[texbirds] update: shorebirds at Estero Llano Grande SP (Hidalgo Co.) - 05/22/14

From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "TEXBIRDS" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 11:48:47 -0500
Yesterday (05/22/14) in the late afternoon we visited Estero Llano Grande 
State Park (ELGSP) to check on the status of the very interesting array of 
shorebirds that had been there on 05/21/14 (as discussed in Rex's TEXBIRDS 
report of yesterday morning). Yesterday's aggregation of shorebirds on Ibis 
Pond at ELGSP, as seen from the deck beside the Visitor Center, was every 
bit as good as that on 05/21/14 and perhaps even a bit better in terms of 
sheer numbers of some shorebird species (but not the numbers of species) 
that were observed . The perhaps most-birder-coveted of the 
very-long-distance migrant shorebirds seen yesterday (as on the previous 
day) were HUDSONIAN GODWIT (1 female and 1 male) and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 
(est.10-12 seen, but may be quite conservative, as they ranged about the 
pond).  Another other very-long-distance migrant species, PECTORAL SANDPIPER 
(several, usually seen together) was seen again yesterday, at the tail end 
of its migration. A "merely" long-distant migrant, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 
(1) was seen again yesterday, also at the tail end of that species' 
migration. The most plentiful migrant was WILSON'S PHALAROPE (est. 30+, 
perhaps quite conservative), and their frenetic group foraging, often with 
spinning, made them difficult to count with precision. A beautiful sight, 
though, they were, for many had considerable breeding plumage and two 
presumed females were spectacular. STILT SANDPIPER (est. 12-15, very 
dispersed on the pond) was an added attraction, and some bore truly glorious 
breeding plumage--real eye-grabbers. GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1) was noted. The 
seemingly ubiquitous BLACK-NECKED STILT and KILLDEER also were present, but 
we did not try to count them; there seemed to be far more of the former.

In the non-shorebird category of notables were perhaps a couple of dozen 
WHITE-IBIS, both adults and some first-spring birds. The where a striking 
sight as they foraged amidst the deeply green-leafed, deep-yellow-flowering 
Yellow Water Lilly (presumed species) immediately east (left) of the Ibis 
Pond deck. A high-breeding-plumaged YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that was near 
the Ibises was another outstanding sight.

The weather conditions were superb, the view from the deck in the late 
afternoon was breathtaking, and there were plenty of happy birders yesterday 
who enjoyed this beautiful late-spring migration. There should still be lots 
to see, so if you should be tired of trying to identify empidonax 
flycatchers or of searching frustratingly for the last of the migrant 
warblers and should want to enjoy something of the drama of 
very-long-distance migration, there may still be a chance to do so from the 
large covered deck of Ibis Pond.

Wishing everyone the best of birding,
Rex and Birgit Stanford
McAllen, TX

 

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[texbirds] update: shorebirds at Estero Llano Grande SP (Hidalgo Co.) - 05/22/14

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