[texbirds] shorebirding on Thursday 04/24/14 Cameron Co.

From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "TEXBIRDS" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:32:51 -0500
Yesterday (Thursday, 04/24/14) we birded four sites in Cameron Co., largely 
with the intention of finding shorebirds and, especially, grasspipers. We 
had originally thought of going to SPI but winds that seemed even stronger 
than forecast made us pessimistic about seeking passerines at such a time. 
The sites visited were in order (with approximate times): LA FERIA SOD FIELD 
(11:40-11:50 AM); WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELD (12:00 noon - 12:40 PM); LAGUNA 
ATASCOSA NWR (OSPREY OVERLOOK) (mid-afternoon); PORT ISABEL RESERVOIR 
(5:00 - 5:45 pm); and WEAVER ROAD (7:00-7:30 PM).

LA FERIA SOD FIELD: No shorebird species were found.

WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELD (early afternoon visit): AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (5); 
KILLDEER (2); BLACK-NECKED STILT (1); UPLAND SANDPIPER (1); LEAST SANDPIPER 
(12-15); BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (3); PECTORAL SANDPIPER (45-50); and 
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (100+, possibly somewhat more, as my scan, conducted 
by scope, having thereby a relatively narrow field, probably missed a number 
of individuals). Water was copiously being administered to the field at the 
southeast corner, and although some species, especially the Buff-breasted 
Sandpipers were spread widely along much of the length of the field, a 
majority of the Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, and a few others 
seemed to prefer the wetter-that is not to say, necessarily watery-areas of 
the field. All of these birds were found in the uniformly grassy and green 
second field from the south end of the series of fields on Weaver Road.

LAGUNA ATASCOSA NWR (OSPREY OVERLOOK): Our shorebirding here was confined to 
viewing with scope from the covered observation platform. We were surprised 
to find so much water in this lake that there was very little usable 
shoreline from the perspective of shorebirds. This often can be a productive 
site for shorebirds, but, thanks, surely in large part, to the lack of 
shoreline, it was very disappointing. The sole shorebird species we found 
was LONG-BILLED CURLEW (5) about 35-40% of the distance northward along the 
shoreline from the observation deck. Long-billed Curlews often seem to like 
that area. They provided a species found at none of our other sites 
yesterday.

PORT ISABEL RESERVOIR: Our late afternoon visit here was highly productive 
and gratifying: WILSON'S PLOVER (1); BLACK-NECKED STILT (4); GREATER 
YELLOWLEGS (5); LESSER YELLOWLEGS (4); WILLET (9); WHIMBREL (13); 
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (4); WESTERN SANDPIPER (3); LEAST SANDPIPER (6): 
DUNLIN (3); STILT SANDPIPER (1); and WILSON'S PHALAROPE (2). Shorebird 
species total = 12. Our personal highlight for this site of was the 13 
Whimbrel arrayed in a line near the end of a sandy point south of the 
outflow pipe from the wastewater facility. They did not seem to be feeding 
very much, if at all, but were mainly just looking around or sleeping, never 
all of them sleeping or standing vigilant. They seemed tired and ready to 
rest, but some might have been staying awake to act as sentinels, vigilant 
for possible predators. Aside from shorebirds, two bright ROSEATE 
SPOONBILLS, just south of the marsh grass brightened the scene, and 
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS and BLUE-WINGED TEAL were present in small 
numbers.

WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELDS (very late day, dusk approaching): The shorebird 
species were much as during our morning visit, but the Upland Sandpiper was 
not found, and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS (5) were now present, although they 
had not been seen in the morning. The dowitchers stayed in very close 
proximity to watery areas. Two or three of them were very handsome, as they 
were in full or nearly full breeding plumage. The late day, low-angle sun, 
created a peaceful and inspiring scene. These migrants had found fresh water 
and food, and that was a rewarding sight for us to see, given the paucity of 
such resources at present.

Our total shorebird species for the day was 20. We did not have time to 
visit SPI or the TX-48 boat launch, which are sites where we usually find 
some additional shorebird species.

Wishing everyone the best of spring-migration birding,
Rex and Birgit Stanford

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[texbirds] shorebirding on Thursday 04/24/14 Cameron Co.

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