* Texas
* Statewide
* March 18, 1999
* TXST9903.18
- Birds mentioned
PACIFIC LOON
RED-THROATED LOON*
LEAST GREBE
ANHINGA
SWAINSON’S HAWK
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
PECTORAL SANPIPER
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
CALIFORNIA GULL*
GLAUCOUS GULL
BLACK-TAILED GULL*
KELP GULL*
WHIP-POOR-WILL
BLACK-CAPPED VIREO
RED-THROATED PIPIT*
BLACK-AND WHITE WARBLER
HOODED WARBLER
WORM-EATING WARBLER
PRAIRIE WARBLER
GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER
HERMIT WARBLER
TROPICAL PARULA
BLUE BUNTING*
DICKCISSEL
- Transcript
Number: (713) 369-9673
Sighting Reports: (281) 992-2757
WWW: http://texasbirding.simplenet.com/rba.htm
Compiler: John O'Brien,
mailto:johnobrien@eye.med.uth.tmc.edu
Andrew Hamlett, mailto:Bachwblr@aol.com
Coverage: Texas Statewide
Transcriber: David Sarkozi, mailto:dsarkozi@flash.net
Thank you for calling the Texas Rare Bird Alert, sponsored
by the Houston Audubon Society. This recording was made
Thursday, March 18 at 8:30 p.m. To report your bird
sightings please call 281-992-2757.
Highlights of today’s tape are: RED-THROATED LOON, BLACK-
TAILED GULL, KELP GULL (hybrid), and BLUE BUNTING, plus many
new migrants.
The cold front last weekend brought the first migrant
fallout of the season to coastal locations, as well as
sightings of a number of interesting wintering birds. On
Galveston Is., a large loon flock seen in Offut’s Bayou on
the 14th produced 2 PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica) and a RED-
THROATED LOON* (Gavia stellata). From I-45, take the first
exit onto the frontage road after crossing the bridge onto
Galveston Is. and approach the bayou from the small road
after the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The same day at East
Beach, on the east end of Galveston, a 2nd winter CALIFORNIA
GULL* (Larus californicus) and a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL
(Larus hyperboreus) were seen. A GLAUCOUS GULL was also
been seen at the Bolivar flats.
In Brazoria Co., a LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) was
seen in moccasin pond at San Bernard NWR on the 15th, and a
dark morph SWAINSON’S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) was seen flying
over Brazosport on the 14th. Another product of the cold
front, an interesting pipit, identified as a possible RED-
THROATED PIPIT* (Anthus cervinus), was well seen and
photographed on Quintana beach on the 15th.
The Sylvan Beach hawk watch in La Porte, Galveston Co., has
begun to count raptors. A SWAINSON’S HAWK was noted this
week, as were 131 ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) on March 16.
In the Houston area, many migrant landbirds are showing up
in backyards and parks. Reported from several areas this
week were yet more early DICKCISSEL (Spiza americana),
NORTHERN PARULA (Parula americana), BLACK-AND WHITE WARBLER
(Mniotilta varia), and HOODED WARBLER (Wilsonia citrina),
and a WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorus) was seen
near Rice University on the 15th. Migrants at Russ Pittman
park in Bellaire on the 14th include WHIP-POOR-WILL
(Caprimulgus vociferus), and many of the same warblers. In
contrast to these new arrivals, some wintering birds are
still present. The PRAIRIE WARBLER first seen at the Texas
Medical Center in early November was seen again Tuesday,
March 16th.
GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER (Dendroica chrysoparia) have returned
to their breeding locations in the Edwards Plateau,
including Emma Long Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt in
the Austin area, the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area of
Ft. Hood in Bell Co., and Meridian State Park in Bosque Co.
Also seen this week were very early arriving BLACK-CAPPED
VIREO (Vireo atricapillus) on Manning Mt. in Fort Hood on
the 16th.
Not to be outdone, migrant shorebirds have made a good
appearance along the coast and in inland wet spots
throughout the state. Recent reports include reasonable
numbers of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica),
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus), and both
yellowlegs, as well as a few PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris
melanotos), and BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii).
Finally, in the Rio Grande valley, the BLACK-TAILED GULL*
(Larus crassirostris) at the Brownsville landfill continues
to be seen through March 18th. In addition, the apparent
KELP GULL* (Larus dominicanus)/ HERRING GULL (Larus
argentatus) hybrid has also been seen, though with less
frequency through the 16th. The hawkwatch at Santa Ana NWR
reports two ZONE-TAILED HAWK on the 14th. Another ZONE-
TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) has been seen at Anzalduas
Co. park the 14th and 15th, along with the HERMIT WARBLER
(Dendroica occidentalis) and two TROPICAL PARULA (Parula
pitiayumi). Most of these birds are being seen near the
restrooms and boat launch. At Bentsen State Park, the
female BLUE BUNTING* (Cyanocompsa parellina) continues in
the vicinity of site #18 through the 14th. For reports of
other Rio Grande Valley specialties, please call the Rio
Grande Valley hotline at 956-969-2731.
Thank you for calling and good birding!
- End Transcript
* Denotes Texas Review Species, sighting reports should be
sent to the Texas Bird Records Committee, Greg Lasley, 305
Loganberry Court, Austin, TX 78745-6527, contact Greg Lasley
(mailto:glasley@earthlink.net)
David Sarkozi, WB5N mailto:dsarkozi@flash.net
Houston, TX
(713) 520-5906
See my webpage, Birds of the Upper Texas Coast
http://texasbirding.simplenet.com/
See the Texas Online Clearinghouse at
http://www.flash.net/~dsarkozi/