Hi birders,
Forgot to mention that just after exiting my truck at 0728 in the morning
of 05-08 and standing in the Home Depot parking lot on Bert Kouns near I-49
in south Shreveport, I heard the distinct "pre-pre-pre-pre" flight call of
Whimbrel and looked up just to my north to see it headed over me at a
little over a hundred feet calling headed straight due south. Looked almost
as if in a straight-line trajectory toward Red River NWR Yates tract. I
followed the bird for about 15 seconds or so until it was out of sight.
I've had only one other sight record prior, while with Charlie Lyon at
White House Plantation at Elm Grove a few Mays back. Otherwise, a slightly
distant heard-only flyover during a pre-dawn survey at Stoner boat launch
on Red River quite a few years ago was my only other record for northwest
La.
Also have not been seeing many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds lately. Until
this spring, several had passed spent more often at Yates tract and more
open habitat- when time was available. I remember seeing more in Spring in
woodland areas in years prior to that. I did see three at headquarters
yesterday- but all were distant- one at the feeders, then 2 on a high dead
bough at the top of a pecan and almost directly in the sun. Dickcissel also
showed another slight increase/ pulse yesterday- with numerous flight-calls
overhead shortly after arriving, than additional grounded birds elsewhere.
I also thought it would be good to warn everyone that water moccasin have
been noted more often this spring than usual. So far I've seen two at
Stoner, then another fat 2'+ individual yesterday (got decent pics) on the
north-south trail at the west end of the orchard. Made me feel safe and
secure after having walked through 1-2' grass and weeds with a pair of thin
rubber boots on in the same general area for an hour or more
prior........../:
Terry
