Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert -- October 25, 2009

Following the passage of the cold front on Thursday October 22, there were some Neotropical migrants in Sabine Woods on Saturday (October 24). Black-throated Green Warblers, a Nashville Warbler and an American Redstart were in this category, as probably were the Yellow-throated Warbler and Summer Tanager, although both species winter in very small numbers. A few Eastern Wood-Pewees were around, as well as several Eastern Phoebes, the latter a species which winters in the area. There were still a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds around. The first push of arriving winter species usually includes a few that "overshoot" a little on their trip south and stop when confronted with the Gulf. This year was no exception, and there was a Brown Creeper, a Pine Warbler and a Golden-crowned Kinglet in the woods. Other winter species seen included many Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, at least four Hermit Thrushes, an Orange-crowned Warbler, several Swamp Sparrows and a Lincoln's Sparrow. A Towhee was glimpsed. Several House Wrens were fussing, apparently trying to take over the brush piles that the Carolina Wrens have enjoyed all year. Very encouraging were at least six Barn Owls in the western part of the woods. The birds were in close proximity to each other suggesting a family party. We are encouraged, assuming this is correct, and assuming they nested near the coast, that the pair was able to find enough prey in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike to successfully raise four young. Scissor tailed Flycatchers often linger in November, and small numbers can still be seen migrating through both along the coast and inland.

There may be still a few more after the next front, but fall migration of Neotropical migrants is essentially over for all but the stragglers. There may be a short hiatus before the wintering species are here in force. The one or two days after the first cold front around the first of November often bring the first of many of the sparrow species. These are often more noticeable near the coast, where they may have slightly overshot and do not have a much cover as they normally do a little further north. The first Savannah Sparrows are already present in west Jefferson County as well as along the immediate coast. Lincoln's Sparrows are also early to arrive, and we know of two or three sightings in Sabine Woods. Nelson's Sparrows (relieved as of July of the cumbersome "Nelson's Sharp-tailed" appellation) are already present along the edges of the "road" to where the old Pilot Station used to sit at Texas Point. (We strongly recommend walking the last mile or so, but you can imitate the fishermen and drive if you are brave and/or have an old exceptionally high clearance vehicle.)

West Jefferson County (the "South China Prairie") has become the place to look for wintering raptors during the last few years. Two adult Bald Eagles were seen on South China Road near Lawhon Road on October 15, but they may have just been passing through. American Kestrels were late to arrive this year. Normally most are here by about the third week in September, but this year, this past weekend (October 24/25) was the first time they were in evidence in the usual numbers. Northern Harriers are normally mostly here by the middle of October, but, although there are a few around, there are not here in anything like the normal numbers. Red-tailed Hawks are notoriously late migrants, with some birds still moving through the northern tier of the United States in December. There are a few around, but not many. (At least one of the Merlins that winter along Highway 87 between Sabine Woods and Sea Rim has returned on schedule.) As best we can tell, the habitat in west Jefferson County, at least north of Highway 73 and away from the bayous that were the conduit for salt water from Ike, is favorable. There appears to be both much sparrow food in drier areas and a lot of standing water where rice farmers have apparently impounded the water from recent heavy rains. There also appears to be a good amount of the short and medium grass areas which have been used in recent years by the Sandhill Crane flock. We look forward to their return, "scheduled" for mid November.

            The Blue-winged Teal have come and mostly gone on further. Other migratory waterfowl will begin to arrive in force after the middle of November, but seeing them may be more difficult than usual. Our last report from Cattail Marsh (accessible after signing a liability waiver at the guard hut) was that there was very little water in any of the cells. The City may have to run more water through the marsh if the promised plentiful rain results from the El Niño event. A few flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese are already around, with the odd white goose among them.

John A. Whittle