Yesterday (Sunday, 11/20/16) my wife (Birgit) and I (Rex) unsuccessfully
searched for Mountain Plover north of Harlingen in the fields on the north
side of CR1599 east of FM507 (in Cameron Co.). Our search of that stretch,
which lasted from about 10:30 â 11:00 AM, was systematic and involved both
binoculars and, when a promising area was found, scope (to 60X), but, alas,
not even one Mountain Plover was found, and, to our surprise, also not even
one Killdeer. Perhaps the north winds had something to do with this, but
that is simply a guess. As serendipity would have it, three SANDHILL CRANES
flew across the road and into the more vegetated fields south of CR1599,
landed amidst others of their kind on the ground, and, eventually, 29
SANDHILL CRANES lifted off that field and flew northeastward across the
road, landing somewhere in the north-lying field a bit west of where human
habitation begins along that road. We kept driving eastward on CR1599,
still searching all the time for Mountain Plover, but started paying
attention to the cranes, which we had re-spotted in the area already
mentioned. Between 10:50 and 11:00 AM, using the scope, I counted 60
SANDHILL CRANES foraging from close to the horizon to the north and
extending eastward to near the tree line along the east end of the field.
Shortly, we turned around and began a second search for Mountain Plover in
the fields north of CR1599 up to FM507. We found no additional Sandhill
Cranes along that stretch and, again, no Mountain Plover. There had been
recent rains in the area, and the sunflowers along the road held far more
flowers than on our most recent visit to the area. There were many
butterflies in sight, both on the roadside and in the fields. Lovers of
that endangered species, the Monarch, may be pleased to know we spotted
four of that species feeding on the sunflowers along the north side of the
road on our drive back west to FM507. They were joined on the sunflowers by
substantial numbers of Queens.
After returning to FM507, we headed north, still looking for Mountain
Plover. At perhaps two miles (or a bit more) north of CR1599 we spotted 76
SANDHILL CRANES foraging in the field east of that highway. We think this
was an independent group, not only because of the distance from the earlier
group, but because we had been looking eastward as we drove and never
spotted any Sandhill Cranes headed into those fields from any direction,
including the direction toward which we earlier had seen the 60 Sandhills.
We therefore concluded that we had seen 136 total Sandhills that morning.
Our next major birding effort was in Willacy County from 12:34 â 1:00 PM at
the large farm pond on the south side of CR1900 at perhaps 0.2 miles east
of its intersection with CR315 (Cactus Rd.); an easy way to get to this
pond is to take CR315 north from FM498, drive to the first intersection,
and turn east (right), continuing until one gains a good view of the large
pond on the south side of the road. Both CR1900 and CR315 are here unpaved,
but we usually have found them well maintained. I do not know how well they
do after considerable rain. Please note: The roadside here is vegetated
quite heavily and may provide habitat for rattlesnakes, so stepping into
the roadside vegetation here may be hazardous. Please note that the
property along the road is private and should not be entered. One should
drive slowly along this road, which can have wildlife crossing it. On our
most recent previous visit, only Birgitâs sharp-eyed vigilance and alarm
notice obviated my driving over a beautiful, very large Texas Indigo Snake.
I had gotten distracted by studying birds on the utility wires.
NOW FOR THE BIRDS (and some of their company): Yesterday we had notable
success at this farm pond, which yielded LONG-BILLED CURLEW (205, at least,
with these about equally distributed along the north and south sides of the
pond); SNOWY PLOVER (2, north side); and LEAST SANDPIPER (2, north side).
There were a few small shorebirds on the south shore, too, but they defied
reliable identification from our distance, due to our looking into the sun
and their being shadowed on our side. Some ducks were on the pond
considerably south of our location, but, given the distance, the sun in our
faces, the glare off the water, and many of them sleeping with head tucked,
we did not try to identify them. A single exception was when one stretched
its neck up, the head caught the sunlight, and it obviously was a REDHEAD.
It was interesting to watch the activity on the north shore (i.e., the one
closest to the road). The two Snowy Plovers, in a fashion typical of their
kind, repeatedly dashed along the shoreline, just beyond the water, at
dazzling speed that was hard to track by scope. In the process of watching
them I spotted multiple small creatures racing eastward along the upper
shore. They appeared to be small crabs, but I did not at first realize the
probable reason for their seeming panic. Subsequently, looking up from the
scope and enjoying a wider view, I saw the plausible source of their
apparently panicked flight. Several Long-billed Curlews were foraging on
the upper shore, thrusting their bills into the substrate and extracting
food items. Sand crab holes are favorite places for such thrusts. (I term
these âsand crabsâ because I do not know their species name; I am not sure
they are the same as what I call âfiddler crabsâ that I see along Laguna
Madre shores, creatures with a single huge claw on one side.) Anyhow, a
life-and-death drama was taking place between the curlews and the crabs.
In Hidalgo County we birded Brushline Road (TX186 to FM490) and the Hargill
Playa area. Birding was very slow, at best, in both areas, for they
presently are extremely dry. The Hargill playa is at a very low level and
provided very few birds. We went to Hargill in part because we often have
seen Sandhill Cranes there at this time of year, and we wondered whether
they would be there now. None were seen. Perhaps the drought-conditions had
much to do with their absence.
Wishing everyone the best of birding,
Rex Stanford (Weslaco).
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