TexBirders,
We wereblessed with beautiful weather today for the 31st annual San BernardNWR
Christmas Bird Count. The unofficialtally at the countdown dinner was 195
species with the highlights being led bya Clay-colored Thrush seen by David
Sarkozi at Bobcat Woods. Unfortunately, the bird could not be refounddespite
much searching by David and many others throughout the day. Other great birds
reported included an adult PurpleGallinule (1st for count), Clay-colored
Sparrow (2nd forcount), two Least Bitterns (3rd), Ladder-backed Woodpecker
(3rd),Lark Sparrow (3rd), Green-tailed Towhee (4th), FranklinâsGull (4th),
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (4th), Horned Grebe (5th),and Indigo Bunting (5th).
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High waterlevels in the bays and the freshwater marshes made finding some
speciesdifficult â we missed Long-billed Dowitcher for only the 3rd time
incount history. Most shorebird numberswere below average. Other
missesincluded Peregrine Falcon, Bonaparteâs Gull, Rock Pigeon (not for lack
oftrying), Common Ground-Dove, Barn Owl, and Spragueâs Pipit. Many
passerines were also low as evidenced byjust 7 Northern Flickers, 2 Brown
Thrashers, and 16 Chipping Sparrows. We did have a record 12 Least Grebes
found atStringfellow WMA and a record-tying 11 Bald Eagles.
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Best of allwas the featured seafood gumbo for dinner made by the Friends of
BrazoriaWildlife Refuges and sponsored by Phillips 66.
Ron WeeksLake JacksonÂ
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