana Waterthrush: 1 - LM
Kentucky Warbler: 3 - HI
Common Yellowthroat: 10 - HI, 1 - SPI, 1 - WMP
Hooded Warbler: 6 - HI
Wilson's Warbler: 1 - NL
Yellow-breasted Chat: 1 - HI
Summer Tanager: 1 - HI, 2 - SPS, 1 - NL
Lincoln's Sparrow: 2 - B, 4 - FSP, 1 - NL
Swamp Sparrow: 2 - BB, 1 - BF, 2 - SPS
White-throated Sparrow: 6 - HI, 1 - GI, 2 - NL
Savannah Sparrow: 4 - SPI, 10 - SMR
Le Contes Sparrow: 10 - BF
Chipping Sparrow: 15 - GI. 2 - S, 20 - NL / LM
Field Sparrow: 4 - NL
Lark Sparrow: 10 - SPI, 20 - LJ, 30 - S & C
Black-throated Sparrow: 5 - NL
Spotted Towhee: 2 - NL
Canyon Towhee: 1 - NL
Olive Sparrow: 2 - SPS, many singles often heard - lower RGV
White-collared Seedeater: 1 / 2 - Z
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 - HI
Northern Cardinal: ++
Pyrrhuloxia: 10 - FSP
Indigo Bunting: 4 - HI, 1 - GI, 3 - B
Altimira Oriole: 2 - SPS, 1 - B, 2 - S
Bullocks Oriole: 3 - S
Hooded Oriole: 2 - HWY 77, 1 - SA
Orchard Oriole: 23 - HI, 1 - GI, 1 - SA
Scotts Oriole: 1 - LM
Yellow-headed Blackbird: 1 - C
Red-winged Blackbird: ++
Eastern Meadowlark: 2 - BB, 10 - BF / HI
Great-tailed Grackle: ++
Boat-tailed Grackle: 2 - Anahuac
Common Grackle: many, several sites
Brewers Blackbird: 30 - HWY77
Bronzed Cowbird: 10 - McA, (30 - day 6, scattered)
Brown-headed Cowbird: 30 - day 6, 200 - day 7
DISAPPOINTING DIPS:
Mississippi Kite - We were about one week too early for their migration up the RGV.
Hook-billed Kite -Just bad luck. Bentsen used to be the only reliable site, now they are more common further up the valley too.
Red-billed Pigeon - Should be a banker at Salineno. Unfortunately, the Rio Grand was very high, so we couldn't view the island upstream where they nest and fly up and down the river.
Groove-billed Ani - A little early
Brown Jay - Increasingly rare these days. Get to Chapeno at dawn and wait at the feeding station.
Mexican Crow - Only 1 or 2 pairs left.
Clay-coloured Robin - Bad timing at Santa Ana. Their sites vary each year.
Audobon's Oriole - Just missed it. Easier to see if the trailers and feeders are still present at Salineno (they'd gone!)
Discussion:
In researching our itinerary a major dilemma was how to fit in a visit to W.G.Jones Forest Park just north of Houston. In the end we all agreed that there simply was insufficient time and this proved to be the case. However, this site would have yielded several "bankers" such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker and given another shot at several species that were elusive elsewhere. We would however commend this site to anyone planning a similar route if time permits purely on the gen received from other birders and on the information given in 'Birding Texas' .
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