Golden Triangle Audubon Bird Alert Uodate -- April 16, 2010

 After a quiet morning in Sabine Woods, birds started dropping in shortly after 2 p.m. today (April 16) and continued to about 6 p.m.  Red-eyed Vireos and Scarlet Tanagers were among the first to arrive (and in large numbers) with Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  Next Painted Buntings , almost all males, began to be obvious.  At one point four were in a bathing area at the same time; at another six were in the same trees. Warbler numbers and variety also increased and confirmed first of season birds included Yellow Warbler (several males), American Redstart (one adult male and one first year male) and Blackpoll Warbler (a female).  Other species that have been reported prior but not widely seen included a male Black-throated Green (in the morning), a Blue-winged Warbler (only one), and Ovenbird (probably 8).  Northern Parula had been difficult to find recently, but one male arrived. Prothonotary Warblers were seen in good numbers.  Continuing the enigmatic nature of the season to date, six or seven Palm Warblers were again present, but no Black-and-white Warblers.  A total of 18 warbler species are known to have been seen.  Late in the afternoon, Orchard Orioles, strangely absent over the past few days began arriving in very good numbers.  Other noteworthy items included a Gray cheeked Thrush and a Veery.  A Merlin perched briefly in the top of an oak tree, while a Crested Caracara merely flew over.  As many as six or seven Solitary Sandpipers were around the ponds.

Demonstrating the hazards of predicting bird migration, it is difficult to pinpoint the reason for today's heavy flight.  One possible explanation may lie in relatively disturbed weather over the northern Yucatan just after dark for the two evenings preceding last evening, resulting in birds decided not to take off on those two evenings leading a build up of birds waiting to cross.  There was little in the weather in the Sabine Pass area today to cause birds to descend, although build-ups were visible to the north.  There was an area of cloudiness in the central Gulf half-way between the Yucatan and Sabine Pass that might have caused some difficulties for the migrants, or there might have been a very heavy flight and what we saw was only a small fraction of it!

Tomorrow's birding, we think, will be very dependent on how many of this evening's birds stay.  There is nothing in the current weather to hinder further migration, but some birds may wish to rest and/or feed tomorrow before proceeding.  We doubt there will be many arrivals tomorrow, because, although the wind flow continues to be easterly over almost the entire Gulf, there is very heavy weather tonight over the entire States of Yucatan and Quintana Roo and down through Belize.  So, after the birds waiting to cross cleared out last night, we feel that not many of those just reaching the jumping off points last night will elect to leave tonight.  But predicting is nowhere near an exact science!!!!

John A. Whittle