Bird Alert August 3, 2008

Pleasure Island South Impoundment August 3, 2008.

Birds on the South Impoundment of Pleasure Island today.  Birds there very similar to what is typically found on salt water flats such as Bolivar Flats.

First, in the southwest corner, which can be approached by crossing the levee at the first (from the north end) fishing pier on the "levee road" along the edge of Sabine Lake, and then walking southwest along the higher parts of the shoreline of the impoundment. (Google Earth shows approx 29deg49min42sec N; 93deg55min37sec W.)

The following were noted (all numbers quoted are minimum numbers, as many birds were distant)

Brown Pelican (2)

Neotropic Cormorant (50++) mostly on far bank

Great Egret (1)

Snowy Egret (15)

Tricolored Heron (1)

White Ibis (30, at least half were immatures)

Plegadis Ibis (50 – no possible Glossy seen, but many were distant)

Roseate Spoonbill (40)

Mottled Duck (65 – probably more hiding in the vegetation)

Ruddy Duck (one basic plumaged male)

Black-bellied Plover (50+ only one or two still in alternate plumage)

Semipalmated Plover (30)

Piping Plover (1)

Killdeer (5)

Black-necked Stilt (50)

American Avocet (250)

Willet (20)

Spotted Sandpiper (1 on lake side of levee)

Red Knot (5 basic plumage, 1 alternate plumaged)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (3 confirmed, but likely more)

Western Sandpiper (100)

Least Sandpiper (1 confirmed)

Baird's Sandpiper (at least 15)

Short-billed Dowitcher (1 basic, 1 alternate)

Laughing Gull (40)

Caspian Tern (1)

Royal Tern (5)

Sandwich Tern (4)

Common Tern (at least 2)

Forster's Tern (75)

Least Tern (50)

Black Tern (40)

Black Skimmer (25)

Mourning Dove (3)

The north shoreline of the south impoundment can be accessed from the northeast corner of the part that contains the children's playground.  Go through the park to the furthest parking area on the right just as the road turn back towards the main road.  Head east down the grass slope to the far corner, where there is a slightly overgrown track to the levee.  Turn right (SE) on the levee.  The levee makes a 90 deg turn to the right to head SW, then a left 80 deg turn to head SE, and then a 45 deg right turn to head S.  Thereafter the levee parallels the bridge exit road.  The spot with the best view – still somewhat distant – of the shore is at about 29deg50min48sec N, 93deg56min27sec W on Google Earth.  Check for ticks if you access this levee.

Along the levee were

Black-crowned Night-Heron (3+)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (5)

Green Heron (9)

Common Yellowthroat (several singing birds, probably 5)

White-tailed Kite (1)

Common Nighthawk (2 overhead)

Carolina Wren (1 calling)

The shoreline had

Neotropic Cormorant (100)

Snowy Egret (10)

Reddish Egret (1 imm dark morph)

Tricolored Heron (2)

White Ibis (50)

Plegadis Ibis (100)

Roseate Spoonbill (50)

Black-necked Stilt (30)

Black-bellied Plover (30)

Semipalmated Plover (20)

Western Sandpiper (75)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (1)

Baird's Sandpiper (1+)

John A. Whittle