[texbirds] More details on the Tropical Mockingbird, Sabine Woods and nearby July 15

From: John Whittle <johnawhittle@xxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:48:56 -0400 (EDT)
As David Bradford has already posted, we went to Sabine Woods this morning to 
check on the Tropical Mockingbird.  We arrived around 9 AM while showers were 
passing to the east and west of the Woods.  Although it did not rain 
significantly, it was somewhat dark and bird activity was modest initially.  
After about two hours, the Tropical Mockingbird came out to the edge of the 
highway about half way between the entrance and the western boundary.  The 
Tropical Mockingbird (we presume to be a female) was feeding the two juveniles. 
 We were able to get good looks at both juveniles as she fed them not-yet-ripe 
Lantana berries on the side of the highway and at eye level in the low branches 
on the oaks at the fence line.  The adult was several times seen to perch on 
top of the Highway 87 sign on the south side of the highway.
 
The juveniles both appear to have "normal" Northern Mockingbird tails, with 
broad white outer edges when viewed from above or the side, and mostly white 
underneath.  The wings do not have the white patches that are characteristic of 
Northern Mockingbirds.  The wings when perched or in flight do not appear to be 
as dark as the parent Topical Mockingbird, but they may well be somewhat darker 
than those of juvenile Northern Mockingbirds in the area.  However, the 
juveniles do have thin white outer edges and tips to the covert feathers, 
resulting in the narrow wing bars currently readily visible on them.  It 
appears that these white tips wear away with time and results in worn 
mockingbirds, both Northern and Tropical, showing almost no wing bars.  The 
molt in adult Northern Mockingbirds is recorded as beginning between mid July 
and early August, and complete by mid-October, so we can probably expect the 
Tropical Mockingbird to be similar.  Juvenile Northern Mockingbirds are stated 
to molt into their first adult plumage shortly after leaving the care of their 
parents.  If they all stay around, they may begin to look a little different 
soon!
 
In Sabine Woods, there are apparently several pairs of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, 
seemingly feeding young, at least two pairs of Great Crested Flycatchers, also 
feeding young, one rather noisy family of Eastern Kingbirds, a pair of 
Loggerhead Shrikes feeding their second brood of the season, and innumerable 
Orchard Orioles.  As usual, there are Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal families.
 
We saw one young Melanerpes woodpecker, with clearly barred central tail 
feathers and no visible color on the face, head, or nape but presumably a 
"normal" Red-bellied Woodpecker.  One other Melanerpes called from inside a 
hole in one of the dead trees near the drip, but was not observed to show 
itself.
 
Further along Highway 87 between the Woods and McFaddin NWR there were many 
Common Nighthawks (at least 11) and a family of Scissor tailed Flycatchers.  In 
McFaddin NWR along Clam Lake Road from the Highway to the Intracoastal Waterway 
there were an astonishing 25 Common Nighthawks. Eastern Kingbirds were also 
numerous, and at least six Marsh Wrens were heard along the road.  Four adult 
King Rails were along the road edges, and one had at least two chicks 
following. Two least Bitterns were seen, along with good numbers of Herons and 
Egrets (Green, Tricolored, Yellow-crowned. Snowy and Great).
 
John A. Whittle
Nederland, TX
[texbirds] More details on the Tropical Mockingbird, Sabine Woods and nearby July 15

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