Yesterday (Tuesday, 07/19/16) in Cameron County my wife (Birgit) and I
birded WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELDS (2 visits), PORT ISABEL RESERVOIR, and the
TX-48 BOAT LAUNCH. Here I provide not a list of all of the species found,
but the highlights with emphasis on the shorebird species found. The sod
field were by far the most productive of these areas in regard to
shorebirds, at least in our mid-day visit.
WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELDS MID-DAY VISIT (11:10AM â 12:30PM): We did not go
here expecting the traditional âgrasspipersââtoo earlyâbut in the hope
that
irrigation might attract various other shorebirds, thanks to the widespread
severe drought. The northeast fields here were being liberally flooded with
irrigation water and shorebirds were taking advantage of it. Shorebirds
found were: KILLDEER (19); BLACK-NECKED STILT (36); GREATER YELLOWLEGS
(55); LESSER YELLOWLEGS (4); LEAST SANDPIPER (18); PECTORAL SANDPIPER (8);
and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (8). An additional highlight: WHITE-FACED IBIS.
PORT ISABEL RESERVOIR (2:45 â 3:00 PM): This reservoir was in very bad
condition for shorebirds, with the water far too high to attract
shorebirds; what is more, the water here had a very unusual appearanceâand
I have been here many timesâwith two large, linear-extended areas of what
looked like very white scum atop the water. No shorebird species were found
and, also, no tern species. We did find, largely clustered on or
immediately around the tiny remaining area of marsh grass, ROSEATE
SPOONBILL (5, although one was in the far northeast area); GREAT EGRET (5)
SNOWY EGRET (5); TRICOLORED HERON (6, but 2 were in more remote areas,
south or north); and GREAT BLUE HERON (1 south region). Additionally, the
place had a peculiar odor different from the usual stench one finds there
when the wind is in the âwrongâ direction of the birder.
TX-48 BOAT LAUNCH (4:00 â 4:20 PM): We did not stay long because the
birding was bad and because of raucous music blasted from a parked vehicle.
I do not think we missed much by not staying longer. The sole shorebird
species was WILLET (21). Other species noted: BROWN PELICAN (3); GREAT BLUE
HERON (1); BLACK SKIMMER (46); and ROYAL TERN (2).
WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELDS MID-DAY VISIT (5:40 â 6:00PM): The irrigation water
was still presentâindeed, more was being introducedâbut most of the
shorebird species found earlier were missing: KILLDEER (7); and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS (4, east side of northeast sod field).
Wishing everyone the best of birding, Rex Stanford (Weslaco).
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