Back East

Had a fantastic time out West. Finally connected with my "life" Gray Vireo at Blue Creek Canyon, Big Bend. Also saw Phainopepla



Pyrrhuloxia...



and the superb Varied Bunting...



A truly special place were you definitely get away from it all! It took us 90 minutes to drive from Alpine into the park. We packed it in to a full day. Really you need at least 3 to do it justice...but not this time. We also spent the previous afternoon in the Davis Mountains enjoying the mountain air and a good selection of species.

So, the final chapter now. 3 days along the coast based back here in Galveston. Hoping to catch up with a few more species I haven't seen in this Birding paradise of a state. Namely Bay-breasted, Mourning and Cape May Warblers plus Bobolink.

Really though that's the icing on the cake. For me it's just about enjoying the birds, Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsular.

STOP PRESS: A Masked Duck...
 

has just been found at Sabal Palms in southernmost Texas!!! I was there last week. That would have been another Lifer. My luck continues! Another "Nemesis" bird. Second time I've missed this bird.
I don't think I could convince Louise to travel the length of Texas for that one!

Never mind!?

That's all for now...

Success!

Connected with the R.C.Warbler (Texas tick) with the help of some British birders!

Also saw Black-capped Vireo...



Davis Mountains tomorrow...then Big Bend...and hopefully...GRAY VIREO!!!!

Fall out...again!!!

Experienced my second fall out on South Padre Island on Wednesday. I had Warblers Vireos Orioles and Tanagers flying all around me at very close quarters. One of which was my Texas Philadelphia Vireo...

 

Also managed to find a nest site for Aplomado Falcon...



Not countable as the re-introduction scheme is still progressing but what a bird!

Heading over to Big Bend now via the Hill Country. Trying for another Texas tick today in the form of Rufous-capped Warbler...



I'm aware of what I've missed back home in Yorkshire. How's your luck!! 3 ticks in two weeks. However, I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing...

Sabal Palms

Great morning at this superb reserve on the border. Managed to see the Crimson-collared Grosbeak...



...plus Altamira



and Hooded Orioles...



amongst others. Quality birds!

Looked for the Aplomado Falcon this afternoon with no luck. Did see more great birds though including excellent views of White-tailed Hawk...




More Valley Birding tomorrow with a visit to Santa Ana and Bentson...

Raptor fest

Spent yesterday driving from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande Valley. Finally obtained great views of White-tailed Hawk...

Late afternoon had us down at Laguna Atacosa. Too late for the bay drive but had superb close views of Harris Hawks (3)...



...and an Osprey.

Sabal Palms on "the border" this morning...

Update

Reached Corpus Christi having had a great "FALL OUT" day at Sabine Woods. Great to experience the woods full of birds. 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoos in one small sapling probably sums it up best!

Today was spent visiting the area migrant traps...very impressed. Paradise Pond at Port Aransas taking the honours. I had a cracking Blackpoll Warbler making it's way towards me at eye level, finishing up some 12 feet from my camera!!

Managed to find a "white morph' Reddish Egret on North Padre Island...





Out at dawn tomorrow to sample more of these superb spots on the coast. Maybe I'll get my Cape May?

We then leave for the Valley...

Bird of the Day

Another marvelous day on Galveston Island. Spent some time with this cracker...

Reddish Egret canopy hunting!

New Hotspot...at least for me!

As mentioned, I Birded Galveston Island yesterday. Not a bad way to spend the day! Had great views of many species. Spent a couple of hours at Lafitte's Cove which is a small wood in the middle of some very expensive property!

I got talking to an Texas birder who very quickly convinced me that this little spot can rival High Island for species and gives far more scope to "find your own". As we were talking I picked up a Black-billed Cuckoo and obtained some great pics...

Remember, not my photos!

 I did get the red eye lining!


I will return.


Staying here again today, then over to High Island tomorrow for a full day on the Bolivar after the front passes through.


Stay tuned...

Galveston Island

Spent the afternoon down at East beach, Galveston after checking into the Best Western.

Fantastic close views of Black Skimmers...




Brilliant bird.

Also blown away by the Brown Pelicans floating past our balcony...



Almost pre-historic! Most species are very approaachable and I'll post a few pics on return.

Birding Galveston Island today. Here's a sample of what can be seen at a migrant trap at this time of year. Not bad!!!

Off to a Flyer!!

Spent the morning at Anahuac and connected immediately with the Reeve (even managed some pics). I like to think I got the ID correct having watched them down the road at Duff for many years. I was even able to help some US birders pick it out. Showing well and close were a group of cracking Hudsonian Godwits (10). Really smart spot the Sillern Tract of Anahuac.

These sightings take my Texas list to 436 and my ABA to 657. Not bad for a foreigner!

Acting on information off Ebird we had a ride up to Crosby east of Houston in the afternoon. The target as mentioned...Swallow-tailed Kite. The visit turned out far better than I could ever have imagined. To cut a long story short (there's Birding to be done) I spent an hour watching three birds circling at close quarters allowing me to get some great photos. Has to be one of my favourite species.

A brilliant first day...will take some beating to be honest...but I''ll be trying my best!!!

Birding on Galveston Island today.

On the way...



Hoping for some big action Thursday/Friday. Not too severe for the birds crossing the Gulf though...Just a nice fall...Oh, and no tornadoes locally!!!

Unlucky...no way!

Just woke after a loooooooooooooooong journey. Louise is titivating so I've time to write an initial holiday blog post. Texted my son to wish him happy birthday...is he really 28!!!

I then received a MEGA text from RBA informing me of a BAIKAL TEAL at Flamboro'!!! Rather unfortunate timing ...for me. This has happened before   BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER, STILT SAND for example. Would I swap it for 3 weeks in Texas? What do you think!

Good news...bad weather on Thursday! So I've changed our itinerary and we're staying NE for the first week. I've always wanted to experience a good "fall". Hopefully I will this time.

Target bird today...amongst others...

Swallow-tailed Kite

Say no more...what a bird!!!

I will obviously be taking plenty of photos but I won't be posting them on the blog for various reasons, the main one being time. I will do a trip review on return...not to long I promise! For now though I'll post images from the web just to liven up the posts.

Wish me luck...


Stop press...yesterday. An ABA Lifer and 2 Texas ticks...


For those lucky enough to go on our shorebird tour today, a great ABA bird was on hand. At Skillern Tract (part of Anahuac NWR) a female RUFF (Reeve) was found foraging in a wet grassy field with hundreds of other shorebirds included 21, first of the season, HUDSONIAN GODWITS! This field is the first wet field on your left as you turn off of road 1985. Other shorebirds in the field include; STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (2 fly-bys), WILSON’S PHALAROPE, DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GREATER & LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and even a WHIMBREL, an incredible number of shorebirds for a single field. Across the road many FULVOUS-WHISTLING DUCKS sounded like rubber ducks while foraging in the marsh.


As previously posted...you can follow sightings from High Island here

Great send off!

Last British Birding before take-off Sunday morning. Unfortunately viewing was limited due to patchy fog, on the other hand...grounded migrants?

First evidence was down at Sammy's Point in the form of a mixed flock of Winter thrushes...now in summer plumage...

News came over the radio of a Ring Ouzel, but I couldn't find it (as usual).

Back home for lunch and packing.

My last session. So back down to Sammy's for another go. As I drove along the lane approaching the car park I spotted a large lone thrush perched in the top of a bush. Could it be...yes it could...


S.83, P.109

A bit of stalking allowed a closer look...



I was soon joined by Ian Smith, his wife and Andy Roadhouse. I told them I'd just had a sighting and we continued down the floodbank. A few moments later we were all looking at 2 in the same bush, albeit briefly. Always gives me a buzz to find this elusive species.

So that's that. I started to head home and had just passed the Gas Terminal when I just made out a crackling message over the radio..."Hawfinch, Crown and Anchor car park". A few minutes later I was in position. Brief flight views were obtained in the fading light, then it disappeared. Luckily another birder picked it up in Kew Villa...


S.84, P110

That's it then. I'll try and post from Texas...when I'm not Birding!

A taste of things to come

http://www.birdinghighisland.com/birdsnew.htm

A good session

Amazingly I remembered to take my camera to work! So, I was able to pop out at lunchtime and see if the new arrivals were present...they were...

A couple of observations. They were very flighty and very aware of my presence. They were however dominant over the Herring Gulls, chasing them of at regular intervals. I'll be keeping an eye on things as the breeding season progresses.

A couple more efforts showing their streamline jizz...

...just one more showing their swan-like necks!

Really chuffed (in case you hadn't noticed) that they are on territory opposite the Depot.

Onto Kilnsea and a walk up to Beacon Ponds. As I turned the corner towards the hide I noticed the Brent flock in the adjacent field...

I wonder if I can pick out the Black Brant?

Yes I can...

Funny, in that I'd looked at the group many times and found it briefly once. Today it seemed to stick out like a sore thumb amongst the c500! Very smart.

Still distinctive...

Finished off with a quick look on the ponds where the Long-tailed Duck was a tad nearer...

Thoughts turning very much to Texas now...

Most overlooked?

Some species on the British List seem to almost blend into the background...at least to me. They're there   but they don't catch the attention. 

As I turned up for work this morning I was alerted to a Gull cry. I have to admit I'm not a devotee of this family...a larophile? Still, I looked up at the chimney stack and there...clean, crisp and elegant were a pair of these...


Lesser-Black-backed Gull (P.108)

This is a beautiful gull!

They are obviously on territory. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow...

Kite...flying high!

Had an hour down Sammy's before work. Turned out to be a good decision. The lad and I were walking down the flood bank behind another birder when news came over the radio..."Red Kite (S.82) over the Humber". Obviously being relayed by the afore mentioned. I quick look out into the estuary and I was looking at another Spurn Lifer (259)!

I decided to try and get a closer look from Long Bank but I didn't see it again. I did however bump into my pal Vince and his mate who were looking at the Black Brant. Unfortunately as I looked through his scope the flock took off! I then had to go...

Fruitful evening

Managed an hour down at Kilnsea Wetlands before dusk. It proved to be a good decision. I first checked Long Bank Marsh hoping for an Avocet or two! It wasn't to be, so I moved on to the car park.

As I got out of the car I could see two Avocets close to the hide. Unfortunately when I reached it they were nowhere to be seen. Probably my size elevens! I decided to sit it out for a while hoping they would return. It was a lovely evening with little wind...yes, little wind. A Barn Owl soon appeared...

After watching this superb bird hunting for a while...sure enough the two Avocets returned, not as close, but close enough...


not bad at 60yds and 7.25pm

They hung around for 5 minutes then flew off to Beacon Ponds. On my way back to the car I had brief views of a Black Redstart! Possibly the same bird I saw on the 28th March?

As I drove home I caught sight of a lump in a bush at Out Newton...


7.50 pm



(Another) Spurn Lifer!

Tried the clifftop this afternoon hoping for a local Wheatear but no luck. Pleasant walk with Bud though. The Sand Martin cliff face at Old Hive is no more and will need serious attention when they hopefully return?

Next down to Kilnsea Wetlands. Not much happening here so onto Beacon Ponds. A Grey Heron (S.80)was a nice surprise...

The Long-tailed Duck is still present and looking well. Unfortunately it was too distant for a pic. Plenty of Brents around...

News came over the radio that the Little Owl (S.81) at the back of Steve Exley's house was showing. Not wanting to intrude I tried to get a view from along the road but no joy. Then I spotted Steve putting his bin out and asked him if I could have a peep. I was soon looking at the Owl through Steve's 'scope...cheers pal! This was my first record of this species for Spurn!

On the way back to Holmpton I noticed quite a few Hares enjoying the evening sunshine...



I finished off with a quick run down Snakey Lane. No Barn Owls but lucked in with these three Corn Buntings in a distant bush, one was singing...

Forecast briefly promising for the next couple of days before the Easterlies return. Hopefully a rush of migrants for the weekend?

Wheatear!



Nice male

Only in view for a few moments but an iconic sighting of my first migrant of the year...after a lousy winter! (P.107, S.79). My earliest ever record was 18/3/90. The other noteworthy sighting on a lovely evening was a Rook (S.80) coming in off the sea. Only my third record.

Glorious...well nearly!

At the risk of repetition regarding the weather...this afternoon was superb locally. The wind is still in the east but not as strong...and SUNSHINE!!!

Spent a pleasant couple of hours down at Sammy's Point this afternoon...


Taking it easy after my early start this morning. Felt good.

As I walked down the floodbank I was alerted by the sudden movement of Waders. In text book style...a Merlin...

Always a good day when this species is found.

This was followed shortly afterwards by my first Grey Wagtail (P.106, S.78) of the year heading towards Kilnsea.

Finished off at Skeffling. The Pintail flock were also taking it easy in the afternoon sun...

Interestingly (at least to me) a second Grey Wagtail flew as the first did.

Quiet and Cold...still

Looked for inspiration locally today but it was hard to find . The incessant east wind is really starting to grate.

An hours sea-watch off the cliff produced very little but I did add Bar-tailed Godwit (H.56) and Guillemot (H.57) to the village year list. Generally though the sea is very quiet, bird wise.

Sadly,the cliff-top ponds days are numbered...



Still a few groups of Pintail around at Kilnsea Wetlands and Skeffling.

Lapwings are pairing up and allowing close views as they have their minds on other things...