Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert Update -- April 13, 2010

Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert Update – April 13, 2010

Migrants in Sabine Woods today were perhaps just a little less numerous than yesterday, as some species such as Wood Thrush and Summer Tanager were present in lower numbers.  Probably about 15 warbler species including first of season American Redstart.  Ovenbird was glimpsed by a few birders.  Most unusual feature was the presence of a significant number of Palm Warblers, with our best estimates being two Eastern subspecies and five Western subspecies.  Orchard Orioles are still in small numbers, and Blue-winged Warblers are nowhere to be seen.  Yellow-rumped Warblers are still present in significant numbers.  Flycatchers are still scarce.  A rather gray Lesser Nighthawk perched out in the open to the west of the main pond for much of the morning, causing some head scratching and debate as to its identity.  Its field marks were atypical in some respects.

The northern coast of the Yucatan is covered in heavy cloud this evening, and there are thunderstorms in the Merida area.  The wind flow across the Gulf is basically easterly, but southeasterly in the north west Gulf near shore.  The next disturbance in the series seems to be forming, still on land, southwest of Brownsville, and seems unlikely to seriously affect migration over night.  We guess that migrants will not leave on a Yucatan to Sabine Pass journey, but there may not be anything in the weather pattern to dissuade birds on a Bay of Campeche (especially nr Veracruz) to Sabine Pass flight plan from leaving.  The longer range forecast seems uncertain, and the most likely time for rain in the area seems to be shifting to later in the weekend and on into Monday

Thanks for reports from Steve Dillinger, John Haynes, and Jana Whittle.

John A. Whittle