[texbirds] Yesterday (05/16/12) TX-48 (Cameron Co.) boat launch: shorebirds and some surprises
- From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "TEXBIRDS" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 08:25:05 -0500
Please start sending your posts to texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Late yesterday (05/16/`12) afternoon we birded the TX-48 boat launch area
and report here the highlights, including two nice surprises. We had come
here primarily in search of shorebirds, and their species included a nice
surprise that we had not previously found at this site. What follows were
deemed the highlights of our visit, which include species beyond shorebirds.
The shorebird species were: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (1), WILSON'S PLOVER (2),
KILLDEER (2), AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (1), BLACK-NECKED STILT (4), WILLET
(est .18-20), SPOTTED SANDPIPER (1), RUDDY TURNSTONE (6, at least),
SANDERLING (1), and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (1).The latter was a nice
surprise, for we had never previously seen this species here. It foraged
largely amidst lines of grass-like vegetation growing from the water or on
a sandbar), bringing the shorebird species to 10.
The waders were: ROSEATE SPOONBILL (1 in superb, brilliant breeding
condition), SNOWY EGRET (2, apparently attracted to food stirred up or
aroused into motion by the spoonbill, tended to stay close by or follow it
around), and GREAT EGRET (1). The later species also seemed attracted to the
small, finger-like tidal pool of the former two species, but it appeared to
find no suitable food there.
Additionally, we found ROYAL TERN (est. 10), CASPIAN TERN (1), GULL-BILLED
TERN (8), and LEAST TERN (1). Several BLACK SKIMMERS were distributed about
the area, usually in small groups).
A second surprise greeted us as we prepared to leave this site, another
avian species that we had not previously encountered there, CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN
(1). We were delighted to see this species because we had earlier yesterday
(see our report of late yesterday evening) seen one along Old Port Isabel
Road, but this somewhat shy species flew off quickly on discovering our
presence, making us a bit unhappy because we had hoped to be able to study
and photograph it at this closer range than we had usually been afforded.
Our good fortune late yesterday was that this species was found standing
atop a picnic table at the TX-48 boat launch site, right beside our vehicle,
its loose neck and head feathers blowing about exposing their bright white
bases. It subsequently gave us ample photo opportunities as it sat in good
late-day sunlight with the gentle wind exposing the white bases of various
up-front feathers. It was gratifying to get photo documentation of this
trademark characteristic of this species. This raven was noticed just as we
had prepared to leave the area, and its presence fully remediated the
regrets we had carried on account of the quick disappearance of this species
earlier in the day along Old Port Isabel Road. That was a fun way to end a
nice day of birding.
Rex and Birgit Stanford
McAllen, TX
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