Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert -- April 1, 2009

Yesterday's (Tuesday March 31) cold front passed over the coast about 1 p.m. and the north winds behind it were enough to slightly delay the arrival of yesterday's migration flight and cause many birds to drop into Sabine Woods.  Between mid-afternoon and darkness, thirteen species of warbler were seen: Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, Tennessee (one, seen well), Yellow-throated, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green (two males), Louisiana (two) and Northern (one, seen very well) Waterthrush, Hooded (several), Kentucky (one) and Nashville.  The Nashville may have been the bird that was there Saturday, and the Northern Waterthrush may be the bird that has been apparently wintering along the coast.  A brilliant male Baltimore Oriole was in the company of several Orchard Orioles.  Three or four Indigo Buntings were seen.  White-eyed Vireos were numerous and Blue-headed and Red-eyed were also seen.  There were lots of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Eastern Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were working the fence lines outside the Woods. 

Passage of another cold front is predicted for a little earlier in the day tomorrow (Thursday).  Winds over the Yucatan are currently south or southeast at about 10 mph, with scattered clouds, so there is nothing to dissuade birds from leaving there later this evening.  However, there has not been anything to cause a concentration in the Yucatan, so tonight's flight could be modest in number.  Yet another cold front is predicted for Sunday morning, although the timing cannot be predicted with any certainty this far out.

John A. Whittle