Spring is right around the corner! To whet your appetite, we're keeping the 2009 sightings on here until this season kicks in.

ARCHIVE OF 2009 DAILY BIRD SUMMARIES

May 4, 2009 " Farewell to High Island"
We will be posting an overrall summary of the High Island spring 2009 birding season for your viewing pleasure shortly. However, we just wanted to inform you that we have now packed up and left for this season, (although I am sure some great birding still persists on the Upper Texas Coast well into this month). From May 6 through May 24, we will be based out of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Crane Creek (Ohio), taking out free guided walks in conjunction with the observatory. Hopefully we will see some of you up there catching up with the migrants on the southern shore of Lake Erie, or else we will catch up with you all next year again in High Island.

May 3, 2009

Bluetastic - One of three differents BTBWs today on High Island (Sam Woods)

This was to be our final day in High Island for this spring, and so we were all hoping for great things out of it. The morning was slowburning, with no big numbers of birds, in that way pretty similar to what the rest of the week had been like. However, in among those few birds were some killer species, cool rarities to keep the weekenders happy (and us too). The "bluetastic" Black-throated Blue Warbler (male), that had been leading many of us a merry dance over the past few days, finally settled into some sort of routine and charmed the Sunday birders on-and-off throughout the day at Boy Scout Woods. Incredibly, three different individual BTBWs graced High Island today, a female in Smith Oaks early doors, and two separate groups of birders were glassing different males simultaneously in the vicinity of Prothonotary Pond in the afternoon. It has turned out to be quite a year for this handsome cobalt sprite on the Upper Texas Coast, with High Island having recorded 5 different birds during our final rarity packed week on The Dome. Continuing with the rarity theme a few Smithwalkers birding HAS Smith Oaks found at least 2, if not 3 separate Black-whiskered Vireos, that true to recent form once again went "underground" for the remainder of the day. However, Smith's other star attractions, the cool Cape Mays, continued to perform with style. For the most part the females being reliably found throughout the day (two different individuals), and some birders also enjoyed walkaway looks at a smoking hot male. Most of this all happened before the Houston Audubon morning walk was even over.

The afternoon saw a rise in migrant numbers as "Texmex" birds dropped in on The Dome in good numbers. A little flurry of birds in Boy Scout gave us the first inkling of what was to follow, when a little group containing Northern Parula, American Redstarts, Black-and-white Warbler, and a pair of Philadelphia Vireos dropped in above an ecstatic crowd that had just been feasting on one of the Black-throated Blues. Then on the walk over in Smith we were thrilled by the sight of hundreds of migrants swarming around the levee we were on. As we slowly walked along the narrow track, orange flashes greeted us regularly as American Redstarts lept out from every corner. Magnolias also received a huge afternoon boost in numbers with birds flitting across our paths continually as we walked on. The pulse of migrants once again included a heavy load of Indigo Buntings, now with many females in their midst, although a number of Painteds did not go unnoticed, especially a magnificent male that fed out on the open path in our 'scope. Everywhere we stepped we ran into migrants - dozens of Gray Catbirds flushed from our path as we raced on, and stacks of Eastern Kingbirds massed along the trail, while Rose-breasted Grosbeaks landed with a thud in the trees above, and Baltimore and Orchard Orioles chattered noisily in the trees around us. Several Acadian Flycatchers called loudly and posed for us too, although the warblers and constant migrant movement was a little too distracting to spend a lot of time with these inconspicuous guys! Larger birds were also present too, and we enjoyed some crisp looks at cuckoos, of both Yellow-billed and at least two different red-eyeringed Black-billeds as well.

With this heavy flow of migrants waving along the levee in front of us, it was no surprise to find out that warbler diversity spiked again today, as we received a late season boost to keep the May birding fans tingling with excitement at what the next few days may yield, (and have the rest of us jealously looking over our shoulders as we head off into the sunset!) By the end of the day we had totalled at least 23 species of warbler, a very respectable total at this stage of the season. Amazingly, one of the "late season specials", Bay-breasted Warbler, was not one of them, as no reports were received at all today. Some real treats turned up in the late afternoon, aside from the general spectacle of mass migration that the Upper Texas Coast is world famous for, a male Cerulean dropped in at Smith, as did a female Canada Warbler (a bird that has not yet occurred in any real numbers this year, so May could still bring a load of them in later on), and one lucky birder clapped his eyes on a FOS male Mourning Warbler sneaking through the tangled undergrowth. Other warblers of note today included Nashville, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Chesnut-sided, Ovenbird, Blackpoll, and several Protonotarys continue to sing for their property rights by their section of the levee. A couple of Golden-wingeds moving through with the "Mexican Wave" on the Smith levee caused quite a stir too.

It was a great day to end on for our season. The day began with some slick rarities to gorge on, and the afternoon continued on from this with the migrant "rush" that High Island is particularly special for, where migrants dropped in beside us fresh off the Gulf and quickly set about feeding and moving on, requiring some rapid fire binocular action. Classic UTC spring birding.

Sam Woods


May 2, 2009
It was a busy Saturday for birds and birders alike. A number of holdovers from previous days continued to show, complemented in the afternoon by plenty of new arrivals. Cape May Warblers showed well at Smith Oaks where no fewer than three were seen off and on throughout the day. Another holdover, a male Black-throated Blue Warbler at Boy Scout Woods, showed very well for a short period then performed one of its now famous disappearing acts. Another impressive disappearer, so to speak, is Smith Oaks' Black-whiskered Vireo, a much-sought but seldom-seen skulker that was beautifully photographed by the one lucky person who saw it today. But there were plenty of birds that weren't so shy, showing off for the many birders who came out to see the warblers that make High Island famous. Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Kentucky, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-throated, Prothonotary--the list goes on: twenty warbler species were seen today. A cooperative Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed off in the trees opposite the HAS kiosk, an afternoon arrival on the Yucatan Express, which also carried large numbers of rambunctious Eastern Kingbirds and another push of Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Thrushes continue to be scarce, but Swainson's, Gray-cheeked and Veery were all reported today. Vireos were also at low density today, but the brightly adorned Yellow-throated, the slightly adorned Philadelphia and the unadorned Red-eyed were all seen.

While birds are great, there is no shortage of other wildlife to be seen at the HAS High Island sanctuaries. The star mammal of High Island is undoubtedly our resident Bobcat, who is being seen daily at Smith Oaks-it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time to see the beautiful feline. On the herp front, an incredible sight today on the afternoon HAS guided walk was a Gulf coast ribbon snake, slowly devouring a frog that was much larger than its mouth!

Josh Engel

May 1, 2009

A Black Skimmer doing what it does best, skimming at Rollover Pass (Sam Woods)

As May opens "migrant junkies" often divert their attentions towards migrant traps in the northern US as it is perceived by this time the migration is winding down here on The Dome. For some species this is undoubtedly true, although May can still be an exciting time for visiting birders as just one or two found out very early on in the day, when they "sneaked" a look at a male Black-throated Blue Warbler at HAS Smith Oaks, that promptly went to ground thereafter and managed to avoid all other gazes at Smith. While we dodge the mosquitoes the star warbler did a great job of dodging many of the birders patrolling the bund. Not to be outclassed again Boy Scout bounced back after a recent period of being overshadowed by the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks sanctuary, when it got a buff Black-throated Blue male of its own, that showed to the few small groups still diligently working the woods there in the late afternoon. On top of that Boy Scout also hosted the scarce Grasshopper Sparrow that dropped in late on too. There was no time for birders to twiddle their thumbs though at Smith, as Cape Mays continued to perform around the same area, both the presumed same long-staying female, and another female too, along with a nice chestnut-patched male. So "Cape May Day" has gradually turned into "Cape May Week", and long may they continue to entertain the late season stalwarts. "Trashpolls" (Blackpoll Warblers) continue to be the most numerous warbler along the Smith Rookery levee, outnumbering all others, as Bay-breasted Warblers, that had also been a dominant and pleasing feature in recent days went through a dip in form with fewer being present today. However, orange-faced Blackburnians performed with panache, to the pleasure of many photographers and birders alike. Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Redstarts, Magnolias, and several singing male Prothonotary Warblers persisted and provided a visual feast for the trailblazers there. Ovenbirds, Northern Waterthrushes, Kentucky Warbler, a lone Palm Warbler, and Black-throated Green were also found in the woodlots over the course of the day that still saw 18 or more species of warbler flitting around the mottes. A glowing Wilson's Warbler also came in at Don's Drip in Smith to tantalize a few gathered birders. One of the more interesting sightings though involved a "Brewster's" Warbler (hybrid Blue-winged x Golden-winged) seen along the main levee near the rookery at Smith.

The afternoon saw an arrival of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, with a number seen at both the main sanctuaries, including one that dropped in at the main grandstand drip at Boy Scout. Other migrants recorded on The Dome included Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes, many Eastern Kingbirds, Indigo Buntings, and a few female Painted Buntings still working the Smith levee, Acadian Flycatcher, and the odd Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink and Philadelphia Vireo.

Sam Woods

April 30, 2009

Magnolia Warblers continued to entertain the rarity hunters on the prowl at
HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

April came to a close today, but spring migration persists. Even though overall migrant numbers are on the ebb, rarities continue to brighten people's days. The bird everyone was talking about today was a Black-whiskered Vireo that put in a tantalizingly brief appearance: you had to be on the morning HAS guided walk to see it. But there was plenty more to look at. A chestnut-cheeked Cape May Warbler strutted his stuff today to keep vireo-searchers entertained. He was joined at times by at least one female. Continuing with the easterly theme, a male Black-throated Blue Warbler, the second this spring, was seen again by only a lucky few. The woods' most conspicuous characters continue to be Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warblers, with a handful of Yellow, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Yelow-throated, Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers, redstarts, tanagers, orioles, buntings, hummingbirds and Blue Grosbeaks adding a cannonball of color. A Golden-winged Warbler also sneaked in the back of the motte at Smith Oaks, while everyone else was searching the other side of the woods for the days rarities.

Our daily trek down the peninsula continued our run on goodies, this one with a more westerly influence: a Clay-colored Sparrow. But we went down that way mostly for waterbirds, and waterbirds we saw. We made a clean sweep of terns (getting all 8 regular species). Plovers included Piping and Wilsons. Our first Long-billed Curlew in many days showed off at Rollover Pass, where a pair of American Oystercatchers also showed up. A flock of Bobolink was in the favorite haunt near Port Bolivar--this marks four straight days at the same mosquito-riddled location. A Clapper Rail paraded across Yacht Basin Road, where a few migrants (including the aforementioned sparrow) flitted about the bushes and weeds.

After today's rarity bonanza, what can tomorrow deliver to outshine today?

Josh Engel

April 29, 2009

Many birders bemoaning the fact they only had a female Cape May to look at yesterday,
received a "free upgrade" today when the male decided to hang out and please
the free HAS-guided birdwalk crowds at Smith Oaks all day (Sam Woods)

Not bad either...male Bay-breasted Warblers tried to compete for our affections with
the flashy male Cape May (Sam Woods)

Well what can I say about today. In short, diversity dropped off markedly, with warbler species illustrating this well, as yesterdays bumper harvest of 28-odd species had diminished to just 16 or 17 species. Gone were the Blackburnians, the late Worm-eaters, and last lingering Northern Parulas. However, in spite of this it was not all doom and gloom in the woods as a couple of star attractions from the east kept "birdpunters" swooning. This was shown well within the first few minutes of our first morning bird walk (that like yesterday had been re-scheduled for Smith Oaks), when the first bird picked out in the bins turned out to be a heartstopping male Cape May Warbler. Indeed, this should have been named "Cape May Day", as these were the headline species of the day, and more than made up for the sudden demise in warbler numbers out there. This crippling Cape May was one of at least three different individuals around Smith today, that included two males and the "long-staying" female (now here for her fourth day). The males had until now been low down and dirty, managing to sneak around and avoid many birders on the prowl for them. Those who had until now felt cheated by merely getting a female got a full "upgrade" today, as one male decided to give up the ghost, and put in a sterling performance just a short stroll from all the regular rookery action in Smith. Other warbler "totty" in the woods included some brilliant Bay-breasteds males that desperately tried to divert our attentions from the closeby male Cape May (that generally got the loudest gasps all the same), Blackpolls continued to be around in notable numbers too, even if they were a little down on the last few days crazy figures, and a late lingering Yellow-throated Warbler proved that even a supposed early spring mover can bring a touch of color late into the season.

Another memorable sight today included a flurry of around 250 Bobolinks on the Bolivar Peninsula, that were a distraction from our normal shorebird activities that had us pouring over Piping and Wilson's Plovers down on the flats, and a good pack of Black Skimmers and gangs of Black Terns at Rollover Pass. Several Painted Buntings were also around the woods again today, along with the usual tanagers and grosbeaks (both the regular species of each).

All in all a much slower day than yesterday, and down from the heady highs of just a few days ago, but an entertaining day all the same what with the star turns of the Cape Mays. The day ended with the surreal sight of a Magnificent Frigatebird hanging in the wind over the HAS Smith Oaks parking lot, which once again proved the old spring addage - expect the unexpected. Nice way to end another enjoyable day on The Dome.

Sam Woods


April 28, 2009

One of Smith's star turns today, female Cape May Warbler, around for its
third straight day. A male was also present today. (Sam Woods)

A fraction of the "bundle" of Bobolinks along Highway 87 on the Bolivar
Peninsula, that had doubled in number today (Sam Woods)

Philadelphia Vireo, HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

The Spring is dead, long live the Spring! One could have been excused for using this the first half of this phrase in recent days, for just a few days back a few birders were heard uttering the phrase that the spring was now officially over during a quiet spell, although one storm later, a batch full of birds later, and the spring is alive and kicking again. It is easy to forget that some of the very best days recorded on High Island have been logged in May. It is truly dangerous to write High Island off just yet, today proved that this mega migration hotspot has plenty more to offer in the topsy-turvy world of spring migration!

The day dawned with light rain still falling after last nights heavy storm that had raged on well into the night, with gray clouds hanging over The Dome. A few eager souls were out at Houston Audubon Smith Oaks just after dawn to see the avian affects of this impressive thunderstorm. Just a quick walk anywhere and it was clear Indigo Buntings had arrived in numbers as had Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, flurries encountered regularly around both of the main woods on The Dome. Hiding among them in Smith was one of their western relatives, a male Black-headed Grosbeak, that had also been around the day before according to late reports received today. The ante cranked up considerably when a hyperactive warbler flock came through near the main rookery car park that held a cool Cape May male in its midst, that sent birders rushing after this "celebrity" flock, that also held a Golden-winged on its periphery too. With this early morning excitement the morning walk at HAS Boy Scout was hastily re-routed, and participants rapidly diverted to Smith, where the birders got a considerable payoff for their efforts when a female Black-throated Blue Warbler homed into view mid-morning.

What emerged out of this mid-morning madness was one of the best warbler days of the season. OK, so it was not one of the heady post thirty warbler days we enjoyed just a few choice times earlier in the month, but hey with 28 species clocked up no-one was complaining. A couple of comments today sum this magical 09 spring up nicely - one California birder who has been a dedicated High Island "groupie" for the past decade (not missing a spring since her "conversion"), commented that over the past few weeks she had managed to chalk up more warblers in one spring than ever before, while another visiting birder quite simply stated that it was his "..best days birding ever!!!" Other examples of warbler "porn" causing a wave of excitement amongst the throng of birders in Smith today included a smattering of male Blackburnians (that also now had a female or two for company), Cerulean Warbler, multiple Magnolias and "lemonheads" (Prothonotary Warblers), a continuing citrine male Wilson's, a multi-striped Worm-eater, a multitude of Bay-breasteds and Blackpolls (now renamed "trashpolls"), and a fetching Yellow-throated Warbler. The tail-pumping Palm Warbler that sat out in the 'scope at Smith for all to see, was also much talked about at the close of play.

Of course there was the occasional "anti-warbler" of interest too, like the few "Phillies" (Philadelphia Vireo) scattered about the woods, a scattering of Yellow-winged Cuckoos, multiple Common Nighthawks hawking overhead, a new sprinkling of both male and female Painted Buntings, and a number of Purple Gallinules patrolling the ponds in both the main Houston Audubon sanctuaries. Although a swarm of male Bobolinks alongside highway 87 just south of the turn (200m S of Rettilon Rd.) to Bolivar Flats contained some 200 birds that had a few dandy Dickcissels mixed in with them too. An impressive sight that had us hastily pulling off the road and was a welcome distraction during our midday shorebird showdown on the peninsula. During the midday walk terns were out in numbers, with a whole range of plumages of Black Terns being one of the trip highlights aside from the 'links.

Sam Woods

April 27, 2009

"Fire-faced Warbler" better known to birders as Blackburnian Warbler,
HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

Smith Oaks continues to be the place to see and be seen. Several warbler flocks were working the woods today. Despite intensive searching, a continuing female Cape May Warbler remains elusive to many searchers. However, many are commenting on the unusually large numbers of Blackpoll Warblers around: one observer reckons he saw 40 today. The sophisticated beauty of Bay-breasted Warbler graces many people's field of view--one small warbler flock contained at least three males this afternoon. Citrous warblers were also around at Smith, with several singing Prothonotarys in the morning that also had a singing male Wilson's within earshot of them. Yellow-billed Cuckoo was occasionally spotted darting through the woods. A fluorescent male Blackburnian Warbler caught not only the birders' attention but also that of a more subtly plumaged female. The reserve's hotspot continues to be the bridge near the staircase in the northeast section of the sanctuary.

The midday Bolivar walk continues to produce sought-after birds. A flock of roughly 100 Bobolinks (all males) was worth a stop along the busy roadside; we then found another smaller flock (also all males) along Bousse Rd a short time later. A solitary Stilt Sandpiper remained from yesterday's flock in the latter mentioned locale; three Semipalmated Sandpipers fed nearby with a dapper Dunlin in breeding plumage. An undoubted highlight of the outing was a pair of Clapper Rails with four downy chicks. A Seaside Sparrow nearby proved less cooperative, singing unseen from a dense patch of shrubs. Luckily, our second sparrow quarry wanted to be seen: the entire group got scope views of Nelson's Sharp-tailed.

The group also enjoyed side-by-side comparisons of various plumage states of single species: Sanderling, Royal Tern, Forster's Tern and Black-bellied Plover, for example. Everything from winter plumage to first summer to breeding, faded to fresh, patchy to pristine. The Black Terns that flew over were indeed black, but many of the Black-bellied Plovers were gray.

The storm has just arrived to High Island (9:00 pm). In front of it were migrants heard at a rate of about one flight note per second. Hopefully they will stick around until the morning!

Josh Engel

 

April 26, 2009

Still thrashing about in HAS Boy Scout Woods, Brown Thrasher
lingers on late into the 2009 spring season (Sam Woods)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, High Island (Sam Woods)

Smith Oaks continues to be the place to be seen both by serious warbler addicts as well as anyone lusting for warbling activity (for those keeping count it was another now "standard" twenty plus warbler day). Sightings of a female Cape May Warbler seen several times throughout the day by several different groups of people. Renewed sightings on a very confiding Prairie Warbler, and a late season sighting of Wilson's Warbler (whom I thoroughly enjoyed!!). High and unprecedented numbers of Blackpoll are being enjoyed by everyone setting its daily status dangerously close to "trash bird" status, when normally this species is nothing else but a crowd's heartthrob. A few late season sightings included Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-throated Warbler

Equally unusual, yet veritably enjoyable have been the micro flurries of Magnolia Warblers that brought alive the scrubby verges of the rookery and Smith Oaks, alongside, brisk Blue-wingeds, plump Prothonotaries, colorful Chestnut-sided Warblers, Hooded Warblers strobing the undestoreys with their tail and the odd cute and placid Canada Warbler. The canopies were equally ornate with vivid Black-throated Greens, flaming Blackburnians, tail-fanning Redstarts, blatant Bay-breasteds and merry golden Yellow Warblers. Other interesting sightings around Smith Oaks included Swallow-tailed Kite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Merlin, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak and several Great-crested Flycatchers.

At midday the Bolivar Flats walk revealed a bonanza of goodies. We began at Rettilon Rd, where a handful of shorebirds and a flock of terns awaited our arrival. A group of breeding plumaged Dunlin probed the sand in the company of Semipalmated Plovers, while Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling spent time dodging the incoming waves. A Hudsonian Godwit flew over fighting its way into the strong southerly wind before being pushed eastward along the coast. A tern flock was mostly comprised of Royal and Common Terns, with a couple Sandwich Terns mixed in.

We continued on to a freshwater-inundated field nearby. Two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks steadfastly swam in the fields. Flocks of Lesser Yellowlegs were infiltrated by smaller numbers of Stilt and Pectoral Sandpipers and a single Greater Yellowlegs. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher pair cavorted overhead.

Our last stop was at Bob's Road, where we were greeted by the simple song of a solitary Seaside Sparrow. Great scope views of the bird tossing its head back in song were had by all. A Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was more elusive, but seen well by a few. A few Forster's Terns in various plumages fed gracefully over the adjacent pond. A few people continued to the end of the road, where we were greeted by a single Wilson's Plover, a Marsh Wren and a flock of terns that contained several striking breeding plumaged Blacks.

Christian Boix and Josh Engel

 

April 25, 2009

Bay-breasted Warbler, HAS Smith Oaks, the place to be for warbler addicts today
(Nick Athanas)

Gone was the pattern of the last few days, when emptied woods in the morning were in stark contrast to packed out lots after the Yucatan Express arrived in the afternoon. The order of the day turned out to be a stable flow of birds being found around the coastal mottes both in the morning, and then backed up by more afternoon arrivals later on.

Once again Houston Audubon's Smith Oaks held most of the action, with a steady stream of birds to ogle, and a steady stream of birders to ogle them. Many migrant junkies were beating the paths on the lookout for birds checking out High Island after their incredible Gulf journey, and warblers of course were the birders top priority. Everybody left with a good fix from the wood-warblers flitting about the woods today, and a respectable total of 24 species at various hot spots on the dome. The best birding was to be found in the late afternoon around Smith when birders were thrilled with crisp sightings and bumper looks at a flurry of male Blackburnians that flashed their fiery faces at an appreciative crowd gathered on the levee, (one of the highs of springtime High Island is surely being able to check out warblers over one side of the bund, while Roseate Spoonbills, Egrets and Cormorants hustle around Heron Island on the other side in a hive of nesting activity). The afternoon crew at Smith pulsed with excitement when yesterdays lingering Prairie Warbler homed into view too, and once again Blackpolls continue to have a good run on the island with multiple males and females present.

In the Smith woods a number of warblers quietly worked the hedgerows and understorey allowing for some great low down looks at some top migrant treats, like several Bay-breasteds, and likewise a few Magnolias, both latecomers to the dome in the spring season when they time their peak migration after many of the others. However, this is the joy of late April as you get that heady mix of late arriving species intermixed with the last to arrive from the early season movers, which is just what occured on the island today, when these late movers were sharing the woods with Louisiana Waterhthrush, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warbler, all big highlights from the early days of spring. Other cool characters in the woods included a number of Prothonotarys, Chestnut-sided Warblers, and several gaudy Golden-winged Warblers. Its been a great season for lovers of some of the more skulking warbler species, and today saw Hoodeds still lingering and also Worm-eating and Swainson's Warblers were again found in the lots, along with Blue-wingeds, Kentuckys, Ovenbirds, and Black-and-whites.

Cuckoos continued to be on the move with Yellow-billeds being seen flapping gently into the woods by late morning, and a late afternoon thriller involved a Black-billed that dropped in off the Gulf right in front of our eyes at Smith. Seeing a bird drop in off the Gulf is one of the undoubted highlights for lovers of "vis-mig" (visible migration), and another great sighting revealed another Purple Gallinule bizarrely sitting way up in a tree, that was also surely another very recent arrival. Other non-warblers around included Veery, Swainson's Thrush, a good smattering of Yellow-throated Vireos to back up the many Red-eyeds wandering the woods, and many Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Gray Catbirds still, although nowhere near the numbers of the latter two species that the past few days had seen. Tanagers too continued to bring splashes of vibrant color to the coastal lots with many of both Summer and Scarlets grabbing any free mulberry they could get their hands on.

Sam Woods

April 24, 2009
I don't think anything could have prepared us this morning for the vacuum met in the woods, especially after yesterdays hopeful spurt of migrant activity. All we encountered instead were silent woods devoid of flits, sallies or even scurries in the understorey, no hints or traces of activity or missed shadows. Simply EMPTY. The total warbler count for the morning walk was a tragic trio of warblers (Tennesee,Common Yellowthroat and Black-throated Green) with the only birds worth mentioning being American Purple Gallinules at the treatment ponds and Dickcissels in the prairies below the woods....mind you Cardinals would have been mentioned anyway had we not seen THE one after a two hour walk.

Fortunately, fast flying Orioles livened up the woods by 1pm, when scores of Orchards and Baltimores started to arrive in large numbers, the odd Yellow-billed Cuckoo joined the commotion by the drip, and a single Black-billed Cuckoo tried a futile attempt to sneak pass the "kiosk guard". When a second wave of passerines (mostly Red-eyed Vireos) hit the Island, bushes and trees started to quiver and the afternoon started to look promising. However, only Blackpoll and Chestnut-sided Warblers were added to the tally.

Smith Oaks, was indeed "cooking", warbler numbers were low and were hardly ever seen moving in large flocks, but precious "nuggets" lied scattered throughout the canopy. A day of sifting through Smith's canopies yielded the gaudey Golden-winged, magnificent Magnolias, pastey Prothonotaries, nimble Nashvilles, yokey Yellows, blushed Bay-breasteds, a bounty of Blackburnians, a cyan Cerulean, weary Worm-eatings and a tail pumping Prairie Warbler. A flock of unprecedented proportions containing Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, dizzying numbers of Rose-brested Grosbeaks and Catbirds swirled through the woods throughout the afternoon. The understorey was alive with several ochre-capped Ovenbirds, crafty Kentucky's, American Redstart and beautiful Blue-winged Warblers.

Besides these "warblings" a good push of Yellow-throated Vireos, increased numbers of Warbling Vireos as well as several Acadian Flycatchers and the odd Philly Vireo suggested a significant arrival of migrants which we hope shall stay into tomorrow, since the skies above are busy cracking with lightning and stormy weather sets in at the dome...

Christian Boix

April 23, 2009

Bands of Black-and-Whites joined the ranks of migrants massing at
Smith Oaks in the afternoon (Sam Woods)

Common Nighthawk (Christian Boix/Leica)

Those wandering the woods this morning on the hunt for warblers were to be sourly dissappointed with little evidence of their recent existence, such that it was hard to believe that just a few days back thirty-odd species were coursing through the woodlots and coastal mottes. But this is the dynamic nature of Gulf Coast migration, peaks and troughs, boom and bust, highs and lows.

In spite of the distinct lack of warbler totty to keep us addicted we still had some other mex migrants to keep the early morning trailblazers happy. The prairie out the back of Boy Scout Woods was this morning's hot spot, where a male Bobolink cracking seeds amongst a flock of Blue Grosbeaks was the prize find. The same "Texan savanna" held a couple of dandy Dickcissels that sat up for us, as well as Painted and Indigo Buntings, and a female Blackpoll worked the scrubby edges in the same area, proving that even in these harsh times with a little patience and whole lot of effort, goodies can be found. From the pagoda overlooking the "Boy Scout Swamp", a nice way of saying sewage treatment pond, a leggy bird quietly pacing the back edge proved to be a brilliant blue Purple Gallinule, that shared the same pool with a Least Bittern that dove into deep cover on the reedy fringes. We continued to scrutinize the woods for migrants, as without our full concentration finding the few still in town was going to be seriously tough, and we did manage to squeeze out a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that dropped in at the drip to end the morning walk, and also found a Common Nighthawk that decided to abandon normal goatsucker protocol and perch out where he was patently obvious for all to see. So we finished the morning walk with the desperate hope that the winds of change would bring in some other avian distractions in the afternoon. The problem here at High Island is that the bar is set so impossibly high that this magical migration spot simply cannot live up to these absurdly high standards every day, just some of them!

As it turned out the winds didn't change much, but the afternoon birding was still a far cry from the morning shananigans. It was a great day for Dickcissels with good numbers reported around both the main High Island mottes, allowing prolonged scope looks, especially of one dozing bird in Smith appearing visibly drained from his recent Gulf expedition. Just after arrival in the Smith lot for the afternoon patrols we were eyeballing our first morsels of a tasty Mexican feast that followed. One tree had us hooked for a while as a Blackpoll flitted around on the hunt for caterpillars, with the odd Black-throated Green too, a Philly Vireo stepped into the fold, and an Empidonax flycatcher cleverly avoided identification. The walk in Smith was characterized by swathes of birds moving through the motte, comprised of mostly masses of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Gray Catbirds, a whole truckload of Red-eyed Vireos (that had some Yellow-throateds for company too), Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, and a good bounty of warblers were also revealed by even a cursory sweep with your bins up in the oaktops. The main composition of these hyperactive feeding flocks were Tennessees, Yellows and Black-and-white Warblers, although hiding among their ranks were some scorchers like a male Golden-winged Warbler that had us happily testing our resistance to a frequent Smith malady - Warbler Neck. Frantic moments followed as we all desperately searched for this crowd favorite as it worked the oaktop, and eventually an excited group of birders wandered off well happy with their wash.

Also in the mix was a good crop of cuckoos, almost wholly Yellow-billeds, although a few Black-billed were sneaking around too. All the regular migrant fare was around - with a notable increase in female Painted Buntings now, and the blue bullets (Indigo Buntings) continue to drop in daily from the Gulf in the afternoons. The afternoon truly heated up when a seductive Cerulean put in a late show right at the end of the walk, in the same area that had also held Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, and Magnolia Warblers. Other Mexican treats in the woods included Worm-eater at Smith, Ovenbirds at both mottes, Kentuckys, a few Hoodeds, American Redstarts (with females dominating for the latter), Chestnut-sided Warblers in both the main HAS sanctuaries, a mulberry-addicted Yellow-breasted Chat at Boy Scout, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Veery and Swainson's Thushes, (although fewer Wood Thrushes, and no Gray-cheekeds reported at all today).

A heady mix of birds to savor once the afternoon arrivals had hit High Island, made up for the dreary morning in Boy Scout. It was hard to believe that during our morning labours we struggled to pick up a single warbler at all, and yet by the end of play at least 21 species had come in to check out the mottes on the dome. In one single day we experienced the highs and lows of spring migration birding. We sunk into the trough in the morning with little to show for our considerable efforts pounding the migration beat, and climbed into a giddy peak in the afternoon when it seemed that wherever you set your bins there was a migrant on view. It felt a little like we had experienced the full rollercoaster ride of spring migration all in one single day!

Sam Woods


April 22 , 2009

Black-billed Cuckoo - one of three hanging around in Smith during the
afternoon (Christian Boix/Leica)

I think its fair to say that if Boy Scouts was to be compared to a mildly profitable convenience store, then, today someone would have to be fired. From the very early hours of this morning it became blatantly evident that the woodlots had been emptied, looted, sold out and no new stock had been either ordered or arrived. The woods were quiet, the mulberries grew happy and birder traffic was so low the Bobcat managed to "poo" twice on the boardwalk over the course of the morning without being seen. The only warblers worth of mention for the morning were a singleton Black-throated Green, a bold and charming Blackpoll, the mean looking Kentucky, stealthy Ovenbirds and reports of Worm-eating and Swainson's. The morning walk had to search deep and hard in the "back store" ( the water treatment ponds) for any stock worth showing. Scope views of Least Bittern, Sora and brief views of Common Yellowthroat, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush, Marsh and Sedge Wren kept the dust from settling on our binoculars, but although some were elated to have seen their first rallid, it was overall a very quiet and fairly dull morning.

The fruiting mulberries and the drip continued to attract some numbers of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and the odd Blue Grosbeak. Baltimore were far commoner than Orchard Orioles and a spurt of Indigo Buntings swelled throughout the afternoon. On the thrush front, Veery, Wood, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's were seen but none in significant numbers.

A slight push of migrants brought mild relief to the afternoon, mainly Indigo Buntings, Tennessee Warblers and certainly by cuckoos with a few Yellow-billed darting through the woodlots and at least seven separate sightings of Black-billed Cuckoo over the course of the day at different spots on the dome, four at least at Smith Oaks in the afternoon. Small flocks of Dickcissel perched and buzzed away their electrifying call next to the car park at the Old Mexico road by HAS Smith Oaks. Other goodies at Smith included good views of Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green and at least two rip-roaring males of the tantalising Townsend's Warbler. Other enjoyable pickings included Painted Bunting, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula and records of a single female Western Tanager still hanging about.

Good midday low tides have allowed for excellent shorebird viewing between noon and 1500 at the Jetty on 17th street. However, Bolivar flats as approached from the beach is decidedly quiet and fairly empty. The mud has dried on Bob's road but the last downpour filled up the lagoons and shorebird numbers are still lacking. Still, Seaside and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows could be heard from the sedges. A similar situation regarding water levels and its effect on shorebirds is taking place at the rookery. However, hatchlings of Great Egret can already be seen with patience and soon enough, one hopes Roseate Spoonbills will join the creche.

Christian Boix

April 21, 2009

"Drip Junkie"... Yellow-breasted Chat shows up again for the grandstand crowd at
HAS Boy Scout Woods (Christian Boix/Leica)

"Little Black Number"... Blackpoll Warbler continues to perform at the Smith Oaks
Rookery in the evening (Sam Woods)

Well, the warbler tally may have been down today (a meagre 24 species reported all up), but it was still a hell of day birding on High Island. The feeling today was that there was not too many new species around (what with bright azure blue skies and just a light breeze being conducive to ongoing migrations north), although many of the "celebs" were still in the woods, and thoroughly entertained us.

An intriguing report came in of a vireo that fitted the description of Thick-billed Vireo, that was first found by two experienced birders at the end of the boardwalk at Texas Ornithological Society's Hooks Woods sanctuary on 1st Street in the morning, and then later in the afternoon around Purkey's Pond in Boy Scout when it was seen by several HAS staff manning the kiosk. Subsequent late searches turned up a blank at both spots, although we will certainly be scrutinizing every White-eyed in the next few days to be on the safe side!

The morning walks in HAS Boy Scout were absorbing with a number of tasty "Texmex" migrants to keep pulses racing. Not least among these were at least four different cool blue Ceruleans, all of which gave sublime looks. Intermixed between these sightings was a continuing confiding Blackpoll near Prothonotary Pond. A few more Magnolias also appeared to be hanging in the woods today, including our first females of the spring. Other cripplers around Boy Scout included a wonderous Worm-eater that hopped around on the tinder dry leaf litter for us at close range. A flashy male Painted Bunting dropped in at the drip at Boy Scout in the morning and it, or another one, repeated this neat trick in the afternoon for another crowd of onlookers. Hands down though the bizarrest sight of the morning came when a loud crashing in the top of the trees turned out to be a Purple Gallinule crash landing into a tall Live Oak, and even more strangely, remained rooted to the same well-concealed spot in the canopy well into the afternoon.

The afternoon walk at HAS Smith Oaks pulled in views of the stonking male Townsend's Warbler that continues to thrill the "eastenders" in town, and the showoff male Blackpoll that has become a permanent fixture around the first rookery platform has since yesterday hooked up with another male sharing the same "holy" cypress. Once again he showed no shame when snapping up bugs literally within inches of us gathered on the platform, providing a considerable distraction from the melee of Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibises and a horde of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks gathered behind on Claybottom Pond. One disgruntled photographer complained that it was to close to focus on, as he was having trouble fitting the lens betwen his face and the bird...! Another wayward westerner in town included a seemingly out of sorts Western Tanager that like the previous records this spring really should not be in this area. This just goes to show that part of the magic of spring are the saucy surprises that turn up and throw us out of kilter.

Other birds around the woods today included a mass of catbirds that had undoubtedly been swelling in numbers over the past few days, (a quick walk anywhere around dusk producing a profusion of whining birds calling out from the underbrush). A number of thrushes were also present, including Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and a good crop of Wood Thrushes with, an impressive five birds of the latter all gathered together at the "bandstand" drip late on. However, Veerys were conspicuously absent, having been around in numbers in recent days.

For sure The mulberries are primed right now and are therefore teaming with "berry-bandits", one particular miniature mulberry in the Smith lot weighed down heavily with a set of at least twenty rampant Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Scarlet Tanagers were also on the up, much greater numbers stealing berries whenever they could, alongside lessening numbers of attendant Summers too, in both the main migrant mottes on the island. Other migrant fodder on the salty dome today included White-throated Sparrows, Blue Grosbeaks, an unidentified Empidonax flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that sauntered in to Boy Scout Woods.

Sam Woods

April 20, 2009

Yesterdays news: Last years Houston Audubon patch bird, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Boy Scout (Sam Woods)

One of the maggies in the woods today, one of the later arriving
warblers in High Island (Sam Woods)

The evening before ended with the marvellous sight of a large kettle (100+ birds) of Mississipi Kites gliding gracefully over Houston Audubon Eubanks Woods, and so it was only fitting that the morning began with them too, as a few lifted out of Boy Scout Woods as we headed off on our daily "warbler patrol". Then later on the big lift-off occurred when a good sized group of these handsome kites were seen wafting gently over the woods. It was another of those days when birders left very happy, even if they only had a few choice hours to spare. I mean, by 11am we had already recorded ALL of the now "usual" warblers, with at least 24 species chalked up by the end of our morning walk in HAS Boy Scout Woods, so that we had very nearly maxed out on warblers by the end of our morning outings. One determined birder stationed himself at the newly-refilled Prothonotary Pond, and watched on as a steady flow of warblers came through the Bald Cypresses, building up to a total of 17 species in just a few hours, that included among them no less than three Golden-wingeds. By the end of the day a hearty sum of 31 species were found around the woods (the aforementioned determined Virginia birder had by then surpassed the magic twenty mark), a total that includes several independent Palm Warbler reports, but does not include the briefly sighted possible MacGillivray's at Boy Scout, or the rumored Prairie hiding out in Smith somewhere, that we never quite got the full SP on. In fact it emerged to be a day to rival the day before in terms of the warbler count, quality sightings, and overral species diversity.

After the balmy weekend the much-reduced crowd enjoyed more space on the boardwalks and trails to enjoy a good gathering of migrants around the lots. The warblers worked the trees so feverishly, (tirelessly searching for and picking out invertebrate prey), you'd think that they were shoppers on the opening day of the Harrod's January sale. Early thrillers around Boy Scout Woods included a pair of Ceruleans content to feed out in front of us on several happy occasions, close to the new warbler "stronghold" of Prothonotary Pond, multiple Ovenbirds pacing the understorey, a couple of magnificent Magnolia Warblers that are now just beginning to show off their vibrant colors in the woods, (being one of the later warblers to arrive in these migrant-crowded woodlots), one showy Philly (Philadelphia Vireo) on the edge of the prairie, and a brilliant Blackpoll (male) that would simply not leave us alone! Indeed, Blackpolls were particularly brazen on High Island today, another brash individual regularly circuiting the first rookery lookout for the second evening running, giving heartstopping looks in the process as it dangled from the bright green cypresses just centimeters out from the viewing area. A British couple were especially taken aback by a bright Blackburnian male, that took their breath away with its fiery orange glow, and left them pondering at just how shockingly brilliant this bird is. A few American birders watching on were visibly impressed too. Bay-breasteds appear to be on the move early from their Central and South American winter haunts this year, with further reports today for the third or fourth day in a row, well before their more expected late-April arrival time. Clumps of hanging dead plant matter continued to rustle with the odd Worm-eater picking out insects from these curled, crispy brown leaves. The daily reports of the always difficult and skulking Swainson's Warbler also continue to come in, indicating a good period of passage on High Island this year for this southern species . Some of the traditionally early-movers also persist in the coastal woods, such as the spiffy male Wilson's Warbler around Don's Drip at Smith, the odd Louisiana Waterthrush that continue to turn up even at this late time in Boy Scout, and both Myrtle and Yellow-throated Warblers that appeared to be new in at the latter sanctuary too.

The slow, characteristic faltering flight of cuckoos was also seen again over these coastal fragments of migrant habitat, although they all seemed to be Yellow-billeds today with none of yesterdays Black-billeds lingering for the thinner Monday-morning birding crews. Other non-warblers of note included several Painted Buntings still picking seeds up where they can, a good crop of Indigos hanging around too, Veery and Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a Common Nighthawk by the Boy Scout picnic zone.

The afternoon walk in Smith Oaks was slightly dull and anticlimatic in comparison to the morning that comprised simply totting up one warbler after another, and initially left us with a feeling that much had moved on, as little was stirring in this large Oak motte, with the exception of a single bold Blackburnian. However, the mulberry trees in the car park became the new hot spot for photographers as these berry-laden bushes had another burden to bear as well, as they were now also loaded with big numbers of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and both Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, not to mention the odd Oriole or two (both Baltimores and Orchards both still being in town). The migrant action, or more acurately inaction, changed abruptly though with a walk along one of the bunds beside Claybottom Pond, where in addition to the tame Blackpoll mentioned before, Yellows, Chestnut-sideds, and Black-throated Greens all fed out in the open giving crisp late afternoon looks, while a pristine Prothontary continues to hold territory there, appearing to have well and truly set up shop now. We hope it will hang on to breed in the swampy cypresses that border the rookery. Evidently there was also a big afternoon push of Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Gray Catbirds, brief walks kicking up good numbers of these anywhere you chose to walk in the afternoon. A Purple Gallinule also paraded along the edge of Heron Island at Smith Oaks in the late afternoon.

In a nutshell, before anyone was even thinking about some late morning "brekky" (breakfast) most of the warblers were in the bag, and you could have been forgiven for packing up and heading home early as there was little further on offer after that time, as it was all already there and up for grabs. In other words, a great morning with all the celebrity High Island birds available for the hardy Monday morning birding crowd. The latter half of the day was a different bag though, a quiet mid-afternoon walk indicating there may have been a significant diurnal departure from the mottes, although this feeling was abated a little after a lively late afternoon walk along the bank that produced a flurry of warblers (and a Philly) during our late vigil at the Smith Rookery.

Sam Woods

April 19, 2009

Blackpoll Warbler lights up the rookery walk in the evening at HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

A streaming mass of Mississipis - a mob of 100 or so Kites hung over HAS Eubanks Woods late on,
threatening to roost in the woods below??? (Sam Woods)

Last night strong migration passage kept us from hitting the sack as chips, tweets and squeaks from the black heavens above kept us from entering the house, subtly intimating the identity of a zenith unloading late check-ins into HAS Boy Scout Woods. The excitement of the day to come swelled within us, however, at 0330 AM we were awoken in shock horror as we heard thousands upon thousands of tweeterers resuming their northerly course, flying-off, departing early....leaving us!!. The morning started with welcoming blue skies, a subtle dawn chorus,and hordes of people streaming into Boy Scout Woods, we were truly wondrous as per what would the woodlots produce..

The free guided walks were massively attended, with BIrd Classic Texas Scouts, migration fundies, weekenders, birdwatchers, birders and students searching the ultimate birding experience at High island. As it turned out a quality sample of great birds remained, and the low canopies of Boy Scouts offered a veritable birding feast to anyone in attendance. Even the youngest novice in the flock had come lured by the possibility of bagging if not one, the full the hat trick of warblers posted over the previous days, Golden-winged, Cerulean and Blackburnian. Well, it is fair to say that at least everyone on the free guided walks left with the mythical triplet under their belt. Furthermore, most met along the trails bore the tell tale broad smile of a similar acomplishment across their face. Other "magnificent" warbler scores today included a second day of Magnolias, delightful Townsend's, mysterious Palm and the skulk-master Swainson's. Yellow Warbler numbers were down, Tennessees were the most common, Northern Parulas made a significant re-appearance and Hoodeds have become conspicuous again. Good numbers of Worm-eatings were had today, with Prohonotary, Kentucky's and Yellow-breasted Chats still evoking the largest gasps of admiration by the crowds gathered.

A number of Vireos were seen too with ubiquitous numbers of White-eyed Vireos on the rise, a clear dip-blip on Red-eyed Vireos, several Philadelphias, the odd Warbling and Blue-headed, unconfirmed reports of Yellow Green Vireo and sneaky low numbers of Yellow-throated Vireo. Several Yellow-billed Cuckoos slinked through the tree tops, every now and then landing in full view of everyones enjoyment. Patient birders at the grandstand and others poking about at Hook Woods were duly rewarded with great views of Blackbilled Cuckoo. Veery, Swainson's, Grey-cheekeds and Wood Thrushes continue to scour the understorey near the photography blind. Smaller numbers of Baltimores and Orchard Orioles are working hard to decimate the mulberry crop with the help of Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, but its the hulking Rose-breasted Grosbeak whom in the past few days have been commonest.

At Smith Oaks a very similar ensemble of warblers were recorded, and for most of the day activity was good, but in the afternoon some dispersal may have taken place and the swirling flocks of fast feeding warblers had settled to a lull, breaking up into scattered and sedentary couplets or even individual units that became harder to locate. Still, Prairie Warbler, Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warbler were succesfully enjoyed in the northern woodlots of the dome.

The skies were well worth checking today, as good numbers of shorebirds were seen streaming past in the early hours of dawn and included small groups of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Several Common Nighthawks were seen both perched and see-sawing in windswept skies above. Raptorwise, several Swallow-tailed Kites flew over the sanctuaries today, Osprey, Peregrine, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk and Swainson's spiced up the day. But, a grand finale of 60+ Mississippi Kites that very possibly took roost at Eubank Woods, was indeed a phenomenal sight.

In essence, a fine day in High Island with the largest count of warblers thus far, 31 species!!, and highest diversity recorded for the year.

Christian Boix

April 18, 2009


The day dawned with a dampness hanging over the woods and a feeling that it had been through the mill what with the raging lightning-cracking thunderstorms of the night before. However, in these parts such storms are minor compared to the autumn events of the past few years, and it worked its magic by producing a bumper crop of migrants around the sanctuaries.

Mullberry trees were packed out with Tanagers (Summers and Scarlets often gorging side-by-side), Grosbeaks (both a bonanza of Rose-breasteds as well as a surge of Blues slung in for good measure too), and Orioles (Orchards and Baltimores both around in good numbers, the former squeezing every drop of nectar they could out of some tiny front yard bottle brushes across the street from Boy Scout). A blue blitz hit this coastal dome today, as Indigo Buntings officially became the seasons latest trashbird. Flurries of cobalt-blue buntings were flushed up from peoples feet as they wandered the boardwalks, roads, and sidewalks. Most people who bird the lots are of course after the wood-warblers, and there was a veritable feast of them available wherever you chose to bird. Both the Houston Audubon sanctuaries of Boy Scout and Smith Oaks held a blue prize of their own with multiple sightings of Cerulean Warblers in each of the woodlots, in addition to further sightings of the "great traveller", Blackpoll Warbler, flashing its yellow-legs at the crowd gathered under Smith's Grand Old Oak. Other trophy warblers in the mottes today included a gorgeous Golden-winged Warbler, that gave one photographer at least a lifebird, (and perhaps even a near heart-attack), as it dropped in just a few feet in front of him at the Boy Scout photo blind. Somehow he kept his cool and a steady hand, as the results show above. A few Canadas in Smith's motte were almost certainly hangers on from the day before, although no one was complaining about further eye-damaging views of these guys. The black skies of yesternight and dark storms of the eve before had clearly brought down some Mexican movers, for in addition to the smattering of newbie Ceruleans we also saw the arrival of the season's first "maggie" (Magnolia Warbler), with a princely male over at Smith Oaks. The understorey warblers were well-presented with a number of Worm-eaters probing the clusters of dead leaves, a sole sneaky Swainson's Warbler, a carpet of Kentuckys, and a scattering of Hooded Warblers flashing their white tails in the understorey. Yellow Warblers continued although the citrus explosion of a few days ago has been defused somewhat, with lesser numbers in the woods. Conversely Chestnut-sided Warblers were on the up and should continue to swell from here on into May. A single Pine Warbler working through the woods at Smith was notable too.

Thrushes were around in numbers too, a late walk in Hook Woods revealing a push in Veers, although Wood Thrushes, Gray-cheekeds and Swainson's were all around too (the latter though possibly down from the big numbers earlier in the week). As well as the mass of Indigos around the lots there was also a sprinkling of rainbowed Painted Buntings. One particularly plucky male almost walked into the photo blind at Boy Scout, as it fed vigorously on the seedheads of the grass that bordered the hide. Late kids on the block included reports of Philadelphia Vireo, that are just starting to show their faces around town.

In the mid-afternoon the skies blackened, lightning cracked down over over Boy Scout, and brought an abrupt end to the days play. The afternoon walks in Smith Oaks proved a futile plan as birders ran for cover, and I am sure birds did too, under black skies lightened every so often by silver forks breaking out from the clouds above, as thunder rumbled overhead. Impressive and extreme weather that may prove impressive in its effects on the birds in the woods on Sunday. Certainly it took its toll on the houses on High Island, with darkness sinking over town, as a power cut took effect late on.

A few brave souls ventured out in the evening over to the Texas Ornithological Society Hook Woods sanctuary on1st Street and were rewarded with a swathe of Indigo Buntings, (seemingly surging onto the island in impressive numbers at the moment), that held a golden-naped male Bobolink in their midst. A brief stormy walk around the Hook boardwalks saw an arrival of passerines, with a beautiful male Cerulean, outstanding male Blackburnian, and "wine-splashed" male Bay-breasted Warbler all dropping suddenly into the oaks around us. Along with these standouts Veerys seemed to coursing through the wood.

Finally, we retired with the feeling of an impending bird event in the morning, huge volumes of birds heard calling out in the night sky revealing vast numbers of birds moving over the dome after dark. We await with baited breath for tomorrows events to unfold... Let's hope the reality lives up to the billing!

Sam Woods

April 17, 2009

One of several Canadas hanging out at Smith for the day (Sam Woods)

OK!! Yes, it was gray...and sure it was windy, but if you have ever tried to spell EPIC in capital letters then you should have a pretty good idea of how tricky and rewarding today was. The mottes at High Island racked an impressive 28 Warbler species tally before stormy fronts rolled in. Boy Scout Woods slowly clocked an enviable tally of species as the day unfolded and pretty much achievable in a rather sedate and unperspiring manner from the comforts of its grandstand. However, over at Smith Oaks the apple cart was seriously upset minutes after we entered the woods in the early morning hours and stumbled upon a Black-whiskered Vireo. Mobiles phones went HOT, and in minutes, hordes of visitors swamped Smith Oaks and found ourselves caught in a comical tug-of-war between patiently waiting for the "whiskered" Vireo to emerge amongst bucket loads of Red-eyed Vireos, or follow any of the many warbler flocks that were "power-feeding" through the canopy, and trust me, if America invented fast food...todays warblers had clearly refined this fine culinary art into a new dimension.

Numbers of Yellow Warblers were down from the previous afternoon but they had evidently been replaced by a swarm of Tennessees. Amongst them, sparkling gems such as two ridiculously tame and endearing Canada Warblers teased the crowds for hours, forgiving Blackpolls, histrionic Blackburnians, a single breath-stopping Golden-winged, crisp Townsend's and Black-throated Greens as well as the bold and technicolor Chestnut-sided and elegant Bay-breasted Warbler all providing cracker-jack views. American Redstart numbers were significantly on the rise and other "Smith delights" worth a mention included Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary, and several Nashville. Further excitement built up as news rippled through the "warbler-SWOT-teams" of a Black-billed Cuckoo which was seen by a lucky few and sorely missed by many others. A late "check-in" of Kentucky's and Worm-eatings crowded the trails as dusk tucked in Smith Oaks for the night.

At Boy Scout Woods the afternoon was spent "thrushing" about the understorey, as Veery, Gray-cheeked, Wood and Swainson's Thrushes evidenced themselves boldly in an unashamed quest for the ripest mulberry. Not far over their heads great numbers of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Summer, Scarlet and a single Western Tanager joined the fruiting bonanza. Adding color to both the drip and trails Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings and fairy tale Painted Buntings fed on juicy "aster" seeds. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo and a sky ripping Merlin pulsed through Boy Scouts "airspace" faster than most people's ability to react. Unabashed Ovenbirds, shy Swainson's and flipant Worm-eatings were all spotted more than once in the understoreys of Boy Scout Woods, and even at the drips. Hooded Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chats, Common Yellowthroated and Northern Parula kept it entertaining, but its undeniable that the true "piece-of resistance" at the grandstand came in the form of yet another glorious Golden-winged Warbler that deserved every second of standing ovation it generated.

Other common yet unusual sightings from today included Osprey, Misissipi Kites, Dickcissel, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern Wood-Peewee and Common Nighthawk.

Christian Boix

April 16, 2009

A rabble of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks gorged on the mulberries
at Boy Scout today (Christian Boix/Leica)

The morning was a slowburner, with little to show in the way of new arrivals, and a feeling of emptiness in the coastal lots brought about by twilight departures. In spite of a generally quiet feel at this time a lemonhead (Prothonotary Warbler) belting out its song in the telescope for several minutes bucked the trend and was a nice distraction fom the usual rookery crowd, (i.e. Roseate Spoonbills, egrets and herons busying themselves with the rigors of spring nesting), in a late morning visit there. However, the afternoon was a very different story again. By then gloomy gray skies hung over the dome, and a short burst of rain had us craning our necks skyward for signs of migrants faltering on their northward migration due to the inclement weather. Staring up at the clouds from the grandstand at Houston Audubon Boy Scout Woods saw us witness the first mumur of the Mexican Wave of Yellow Warblers that was to follow, as one after another we saw their dark shapes appear above us then drop down into the cypresses in front of us. This citrus invasion was backed up by a merry band of Orchard Orioles, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a mild torrent of Tennessees.

It was another of those days when the number of birds of each species (with the exception of Yellow Warblers) was not huge, but there was an interesting mixed bag of goodies on the island to be had, that included a hearty crop of warblers with at least 26 species recorded. The best of the afternoon action came over in Houston Audubon's Smith Oaks, when some trees were simply crawling with warblers. Early afternoon drop-ins included a band of Blackburnians, that had several Blackpoll Warblers for company too. We enjoyed a solid warbler workout that comprised us chasing one rampant flock of warblers that sped around the oaktops, frantically feeding up after their long Gulf crossing. This pacy mixed ensemble had us running circles around the oaks and straining to get them clocked in the bins quickly so that we could move onto the next treetop tantaliser, and nail another Mexican migrant for the daylist. This one dream flock held at various times a Prairie Warbler, a few male Blackburnians that set the treetops on fire with its flame-doused face, a "blood-splattered" Bay-breasted, gaudy male Golden-winged, a cool blue male Cerulean, multiple Blue-wingeds, Black-throated Greens, a pack of Tennessees, a nifty Yellow-throated Warbler, Chestnut-sided and Myrtle Warblers. Other highlights for warbler junkies included the seemingly daily sightings of Swainson's Warblers, Ovenbirds, Worm-eaters, and a number of male American Redstarts fanning their jaffa-splashed tails. A Yellow-breasted Chat continued to please the drip stalwarts at the Boy Scout grandstand by dropping in to thrill every so often, visibly needing to wash off its mulberry-stained breast on occasion. Kicking about the woods in the afternoon at Boy Scout also produced a good dose of Painted Bunting sightings, a living work of art, and arguably the most colorful bird in all of Texas. Thrushes were very much in evidence again, and although the Swainson's movement of yesterday had slowed somewhat there were some new kids on the block with the first seasonal sightings of both Veery and Gray-cheeked Thrush. A "wingy" empid that gave some short, close-up looks was also thought to be the first Acadian Flycatcher of the year. The mulberry trees again proved popular targets for the fruithunters in the migrant crowd, that included the aforementioned thrushes, along with grosbeaks (both Blue and Rose-breasted), both the usual tanagers in addition to at least one flashy male Western Tanager. All possible vireos were wandering the woods too, including the tardy member of the group (that usually arrives late in the season), Philadelphia, as well as its blander relative, Warbling, and flashier Yellow-throated. Aside from that the odd Yellow-billed Cuckoo came crashing down into the mottes on weak wings, and a Common Nighthawk swooped and dived acrobatically in front of the "bandstand" at Boy Scout.

In summary the morning was not for the squeamish, requiring determination and spirit to stick it out for the celebrity arrivals in the afternoon. Once they arrived they appeared far from tired for the most part leading us a merry dance as we followed this rich migrant mob as it roamed the oaks at Smith. A memorable afternoons birding on the Upper Texas Coast for sure, and with more thunderstorms predicted for the next few days we look forward to another envigorating warbler workout!

Sam Woods

April 15, 2009

"Lemonhead" (Prothonotary Warbler) graces HAS Boy Scout Woods today
(Sam Woods)

OK!! so after two and a half weeks of tracking and trying to understand weather forecasts, wind speeds, wind directions, twisting low pressure cells and turning high presure systems against satellite and radar imagery of bird flock movements...a day like today comes along and throws over board whatever patterns may have started to make predictive sense. Who would have guessed that with clear skies, a predominantly calm day seasoned by a whispy south-easterly and balmy temperatures, bird traffic would be what it was...and lets be clear...it was FUN-TASTIC.

At the HAS Boy Scout Woods grandstand drip birdnumbers and quality sightings built up exponentially through the morning and had the crowds glued with anticipation for the next drop in. Indigo and Painted Bunting, Wood Thrush, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, Prothonotary, Swainson's and Kentucky Warblers were busy raising our hopes for the day, when suddenly a "blond" bombshell, THE mythical Golden-winged Warbler waltzed into the drip jolting the Grand Stand harder than IKE did. Shy but determined this winged gem paraded its beauty from twig to twig bringing "citric" elation to the crowd gathered, and for those that missed him, he repeatedly performed regular appearances atop a nearby Yopan bush much to the delight of all latecoming visitors to Boy Scout Woods today.

By 1300 PM the understorey at Boy Scout Woods was crawling with goodies, with several Worm-eating, Blue-winged, American Redstart, Ovenbird later on the day, and an inordinate amount of Swainson's Thrushes gorging themselves plump on mulberries. An unusually early arrival record was clocked for Bay-breasted Warbler a bird we only expected by the end of the month. Instead a ridiculously tame adult male fed near the blind, performing "royally" and giving soaking views to anyone in attendance. An unconfirmed report of Black-billed Cuckoo made it to the tally, but we were unable to find out who saw it and/or follow this sighting up. Chuck-will's Widow and later Common Nighthawk were also recorded at HAS Boy Scout Woods today.

Smith Oaks was graced by several fast moving flocks studded with great warbling gems such as Ceruleans, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Palm, Pine and several Blackburnian Warblers, moving alongside Tennessee, Nashville, "Myrtle", Northern Parula and Black and White Warblers. Flock "mixers" included good numbers of Red-eyed , the odd Warbling and a single Yellow-throated Vireo. Independently, and very much on their own "pluck", a pseudo-invasion of Scarlet Tanagers, spiced up with Summer Tanagers, a pair of Western Tanagers and healthy numbers of Orchard and Baltimore Orioles ramsacked the mulberries near Don's drip. Odd-ends encountered during the afternoon walk included a rather sedate Yellow-billed Cuckoo, sallying Eastern Wood Pewees, Eastern and Western Kingbirds and a Great Crested Flycatcher. At Don's Drip itself great views of very obliging Blue-winged Warbler as well as Worm-eating and Yellow-breasted Chat were had before dusk.

Bolivar Flats revealed the usual cast of shorebirds, terns and gulls with the exception of another completely different sighting of an adult Black legged Kittiwake and a single Buff-breasted Sandpiper tearing through the skies above the group.

All in all a 27 Warbler day, jam packed with non-stop birding actvity, good quality birds and good bird numbers that inevitably translated into palpable excitement on just about every birder that visited High Island today. By th e end of the day there was "perma-grin" on every face I came across. However, back at the roost....its back to the books for us and to try figure out what was in the air today that turned the dome into such a DROP ZONE, not that we are complaining!! but it would be nice to understand what caused it. With a prognosis of several thunderstoms ahead for the remainder of the week, we hope its bound to get even better, but do not take our word for it, take your chance, come by, and in all likelihood you too will have a whale of a time.

Christian Boix

April 14, 2009

Blue Grosbeak HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

The morning started brightly with some good species around the woods at Boy Scout, with reports coming in of Worm-eating Warbler and Swainson's Warbler sharing the same scrubby grove on the western side of the woods, and a few people lucked-in on a pair of spiffing blue Cerulean Warblers working one of the oaks. The woods were very far off being seething with migrants although there was a good sprinkling of birds, with at least 21 species of warblers encountered in the Smith motte and the HAS sanctuary at Boy Scout. Undoubtedly the top score from the mornings birding came from the single Violet-green Swallow that hawked over Boy Scout with the much-more expected crowd of Tree Swallows and Purple Martins mid-morning. The male Western Tanager that has been roaming the dome for the last week again chose to hang out by the Grand Old Oak at Smith in the afternoon, where a number of Summer Tanagers were also around. Warblers included an Ovenbird that strutted up to the grandstand drip several times, a scattering of Kentuckys, a shocking yellow male Prothonotary Warbler that arrived at Boy Scout after lunch, a single flame-faced Blackburnian Warbler that beamed at us from an oaktop that also held a citrine Blue-winged Warbler during the afternoon Smith walk, while both Yellow-breasted Chat and Chestnut-sided Warbler both came in and checked out the main drip at Boy Scout. A small party of newly arrived warblers dropped into the motte at Smith in the afternoon that held a flashy Yellow-throated Warbler and spanking male Black-throated Green Warbler. Other birds of note scattered around the High Island woodlots included a number of Swainson's Thrushes gorging on the mulberries at Boy Scout, that also had a number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks for company in the same fruity trees, some rusted Wood Thrushes also around the same sanctuary, their melancholy song being heard as dusk fell over the woods. Aside from that a few Red-eyed Vireos and at least one Yellow-throated Vireo turned up, as did both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, that latter once again arriving in good numbers. It also felt like the numbers of Gray Catbirds around the woods had swelled today, a newly arrived birds bolstering the resident population and the formerly present Mexican imigrant ones. Down along the coast a few Buff-breasted Sandpipers were noted moving along the shore. A quietish day by the impossibly high standards of High Island, although when you pass the magic twenty marker for warblers it feels a little rich to complain!

Sam Woods


April 13, 2009

The drips today may not have been the pumping hive of activity of Friday afternoon, but they still held a thriller or two...
female Kentucky Warbler, HAS Boy Scout Woods (Sam Woods)

A heavy misty morning greeted us at HAS Boy Scouts, activity was down and what little called or chirped from the trees and bushes bellowed the fact that a massive exodus had taken place overnight. The most remarkable birds noted on the walk being a skulky Worm-eating Warbler and several Hoodeds, Western Kingbird and a few Swainson's Thrushes. By mid morning stronger winds picked up and the mist burnt off, revealing some strong movement of Tree and Cliff Swallows as well as Chimney Swifts.

At Bolivar Flats a shrimping boat provided distant but recognisable views of a Magnificent Frigatebird, whilst overhead Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks moved through. A White-tailed Kite and a Crested Caracara were seen quartering the flats. The beach was fairly empty but Pipings (plovers) were still there. At Loop 108 an escapee White-cheeked Pintail amenised the drive. The tide at the jetty was way high to produce any decent views of anything. Bob's road on the peninsula however was, and has been, very good over the past few days and today it was excellent, producing 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 5 Baird's and 4 White-rumped Sandpipers as well as loads of Westerns, Least's and Stilt Sandpipers. Eastern and Western Willets rested shoulder-to-shoulder,as well as Wilson's and Semipalmated Plovers and a brazen Clapper Rail. Dainty and turning Black Terns were seen in addition to Common, Foster's, Sandwich and Royal Terns. Bonaparte's Gull was seen picking the churned waters of the Intercoastal behind the massive barges. Rollover Pass produced a Black-legged Kitiwake later in the day and flying over the dome a Franklin's Gull was enjoyed by everyone at the grandstand.

Warblerwise, HAS Boy Scouts produced a Cerulean, Kentucky, Blue-winged, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Common Yellowthroat and several crisp Painted and Indigo Buntings. A latish Louisiana Waterthrush was picked up as well as several further Northern Waterthushes. Wood, Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes trickled in at dusk at the sanctuary drips. At the nearby TOS Hook Woods American Redstart was recorded again.

Smith Oaks is still hosting a Western Tanager, and Blackburnians lingered on during the morning hours at least. A Prairie Warbler was seen during an evening walk beside the rookery at Clay-bottom Pond. All in all, a mixed bag day that just highlighted what a great Easter Weekend it was!! ...although a lot more is yet to come, and we are ready for it...so bring it ON!

Christian Boix

April 12, 2009

A glowing male Indigo Bunting heads for the drip at HAS Boy Scout Woods
(Christian Boix)

Blue is the color...Cerulean Warbler, HAS Boy Scout Woods (Sam Woods)

Black-throated Green, HAS Boy Scout Woods 
(Christian Boix)

Quality not quantity was the order of the day. Although there was not a huge volume of migrants on the move today, the quality and variety of birds was simply fantastic. We awoke with the visible threat of storms in a darkening sky, and the exciting prospect of the migrant fix that comes with it. Late morning saw dark clouds pass over the woodlots and unload some short bursts of rain, that had us dreaming of an afternoon scouring through warbler flocks. Well we did not get a fallout, and the numbers of birds were not huge, but the diversity of birds in town today was pretty damn good. Within a few hours of dawn HAS Boy Scout Woods was hopping with the first few migrants of the day, one of which was one of High Island spring stars - a certain dapper blue number known as Cerulean Warbler popped in and "rocked" the grandstand crew. In fact it turned out to be a blue day, with multiple and regular sightings of these blue wonders around Boy Scout, Smith Oaks, and a pair was also picked up in the TOS Hooks Woods sanctuary on 1st Street. This was just one of an impressive 27 species of warblers found in the woods today. Top finds included a lingering Townsend's hanging out with a band of Blackburnians that had come in today at Smith, a FOS Magnolia Warbler reported by one spawny birder at Smith, a FOS Chestnut-sided Warbler in Smith all afternoon, several Blackpolls in Boy Scout, and a male Bronzed Cowbird that came in to check out the Houston Audubon staff at the kiosk. It was party time in the "oaktops" at Smith, when one could see Cerulean, Townsend's, Yellow-throated, Black-throated Green and Blackburnians all gleaning bugs in the same massive Grand Old Live Oak.  A movement in a tangle of rusty-brown dead leaves revealed a striped-up Worm-eater, and a Wilson's Warbler continued to perform for the afternoon gathering beside "Don's Drip" at Smith. The black-and-scarlet form of American Redstarts also turned up in both the main sanctuaries on the dome, and a shocking yellow male Prothonotary hung out in the live oaks at Boy Scout. While multiple Kentuckys and a single Swainson's Warbler hopped furtively through the leaf litter, a good batch of Tennessees passed through the oaks above, and sometimes had Blue-wingeds, Black-and-whites, and Black-throated Greens for company. The first trickle of vivid Yellow Warblers, sporting bloody bands down their glowing breasts also graced the woods today.

The mulberries were jostling with Baltimore Orioles, Summer Tanagers, the odd Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, with Swainson's Thrushes, Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, Wood Thrushes, and even a Yellow-breasted Chat also getting in on the action around the bounty of berries. However, markedly the Orchard Oriole hordes that had haunted the woods over the last few days had dwindled significantly with tangerine Baltimores now having the upper hand. Vireo diversity was also impressive, a single Philly being joined in the mottes by the usual White-eyeds, Blue-headeds, Yellow-throateds and a number of Warblings too.  Other birds of interest today included a smattering of Painted Buntings, a Chuck-wills-widow that took flight, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that dropped in straight off the Gulf at Boy Scout, a Western Kingbird, a Dickcissel out the back of Boy Scout and an elegant Swallow-tailed Kite at Smiths that shunted speedily out of harms way as an afternoon downpour brewed up. Smith. Other birds on offer today included Cedar Waxwing, Lincoln's Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrashers, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a number of butch Blue Grosbeaks.

All in all one thrilling day on the dome, comprising the highest warbler day count to date, almost everyone leaving with a crisp Cerulean or two, a gutful of warblers, and a giant grin on their faces!

The "full monty" - Warblers reported today on the dome:
Blue-winged Warbler                                
Tennessee Warbler                                  
Orange-crowned Warbler                        
Nashville Warbler                                      
Northern Parula                                           
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat

Sam Woods


April 11, 2009

One of the dozens of Painted Buntings in the mottes on the 10th
(Christian Boix/Leica)

For the second day in a row a Swainson's Warbler showed off
in front of the photo blind at Boy Scout Woods (Sam Woods)

Competing with the Swaison's for our attentions at the Boy Scout "photo drip"
(Sam Woods)

Northern Waterthrush, HAS Boy Scout Woods (Sam Woods)

The "winds of change" swirled through the night and at dawn we were facing a steady easterly. Common Nighthawks floated up high, vying for a steady course. The omen of slow migrants on the wing echoed through the empty woods at HAS Boy Scouts, which had unbelievably drained out of  warblers and orioles overnight.  The only brewing hope entertained throughout the walk was that the same exodus may have taken place over at "Yookkies" (Yucatan Peninsula).  

The drips at HAS Boy Scout woods saved the day once again, and from about noon until 1600 hrs a large crowd at the grandstand was duly entertained by hordes of Orchard Orioles dropping by, the occasional Baltimore and Cedar Waxwing, Blue and Rose-breasted Grosbeak terrorrising the Mulberries and several dazzling Scarlet Tanagers setting the drip on fire. Another big "Ooooh....aaaah!!" favourite was a male Prothonotary Warbler that stopped by for a bath. Good-looking males of Blue-winged, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat kept the crowd well enthused and entertained.  At the photo blind Wood Thrush, Swainson's and Worm-eating Warblers  kept the "pajarazzi" well pleased.

HAS Smith oaks produced Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Yellow-throated, a wired up male American Redstart (FOS), Prothonotary, Wilson's and confirmed re-sightings of Townsend's Warbler. The latter suspected twice from the previous day, when a flock of eight birds were seen moving on a number of occassions through the tree tops around Don's drip and inside the sanctuary near the main parking lot. A Yellow Warbler and Prairie Warbler were also reported. A very welcome sighting too was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that hung about the scrub around the drip whilst a few Eastern Wood Peewees, Great-crested Flycatcher, Summer Tanagers and Painted Buntings made the long spells of inactivity quite bearable.

The wind was pumping at Bolivar Flats and although Piping and Wilson's Plovers were in attendance, swathes of windblown sand had them well tucked in and "balled -up", displaying as few features as possible. The Jetty was heaving with human activity although the winds had the Avocet flocks in the air a few times. 108 Loop was unproductive and Frenchtown road yielded calling Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and Clapper Rail plus great opportunities to enjoy Gull-billed, Least, Foster's, Royal and Common Terns. On Bob's road great views of White-rumped Sandpipers were had for the second day. Roll-over pass was however the place to be for shorebird numbers and the usual diversity, plus away from the wind. 

An increase in trail blazers making the most of the Easter weekend teased out a proud array of mammals at both HAS Boy Scout and Smith Oaks sanctuaries that included Bobcat, Coyote, Striped Skunk and, Armadillos to boot.

Christian Boix

April 10, 2009

Swainson's Warbler drops in at Boy Scout, shortly before a
Worm-eater steals the limelight... (Sam Woods)

"Worm-eater", HAS Boy Scout Woods (Sam Woods)

Rarity in town... Hooded Oriole photographed by visiting birder Dave Dolan

What a difference a few hours can make in High Island. We left the woods after a fairly lacklustre morning after the big clearout of the day before migrants (with the notable exception of a lemon-headed Prothonotary Warbler singing its lungs out near the rookery at Smith), had a great time down on the shore at Bolivar sifting through the mass of shorebirds working the mud, and then returned to a very different kettle of fish when we got back to the  mottes in the afternoon.

The best of the action unravelled at the drips in both Boy Scout and Smith, where the activity was frenetic, sometimes it seemed that warblers were bathing shoulder to shoulder trying to worm their way into the drip action.
It truly felt like finding the mother of all jackpots on an easter egg hunt (Christian Boix pers. obs).

At one point one hyper-ventilating birder watched in amazement as a Swainson's Warbler bathed in a pool beside a spanking male Kentucky Warbler and a male Common Yellowthoat while a Worm-eater waited its turn on a branch above. He did not know where to look or which one to photograph first. Another ridiculous moment came when I tried to alert Christian at the grandstand of a Swainson's Warbler at the photo blind drip, only for our cellphones to be engaged as he was also trying to contact me as at the very same time another Swainson's Warbler was showing itself to the excited crowd on the Boy Scout grandstand. The action was literally pumping and the excitement was just unbelievable. This may not have been a full blown fallout, but it felt really, really good.

Over at Smith, by mid-afternoon people were already non-chalant over yet another Painted Bunting in the woods, one person commenting "...is there any half acre WITHOUT a Painted Bunting". My reply was simply that just a few days ago (or even hours) it would be hard to find one anywhere. The migrants streaming into the woodlots this afternoon seemed in desperate need of a drink and a bathe after their gulf flight, as the drip there too was non-stop with migrant activity all afternoon. As well as numerous visits from the polychromatic Painted Buntings, vivid Indigo Buntings and incandescent Summer Tanagers.  The star find was a Prairie Warbler that thrilled a select crowd lined up on the observation benches, who had also enjoyed a spritely Wilson's Warbler bathing in front of them. The crowd sat there glued for much of the afternoon, unhappy to relinquish their golden circle seats  to the frenzied action after the "Yucatan Express" rolled in. At the big oaks over at Smith there was a constant flurry of birds moving through the treetops, mostly comprising Indigo Buntings, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles. A Blackburnian Warbler also snaked its way through the treetops at Smith too. A couple of other warblers were the first sightings for the area for this spring season-notably Yellow Warbler and American Redstart. The best warbler day of the spring to date saw 24 species racked up by the end of the day (and almost all of them visiting the drips at some time or another-18 species at least), and a whole bucketload of other interesting stuff, including a FOS Philadelphia Vireo, a continuing male Hooded Oriole visiting the blooming Cape Honeysuckle on Dunman Street, a continuing roaming male Western Tanager that has now turned its attentions to the woods at Smith Oaks, a few Blue Grosbeaks, Warbling Vireos, and the distinctly strange sighting of a Magnificent Frigatebird gliding over a stunned grandstand at Boy Scout. It was just one of those classic High Island days, that wherever you decided to go in the afternoon you would see a whole load of migrants.

Down the peninsula for the midday shorebird showdown various groups scoured the shore. A few "embarrassed-looking", pink-flushed Red Knots also hung out on the shore out from the jetty. Along Bobs Road on the peninsula a good find was a group of four White-rumped Sands, that generally rarely feed in such salty areas, and also a few stout-billed Wilson's Plovers.  

If even a fraction of what was hanging out in the woods today remains until tomorrow morning, we will have plenty to look at, and quite frankly long may this warbler-fest continue...

Sam Woods



April 9, 2009

Long-billed Curlew makes a welcome return to Bolivar (Sam Woods)


Yellow-throated Warbler checks out the HAS Smith Oaks drip (Christian Boix/Leica)

The morning walk at HAS Boy Scout Woods offered  little to rave about, tail-flashing Hooded Warblers terrorised the understorey and a mob of White-throated Sparrows combed the back end of the reserve.  White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos helped slice through what was otherwise a rather torpid walk....oh!! and did I forget the Ruby-crowned Kinglet....he was there to.

The real action only started around noon, and once again by the Grand Stand drip.  Throughout the morning a driblble of Orange-crowned  Warblers (whom I must say did such a fine job at washing thier heads even the "orange" flushed out!!), a handsome  stream of males and female Northern Parulas, Tennessee and Nashville Warblers spicing up the morning waters at the drip. A crescendo of Orchard Orioles  and Summer Tanagers built up  throughout the early noon only to be outshun by a trio of  gobsmacking, drop-dead gorgeous males of Baltimore, Bullock´s and Hooded Oriole in the afternoon, PLUS a male Painted Bunting in full breeding colours that just set the drip ON FIRE!! and re-sightings of a Western Tanager, possibly the same one sighted a few days ago.

Other crowd favourites at the drip today included Northern Waterthrush (which enigmatically have replaced Louisiana´s COMPLETELY over the last two days ?),  Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Kentucky and Blue-winged Warblers, and  Common Yellowthroat.  A Western Kingbird arrived and hung about for the rest of the afternoon around The Roost and Information Center across the street from Boy Scout Woods. From the glooms of the understorey world, Swainson´s and Wood Thrushes as well as Ovenbirds were teased out.

Smith Oaks looked promising on arrival with lots of warbler movement in the canopy, but somehow the frenzy dissipated and slim pickings included Black-throated Green, Yellow-throated, Black-and-white, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Common Nighthawk, Cedar Waxwing and at the drip a bold Wilson´s Warbler taking a bath. Perhaps the more interesting bird of the afternoon was a photographed Rufous/Allen´s Hummingbird perched high up (see photo right), either species fairly uncommon around this neck of the woods and time of year.  Indigo Buntings have become regular roadside denizens in just about every moat around the rookery and a Painted Bunting female was seen among them. Blue Grosbeak was seen during the morning by a few fortunate.  A Prothonotary on territory between the 1st and second viewing platforms at Clay-bottom Pond seems to be showing unreluctantly to
 the crowd.

Down at Bolivar our noon showdown with shorebirds saw us run into a fine Long-billed Curlew strutting past the Jetty on 17th Street, that had a few thousand odd Avocets as a backdrop. A Snowy Plover also patrolled the beach again down at the Flats on Rettilon Road.

Roseate Spoonbill nests are increasing in number at Clay-bottom Pond and water levels are dropping with a concomittant increase in numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds.

Christian Boix


April 8, 2009

Sparrows and Thrushes queue up at the HAS Boy Scout Woods drip
after their afternoon arrival from Mexico...

White-throated Sparrow (Sam Woods)

Wood Thrush (Sam Woods)

Swainson's Thrush (Sam Woods)

As they say in football (soccer), this was a game of two halves. The first half, the morning, comprised slim pickings with much of what was around over the last few days having cleared out, and little new to show for it either. The afternoon however, was a completely different half, with the southerly airflow encouraging migrants to make the journey north from the Yucatan in Mexico, leading to an almost constant stream of activity around the drips in the Houston Audubon sanctuaries, and a cumulative total of around 17 warbler species again recorded at various locations around the dome. Although it was not exactly the flood of birds that we expect later this month, the afternoon activity had us glued to the drips. Along with the drip action some of the more adventurous souls who wandered into the far reaches of the sanctuaries racked up some impressive sightings. These included a couple of sightings of spanking male Painted Buntings, while some of the same chosen few were also treated to an exclusive showing of Swainson's Warbler, that for the second day in a row turned up just a stones throw from the Boy Scout Woods drip, but only came up for the lucky few. Drip action in the afternoon at Boy Scout Woods included regular visits by some glowing male Indigo Buntings, and an assortment of Orchard Orioles revealing an increase in numbers today, the odd Brown Thrasher, a loner Nashville Warbler, a vigorously bathing Kentucky Warbler, and a run on White-throated Sparrows, with five birds all showing up at the photo blind at one time, in addition to a few clearly different individuals at the grandstand drip too.  Furthermore, thrushes were also in evidence at the Boy Scout photo blind, where both Wood and Swainson's Thrushes gave crisp looks. The HAS Smith Oaks sanctuary also has a drip facility for the tired Mexican migrants, and produced a flashy Yellow-throated Warbler for the afternoon guided walk crowd. Other notable birds around the coastal mottes and woodlots included Black-throated Green Warbler, and Prothonotary, and Tennessee Warblers all in Smith Oaks. While waterthrushes seem now to be mainly Northerns, the earlier movement in the month of Louisianas seeming to have been largely supplanted now by their northern cousins. Other birds of note today included Blue-winged Warbler in Boy Scout, a Cedar Waxwing, a number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks checking out the mulberry situation in the mottes, a smattering of Summer Tanagers also looking for the same harvest, and a Common Nighthawk at Smith.

The group for the midday amble along the shore down at Bolivar witnessed the continuing horde of rusty-headed avocets, and the full plover quartet once more, a single Snowy hanging out with a small group of pot-bellied Pipings, while several Wilson's were working the trashline on the beach, and Semi-palms hanging out along the 108 loop.

Sam Woods


April 7, 2009


Ovenbird, HAS Boy Scout Woods - thanks to visiting
birder Brad Dawson for providing these images


Dawn saw the submission of the past few day's blistering and blustering northerly's. Although nippy, it was good to end the suffering at mercy of brutal chill factors and absorb some sunrays for a change. Like us, a smattering of grounded birds reluctant to proceed north, flitted out and showed themselves. The morning started with brief glimpses of Western Tanager and Baltimore Oriole behind "The Roost", where both of them have been gorging themselves on Australian nectar, provided by a plush "Bottle brush"over the last two days, whilst avoiding harrasment from a 1st year Orchard Oriole clearly "souped-up" in his first year bout of testosterone.

The walk started with Louisiana Waterthrush and Orange-crowned Warblers at Purkey's. Good numbers of Summer Tanagers have built up and a wave of Red-eyed Vireos seemed to have congregated at HAS Boy Scout Woods.  Warbling , Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos were also present.  A number of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers graced the grasslands behind the woods and a single pair of Great Crested Flycatchers were seen near the grandstand as well.  Throughout the morning reports of Worm-eating, Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped and Yellow-throated Warblers, as well as Yellow-breasted Chat and Painted Bunting trickled in at the center.

Raptorwise the skies were pretty void, the monotony broken by a few Broad-winged Hawks and a spiffy Swainson's Hawk at HAS Smith Oaks.

Down on the shore there was a changing of the guard, with a scattering of Western Sandpipers being outnumbered by Semipalmated Sandpipers on our section of the shoreline at Bolivar Flats. The full small plover quartet was also in evidence with Semi-palms, a lone Snowy, a scattering of Pipings, and three or four Wilson's running ragged on the exposed sand bars. The 108 loop down on the peninsula was packed with shorebirds, a particularly impressive sight being the massive swirling flock of thousands of American Avocets, with a "ringtail" Northern Harrier flying through the melee.   An American Golden Plover also dropped in there too. Reports of Upland Sandpipers in the Winnie-Nome cattle fields we discovered yesterday, corroborate the birds are still hanging about.

Whilst Smith Oaks was quiet in the afternoon, things livened up a bit at Boy Scout woods with a female Cerulean Warbler dropping in at the circular walk behind Purkey's Pond. Ovenbirds became conspicuous too and several were seen at the blind, coming in to the drips. At the blinds too, Hermit, Swainson's and Wood Thrush put out a stellar appearance and nearby a Swainson's Warbler, brought to an end many years of futile chase for a lucky few,  elation was evident and palpable in the air.

Its fair to say that at present densities are low but diversity remains high and increasing. Hard work, luck and determination is required, but the new trails opened up over the weekend by Ed and the volunteers are working a treat. One thing is for sure, slow as it may be there is a distinct feeling that more "MEGAS" are about to pop up any minute now!!

From the dome...over and out !!

Christian Boix


April 6, 2009


Baltimore Oriole, HAS Boy Scout Woods (Jeff Bouten/Leica)

Western Tanager, The Roost on 5th Street, High Island (Christian Boix/Leica)

Another blustery and extremely chilly day on the dome produced a sprinkling of migrants. Early on a Worm-eating Warbler popped up in front of the Houston Audubon kiosk in Boy Scout Woods, though generally remained elusive throughout the remainder of this cool, windy day.  Also seen during a generally slow mornings walk in the woods, included a Cedar Waxwing that felt completely in tone with the mornings extremely cool temperatures, a couple of Red-eyed Vireos, a Wood Thrush skulking in the brushy understorey, a Swainon's Thrush at the drip, and a few Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. The ripening berries in the mulberries in Boy Scout drew in a few fiery-orange-and-black male Baltimore Orioles, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak or two, and the odd Gray Catbird. Top of the pile for the day though was a spiffing Western Tanager that had taken up residence for the day in the blooming bottle brush in Winnie's garden over at The Roost opposite Boy Scout Woods on 5th Street. We'd hoped for a push of migrants in the afternoon that would be held up by the strong norther blowing in their faces after they had struggled across the Gulf of Mexico. Little extra species turned up in the afternoon walks  over in Smith Oaks, although there was a significant push of just a few species. Most notably were the swathes of Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers that carpeted the woods, moving through in a "Mexican wave" by the rookery at Smith, with the odd Northern Parula hiding out in among the siege of gnatcatchers. Eastern Kingbirds also dropped in on a regular basis during the afternoon, the other main species that seemed to have enjoyed a resurgence in the afternoon. In spite of the generally quiet feel in the these coastal woodlots, a good list of migrants was racked up by the hardy birders out in the cool northern winds, including Tenessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Prothonotary, Yellow-throated and Black-throated Green Warblers, in addition to Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos and a scattering of Indigo Buntings.

Good news from the rookery (in HAS Smith Oaks) though was the first evidence of nesting for this season from the abundant Roseate Spoonbills, a pair fussing away at their newly assembled stick pile. The receding water levels at Clay Bottom Pond at HAS Smith Oaks continue to attract freshwater shorebirds and other waterbirds adding a whole new exciting element to the rookery birding this season, on this day producing a small group of Stilt Sandpipers in amongst the dowitcher flock, a Wilson's Snipe feeding out on the muddy edges of the main island, and a small flock of peeps still present.

Sam Woods


April 5, 2009


Summer Tanager brings a flush of color to HAS Smith Oaks (Christian Boix/Leica)

This was a day full of promise, although the reality was not quite so impressive. Blustery northerly winds moved in at midday and had us all dreaming of a warbler-feast in the afternoon. However, the afternoon was frustratingly quiet, with little in the way of new arrivals on the island, except for a FOS  Swainson's Thush bathing at the Houston Audubon drip at Boy Scout Woods. Most of the days 17-species warbler haul and other migrants in the area appeared to be hangers-on from the past few days. Still, with 17 species of warblers in the coastal mottes there was a good sprinkling of interesting birds to be had. Our morning walk produced two different Yellow-breasted Chats (the first ones for this year), including one hunkering down close to the photo blind in Boy Scout. While one of the "photo drips" attracted the interest of the chat, the other photo drip proved its worth when an Ovenbird strutted past us there.  Other warbers on offer on the island included Blue-winged, Orange-crowned, Kentucky, both Waterthrushes, and Yellow-throated while Prothonotary, Wilson's, Black-throated Green, and Nashville Warblers, and another Yellow-breasted Chat were over in the Smith Oaks woodlot. Other interesting observations included a late Field Sparrow by the sewage pond at the back of Boy Scout, with continuing Swamp and White-throated Sparrows also there, and a shock sighting of a huge Pileated Woodpecker powering its way over the marsh. A bounty of Indigo Buntings was also to be had, with maybe a dozen birds dotted about the motte at Smith, and further ones at Boy Scout. A rich red Summer Tanager lingered around the yet-to-ripen mullberry bushes in Smith, and plenty of Orchard Orioles chattered in the woods too.

Sam Woods


April 4, 2009


Piping Plover digiscoped at Bolivar Flats today (Christian Boix/Leica)

Kentucky Warbler at HAS Boy Scout Woods (Joseph Blake-Dare, 13 yrs)

Slow but steady probably defines today accurately. A quick "nip" into the photography blind at dawn produced a sexy Wood Thrush. The morning walk was decidedly slow, but as the morning progressed and species started to move, numbers started to build up steadily. At the drip and immediate vicinity of the grandstand we had several Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Eastern Kingbirds.  Warbler wise Tennesee, a putative Palm, Yellow-rumped, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded and Northern Parula all paid their respects to the crowds patiently gathered.  Whilst Ovenbird, Orange-crowned, Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, Northern Waterthrush, Summer Tanager, White-eyed, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos had to be gently teased out through the course of the morning from the canopy and thickets. Notably, a Golden-winged Warbler was seen at one of the very same spots where it was seen last year... lets hope it  hangs out for  a few days as it did did then!!!
The sewage ponds were a good place to be today with American Bittern doing a re-appearance for a second day in a row, Least Bittern fishing out in the open, Sora boldly strutting the water's edge, Marsh Wrens bringing the reedbeds alive in song, and an early Blackburnian Warbler sighted nearby...and later in the day at HAS Smith Oaks.

Bolivar Flats produced the goods as in previous days but numbers were well down, mostly due to the presence of several vehicles and people transiting along the beach and spooking out the flocks.  Similarly fishermen and bathers had managed to clear the jetty and its adjacent shores of any significant numbers of waders with a few willets and  brazen  Laughing gulls.....holding the fort.  Nonetheless the  walk was sprightly and entertaining, with young and enthusiastic Joseph reminding everyone how birding-passion germinates. At Yacht Basin Rd, reports of Long-billed Curlew and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow are increasing, corroborated and encouraging. Reliable reports of both Nelson's Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrow also came through from Bobs Rd., as well as good numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls along there.

With the weather holding up, no storms brewing, and hardly a puff of wind HAS Boy Scout Woods was slow in the afternoon, to say the least.  However over ar HAS Smith Oaks a few goodies turned up such as Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, male Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and Wilson's, Yellow-thoated, Nashville, Kentucky, , multiple Northern Parulas, Worm-eating and Blue-winged Warbler around the drip.

From the HAS Roost porch whilst digging into some scrumptious Trout for supper and Brenice's Blackberry soup...a flurry of Common Nighthawks emerged from HAS Boy Scout Woods.

Christian Boix


"Woods's" Thrush, HAS Boy Scout Woods today (Sam Woods)


.April 3, 2009

Warblers lining up for the drip at HAS Boy Scout Woods...

A "KA" Kentucky...(Sam Woods)

Blue-winged...(Sam Woods)

and female Hooded Warbler (Sam Woods)

Not much change in the woodlots on the "dome" today, just another 17 species of wood-warblers to deal with! The bone-chilling cool morning walk in HAS Boy Scout Woods was a slow starter with little calling or moving in the cool early morning temperatures. However, as the day warmed up so did the bird action, and early morning warbler parties flitting through the live oaks revealed Nashville, Blue-winged, Black-throated Greens, Northern Parulas, Black-and-whites, and some lucky ones also took in a striped-up Worm-eater too. Over at Purkey's Pond by the HAS kiosk, a Louisiana Waterthrush strutted on bubble-gum pink legs around the muddy verge.

The Bolivar walk was spartan in terms of bird numbers with the shorebirds mostly seeming to have chosen other hidden areas to feed during our time there. Although, in spite of low numbers there were still some notable birds to keep us occupied. Small parties of plump Piping Plovers roamed the shore and gave us some really good looks, and after combing the beach for a while we also picked out a stout-billed Wilson's Plover hiding out near the vehicular barrier at the HAS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. Over at the jetty the usual rusty haze of thousands of American Avocets, and gleaming blockade of American White Pelicans were present again, as were the roosting raft of Black Skimmers. Best sighting around Bolivar though was a FOS Common Nighthawk ghosting over the marsh, hawking insects close to the shore just a short time after its arrival in from the Gulf. Also on the shorebird front a notable group of 200 or so American Golden Plovers were seen along the main highway between High Island and Winnie, north of the turn to the Anahuac refuge. Another loner turned up along Yacht Basin Rd. on the Bolivar Peninsula too.

The afternoon was not as frenetic as the day before, but there was still a good sprinkling of migrants to give us junkies a fix. The best of the action came at the drip at Boy Scout, where the "star of the south", Swainson's Warbler, appeared for the fortunate few gathered on the grandstand. Late on in the afternoon the warblers were lining up to get some of that drip action, at one point quick changeovers in the photo blind producing a sequence of Hooded alone, Kentucky alone, and then both Blue-winged and Hooded bathing together. Not long after that the boldly-spotted form of a rusty Wood Thrush also came in for some of that drip action. A few Ovenbirds were also picked up prowling the leafy woodland floor, and the evening saw a bounty of Hooded Warblers hopping along the deserted boardwalks. HAS Smith Oaks was absorbing too, and despite "gripping" messages coming through about the Swainson's show at Boy Scout, we were well satisfied with the performance of the "dead-leaf specialist", Worm-eating Warbler. "Old Stripes" flashed its head stripes at us as it fed in the manner of a Black-and-white Warbler, clasping the trunk of one of Smith's trusty live oaks, and uncharacteristically searching for prey within the recently leafed-out areas of this ever-reliable warbler tree. But as they say, when on migration the rule is, there are no rules! Also in Smith a Yellow-throated Warbler graced us, and a Cedar Waxwing dropped in and happily fed on unripe pink mulberries while we looked on. Visible migration also came in the strange form of a Yellow-headed Blackbird passing low overhead.  Also around the woodlots were a brilliant blue male Indigo Bunting or two, further Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, and lingering wintering migrants, like Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Brown Thrashers, and a few sparrows, including White-crowned and Lincoln's.

Sam Woods


April 2, 2009


Bobcat, HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

Dawn could not have arrived sooner even if it tried....and before it  did we took a quick sneak peak at the drips outside the HAS Boy Scout  photographic blind and our efforts became duly rewarded with a stunning Wood Thrush bathing and preening  a yard away. The morning walk was well attended by a fearsome bunch of birders unabashed to face the weather despite the fact that plenty weather did roll in, with rain, lightning and plenty gusty winds. Nonetheless the morning ramble racked up several hulking Rose-breasted Grosbeaks gorging themselves on berries, and a few enjoyable warbler flocks containing Black-throated Green, Yellow-throated and  Black-and-White Warbler, as well as Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos.  Lower down Hooded's numbers good again and a single Wilson's Warbler was spotted beyond Prothonatory Pond.  Indigo Bunting also graced one of the cypresses close to the drip during a mid-morning lull. A great sighting recorded today was a Buff-bellied Hummingbird reported from the eastern sectors of the reserve.

Bolivar Flats did not produce much different to other days but  the increased popularity of this shorebird identification outing has become increasingly palpable, with group numbers rising despite being mid-week and a savage westerly wind blowing. Good numbers of Piping Plovers scurried about, with lesser numbers of Snowy's, Semi-palmated and a few Wilson's chucked in for good measure.  Whack's of Sanderlings, no shortage of Western Sandpipers, the odd Dunlin,several Black-bellied Plovers and a small gathering of Red Knots. Whimbrels have returned to Yacht Basin Rd. and so too have the first pioneering Long-billed Curlews.  Several tern roosts harboured Royal, Forster's, Sandwich, Gull-billed, Least and even a Caspian.  A steady flow of shoreline migration traffic was evidenced by a steady flow of Cliff and Cave Swallows, Chimney Swifts, and perhaps more interestingly Broad-winged Hawks.  By the jetty near the Hurricane Club a massive flock of American Avocets delighted us with their flock aerobatics, a few hundred White Pelicans still remained and 100 strong flock of Black Skimmers have taken residence at the beach. Recent arrivals here included American Golden Plover and  a very neat adult male Northern Harrier that we watched arrive from sea and  wreak havoc among the roosting shorebirds.

With a northerly wind pumping at HAS Smith Oaks finding warblers in the canopy or tracking them downwind was somewhat challenging. However, with patience and determination we soon found Yellow-rumped, Yellow-throated, Kentucky, Blue-winged, Worm-eating, Northern Parula, Nashville and Orange-crowned. Of further interest were sightings recorded by other birders of Yellow-billed Cuckoo (FOS), a Chuck-wills-widow and Indigo Buntings.
Finally, and arguably voted best "bird" of the afternoon, was a bold Bobcat that strutted past both myself and Sam, took a drink at the drip, and then slunk off into the bush completely unconcerned by our presence and leaving us stranded  in a raging sea of swelling endorphins to deal with.  Before leaving, a flock of Orchard Orioles landed in the live oaks near the parking lot as well as an incandescent, hot and glowing adult male Summer Tanager.

A dusk walk at HAS Boy Scout Woods revealed an Ovenbird (FOS) and added Northern and Louissiana Waterthrush to a total tally of 17 or so warblers for the day.

Christian Boix


April 1, 2009


Hooded Warbler (Iain Campbell/Leica)

Hermit Thrush (Iain Campbell/Leica)

Crikey, this day was not bad either! Our first walk in HAS Boy Scout literally encountered a profusion of White-eyed Vireos and Hooded Warblers. For the first part of the walk it seemed for every step we took we were shadowed by several White-eyeds, and bright yellow Hoodeds jumping on and off the trails and hopping through the brush.  A male Kentucky Warbler also provided some people with an early morning thrill. There also seemed to be a surge of Orchard Orioles during the morning, many heard chattering in the bushes and feasting on the nectar in the purple blooms in the sanctuary, and a fiery red male Summer Tanager stood out in front  of the grandstand. Also on the morning walk was our first Red-eyed Vireo of the season, and a continuing Blue-headed Vireo. The morning was cappped off with a female Merlin (that has been in the area for some time), zipping over the HAS kiosk. While we were out walking in the woods a couple of the other guides found a male Indigo Bunting in the information center yard across 5th Street from the Boy Scout Woods sanctuary.

The noon showdown at HAS Bolivar Flats was typically productive and bird-packed. The usual array of shorebirds were on offer, including several pot-bellied Piping Plovers, a few Wilson's Plovers, masses of American Avocets, a huge hundreds-strong raft of loafing Black Skimmers, and a migrant American Golden Plover was on show too. Arguably the best on offer though was a small party of non-breeding plumage Red Knots, including one bird that was pinking up nicely for the breeding season ahead.

The afternoon ventures into HAS Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods were buzzing with excitement as we craned our necks skyward to sift through the wave of warblers surging through the live oaks above. One minute we clapped eyes on a beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler, then a Black-throated Green Warbler, or a Tennessee, and then they would be replaced by a Northern Parula or two (that arrived en-masse in the woodlots this afternoon). Yellow-throated Vireos and Black-and-white Warblers were also well-represented in these waves of Mexican migrants arriving during the afternoon. A dull vireo that tried to sneak past within the mellee of migrants proved to be our first of the season Warbling Vireo, being largely overshadowed by the more flashy Yellow-throateds in the group. As we made our way around Smith a male Painted Bunting bought a gasp from me at least, although managed to avoid most of us by bombing down into the brush soon after.  Not to be outdone, one inundated birder found himself walking Boy Scout alone at 6pm, and tripping over no less than eight newly arrived Hooded Warblers hopping along the path between the HAS kiosk and the blind, as well as a couple of blinding Blue-winged Warblers flitting about above them and the odd citrus-hooded Prothonotary Warbler thrown in for good measure too. To top all that off he also enjoyed choice views of a Hermit Thrush coming to and from the drip to bathe before it was displaced by a Worm-eating Warbler getting up close and personal at the very same well-placed bird drip. Another birder turned up a short time later and walked in on a Swainson's Warbler coming to the same drip, along with a male Nashville to boot.

Another 14 warbler day siege in the coastal mottes, although with a slightly different mix present today. It will be very interesting indeed to see what is hanging around in the morning, or has sneaked in under the cover of darkness...

Sam Woods
 

March 31, 2009
Crickey what a day it was!! I guess this is what the fuss is all about ...and they tell me it gets better. The walk at HAS Boy Scout Woods started with a steady inbound procession of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, plenty of  Ruby-throated Hummers chasing each other off from the honey-suckle and a confidently and sedate "bobbing" Louisiana Waterthrush working the bogs at Purkey's Pond. White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos were evident in the woods and at the sewage ponds Marsh Wrens were literally bursting in song, oblivious of their conspicuousness.  Common Yellowthroats and Swamp Sparrows competed for food in the reeds. An increase in Gray Catbirds and Orchard Orioles was obvious, and Brown Thrashers enjoyed the rainy outbursts and were all over the walk ways strutting about proudly.  The walk ended with a trickle of Orange-crowned Warblers moving through the brush near the Grandstand.

Bolivar Flats was indeed happening too in a great and pleasant way after the last few days.  We started at the beach at the end of Rettilon , and soon clocked up a Snowy and our first Piping Plover of the day, the end of the morning count for Pipings hovered in the high 30's, with a few less snowy's and a handful of Wilson's (10+) for good measure. The surf was heaving with good numbers of Dunlin, Sanderling and Western Sandpipers as well the odd Pectoral Sandpiper interspersed.  Rafts of White-winged Scoters could be clearly identified from shore.
However by far the best sighting of the day was a Blackburnian Warbler we watched fly in over the sea and land exhausted (and possibly exhilarated!!), on a piece of debris....its Yellow-Orangey throat glowing in the stark devastation and litter strewn expanses of this coastal stretch. Cliff Swallows flying in into a Southeasterly wind were easy to identify as we watced them arrive head on.  A profusion of raptors was also present with Crested Caracaras and Northern harriers quartering the marshes, Merlin slicing over the reed tops, patient Ospreys studying the rippled waters and Swainson's Hawks working the drafts. By the jetty an impressive 3000+ flock of Avocets were present, as were 250+ American White pelicans. Good numbers of Short-billed Dowitchers, Marbled Godwits, Willets, and Black-bellied Plovers kept us entertained for a while as we studied the flock meticulously. On the way back a brief stop at Roll Over Pass yielded Red-breasted Merganser, American Oystercatcher, 300+ Black Skimmers, Royal, Sandwich, Common, Foster's and Least Terns.

In the afternoon HAS Smith Oaks finally lived up to its reputation...and the birding was so fast and furious that the mosquitos were having a hard time catching up with us.  A Peregrine Falcon, possibly terrorising the flocks of shorebirds that these days congregate at Clay Bottom pond showed up well at the car park.  On entering the forest the group was greeted by a small group of glowing Indigo Buntings, the common yet outrageously handsome Hooded Warbler... and a high canopy flock working the live oaks peppered with Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and an accompanying entourage of Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and the obligate Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the afternoon. A Louisiana Waterthrush was also found working the edge of Clay Bottom as we relaxed by the rookery at the end of what had been a great afternoon.

All in all the single most exciting day of the year thus far, with 14 species of warbler totalled !!

Christian Boix


March 30, 2009
What can we say about today. In a word, dull. The coastal mottes were almost deathly quiet, with just a few Northern Parulas, Orchard Orioles and a lone Sora working the marshy edges in HAS Boy Scout Woods this morning. Aside from that, there were a few lingering winter sparrows, with Swamp visiting the drip, along with a White-throated Sparrow, and a Lincoln's popping up in the brushy understorey out in the woods. We hope that things pick up tomorrow with rumours of a storm brewing...Here are a few photos from Bolivar on the 29 March to spice this up a little!

Sam Woods


Wilson's Plover (Sam Woods)

Piping Plovers, 3 of 47 seen, including 41 in a single group! (Sam Woods)


March 29, 2009
A chilly morning in HAS Boy Scout Woods produced two to three different Chuck-wills-widows that were found lurking in the brush. One of these chunky nightjars gave fantastic looks as it sat motionless in the shadows, hoping that we were not onto it, its cryptic head lined up in our 'scope for all to see, during our first morning walk in the woods.  A pair of Nashville Warblers were the first of the season, as was a moulting male Indigo Bunting that first showed up in Boy Scout Woods, and later dropped in at the information center across the street. Other than that warblers were represented by a continuing  Louisiana Waterthrush working the muddy edges of Purkey's Pond (Boy Scout Woods), the odd cobalt-and-yellow Northern Parula, and a few Black-and-white Warblers doing their nuthatch impressions for us.  Other migrant fare included a couple of Great Crested Flycatchers in the woods, and the odd Orchard Oriole turning up in the High Island gardens to plunder their nectar.

Down on the shore on the peninsula the Bolivar Jetty was alive with birds, a rusty pack of avocets and a huge mob of gleaming American White Pelicans being the most obvious, but plenty of Western Sandpipers were also present, in addition to a few Long-billed Curlews. Best of all though came on the sandy flats around the HAS shorebird sanctuary of Bolivar Flats where 47 Piping Plovers dotted the shore, and also a single hefty-billed Wilson's Plover too.

Over at HAS Smith Oaks the low water levels kept a few freshwater 'waders' happy, with four or more Stilt Sandpipers mixed in with the dowitchers, Least Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers. There was also a good scattering of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers along the entrance track into Smith.

Sam Woods


March 28, 2009

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (AKA "Pinkie"), HAS Smith Oaks (Sam Woods)

Hold on!! who left the freezer door open ?? what happened to the warm and balmy weather of yesterday??
We awoke early this morning scrambling for more duvets and pining for a hot shower....a cold front must have slipped in last night. Clear skies, gusty northerly winds, temps barely in the 40's...no dawn chorus and a frozen Skunk in our driveway...not the most auspicious of signs. The Boy Scout Woods morning walk was well attended and yielded a flashy and unexpected Chuck Will's Widow, smart views of Brown Thrasher and extended looks at a Louisiana Waterthrush,Orange-crowned Warblers, Northern Parula, Black and White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler and an unexpected Worm eating Warbler later in the day.

The Yellow Rail walk at Anahuac came back sporting flying colours after a hatrick flush of three Yellow Rails plus the added bonus of a few Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Bolivar Jetty at low tide was heaving with shorebirds with thousands of American Avocets feeding out at sea, and roosting nearby. Marbled Godwit and Willets were commonly seen as well as lesser numbers  of Long-billed Curlews and a few Pectoral Sandpipers. A few thousand Western Sandpipers and Dunlins kept us well entertained for most of the visit. A flock of 80 Black Skimmers was seen roosting close to the jetty and hundreds of American White Pelicans were scattered in the distance.

At TOS Hook Woods Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a fleeting Merlin, Eastern Kingbird and Orchard Orioles were enjoyed.

In the afternoon we persevered at HAS Smith Oaks, a Swallow-tailed Kite was sighted by those who had arrived early for the walk and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers delighted the latecomers. The walk started with great views of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and progressed rather quietly only to conclude with increased numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a single Hooded Warbler, a single sighting of Palm Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher and an Eastern Kingbird.  At Clay Bottom pond the effects of the current drought in the region have left water levels low which has brought some freswater shorebirds to the usual melange of species encountered at the rookery, namely Least, Semipalmated and Stilt Sandpipers, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

Christian Boix


March 27, 2009
It feels good to be back on the Gulf Coast again, as pretty soon today we got an interesting mix of birds. Some lingerers from the cool winter months were still evident, along with some movers that were harbingers of early spring.  11 species of warbers was proof of spring in the air, and the feeling that the previous days heavy afternoon downpour worked its magic on the Houston Audubon coastal woodlot sanctuaries of Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. Among the early warbler fare were Yellow-throated, a FOS Blue-winged, a crisp lemon-headed male Prothonotary in HAS Smith Oaks, and a smart male Wilson's also working Smith.  Signs of winter came in the form of several sparrows hanging on in the area, including several Lincoln's, the odd White-throated amd also a few Swamp Sparrows too. A triumvirate of vireos were also about, with several lemon-spectacled White-eyed Vireos on territory in the brushy understoreys in the woodlots, a few striking Yellow-throateds, and Blue-headed also in attendance.

Down the road at the Bolivar Jetty, the avocet horde was impressive where thousands of rusty heads were packed around the large, tight flock of American White Pelicans, and a few cinnamon-breasted Marbled Godwits. Also present were several American Golden Plovers along the coast road down there from High Island (along with a lone Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on a wire), a number of Western Sandpipers fussing around the edges of the avocet flock on the peninsula, and a good number and variety of terns, including Least, Sandwich, and Gull-billed among the six tern species present.

Sam Woods


January 7, 2009
Spring migration is only a few months away! We're excited to tell you that all the reserves are now open, and we are gearing up for another exciting season. High Island came through Hurricane Ike with surprisingly little damage, and the Tropical Birding information center will be open on March 28th. We will again offer our daily bird walks in conjuction with Houston Audubon; these walks were a huge hit in 2008, and helped thousands of visiting birders get the most out of their visit to the area.

The Bolivar Peninsula was very badly damaged by the hurricane, with several towns, including Crystal Beach, being almost entirely destroyed. Hundreds of families lost their homes, which are only now starting to be rebuilt. Now, more than ever, this area needs visiting birders to inject some dollars into the local economy. If you plan to visit, please try to buy your food, gas, and other supplies from the local merchants. The good news is that Houston Audubon's Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary did not sustain significant damage, and we expect the birding to be as good as ever.

We'll start to update this page with daily bird sightings starting around March 22nd.  We look forward to seeing you!

Keith Barnes (THASOTB)