Hmmm....Could the finder have meant Brazos Bend or Brazos River. I looked
on Ebird for the past 3 days but don't see the report or the photo(s)
On Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 4:01 PM <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am at a loss how to explain a strange occurrence of six Ruddy Turnstones
yesterday in a wooded section of College Station, far from suitable water
habitat, The sighting is clearly documented by a photo.
Ruddy Turnstones are rare migrants through Brazos County, with only 5
prior records, all single birds. The spring migration window through the
central Oaks & Prairies region extends from mid-April to the first week of
June. Lockwood & Freeman, Handbook of Texas Birds, gives the timing of
migration through Texas as late March to late May.
An eBird map of all winter Texas records of Ruddy Turnstone shows no
submissions farther inland than southeast Houston, over 100 miles from
College Station.
Furthermore, College Station experienced mild weather, very little rain,
and winds less than 20 mph in the past 6 days. Galveston weather was
similar with a top wind speed of 22 mph on the 14th.
So, the obvious question is why did 6 Ruddy Turnstones show up in wooded
College Station on 16 February?
Bert Frenz
Oaks & Prairies of Texas
eBird reviewer, Central Prairie of Texas
eBird reviewer, Belize
NAB subregional editor, Central Oaks & Prairies of Texas
Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.bafrenz.com
