BSG: On the subject of large flyover shorebird species, I heard a Willet high
overhead at Pinola over the river late in the evening, too dark to see it, on
May 1. Long-billed Curlew is another that passes over us in Spring. Keep your
ears tuned. They count whether their feet touch our ground or not.
Paul
From: bsg-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bsg-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Terry Davis
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2015 10:20 PM
To: LABIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; bsg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bsg] Caddo Whimbrel 05-08-15, others from yest. Water moccasin more
frequent this season
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
