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20 Nov Cedar Waxwings & Robins - Burnet County [] 20 Nov Great Bird-related Volunteer Opportunity [] 20 Nov Returnees [Jim Cluck ] 20 Nov Re: FOS Hays County [Stephanie Barko ] 20 Nov Nueces/Jim Wells Counties 11/20 [Jon McIntyre ] 20 Nov 3 Kingfisher day at Garner State Park [Steve Snyder ] 20 Nov Re: Bird on a Wire [Ronnie Kramer ] 20 Nov Bird on a Wire [Kyle Ohaver ] 20 Nov More on Rusty Blackbirds [John Arvin ] 20 Nov Tyler State Park [Boyd Sanders ] 20 Nov Bald Eagle eating geese [Brush Freeman ] 20 Nov Calliope hummingbird -- Dripping Springs [Howard Williams ] 20 Nov Rusty Blackbird at Hagerman NWR, 11/19/09 [Dan Jones ] 20 Nov Allen's Hummer, Bentsen Becard, and more! [Mary Gustafson ] 20 Nov Smith Point Hawk Watch daily counts [Susan Heath ] 20 Nov Lubbock Area CBCs - Second Announcement [Anthony Flyd ] 20 Nov Mad Island CBC Birder Needs [Brent Ortego ] 20 Nov volunteers for American Oystercatcher monitoring [Susan Heath ] 19 Nov Re: Austin, 45th & Guadalupe [Rachel Clapsaddle ] 19 Nov Southeastern Bell County 11/15/2009 - Cackling Goose, photogenic Le Conte's Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, and more [Rich Kostecke ] 19 Nov Re: Jacana [Sue Wiedenfeld ] 19 Nov Bryan beach lagoon 11/19/09 Eared Grebe ? [Will Rountree ] 19 Nov Austin Area RBA - Update for November 19th [Eric Carpenter ] 19 Nov Fwd: eBird Report - Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC 054) , 11/19/09 [] 19 Nov Lewisville bird walk December 12 ["Cole, Lisa" ] 19 Nov Attwater PC NWR [] 19 Nov Lark Bunting @ LANWR ["Jorge D. Cortez" ] 19 Nov Nueces county 11/19 [Jon McIntyre ] 19 Nov La Sal Tracts [] 19 Nov Review Species details [Mark Lockwood ] 19 Nov Re: Partial Albino Red Tail Hawk [James Booker ] 19 Nov Upcoming TOS meetings [] 19 Nov Partial Albino Red Tail Hawk [Marina Kenn ] 19 Nov Found Tripod Knob at Hornsby Bend, Austin [Andrew Balinsky ] 19 Nov RFI Henslow's Sparrow [Mary Gustafson ] 19 Nov RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley, November 19 2009 [Mary Gustafson ] 19 Nov BBSP Least Grebes: Fights between juveniles and physical interactions with Pied-billed Grebe [Mark B Bartosik ] 19 Nov Smith Point 2009 season totals [John Arvin ] 19 Nov Re: Rusty Blackbirds in Texas [John Arvin ] 18 Nov Re: Lewis's Woodpecker still present [Robert Mace ] 18 Nov Heard Museum banding/census report, 11/18/09 [Tom Heath ] 18 Nov Northern Jacana Choke Canyon [] 18 Nov Hazel Bazemore Park Wednesday [Judy Kestner ] 18 Nov Re: FOS Hays County [Stephanie Barko ] 18 Nov Aransas NWR area 11/18 [Jon McIntyre ] 18 Nov Spotted Towhee at Lick Creek Park [Bryan Tarbox ] 18 Nov Rusty Blackbirds in Texas [John Arvin ] 18 Nov Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch increase? ["Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" ] 18 Nov Ah crud [Brush Freeman ] 18 Nov Corpus Christi, TX Hawk Watch (Nov 15) END OF SEASON! - 15 [Patty Waits Beasley ] 18 Nov Estero Llano Grande SP & WBC in Weslaco Texas [Kyle Ohaver ] 18 Nov Some birds are back! (Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas) [Z Duenzl ] 18 Nov Lewis's Woodpecker still present [] 18 Nov Bentsen Becard seen today [Mary Gustafson ] 18 Nov Busier on CyFair campus ["Mohamed, Jeffrey D" ] 18 Nov Re: Whooping Cranes - RFI [Bill Duke ] 18 Nov Whooping Cranes - RFI [Bill Duke ] 18 Nov Re: Burrowing Owl on Bolivar [] 18 Nov Least Grebe – feeding and hunting techniques/ + be careful when in love. [Mark B Bartosik ] 18 Nov 11-17-09 Sandhill Cranes @ Warbler Woods [Susan Schaezler ] 17 Nov Fort Clark Springs, Brackettville,Texas [Louisa Stone ] 17 Nov Coastal Bend Birds? [John Schueler &/or Emie Stewart ] 17 Nov Burrowing Owl on Bolivar [Jace Stansbury ] 17 Nov Tuesday morning birding group, Hagerman NWR [Jack Chiles ] 17 Nov Re: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) [John Berner ] 17 Nov Re: TOS Patch ....Correction on zip code [Brush Freeman ] 17 Nov TOS Patch auction update [Brush Freeman ] 17 Nov Willis Creek Park closed [] 17 Nov BBSP Least Grebe – adult/juvenile field marks (in photos) [Mark B Bartosik ] 17 Nov Re: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) [KEITH KINGDON ] 17 Nov Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) [James Hinson ] 17 Nov Bentsen Becard second time [Carol Navarro Adams ] 17 Nov Re: Pelican comments [Brent Ortego ] 17 Nov Re: Pelican comments [David Sperry ] 17 Nov Re: On the Brown Pelican being removed from the list [] 16 Nov Pelican comments [Brush Freeman ] Subject: Cedar Waxwings & Robins - Burnet County From: MarjorieBird AT AOL.COM Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:26:39 EST A flock of robins arrived with the rain this morning and while watching them bathe in the rain puddles I observed 2 cedar waxwings in the tops of the cedar trees above them. Very early but they were unmistakably wax wings. Marjorie Dearmont Whitewater Springs S.E. Burnet County TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Great Bird-related Volunteer Opportunity From: dalybar AT AOL.COM Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:57:32 -0500 Subject: Great Bird-related Volunteer Activity (TOS) If you meet all four of the following criteria, I would like you to consider a great volunteer opportunity. 1. Do you live in one of the following counties in the upper coastal region somewhere: AUSTIN, BRAZORIA, CALHOUN, CHAMBERS, COLORADO, FORT BEND, GALVESTON, HARRIS, JACKSON, JEFFERSON, MATAGORDA, VICTORIA, WALLER, WHARTON? 2. Are you an avid bird person and a people person? 3. Do you have some time and energy to volunteer for a bird-related non-profit organization, including attending gatherings to bird and to meet with other birders at different places around Texas at least twice a year? 4. Are you a member of the Texas Ornithological Society (TOS)? If all of these things are true for you, please read on: Effective January 1, 2010, TOS will have an opening for an important position, the “region 8” director, who must live in one of the above counties. If you are interested in being appointed to fill the remaining term of Brad Lirette (until elections in April 2011), please present a short paragraph as to why you should be given the appointment and provide some references if possible. Please contact Lynn Barber at 682-365-6531 if you have questions. Email your application to her at dalybar AT aol.com, preferably before then end of November. And THANKS. Lynn Barber, President Texas Ornithological Society Fort Worth TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Returnees From: Jim Cluck <daddyquack AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:04 -0600 It is nice to see old friends coming back. In the last 2 days I have had white-winged doves, blue jays, Eurasian collared-doves and Brewers Blackbirds. I had the first of season Brewers yesterday. He was followed by a flock of about 30 today. These have all been in my back yard. Two days ago on Bay Area Blvd. between Fairmont and Redbluff, I observed 3 Red-shouldered hawks, a belted kingfisher, and a family of 4 ibises. Jim Cluck La Porte (Houston is a NW suburb of ours) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: FOS Hays County From: Stephanie Barko <steffercat AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:27:04 -0600 A FOS Dark-eyed Junco (slate) appeared on my front path in the rain this afternoon with the Chippie flock to pick up the mixed seed scattered on the pavers. Stephanie Barko TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Hays County Subject: Nueces/Jim Wells Counties 11/20 From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:17:11 -0600 Today several others and I birded Hazel Bazemore Park, Indian Point Park, and the Sandia area getting lots of good birds. Here are the highlights- 40+ LARK BUNTINGS (Sandia) PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Sandia) YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Sandia) FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Sandia) FRANKLIN'S GULL (Indian Point Park) SAY'S PHOEBE (Sandia) COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Hazel Bazemore) RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Rockport) STILT SANDPIPER (Hazel Bazemore) BRONZED COWBIRD (Hazel Bazemore) SEDGE WREN (Hazel Bazemore) Jon McIntyre Port Aransas, TX _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: 3 Kingfisher day at Garner State Park From: Steve Snyder <ac5gh AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:10:46 -0600 Saw all 3 Kingfishers (Belted, Green, and Ringed) today at Garner State Park. All in a 1 mile stretch of the Frio River. Steve Snyder at Garner State Park TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Bird on a Wire From: Ronnie Kramer <rlkramer1 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:06:54 -0600 As odd as it seems, I have seen Green-backed Heron, Snowy Egret, and even Great Egret perched on power lines. Ronnie Kramer Austin, Texas On Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:39:57 -0600, Kyle Ohaver wrote: >What an odd thing I seen today. While driving back from a meeting in >Elsa almost at the intersection of Expressway 83 and 1015 I spotted a >white bird on top of the telephone wires in the distance. As I got >closer I realized it was a first for me. It was an Egret small in >stature. I believe in my best judgment it was a Cattle Egret due to what >appeared to be and orangeish bill and posture but I did not have time to >stop and confirm. Egrets and Herons regularly nest in trees but it >seemed odd to see one near the middle of a line between two poles. Has >anyone else seen such a sight? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Don't forget regular bird walks from 8:30-10:30am Wed Sat and Sun > >Breakfast with the birds Nov 21st Dec 19th 8:00-11:00am > >Butterfly/Dragonfly walk 1:30-3:00pm Fridays > > > > > >Kyle R. O'Haver > > > >World Birding Center > >Estero Llano Grande State Park > >Park Interpreter > > > >154-A Lakeview Drive > >Weslaco, Texas 78596 > >956-565-3919 (Phone) > >956-565-2864 (Fax) > > > > >TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bird on a Wire From: Kyle Ohaver <Kyle.Ohaver AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:39:57 -0600 What an odd thing I seen today. While driving back from a meeting in Elsa almost at the intersection of Expressway 83 and 1015 I spotted a white bird on top of the telephone wires in the distance. As I got closer I realized it was a first for me. It was an Egret small in stature. I believe in my best judgment it was a Cattle Egret due to what appeared to be and orangeish bill and posture but I did not have time to stop and confirm. Egrets and Herons regularly nest in trees but it seemed odd to see one near the middle of a line between two poles. Has anyone else seen such a sight? Don't forget regular bird walks from 8:30-10:30am Wed Sat and Sun Breakfast with the birds Nov 21st Dec 19th 8:00-11:00am Butterfly/Dragonfly walk 1:30-3:00pm Fridays Kyle R. O'Haver World Birding Center Estero Llano Grande State Park Park Interpreter 154-A Lakeview Drive Weslaco, Texas 78596 956-565-3919 (Phone) 956-565-2864 (Fax) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: More on Rusty Blackbirds From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:24 -0600 The Rusty Blackbird blitz as posted on the website a day or so ago was still giving dates for last year's project. The updated information is here Announcement Year 2!_BWRcomments.doc>. jca John C. Arvin Research Coordinator Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (979) 480-0999 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Tyler State Park From: Boyd Sanders <boyd.sanders AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:40:55 -0600 Howdy All! Finally back in Tyler State Park. Spent all last week at the Big Bend Ranch State Park Fiesta picking up some desert birds. I got three lifers and the opportunity to go on a couple of birding adventures with Mark Lockwood. And one of them was definitely an adventure. Just checked the park (Tyler) and found lots of sparrows up at Blackjack along with huge flocks of Cedar Waxwings and Robins. I also heard a few Brown Creepers. It appears that we have gotten in a few more of our winter residents. I didn't get a real chance to see what's here, but I will tomorrow at our 8:30 am bird walk from the park headquarters. This will be our typical 2 hour bird walk followed by our Birding 101 program for budding birders. At 3:30 pm we are going to have our Woodpeckers hike also. It's giong to be a birdy day so come on out and join us. Mark your calendars also for our 2nd annual "Walk Off the Bird" bird walk the day after Thanksgiving. It is going to be a day long birding excursion through the park and that sure beats the shopping malls and traffic. Good birding, Boyd Sanders Interpreter/Exhibit Tech Tyler State Park boyd.sanders AT tpwd.state.tx.us (903)597-5338 “Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati” (When All Else Fails, Play Dead)- Red Green TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bald Eagle eating geese From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:29:50 -0600 I went thru the Osceola/Blum area on my way from point A to B. In a field of green winter rye/wheat there was an adult Bald Eagle feasting on a white goose. Also within 6 miles of there I saw a raptor that MIGHT have been a light morphed Rough-legged. It was raining lightly and the bird was all damp and puffed up tho. -- Brush Freeman Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Calliope hummingbird -- Dripping Springs From: Howard Williams <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:40:07 -0600 Here are a few photos of a Calliope hummingbird that showed up at my feeders today. Not the best images due to the overcast conditions. Hopefully the bird will still be around when the sun reappears; http://picasaweb.google.com/howilliams/Unidentifiedhum112009# Howard Williams Dripping Springs TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Rusty Blackbird at Hagerman NWR, 11/19/09 From: Dan Jones <antshrike1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:35:10 -0600 Yesterday (11/20/09) on the return trip to the Valley after spending a few days in Missouri, Honey and I decided to check out Hagerman NWR in Grayson Co. What a wonderful birding area! We spent the afternoon there enjoying the waterfowl and sparrows. Coincidentally, After JA's plea for Rusty Blackbird sightings, we found a lone female Rusty Blackbird in a receding mud puddle on the right side of the road to the Crow Hill Trail, not far after it leaves the main tour road. Here's a couple of pics. http://i47.tinypic.com/30seruu.jpg http://i47.tinypic.com/mrzrfb.jpg http://i45.tinypic.com/1zptcab.jpg A female Red-breasted Merganser was near the first bend of the tour road after the headquarters. Greater White-fronted Goose 50 Snow Goose 1000 Ross's Goose 100 Canada Goose 7 Gadwall 20 Mallard 30 Northern Shoveler 20 Northern Pintail 200 Green-winged Teal 200 Redhead 100 Ring-necked Duck 10 Lesser Scaup 20 Bufflehead 4 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Pied-billed Grebe 2 American White Pelican 15 Double-crested Cormorant 300 Great Blue Heron 15 Great Egret 5 Black Vulture 5 Turkey Vulture 20 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 50 Black-bellied Plover 1 Killdeer 15 Greater Yellowlegs 10 Least Sandpiper 70 Dunlin 3 Wilson's Snipe 3 Bonaparte's Gull 150 Franklin's Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Herring Gull (American) 200 Mourning Dove 30 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 5 Eastern Phoebe 2 Loggerhead Shrike 1 American Crow 25 Carolina Chickadee 3 Carolina Wren 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 50 American Pipit 50 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Field Sparrow 8 Vesper Sparrow 2 Savannah Sparrow 5 Fox Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 10 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 10 Harris's Sparrow 15 White-crowned Sparrow 15 Dark-eyed Junco 5 Northern Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird 200 meadowlark sp. 10 Rusty Blackbird 1 Brewer's Blackbird 20 American Goldfinch 3 Dan Jones in Weslaco http://antshrike.blogspot.com/ TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Allen's Hummer, Bentsen Becard, and more! From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:21:08 -0500 The adult male Allen's Hummingbird appeared at the feeder outside my window, recently relocated to where I can see it from my desk (Thanks Rick and May Snider!). I saw the Bentsen Rose-throated Becard today as well, along with a Northern Parula and Gray Hawk. It was in the Ebony Grove feeder area. A friend sent a photo of an adult Ferruginous Hawk at Santa Ana near Pintail Lakes yesterday. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Smith Point Hawk Watch daily counts From: Susan Heath <sheath AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:05:36 -0600 TexBirders, John Arvin and I spent a great deal of time over the last few days putting together the daily count data for the Smith Point Hawk Watch so we could put it on our website. It took much more time than either of expected but I am happy to say that you can now view yearly totals from 1999-2009 and daily count data for 2002-2009 on the GCBO website. These data are located under the Research & Monitoring tab, under Hawk Watch Count totals. http://www.gcbo.org/default.aspx?MenuItemID=176 &MenuGroup=Home If you would like the spreadsheets from which the tables were generated, I will be happy to e-mail them to you. Sue Susan A. Heath, Ph.D. Avian Conservation Biologist Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 W. Hwy 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 979-480-0999 Join us in our quest to study and conserve birds and their habitat around the Gulf of Mexico. Find out how at www.gcbo.org Sign up for our monthly E-news letter TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Lubbock Area CBCs - Second Announcement From: Anthony Flyd <terrverts AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:41:28 -0800 The Lubbock County CBC will be      Greetings All      The Lubbock County CBC will be held on Saturday, 19 December 2009.  I will form teams before the event.  Team members will meet with their team leaders where and when they choose in the morning and the countdown will be a potluck supper at my place (4407 36th Street, Lubbock).  Supper will start at 5:00 PM and the countdown will start at 6:00 PM.  For this count to be effective, I need to get together at least eight teams - ideally with AT LEAST two members per team.  Current team information follows (as you can see, I am short five leaders and could easily accomodate twenty more counters overall): Team One: northeast - VACANT Team Two: north central, city farms - VACANT Team Three: southeast quadrant, V8 Ranch - Anthony Hewetson Team Four: south central - VACANT Team Five: northwest - VACANT Team Six: canyon lakes - VACANT Team Seven: parks and playas east - Aveline Hewetson, Swetha Gadwala, Robert Scott Team Eight: parks and playas west - Susan Bergeson?, Jim Bertrand, Robin London      The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge CBC will be held on Sunday, 20 December 2009.  We will meet at refuge headquarters at 7:30 AM, will bird for four hours or so, and will assemble back at headquarters for a potluck lunch/countdown around noon.  For this count to be effective, I need to put together four teams - ideally with AT LEAST two members per team.  Current team information follows (as you can see, I am short two leaders and could easily accomodate ten more counters overall): Team One: east of the highway - Anthony Hewetson, Aveline Hewetson Team Two: refuge center, goose lakes - Susan Bergeson?, Jim Bertrand, Robin London Team Three: northern highlands Team Four: southern portion, white lakes      The White River Lake CBC will be held on Saturday, 2 January 2010.  We will meet at the White River Lake Marina at 7:30 AM, will bird for many, many hours, and will meet back at The Marina for a hot supper and countdown at 5:00 PM - with the countdown to start at 5:30 PM.  For this count to be effective, I need to put together five teams - ideally with AT LEAST two members per team. Current team information follows (as you can see, I am short two leaders and could easily accomodate twenty more counters overall): Team One: east and southeast - Anthony Hewetson, Aveline Hewetson Team Two: east lake - VACANT Team Three: west lake - Susan Bergeson?, Jim Bertrand, Rich Damron, Robin London Team Four: northern woodlands: Rich Kostecke Team Five: west and southwest - VACANT      Once again, the Llano Estacado Audubon Society will be paying all CBC fees.      If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with me at terrverts AT yahoo.com or at (806) 252-1213.  I would like to have as big a turnout as is possible for each count and would encourage birders at all levels to get involved.  Every team will have an experienced team leader in charge ... and this can be a great learning experience for beginning birders.      Anthony Hewetson,      Christmas Bird County Compiler,      Llano Estacado Audubon Society,      Lubbock, Texas      TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Mad Island CBC Birder Needs From: Brent Ortego <brentortego AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:43:20 -0600 We will be trying to be Numer One in the Nation again on Monday, 14 December. This will be the first time we will be able to run the count on the first day of the CBC season and this is exciting. We hope to locate more lingering neotrops than normal. We have a number of sections which are still looking for birders that are willing to spend most of the day birding on foot. Lyondell Chemical Plant = Section led my Michael Kennedy. The chemical plant has a large block of buffer land that is mostly forested along the Colorado River. Birders will spend the bulk of the day birding on foot along trails. Some of the better birds for this section have been Bald Eagle, Solitary Sandpiper, E. Wood-Pewee, Great Kiskadee, Blackburnian Warbler, Ovenbird, Canada Warbler, and Harris's Sparrow. Matagorda = Section led by Charlie Brower. This section includes the town and three ranches along the Colorado River. The town has a variety of brushy undeveloped lots, and residences with feeders. The ranches have a combination of pasture land and woodlands along the river. Some of the better birds have been Groove-billed Ani, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Say's Phoebe, Long-billed Thrasher, Green-tailed Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Bronzed Cowbird and Lesser Goldfinch. Old Gulf = Section led by Sumita Prasad. This section is land surrounding a deactivated sulphur mine. The site contains a variety of pasture land with native grasslands, scrublands, and wetland impoundments. This is one of the best sections for finding western species. Some of the better birds have been Lesser Nighthawk, Groove-billed Ani, E. Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Wood Thrush, W. Tanager, and Clay-colored Sparrow. Contact me if you would like to join us in one of these or other sections. Let me know roughly what are your birding skills and the type of birds you are best abled to survey. Also let me know if you can bird most of the day on foot, or would need to bird close to a vehicle. I will try to place you in the site requested, but I will distribute birders based on our needs. Hope to hear from you. Brent Ortego Victoria, TX 361/576-0022 _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: volunteers for American Oystercatcher monitoring From: Susan Heath <sheath AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:37:57 -0600 TexBirders, GCBO is hoping to initiate a program to study American Oystercatchers along the Texas coast. American Oystercatcher is a species of high concern in the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and is also a Fish & Wildlife species of concern. There has been a lot of research on this species on the Atlantic Coast but nearly none on the Texas Coast. The more northerly Atlantic Coast birds are migratory and spend their winters from Virginia southward to Florida. As far as we know, none of these birds migrate to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Current thinking is that the Texas birds are sedentary but we do not know that for sure. There is a large population of oystercatchers along the Mexican coast south to about Veracruz and more in the Yucatan and we do not if we are exchanging birds with those populations or not. The major problems with Atlantic Coast populations are human disturbance and predation of eggs and chicks. As part of our research plan, we hope to color band birds and monitor as many nests as we can to collect life history information for the species and to determine major predators of eggs and chicks. The purpose of this e-mail is to solicit information from folks who might be interested in volunteering to help with this project. We will initiate preliminary studies in the spring of 2010 to finalize the protocols and the research project will begin in earnest in the fall of 2010. We need volunteers to do nest monitoring during the months of February, March, and April (with some monitoring extending into May) of 2011 and 2012. This will involve finding a nest and visiting it two or sometimes three times a week for 30 minutes to an hour to collect data. It does not matter if you haven't done this type of observation before. We will train you in the protocols though we don't expect them to be rigorous in any way. The hardest part in fact may be simply getting to the nest without disturbing the birds. We will also need volunteers to do surveys looking for color bands year round. If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail me and let me know your interest. I am currently working up a proposal budget and I need to get an estimate of how many volunteers I think we can get. Thanks very much everyone! Sue Susan A. Heath, Ph.D. Avian Conservation Biologist Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 103 W. Hwy 332 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 979-480-0999 Join us in our quest to study and conserve birds and their habitat around the Gulf of Mexico. Find out how at www.gcbo.org Sign up for our monthly E-news letter TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Austin, 45th & Guadalupe From: Rachel Clapsaddle <rachelclapsaddle AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:45:42 -0600 Stopped by the Triangle pond (46th and Guadalupe) today 11/19 around 2:00 and got some great looks at the Common Moorhen. Also had 4 Least Grebes, an Eastern Phoebe, a female Blue-winged Teal, Coots, and Monk Parakeets along with all the regulars. Rachel Clapsaddle Austin On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 5:30 PM, Ronnie Kramer wrote: > Yesterday, Saturday November 14, I went to the pond near 45th and Guadalupe > (at the triangle) to see the Common Moorhen which had been reported. I saw > it for a moment only. > > But there were at least 4 Least Grebes and a pair of Redhead. > > I returned today (Sunday November 15) to try for better pics of the Common > Moorhen. > > The moorhen is still there today, as well as the pair of Redhead, at least > 5 > Least Grebes, and 4 pair of Wood Duck. > > A Sora flew across the pond and stood in the open just long enough for very > close, clear views. > > Other notes include White-throated Sparrow and Monk Parakeets. > > Ronnie Kramer > Austin, Texas > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Southeastern Bell County 11/15/2009 - Cackling Goose, photogenic Le Conte's Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, and more From: Rich Kostecke <rkost73 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:58:38 -0800 This is somewhat belated, but on 11/15/09 I drove an approximately 90 mile loop through southeastern Bell County making stops at the Little River bottoms along Sunshine Road, the Rogers area ponds, and roads such as Hunt-Jones, Alligator, and Aubrey-Messer. Unfortunately, I dipped on both Mountain Plover and longspurs, but I did have a single Cackling Goose mixed in with other waterfowl on Rogers Lake, a Le Conte's sparrow that I pished up which perched on a grass stem out in the open less than 5 feet from me and just sat there and ticked at me for several minutes (I got some nice pics), and a Pyrrhuloxia in heavy brush at the Hackberry Road crossing of Darr's Creek. My full list for the 6.75 hrs that I was out: CACKLING GOOSE 1 Lake Rogers Gadwall 22 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 1 Green-winged Teal 8 Northern Shoveler 10 Redhead 5 Ring-necked Duck 22 Hooded Merganser 7 pond along FM2268 Ruddy Duck 3 Pied-billed Grebe 2 American White Pelican 1 Flag Branch Double-crested Cormorant 40 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 14 (11 at the Rogers sewage ponds) Turkey Vulture 47 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 14 American Kestrel 22 American Coot 64 Killdeer 109 Greater Yellowlegs 13 Wilson's Snipe 2 Rock Pigeon 727 Eurasian Collared-Dove 13 White-winged Dove 20 Mourning Dove 78 Inca Dove 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 25 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Loggerhead Shrike 20 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 20 Horned Lark 7 Hunt-Jones Rd Carolina Chickadee 11 Black-crested Titmouse 4 Carolina Wren 11 House Wren 4 Marsh Wren 1 Lake Rogers Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 Eastern Bluebird 19 Hermit Thrush 4 American Robin 17 Northern Mockingbird 16 Brown Thrasher 1 European Starling 102 American Pipit 23 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Common Yellowthroat 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 2 Vesper Sparrow 32 Savannah Sparrow 218 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Armstrong Loop Le Conte's Sparrow 3 Armstrong Loop Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparro2 5 Lake Rogers White-throated Sparrow 15 White-crowned Sparrow 11 Northern Cardinal 47 PYRRHULOXIA 1 Hackberry Rd crossing of Darr's Creek Red-winged Blackbird 71+ Eastern Meadowlark 87 Western Meadowlark 2 meadowlark sp. 302 Brewer's Blackbird 257+ Great-tailed Grackle 19+ Brown-headed Cowbird 437+ House Sparrow 5+ Richard Kostecke, Ph.D. The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 5190, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-0190 Phone:  254-288-2088  Fax: 254-288-5039 E-mail: rkost73 AT yahoo.com or rkostecke AT tnc.org   TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Jacana From: Sue Wiedenfeld <suewie AT HCTC.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:04:55 -0600 Reporting that Northern Jacana was seen this morning, November 19, by Jane Crone and Bill Lindemann. Had a phone call from Jane this a.m. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Sue Subject: Bryan beach lagoon 11/19/09 Eared Grebe ? From: Will Rountree <wrountree AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:21:06 -0600 I was down at Bryan beach today and saw this grebe on the lagoon by the alternate access to Bryan beach. I believe it is an Eared Grebe, it was about the only bird in the lagoon. http://www.pbase.com/willrountree/image/119539695 http://www.pbase.com/willrountree/image/119539711 http://www.pbase.com/willrountree/image/119539712 -- Will Rountree Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/willrountree TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Austin Area RBA - Update for November 19th From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:56:19 -0600 The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, November 19th, 2009: --- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK--- A trip to the Granger Lake area on November 15th yielded 2 SAY'S PHOEBES (Sayornis saya), with one along Aubrey Messer Road (Bell County) and another along CR 435 (Williamson County). A lingering BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Dendroica virens) was at the Zilker Nature Preserve on November 15th. A lone RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) was heard by an experienced birder along Cottletown Road between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks on November 13th. --- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS --- RINGED KINGFISHERS (Megaceryle torquatus) have been present at a few spots around Austin. Individual birds have been present along the river at Hornsby Bend and also along the river at Commons Ford Park (in west Austin off Commons Ford Rd which runs off of Cuernavaca about 1/2 mile from its intersection with Bee Caves/2244) on-and-off for the past few weeks. Another one was seen along the river at Reimer's Ranch Park (off of Hamilton Pool road) and, more recently, closer to Hamilton Pool. There has also been one seen around (Big) Webberville Park. A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope) was discovered (and photographed) on September 16th on the northwest side of the Garden Center building at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin (see http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/index.html) and has been seen sporadically there since then (last report on October 31st). It can be looked for attending to the lone hummingbird feeder and also perched up high in the nearby oaks. A COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) has been lingering at the pond in the Triangle delevopment area near the northwest corner of 45th and Guadalupe Streets in Austin. It has been seen at least through November 14th. As many as 7 individuals are lingering at a small pond near the intersection of McKinney Falls Parkway and Aspen Glenn (last report on November 14th), while 2 more are at a pond near the intersection of Hwy 183 and Metropolitan (last report on November 14th). --- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS --- An AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) was flushed on private property near Utley on November 11th. A LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) was along Lindemann Road southwest of Holland on November 8th. An OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) was present on private property near Utley on November 7th and 8th. A BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) was at a private residence near Spring Branch (Blano County near the Comal County line) on November 1st. A lingering ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) was at the Canyon of the Eagles park on Lake Buchanan on October 31st. -------------- Reports for the Austin area RBA cover a 60-mile radius centered in downtown Austin. This circle extends north to Belton Lake (Bell County), south to Leesville (Gonzales County), east to Somerville WMA (Lee/Burleson County), and west to Blumenthal (Gillespie County). Bird sightings mentioned here have been filtered & scrutinized by the compiler and are believed to be genuine. When documentation or photographs were provided, that is mentioned along with the other information about the bird(s) being seen. The most recent update can always be found at: http://www.travisaudubon.org/rba.html Visit Travis Audubon online at: http://www.travisaudubon.org -------------- For questions or updates about birds mentioned here or to report rare or unusual bird sightings in the Austin area, please send an e-mail to ecarpe AT gmail.com. -- Eric Carpenter Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC 054) , 11/19/09 From: imhuck3 AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:07:52 -0500 Howdy Texbirders, Had a great day birding at Estero today with 90 species found. The Rose-throated Becard gave us all super looks at this young male with the rose throat in plain view several times. The shore birds in Ibis Pond keeps you busy just scoping to see if there is something else mixed in with the Long-billed Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers. Thought that perhaps a Dunlin was seen mixing in with them this afternoon, but could not see it well enough to call. The Black-throated Gray Warbler was not seen today as far as I know. OK, some great birding is just down the road for many of you and we are here to offer any help we can provide for you to have a wonderful day or two of some good South Texas Birding. Please check in at the Visitor's Center for information on what is being seen and at what locations. So------ Bird for your health, Forget your worries, You'll be happier. Huck Hutchens, Park Host Estero Llano Grande SP Weslaco, TX. -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: imhuck3 AT aol.com Sent: Thu, Nov 19, 2009 4:45 pm Subject: eBird Report - Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC 054) , 11/19/09 Location: Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC 054) bservation date: 11/19/09 otes: Many of the birds seen today was on a spur of the moment bird walk ll around the park with about 6 participants then went back to where the Becard as seen this morning but did not get it this afternoon. umber of species: 89 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 20 adwall 12 ottled Duck 4 lue-winged Teal 8 innamon Teal 3 orthern Shoveler 20 reen-winged Teal 15 esser Scaup 5 reater/Lesser Scaup 4 uddy Duck 12 lain Chachalaca 2 east Grebe 8 ied-billed Grebe 2 merican White Pelican 14 eotropic Cormorant 4 ouble-crested Cormorant 4 nhinga 3 reat Blue Heron 2 reat Egret 3 nowy Egret 4 ittle Blue Heron 3 ricolored Heron 2 hite Ibis 4 oseate Spoonbill 4 urkey Vulture 5 sprey 1 hite-tailed Kite 2 orthern Harrier 1 harp-shinned Hawk 1 ooper's Hawk 3 arris's Hawk 3 ed-tailed Hawk 1 rested Caracara 1 merican Kestrel 1 erlin 1 eregrine Falcon 1 ora 1 ommon Moorhen 4 merican Coot 200 illdeer 4 lack-necked Stilt 8 merican Avocet 4 potted Sandpiper 2 reater Yellowlegs 1 esser Yellowlegs 4 east Sandpiper 2 tilt Sandpiper 25 ong-billed Dowitcher 25 ilson's Snipe 3 ock Pigeon 12 hite-winged Dove 2 ourning Dove 2 nca Dove 15 ommon Ground-Dove 5 hite-tipped Dove 3 astern Screech-Owl 1 ommon Pauraque 4 uff-bellied Hummingbird 1 ufous Hummingbird 1 elted Kingfisher 2 reen Kingfisher 3 olden-fronted Woodpecker 15 astern Phoebe 2 ermilion Flycatcher 3 reat Kiskadee 20 ropical Kingbird 4 ouch's Kingbird 2 cissor-tailed Flycatcher 1 ose-throated Becard 1 oggerhead Shrike 1 hite-eyed Vireo 2 reen Jay 2 lack-crested Titmouse 4 arolina Wren 1 ouse Wren 3 uby-crowned Kinglet 6 lue-gray Gnatcatcher 5 orthern Mockingbird 5 uropean Starling 7 range-crowned Warbler 8 ellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 lack-and-white Warbler 1 ommon Yellowthroat 3 ilson's Warbler 1 avannah Sparrow 1 incoln's Sparrow 1 astern Meadowlark 1 ltamira Oriole 1 esser Goldfinch 10 ouse Sparrow 25 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Lewisville bird walk December 12 From: "Cole, Lisa" <lisacole AT UNT.EDU> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:40:39 -0600 Hi, Texbirders! I'd like to invite you to a bird walk at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) at 7:30 a.m. on December 12. Keith Lockhart will lead this walk, with opportunities to see some areas of LLELA that are closed to the general public. RSVP is required by calling 972-219-3930 or emailing lisacole AT unt.edu. The fee is $7/person, with proceeds benefitting LLELA's education and restoration programs. After the bird walk, you are welcome to partake of the hot cider, live music, and cookies at our Homestead Christmas event at LLELA's Minor-Porter Log House. There is a LLELA bird walk on the second Saturday of every month (except January, February, July, and August). You can learn more about LLELA at www.ias.unt.edu/llela. Lisa Cole Education Coordinator, Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area 1801 N. Mill St., Suite A, Lewisville, TX 75057 972-219-3930 www.ias.unt.edu/llela May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. --Edward Abbey TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Attwater PC NWR From: allenreyer AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:01:47 -0500 Checked out the APC NWR this morning. Not a lot of water and therefore not a lot of waterfowl. Saw some Shovelers and BW Teal. What there were a lot of were sparrows. Had good looks at LeConte's and Grasshopper, as well as Field and Swamp. Oodles of Vesper and Savannah, with some Song as well. Lots of N. Harriers and a couple of Red-tails. Also had some A. Pipits as well as Loggerhead Shrike. Al Reyer Columbus, TX and Bellevue, NE TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Lark Bunting @ LANWR From: "Jorge D. Cortez" <prinzejd AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:01 -0600 Thousands of Redheads are present at Laguna Atascosa, along with Pintails, Ruddies and a couple of Canvasbacks. I also able to get great looks at a female Lark Bunting overlooking a reveg field. good birding, J.D. Cortez pharr, tx _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Nueces county 11/19 From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:36:16 -0600 Today I birded the beach between Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, Packery Channel area, and Chapman Ranch area getting some good birds. Here are the highlights- 18 Mountain Plovers (Intersection of CR67 and CR14A) 4 Sprague's Pipits (CR47) Burrowing Owl Barn Owl 8 Red Knots (Mk. 70, 83, and 98 on the beach) Gull-Billed Tern (Packery) Harris's Hawk (Chapman Ranch) Jon McIntyre Port Aransas, TX _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: La Sal Tracts From: MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:07:27 EST Hi, all! Got out to the La Sal Tracts before dawn this morning, where I had a Great Horned Owl sitting on a telephone pole, and as it got lighter, you could hear the crane cacophony coming from the lake (I assume)! A small flock of White-fronted Geese flew over, and later along GI Road had an even smaller flock of Snow Geese. It was Raptor City with calling White-tailed Hawks, several Redtails (no Krider's), Harris', Caracaras, White-tailed Kite, and a single Red-shouldered Hawk along Rio Beef, among others. A Cooper's Hawk kept riling up the meadowlark flocks, and at the feedlot was a mob of cowbirds and grackles, with at least a couple of Brewer's Blackbirds tucked away. The farm pond near the end of Brushline had a couple of avocets, a yellowlegs, a Neotropic Cormorant, and lots of Least Sandpipers. A singing thrasher almost had me convinced he was a Brown, as I kept hearing repeated phrases, but the culprit finally popped up, proving once again that I'm no good at telling these guys apart by song! (It was a Curve-billed...) Had an Ash-throated Flycatcher along Rio Beef, but the marsh was rather quiet. For a variety of reasons I bailed on hiking to the lake... Bird List: Location: LRGV NWR Driving Route Observation date: 11/19/09 Number of species: 65 Greater White-fronted Goose 30 Snow Goose 12 Northern Bobwhite 4 Neotropic Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Black Vulture 8 Turkey Vulture 20 White-tailed Kite 1 Northern Harrier 2 Cooper's Hawk 2 Harris's Hawk 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 White-tailed Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 6 Crested Caracara 7 American Kestrel 4 American Coot 1 Sandhill Crane 100 Killdeer 8 American Avocet 2 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Long-billed Curlew 2 Least Sandpiper 30 Eurasian Collared-Dove 6 Mourning Dove 200 Common Ground-Dove 6 Great Horned Owl 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 7 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 8 Eastern Phoebe 15 Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 Great Kiskadee 15 Couch's Kingbird 3 Loggerhead Shrike 5 Green Jay 15 Horned Lark 3 Tree Swallow 2 Black-crested Titmouse 7 Verdin 1 Cactus Wren 1 Bewick's Wren 5 House Wren 30 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Hermit Thrush 2 Northern Mockingbird 30 Long-billed Thrasher 8 Curve-billed Thrasher 6 European Starling 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 9 Common Yellowthroat 2 Olive Sparrow 7 Lark Sparrow 20 Savannah Sparrow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 6 Northern Cardinal 4 Pyrrhuloxia 4 Red-winged Blackbird 30 Eastern Meadowlark 8 Western Meadowlark 50 Brewer's Blackbird 3 Great-tailed Grackle 40 Brown-headed Cowbird 1000 House Sparrow 12 Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Review Species details From: Mark Lockwood <Mark.Lockwood AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:01:30 -0600 Dear TexBirders, Although this fall has been rather slow when it comes to Review Species being found around the state there have been a few. To date the TBRC has received VERY little documentation for the Northern Jacana at Choke Canyon. I encourage anyone who has seen this bird to provide written details of their experience. A details for can be downloaded from the TBRC website at: http://texasbirds.org/tbrc/forms.htm There have been recent reports of Rose-throated Becards and Masked Duck from the Lower Valley that documentation is requested as well from those who are lucky enough to see any of these birds. Mark Mark Lockwood Secretary, Texas Bird Records Committee 402 E. Harriet Ave. Alpine, Texas 79830 mark.lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us Visit the Texas Bird Records Committee at http://texasbirds.org/tbrc/ TOS Handbook of Texas Birds at http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2004/lockwood.htm TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Partial Albino Red Tail Hawk From: James Booker <James.Booker AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:33:06 -0600 Greetings TexBirders - Here in NE Texas at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (which is generally very good for resident and migrant vultures), we recently (about ten days ago) had a striking leucistic Turkey Vulture with pure white primaries and all but the central rectrices pure white as well! It was a striking bird. Did anybody south of us see anything like this recently pass through? Cheers - Jim James Booker Events Coordinator Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center 903-670-2266 - tel 903-681-6728 - cel 903-677-2694 - fax 5550 FM 2495 Athens, TX 75752 -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of Marina Kenn Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 8:51 AM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: [texbirds] Partial Albino Red Tail Hawk Good morning, I often see hawks daily in Katy and in west Houston, but a week ago I noticed a large white bird and for a second I thought that it was an Artic Owl, but then saw that it was a hawk. After some research I think it is a partial albino red tail hawk. Yesterday I returned to the area in Katy off Franz road and it was a great day for hawk watching as I saw many, but I also saw this large white hawk again and was able to spend some time watching him with my binoculars. He is mostly white with some dark colored tail feathers. My question is how rare is this bird, and are they common in this area of Texas? Does anyone know of a website where I can find more information? I have lived here for 18 years and love hawk watching, but I have never seen a white colored hawk. I can't seem to locate any information. Thank you, Marina Kenn, Katy, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Upcoming TOS meetings From: dalybar AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:26:53 -0500 To Texbirders and the TOS-list: I have had a number of inquiries about the upcoming TOS meetings (Texas Ornithological Society). Just to let all of you know, I have listed below the date and place of the next three TOS meetings. The detailed information for the January 2009 meeting should be out in the next TOS newsletter in the next week or so, and at the same time that information should be on our TOS web site (http://www.texasbirds.org/). All three meetings are in great birding locations for the time of the year that they are being held there, and should have great birds. Please consider coming to the meetings. Lynn Barber, President Texas Ornithological Society (Fort Worth) NEXT TOS MEETINGS January 14-17, 2010 – Weslaco April 15-17, 2010 – Rockport January 13-16, 2011 – Fort Worth TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Partial Albino Red Tail Hawk From: Marina Kenn <kenn99 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:50:38 -0600 Good morning, I often see hawks daily in Katy and in west Houston, but a week ago I noticed a large white bird and for a second I thought that it was an Artic Owl, but then saw that it was a hawk. After some research I think it is a partial albino red tail hawk. Yesterday I returned to the area in Katy off Franz road and it was a great day for hawk watching as I saw many, but I also saw this large white hawk again and was able to spend some time watching him with my binoculars. He is mostly white with some dark colored tail feathers. My question is how rare is this bird, and are they common in this area of Texas? Does anyone know of a website where I can find more information? I have lived here for 18 years and love hawk watching, but I have never seen a white colored hawk. I can't seem to locate any information. Thank you, Marina Kenn, Katy, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Found Tripod Knob at Hornsby Bend, Austin From: Andrew Balinsky <balinsky AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:59:26 -0600 2 weeks ago, we found a knob from a (Manfrotto/Swarovski?) tripod in the fields north of the ponds at Hornsby Bend. Please let us know if it is yours. Andy Balinsky Austin, TX TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: RFI Henslow's Sparrow From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:25:58 -0500 I have a friend coming to Texas in late November and December and one of the birds he's looking for is Henslow's Sparrow. If you know a good site to look for this species and can help him find this most-desired bird please contact me off-list. live4birdsATaol.com or rgvbirds AT hotmail.com. Thanks! Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley, November 19 2009 From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:24:15 -0500 RBA . * Texas * Lower Rio Grande Valley * November 19, 2009 . + (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us) http://www.texasbirds.org/tbrc/reviewsp.htm lists Texas review species http://www.texasbirds.org/tbrc/TBRCform.rtf suggests what to include in details . Our rare bird alert this week includes... . Migration Update . +Masked Duck Bald Eagle Hook-billed Kite Mountain Plover Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) +Rose-throated Becard (two new birds) Rock Wren Tropical Parula Palm Warbler (Western) Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler LeConte’s Sparrow . Hotline Number: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline number: (956) 584-2731 . To report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or (956) 584-2731 option 3 . - Transcript . Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline sponsored by Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the World Birding Center. This hotline is normally updated Thursdays by 5 PM. Please send observations to Texbirds or to the hotline email address. Thank you to those who sent reports! . This is a general reminder that tapes are not allowed in Texas State Parks and many LRGV birding sites. All State Park visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation. . Birding site closures: . Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in Weslaco is closed on Sunday morning, Monday and Tuesday without a prior appointment. Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen is closed on Sunday and Monday; Valley Nature Center in Weslaco is closed Sunday mornings and Mondays. Audubon's Sabal Palm Sanctuary is closed-- *REVISED* - access is restricted to pre-arranged groups until further notice. Audubon is working towards a re-opening. Watch their website for additional information. . Rare birds – Review Species, please document these sightings to the TBRC. . Two Masked Ducks – one a near full-plumaged male – were photographed at Santa Ana NWR on November 1 and continue to be reported from Cattail Lake #2. They are missed more often than seen, and there are many Ruddy Ducks present in the various ponds at Cattail Lake and Pintail Lake. After no reports for nearly a week, one was reported November 14 from Cattail #3. Photographs are desired to document their continuing presence, as there are many Ruddy Ducks in the area. There are no photographs of the Masked Ducks on any pond other than Cattail #2, though there are many Ruddy Ducks on all ponds. Please continue to report efforts to see these elusive reclusive ducks – positive or negative - so we can track their presence. . A female-plumaged Rose-throated Becard was photographed at Bentsen RGV State Park on October 30. There have been no further reports. This bird was strongly capped. . Two Rose-throated Becards were found by field trips from the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival over last weekend! An immature male Rose-throated Becard was found at Estero Llano Grande State Park on November 14 and relocated daily, be sure to check in at the park headquarters for directions. A bright male Rose-throated Becard was found at Bentsen RGV State Park on Sunday November 15, and seen again on the 17 and 18. This bird is near the feeders at the “Y” intersection in the park (adjacent to Ebony Grove). It has been seen between 8:15 and 9:00 AM. This bird seems to be a different individual than the October 30 bird, as the cheeks are black limiting the capped appearance. . Migration reports . Winter residents continue to arrive. American Robins have appeared at several sites, as have a few Cedar Waxwings. Two Northern Flickers were found this week in the LRGV, at Edinburg and Chapeno. Tree Swallows are appearing at several sites. American Bitterns continue to appear. There are fewer Ruby-throated Hummingbirds after the cold front. Lingering shorebirds include a few Semipalmated Sandpipers and Red Knot at Laguna Atascosa and near the coast. A few Dickcissels remain but are mostly seen as fly-overs. Groove-billed Anis are getting scarcer as winter approaches. . The Valley from East to West A Surf Scoter was in the harbor at Port Isabel on Monday November 16 before the front came through. An apparent Lesser Black-backed Gull in third winter plumage was also in the area. . An immature Bald Eagle was in a plowed field near the Port of Harlingen on November 9. It was near the intersection of FM 106 and Cemetary road south of Rio Hondo. Another (or the same?) was reported from San Benito. . House Finch continue in Brownsville on the UTB Campus. They are very rare elsewhere in Cameron County. . At Resaca de la Palma, a LeConte’s Sparrow and several Grasshoppers were seen on the entrance road at a wet grassy ditch on November 17. . At Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, a single Eared Grebe was present through November 14. A Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) was seen the same day. . At Estero Llano Grande State Park, waterfowl are increasing in numbers. Lingering Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were present over the weekend. A Lark Bunting was an unusual find at Estero Llano Grande on Wednesday October 28. Grasshopper Sparrows appeared Saturday November 7. American Bittern were found over the weekend. . At Valley Nature Center, Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes found feeding in the park. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak continues to be present at the feeding station. A Pyrrhuloxia is present as well. . A Mountain Plover was reported by a single observer from a sod farm on Texas 88 but could not be relocated on Monday November 2. . Also at Santa Ana NWR in addition to the Masked Ducks above, continuing Hook-billed Kites were reported on November 15 from Cattail Lakes. A Wood Duck was at Pintail Lakes November 4. A Black-throated Gray Warbler is near the visitor center parking lot. A large flock of Groove-billed Anis was present November 7 near the start of the Resaca trail. NOTE: The refuge drive is closed for the winter. . Quinta Mazatlan has Clay-colored Thrushes, migrant warblers, and hummingbirds. . At Anzalduas County Park, a Tropical Parula continues as do Sprague’s Pipits in the large fields before the gatehouse. A single Rock Wren has been in the riprap around the floodway before the gatehouse. The park prefers that you not stop on the road in this area. A Zone-tailed Hawk continued through the weekend, and two Hook-billed Kites were found over the weekend. . Nearby at the North American Butterfly Association Park, Clay-colored Thrush come to the water features and feeders. . At Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in Mission, in addition to the Becard above, a White-throated Sparrow was a good find on November 11 at the new gardens by La Familia Nature Center. Hook-billed Kite was seen soaring over the resaca area on Tuesday October 27. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet can be found within the park, and Gray Hawks are present and vocal. A Northern Parula is present near the boat ramp. . Mangrove Warbler, a well-marked subspecies of Yellow Warbler that may be distinct enough to warrant full species status, can be seen by contacting the Sealife Center at (956) 299-1957. . Red-crowned Parrots wander widely to feed and to roost and are not always easy to find in the summer, as their locations are more unpredictable. They are most often seen in flight. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas of Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, and Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. . Green Parakeets are readily seen at Quinta Mazatlan, in the vicinity of Oklahoma Street in Weslaco, and hundreds often stage before going to roost in McAllen on North 10th Street between Violet and Dove in the evening. Both Green Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots have been seen recently in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park or 7th and Rio Hondo at dusk), Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and Brownsville near Fort Brown. . Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are also heard (and rarely seen) at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the pre-dawn hours. Remember, the use of tapes is not allowed at Bentsen or many LRGV sites. Always ask before using tapes. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are at San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville, easiest seen February through May. There is a fee to access this site, and prior arrangements are required (Leticia Tijerina, 956-369-3118 or buny55ATaol.com). Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are found on the King Ranch and often at El Canelo, as well. . Salineno is the traditional site for seeing Red-billed Pigeons and Muscovy Ducks, both were reported in early November. Gray Hawks are often seen here. The feeding station is up and running even if birds are slower than the host, Cheryl Longton, would like. Clay-colored Thrush are already putting in appearances. A White-collared Seedeater was found along the river on November 13. . Access at Chapeño is through the old El Rio RV Park. It is still possible to access the river or watch birds from the bluff. There is a fee to bird this site. Brown .Jays have been absent for two years but it is possible to see Muscovy and Red-billed Pigeons here. A Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) was a great find November 13. . Groove-billed Anis continue at Falcon State Park through Wednesday November 18 at campsite 50. . White-collared Seedeater can be found the San Ygnacio County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary at the south end of 9th Street and Laredo. Another good site is behind the library at the county park in Zapata. Three birds were seen at the Zapata site on November 12. . The Wikibird guide provides birding site information for the Rio Grande Valley at http://wikibird.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Valley_birding_guide . Thanks to Tim Whitehouse for this great service! . Please report sightings to rgvbirdsAThotmail.com (Replace AT with AT ) or (956) 584-2731 option 3. Thanks to everyone who reported their sightings to Texbirds or the compilers! Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: BBSP Least Grebes: Fights between juveniles and physical interactions with Pied-billed Grebe From: Mark B Bartosik <mbb22222 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:16:18 -0600 During last several weeks I only observed a couple of physical interactions between BBSP juvenile Least Grebes. Here are a few shots illustrating those fights: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__intraspecific_interactions_fight_betwe en_juveniles There were many aggressive interactions between Least with Pied-billed Grebes (including the adult Least Grebe stabbing its big cousin in the head - http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470308), but most actions were very similar in each other: a single Pied-billed was attacking Leasts entering his territory either on water surface or striking from under the water. Most of those attacks only triggered a fleeing reaction of all 3 Leasts. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__interspecific_interactions__piedbilled _grebe__bbsp Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Smith Point 2009 season totals From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:54:00 -0600 Last Sunday was the final day of the Smith Point Hawk Watch for the 2009 season. Our season totals were higher than average. In fact only one year has recorded more raptors. In both cases the high numbers were a product of a heavy Broad-winged Hawk flight. Excluding Broad-wings only about 10,000 raptors of other species were counted. Nearly all of these were well below their long-term averages. The final count was approximately 95,000 raptors of which about 85,000 were Broad-winged Hawks. Mississippi Kite was a distant second with just over 4000. Of these, the latest bird was reported earlier as being on Nov. 1. Jen Ottinger, official hawk counter informed me that the same bird hung around until the morning of Nov. 2 hawking dragonflies just over the tower, but not during count hours. The rarest species recorded was Golden Eagle, which is not annual. Totals for 2009: Species 2009 Season Total Black Vulture 146 Turkey Vulture 1,048 Osprey 38 Northern Harrier 144 Swallow-tailed Kite 58 White-tailed Kite 11 Mississippi Kite 4,069 Bald Eagle 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2,212 Cooper's Hawk 816 unidentified Accipiter 5 Harris's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 11 Broad-winged Hawk 85,210 Swainson's Hawk 232 White-tailed Hawk 3 Ferruginous Hawk 0 Red-tailed Hawk 29 unidentified Buteo 9 Golden Eagle 1 Crested Caracara 7 American Kestrel 416 Merlin 20 Peregrine Falcon 54 Prairie Falcon 0 unidentified falcon 4 unidentified raptor 4 Total 94,553 John C. Arvin Research Coordinator Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (979) 480-0999 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Rusty Blackbirds in Texas From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:08:21 -0600 Regarding the long, complex URL I gave yesterday for accessing the Rusty Blackbird page; that was a bonehead thing to do. No one can read, much less remember those things. For info on the project just google "Rusty Blackbird Blitz" and it will take you to the right place. Sorry, jca John C. Arvin Research Coordinator Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (979) 480-0999 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of John Arvin Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:40 PM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: [texbirds] Rusty Blackbirds in Texas Rusty Blackbird is a species that has slipped away all but unnoticed until the last few years. Before their decline was fully recognized they had already lost about 80% of their total population. Rusty Blackbird used to winter common in the eastern third of Texas, and still does so but now very uncommonly and local. It is not an upland or a marsh species as are the rest of our "blackbirds". Rusty Blackbird inhabits swampy woodland both on its breeding and wintering grounds. Last year the National Zoo (Smithsonian Institution) sponsored a "Rusty Blackbird Blitz" in an effort to locate significant winter concentration areas. The "blitz" was a period in February about two weeks long. This year the same group is asking that birders seek out and report Rusty Blackbirds all season. Here in Texas Rusty Blackbird is a very late winter arrival and a relatively early spring departure. In fact it is just now getting to be time to go looking for arriving Rusties. For more details on this effort please see http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rus ty_Blackbird/blitz.cfm. Rusty Blackbirds are a special species. On its wintering grounds it is very tied to swampy bottomland, especially under an oak and/or pecan canopy where the ground is flooded shallowly (or around the edges of areas more deeply flooded. Pecan groves, including planted orchards, are very attractive to them also, especially if water is nearby. Please help us chart the winter distribution of this vanishing species so that we can learn more about what is behind its decline and how to reverse that trend. Thanks to all, jca John C. Arvin Research Coordinator Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (979) 480-0999 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Lewis's Woodpecker still present From: Robert Mace <rolmace AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:22:13 -0600 Thank you ,Carolyn. My wife and I are leaving at 4;30am Thursday, arriving in Ft Davis mid afternoon. Probably go look for it Friday AM. Thanks again. Robert Mace, Lockhart, Texas, Caldwell County TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Heard Museum banding/census report, 11/18/09 From: Tom Heath <heathwtom AT NETSCAPE.NET> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:59:15 -0500 The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney, TX Bird Banding & Census Report Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Banding Team: Blaine, Craig, Elizabeth, Judy, Karen & Tom Total species banded - 13 Total birds banded - 44 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 American Goldfinch - 18 Field Sparrow - 2 Slate-colored Junco - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 Swamp Sparrow - 1 Eastern Towhee - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Myrtle Warbler (Yellow-rumped) - 10 Northern Mockingbird - 4 Brown Thrasher - 2 Carolina Chickadee - 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 --------------------------- Total species recaptured - 6 Total birds recaptured - 8 Banded on White-throated Sparrow - 1 4/9/09 Swamp Sparrow - 1 11/6/09 Carolina Wren - 1 7/25/09 Carolina Chickadee - 3 4/17/07, 10/1/08, Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 11/4/09 Hermit Thrush - 1 10/7/09 --------------------------- Georgette's census Number of species: 52 Canada Goose 8 Wood Duck 10 Gadwall 4 Mallard 4 Northern Shoveler 2 Green-winged Teal 5 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 6 Northern Harrier 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 Mourning Dove 4 Red-headed Woodpecker 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 6 Northern Flicker 4 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 5 Carolina Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 7 Carolina Wren 8 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 Eastern Bluebird 8 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 2 Northern Mockingbird 10 Brown Thrasher 5 European Starling 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 Spotted Towhee 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 7 Savannah Sparrow 4 Fox Sparrow 11 Song Sparrow 18 Lincoln's Sparrow 3 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 13 Harris's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2 Northern Cardinal 23 Red-winged Blackbird 97 House Finch 6 American Goldfinch 19 --------------------------- Tom Heath, Plano TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Northern Jacana Choke Canyon From: Oanda22 AT AOL.COM Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:55:38 EST Still there at 1:45 PM on Tuesday, 17 Nov. Seen across the lake (75 Acre Lake, Callaham Unit, Choke Canyon State Park) from the picnic area adjacent to the first jetty boat ramp after more than two hours of searching. We left The Woodlands late Monday afternoon somewhat fearful that the nice north wind would induce the bird to fly south, but it is apparently heartier than we expected. We were on scene, 75 acre lake, about 8:45 AM on Tuesday, dressed in several layers, and along with a Corpus Christi enthusiast searched from all reported sites without success. We returned to the picnic area about 1130 for lunch. While I was adjusting the scope a couple from northern Michigan drove up in their RV, set up their scope, and immediately said "there it is." across the lake toward the southwest,as previously advertised. It remained in view about ten minutes before disappearing into the grass. The end of the second (middle) jetty would have provided a much better view if we had had the patience to remain there. We saw it again for several minutes about 1:45 PM from the same location. The latter occasion provided a good in-flight view. The line of sight from the picnic table next to the boat ramp was just to the right of a line from the picnic table to the right most of the stand of dead trees in the lake. We had a short conversation about the correct pronunciation of the bird's name. Those of us who thought it to be a Mexican bird deemed it to be Ha-can-ah. Those of us who noted that "northern" is an English word opted for Ja-can-ah. NG's Complete Birds of North America states that the most preferred version is ZHA-sah-na, from a local tribe in Brazil. Owen Martin The Woodlands TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Hazel Bazemore Park Wednesday From: Judy Kestner <jkestner AT STX.RR.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:40:04 -0600 This morning I had a very relaxing, zen-like half hour at Hazel Bazemore west of Corpus Christi in Nueces County. The sun was out, but the air was still cool and crisp. There was not a breeze stirring, and only one bicyclist and the dog catcher passed me on the loop. "I'll bet there are Hooded Mergansers out there on the pond," I thought, and sure enough, there were nine of them (my FOS), with a male Belted Kingfisher keeping guard, all fluffed up, on a post. A Little Blue Heron all in white preened on a tussock of grass in the flooded area on the opposite side of the road while N. Shovelers, Mottled Ducks and my FOS Green-winged Teal roiled up the water around its feet. There were ducks doing the same on the pond -- something hatching underwater? Minnows slowed down by the cold temperature? Whatever it was, the ducks were having quite a good breakfast. Sedge and Marsh Wrens called -- they popped up and down like targets in a video game. The place was lush, with lots of water, and a male Vermilion Flycatcher (my FOS) flew in and lit briefly at the top of a tree. Five American Avocets looked about shyly, staying together in a group. My FOS Chipping Sparrows chipped at the top of the hill, and an adult Red-shouldered Hawk sat in a low tree waiting, waiting..... Judy Kestner Corpus Christi TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: FOS Hays County From: Stephanie Barko <steffercat AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:31:15 -0600 A flock of 8 FOS American Robins just flew over our place on 1826. The only migrants we had seen until today were Chippies. Stephanie Barko & Jim Stoneking TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Hays County Subject: Aransas NWR area 11/18 From: Jon McIntyre <mcintyrebirds AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:28:08 -0600 Today I birded the Aransas NWR and the surrounding roads getting some good birds. Here are the highlights- 8+ Horned Grebes (Picnic Area Overlook) Clay-Colored Sparrow Burrowing Owl Barn Owl Sprague's Pipit Brown Thrasher Great Kiskadee Jon McIntyre Port Aransas, TX _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Spotted Towhee at Lick Creek Park From: Bryan Tarbox <gme_btarbox AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:04:46 -0800 Had a female Spotted Towhee at Lick Creek Park this afternoon. If you park on the west end of the parking lot and then head west instead of east towards the trailhead, you'll come to a fence with a brushy field behind it. Right behind the fence in some Yaupon is where the towhee was.   Also had a dozen or so Field Sparrows, couple of White-throated,a Song and a Chipping Sparrow. Heard a couple of Barred Owls calling back and forth at each other, too.   Bryan Tarbox TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds College Station Subject: Rusty Blackbirds in Texas From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39:35 -0600 Rusty Blackbird is a species that has slipped away all but unnoticed until the last few years. Before their decline was fully recognized they had already lost about 80% of their total population. Rusty Blackbird used to winter common in the eastern third of Texas, and still does so but now very uncommonly and local. It is not an upland or a marsh species as are the rest of our "blackbirds". Rusty Blackbird inhabits swampy woodland both on its breeding and wintering grounds. Last year the National Zoo (Smithsonian Institution) sponsored a "Rusty Blackbird Blitz" in an effort to locate significant winter concentration areas. The "blitz" was a period in February about two weeks long. This year the same group is asking that birders seek out and report Rusty Blackbirds all season. Here in Texas Rusty Blackbird is a very late winter arrival and a relatively early spring departure. In fact it is just now getting to be time to go looking for arriving Rusties. For more details on this effort please see http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rus ty_Blackbird/blitz.cfm. Rusty Blackbirds are a special species. On its wintering grounds it is very tied to swampy bottomland, especially under an oak and/or pecan canopy where the ground is flooded shallowly (or around the edges of areas more deeply flooded. Pecan groves, including planted orchards, are very attractive to them also, especially if water is nearby. Please help us chart the winter distribution of this vanishing species so that we can learn more about what is behind its decline and how to reverse that trend. Thanks to all, jca John C. Arvin Research Coordinator Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (979) 480-0999 jarvin AT gcbo.org www.gcbo.org TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch increase? From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins AT HCTX.NET> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:11:49 -0600 I would suggest that much of the increase in Brown-headed Nuthatch in Harris County is an artifact of weekly bird walks at Kleb Woods where they have been resident for a decade or more. They have been easier to find at Kleb in the last several months and we tallied 8 one day. There may be little actual change in overall numbers in Harris County. Fred Collins (281) 357-5324 Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Commissioner Steve Radack Harris County Precinct 3 www.pct3.hctx.net TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Ah crud From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:09:51 -0600 just meant to send a portion of Charles' Jacana note. Am on a different machine and Gmail is there completely different....My apologies to Charles for including his whole private note. -- Brush Freeman Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Corpus Christi, TX Hawk Watch (Nov 15) END OF SEASON! - 15 From: Patty Waits Beasley <hawks AT CCBIRDING.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:09:33 -0600 November 15, 2009 Turkey Vulture: 15 Total: 15 Libby says: The end to another season. Lots of extra eyes on the hill trying to find that last day's eagle (or anything) but it was not to be. However, we did score nicely in great food as many friends brought out tasty treats for our "Crock Pot Pot Luck". The last day is always bittersweet for your counters. This year it was heavier on the sweet with so much good company spending the day with us. Thanks to all who joined us this year - whether for days or for only a few hours. Patty says: My congrats and thanks to everyone, too. Many thanks to all the folks who sent in photos, and a special "kettle photog award" to Miles Merwin, who took tons of photos this fall season and so generously shared them on his photo site and our Facebook page! Keep looking up; just because we're not officially counting them any more doesn't make the rest of the fall migration any less enjoyable! See you all next season! ------------------------------------------- Patty Waits Beasley Corpus Christi, Texas USA Webmaster, Texas Hawk Watches Birding on the Central Texas Coast URL: www.ccbirding.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Corpus Christi Hawkwatch is a local non-profit hawk watch support organization, led by Libby Even and Dane Ferrell. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 2009 Fall Hawkwatch runs from August 15 through November 15 on the hawkwatch platform at Hazel Bazemore County Park. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Many thanks to our Sponsors, Hawk Watch International and Swarovski Optiks! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ All reports, including photographs and videos, are posted on our web site. Drop on by the Texas Hawk Watches web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/ and join our Facebook group (Corpus Christi Hawkwatch). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Season totals to date: 245 ........Black vulture 20983 ......Turkey vulture 256 ........Osprey 183 ........Swallow-tailed kite 7 ..........White-tailed kite 23174 ......Mississippi kite 0 ..........Hook-billed kite 1 ..........Bald eagle 283 ........Northern harrier 1621 .......Sharp-shinned hawk 1074 .......Cooper's hawk 0 ..........Northern goshawk 17 .........Red-shouldered hawk 403373 .....Broad-winged hawk 4791 .......Swainson's hawk 79 .........Red-tailed hawk 3 ..........Ferruginous hawk 19 .........White-tailed hawk 1 ..........Short-tailed hawk 8 ..........Zone-tailed hawk 6 ..........Harris's hawk 0 ..........Rough-legged hawk 0 ..........Common black hawk 3 ..........Golden eagle 869 ........American kestrel 83 .........Merlin 289 ........Peregrine falcon 4 ..........Prairie falcon 2 ..........Aplomado falcon 4 ..........Crested caracara 149 ........Unknown accipiters 153 ........Unknown buteos 18 .........Unknown falcons 0 ..........Unknown eagles 101 ........Unknown raptors ------------------------ 457,799 .... Season total to 11/15 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Estero Llano Grande SP & WBC in Weslaco Texas From: Kyle Ohaver <Kyle.Ohaver AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:53:56 -0600 Hello Texbirders, We are really seeing the full swing of amazing migration across the valley as great birds are showing up in so many parks and locations!!!! Estero has had some of those really great birds as of late and I want to make sure that YOU too have a chance to see the incredible things showing up in our park!!! With in the past week we have found Rose-throated Becard, Northern-Beardless Tyrannulet, American Bittern, American Robin, Cinnamon Teal, Peregrine Falcon, Green Jay, Common Pauraque, and a whole host of great visitors and wonderful migrant birds to get out and see. We have many program opportunities for you to take advantage of using our extremely knowledgeable staff and volunteers to help you find these great birds. Regular Bird Walks EVERY- Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 8:30am and going until 10:30am. This Saturday November 21st is or amazing "Breakfast with the Birds" Starting at 8:00am. This program is a light breakfast sitting on our famous birding deck with an expert guided walk following your meal. Please Call NOW to reserve your seat as it is likely to fill up fast. Pre registration for this program is requested. Call 956-565-3919. I recently made it to Santa Ana to get my chance at the Masked Duck and Hook-billed Kite. Both of which would be lifer birds for me and was successful on the Kite but not on the Masked Duck. I have said it many times as I am sure you all have "Birding is fun because it isn't easy." Two life birds in the past few days (Hook-billed and the American Bittern) have made me a happy birder as of late. Get out and fill your life with experiences!!!!!! See you on the trails, Kyle R. O'Haver World Birding Center Estero Llano Grande State Park Park Interpreter 154-A Lakeview Drive Weslaco, Texas 78596 956-565-3919 (Phone) 956-565-2864 (Fax) TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Some birds are back! (Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas) From: Z Duenzl <tzealous05 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:11:01 -0800 We have not had ANY songbirds at the feeders or birdbath for 3+ weeks. My father (with whom I am staying) said he has never seen so few birds at any time in the 13 years he has lived here. Imagine our pleasure when we noticed some activity! Below is a list of what has come around the feeders/water in the last 3 days...   Tufted Titmouse House Finch (pair) Chickadee Flycatcher (sorry, couldn't ID what kind) Cooper's Hawk Eastern Bluebird Cardinal Carolina Wren   Also a flock of Meadowlarks has shown up in the field across the way.   In the area around the house we have the usual Crows, Vultures, Sparrows (but much fewer of these than usual), Blue Jays and Mockingbirds.   On my walk to the river last week, I saw a few Spotted Towhees in the brush.   It is nice to see some bird life again!   Tzila "Z" Duenzl TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas Subject: Lewis's Woodpecker still present From: carolynohl AT AOL.COM Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:32:04 EST Several people have emailed me asking if the Lewis's Woodpecker (originally found by Dale Ohl nearly 2 weeks ago) is still around. It is still favoring the Calamity Creek gate structure, between Ft. Davis and Alpine, and still in molt. I posted a photo of it taken this morning at _http://cmoasis.blogspot.com_ (http://cmoasis.blogspot.com) Carolyn Ohl-Johnson Big Bend area TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Bentsen Becard seen today From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:03:31 -0500 Very cap-less bird. I didn't see it well as I was mostly trying to get pics. http://marybirds.blogspot.com/2009/11/wordless-wednesday-bentsen-rose.html Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas = TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Busier on CyFair campus From: "Mohamed, Jeffrey D" <Jeffrey.D.Mohamed AT LONESTAR.EDU> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:54:15 -0600 The CyFair college campus is getting busier. Eastern Phoebes, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Orange-crowned Warblers were joined today by American Robins and American Goldfinches. The Killdeer, Common Grackles and European Starlings on the soccer fields are now accompanied by a dozen or more Savannah Sparrows, and I saw a few FOS Lincoln's Sparrows today. Sedge Wrens are making a racket everywhere. The trees near the start of the Nature Trail are still a little quiet, perhaps because a Cooper's Hawk has been haunting them for several weeks. Our resident Red-tailed Hawks continue to spend a lot of time on the utility pylons, while every part of the campus has Northern Mockingbirds. The ponds have only their usual Great Egret and Snowy Egret. Jeff Mohamed Cypress TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Whooping Cranes - RFI From: Bill Duke <photosbyduke AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:11:48 +0000 All, Thanks to the people who quickly replied to me "off list" to my RFI. Much appreciated. Bill Duke Missouri City, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Duke" To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:09:37 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: [texbirds] Whooping Cranes - RFI All, Can someone post or point me to a link of current Whooping Crane arrivals? I don't recall seeing any postings of sightings on the list server for this year and would like to know how many have arrived and their locations. I'd much appreciate hearing from someone on this. TIA Bill Duke Missouri City, TX. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Whooping Cranes - RFI From: Bill Duke <photosbyduke AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:09:37 +0000 All, Can someone post or point me to a link of current Whooping Crane arrivals? I don't recall seeing any postings of sightings on the list server for this year and would like to know how many have arrived and their locations. I'd much appreciate hearing from someone on this. TIA Bill Duke Missouri City, TX. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Burrowing Owl on Bolivar From: wbburkett AT AOL.COM Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:19:30 -0500 I have not seen the Burrowing Owl in several weeks and have looked often. There are a couple of peregrines working that area regularly and that may have discouraged it from staying. Winnie Burkett Friendswood and Bolivar Peninsula -----Original Message----- From: Jace Stansbury To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Tue, Nov 17, 2009 8:48 pm Subject: [texbirds] Burrowing Owl on Bolivar Does anyone know if the Burrowing owl is still on Rettilon Road?? Thanks, Jace Stansbury ederland, TX ttp://naturejournals.blogspot.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Least Grebe – feeding and hunting techniques/ + be careful when in love. From: Mark B Bartosik <mbb22222 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:28:27 -0600 I managed to finish another photo series of BBSP Least Grebes illustrating their feeding and hunting techniques. I was also very lucky to be in the park on the last day when the adult was feeding juveniles giving me the opportunity to observe many interesting behaviors on that and next day when juveniles had to become totally independent. But back to the illustrations. Here is one of the last feedings: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119432942 After that the adult was running away with food and did not react to juvenile begging calls: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119432948 Examples of feeding techniques: On the water surface: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470271 And foraging dives: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470290 Least Grebes are vicious dragon and damselflies hunters. Here are a couple examples how grebes are approaching and snatching the flying or perching dragons. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119433092 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119433093 And as I said in the title be careful when in love – grebe will take advantage of it. We all seem to pay less attention to the surroundings when involve in love acts. “Busy” prey was spotted: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470291 Stalking: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470292 Getting ready to strike: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470293 Attacking: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470294 Having two snacks in one: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470296 And on the end a few examples of the BBSP Least Grebe food items; these mostly included adult insects and their larvae (I will add a few more soon): http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119433085 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470235 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119432976 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119432964 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119432954 More photos can be found in these folders: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__food_items__bbsp_octnov_2009 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__feeding_juveniles__bbsp http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__foraging_techniques_on_water_surface http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__foraging_techniques__diving http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__foraging_techniques__hunting_dragonflies_and_damsel Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: 11-17-09 Sandhill Cranes @ Warbler Woods From: Susan Schaezler <warblerwoods AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:06:22 -0600 11-17-09 Sandhill Cranes AT Warbler Woods We had ~250 Sandhill Cranes circle our property this morning. As I went into the field to watch them as they left the area, I saw a Northern Harrier cruising the field. Don had 5 sparrow species late today on his short walk. Everything is green and lush and we are loaded with butterflies. Susan Schaezler...twitter.com/susanwarbler Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary, 501 ( c )(3) www.warblerwoods.com San Antonio/New Braunfels GCBO Site Partner TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Fort Clark Springs, Brackettville,Texas From: Louisa Stone <Louisahs AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:43:41 -0600 With the sun getting low and the cold air moving in, Kathy and I saw a few birds along Las Moras Creek: 1 Lincoln sparrow 2 vermilion flycatchers 1 common yellow throat 1 great egret 1 great blue heron 1 northern flicker l ladderback woodpecker 1 green kingfisher 1 belted kingfisher 4 couch's flycatchers 1 lesser goldfinch 1 American goldfinch 12+ yellow rumped warblers 1 barred owl 6 cardinals 1 carolina wren 2 ruby crowned kingfishers l long billed thrasher Question - My husband and I are planning a camping trip to Canyon of the Eagles at Lake Buchanan soon. Can anyone suggest any birding sites other than the nature area? Thanks, Louisa Stone Fort Clark Springs Brackettville, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Coastal Bend Birds? From: John Schueler &/or Emie Stewart <schueler AT FLASH.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:29:49 -0600 Texbirders: I'm looking for either encouragement or a cold shower. I have family visiting from NY over Christmas, and I had originally planned to take them to the Rockport/Fulton/Port Aransas area for some coastal birding while they were here in our fair state. Over the course of the summer and early fall, however, I heard many discouraging reports about no water, no food, and no birds. I wonder if some of you who are local in the area could give me the latest scoop - is it worth coming on down? Is there anything to see? We've done this trip before, so my visitors know what a "normal" winter is like on the coast - and if this year is really down, we'll spend our time elsewhere this time around. Thanks, John Schueler Fort Worth TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Burrowing Owl on Bolivar From: Jace Stansbury <jstansbury AT GT.RR.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:48:08 -0600 Does anyone know if the Burrowing owl is still on Rettilon Road?? Thanks, Jace Stansbury Nederland, TX http://naturejournals.blogspot.com TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Tuesday morning birding group, Hagerman NWR From: Jack Chiles <chilesjack AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:40:38 -0800 On a cold, windy and cloudy day Karl, Alan G. and myself had 68 species. Highlights were: Approximately 2000 Snow and Ross's geese combined. 125 Greater White-fronted geese. A few Canada geese. Several hundred Northern Pintails A few American Wigeons Many Green-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers Several hundred Double-crested Cormorants 4 Dunlin 6 Wilson's Snipe 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Loggerhead Shrike 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets 1 Brown Thrasher Chipping Sparrows Field Sparrows Swamp Sparrows Fox Sparrows Harris Sparrows American Goldfinches There were no cookies today so our eyesight wasn't very good. Some of the roads on the refuge are still under water but conditions are improving. Van leaves headquarters every Tuesday morning at 8 and returns a 1 pm. Visitors Welcome. Jack Chiles Volunteer TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Hagerman NWR Subject: Re: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) From: John Berner <bernerjc AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:33:45 -0600 On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:38:56 -0800, James Hinson wrote: >Found a Brown-headed Nuthatch out in Bear Creek Park this morning on the south side of Restroom #10. This is the exact area I found one in 2 or 3 years back. Wondering if they're making a come back in these parts. >TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > Jim Hinson Houston, Tx. jmhinson AT att.net Per Texas ebird--here is a graph comparing 2007, 2008 and 2009 YTD # of brown-headed nuthatches (BHNU) per party-hour of birding in Harris County by week. Light Blue is 2009 Gray-Green is 2008 Orange is 2007 http://tinyurl.com/y89jbbh Click on the "Birds per Hour" tab (need not wait for the slower Map tab to load) (displaying graph may require free Flashplayer--which is downloadable at the link) The graph seems to support Jim Hinson & Keith Kingdon's contention that there may have been a recent increase in BHNU in Harris County as the light blue line (2009) is above the gray-green (2008) and orange line (2007) for most weeks. However by clicking on the Frequency Tab at the first link (instead of the Birds per Hour tab) there is a smaller difference in Harris County between the 3 years. Put another way--much of the increase in BHNU per party-hour of birding in Harris County apparently comes from an increase in average BHNU count when observed rather than coming primarily from a significant increase in the percentage of positive BHNU observations. Here is a link to a similar graph for the whole state of Texas http://tinyurl.com/ykmqc3o Which again shows higher BHNU per party-hour in 2009 than in 2007 or 2008. One can instead put other counties in to display the data differently (Usual warnings apply on potential error from a variety of causes including sampling, observer error etc. on data of this sort--as have been discussed on Texbirds) John Berner W. Houston/Katy TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: TOS Patch ....Correction on zip code From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:10:59 -0600 . sorry for the correcction, patches sent to Port O'Connor should go to me at ...P. O Box 217 Port O'Connor, 77982...Thanx for noticing. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: TOS Patch auction update From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:51:28 -0600 Just a quick note...Wow, the bids are up to 160.00 with even an offer to provide a matching grant for monies brought in between 100-200.00! .There are a couple of folks willing to donate even more patches as sweeteners...When I get time I will catalog those as well...and soon...Thanks everyone one. If you can send those patches to me at either 120 N. Red Bud Tril , Elgin Tx. 78621 or P.O. Box 217, Port O'Connor Tx. 78621. .. Brush Freeman Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Willis Creek Park closed From: Antbird AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:44:50 EST While birding in Williamson County today,we discovered that Willis Creek Park is closed "to all activities" for road repairs until December 18, 2009. The entrance is blocked. Had 15 nice hooded mergansers on a pond east of CR 352. Bill and Judy Quick Austin, Texas TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: BBSP Least Grebe – adult/juvenile field marks (in photos) From: Mark B Bartosik <mbb22222 AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:33:29 -0600 I would like to share a few photos from a quite large collection I was able to accumulate during the last several weeks. I could only wish that I had more time to visit the grebes and do that even more frequently as some changes in their appearance happened lately almost on a daily base. I hope my photos will help a few people now, and in future, to easy notice the differences between juveniles in prebasic molt and the adult bird. I met a quite few people confused when looking at Least Grebe family in the BB Park lately and some who already came with the wrong information from somebody else. Up to the last weekend leftovers of a rufous crown patch were evident but now the patch is practically gone. Here it is a photo (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470275) taken a couple weeks ago to illustrate the patch when it was still easy to see it. Week or so ago only a hint of a rufous color was still noticeable in the right light. There are other marks that are still easy separating juvenile from the adult. The juveniles’ lower mandibles are light, almost solid in color (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470267). The adult lower mandible only has irregular pale spots (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470245). Of course the shades of eye color are different but two birds have to be next to each other in the same light to see that clearly. Also there are still some white stripes (or what left of them) barely visible on the sides of juvenile heads (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470332) but they are disappearing quickly now (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/119470244). To study the plumage details of both, adult and juveniles, please visit these folders (note the differences in wet and dry plumage as well): http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__juvenile_portraits__bbsp_octnov_2009 http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__adult_portraits__bbsp_octnov_2009 How these young grebes looked two months ago? http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe_091309 BTW, I also added a few more photos to the Least Grebe Fashion Craze folder: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/least_grebe__fashion_craze There is not much known about juvenile prebasic molt (BNA) and this account offers few details so I hope my photos will help a few people when observing in the field these so beautiful, interesting and not common birds around here. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) From: KEITH KINGDON <kekingdon AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:16:57 -0600 We have been seeing them regularly this fall for the first time since spring of 08 at our house in NW Houston. Keith Kingdon FM1960 and Hwy249 > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:38:56 -0800 > From: jmhinson AT ATT.NET > Subject: [texbirds] Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > > Found a Brown-headed Nuthatch out in Bear Creek Park this morning on the south side of Restroom #10. This is the exact area I found one in 2 or 3 years back. Wondering if they're making a come back in these parts. > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > > Jim Hinson > Houston, Tx. > jmhinson AT att.net TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Houston Brown-headed Nuthatch (11/17) From: James Hinson <jmhinson AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:38:56 -0800 Found a Brown-headed Nuthatch out in Bear Creek Park this morning on the south side of Restroom #10. This is the exact area I found one in 2 or 3 years back. Wondering if they're making a come back in these parts. TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds  Jim Hinson Houston, Tx. jmhinson AT att.net Subject: Bentsen Becard second time From: Carol Navarro Adams <Carol.Navarro AT TPWD.STATE.TX.US> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:22:39 -0600 Hello Friends, We saw the juvenile male Rose-throated Becard this morning, November 17, 2009, which is the second time this week. While I was in the park filling the bird feeders around 8:30am, visitor Ken Benga from Nashville TN, found the Becard perched in a tree behind the feeding station area by the Ebony Grove area inside Bentsen State Park. He flagged me down and fortunately I got to take a good look at before it flew further into the forest. It looked to be the same one we spotted on Sunday November 15, 2009 by the birding wall. The throat area is not fully rose colored. It has a patch of mottled rose colored feathers along its throat. The wooded area behind the birding wall connects to the wooded area behind the Ebony Grove. My guess is that this Becard likes this large wooded area. Both days we saw it between 8:00-8:30 am. My suggestion is to get to the park early and scout out the feeding station by Ebony Grove and behind the wall. Check out the tall trees. Park hours are 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. The weather is changing everyday. Put on some layers as it was a bit rainy and chilly 58 degrees this morning. My thanks go to Ken and to May and Rick Snider for their great help with Bentsen bird walk Mondays at 8:30am. Great fun! Best wishes, Carol Other sightings today and yesterday at Bentsen include the following: 1 American Wigeon 1 Mottled Duck 1 Ring-necked Duck 1 Plain Chachalaca 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 American White Pelican 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Anhinga 1 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Gray Hawk 1 White-tailed Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Crested Caracara 1 American Kestrel 1 Common Moorhen 1 American Coot 1 Long-billed Curlew 1 White-winged Dove 1 Mourning Dove 1 Inca Dove 1 Common Ground-Dove 1 Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Ringed Kingfisher 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Green Kingfisher 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Great Kiskadee 1 Rose-throated Becard 1 White-eyed Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Green Jay 1 Bank Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 1 Black-crested Titmouse 1 House Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Northern Mockingbird 1 American Pipit 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1 Olive Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Great-tailed Grackle 1 Altamira Oriole Carol Navarro Adams ~ Park Naturalist Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive Mission, TX 78572 (956) 584-9156 EXT 222 carol.navarro AT tpwd.state.tx.us Upcoming programs found at www.worldbirdingcenter.org Seek the beauty in each day! TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Pelican comments From: Brent Ortego <brentortego AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:35:08 -0600 The data we provided them from Texas was nesting surveys conducted by the Texas Colonial Waterbird Society. Existing data showed population higher than reported by BLOT. Brent Ortego > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:42 -0600 > From: dsperry AT BAERENG.COM > Subject: Re: [texbirds] Pelican comments > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > > I heard the story on KUT yesterday. I think KUT tried to give a brief > description of the Draft Final Rule and stated USFWS used Christmas Bird > Counts (CBC) to determine the delisting. This is not entirely true. In the > Draft Final Rule USFWS used CBC data for only two (Mississippi and Belize) > of the over 15 regions reviewed. The conclusions drawn from the CBC data > were: > > Belize-population remaining the same between 69-05; > Mississippi-2009 resulted in 372 individuals counted. > > It seems very unlikely USFWS used only those two pieces of information to > determine the delisting. USFWS gathered the best available data which in > the case of Belize and Mississippi was the CBC data. The other regions, > including Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, have more scientifically sound data > on breeding success and population trends. I am sure USFWS relied more > heavily on this type of data to determine the delisting. > > Additionally, Section 4(g)(1) of the ESA requires any delisted species to be > monitored for 5 years after delisting. During that 5 years any data > demonstrating the species population is declining can result in the > immediate listing of the species again. > > In the case of the Brown Pelican it seems like DDT and indiscriminate > shooting and killing were the main reasons for the initial decline. The ban > on DDT and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Lacey Act still provide this > species protection from those major threats. Yes, there still the issue of > habitat degradation and loss, we can only hope other species still on the > list (Whooping Crane, Manatee, Alligator, ect.) will slow the need for us to > develop these ecologically important areas. > > Those who are interested can find the Draft Final Rule posted at > (http://www.fws.gov/). > > Dave Sperry > Wildlife/Conservation Biologist > Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. > 7756 Northcross Drive, Suite 211 > Austin, Texas 78757 > Please consider the environment before printing this email. > Science cannot resolve moral conflicts, but it can help to more > accurately frame the debate about those conflicts--Heinz Pagels > > -----Original Message----- > From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] > On Behalf Of Brush Freeman > Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 10:54 PM > To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG > Subject: [texbirds] Pelican comments > > Several have written about the pelican comments on KUT today...I guess I > mis-interpreted the announcer's statements. He was by all accounts, if I > understand those replies correctly, saying only that CBC data has shown > the increase in the numbers. My apologies to all concerned if that is > indeed the case as I am unable to pull up the comments online on the KUT > website. -- a some times delayed deal.. BTW I am a big fan of KUT....But > not one of those "I am a Fan of KUT" facebook things.:-) > Brush Freeman > Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: > http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds > > TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: Pelican comments From: David Sperry <dsperry AT BAERENG.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:42 -0600 I heard the story on KUT yesterday. I think KUT tried to give a brief description of the Draft Final Rule and stated USFWS used Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) to determine the delisting. This is not entirely true. In the Draft Final Rule USFWS used CBC data for only two (Mississippi and Belize) of the over 15 regions reviewed. The conclusions drawn from the CBC data were: Belize-population remaining the same between 69-05; Mississippi-2009 resulted in 372 individuals counted. It seems very unlikely USFWS used only those two pieces of information to determine the delisting. USFWS gathered the best available data which in the case of Belize and Mississippi was the CBC data. The other regions, including Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, have more scientifically sound data on breeding success and population trends. I am sure USFWS relied more heavily on this type of data to determine the delisting. Additionally, Section 4(g)(1) of the ESA requires any delisted species to be monitored for 5 years after delisting. During that 5 years any data demonstrating the species population is declining can result in the immediate listing of the species again. In the case of the Brown Pelican it seems like DDT and indiscriminate shooting and killing were the main reasons for the initial decline. The ban on DDT and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Lacey Act still provide this species protection from those major threats. Yes, there still the issue of habitat degradation and loss, we can only hope other species still on the list (Whooping Crane, Manatee, Alligator, ect.) will slow the need for us to develop these ecologically important areas. Those who are interested can find the Draft Final Rule posted at (http://www.fws.gov/). Dave Sperry Wildlife/Conservation Biologist Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. 7756 Northcross Drive, Suite 211 Austin, Texas 78757 Please consider the environment before printing this email. Science cannot resolve moral conflicts, but it can help to more accurately frame the debate about those conflicts--Heinz Pagels -----Original Message----- From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG] On Behalf Of Brush Freeman Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 10:54 PM To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Subject: [texbirds] Pelican comments Several have written about the pelican comments on KUT today...I guess I mis-interpreted the announcer's statements. He was by all accounts, if I understand those replies correctly, saying only that CBC data has shown the increase in the numbers. My apologies to all concerned if that is indeed the case as I am unable to pull up the comments online on the KUT website. -- a some times delayed deal.. BTW I am a big fan of KUT....But not one of those "I am a Fan of KUT" facebook things.:-) Brush Freeman Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Re: On the Brown Pelican being removed from the list From: wbburkett AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:58:09 -0500 Interesting that they have delisted the Brown Pelican when the population in South Florida is plummeting. It will make problems like that harder to address. Winnie Burkett Friendswood and the Bolivar Peninsula -----Original Message----- From: Brush Freeman To: texbirds AT LISTS.TEXBIRDS.ORG Sent: Mon, Nov 16, 2009 9:58 pm Subject: [texbirds] On the Brown Pelican being removed from the list Per Kut (Public Radio) in Austin , I have heard here several times today hat BRPEs were removed from the Endangered Species List suggesting it was one via data collected from CBC's., at least in part, ... I would surely e naive in believing this and flabbergasted, dismayed and amazed if this ere true. CBC "data" should only very marginally factor in to the research equired to make such a decision if at all...Just MHO. -- rush Freeman tley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Subject: Pelican comments From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:53:50 -0600 Several have written about the pelican comments on KUT today...I guess I mis-interpreted the announcer's statements. He was by all accounts, if I understand those replies correctly, saying only that CBC data has shown the increase in the numbers. My apologies to all concerned if that is indeed the case as I am unable to pull up the comments online on the KUT website. -- a some times delayed deal.. BTW I am a big fan of KUT....But not one of those "I am a Fan of KUT" facebook things.:-) Brush Freeman Utley & Port O'Connor Texas or wherever else I may be TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds