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Post by tmanson on Mar 20, 2009 15:17:40 GMT -8
Hi all: Server wouldn't allow me to reply to my own message, so had to start a new thread on the same topic!!
Am now in beautiful downtown Houston- wow, what a nightmare for traffic- seemed worse than L.A. if that is possible.
Found Feruginous Pygmy Owl at San Miguelito Ranch north of Raymondville, which is heading north of the Rio Grande towards Corupus Christi. This, apparently, is the new de facto paid location for this owl. It is nesting in the ranch owner's home backyard. It is also a heck of a lot cheaper than the King Ranch or El Canuelo. It has also been seen at Bensten State Park, but all I could get there was an audible.
Headed north from there to Rockport, where I went on a Whooping Crane Tour- still in time to see this magnificent bird before they head north. They have had a tough winter due to the drought conditions in Texas, which, in turn, affects the abundance of the Blue Shell Crab, their main food source down here. Also saw American Oystercatcher, Seaside Sparrow, and Sandwich Tern in this same general location. Dipped on the King Rail at Aransas NWR, but will have other opportunities to see this bird. At Aransas, however, got killer looks at American, and Least Bittern, many, many Soras and an early Prothonotary Warlber.
At the W.S. Jones Forest, just north of Houston, found Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, ( in the middle of the afternoon!!), as well as Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Carolina Chickadee. Also got good looks at several Pine Warblers.
Tomorrow will try for King Rail again at San Bernard NWR, and then west for Bachman's Sparrow, followed by a Yellow Rail harrassment tour at Anuhuac. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
currently in Houston, but just for one night!!
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Post by tmanson on Mar 25, 2009 7:51:07 GMT -8
Greetings all from Leakey Texas. I have been moving around quite a bit since the last report.
Found Bachman's Sparrow fairly easily in the " the Piney Woods " area of Texas. For such a skulky bird, the fact that it was up singing, made it so much easier to find.
At Anuhuac Wildlife Refuge, found King Rail, after some serious looking. On Saturday, I will take part in one of the harrassment tours sloughing through the swamps of this refuge, trying to scare up a Yellow, and, maybe, even a Black Rail. Not quite sure how they justify this, but I guess I will find out.
On the nearby barrier island, found Wilson's Plover, after some major walking with scope in tow. . This is very close to High Island, which I also checked out. It is still pretty quiet, but they are getting geared up for some major cross Gulf flights.
This whole area was hit by hurricane Ike, and, what a mess!! Major work being done now to try to restore natural areas, and unbelievably people are rebuilding their beach houses on the same sites, where they were just flattened- ah, the lure of the beach.
At Laguna Atacosta, I found a reported Masked Duck, and in Texas Hill country, found Golden Cheeked Warbler very easily, and Black Capped Vireo after looking for about 3 hours combined from an evening and morning jaunt. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
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Post by Chris on Mar 25, 2009 12:33:43 GMT -8
Thanks for the updates. Makes me wish I was there instead of being here in the rain.
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Post by Dave on Mar 27, 2009 16:35:42 GMT -8
Thanks again, Thor! Really enjoying all the updates
DB
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Post by Gord on Mar 27, 2009 19:52:10 GMT -8
Keep the updates coming, Thor. Look forward to hearing your final tally when you get home and have a chance! Maximize the birding while you can down there.
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Post by tmanson on Apr 5, 2009 23:00:05 GMT -8
Hi all:
Well, I actually took part in the Yellow Rail walk, sponsored by the Houston Audubon Society. Actually, did it twice on the same day; once at 7:00 a.m., and again at 5:00 p.m. The reason for the second go round was the possibility of seeing a Black Rail, which have also been seen on Yellow Rail walks, although their habitats are quite different, and most of the habitat in the walk is of the Yellow Rail's liking. In any event, no problem scaring up Yellow Rails. With lots of boots sloughing through the swamp, and dragging milk jugs full of rocks, what chance does the Rail have, except to up, and fly, usually right in front of you for great looks. The Society restricts these walks to weekends for about a month, so, I guess the stress to the birds is minimal. You are encouraged to make a donation to the Friends of Anuhuac, who, in turn, are doing excellent work in rehabilitating the marsh. I guess, that is the rationalization for the walks, anyway.
So, good looks at about 5 Yellow Rails; also Virginia, and Sora. No looks at Black Rail, the little skulker.
Previously, I had seen King, and Clapper on the reserve, so I guess 5 out of 6 ain't too bad.
At High Island, the major migration hadn't really started, but did get a real good look at a Chuck's Will Widow, roosting in a tree, before the next leg of its flight.
Went back to the Texas Hill Country, and saw more Golden Cheek Warlbers, and Black Capped Vireos. Also, after much searching at Kickapoo State Park, got short looks at Grey Vireo, the least glamourous of the triumvirate of Hill Country birds. Back to Arizona, where I saw Common Black Hawk, as elsewhere described, and finally acknowledged that there is no such thing as Montezuma Quail This theory was supported by many, many birders who had equally frustrating times trying to find this bird, whidh, really, only finds you when it wants to!!
Had two sessions at Ft. Davis State Park in Texas, where the bird used to, with the emphais on used to, come to park feeders.
Drove the Ruby Road in Arizona a total of 4 times, with equal results, and looked seriously around Proctor Road in Madera Canyon, where they are occasionally reported, by birders with very active imaginations!!
My one skunk bird of targeted species of the trip. Not too bad, I guess for a total of 284 birds seen, and 49 ABA lifers.
More on this later,
Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
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Post by Gord on Apr 6, 2009 21:24:16 GMT -8
Look forward to the next installment, Thor!
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Post by tmanson on Apr 10, 2009 14:12:01 GMT -8
Hi all: Well, the next installment is the last installment for this trip. Back in the " local saddle ", again.
Final trip count was 284 birds, and 49 ABA lifers.
It's actually nice to be back in the B.C. " cool " again, after lots of sweaty, buggy, days, and dodging Tornadoes in S.E. Texas, and a blizzard in Flagstaff, Arizona.
I'll just list a few trip highlights, and then plug away at the 49 lifers for those that might be interested. I'll be lazy, and list them chronologically.
After that amount of time away, and my kamikazee birding style, I think I got a pretty good idea of the " lay of the land ", from Southern California, and Arizona, and from the Davis Mtns, through the Rio Grande, to East Texas; so if anyone has any questions about these areas for future birding trips, I would be happy to oblige.
Highlights:
1) Most fun bird (s). I love owls, so probably a tie between Elf Owl at Bensten State Park Texas, and Ferruginous Pygmy Owl at San Miguelito Ranch, Texas.
2) Most difficult search: Besides the Montezuma Quail, which I did not find; White collared Seedeater at Zapata Texas. Despite the drought in the rest of Texas, the Rio Grande was not dry. They actually released water from the dams, with the result that the Seedeater's regular breeding area was flooded, and inaccessible. Spent 3.5 days looking for this little blighter.
3) Rarest bird (s ) seen: Blue Bunting, Laguna Atacosta, Texas, Crimson Collared Grosbeak in Weslaco, Texas, Blue Mockingbird at Slaughter Ranch in Arizona, Rufous Capped Warber, Madera Canyon, Arizona.
4) Easiest " Hard Bird (s) ". Red Cockaded Woodpecker- Jones State Forest Texas.- supposed to stake out the birds at dawn or dusk. Two of them were out in plain view in the middle of the heat of the afternoon. Bachman's Sparrow, Piney Woods area, East Texas- Very skulky bird most of the year, but if you look for them at the right time, they are up and singing everywhere.
Okay here we go with the 49 lifers:
1) Xantus Murrelet- Off Santa Cruz Island California
2) Black Vented Shearwater- same
3) Island Scrub Jay- Santa Cruz Island, California
4) California Gnatcatcher- Elijiho Lagoon California
5) Spotted Dove- Hunt Park, Central L.A. California- Thanks Brian, and Dorothy.
6) Yellow footed Gull: Obsidian Butte, Salton Sea, California
7) LeConte's Thrasher: West Phoenix, Arizona
8) Rufous Capped Warbler: Florida Work Centre, Madera Canyon, Arizona
9) Blue Mockingbird: Slaughter Ranch near Douglas, Arizona
10) Black Rosy Finch: Sandia Crest, New Mexico
11) Brown Rosy Fich: Same
12) Olive Sparrow: San Ygnacio, Texas
13) Clay Coloured Sparrow: Frontera Audubon, Weslaco, Texas
14) Crimson Coloured Grosbeak: Same
15) Blue Bunting: Laguna Atacosta, Texas
16) Tropical Parula: Same
17) Groove Billed Ani: Same
18) Masked Duck: Same
19) Red Crowned Parrot: Valley Nature Centre, Weslaco, Texas
20) Common Parauque: Estero Llande, Weslaco, Texas
21) Hooked Billed Kite: Bensten State Park, Texas
22) Elf Owl: Same.
23) Fulvous Whistling Duck: Estero Llande, Weslaco, Texas
23) Tamaulipas Crow: Just outside landfill, Brownsville Texas
24) Purple Sandpiper: South Padre Island, Texas
25) Yellow throated Warbler: Frontera Audubon, Weslaco, Texas
26) White collared Seedeater: Pond, Zapata Texas
27) Feruginous Pygmy Owl: San Miguelito Ranch, Raymondville, Texas
28) Whooping Crane: Off Rockport, Texas
29) American Oystercatcher: Off Rockport, Texas
30) Seaside Sparrow: Rockport Texas
31) Boat tailed Grackle: Tivoli, Texas
32) Sandwich Tern: Port Aransas, Texas
33) Red Cockaded Woodpecker: W.S. Jones State Forest Houston Texas
34) Brown headed Nuthatch: Same
35) Carolina Chickadee: Same
36) Pine Warbler: Same
37) Bachman's Sparrow: Boykin Recreational Area, East Texas
38) Golden Cheeked Warbler: Lost Maples State Park Texas
39) Black Capped Vireo- Kerr Wildlife Management Area Texas
40) Yellow Rail- Anuhuac NWR, Texas
41) King Rail- Same
42) Chuck Will's Widow- High Island, Texas
43) Wilson's Plover- Bolivar Flats, Texas
44) Glossy Ibis- Brazoia Bend State Park Texas, and Estero Llande NWR, Texas
45) Grey Vireo- Kickapoo State Park Texas
46) Common Black Hawk- Sunflower, Arizona.
47) Red Billed Pigeon- Salineno Texas, ( out of chronological order ).
48) Cave Swallow- culvert near Zapata Texas ( out of chronological order ).
49) Seem to be missing one, and have to go out- later.
Also, despite losing my battery charger, I managed to take a few pictures, and I will post them when I have time. Cheers Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
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Post by tmanson on Apr 10, 2009 16:11:36 GMT -8
Ah: Two 23's makes 49. Thought I was losing it even more than usual!!
Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
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Post by Gord on Apr 10, 2009 20:56:05 GMT -8
Thor welcome home and impressive list of birds! Look forward to seeing photos when you get them up. Hope to pick your brain one day about where to go down there!  |
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Post by Dave on Apr 11, 2009 1:33:25 GMT -8
Thor. Welcome Home!! WOW!! What a list. Thanks so much for taking the time to share all of your sightings while in the field. I have only seen 5 of the birds you list in that massive list of 49 species!
One day, the trip will happen, one day....
Dave
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Post by oldfulica on Apr 12, 2009 16:29:10 GMT -8
We will have to compare notes someday Thor. It's a big world down there but our eyes saw at least 3 of the exact same bird (Blue Mockingbird, Rufous-capped Warblers and Yellow-footed Gull.) Very nice list. I guess it will be Texas for us next year.
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