Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert -- December 13, 2009

The somewhat dismal weather this weekend kept most of the birds out of the air.  No eagles were reported this weekend from the "South China Prairie" (although Levie Horton found six around last weekend).  They seem to be shadowing the Snow Goose flocks. On Sunday (Dec. 13), one flock of geese was in the cut rice fields southwest of the corner of Blair Road and FM365.  Five Sandhill Cranes were at the corner of Johnson and Heisig, but two or three hundred, quiet and not flying, were west of the northern part of Ebner as described in the Bird Alert for November 30, which is still available at www.goldentriangleaudubon.org.  This may well be their preferred nighttime roosting location.  Of the Vermilion Flycatchers described in the same Bird Alert, the male on Ebner, and the young male/female at Willis/League were seen Sunday.  The one on Willis just east of FM1406 was not seen, but there was a young Merlin (one of three seen on the day) hanging around there, possibly causing it to remain hidden.  The Brewers Blackbirds described on the December 6 Bird Alert were in the same location, and others were located on FM1406 a little north of Old League, and also south of Mason Road close to FM365.  Overall raptor numbers in west Jefferson County have increased further; Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers are numerous, and there are lots of Loggerhead Shrikes and Eastern Phoebes, as well as good numbers of sparrows.

Rose Ann and Harrison Jordan in the north part of Beaumont have a Buff-bellied Hummingbird that has been visiting feeders more frequently after the freeze. They have offered to allow visitors wanting to see this bird provided they call (892-4102) before they come.

John A. Whittle