[texbirds-freelists] [texbirds] Fwd: [texbirds] Amazon Kingfisher and other south Texas highlights Apr 11-19
- From: live4birds@xxxxxxx
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:57:04 -0500
>
> Hi all
>
> I don't want you to think that I received a report of this magnitude and did
> not act on it. I sent information to several local birders to "be on the
> lookout". I checked the area the next day and saw a Ringed Kingfisher on the
> perch that seemed to match that described by the observer.
> The LRGV RBA rarely passes along sightings without checking on the report
> Rest assured that staff at the park were notified, and the bird was looked
> for.
>
The RBA goes out over my name. I work as a volunteer at this. I feel that
editing the RBA to include confirmed reports is important. Not every report on
the RBA is confirmed, but not every report is a second US record.
Anyone can subscribe to Texbirds or view unedited reports via the eBird google
gadget.
> In haste,
>
> Mary Gustafson
> Mission Texas
>
> (Stupid Spell Check and Auto Correct Provided by iPhone)
>
> On Apr 20, 2012, at 2:29 PM, "peleetom@xxxxxxxxxx" <peleetom@xxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks
>> Just wrapped up a great ten day circuit of South Texas.
>> Below is a summary of notable observations by our group. We
>> started in Corpus area on Apr 11th and continued south
>> through King Ranch to the lower valley and then up through
>> Zapata and on to Neals for our last two nights. We tallied a
>> respectable 261 species. The most notable sighting was a
>> female AMAZON KINGFISHER which was well seen at Bentsen on
>> April 15th evening. I reported this individual immediately
>> to the RBA. Unfortunately the digiscoped pics were of really
>> marginal quality as we focused on getting everyone good
>> looks through the scope while the bird was close (photos
>> taken after it flew to a much farther perch). I was a bit
>> surprised to see that the RBA Apr 19th update didn't at
>> least include a 'possible' note about this bird.
>>
>> FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK - seen at multiple locations this
>> year with the best numbers at Santa Ana
>> MUSCOVY - single seen at El Rio on Apr 17th morning
>> CINNAMON TEAL - males seen at four locations
>> SCALED QUAIL - pair at Falcon State park on Apr 17th and
>> also heard at back road to Salineno on April 17th early am.
>> NORTHERN BOBWHITE - one male at King Ranch, heard on
>> Salineno back road and multiples well seen at Falcon State
>> park
>> LEAST GREBE - at both llano estero and santa ana
>> LEAST BITTERN - a single at the east end of the south padre
>> boardwalk
>> HOOK-BILLED KITE - pair (male doing a display flight for
>> several minutes and female seen briefly) from dike at
>> Anzalduas on morning of April 16th
>> WHITE-TAILED KITE - pair over spillway field at Anzalduas on
>> Apr 16th, also seen in Hill country on road south of Utopia
>> MISSISSIPPI KITE - about 80 seen in three groups lifting off
>> at Anzalduas on Apr 16th
>> ZONE-TAILED HAWK - seen twice at east trail in Lost Maples S
>> N A - first time calling and doing display flight and then
>> at lift off on Apr 18th morning
>> APLOMADO FALCON - two birds seen at traditional site on the
>> south end of Old Port Isabel Rd on Apr 15th (despite the
>> crazy winds!!!)
>> PEREGRINE FALCON - a good trip for this bird - at least five
>> seen (three adults, 2 imm) including birds at Laguna
>> Atascosa, Port Aransas, La Feria (two birds together!), and
>> Chapeno.
>> RAILS - as per norm both Sora and Clapper well seen at SPI
>> boardwalk
>> WHOOPING CRANE - 9 seen on skimmer tour on April 11th
>> BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER - 2 birds at La Feria on April 14th
>> FRANKLINS GULL - a few here and there with the biggest group
>> about 50 on reservoir south of La Feria on Apr 14th
>> RED-BILLED PIGEON - four birds well seen at Salineno on Apr
>> 16th evening
>> GREEN PARAKEET - about 200 east of the corner of Nolana and
>> McColl on Apr 13th evening. A local birder told us that the
>> 10th and Violet roost had been decimated by the hail storm.
>> He said he picked up "buckets" of dead parakeets after the
>> storm.
>> RED-CROWNED PARROT - at private site near Llano estero on
>> April 15th morning
>> GROOVE-BILLED ANI - single bird scoped on island in river
>> west of Salineno on April 16th evening
>> FERRUGINOUS PYGMY OWL - well seen on King Ranch
>> ELF OWL - a group favourite - well seen at roost cavity
>> outside Bentsen on Apr 15th evening
>> COMMON PAURAQUE - just a note that this species seems to be
>> much harder to get than in past years - may be the luck of
>> the draw though
>> BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD - seen at four sites but easiest at
>> Llano estero visitor center feeders
>> RINGED KINGFISHER - tougher than normal but seen at Santa
>> Ana, Bentsen and Salineno
>> AMAZON KINGFISHER - a female was scoped at the resaca and
>> boat ramp area at Bentsen on April 15th at about 7:15 pm -
>> it was reported to the RBA later that evening. We studied
>> the bird at close range in the scope for about three minutes
>> and then it flew to the far end of the resaca it was too far
>> to get any diagnostic images. I have seen this species many
>> times in South America and we were fully aware of the rarity
>> when it was observed. I had hoped that the RBA would at
>> least post a 'possible' sighting but without photos it seems
>> that is not their policy.
>> GREEN KINGFISHER - seen at Santa Ana, Bentsen, Anzalduas
>> N. BEARDLESS TYRANNULET - seen at King Ranch, Llano Estero
>> and Anzalduas. Also heard at Santa Ana and Bentsen.
>> TROPICAL KINGBIRD - the march of this species into south
>> Texas is apparent - well seen and heard at the HEB in
>> Rockport, Santa Ana, the best western in Hidalgo, Progesso
>> Lakes and El Rio RV park.
>> WESTERN KINGBIRD - good numbers encountered after Apr 15th
>> BLACK-CAPPED VIREO - at least five seen at Kerr WMA, a pair
>> at a traditional site east of Leakey, and others heard at
>> Lost Maples and Neals
>> HUTTONS VIREO - two territorial birds on the east trail at
>> Lost Maples on April 18th
>> BELLS VIREO - a really good year for this bird in Hill
>> country - at least forty heard and several well seen
>> BROWN JAY - we didnt see this bird but the operators of the
>> El Rio RV park who are now feeding daily, had the brown jay
>> feed for forty five minutes on at 8:30 am on Apr 16th
>> CLAY-COLOURED THRUSH (ROBIN)- pair and singing male at
>> Santa Ana, pair at Llano Estero, singing male at Bentsen
>> AMERICAN PIPIT - single at Falcon state park on April 17th
>> SPRAGUES PIPIT - two at King Ranch on Apr 13th
>> TROPICAL PARULA - well seen at King Ranch, seen and heard at
>> Neals in hill country, heard at Santa Ana, and a likely
>> Tropical was heard east of the dyke at Anzalduas
>> GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER - at least fifteen seen in Lost
>> Maples and nearby sites
>> WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER - well seen pair at Father McNaboe
>> park in Laredo, didnt look at other sites
>> GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE - thanks to a tip from another visiting
>> birder we tallied a lingering pair at the blind at Falcon
>> State park on Apr 17th morning
>> GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - not a rare bird, but just a note that
>> this is an exceptional year for this species with
>> territorial individuals seen or heard almost every day and
>> at widespread sites
>> LARK BUNTING - about twenty seen on Apr 10th at the Sabinal
>> feedlot road, a single female off 1015 south of Concan on
>> Apr 19th morning.
>> DICKCISSEL - flyovers heard at Anzalduas on Apr 15th and
>> Salineno on Apr 17th
>> WESTERN MEADOWLARK - one lingering individual on 1051 south
>> of Concan in hill country on Apr 19th
>> YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD - seen at Santa Ana, Salineno and in
>> Hill country where a flock of fifty plus males was a real
>> treat
>> AUDUBONS ORIOLE - missed on King Ranch (windy) but a singing
>> male well scoped at Salineno on Apr 16th evening
>> ALTAMIRA ORIOLE - a good year for this species with at least
>> twenty seen at multiple sites in the valley including nests
>> at llano estero and chapeno
>> SCOTTS ORIOLE - one heard in Lost Maples but frustratingly
>> not seen!
>>
>> Thanks to all who provided us with information and who post
>> on Texbirds.
>> Regards, Tom
>>
>> Tom Hince
>> Wheatley, ON (on the doorstep of Point Pelee National Park)
>> Canada
>>
>> TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at:
>> http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds
>>
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