Texas 17 - Day 20

Just to add some balance to all this fun...today wasn't (much) fun! Sometimes the type of holiday we chose to take involves logistical problems. Today was such a day.

I was hoping to try for some of the Woodpeckers available. First stop was Armand Bayou Nature Centre but it wasn't for long as it was closed! Should have checked...but can't think of everything...not by a long chalk! We did pass the Space Centre so would have been rude not to take a few pics...(phone pics clearer when clicked).

Even McDonald's joins in...

Next we tried W.G.Jones State Forest north of Houston. Always a sensational drive through this great city...

We eventually found the less than obvious entrance, parked up and had lunch.

This reserve is famous for its Red-cockaded Woodpecker...

No sign of this or any other Woodpeckers in a two hour search...

Wonderful spot

I did find a nest tree, with man-made cavity. Obviously to protect the site from larger Woodpeckers...especially Pileated (never did find one!).

It was now 2pm and time to leave for the target bird...American Woodcock. We had to take on the Houston traffic!




1.15hrs around the ring road. Lets give it 2.30hrs. I've done this route many times and although very busy never had any major problem...until today. As we approached I10 from the 610 ring road a warning sign...

"Entrance road to I10 closed due to major accident".

Oh Dear!!!

Louise was driving so I tried plan B. I won't bore you with the full story but the I290 we diverted onto was a building site (reminded me of England) with poor signs and we got hopelessly lost. I'd blown my chance of a Texas tick. I'd planned to make an attempt on Sunday but again the Houston traffic beat me. Guess it wasn't to be. We headed for the Texas Roadhouse as consolation. The best night out in Texas!

I drove the I45 back to Galveston. We were back at the Motel at 9.30pm. I've had more successful days...still fun though...sort of!? No species added!

Stay tuned...

Texas 17 - Day 19

So, where was I?

Monday the 27th...I think!

Dawn found me at East Beach, Galveston after driving in along Retillion Rd...

This was the area the TAMAULIPAS CROW was seen in yesterday lunchtime/afternoon. I drove all the available areas for an hour or so, as did a few others but there was no sign of the bird. As already stated this wasn't a "new" bird for me (I've just looked...April 13th 2001!!!). However, it's still a rare bird (Code 3) and many had travelled far to add it to their lists, as there hadn't been any records for years.

Not many birds present at all but I did get great views of Ring-billed Gull...

I returned to the Motel for breakfast and then took Louise to the wonderful historic district of Galveston. We had a coffee in the unique La King's sweetshop...

Nice coffee and chocolates!!!

It was BIG shopping day for her today. Everything was open but quiet...perfect! I decided to have a run down the island and try a few hotspots before returning to pick her up at 3. That gave me 4 hours.

First stop was Sportsman's road which always gives great close views of wading birds.

Roseate Spoonbill...

Not the best looking but the colour is stunning...better in flight!

Others were more distant in the haze...

...including this Reddish with a Great, Tri-colored and some more RS.

Belted Kingfishers were plentiful along this stretch of road...

Next it was on to the remarkable Lafitte's Cove. A nature reserve in the middle of elite bay houses...

This place is a magnet for migrants on migration, offering great close views. Obviously quieter at this time of year but I did get my best ever view of a Sedge Wren...

Really pleased with this sighting as I'd looked for this bird on many occasions previously without much luck. considering the time of day the bird performed admirably. However, I couldn't find a YC Night Heron to add to my trip list.

Onward down the 22 mile island. Next, a White-tailed Kite on the wire...

The area west of LC always has these birds hunting the pastures. As usual I was cutting things fine time-wise. I wanted a quick look at San Luis Pass (a favourite location) but it was going to be tight (daft really). I negotiated my way across the pot holes and puddles and found a spot were I could scan the birds from. I had 10 minutes...ish!

I did get a nice view of a juvenile Black-bellied Plover...

...and a fast disappearing Greater Yellowlegs...

Then the monumental moment...at least for me!

I'd parked next to a couple of fishermen's trucks. As per usual a few Grackles were perched on them hoping for scraps. I heard a "croak"? I'd like to state here and now that I'm no world authority on ABA birds...or anything else for that matter! However, I had checked my Ibird pro app earlier at East Beach for the call of the TAMAULPAS CROW. It sounded rather similar! I turned around and this is what I saw...

It was only there for seconds but this time  was quick enough to grab the evidence. I had FOUND a rare bird!!! OK, not a stunner but...who cares! A truly magic moment for yours truly especially considering the circumstances of the day. Looked for at dawn at the other end of the island and a ten minute window at this end. These moments are the icing on the cake of Birding...not that I've had that many!

Elated I floated back to La King's to join Louise. Unfortunately due to technical issues I was unable to spread the news of my sighting until the evening. Incredibly I found out that some other birders had seen one/the same on the other side of the pass mid-afternoon!

A day to last in the memory.

Stay tuned...

Landed

Just arrived back home after an epic trip to an epic State. Time for a rest now!

As per usual, I will eventually produce a trip report...with hopefully not too much repetition. The Birders world never stands still. A controversial WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR turned up in a Scunny garden. I won't do one of my provenance...etc etc. Might do later though!

I sneaked a Spurn tick with a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Long Bank Marsh. My 300th! Not bad for a part-timer!

An ABA tick turned up in the RGV after my departure at Quinta Mazatlan in the form of a GREEN-BREASTED MANGO (some name!). An ELEGANT TERN (not a good year for me with this species)
is currently lounging around the UTC (Upper Texas Coast). Would have been a possible Texas addition from Galveston...and blow me down...a Glossy Ibis turned up at Wheldrake Ings today, a first for the York Area!

There you go...

Texas 17 - Postponed

Issues with our last stop Motel internet, so I'll save the last three days reports until I return. Stellar day Monday followed by a less successful one Tuesday. Over to Bolivar and beyond tomorrow for our last full day.

Tune in later!

Texas 17 - Day 18

Just arrived at our Motel in Galveston and checked the news. Birding can be incredible...sometimes! I mentioned earlier that we were going to try for the  TAMAULIPAS CROW at Brownsville dump but aborted due to confusion over access...and the fact that I'd already seen one on Texas.

Guess what...one was seen in GALVESTON this afternoon!!! Be rude not to try for it in the morning.

Stay tuned...

Texas 17 - Day 17

The WCS was personal now.  Twas to be my final attempt as we were leaving the RGV at noon. I awoke just before my alarm at 5.20am. After a nice cinnamon and raisin bagel and a few swigs of ice cold milk I headed North to Salineno. I arrived as planned at 7 just as the sun was peeping over the horizon. I knew where to go by now! I checked every viewpoint along the river from the boat ramp. A nice early surprise was a couple of Ringed Kingfishers clicking noisily, high over the Rio Grande…

 Came out well considering the distance and time...7.20am!

I reached the farthest accessible point around 7.40. Nothing! Around 7.50 I noticed a movement low in the reeds. A tiny bird was hopping around but it was very hard to get a decent view of it. I “thought” it was a WCS but frustratingly I couldn’t be sure. I then saw a Verdin (which  I wasn’t expecting in this habitat) further along the strip of reeds?

I could now hear voices in the distance.

Another movement. This time the bird perched high on top of the reeds. Bingo…
 

This bird is only found at a few sites along the Rio Grande in Texas in the whole of the United States. These were my best ever views by far…

 

 

Success at last...

 

I could now see what turned out to be a group of birders (surprise, surprise). I waved to one of them and beckoned him over. Of course the bird had disappeared. He said he would go and tell the others. They all returned a few minutes later…rather quickly! Again no sign! We all waited. It didn’t take long (c10 minutes) before we were all looking at a WCS. The bird was only in view briefly before flying off over the river to the island. 

I had a good chat with one of the group. He told me they were from Indiana and they’d been coming to the Valley for a winter break since 2003. He said they were more into butterflies these days. I told him I was strictly for the birds! They left the site and I waited for another view…hopefully.

I didn't get one as I started to think about one last shot at the Audubon's Oriole at the National Butterfly Centre. The chap from Indiana had told me he'd had great views at the feeding station...but at 8am. Cheating I know but with only a couple of hours left I couldn't be choosy!

I arrived at 10 which gave me 90 minutes. the first person  saw was the guy I'd been speaking to at Salineno!!!

Small world this Birding one. Then I got the cruncher. He told me that just after he left me his group had seen an Audubon's Oriole by the river. Oh dear!

That's Birding.

Needless to say I didn't see one here. I had a nice relaxing hour or so before returning to help Louise pack.

The Altamira did show briefly. It was into the sun but it's such a beautiful bird I thought it was worth another showing...

I counted a minimum 15 Green Jays...

I also had a brief view of a juvenile Indigo Bunting. My first sighting of the trip...

It's "only" a Great-tailed Grackle...

We set off North at 1.30.

Obviously not much to report on the journey. As you know though, there's always "something" to see. As we passed the Oil Refinery at Three Rivers I noticed a decent number of Vultures circling the plant. I pulled over and had a quick scan. A conservative estimate would be 1000...

The sun was setting fast when I noticed a "different" shape on a telegraph pole. One I had definitely been hoping for...

Great Horned Owl

I manoeuvred the car closer...

It was 5.40pm now. I was hoping it would spin it's head around. It did...

Wowser...as they say over here!

Definitely up there for sighting of the trip! I also saw a silhouetted Barred Owl around 6.

This morning (Sunday) I searched in vain for McCown's Longspur in the farmland around Granger Lake east of Austin.

Off to Galveston now.

Trip list 161

Stay tuned...

Texas 17 - Day 16

The question is...does White-collared Seedeater really exist?

We were back at Salineno for 8am this morning. I reckoned my best chance for Audubon's Oriole was early at the feeding station. Bad move!!!

No sign by 9.15 although I did add Olive Sparrow...

Just one snap shot managed of this VERY secretive species.

White-tipped Doves also showed...

Another shy species that prefers to walk rather than fly?!

Then another birder appeared. He seemed excited. "I've just seen WCS" he exclaimed! Of course he had full frame pics. Of course they exist...I just can't find them. I spent the rest of the day proving this theory.

I left the feeding station immediately and patrolled the riverbank...again...

There's worse places to be.

The birder joined me and showed me the spot he'd seen them at...which was good of him. He had two Chihuahuas, one was a nervous youngster. He'd taken them as his own as they'd been abandoned. A lovely thing to do. No joy but  did connect with my first Verdin of the trip. I saw a tiny bird zip across in front of me and land briefly in a bush. A bins view then an attempt with the camera...

Just sneaked a confirmation top right.

We left the area at 12 and headed for Zapata for a Subway lunch.

I tried a couple of spots recommended n the guides but they didn't work out so I returned to San Ygnacio for another stint...

I wondered if this was the same Roadrunner as the other day. It saw me coming...

Always good value. I got another brief glimpse later...

Got to stop cutting their tails off!

Of course I was bound to see another Verdin. You can just see a hint of the reddish-brown shoulder patch.

So after another 5 hours effort, still no WCS.

We head North tomorrow with a stop over at Taylor which is east of Austin. I'll be trying for McCown's Longspur first thing on Sunday around Grainger Lake. Then it's on to Galveston...

Trip list 157

Stay tuned...

Texas 17 - Day 15

Today was just an ideal one. Great weather (low 70's) and some excellent birds seen at an iconic site...namely Santa Ana NWR. The jewel in the crown.

Ever since my first visit in 2000 I've loved this reserve. I've always preferred natural habitat and this reserve is just that. Right on the border including the Rio Grande and a series of Resaca's. I had two sessions of 2 hours split by a Starbuck's lunch due to it being Thanksgiving.

The morning session had me working the western areas looking for warblers. All I could find was a couple of Orange-crowned...

Add caption

The birds were very difficult to get "on" despite the vegetation not being very thick. I was hoping for a Black and White...but it wasn't to be.

As I was making my way to the area I remembered where I'd seen a Pauraque last year. I wondered if I could find the spot again? I'd just been chatting to this couple from California and had mentioned it to them. I walked around 40 yards and the area was exactly the same! I started to scan with my bins...and there it (or another) was!!!

I told the couple and they enjoyed great views of the bird with me. The camouflage is simply amazing.

I finally added Least Grebe tot he trip list...

Only found in coastal southern Texas it's a shy species. There were at least a dozen tucked in against the reeds.

After lunch we returned and  headed east this time to Pintail Lakes. I added a few more ticks...Ruddy Duck, Canvasback...

and a surprise female Bufflehead...

A first-winter White-faced Ibis was a nice find amongst the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks...

I reckon I saw at least 15 Kiskadees including 6 in one bush. A very gregarious species. Here's one of them...

When I first started coming to America I remember seeing this next bird at Neal's Lodges, another fantastic Texas Birding venue. I got to know the late June Osborne quite well. She loved this bird...



Vermilion Flycatcher

There were two stunning males present but they kept their distance...unfortunately!

t was time to leave now as I wanted to try for the Parrots at their roost sites n McAllen. Red-crowned first. I had two fly-overs at distance. Not what  was after but pleased to pick them out. Amazingly I found my first American Goldfinch of the trip feeding as I waited...

Another big surprise was the discovery of at least 6 Clay-coloured Thrushes!! If you remember I'd seen two at Quinta Mazatlan but these records were a BIG surprise...at least to me...

The sun was setting fast and we were late arriving at the Green Parakeet site...in fact I'm not sure we found it! f you were following last year you'll remember I had great views at Kohl's. Not to be this time. Never mind.

Just kidding about the VF...I did manage a better view. I'm sure June would have approved...

Trip total 152

Stay tuned...