Thanks for the report Joseph. As always I find your negative data as
informative as the positive. Bless you for braving the heat and reporting for
us desk jockeys and armchair quarterbacks.
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.com
-----Original Message-----
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Joseph Kennedy
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 6:14 PM
To: 4 Texbirds Maillist <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [texbirds] Galveston to the Anahuac car launch today and marsh
burning. Tomorrow could be good if the roads are open.
They were doing extensive burning at Anahuac this afternoon. You were not able
to go past the turn to Oyster Bayou and shoveler pond. If access is allowed
tomorrow it could be productive to work the burned areas along both the roads
to frozen point and the bay boat launch for birds feeding on burned stuff.
The highlight of the oyster bayou boat launch was the boat launched where they
did not secure it with a rope and the boat went all the way across the bayou.
In the process they also launched the car half way across the bayou and it was
submerged up to the roof. Fun to explain when they get home.
Lots of terns were available at Galveston East Beach. Not many youngsters mixed
in but there were larger numbers on the Bolivar beaches. A large influx of
least terns were inside the nesting area including some non-breeding birds.
Many were not nesting as they left when a frigatebird flew high over the area.
There were many more birds out there than on my previous trips.
Found 8 snowy plovers out where I have been seeing 3 birds (a pair and a
friendly single). Today the 3 were there and having a territorial fight with
another pair. That pair was also having a problem with a third pair which
appeared to have a mostly fledged and feathered chick. I am still not sure how
to id such birds. A few black terns went by with most in full black plumage.
A bicycler in the usual funny hat etc rode through all the shorebirds twice to
many left. Perhaps 20 western sandpipers, 25 ruddy turnstones, and 30
sanderlings. About half the westerns were in fresh breeding plumage but all the
sanderlings were white with no color.
A dozen frigatebirds were over the ferry on the ride to Bolivar. Most of the
small ponds on the peninsula are bone dry including those along Retillon Road.
The flats had nice birds including 15 long-billed curlew and a single snowy
plover along with marbled godwits.
I watched 4 black-plumaged black terns fly in from the north and then dive down
to the edge of the water where they stayed so they are migrating.
Bob Road had a little edge but only terns and willets using it as well as an
osprey. Another osprey was at high island. All the ponds along Yacht Basin road
were dry but a seaside sparrow was singing along the only marsh vegetation
beside the little bridge. Water at Rollover very high and lots of waders and
netters in bird spots.
The Skillern track wet areas are sprouting and dry except in the tractor ruts
and no birds.
Never did find shorebirds away from the beach except for remaining eastern
willets and black-necked stilts plus one greater yellowlegs.
The early afternoon trip around shoveler pond again was great for water lilies
in 97 degree temperature and lots of smoke from the nearby fires.
Got the usual birds and the rookery is still active but a quick stop had no
begging young.
Spent a good bit of time trying to see white-tailed hawks at the fire but had
none. The last fire (lightning) I saw had lots. Many ibis etc going by the fire
but not stopping.
On the way home I had a begging young of the year dark-phase red-tailed hawk
but a problem with the camera was not fixed until the left. Spent the 4th try
for swallow-tailed kites but had no luck again and no broad-winged hawks in the
areas they have nested either.
Need to find some good shorebird habitat that one does not have to walk way out
there with the long term forecast for more of the same as today's 100 plus a
lot heat index.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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