[texbirds] Waller County Wanderings May 13 and 14- of Black Terns and warblers

From: "Harvey Laas" <hlaas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 22:58:40 -0500

The Black Tern invasion of yesterday as John Berner reported was pretty
neat.  He called me Tuesday afternoon to tell me about finding several on
Neumann Road just north of Brookshire.  I was stuck in Richmond until almost
7 pm, but headed north toward home and the terns as fast as I could.  I
first found 30 along FM 359 just barely in Fort Bend County.  I then went
straight to the Neumann Rd. spot.  I counted myself lucky to finally see one
Black Tern there and as a bonus a late for our area male gadwall.  As I
drove about a ½ mile further I encountered the big flock of Black Terns
working a fallow rice field that was flooded from our 4 to 5 inch rain we
received yesterday am.  It was an impressive sight the they were constantly
churning over the roughly 60 acre field.  I counted at least 100, but I
think there may have been half again as many more.  There was just too much
movement.  There were of course the 6 Franklin gulls, as well.  Flocks of
shore birds swooped in over the field to add to a great show.  Enjoyed
watching this sight for at least half an hour until the light faded away.  
This morning I returned to the area around 10 to see what might be about.  I
did see 12 black terns fly low over FM 362 as I approached the area, but
they were flying low a purposefully North.  Not looking for food.  At the
same flooded field were quite a few shorebirds. The best were at least 30
stilt sandpipers in breeding plumage.  There were large numbers of
white-rumped sandpipers, a few dunlin and a fair number of small peeps.
Also, in the far corner of the field I found a peregrine falcon eating a
late breakfast. 

Late this afternoon I birded along Bessies Creek here on the ranch and
finally turned up a hand full of warblers totaling 6 species.  This huge
number actually exceeds my Spring total prior today by 2 species.  The total
includes 1 Canada, 1 Nashville, 2 Am. Redstart, 1 Black-throated Green, 2
Magnolias, and the best bird of the day (something of a nemesis bird for me
1 Ovenbird. This is a new property bird, and the first Ovenbird reported in
ebird for Waller County.  It also is the 30th warbler I have seen on the
property.  Not a bad way to wrap a nice couple of days.

 

Harvey Laas

10 miles N of Brookshire

 

Pet Peeve  just because some migrants show up in a given spot its not
really a fallout folks.


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[texbirds] Waller County Wanderings May 13 and 14- of Black Terns and warblers

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