Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed 6, with 3 scattered calling birds, then single
group of three in flight within black willow row near duck banding site.
On Sun, May 10, 2015 at 12:38 AM, Terry Davis <terkchip@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi all, I got there late at 0630. Although I missed a few silly things
like Blue-winged Teal, Cattle Egret, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron, owls (late start at 0630), Brown Thrasher, GRAY CATBIRD,
Scarlet Tanager (good bird but often easily found under such as today's
conditions), Eastern Meadowlark (didn't bird south portion of parkway),
House Sparrow and a few other possibles, I still did quite well,
considering the warbler "fallout" (18 total spp, also high nos of some
typical late-arriving species) and a few others. Not counting pure funny
Mallard and Canada Goose (I don't really see why they're even on the state
list for eBird....), I ended the refuge survey with 85 spp. Looking at
radar just prior to leaving this morning, it was easy to see what happened.
There was a heavier and fairly wide band of showers immediately north which
no doubt dropped and added some early-morning birds that were on the move
north into the orchards. I was rained out for about 15 minutes. The pecan
trees around the building were literally almost dripping with warblers just
before, then throughout the area for several hours afterward. This is never
quite like a classic coastal fallout- but interesting nonetheless. Missing
Gray Catbird at this time of year should be punishable by death- just
kidding, of course (;
Many do not realize how important poison ivy is to migrant warblers,
vireos and others. Notes on that within the warbler list. Other noteworthy
findings also below-
Neotropic Cormorant- 1- prob same bird. Had 3 Double-crested. Waterfowl
were mostly again pitiful. I did not get my first Great Blue or Great Egret
until after 10 a.m.
American Coot- 3. Again, prob same- tight-knit group. Missed Common Moorhen
Hairy Woodpecker- not so noteworthy here but always a good one- along Choc
trail east end. Other woodpeckers lower than normal, then single flicker.
Alder Flycatcher- 2, probably three. West end of Chocolate trail- right at
Foresteria thicket/ flooded portion. Song and various calls. Also all but
100% sure I heard a faint/ distant Willow "fitzbew"- but didn't list.
Rosemary Seidler had Willow Fly and obtained clear recording later along
the east end, where I had tried earlier in the morning- but missed them.
Eastern Wood-Pewee in good numbers with 15 total- mostly in orchard and
launch woods. Had 3 Least Flycatcher at scatterd locations- one observed,
rest by typical closely-spaced "wit" calls There were three Great Crested
in good numbers throughout with 10 birds. Eastern Kingbird and
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher were both notably low.
Philadelphia Vireo- 8. Fos- for me, anyway. At least two birds of group of
four birds at overlook near building were singing. Possibly obtained
distant/ crappy recordings. Overall, conditions with rain and wind not so
good for that.......Had 1 Red-eyed and a 2nd resurgence in White-eyed Vireo
song, although many of those were no doubt locals. Thrushes not diverse-
only Swainson's with 7 birds. Ronnie Maum photo'd a Gray Catbird in the
big mulberry after I'd left. I checked it four times earlier! There were
only Cedar Waxwing and American Robin there when I left the last
time....... He also reported 2 American White Pelican circling (photo'd),
which I also missed. However, that's a pretty darn good bird, at least away
from Red River pool 5, this late in the game
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 2. Getting late for migrants. Had single straggler
in pecans, then in C tallow on lake bluff/ green trail.
Cedar Waxwing- 176. Throughout surveyed area with highest numbers (65)
near big mulberry and surrounding pecans, also north orchard earlier.
1.Ovenbird- 1- prob 2. North orchard area. Several songs from understory/
roughleaf dogwood/ mix.
2. Northern Waterthrush- 8. Highest densities along lake bluff/ green
trail and Chocolate trail east end.
3. Black-and-White Warbler- 3= 2 males, 1 fem- north orchard and overlook.
Song by both males. Was listening for Blackpoll and Bay-breasted etc, but
no vocals there.
4. Prothonotary "- 5. Song- lake circumference in entirety (walked much
of), except flooded central portion of Chocolate trail. No doubt missing at
least one from there.
5. Tennessee Warbler- 7. Throughout except back of refuge- mostly orchard/
singing males. Only 1 fem observed except back of refuge. Definite decline
in detection.
6. Common Yellowthroat- 10. Lots of males- resurgence- between overlook
and n orchard early. Much song, few calls. No fem seen
7. American Redstart- 15. Count final excessively low. Lots of males and
females throughout in orchard/ woods on north side of complex. Most found
in typical fashion- in vines/ lower- also Magnolia, Chestnut-sided also-
often within poison ivy growth along trunks, roughleaf dogwood and other
vine-draped understory trees- as opposed to high in pecans. Numerous
indiv's giving song, including at least one semi-black-faced sy male in n
orchard. A few fem.
8. Northern Parula- 2. Males singing at single location on e end of
Chocolate- in black willow mix (possible rec'd both simult). Late migrants
or possibly wandering males. One appeared to be large in size and fairly
heavily-marked in breast.
9. MAGNOLIA "- 28. All males except one female- including groups of 3,3,4
and 5. In understory and some in taller trees/ pecans throughout northern
side of property. Two in black willow/ mix. Interestingly, of all found
only a couple were singing this day- giving low sub-song.
10. Bay-breasted Warbler- 2. M. One in poison ivy on pecan- with PHVI,
MAWA, other high in pecans at overlook.
11. BLACKBURNIAN- 9. Nos not really that unusual but always nice to see.
As Grandfather of Shreveport Birding" Horace Jeter used to say "There's
NOTHING better than a Blackburnian Warbler in May!!" Including ~group of 4
ad males and a female observed in pecans at overlook- with three giving
song simultaneously. All other males elsewhere located first by high, thin
distinct song, then observed. Most all foraging high near branch tips
12. Yellow Warbler- 6. Males. Only 2 birds in orchard- high. Rest in
Cephalanthus or black willow mix edging lake. Most by song.
13. Chestnut-sided- 9. As MAWA, AMRE for the most part. Two other birds in
box-elder maple/ willow mix with few vines. Only one female. None giving
typical song today. Recorded one that was foraging with/ near 4 MAWA males
in poison ivy on n end of orchard.
14. Black-throated Green- 7. Song only from two males. Three fem. Pecans
and poison ivy on trees. Females foraging high on all occasions
15. Prairie Warbler- 1. Migrant holdover/ lingering/ breeding attempt or
roving male? Singing from vine-less Chickasaw plum stands/ tall grass/
weeds near rd to duck banding site along back road. Group of 35 fem, 8 male
Indigo Bunting and several Dickcissel nearby.
16. CANADA " 2 Males. Somewhat early here. One giving incessant song and
often aggressively driving off at least two of 5 male Magnolia in immediate
area, giving fits of closely-strung chip series when doing so. In box-elder
maple/ vine drape mix in woods on green/lake bluff trail near levee south
of boat launch. Made several minutes of recording attempts, although often
too windy/ overage. Another male a couple hundred yards south also singing
incessantly and possibly recorded- within dense roughleaf dogwood, which
latter habitat is THE number one place to find them here.
17. Wilson's Warbler- 2. Fos but certainly not early. Males. One low in
dense pecan near overlook. Possibly made partial recording while recording
singing Lincoln's Sparrow. Another by song. The aforementioned Lincoln's
sang incessantly almost non-stop for at least 25 minutes- from jumble of
pecan sticks near tree and feeders.
18. Yellow-breasted Chat- 3. Singing males off rd in back- at least one
singing from Chickasaw plum thicket, then two others singing from roughleaf
dogwood/ viny mix. Two male Eastern Towhee singing along road also.
CHIPPING SPARROW- 1. Exceptionally LATE! This season has been producing
many of these late birds! Bird in parking lot observed relocating and
calling. There were lots of somewhat similar flight calls being given by
American Redstart. Although habitat for migrant American Redstart usually
differs quite a bit from areas with higher numbers of Chipping Sparrow (at
least in my experience) it would pay to beware of this fact when listing by
calls.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 9. Quite high for this late. Most by calls in
north orchard and launch woods. Nice song from one male. Only females seen
(2). Summer Tanager was all but missing with 1 female and 1 calling bird.
Singing Indigo Bunting males were fairly closely posted early in the
orchard. I saw only a very few females early. Later in the back, females
were in groups/ way outnumbering the few associating males. Male painted
Bunting
I was thankful for one more good day of birding before the peak of
migration is past. Now for much-needed rest, laundry, plans for work, then
most importantly- Mother's Day- tomorrow. I've got a downright awesome one
for sure!!
Cheers and good birding y'all,
Terry
