[texbirds-freelists] [texbirds] sod fields: Progreso (Hidalgo Co.)La Feria (Cameron Co.); + Rangerville Rd resarca on 04/15/12

From: Rex Stanford <calidris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:52:08 -0500

Yesterday (04/15/12) from about 10:45 - 11:30 AM we first birded the
Progreso sod fields. Present were AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (17, at least) and
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (est.15-20).

Most of the golden-plovers (12) were found in the southern half of the long
sod field that runs north/south along the east side of the north/south
traversal road, but 5 were found in a sod field on the west side of that
road.

The estimated 15-20 Pectoral sandpipers fed in the same general area west of
the traversal road where the 5 golden-plovers had fed, but closer to that
road. As expected for that species, the Pectorals preferred the watery area
where strips of intact grass (running east/west) alternated with strips
where the turf had been removed (i.e., harvested) and in which water was
standing. There were several other such water/grass areas where they were
not seen feeding, so close vigilance may be required to spot the Pectoral
Sandpipers. We suggest that they are best spotted in such areas when one can
view straight up and down the alternating turf/water rows, rather than
trying to spot them from some distance, looking across those two kinds of
substrates.

Next we checked the La Feria the sod field fields, which seemed largely dry,
and we found there no grass-loving shorebirds.

We planned, next, to move on to Laguna Atascosa NWR (see TEXBIRDS later
report), but before lunch we made a quick diversion to the often-productive
resaca that is immediately south of Jimenez Road and that crosses
Rangerville Road (FM-1479). This time, the water east of the highway was far
more productive than that west of it (and the latter will not be further
described here). On the east side of the road we found several
to-be-expected duck species (no counts made): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK;
GREEN-WINGED TEAL; NORTHERN SHOVELER; BLUE-WINGED TEAL; and RUDDY DUCK.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (2) added a splash of color to the south side of the pond.
Shorebirding (8 species) was fairly productive: KILLDEER (1); BLACK-NECKED
STILT (6, at least); AMERICAN AVOCET (1); GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1); LESSER
YELLOWLEGS (2); LEAST SANDPIPER (4); SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (2); and
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (est. 65-70).

Rex and Birgit Stanford
McAllen, TX

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[texbirds-freelists] [texbirds] sod fields: Progreso (Hidalgo Co.)La Feria (Cameron Co.); + Rangerville Rd resarca on 04/15/12

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