[texbirds] Re: Bexar Co. Swainson's Warblers
- From: Susan Orwig <sueorwig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:02:14 -0500
I agree with Brush. I am not contesting your bird either, Bob, but I spend
a lot of time with Swainson recordings on my Shelby Co. land (habitat seems
perfect for that species) and I get Lo. Waterthrushes
responding and singing. The Waterthrushes do add a "sputter" sometimes to
the end of their song so it helps to distinguish the two species.
Sue Orwig
On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Bob: Very interesting. Before the park was opened and in its
> formative stages I was able to make some birding visits to the
> property, I have not been back since. This was likely around 15 years
> ago or so, I really don't remember and I assume we are talking about
> the same property as it had no real name then.
> There were oodles of La. Waterthrushes there at that time in the
> spring.......Now I can not contest the bird as you actually saw it,
> but I can not begin to tell you how many times I have been fooled by
> the song of a LWTH that sounded like a SWWA....Heck even at times
> Hoodeds have tried hard to fool me....If indeed there are Swainson's
> there, it should be something to interest folks as it would be the
> westernmost breeding population in the US I believe...The contenders
> being Bastrop Co.and extreme eastern Aransas Co.....If this can be
> confirmed/doccumented very quickly, I mean like within a week it may
> be something that could be added to the new TOS Handbook which is set
> to go to the publisher within just a few more days.
> **********************************************************************
> Brush Freeman
> 361-655-7641 Cell
> http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
> Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 12:50 PM, <doefamily@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > On Sunday, I was at Medina River Natural Area in south Bexar County
> where I heard a loud, thin song reminiscent of Swainson's Warbler, although
> I could not locate the bird. Overnight, I listened to many recordings of
> Swainson's Warbler and found one that is virtually identical to what I
> heard. Go to www.xwno-cantu.org, search for Swainson's Warbler and
> listen to file xc103760. At the end of this recording is a 5 note song
> virtually identical in tone, timing, and emphasis to what I heard at Medina
> River. Being basically non-musical, I interpret the song as something like
> "zeet, zeet, zeet, zook, zook", with the "Zeet, Zeet, Zeet" all being the
> same tone and evenly spaced, and the "Zook. Zook" being lower in tone and
> slightly faster.
> >
> > I went back to the site this morning and had more song, at one point 3
> birds singing simultaneously. The birds sang infrequently. In the
> approximately 1 1/2 hours I was there, there were 3 song sessions. But when
> one bird would begin to sing, others would join in. During a song session,
> an individual bird would sing repeatedly over several minutes.
> Interestingly, almost all of the songs were the same 5 note song, However,
> during one session, 1 bird added a sixth note to the end, softly and
> seemingly hesitantly, as if the bird wasn't sure the note belonged. Most of
> the songs at xeno-cantu include this sixth slurred note.
> >
> > Question: Do juvenile Swainson's give an abbreviated song? Or is there
> a "post breeding" abbreviated song? Almost all of the songs I heard were 5
> note calls, and almost all of the recordings have a slurred 6th note.
> >
> > The birds were VERY difficult to see. I never did see a singing bird,
> but was fortunate to see one bird fly to the opposite side of the river and
> land for a few seconds on an exposed branch. First Swainson's Warbler I
> have seen in Texas (saw several while I was in coastal Mississippi). I
> believe the bird I saw was a juvenile, as it seemed duller than breeding
> birds I remember from Mississippi, but Swainson's is never very bright.
> >
> > DESCRIPTION: Chunky appearing warbler, approximately the size of
> Carolina Wren, which were very common at the site. Overall dull color. Back
> and wings were dull grayish brown, no wingbars. Underparts were dull
> grayish or grayish white, no obvious streaking. Noticeable dull white
> eyebrow stripe, crown a dull slightly reddish brown. Bill long, straight,
> stout.
> >
> > Location, if anyone wants to try for these birds: Medina Rivera Natural
> Area is located in south Bexar County, off of Highway 16, just north of the
> Medina River. From the headquarters, drop down to the river and take the
> Rio Medina trail. Continue on the Rio Medina trail about 1/4 mile past the
> junction with the Nogales Trail (total distance from headquarters about 1
> 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles). There will be a large downed tree on the left (trail
> passes it on the right). Immediately past the downed tree is a fishing
> access to the right and immediately past the fishing access is a mud puddle
> in the trail (only wet spot on the trail today). Swainson's Warblers have
> been in the vicinity of the downed tree, on both sides of the river. If you
> go about 150 yards too far, the trail will turn left and begin to loop back
> toward the headquarters. WARNING: It is very hot and humid down under the
> trees, The breeze doesn't work down through the foliage very often. Also,
> poison ivy/poison oak i
> s
> > VERY common in the area. Watch where you step and put your hands and be
> aware of overhanging branches along the trail.
> >
> >
> > Bob Doe
> > Spring Branch
> >
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