[texbirds] Quintana to Galveston - Ash Throated Flycatchers
- From: John Tharp <jlt290@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:09:00 -0500
I spent the day birding from Quintana to Galveston. Quintana was fairly
slow, although there were still a few highlights, with the birding being
much better on Galveston Island. Shockingly enough there were even other
birders in the field. Word on the street is that Lafitte's Cove has been
quite good for the past week or two and today was no exception with plenty
of activity. My best bird(s) of the day would be the two Ash Throated
Flycatchers I located at Lafitte's a bit after 1:00pm. One of the birds
seemed to have a more strongly marked back than the other raising some
potential ID questions for it, Michael Lindsey has some photos of both
birds for comparison. At about 5:00pm I relocated both birds and got even
better looks as well as hearing one vocalize and confirmed that both were
Ash Throated. That said, about that time a third Myiarchus went zipping
past, so keep an eye out. A close runner up for best bird of the day was a
vocalizing Golden Crowned Kinglet at the new nature trail just west of San
Luis Pass. Plenty of good birds today so I'll just stick to the
"highlights." 13 warbler species for the day. At times I felt like I was
birding farther north with Creepers, Kinglets, Red Breasted Nuthatches, and
Sapsuckers around. Scissor Tailed Flycatchers are piling up on the coast
with about 75+ through the course of the day. Indigo Buntings continue to
move in large numbers.
Highlights by location are below.
Quintana/Xeriscape
Wilson's Phalarope - 4 (Spoil Site)
American Avocet - 25 (Spoil Site)
Scissor Tailed Flycatcher - 40
Eastern Phoebe - 10
Northern Flicker - 1
Cave Swallow - several flyovers vocalizing
American Pipit
Lincoln's Sparrow - 4
Surfside Area -
Merlin - 1
Northern Harrier - 3
Franklin's Gull - 5 mixed in the flocks on the beach
Snowy Plover - 1
Piping Plover - 5
New Nature Trail (W of San Luis Pass)
Golden Crowned Kinglet - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Lafitte's Cove
Merlin - 1
Great Horned Owl - 1
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker - 3
Vermillion Flycatcher - 1
Ash Throated Flycatcher - 2
Red Eyed Vireo - 3
Warbling Vireo - 2
Philadelphia Vireo - 3
White Eyed Vireo - several
Red Breasted Nuthatch - 4
Brown Creeper - 2 possibly 3
Ruby Crowned Kinglet - 30+
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 6
Yellow Rumped Warbler - 2
Black Throated Green Warbler - 10
Black and White Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 3
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 20+
Northern Parula - 5
Hooded Warbler - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Summer Tanager - a few
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Rose Breasted Grosbeak - several
Indigo Bunting - many
Lark Sparrow - 2
Other than that, most, of the usual suspects were around in typical
numbers, if anyone wants a full list, just ask.
Good Birding,
John Tharp
Houston, TX
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