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ROYCE PENDERGAST AND JOHN WHITTLE'S BIRDATHON
BIRDATHON April 26, 2010
We began the day on the upper deck of a beach cabin overlooking the North Jetty area of the internationally recognized Bolivar Flats Sanctuary near the tip of the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County. Even before dawn's early light, the cacophony of bird sound was impressive. Laughing Gulls were doubtless the main contributor, but another sound caught our attention. The characteristic (but very difficult to describe in words) call of a Common Nighthawk made that species the first bird on our list; then the noisy repeated call of a Willet gave it second place ahead of the Laughing Gulls. A Northern Mockingbird exclaimed its presence around the beach cabins and flew to a shrub; although the area is showing impressive signs of recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Ike, recognizable trees are very much still absent from the Peninsula. The cabin was very close to the edge of the marsh area "behind" Bolivar Flats, and at least three Marsh Wrens began burbling away. A Barn Swallow caught our attention, and then a Savannah Sparrow on the edge of the street. As it became light enough to use our telescopes, we were delighted to find about 500 American Avocets, most already with the tan necks of the species' breeding plumage, vigorously working the shallow water in the inlet in front of us. Two birds skimming the water were, of course, Black Skimmers. We could see about 50 Brown Pelicans resting on a sandbar further out. Four Great-tailed Grackles were closer to us looking for anything edible left over from human activities. The plaintiff call of a Mourning Dove was heard. We then began to scan the Flats in earnest from an elevated vantage point a little closer. About 50 Double-crested Cormorants were the first to be recorded. Six Brown-headed Cowbirds were a not very welcome visitor to our vicinity. A few Black-bellied Plovers could be definitively identified as they were in various stages of molt from winter to summer garb. Great Egrets are most often detected in roadside ditches and fresh water areas, but there are always at least a few (and often more than a few) on the Flats. A Clapper Rail conveniently gave the characteristic call of the species. Turning our attention to the smaller birds, we determined that many were Dunlins – about 300 in fact – but we were able to pick out a few of the slightly smaller Western Sandpipers. A flying dark ibis was too far away to identify to species. Other birds on the Flats included some Short-billed Dowitchers – this species winters almost exclusively in salt water areas – and two Greater Yellowlegs. Four Roseate Spoonbills flew past, as did two small Curlews identified as Whimbrel and a White Ibis. A Great Blue Heron was stalking its prey in the shallow water. Before leaving the cabin area, we recorded the inevitable House Sparrow. While this is a species introduced into the United States well over a century ago, and still considered by most to be overabundant on this side of the Atlantic, there is concern for the declining numbers in its native Europe. The House Sparrow is now rare in the London area. Before you are tempted to offer to catch some and "return" them, one should remember that the species has expanded slowly over the last century giving time for the birds to acclimatize and adapt to the climatic conditions. House Sparrows from Texas would likely not do well in the colder, damper climate of Northern Europe.
As always, we could have spent at least two or three hours birding that area of the Flats, but it was time to move on, knowing that we planned to walk to the Flats from the other end a little later. As we drove out through the streets, we picked up Common Grackle, Lincoln's Sparrow and a somewhat unexpected Swainson's Thrush. Several Purple Martins flew around the numerous martin houses. We decided to head towards Frenchtown Road, the last road to the north off Highway 87 before the ferry landing. Because the bridge over to Overton Road is out (as it has been since even before Hurricane Rita), the birds favor the relatively undisturbed mud flats there. But there is a pond on Highway 87 just before you get there and this had Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, a Mallard as well as a Tricolored Heron and some dowitchers of which we could not determine the exact species. The ones on Frenchtown Road appeared to be Short-billed, but we had already seen that species. There was a Black-necked Stilt in the marshy area and a bonus, two male and one female Wilson's Phalaropes. Another Clapper Rail called, and a second one allowed us brief glimpses. We had already seen Whimbrel and Western Sandpiper, but a not-very-well marked Nelson's Sparrow (formerly known as Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow) was new. A single American Oystercatcher was very welcome, because, although the species is resident in the area, it is often not easy to find. We had almost certainly seen Forster's Terns earlier, but one here was close enough to positively identify. Finally, were found a Semi-palmated Plover working the edges.
The next objective was to review Bolivar Flats from the east side, but, since we were so close, we decided to check the water in the vicinity of the ferry landing. On the way there, along Highway 87, we saw an Eastern Meadowlark and, perhaps less expected, a Red-tailed Hawk perched on the remnants of a tree just off to the side of the road. The ferry landing did not produce any species we had not seen before save for two Sandwich Terns. Passing through Port Bolivar on the way back, we found a Lark Sparrow on the side of the road. This species had been present on the Upper Texas Coast in extraordinary numbers in the two or three preceding days. A Eurasian Collared-Dove was also active, as was a male Blue Grosbeak. Rettilon Road, the approach road for Bolivar Flats produced another pair of Willets, but also about five singing Sedge Wrens. Bolivar Flats themselves were somewhat anticlimactic, because most of the birds were on the west side where we had started the day. Before we got to the vehicle barrier, we saw a beautiful summer plumaged Red Knot along the water's edge. On the Flats proper, we confirmed Royal Tern, Sanderling, and Ring billed and Herring Gulls, species that we doubtless saw earlier but were unable to confirm earlier. Careful review of the pelicans produced one American White Pelican. There were many Least Terns on the beach, some inspecting an area which has been roped off in the hopes they will choose to nest there. As we worked our way back on the beach, we found two Horned Larks and Spotted and Least Sandpiper to add to our growing list. On Retillon Road, we noticed a Snowy Egret in one of the ponds.
Following a lead, we proceeded along Loop 108, adding Eastern Kingbird, Cattle Egret and Loggerhead Shrike (one of surprisingly few on the day). Ponds at the western end had Long-billed Dowitcher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-crowned Night Heron. In Port Bolivar, on Overton Street, we found our objective. In the flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds were 15 male and five female Yellow-headed Blackbirds, quite the largest number we have seen in one place on the Upper Texas Coast. Additional species were, by this time, becoming harder to find, but Port Bolivar did have both White-winged Dove and Rock Pigeon. While retracing our travel n Loop 108, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher popped up.
On our way back east, we explored Crystal Beach, finding a Solitary Sandpiper and two Killdeer with two young in a remnant pond from Ike. A Pied-billed Grebe was trying to hide in the same pond. In a bottle brush bush, male and female Baltimore Orioles and a nice adult White-crowned Sparrow were feeding. On Bob's Road, just beyond Crystal Beach, a Green Heron was the only bird of note in the ponds, but the weedy area on the other side of the road produced a Vesper Sparrow as well as a young male Summer Tanager and some Dickcissels. A perched Osprey was one of the birds we had been looking for in this area. At the end of the road, eleven Black Terns were in the flock of gulls and terns fishing in the wake of a passing barge. Perched were a Gull-billed Tern and some Neotropic Cormorants.
Additional shorebird species were by this time becoming harder to find, but Yacht Basin Road, a good spot for Whimbrel many years ago, is reclaiming that reputation, for there were seven there, albeit on a day where Whimbrel were numerous everywhere. However, there were also two Long-billed Curlews in the marsh grass. The sandbars on the north side of Rollover Pass, currently threatened with closure by the Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office, was teeming with accessible shorebirds, making up for the somewhat difficult access at Bolivar Flats. Seven Ruddy Turnstones, in bright breeding plumage, were close by, while we were able to quickly find several Piping Plovers, a Wilson's Plover and one Snowy Plover. Two species we missed on Bolivar Flats were found: two white morph Reddish Egrets and later one dark morph, and two Marbled Godwits were added to the list. In among all the terms and gulls, we picked out a Caspian Tern. Just before we left, Chimney Swift was noted overhead.
Although we spent more time along the coast than probably we should have, we had an impressive list of shorebirds and very little "missing." So, we pushed on towards High Island and headed for Smith Oaks. This area is usually quieter than Boy Scout Woods, and enabled a quick review of the rookery at Clay Bottom Pond. We first went to the open brushy area just beyond the ponds. This was the area where a Fork-tailed Flycatcher had been seen a few days before. We did not have time to look extensively (or simply wait) for it, but the area is good for warblers and other migrants. We had a Tennessee Warbler, two Yellow Warblers, one Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Northern Waterthrush as well as a Red-eyed Vireo, two Orchard Orioles, a good number of Indigo Buntings. There were both a male and female Scarlet Tanagers, as well a Gray Catbird and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We checked off the resident Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal from our list. Passing by the rookery on Clay Bottom Pond, we added Common Moorhen and Anhinga. A quick drive around Sabine Pass produced two Upland Sandpipers, an Eastern Wood-Pewee and two male Painted Buntings in addition to birds of species we had already seen, including Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, and Lark Sparrow, as well as Common Nighthawk, Eastern Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. By this time it was about 11 a.m. and we had 111 species, all in Galveston County.
Heading north out of High Island and over the Intracoastal Waterway we proceeded on Highway 124 for a few miles, noting a Boat-tailed Grackle, a Turkey Vulture and several Cliff Swallows, and then we turned west along FM1941. This road has always been a good birding road, and is little traveled. There were more Eastern Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, but the first species we added to our list was a hunting female plumaged Northern Harrier, and then a Western Kingbird on a fence wire. Over the previous two or three days, Western Kingbirds had been everywhere along the coastal areas, along with an unprecedented number of several species of sparrow including Lark, Chipping and a few Clay-colored. We weren't able to find any of the last mentioned but we did not the others elsewhere during the day. The bridges over the small gullies on FM1941 produced several Tree Swallows and one Northern Rough-winged Swallow. We noted Red-winged Blackbirds (although we likely bypassed them in favor of more interesting species in other places earlier). Then we found a rice field that had recently been drained, but still had some standing water. In this field were good numbers of shorebirds. About 300 Whimbrel were obvious, but two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and about five Pectoral Sandpipers were also present. One shorebird, roughly the size of a Whimbrel, but with a chestnut belly, stubbornly refused to untuck its beak, but there was nothing it could have been other than a Hudsonian Godwit.
Moving on along FM1941 and then Highway 65 produced no new species. We turned up Jenkins Road with the goal of checking the pond on the north side of IH-10 for any lingering ducks. However, all we found were two American Coots, not necessarily easy to find in late spring, but a perched Black Vulture was a plus. Heading towards Winnie on FM1663, we came across a flock of about 25 dark ibis, all of which checked out as White-faced Ibis. The field was also host to a Little Blue Heron.
After purchasing lunch, we headed towards Hardin County along FM1406 and Highway 326. This drive did not produce many birds, so we quickly proceeded along FM418 to Firetower Road. It was not the most favorable time to be searching for the species of the area, nor did we have much time to search, but White-eyed Vireos, a Tufted Titmouse and a few Pine Warblers were quite vocal. As we worked our way north along the road, we did hear several Prairie Warblers as well as Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Yellow-breasted Chat, a Hooded Warbler, and, of course, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, all expected species in the area.
Our next objective was to return to the coast to look for more migrants in the mid to late afternoon time frame that often brings new migrants into the woodlots. We drove back towards Silsbee looking, eventually successfully, for an Eastern Bluebird on a wire. But we glimpsed a large white raptor cruising south over the treetops, We continued to a slightly more open area and were excited to see a Swallow-tailed Kite cross over the road above us, and then another. While the species is becoming more common in south east Texas, it is still a treat to find.
We pressed on south through Beaumont but made a quick detour through Nederland in order to find one of the numerous breeding American Robins there. This we quickly did, finding a Ruby-throated Hummingbird as an added bonus. Continuing on down to Sabine Pass, the marshes, while showing ample birdlife, did not produce any species we had not already seen.
Arriving at Sabine Woods, we were pleased to find many birds. A female Mottled Duck with 11 ducklings attracted much attention, as she had been doing for nearly two weeks, as she became more trusting of the good intents of birders. As there had been for many preceding days, there were a lot of thrushes and we were able to sweep the expected species: Wood Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery, as well as Brown Thrasher. We had already seen most of the expected Vireo species, but did add Yellow-throated Vireo to the list. We hadn't been able to spend long enough in High Island to amass a long list of warbler species, so we were able to add significantly. We added Kentucky Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler. In addition, we saw Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a good number of White-throated Sparrows and one bird of the resident pair of Inca Doves. Although we had, without a shadow of a doubt seen many European Starlings earlier in the day, this was the first time we actually managed to write the species down! As darkness approached, the birds in Sabine Woods began to retire for the night, so we headed towards McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge for a quick check of the road along the edge of Clam Lake and through a small section of marsh. We found many species that we had seen earlier in the day including notably Whimbrel, Northern Harrier, Western Kingbird and Lark Sparrow. However, we did add Chipping Sparrow. Then we saw a small low flying nightjar showing just a little less than the sharpness of wing of the Common Nighthawk, and with the white bands far out on the outer wings. We concluded this was a Lesser Nighthawk, about the third or fourth report of this species in April in the general area. We had just about given up on a species we were looking for, when a Least Bittern flew low across the road in front of us. It was quickly followed by a second, and while we were watching one as it perched, we found a Sora on the muddy marsh edge just below it. Satisfied, we were continuing towards the exit when a large bird was spotted on the Lake. Surprisingly enough, it turned out to be a Common Loon, a species we certainly hadn't expected to find in Jefferson County.
Just outside the entrance to McFaddin are some salt cedars, in the area where the mulberry trees used to be. Instinctively, we stopped. Even though it was almost dark, we were able to identify 14 species! Not unexpectedly, there were Indigo Buntings, Dickcissels, Blue Grosbeaks and Orchard Orioles. A Swainson's Thrush was a little out of normal habitat, but perhaps not surprising considering the number we had seen during the day. A female American Redstart caused us to continue to bird the salt cedars, and we found a Prothonotary Warbler, two Magnolia Warblers, a Yellow Warbler and a Scarlet Tanager. In addition, there was another Western Kingbird and a Least Flycatcher. These were presumably mostly birds which had completed their trans-Gulf migration during the afternoon, but had not found their way to any wooded area. By then, it really was too late to see any more birds, but an owl – species unknown – did fly across the road in front of use on Highway 87.
We recorded 163 species, indicated in bold face. The problem with amassing a long list in a day is managing to cover all habitats without driving long distances. It is always frustrating not to be able to spend the amount of time one normally would at any of the locations. Stopping for every bird one sees eats too much into the time that can be spent at the locations where there are concentrations of birds, but that can result in some species being missed. We did do well, even though we did not cover either Anahuac NWR or Cattail Marsh. We look forward to trying to beat this number next year.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 4
Mallard 1
Mottled Duck 28
Blue-winged Teal 56
Teal species 5
Northern Shoveler 2
Common Loon 1
Pied-billed Grebe 3
American White Pelican 1
Brown Pelican 132
Neotropic Cormorant 67
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Anhinga 2
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 12
Snowy Egret 30
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 13
Reddish Egret 3
Cattle Egret 128
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 4
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 4
White Ibis 12
White-faced Ibis 25
Plegadis species Ibis 1
Roseate Spoonbill 105
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 11
Osprey 1
Swallow-tailed Kite 2
Northern Harrier 3
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Clapper Rail 5
Sora 1
Common Moorhen 6
American Coot 2
Black-bellied Plover 19
Snowy Plover 1
Wilson's Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 15
Piping Plover 5
Killdeer 5
American Oystercatcher 1
Black-necked Stilt 5
American Avocet 500
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 6
Willet 16
Lesser Yellowlegs 13
Yellowlegs species 1
Upland Sandpiper 2
Whimbrel 326
Long-billed Curlew 2
Hudsonian Godwit 1
Marbled Godwit 2
Ruddy Turnstone 12
Red Knot 1
Sanderling 15
Western Sandpiper 6
Least Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 5
Dunlin 329
Short-billed Dowitcher 30
Long-billed Dowitcher 14
Dowitcher species 4
Wilson's Phalarope 63
Laughing Gull 350
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 7
Least Tern 316
Gull-billed Tern 1
Caspian Tern 3
Black Tern 36
Forster's Tern 34
Royal Tern 300
Sandwich Tern 17
Black Skimmer 52
Rock Pigeon 5
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
White-winged Dove 3
Mourning Dove 21
Inca Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Owl species 1
Lesser Nighthawk 1
Common Nighthawk 8
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Western Kingbird 4
Eastern Kingbird 29
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 12
Loggerhead Shrike 5
White-eyed Vireo 3
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 11
Blue Jay 9
American Crow 2
Horned Lark 2
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 67
N. Rough-winged Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 17
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Sedge Wren 5
Marsh Wren 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
Veery 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 24
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 17
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 2
Tennessee Warbler 3
Nashville Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 3
American Redstart 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Ovenbird 6
Northern Waterthrush 4
Kentucky Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Hooded Warbler 4
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Chipping Sparrow 7
Vesper Sparrow 4
Lark Sparrow 31
Savannah Sparrow 11
Nelson's Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 10
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Summer Tanager 10
Scarlet Tanager 5
Northern Cardinal 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5
Blue Grosbeak 7
Indigo Bunting 14
Painted Bunting 2
Dickcissel 38
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Eastern Meadowlark 5
Yellow-headed Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 4
Boat-tailed Grackle 6
Great-tailed Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 75
Orchard Oriole 5
Baltimore Oriole 2
House Sparrow 5
