Bird-Notes

Getting #330 was Ruff

2011-11-14T09:58:00.001-08:00

It was like a a scene from the movie "The Big Year": a crowd of eighteen birders, the viewing platform a forest of scopes, a cacophony of clicking camera shutters. The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) is a shorebird common in Eurasia, but very rare on the Gulf Coast. The local Internet bird "alerts" had just announced the Ruff's presence at a nearby county park (El Franco Lee Park) and the birding crowd descended on this location.

The male Ruff is quite a spectacular shorebird when it is is in breeding plumage (see here) on its nesting grounds. However, the one we saw was a relatively plain, immature bird. It stayed at a distance, and I managed only a poor photo. (See a better photo of the same bird here.)

The Ruff is facing right, in the center of the lower half of the photo, feeding behind the marsh grass stubble, below the Cattle Egrets.

The Ruff is species number 330 on our "life list". As we have gone through the more easily seen species, it is necessary to chase these more rare and elusive species. This year we have added only about 20 species to the list. Our first year keeping the list, five years ago, we tallied over 100 species (see "Keeping Score").

Although it is fun to pursue rarities, we mostly enjoy watching "old friends" among the birds, like the Cattle Egrets in the photo. Sometimes we see some new and interesting behavior. As we watched them here, I noticed that, as they prepared to strike, the head and neck would wriggle left and right in a snake-like movement. I presume this was to get a range on the prey.

Surely you're joking (The Big Year)

2011-10-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

A movie based on a true story about birding... The only profanity a few "damn" and "hell"... The "hottest" sex scene involves two Bald Eagles... A "moral" in the end... Who could believe such a movie could be made by a major studio today. Well, "The Big Year" is that movie, unlikely as it may seem.

We went to see it yesterday, the first time inside a theater in a decade. We really had a good time. Of course, we are birders ourselves, but I think it would appeal to any adult not automatically put off by the "R" rating. (Audubon Review (a birders perspective), NY Times Review (a non-birder's view)

Loggerhead Shrike, Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Oyster Creek, TX 10/16/2011. The habits of the Loggerhead Shrike (see photo to the right) are used as a metaphore for certain human behavior in the movie.

There is some license taken with the actual locations (much of the High Island scenes were photographed elsewhere) and other details. But, it is overall a remarkably accurate portrayal of birding. A non-birder might even think that characters like "Annie Awklet" or the helicopter scenes were made up. But, there is actually a woman pelagic birding tour operator who has legally changed her name to that of a bird. The helicopter bird chase was an actual event in the true story.

It is a comedy but not a kid's movie. The story is based on the conflict between a competitive obsession and the rest of the things that give meaning to life.

Hummer Fall Feeding Frenzy

2011-10-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago we arrived back in Seabrook, TX after spending the summer in Maine. We put out a couple of hummingbird feeders, and within less than an hour several birds had discovered it.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at feeder on our apartment balcony in Seabrook, TX 10/09/2011.

Within a couple of days we had at times a dozen birds buzzing around the three feeders on our small 2nd floor balcony. Just as dawn is breaking they appear in large numbers and feed together relatively peacefully. Later in the day, they are apparently somewhat satiated, and spend more time chasing each other.

In the past we have never seen so many at one time. I wonder if the drought this year is forcing them to search urban/suburban locations for adequate food to make their fall migration.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting at a feeder on apartment balcony, Seabrook, TX 10/08/2011

As the feeders are on a north-facing covered balcony, the lighting is not great for high speed photography of these quick little birds. Using high ISO values is necessary, which results in more noise (grainy appearance) than I would like.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird landing at a feeder on apartment balcony, Seabrook, TX 10/08/2011

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting at feeder on apartment balcony, Seabrook, TX 10/08/2011

Most appear to be females. I have noticed only one with a partial ruby throat - perhaps an immature male.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting at feeder on apartment balcony, Seabrook, TX 10/08/2011. This may be an immature male - note partial ruby throat.

They are now consuming over a cup per day of sugar solution (4 parts water: 1 part pure cane sugar - nothing else). We hope this helps them have a successful flight to Mexico. Many go direct 600 mi. across the gulf.

Birding from the boat in Maine

2011-08-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

As you may know we spend a few months sailing and living on our boat in Maine (See our sailing blog). One of the joys of this life is to see many birds that would rarely be seen from land.

Wilson's Storm Petrels are quite common in more open waters. They are, however, difficult to photograph as they are fast and don't allow a close approach. (This photo is heavily cropped from a 400mm telephoto shot.)

An osprey overhead at sunset in Tennants Harbor, ME. Although Ospreys are generally found near land we see many of them in the anchorages we frequent.

This Razorbill (awk) was part of a flock of eleven we found while crossing east Penobscot Bay.

Common Terns are, as the name suggests, fairly common. This one was photographed at Eastern Egg Rock in Muscongus Bay.

Black Guillemots are also quite common even in relatively busy harbors like Rockland. This one was photographed in flight near Eastern Egg Rock, Muscongus Bay, ME.

Laughing Gulls are relatively uncommon here in Maine where Herring Gulls predominate (unlike the TX coast). They seem to be more common on the more remote rocks and islands. This one was photographed near Eastern Egg Rock, Muscongus Bay, ME

Puffins have been re-established at Eastern Egg Rock, Muscongus Bay, ME (see the Puffin Project page). Last year and this we have been fortunate to see many of them when we sail by Eastern Egg Rock. They actually seem to be more approachable than the other seabirds we see. Although the re-establishment of this breeding colony has been successful, the unfortunate part is that it is apparently not sustainable without human intervention to reduce predation by gulls. The gulls probably prosper in more than "natural" numbers on food sources inadvertently provided by humans.

An Earth Day Nature Photo

2011-04-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

This photo of a Great Egret and its chicks was taken yesterday (April 21) at the Houston Audubon, Smith Oaks Sanctuary in High Island, TX.

Unfortunately, the future health of the environment for these chicks seems much less certain than 40 years ago on the first Earth Day. At that time, there was rising environmental awareness and positive activism. Today enthusiasm for protecting the environment seems to have waned in the broader public.

Over the years there have been successes in protecting some portions of the environment. However, we seem to be unable to slow the "human glacier" of development, causing inexorable habitat destruction. Man-made environmental disasters such as the Gulf oil spill and Japanese nuclear reactor meltdowns reach ever greater magnitude.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Rare, Beautiful, #320

2011-02-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) is a very rare bird in the US and Canada, although it is fairly common in South and Central America. Its striking color pattern and very long tail feathers make it relatively easy to identify.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher just landing on a shrub at Galveston State Park, TX 01/31/2011.

This bird was not at all shy, performing aerial acrobatics and perching in the open within a few feet of the crowd of birders that gathered yesterday to see this rarity at Galveston State Park. However, low clouds and fog made photography challenging even as the bird cooperated.

One subspecies of this bird migrates to southern South America to breed in the Austral Summer and returns to the tropics during the southern hemisphere winter (the reverse of our neotropical migrants). Most authorities (at least the ones I have read) suggest that these birds arrive in the US by some error in migratory navigation.

Whatever the reason for its appearance, this flycatcher makes a particularly interesting addition to our "Life List" as bird number 320.

Keeping Score: The List Passes 310

2010-12-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

We recently added the 310th bird species to our "Life List", a Wilson's Snipe.

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) at San Bernard NWR, Brazoria, TX 12/04/2010.

(For those who are not birders: a "Life List" is a cumulative list of all the bird species seen over one's lifetime - link to our "list").

About three years ago when we became more serious about birding and began to keep a Life List, we also discovered eBird. Basically, it is an on-line list-keeping database (more about eBird here) from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In addition to keeping a personal list, our daily birding "checklists", along with many others, are provided to scientists studying bird distributions.

As casual bird watchers we have seen a few other species before starting the eBird list. But, we did not document place and time for these. So our eBird "Life List" really only includes species seen in the past three years.

The list grew rather quickly at first with easily seen and readily identified birds. The first 100 species took only a couple of months, the first 200 about a year. However, as the "easy" birds have been added, new ones have been added more and more slowly, as you can see in this plot.

Growth of the number of bird species on our Life List with time.

To add new species, we have had to learn to identify the more elusive birds on our home turf, and/or travel to new localities.
Our total is approximately 30% of the total number of bird species ever reported on eBird for the continental US and Canada including Alaska (the ABA Area), and we are getting close to listing half of the species ever reported for Texas. (Actually, we have 45.8% - one of the neat statistics that you get on eBird.)

Update: Our 311th species, American Bittern.

American Bittern, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria, TX 12/9/2010

This is normally a rather elusive bird, but we found this one in the open along the Moccasin Pond Auto loop.

Listing can itself become an obsession (to be the subject of another post). However, we hope that we can avoid this and that we will continue to see our list as only one aspect of learning more about birds in nature.

On the Water: "Offshore" Birds

2010-12-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

For the past four years, we have spent the summer sailing and living aboard our sailboat on the Maine coast (our sailing blog). Although we rarely go more than 5 miles from the nearest land, we do get a chance to see some of the more pelagic species around the outer islands like Eastern Egg Rock.

SW End of Eastern Egg Rock, Muscongus Bay, ME

Eastern Egg Rock is a treeless 7-acre island located in outer Muscongus Bay, 6 miles east of New Harbor, ME. Since 1973 it has been the site of the Audubon Society's "Project Puffin ", which has reestablished a breeding colony of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica). In July we sailed by the island, and were lucky to have great conditions for seeing and photographing puffins.

Atlantic Puffins at Eastern Egg Rock

The reestablishment of a breeding colony of Puffins on Eastern Egg Rock, has been a great success. But, it has required a large expenditure of hard work over many years. Habitat destruction continues elsewhere, and restoration efforts such as Project Puffin, valuable as they are, cannot keep pace.

There are a few other unusual pelagic birds we also saw at Eastern Eg Rock, such as this Razorbill (Alca torda) a large Auk.

Razorbill on Eastern Egg Rock, July 2010 (long distance, cropped photo )

Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) are also abundant there. They are relatively small (pigeon sized) and black in breeding plumage, but molt to a white/gray color in the Fall. Unlike the Puffins and Razorbill, the Guillemots prefer to forage in shallower inshore waters. It seems to us that they are more numerous this year, especially in more "developed" harbors where we had not seen them before such as Rockland.

Black Guillemot

They have an interesting way of alternating looking around above the surface for a minute or so, alternating with putting their head under water to look around below the surface.

Black Guillemot looking below.

Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) are also relatively small birds that breed in Antarctica and nearby islands during the southern hemisphere summer (our winter). They spend the rest of the time at sea coming as far north as Maine in summer, where they are fairly numerous. At least, we see them nearly every day when we are offshore.

Wilson's Storm Petrel showing the distinctive white rump.

Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) are also often seen when we are offshore. However, the dark colored immature Gannets seem to be the ones most often seen in the coastal waters we normally travel. This one (seen near Seguin Island) has nearly molted to the white adult plumage.

Northern Gannet near Seguin Island, ME

In the bays and harbors, we commonly see many other water birds, such as cormorants, various ducks and geese, herons, Ospreys, and quite often Bald Eagles. I'll show some of them in other posts.

On the Road: New England Marshes

2010-09-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

We had heard a great deal about the birding at Plum Island, MA in the Parker River NWR on Ray Brown's "Talkin' Birds" radio show (available on the Internet). This refuge was only a few miles from our route to Maine on I-95, so we visited for a few hours. Here also the birds were involved in breeding activity. Most were common birds we see as migrants in TX (see Bird Lists at end of post), such as the abundant yellow warblers. However, as migrants in TX they are not singing as they were here.

Yellow Warbler singing in plum tree at Parker River NWR.

This Red-winged Black-bird with red epallett fully exposed appeared to be challenging me as I entered his territory along the marsh boardwalk.

Red-winged Blackbird, Parker River NWR.

Eastern Towhee, Parker River NWR.

We used to have many Towhees in our yard when we lived in Georgia, but we have not seen them in Texas, so these were a first for our eBird list.

Gadwall, Parker River NWR.

There were the usual ducks and geese.

Canada Geese with goslings, Parker River NWR.

After we arrived in Maine and were working on the boat, we took a day off and went birding at the Scarborough Marsh (near Portland, ME). Here again most of the birds were familiar. These salt marshes are similar to those on the Gulf Coast, except for the tides of 10' and the occasional Harbor Seal swimming in the tidal creeks.

Song Sparrow, Scarborough Marsh, ME

Both Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets are abundant at Scarborough Marsh.

Great Egret, Scarborough Marsh, ME.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow and Nelson's Sharp Tail Sparrow are "target" birds at Scarborough Marsh where their breeding ranges overlap. They are quite similar in appearance, but have distinctive songs which we could identify (thanks to recordings on our iPod). These were both "life" birds for us. Unfortunately, they were elusive and difficult to photograph.

Saltmarsh Sparrow, Scarborough Marsh, ME.

NE Marshes Bird Lists -

Parker River NWR

Canada Goose,10
Gadwall,3
American Black Duck,1
Double-crested Cormorant,2
Great Egret,4
Osprey,1
Willet,3
Herring Gull,6
Common Tern,2
Mourning Dove,2
Eastern Kingbird,2
Tree Swallow,2
Wood Thrush,1
American Robin,3
Gray Catbird,2
Yellow Warbler,4

Scarborough Marsh
Double-crested Cormorant    4
Great Egret    7
Snowy Egret    19
Glossy Ibis    3
Willet    12
Herring Gull    5
Great Black-backed Gull    1
Mourning Dove    1
Belted Kingfisher    1
American Crow    1
Tree Swallow    21
Cliff Swallow    12
American Robin    1
Gray Catbird    1
Cedar Waxwing    2
Yellow Warbler    2
Common Yellowthroat    1
Nelson's Sparrow    1
Saltmarsh Sparrow    2
Song Sparrow    7
Red-winged Blackbird    20
American Goldfinch    2

On the Road: Sapsucker Woods

2010-09-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sapsucker Woods Pond wetland

Sapsucker Woods is the home of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in Ithaca, NY. Since we are "members" of the Lab and regularly submit observations to eBird their on-line checklist system we made a detour to visit the Lab on our way to Maine early this summer. The lab and building are very interesting, but the surrounding 230-acre Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary was the best part of the visit for us.

Mallard with ducklings in the wetland

As it was late spring many of the birds were raising young or beginning breeding activity.

Pond with Great Blue Heron Nest

Although they look quite natural, the ponds have been constructed. In that way this sanctuary is similar to the Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, TX (see blog post). "If you build it [a wetland] they [the birds] will come."

Close-up of the Great Blue Heron nest.

Water Lilies in Fuller Wetlands

The wetland flowers were magnificent as well.

Iris in the marsh.

American Goldfinches at a feeder seen from the building.

There were many feeders attracting birds.

Black-capped Chickadee at feeder along a trail.

Common Grackle showing blue iridescence.

And lots of birds in the woods along the trails.

Baltimore Oriole

Fuller Wetlands overlook on a morning bird walk with a staff member from the lab.

Falling Warblers and the "Human Glacier"

2010-05-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

Many species of songbirds fly non-stop 600 miles north across the Gulf of Mexico in their spring migration.

Painted Bunting, Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

In prevailing conditions, most leave the Yucatan in the evening and arrive on the Texas coast the next day. Many do not stop, but continue further north to the woods of East Texas or beyond.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Smith Oaks, High Island, TX

However, a strong cold front crossing the coast can subject the migrants to adverse headwinds and turbulence. The exhausted birds "fall out" on the immediate coast.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Other birders have told us about days past when birds covered the ground and filled the bushes, seemingly unaware of human and other dangers. Alan Tennant in his book On the Wing[1] gives a particularly vivid description of the "fallout" at High Island, TX and the carnage produced by speeding vehicles on the coastal highway.

Kentucky Warbler, Hooks Woods, High Island, TX

In the past three years we have enjoyed birding the spring migration at High Island, TX. But, we have seen nothing that matches the passage in Tennant's book, or the descriptions of the fallouts of past decades by other birders.

Golden-winged Warbler, Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

This Spring, there were some days when various warblers, thrushes, oreoles, etc. were relatively abundant. However, there were few days with strong cold fronts or significant northerly winds. The "good news" in this is that migrant mortality is probably lower proportionately than in the past. The "bad news" is that the few birds seen are only the remnants of once more abundant populations [2]. This is due to an overwhelming loss of habitat in breeding and in migration stop-over sites under inexorable "development". The "human glacier that now bears down on every continent of the world" in Alan Tennant's metaphor.

Yellow Warbler, , Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

[1] Tennant, Alan (2005) On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon. Anchor Books 304p. (This is a great adventure book on an radio tracking a Peregrine Falcon by light plane. The fallout of songbirds is described on p. 21-22 of the latest edition.)

[2] Cerulean Warbler populations, for instance, have fallen to less than 1/5th of what they were 40 years ago. Wood Thrush populations apparently show a long term average decline of 1.7% per year.

Cerulean Warbler (wet in "drip"), Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

Bay-breasted Warbler, Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

American Redstart, Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

Canada Warbler, , Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

Tennessee Warbler, Tropical Birding, High Island, TX

Black-and-white Warbler, , Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

Common Yellowthroat, , Boy Scout Woods, High Island, TX

Rats and Raptors - They're Back...

2010-05-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, on a Galveston Featherfest field trip, we had an exceptional opportunity to observe a White-tailed Kite hunting in the fields near the North Jetty on the Bolivar Peninsula.

These birds alternately soar while searching then hover when they see potential prey. In a short time this kite found a small rodent, made the kill and retired to the top of a piling for its meal.

Later we saw a Northern Harrier hunting in its characteristic style, flying low and slow over the marsh and shrubbery occasionally wheeling to surprise its prey.

Virtually all sign of life and most structures were wiped off the Bolivar Peninsula, by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. The 25 mile long spit that separates Galveston Bay from the Gulf, nowhere more than a few feet above sea level, was covered by 20' or more of storm surge. The winter and spring were unusually dry, with little rain to wash the salt out of soils that had been inundated with seawater.

When we spent a day on a volunteer "clean-up" effort at the Houston Audubon Bolivar Flats Sanctuary in March 2009, there were few signs of life, no insects or small animals and only a few salt tolerant bits of greenery. It seems that those raptors that hunt rodents and other small animals also were largely absent.

This spring things are different. The rodents and the raptors that prey on them are definitely back. The raptors, of course flew here. I wonder how the "rats" returned. Had they some how survived in small numbers in the debris? Had they been stowaways in loads of building materials. Or, hidden in dumpsters brought in to collect debris?

In any case, the marshes, shores and wildlife are recovering, probably better than the structures of the human community. The worst damage seems to have been inflicted by the necessity to remove debris, building materials, and millions of plastic bags from the fields and marshes.

Survival of the Species

2010-04-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

The nesting season is well underway at the "rookery" at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks Sanctuary at High Island, TX. This is an outstanding place to view several types of herons, and cormorants nesting.

The egrets are especially spectacular in breeding plumage. The long filamentous feathers (aigrettes) were nearly the cause of their extinction a century ago, as they were in demand for ladies hats. Egrets were slaughtered on the breeding grounds for these feathers.

The Great Egrets are most numerous and well into nesting. When the pairs meet at the nest they are obviously excited. In this photo you can see that they both have the small feathers on their necks elevated (hackles up), something I had not noticed before.

There are a large number of Roseate Spoonbills also at the rookery. Although most were in their spectacularly colored breeding plumage, they had not (at our last visit) begun to make nests. They seemed contend to stand around eying one another.
Although Roseate Spoonbills are beautiful at any time, in breeding plumage their heads are more strongly patterned and their tails and wing feathers more deeply colored.

The Neotropic Cormorants are also very numerous nesters in the Smith Oaks rookery. Their appearance is not so different in breeding plumage. But, they develop the fine white line of feathers that outlines the yellow throat patch. The pointed corner of this patch and the fact that it does not extend above the bill is a mark that distinguishes these from the Double-crested Cormorant.

Unfortunately, the spectacular congregation of breeding birds in the rookery of this sanctuary probably reflects the fact that each year there are fewer options for these birds. Suitable nesting habitat is bulldozed, filled, and developed. So-called wetland mitigation projects intended to offset such developments, often are a euphemism for cheap mud-holes with limited and unsuitable habitat.

The Great Egrets in the photo to the left are doing their part to insure the survival of the species. What have you done lately to help? (For us, Homo sapiens, doing what the egrets are doing doesn't count. More bodies are a big part of the problem, not the solution. )

Humingbirds and History

2010-03-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

We were not very confident that we would attract any hummingbirds to the balcony of our apartment, but a few days ago we decided to put up a feeder. To our surprise within an hour a Ruby-throated hummingbird found it. It is hard to tell how many have fed here (they look the same), but we have seen two at once.

There has been a lot of traffic to the feeder. Of course, only one will feed at a time, chasing off any other that might arrive. Since they are migrating through now, some days have more activity than others.

Ruby-throats have a special place in my memory. When I was about 9-10 years old (almost 60 years ago), we lived in the farm country of Central New York. We didn't have feeders but had lots of flowers that attracted them.

One day I found one struggling as it was tangled in a spider web in our front yard. I was able to pick it out of the web and untangle it, and after a few moments in my hand, it flew off.

I can still remember the feeling of its very rapidly beating heart. It is one of the most vivid memories that I have from my childhood.

More birds of the Rio Grande ("If you build it they will come.")

2010-03-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

We stayed in the Rio Grande Valley birding for three more days at Bentsen State Park, Santa Ana NWR, and Estero Llano Grande TX State Park (see 1st day in previous post). Low clouds and occasional mist did not diminish the birding, but limited the photo opportunities, except on the afternoon of the last day at Estero Llano Grande SP when the sun finally came out.

We took advantage of the bird walks led by park naturalists. At Bentsen SP we got good views of an olive sparrow, clay colored thrush, and the four species of dove found there as well as many other interesting birds.

(Download a complete list of birds seen by PDF).

At the Santa Ana NWR, we managed to see all three kingfishers (Belted, Ringed, and Green) in one morning's walk. We got a good view of a Hook-billed Kite flying overhead, and I was able to get a photo of this buff-bellied hummingbird (left).

Estero Llano Grande State Park was a real treat on the afternoon of our last day in the Valley. It is a relatively small refuge and was created by a restoration of agricultural land and a trailer park starting about 10 years ago. Several shallow lakes, trails, and a visitor center with a covered deck were built. (You can "fly to" to "St of TX Estero Llano Grande State Park" in Google Earth and use the historical imagery "time slider" to see the progress over these years.)

A variety of ducks were easily photographed from the deck, such as this ring-necked duck.

There were three species of Teal - the Blue-winged (left) and Green-winged Teal in the photo, as well as Cinnamon Teal, also Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, and Black-bellied whistling Duck.

The Tricolored Heron in the photo (left) was one of many wading birds, that provided entertainment for those watching from the deck.

This Long-billed Thrasher was singing loudly from the scrub vegetation behind the center, along with a Curve-billed Thrasher, several doves, and another Buff-bellied hummingbird.

I had to walk the trail to near the other end of the park to see the Common Pauraque in this photo. It was so well camouflaged in the leaf litter below a bush, that I would not have seen it if another birder had not pointed it out. These birds, relatives of the Whip-poor-will catch insects at night and sleep in hidden spots like this during the day. This was one of several new birds here for our life-list.

Doves and several kinds of sparrows were in the grass and brush along the trail.

With all the other birds one might expect an accipiter, like this Coopers Hawk, which sat on on a concrete standpipe beside the lake not far from the visitor's center.

In addition to the birds there were many turtles and a few alligators. This mammal, a nutria (introduced) is prolific in coastal Texas and probably makes good alligator food.

We found Estero to be thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing variety of birds, most of which can be seen in comfort from the deck of the vistor's center. The naturalist on duty there had a list of over 40 seen that day. Having been on a rather long bird walk that morning, Jane really enjoyed relaxing with binoculars in a chair on the deck.

It is interesting that this refuge has been so successfully "restored" from other use in relatively recent time. It certainly would be much harder to convert a Walmart and its black-topped parking lot back into bird-friendly habitat (unless you count Great-tailed Grackles that have adapted well to human environments). However, Estero Llano Grande certainly proves that "if you build [a wetland] they will come".

Birds of the Rio Grande

2010-03-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

We are spending a few days in the Rio Grande Valley visiting some of the interesting birding sites. Many of the common, but colorful birds here are not found elsewhere in the US. The Green jay is a typical example. Bright green with a blue and black head, it is spectacularly colorful. Yet here, it is as common as Blue jays elsewhere.

The Altimira oreole is another spectacular bird that comes to the feeders at the Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge.

Golden fronted woodpeckers are perhaps less common but also were easily photographed at the feeding station.

We always have fun here in the Rio Grande Valley. The first time we were here we added many species to our "life list". It is harder to find new ones now, but it is always a pleasure to watch these easy to see and spectacularly colored birds.

The valley has much in common with south Florida, a mild climate, palm trees, citrus groves, and "urban cancer" of strip malls, crowded expressways, and winter home developments. We are lucky that at least a small percentage of the original floodplain forest was saved many years ago in the National Wildlife Reserves and other sanctuaries.

The Bluebird of Happiness

2010-03-02T03:14:00.000-08:00

Some days we have experiences that inspire a cynical view of the future of Homo sapiens (see previous post). Other days the sun is shining and interesting birds magically appear in ordinary surroundings. Last Wednesday was one of the latter.

We had an hour in the late afternoon and went to a nearby park for a walk (Pine Gully Park, Seabrook, TX). At first we didn't see many birds (perhaps because we were walking into the sun). Then as we reached the boardwalk over the marsh they began to appear. The usual egrets, yellow-rumped warblers, etc.

Two special birds also showed up. The first an eastern bluebird flew in and perched on a snag in the marsh. These are not rare birds but we had never before seen one here (about one a year is reported on eBird for this location).

This has been a cool winter of wet gray days. The sighting of his bluebird did give us the feeling that Spring and cheerier days were here.

A pileated woodpecker also came flying across the marsh with characteristic scalloping trajectory, alternately stroking forward and upward then gliding like a missile with wings folded. It alighted in the sun on a telephone pole nearby. Its striking black and white pattern punctuated by the bright red crest against the deep blue sky was a spectacular sight.

When the moment is right, watching even the common Yellow-rumped warblers seems a rare treat.

Trash and Teritoriality in Homo not-so-sapiens

2010-02-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

A few days ago while birding in Pine Gully Park we found ourselves tracking a species I refer to as "Homo scrofa" (by analogy with Sus Scrofa). There was a trail of freshly discarded cans, plastic sauce containers, and paper boxes. The debris extended from the beach on Galveston bay at least a half mile through the woods and wetlands. This debris was obviously deposited purposefully - not by accident. There were several convenient, empty park trash containers along the way. We happened to have a bag with us and picked up as much as we could before being overwhelmed by the volume.

You might assume then that this was the scat of an aberrant and morally deficient band. But, some years ago I heard an explanation that may make more sense. An older colleague told me that this sort of behavior was quite natural for the genus Homo and probably coded in our genes. It is a manifestation of territoriality. As dogs pee on every post to mark their territory, humans scatter their trash. The purpose, however unconscious, is to tell others "This land belongs to me. I defile it as I please".

The more I consider the of E. O. Wilson's work on sociobiology and its application to the human species - and the longer I observe these behaviors - the greater sense this explanation makes. To a further extent than we would like to admit, we are slaves to our evolutionary instincts. It takes an extraordinary effort of free will to break these genetic behavioral shackles.

<--- Sus scrofa in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

Cattle, Egrets, and Chemicals

2010-02-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago at Robinson Park in Seabrook, TX, I was able to observe and photograph two cattle egrets in a typical behavior - accompanying a large grazing animal to catch insects, lizards, etc. disturbed by the large animal.

These birds are also interesting in that they came to South America from Africa in the late 1800's This was apparently a natural dispersal via storm winds, not the escape of an introduced species. They first appeared in Florida in the 1940's, and in the last 70 years they have spread throughout the US.

We see them here in TX near cattle and, at times, elsewhere. Their increase doesn't seem to be having a negative effect on other bird species, perhaps this feeding behavior is a niche that was not effectively filled before their arrival.

Many people associate Texas with cattle and think the abundance of cattle and these egrets quite appropriate here, even in the outskirts of Houston. Most, however, are not so aware of the enormous impact of the chemical and refining industry on Texas.

About a half hour after I photographed the cattle egrets, as we returned to our vehicle, another event occured that has become all too characteristic of coastal Texas. The ground suddenly shook, the car bounced, and a few seconds later the loud crash of a large explosion reached us. Within a minute or so, a large black cloud rose over the trees to the NW. Another chemical plant blew up; this one about 1-1/2 mile from the park. Fortunately and remarkably, no one was killed in this explosion and only two were hurt (American Acrl 09/12/2009).

Unfortunately, these incidents are not rare occurrences. We hear on the news of similar incidents in this area every few months. In 2005 as I sat at my desk at the house in San Leon, the house shook as in an earthquake, some seconds seconds later the sound of a large explosion arrived, and I looked out the window to see a black mushroom cloud rising over the BP refinery in Texas City where 15 people were killed.

However, I have come to believe that the greatest danger may not be in the big explosions, but in the day to day releases and small "incidents". According to various sources, over 22 million pounds/yr. of toxic chemicals are released in Harris County, TX (Houston area) alone. The TX coast is not only a world class birding locality, but one is never far from a major chemical plant. They are located not only in urban industrial areas like along the Houston Ship Chanel, but also in small communities and the countryside. At many coastal birding sites, the towers and flares of refineries are a familiar sight. The photo to the left is taken from a marsh along Hwy 35 in Freeport, TX.

It seems curious that we often see dirty yellow flares like this when we are birding on weekend mornings (is that when the inspectors are off duty?).

Rock Wren - Our First Rarity

2010-01-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

On Sunday January 3rd, we finally got a good look and a few photos of the rock wren that has been attracting birders to Pine Gully Park in Seabrook, TX. We often walk and bird in this park, which is near our appartment. It had been reported on eBird for several weeks, but we had missed it, and were beginning to wonder if it really existed.

Rock wrens normally live on rocky slopes, canyons, and rubble in the western mountains and deserts (Peterson, R.T., 2008, Field Guide to Birds of North America). The closest they come to our area is western Texas. The bird here in Seabrook is living and feeding in the rocky rip-rap which protects the bay front of the park from erosion. The bird was working its way in and out of the crevices and interstices in the rocks apparently feeding on invertebrates it finds there. It does not seem particularly shy and at one point was sitting on a rock within 10' of us.

We have only been birding a few years, and this is the 271st on our "life list". The rock wren is not especially rare in its normal habitats. However, This is the first time the species has been reported in Harris County, TX. It is also the first bird we have identified that is a rarity in the place where we found it, giving a little extra excitement to a new "lifer".

New Start in Blogging

2009-11-18T13:37:00.000-08:00

I am just trying out this medium for sharing some of my observations and thoughts, as well as a few images. Not quite ready for prime time, but give me a little time...