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LATEST UPDATES

May 4  A fine end to the season...
Great migration for the second night in a row last night, with lots of thrushes and warblers heard moving over High Island through the clear night sky. When we woke up there were lots of migrants in the woods and numbers only got better as the day went on and more birds came down. Among the warblers, Ovenbirds, Magnolias, and Black-and-whites were especially numerous, while a wave of female Bay-breasteds seemed to have touched down. A late surge in Summer Tanagers was completely obscured by piles of brilliant Scarlet Tanagers hanging on the trees at Smith Oaks late in the day. Good numbers of Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Veerys, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos continued, and a lone Black-billed Cuckoo was reported from Smith Oaks. A Common Nighthawk that decided to have a sit in one of the trees in front of the grandstand at Boy Scout Woods attracted a small afternoon crowd of observers.

Bolivar Flats was good to us at the noon walk again, with the undisputed highlight being an adult Pomarine Jaeger sitting on the beach, allowing an incredible study through the scopes. Tons of American Avocets sweeping the shallows with their upturned bills were joined by several white and blue Reddish Egrets doing their hunting dance. Wilson's, Snowy, and Piping Plovers made for a nice comparison, and we enjoyed good views of six species of terns (Royal, Caspian, Common, Forster's, Least, and Sandwich). In the back corner we found Brown and American White Pelicans resting with good numbers of Marbled Godwits, Short-billed Dowitchers and a few Blue-winged Teals. Speaking of ducks, a handful of lingering Surf Scoters and at least one Lesser Scaup floated offshore, bobbing in the breakers. Our season's end send-off was the sight of the Pomarine Jaeger being chased out to sea by an aggravated Royal Tern.

It's been a great season for us here on the Island, and migration should continue this week, with favorable weather conditions for migration fallouts predicted. We'll see you again next Spring!

- Scott Olmstead

Common Nighthawk resting at Boy Scout Woods/Scott Olmstead

May 3  The Spring is NOT over just yet...
Birder numbers increased again today. Partly swelled by migrant junkies just holding out for that one last warbler fix, and partly because shrewd birders had seen the weather forecast and did not want to miss the last potential front of the spring season. These 'weekend warriors' were to leave very happy indeed today.  Just a few days ago people visiting High Island could have been forgiven for thinking the spring was well and truly over. Over 20 species of warbler later this Saturday (at least 22 were racked up on the dome), and the spring was well and truly on again.

Our regular 'shorebird showdown' at noon on Bolivar Flats brought the first signs of the flurry that was to follow later, when birders witnessed the thrilling sight of warblers bombing over the sand and diving down into the shrubbery behind, a great sight that sent a tingle of excitement and anticipation about the afternoon ahead. The shorebirding was good down there too though, with a group of 6 'Hudwits' (Hudsonian Godwits) defying their usual freshwater hangouts, by lounging just off the beach. A raft of Surf Scoters also lingered in the breakers just offshore too, and a few lucky birders enjoyed the sight of a Pomarine Jaegar resting on the flats. Aside from that some of the specialty waders were on view, with a flock of rusty red breeding plumage Red Knots resting on the beach, and Piping and Snowy Plovers running around frantically on the sand. Least Tern numbers were swelling notably and many were showing signs of nesting out there. Thrown in were a few sooty-breasted Black Terns hangin' with their smaller cousins.

Back on the 'dome' the afternoon birding was electric, as warblers fighting to migrate against the northerly airflow decided to just drop out of the sky, rest in the trees and show off in our bins instead. Birders walking into HAS Boy Scout Woods were stopped dead in their tracks by the sight of wablers flowing through the trees above their heads, many birders not even reaching the grandstand as the action was right there on the edge of the woods. Standing across 5th Street in the Tropical Birding Information Center yard we picked out a fine male Golden-winged Warbler sharing a branch with a glowing orange-faced Blackburnian Warbler, while Tennessee after Tennessee whizzed past below them. These are truly treasured days in birding, that make us long for the Spring to never end. In the end at least 22 species of warblers crowded the woodlots on the island, packed in there with a wave of vireos, orioles, buntings and grosbeaks. Ovenbirds prowled the leaf litter, while a profusion of redstarts, Black-throated Green Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers and the like flitted excitedly in the trees above. A Nashville or two, Canada Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, and a few Blue-winged Warblers were also picked out in the woods. All in all a magical day's birding in High Island, for those who bucked the trend to cut loose from the island when the death knell of April sounds. Clearly the Upper Texas Coasat still has plenty to offer those who tough it out into the 'late spring'. Long may this continue!

- Sam Woods

May 2
Birding today ended with a bang! The slow morning was soon forgotten as the southernly wind died down and the birds started landing at High Island. While not the same species diversity as earlier in the season, total volume was up and quite a few goodies were picked up at Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. The Grandstand at Boy scouts was hopping with American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and cracking views of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The ever-present Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, as well as Rose-breasted Grosbeak, added some color while the drabber thrushes could be seen skulking through the undergrowth. The main warbler frenzy seemed to start at around 5:00 during the walk at Smith Oaks. Massive numbers of Eastern Kingbird hawked insects over the ponds, but the real highlight was the amazing views of Black-billed Cuckoo perched just over head. By six the drip was buzzing with large numbers of Warblers; Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Tennessee, Black-throated Green, Yellow, and Blackburnian Warblers were all seen well as they came to the drip at Smith Oaks. Hopefully a good sign for tomorrow....

- Benji Schwartz

May 1
The weather was again not altogether cooperative for birding High Island. The morning started out rather quiet, but the thrushes lifted spirits with excellent views of Swainson's, Gray-cheeked, and Wood, as well as a lovely Ovenbird, at both Smith Oaks and Boy Scouts. The pace in the afternoon started to pick up with fly-bys of White-tailed and Swallow-tailed Kites. The afternoon continued with large numbers of both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles landing in Smith Oaks. Beautiful Magnolia Warblers, as well as Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, added a bit of color while Red-eyed Vireo and Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Black-throated Green Warblers flitted through the trees. A couple flocks heard flying overhead late in the evening give some hope for good birding early tomorrow morning!

- Benji Schwartz

April 30
The starry night and clear morning with southerly airflows sadly led to a clear out of many of yesterdays migrants. The main thing of note was the continuing big movement of thrushes, several birders reporting seeing all five species of thrush visible at one time (Veery, Swainson's, Gray-cheeked, Wood Thrushes and the locally rare American Robin), at Boy Scouts. Other colorful fare around the mottes at Smith Oaks and the woods of Boy Scout included Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-throated Green, Hooded and Kentucky Warblers. The oft-requested Black-billed Cuckoo was also around Smith again today. All in all a quiet day in the woods, except for the regular sound of rustling leaf litter created by the carpet of thrushes creeping through the underbrush.

- Sam Woods

Thrushes lining up at the Boy Scout Woods drip
(Swainson's and Wood Thrush)/Steve Blain

A male Hooded Warbler gets in on the drip action,
when the thrushes weren't looking/Steve Blain

April 29  Black-billed Cuckoos perform, and thrushes pack the parks...
Well today the crowds thinned significantly with much fewer people in the woodlots However, the birds paid no attention to birders trends, the 23 or so species of warbler continued to thrill the lingering birders who could not fail to realise what a great time for birding High Island this is. On top of the bewildering, colorful array of warblers on display today, thrushes seemed to be jumping out of every corner of the woods, having clearly arrived on the 'dome' in numbers.  Amongst the crowdpleasers today was the same 'cobalt crippler' that was around yesterday in Smith Oaks, the beautiful male Cerulean, a bird that never fails to impress. A showy 'Worm-eater' was also much admired in Boy Scouts, as were some of the more plucky Kentucky Warblers that jumped about in the open on some of the Houston Audubon bird walks over there. Black-billed Cuckoos were in fine fettel today, performing well at a number of locations in the woodlots, and also in the Tropical Birding Information Center yard across from Boy Scouts. Certainly pleasing to even the most seasoned birders in the area, some of which added this fine cuckoo to their life or year lists today. One of the notable mentions today must go to thrushes. Local birders had recently been pondering where they had been of late, with the woodlots virtually devoid of them. That was until today, when the sanctuaries were simply heaving with them, all the regulars being seen in numbers, with Gray-cheekeds dominating the wave of thrushes moving through the lots. Aside from the masses of thrushes, Bay-breasted Warblers also received a notable boost today, their wine-splashed breasts brightening all the local hotspots, and a bunch of 'Maggies' (Magnolia Warblers) also joined the party. A great end to our time at the 'warbler fest' was a gorgeous Golden-winged Warbler that feasted on caterpillars a short time before sunset over at Smith Oaks. This is why birders are fascinated by High Island, the warbler 'buzz' is highly addictive and a habit that is hard to break. Thanks to Steve Blain again for providing the thrush medley below (all photographed from the Boy Scout Woods photo blind this evening in a manic 10 minute spell)...

- Sam Woods

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Veery

...and the fairest of them all, Wood Thrush

April 28   Cerulean thrills the crowds at Smith...
No Big Sits today, or Big Days, just a whole lot of fun with the warblers! Dawn rose over the coastal woodlots of High Island to the sound of dozens of Tennessees and Bay-breasted Warblers calling and singing on 5th Street. Without question the warblers were around in abundance during the morning, and many of the corkers amongst them lingered into the afternoon, although the volume of Tennessees and the like had diminished by the afternoon. Light winds and bright skies above had presumably encouraged many to race on toward their breeding grounds further north. That is not to say that the birding was dull though, far from it, as the warblers that were around gave many of us heart-stopping views. Top of the pile was surley the fantastic male Cerulean Warbler at HAS Smith Oaks that hung around all day. This blue-and-white wonder thrilled the afternoon 'crowd' on the late afternoon bird walk for Houston Audubon, by dangling enticingly just a few feet above a very excited bunch of birders as it flitted for insects in the low understory. One lady literally had to sit down from all the excitement created by this sky-blue dendroica performing at the top of his game. If that was not enough a Black-billed Cuckoo also lingered in the oak mottes there, giving some of us choice views of this highly-desired red-spectacled cuckoo.  Other warbler 'celebrities' around the woods today included a number of dapper male Bay-breasted Warblers, (that has the appearance of a bird that has had red wine splashed down its front!), a Worm-eating Warbler that fed unconcernedly while an admiring pack of birders all focused their glasses on it simultaneously, and a couple of Blue-winged and Golden-wingeds also brightened the woodlots today. Once again the lingering Yellow-breasted Chat continued to 'whisper' call and generally show off for the early risers over at Boy Scout Woods. As dusk fell, 23 warbler species had been chalked up in the woods, though no one was counting numbers today, just taking in the spectacular looks that some of these thrillers had given us. I think some of Steve Blain's awesome shots should be testament to that...

Bay-breasted Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

...and the fairest of them all, Cerulean Warbler 

Over at the evening 'spoonbill show' at the Smith Oaks rookery, a small movement of Mississipi Kites gliding low overhead was also a late highlight. What with raptors on the move overhead, and warbler song emenating from the Oaks in the woodlots, there was a very real feeling of birds on the move and the feeling of spring in the air in Texas today. Long may it continue!

- Sam Woods

Black-billed Cuckoo

April 27    BIG SIT pulls in 136 species...
The day opened with a stunning Yellow-breasted Chat, that regularly decided to perch out on top of the open scrub by the boardwalks at HAS Boy Scout Woods. Not a new bird but a much admired lingering 'warbler' (that may yet be removed unceremoniously from that exquisite family, and instead moved into the icterids). The early walks around Boy Scout and HAS Smith Oaks were productive in variety if not volume of birds. Early on a Bay-breasted Warbler was found working the edge of Boy Scout on 5th Street, and was one of the first fine additions to the BIG SIT bird list, being worked on feverishly for the day from the top of the TB Info Center Tower. By the end of the day, with new arrivals having dropped in from Mexico, Bay-breasted numbers had significantly increased, being prominent within the Smith Oaks mottes later on. Lemon-breasted Kentucky Warblers also seemed to have enjoyed a resurgence today with reasonable numbers being found in both the main Audubon sanctuaries on 'the dome'. The ranks of Chestnut-sided Warblers on High Island also received a boost in numbers today, and Golden-winged Warblers also performed in both reserves. However, top find of the day was probably the Mourning Warbler found lurking furtively within the Boy Scout brush, a much sought after bird that sadly left many frustrated. The same spot hosted a confiding Worm-eating Warbler and a Kentucky or two. The lingering Black-billed Cuckoo in Smith Oaks was also much appreciated by birders who were grateful for it sticking to the same brushy area on and off throughout the  whole day. The varied group of birders joining the Houston Audubon Big Sit Team worked diligently all day, picking out the flight calls of migrants passing overhead, scouring the flocks of shorebirds crossing the marshes, and terns, gulls and wetland species passing over the edge of the Gulf, (that included significant movements of Wilson's Phalaropes in the mix). When a front moved through in the middle of the day Tanagers, Orioles, and warblers streamed through the trees opposite the Tropical Birding Tower, bringing a hatful of new birds for the team's burgeoning day list. In the end a rather exhausted team, that had begun their 'day' in the dead of night (at the stroke of midnight), had to admit defeat in their attempt to break the BIG SIT record (139), although had tallied a very, very respectable 136 species on a day when the big afternoon movement of migrants just did not happen quite the way we had hoped, putting paid to that particular record attempt. Despite that, it was a really fun day out there, with plently to look at on High Island, and a bunch of migrants working the woodlots, many of which gave choice views. The BIG SIT ended fittingly with cracking, close up looks at a Lesser Nighthawk cruising low over the tower with a Common Nighthawk also in tow, while a burnt orange sun sunk below the horizon behind.

- Sam Woods


The GREAT TEXAS BIRDING CLASSIC BIG SIT happening in High Island Sunday April 27
Please join us for the Swarovski Optik sponsored BIG SIT, on the Tropical Birding Information Center Tower, (opposite HAS Boy Scout Woods on 5th Street), on Sunday April 27. Be part of the Houston Audubon Society Team team trying to crack the BIG SIT day record on Sunday. From sun up to sun down birders will be keeping eyes peeled, and ears honed to ensure that every bird within sight or sound of the tower gets on the Big Sit day list. The 'Tower People' will be stationed on the platform scouring the treetops over Boy Scouts and distant Gulf Coast in an attenpt to pick up a  range of interesting species for the day list. Grab a free coffee and come on up, it's gonna be fun!

April 26        23 species of WARBLERS and then some...
It is fair to say that 'warbler fiends' left High Island ecstatic today with an impressive 23 species on offer between the two Houston Audubon sanctuaries of Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. You know something is up when a band of birders are boreing of flame-faced male Blackburnian Warblers sallying just above their heads at the end of the day! In amongst the warbler 'swarm' hanging out in Smith woods all day were a number of other nearctic treats, including multiple 'Philly's' (Philadelphia Vireos), a lone Black-billed Cuckoo and, and best of all a smashing Yellow-green Vireo right by the rookery parking lot late on.  By the end of the day birders were almost blase about the many Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, and few Bay-breasted and Magnolia Warblers flitting excitedly around them. The warbler show ran from dawn to dusk, and was good at both the main sites, giving everyone a great look at some of the latest Mexican arrivals. Boy Scout and Smith held a few Golden-winged Warblers, and a few Blue-wingeds were also around again, although star find probably went to the slate-and-gold Canada Warbler that skulked in the brush over on 5th Street. One choice section of leafy trail under the oak mottes at Smith held the full medley of thrushes (Wood, Swainson's, Gray-cheeked and Veery) in one magic spell during the late afternoon migrant flurry, sharing the same path with an Ovenbird. All in all every birder visiting High Island today enjoyed a bagful of migrants, and would have amassed an impressive warbler haul, with little effort required. Not to mention the tons of tanagers, orgy of orioles, and gangs of grosbeaks that packed the mulberries, for those who get a thrill from these more colorful Mexican travellers. We just love days like these, and the enticing weather forecast for the 'morrow promises further rewards for all of us migrant addicts.

- Sam Woods

April 25    
The morning was slow again, but as predicted by NEXRAD, the afternoon on the island was very good, and again Smith Oaks provided the bulk of the best birds with Cerulaen, Blackburnian, Magnolia and Bay-breasted Warblers showing amongst the more common American Redstart, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Blackpoll, Black-throated Green, Blue-winged, Tennessee and Black-and-white Warblers and Northern Parula, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo and a superb Black-billed Cuckoo. Boy Scout yielded Blackpoll, Yellow, Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush at the drip and Northern Waterthrush, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes in the woods. Other late afternoon arrivals  included good numbers of Batimore and Orchard Orioles, both Tanagers. Bolivar Flats offered all the regular bevy of shorebirds including Red Knots, five terns and the four plover species and plenty of American Avocets.

- Iain Campbell

April 24    
The morning was slow again, but  the afternoon brought in a bumper crop of birds and Smith Oaks was particularly good. The 4 p.m. arrivals included loads of Batimore and Orchard Orioles, both Tanagers in myriad plumages and warblers in many shapes and forms, with Boy Scout yielding American Redstart, Chestnut-sided, Black-and-White, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Northern Waterthrush, Cerulean and Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson's and Wood Thrush. Smith Oaks was better, with Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow, Kentucky, Magnolia, and Hooded Warblers, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart, and Brewster's Warbler, a hybrid of Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers at Smith Oaks. Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and White-eyed Vireo, the latter on a nest were all seen. Bolivar Flats offered all the regular bevy of shorebirds including Red Knots coming into breeding plumage, with shades of rouge on the breast, and plenty of American Avocets. Wood Stork, Nelson's Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrows were seen on N Tuna road.

- Keith Barnes

April 23  
The day was quiet, a few Chestnut-sided, Tennessee and Blackpoll Warblers lingered at Smith Oaks and Hooded and Black-throated Green Warblers were seen at Boy Scout Woods. Painted and Indigo Buntings were occasional at Boy Scout Woods. Late in the afternoon several Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Summer and Scarlet Tanagers filtered through. On the Bolivar Peninsula Tuna Road revealed a few Dickcissel and a few Black Terns amongst the Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns. The Beach walk had the usual four small Charadrius plovers, a few Western Sandpipers amongst the many Semi-palmated Sandpipers and Sanderlings. 

- Keith Barnes


April 22    
The morning was slow again, but by the afternoon things had turned right around, and both Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks were pumping. The 3 p.m. arrivals included loads of Batimore and Orchard Orioles, both Tanagers in myriad plumages and warblers in many shapes and forms, with Boy Scout yielding Blue-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Yellow, Kentucky, Hooded and Canada Warblers, Ovenbird, a late Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart, and Chestnut-sided, Black-and-White, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, and one of the first Bay-breasted Warblers of the season at Smith Oaks. Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, Warbling and White-eyed Vireo, the latter on a nest. Bolivar Flats offered all the regular bevy of shorebirds including Red Knots coming into breeding plumage, with shades of rouge on the breast, and plenty of American Avocets. Painted and Indigo Buntings visited the Tropical Birding Information Centre.

- Keith Barnes

April 21    
After a couple of bumper days, today was a little slow, but not entirely moribund. Handfuls of Chestnut-and-black Orchard and ripe Baltimore Orioles came throughout the day and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were still scarfing down their favorite swollen mulberrries in Boy Scout woods, which also offered a late flurry of Blue-headed, Warbling, Red-eyed, nesting White-eyed Vireo, and Great Crested Flycatcher. The drip pulled a couple of late Swainson's and Wood Thrushes and a classic Kentucky Warbler, as well as a vengful Northern Waterthrush that would not play ball. Smith Oaks had Ovenbird, Blackburnian, Blue-winged, multiple Blackpolls, Magnolia, Canada, Cerulean Warbler, a Yellow-throated Warbler or two, Worm-eating Warbler, a lone Philadelphia Vireo and several other more common birds. The incoming Tropical Birding tour scored a season first Gray-cheeked Thrush. Bolivar Flats offered all the regular bevy of shorebirds including Red Knots coming into breeding plumage, with shades of rouge on the breast, and plenty of American Avocets. Painted and Indigo Buntings visited the Tropical Birding Information Centre.

- Keith Barnes

April 20     25 species of warblers
To catch the incoming waves of High Island's feisty festive warblers you must be seriously ready to rock and roll through Houston Audubon Society's sanctuaries. Like birding in the tropics, the pace is fast and furious, with tight feeding flocks of warblers, vireos, tanagers, and gnatcatchers moving at frenetic speeds through the canopy and second growth vegetation. Diversity is king at this time of the year. Today saw twenty-five species of warblers - the highest single day total of the year. Celebrities like Cerulean, Golden-winged, Worm-eating, Kentucky, and Chesnut-sided Warblers matched ranks with newly-arrived Nashville and Magnolia Warblers creating an absolute feast for the eyes and the day list. At HAS Boy Scout Woods, it was all about mullberry tree mayhem, with multiple Scarlet and Summer Tanagers matched by ridiculously crisp views of Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, and Indigo Buntings. Orange-crowned Warbler and Northern Parula put in a showtime visit near the grandstands, while Swainson's Thrush, Veery, and Wood Thrush crept through the understory. At nearby Hooks Woods on 1st street, up to four stunning Blue-winged Warblers, a magnificently tame male Hooded Warbler, and at least two friendly Worm-eating Warblers put on a show for mesmerized birders. A male Yellow-headed Blackbird continued to dazzle observers just across the street from Hooks Woods, amidst a small cattle pen. Meanwhile, agreeable pairs of White-eyed Vireos 'chick-a-peer-reo-CHICK'-ed their way into view while Ovenbirds and Northern Waterthrushes crept through the leaf litter along the boardwalk. Ever hopeful Swainson's Warbler fans searched in vain, having seen one or two of these seldom-cooperative southern sprites yesterday evening; alas this elusive ground-creeper could not be found today.

HAS Smith Oaks saw a grand late afternoon push of warblers, with Blackpoll, Cerulean, Chesnut-sided, Blackburnian, and Black-throated Green. A Black-billed Cuckoo, and Yellow-breasted Chat saw surprise as well, while birders oggled at three pairs of Blue Grosbeaks feeding in the mowed yard across the street from the entrance to the sanctuary.

Shorebirds, shorebirds.....shorebirds! Bolivar Flats continues to be loaded with an absolute plover-feast for the eyes, a horde of terns, and a mad mix of waders, raptors, egrets, and waterfowl. Two extraordinarily festive Reddish Egrets provided crowds of birders with their entertaining power dances while a handful of stunning Marbled Godwits, Wilson's Phalaropes, Red Knots, and Short-billed Dowitchers fed in a frenzy on the flats. Excellent comparisons of Semipalmated and stunning breeding plumaged Western Sandpipers were had, while overhead, a Peregrine Falcon and two Crested Caracaras cruised by.

-Jen Brumfield


BIG DAY RECORD 'SMASHED'!!  
EDG/BIRDING AMERICA TEAM BIG DAY Saturday April 19 : At 10:15 p.m., April 19, 2008, the 'crack team' of young birders (Ken Behrens, Cameron Cox, Pete Hosner, and Michael Retter) officially broke the U.S. BIG DAY record. Number 260 - Black Skimmer - absolutely 'smashed' the previous record that stood at 258. In the remaining wee hours of the night these pro birders live minute by minute with the opportunity to possibly add even more species to their national record. Funds raised from this record day (sponsored by Nikon and Birding America) will go to the Houston Audubon Sanctuary fund which will be directed toward preserving more all important shorebird habitat in the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary area in Galveston County. To read more on this click here.

April 19
After the wind had swung back around from the north a few of yesterdays warbler 'swarm' had passed on with the clear night providing optimal conditions to move on. However, life was still good for those birding the coastal woodlots today, and plenty of warblers hung around to give people a hearty feast of migrants It is fair to say that a bumper crop of Ceruleans, Swainson's and the like brought a buzz around the island today. The TOS Hooks Woods sanctuary on 1st Street again provided some top birding for migration junkies and casual birders alike. A couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds lingered around the cow barn, for those with less sensitive noses to enjoy! Up in the lively Oak mottes a few Ceruleans, a bunch of American Redstarts, Black-and-whites and a few Tennessees persisted in the area. However, the 'Tennessee horde' seen in the woodlots yesterday evening had diminished somewhat. Prize bird on 1st Street though went to the Canada Warbler that was around again in the early morning at least . The action continued there all day with some truly spectacular views of one of the most low down and dirty of all the warblers, Swainson's, providing rare and prolonged views late on standing motionless and fully in the open amongst the shady leaf litter. Many people commenting these were the very best views in their long history of birding High Island.

The Houston Audubon walks at Boy Scouts were not be outdone though, where a male Golden-winged Warbler, and flame-faced Blackburnian Warblers topped the billing over on 5th Street. The sanctuary there also had a Cerulean or two of their own, one fine female performing spectacularly during the afternoon walk gleaning at eye level within meters of an admiring pack of swooning birders. During one of the other afternoon walks a venture into a brushy thicket on the fringes of the reserve produced a fascinating observation of a Worm-eating Warbler being 'stalked' by an Ovenbird in the leaf litter below. While the 'Worm-eater' picked at dead leaves and gleaned for insects above, the ovenbird prowled below, picking off the scraps that the warbler carelessly let fall. An absorbing encounter with two of the more skulking members of the warbler family. Aside from the warblers mouthwatering Painted Buntings were out in force again, and decided to give everyone a sweet taste today. Sometimes they popped up above the Houston Audubon kiosk to allow those perched on the bleachers unforgettable looks, other times they feasted in the mulberries overhead, and other periods they swooped in to bathe at Purkey's Pond or the drip alongside, to the point where some birders began to bore of their colorful antics! Other notable Boy Scout birds today included a Veery perched up in the 'scope for the grandstand crowd, and Blue-winged and Prothontary Warblers flitted in and out of the cypresses on the swampy verges of Purkey's Pond. Furthermore a Common Nighthawk cruised overhead occasionaly for those hanging out on the grandstand.

The magnificent ancient Oaks over at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks sanctuary were also 'on form' giving warbler fanatics a real treat. At least three Ceruleans displayed to those who ventured there, along with a Black-throated Green Warbler or two, Yellow-throated Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo and Yellow-throated Warbler. Although perhaps news of the day there were some of the very first cute Roseate Spoonbill chicks of the season, still very much lacking the spoon of the adults, but still psyching the crowd up enough to produce various admiring cooing sounds from the assembled birders.

Down at Bolivar Flats thousands of birds packed the beaches, flats and tidal pools, with the full plover quartet in attendance, in addition to hundreds of sandpipers, terns and gulls to keep shorebirders more than a little amused.

- Sam Woods

April 18
After heavy downpours in the night and the promising birding the previous afternoon an expectant crowd waited nervously around the HAS Boy Scout Woods grandstand. Gray skies hovered ominously overhead, and pretty soon our morning walk was dogged by a sprinkling of heavy rain. The deluge of rain however did not bring the deluge of birds that people had flocked here for, with the lingering Veery that sat quietly at the back of Purkey's Pond being the only real highlight. The crowds dispersed and reconvened there in the afternoon by which time the winds had switched significantly to the north. Pretty soon reports were coming in of Blackpoll Warblers from Boy Scout, HAS Smith Oaks and also at the TOS sanctuary on 1st Street (Hooks Woods), the first indication of the warbler mayhem that would follow. Standing on the edge of the marsh out the back of Boy Scout Woods, we saw flock after flock of bright blue Indigo Buntings bombing over the marsh and piling into the woods. The buntings were not alone though and Tennessee Warblers also streamed into the woods en-masse. In between the inconspicuous Tennessees some of the more observant birders on the guided walks picked out a fantastic Cerulean Warbler (that was later also reported from the mottes at Smith Oaks). Pretty soon birders around Purkey's Pond were getting the sweet taste of warblers dropping into the oaks around them. Tennessee Warbler feverishly visited the pond there to quench their thirst and refresh their plumage in the water. Without question Tennessees dominated the swarm of warblers that crowded the trees right above the birders, as they had come in with a vengeance. Other welcome visitors included Black-throated Green Warbler, a  few Yellow Warblers, a number of Black-and-white Warblers, and best of all, a gorgeous male Golden-winged Warbler that sent pulses racing. The 'GWW' did not linger as long as people hoped but the excited gathering was rewarded for their efforts with several Blackburnian Warblers and Prothonotary Warblers flitting excitedly around the ponds, and a cracking male Chestnut-sided Warbler that brought some appreciative vocal reactions from the crowd. A Painted Bunting or two were also in amongst the Indigo horde that swamped the woods today, one of which posed in the open in the 'scope for anyone who wanted it. Vireos also were on form, with both Philadelphia and Warbling around the coastal lots today. Aside from that, Waterthrushes were around in numbers, involving both species, in addition to a few Ovenbirds. Both Louisiana and Northerns were seen around the island today, and perhaps most impressively during a brief walk along the edge of Hooks Woods on 1st Street, that kicked up at least 10 waterthrushes, some of which were walking brazenly on the paved road. Tanagers were also out in force, with a notable increase in Scarlets around the Island today.  The TOS sanctuary on 1st Street had a winning streak late on, with a small crowd of birders reaping the rewards for their stamina when Canada Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler dropped into the woods shortly before dusk, and Swainson's Warbler was also found by them skuling in the brush. Around the cow barn there, the same fortunate birders bumped into a male Yellow-headed Blackbird that jumped out at them from the sea of usual  cowbirds.  The 'swarm' of migrants moving through the woodlots spilled over 5th Street, into the Tropical Birding Information Center yard across the street, with Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula and Yellow-billed Cuckoo turning up as evening approached.

- Sam Woods

April 17
The morning birding was slow to say the least in terms of migrants, with strong winds from the south causing a lot of migrants to move on, and the expectations were low for the afternoon sessions on the High Island sanctuaries because of this. How wrong could we be! However, the morning birding still held some some thrills and surprises, not least a fabulous King Rail that remained calling in the open (in the 'scope even!) for over 5 minutes by which time everyone around had thoroughly lost interest in this normally shy skulking bird! Also the immature male Western Tanager turned up again right on cue behind the Houston Audubon kiosk, to open the batting for the morning's birding. We knew something was up in the afternoon, when Benji walked right into a Painted Bunting flashing his colors at the grandstand crowd while bathing at the drip (at HAS Boy Scout Woods). A walk around the boardwalk at the backside of the drip a short time later promptly kicked up another 3 or 4 more, in addition to pulling in a few scarlet-and-black male American Redstarts, while Baltmore and Orchard Orioles came streaming through the trees above. Other birders had the fortune of a fine adult male Western Tanager that showed to them by the cathedral, to add to the other lingering immature male bird that has been on the reserve for the past few days. The 'drip crowd' held firm, fearing to leave on a walk might draw them away ffrom the treats that would be drawn to the vital water supply opposite the grandstand. However, on a day like this both strategies paid off, the people on the bleachers being treated to more views of Painted Buntings, along with Indigo Buntings, a crisp red male Scarlet Tanager, a Worm-eating and Hooded Warblers, and a singing Wood Thrush. While those on the prowl around Boy Scout Woods picked up an Ovenbird strutting his stuff  under the brush, as only an ovenbird can do, that at one time shared the same grove with a bobbing Northern Waterthrush. Back at the Cathedral again a first-of-season Veery was found and allowed us all to rush there when radioed, and tee it up in the 'scope for all, while a short time earlier the very same spot had brought us a first-of-season Philadelphia Vireo. Other notable finds around the reserve included a Yellow Warbler that frankly appeared to light up the tree around him, that later popped across the road to the Tropical Birding Information Center water feature to pose there while Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and both Orioles crowded the trees above. Prospects for the morning look promising...

- Sam Woods and Benji Schwartz

Painted Bunting digiscoped from the Boy Scout Woods grandstand (Benji Schwartz)

April 16
Southerlies slowed the scene at High Island today, the morning bird walks picking out some of the fine lingerers from the weekend, although many of these seemed to have cleared out by the afternoon sessions in the sanctuaries. The morning walks at HAS Boy Scout Woods produced unbeatable, 'in-your-face' looks at Worm-eating Warblers, one of which gleaned away within meters of a very appreciative crowd, that a little while later feasted their eyes on a Kentucky Warbler feeding amongst the tinder dry leaf litter. Hooded Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and a beautiful male Painted Bunting made the Purkey's Pond drip a worthy place to focus our attentions on, the latter in company with some bright blue Indigos too. Also reported around the reserve today was another Yellow-billed Cuckoo and late in the afternoon a first of season Black-billed Cuckoo that perched up in front of one lucky observer. Another highlight was the continuing presence of a Western Tanager in the sanctuary, once again choosing to sneak in for mulberries behind the HAS kiosk shortly before the bulk of the birders arrived. In the end warbler numbers were down sure, although good looks at a few of the regular spring 'crackers' made Boy Scout a worthy place to be, and we are all now looking forward to the weeked, that brings the promise of more northerly blows and the distinct possibility of a further sprinkling of spring warblers! Late on a Lark Sparrow was found in the Tropical Birding Information Center right across 5th Street for a great start to a local Birdathon.

- Sam Woods

April 15  Fourth Texas record of ELEGANT TERN, at Bolivar Flats?
The number of warbler species continued to drop today around HAS Boy Scout Woods, with the impression that those that were around were largely lingering birds from last weeks front. However, many birds put on a very good show today, and the guided walks were a lot of fun for that. During our first walk, the opener was a Western Tanager (that had  been reported the day before) feasting in the mulberries, with the other usual 'mulberry junkies', Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore and Orchard Orioles also in the same area. Yellow-breasted Chat chacked from the near brush, and several of the other skulking warblers gave long, good looks today. These included a number of Kentucky Warblers visiting the various sanctuary drips, both by the photo hide and for the assembled hordes vying for space on the grandstand. Worm-eating Warblers also performed well today, both at the Grandstand drip, and elsewhere in Boy Scouts.  Ovenbird was also recorded by the boardwalks, and a Swainson's Warbler was reported skulking within the thickets. A couple of lucky observers hanging out on the bleachers during the quieter middle of the day period, were rewarded for their efforts with a beautiful blue-and-white male Cerulean Warbler that came in to the same water feature. As you can tell, the drips as always were hard to beat, and a male Painted Bunting that showed off there on several occasions in the afternoon proved this once more, while Warbling Vireo also added itself to this year's 'drip list'. A Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Waterthrush also remained in the Purkey's Pond area, the 'thrush' bobbing its way along the muddy edges, while the Yellow-throated moved excitedly through the pines above, and the odd Blue-winged Warbler still flitted their way through these coastal woodlots. Thrushes also performed for the attendant horde today, with Swainson's and Wood Thrushes found lurking in the thickets at Boy Scouts. Over at Smith Oaks both the Prairie Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler and their own Cerulean continued to show, in addition to a Prothonotary hanging out in the same warbler rich oaks.  All up some 17 or so warbler species were around the coastal woodlots today.

Shorebird diversity at Bolivar Flats was lower today, although American Avocets returned in force, and the pack of terns held a significant bird from 'out of town', with an Elegant Tern found among their ranks.  With the orange-billed tern complex being a minefield of different opinions right now, the identification was always going to be tricky and open to debate, although the concensus has fallen with Elegant Tern, which, if accepted, would be only the fourth accepted record for Texas. Photos of this red-letter bird are given below for anyone to comment on, or decide to race straight to Bolivar!!!

- Sam Woods

Elegant Tern, Bolivar Flats

April 14    The BIGGEST TWITCH arrives in High Island...
After a frenetic weekend of warblers things slowed down a little on High Island today, with few new arrivals. However, many interesting birds were still lingering in the coastal woodlots to keep the 'migrant junkies' happy, and 21 species of warbler is a notable haul. HAS Smith Oaks arguably held the lion's share of these with continuing Cerulean, Prairie and Golden-winged Warblers that wowed the crowds in town today. Also there were Ovenbird, Swainson's, Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Northern Parula, and Prothonotary Warblers in the large Oak mottes. Over on 5th Street Boy Scout Woods held its own 'though, weighing in with a glowing Yellow Warbler that came through the mulberry stand above the grandstand, while a party of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Scarlet and Summer Tanagers gorged on their ripe fruits, and several Yellow-throated Warblers flitted excitedly in the cypresses alongside. One lucky birder was greeted by a fine male Painted Bunting just as they jumped out of their car in the sanctuary parking area on 5th Street. The photography blind was a good spot for getting close up looks at a striking Kentucky Warbler, a confiding Swainson's Thrush, and a cute female Hooded Warbler flashed her white tail at the assembled lenses. Prothonotary Pond held Worm-eating Warbler, and the Houston Audubon 2008 patch bird, Black-throated Green Warbler, while American Redstart and a fiery-orange faced Blackburnian Warbler were also lurking around the sanctuary. Purple Gallinules lingered in the wastewater pond out the back of the woods, and were always a good draw during the leaner spells during the day. A couple of unusual sightings were worth mentioning of birds that were picked up originally over the busy weekend. A beautiful adult Red-headed Woodpecker continued to be seen on the island, this time on Old Mexico Road, and another birder was shocked to see a Pileated Woodpecker whizz past them as they got out of their car on 5th Street, both unusual finds so close to the coast. Songbirds seemed a little quieter in the afternoon, although the female Merlin perched mancingly at the entrance to Boy Scout Woods may have been responsible for their furtive nature at the time! The drips were bustling with activity late on, with Worm-eating, several Hooded and Kentucky Warblers, in addition to Wood and Hermit Thrushes coming in to bathe a short time before dusk. Finally, a hulking, red-eyed Bronzed Cowbird visiting the Tropical Birding Information Center yard across the street added to the interesting migrant mix on offer today.

Further south the walk at Bolivar Flats produced great views of masses of shorebirds and terns in attendance, with notable numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers in evidence today. A lone American White Pelican continued to be seen amongst the sea of Browns. Although again the big draw there were some scoters loafing in the breakers, that included a bright orange-billed male Surf Scoter, that also had a female and a White-winged Scoter male for company.

On another note, Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, the BIGGEST TWITCH team arrived in High Island today. They are chasing the world record for number of species recorded in one year. So far this year they have amassed an astounding 1943 species, taking in Arizona, Mexico, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Spain, Wales, England and Cyprus along the way. Today they added over 30 species around Upper Texas Coast, including Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers at HAS Smith Oaks, White-winged and Surf Scoters at Bolivar Flats, and King Rail at Anahuac NWR. See The Biggest Twitch for full details of their world quest to break the World big year record.

- Sam Woods

Wood Thrush, digiscoped by the
Boy Scout Woods photo blind (Sam Woods)

April 13    22 species of warblers
Another day of stunning warbler sightings proved that High Island was definitely the place to be this weekend! While total numbers weren't as high as yesterday, species diversity was still impressive with 22 warbler species reported. On top of that some of the cooler species were still up for grabs like a male Cerulean, and a showy male Golden-winged Warbler that hung around with a Prairie Warbler for a while, all at the HAS Smith Oaks property. Blackpoll Warbler was also reported from there. The grandstand drip at HAS Boy Scout Woods was quite productive with smashing views of Kentucky, and Hooded Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chat coming in to drink, while Blackburnian and Yellow-throated Warblers flitted through the trees overhead. Some other birds noted around the woods there included five species of vireo, Wilson's Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, while Baltimore and Orchard Orioles also made quite a showing. Variety continues to increase, with Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, two (surprising) American Goldfinches, and Swainson's Thrush in the mix today.  A small movement of raptors  brought a Merlin to HAS Boy Scout Woods for a brief visit, and had several Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks moving overhead. The increasingly popular Purple Gallinule pair had the sewage lagoons hopping with birds and birders who keyed in on Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, and King Rail in the surrounding wetlands.

Down on Bolivar Flats the shorebirds were again out in force. No sign of the flamingos seen there on yesterday's Houston Audubon walk, although today's surprise was a Magnificent Frigatebird cruising over the mouth of Galveston Bay. The full plover quartet made a spectacular showing today with the likes of point-blank looks at Piping, Snowy, Wilson's and Semipalmated on the beach flats. Numerous elegant Whimbrel dropped in for brief but excellent studies, while we picked apart Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers at close range. Once again we enjoyed crisp views of Gull-billed, Sandwich, Common, Royal, and Caspian Terns. Other highlights included close fly-bys of Northern Harrier, several Savannah Sparrows, and a spectacular pair of White-tailed Kites hanging in the wind. After our fill of Bolivar, we made a visit to Rollover Pass - which held terns and skimmers en masse. Brilliant views of Black Skimmers, American Avocets, American Oystercatchers, and Neotropic Cormorants made for a red-letter visit. A distant flock of nearly 200 Black Terns, a few American White Pelicans, and Roseate Spoonbills pumped up the day list.


- Benji Schwartz and Jen Brumfield

April 12        24 species of warblers & 19 species of shorebirds!
Nothing like an elegant and uncommon Red-headed Woodpecker to start your morning off with a twist! After yesterday's fury, the pace was more subdued but still excellent today, with several good flocks of warblers containing the highly-sought Blue-winged, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Tennessee, Swainson's, and Northern Parula. At HAS Boy Scout Woods, the drip at the grandstand was the place to be, with repeated visits of Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers, and stunning appearances of both Painted and Indigo Buntings. Crippling views of a half dozen Yellow-throated Warblers and two Orange-crowned Warblers kept the grandstands bustling with excitement. Warbling, Blue-headed, White-eyed, and Red-eyed Vireos were seen well and often along the boardwalk. Orchard Orioles and Summer Tanagers were thick today, along with numerous Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks gorging themselves on luscious mulberries. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker joined the ranks of the roving flocks moving through the Live Oak canopy. The nesting Purple Gallinule pair contines to put on a Broadway performance in the lagoons at HAS Boy Scout Woods. In the evening, nine Broad-winged Hawks made a move northward amongst a streaming group of Turkey Vultures.

HAS Smith Oaks saw an excellent day of diversity, with the likes of Prairie, Golden-winged, Cerulean, Bay-breasted, Chesnut-sided, and Wilson's, among others. Almost no one left HAS Smith Oaks without smashing views of Cerulean Warbler.

Bolivar Flats was absolutely hot for shorebirding today - with 19 species recorded in a  matter of two hours. We enjoyed excellent views of a trio of small plovers up close and side by side by side: Piping, Semipalmated, and Wilson's. American Avocet was once again the most numerous species, with at least six thousand present. A couple dozen Red Knots in various stages of molt provided nice studies, as did big numbers of Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Black-bellied Plover. Smaller numbers of Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, and a single Baird's Sandpiper added to the good show.  Gull-billed, Sandwich, Royal, Caspian, Common, and Forster's Terns were roosting right next to one another, lending themselves to detailed scrutiny of their plumage and structural differences.  We also got to compare the smaller, shorter-legged, droopy-billed "Eastern Willets" (local coastal breeders) with the taller, paler, godwit-like "Western WIllets" (Great Plains breeders). Several small flocks of Long-billed Curlews, Marbled Godwits, and Whimbrel gave us our "big" shorebird fix for the day. Finally, two Surf Scoters and a single White-winged Scoter were present in good light off the beach.

- Jen Brumfield


April 11         24 species of warblers!
If you weren't at High Island today, you MISSED all the action! A cool and rainy afternoon front abruptly pushed birds down to HAS Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. By mid-afternoon the frenzy was almost too much to keep up with. WARBLERS were the name of the game today, with 24 species as the top highlight, including a sighting of a rare Mourning/MacGillivray's Warbler (ID undetermined). At HAS Boy Scout Woods alone, 102 species of birds were found on Houston Audubon Society guided walks with highlights of Peregrine Falcon, a nest-building pair of Purple Gallinules, multiple male Painted Buntings, and startling looks at Cerulean, Blackburnian, Swainson's (scope views!), Kentucky, Blue-winged, and Worm-eating Warblers. Both Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles were in good supply feasting on the ripe mulberries. Flycatchers really picked up today, with Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, and Acadian Flycatcher reported, as well as showy  Western Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher seen well at the Tropical Birding Information Center across the street from HAS Boy Scout Woods.

HAS Smith Oaks saw a spectacular afternoon, with a top highlight of Western Tanager. The woods were swamped with  four species of vireos including Yellow-throated and multiple Blue-headeds, and many, many warblers including the scarce Prairie, Hooded, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Chestnut-sided, and Blue-winged among others.

Bolivar Flats continues to host exceptional numbers of shorebirds. Great looks were had at several Red Knots (molting into breeding plumage), and the continuing four Surf Scoters and single White-winged Scoter.

- Jen Brumfield


April 10
While the strong winds out of the south made birding a bit tricky, quite a few good species were still found. HAS Boy Scout Woods managed to produce multiple Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, Painted and Indigo Buntings, and numerous Eastern Kingbirds. In the mid-afternoon, those stationed at the grandstands were pleasantly surprised to see not one but TWO Crested Caracaras cruise low overhead to the delight of many birders. Back on the ground, a Northern Waterthrush, Blue-headed Vireo, multiple Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a few Red-eyed Vireos were pulled  from the honeysuckle tangles and mossy oak canopy. The sewage ponds and wetlands were alive with Swamp Sparrows, Orchard Orioles, Common Yellowthroat, Belted Kingfisher, and multiple Northern Rough-winged Swallows. The real highlight was Purple Gallinule - yet, regrettably, prolonged views of this blue-and-purple swamphen were not had.  Throughout the day, flyover Neotropic Cormorants, a wide mix of herons and egrets, and Royal Terns kept an eye-to-the-sky busy.

The evening rookery watch at HAS Smith Oaks proved successful again, with crippling looks at a stunning male Prothonotary Warbler, as well as typically-splendid observations of dozens of Tricolored and Little Blue Herons, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy and Great Egrets, Anhinga, and Black-crowned Night-Heron on a nest. Other wetland residents included the smart-looking Pied-billed Grebe and the crimson-plated Common Moorhen. Overhead, the sky was filled with Purple Martins and Cliff Swallows.

The strong winds today made birding Bolivar Flats a bit tricky as the water line was almost up to the grass. Piping, Snowy, Wilson's, and Semipalmated Plover were all seen as well as some great views of American Oystercatcher. Even with the high water-line, a couple Red Knots were still found among the more common Short-billed Dowitcher and Western Sandpiper

- Jen Brumfield and Benji Schwartz

April 9
Bolivar Flats was the place to be today.  The combination of a noontime high tide, nearly new moon, and southerly wind at 30 mph made for an impressively high spring tide on today's birdwalk.  Birds were concentrated into the thousands just a stone's throw away, and we took advantage of their proximity and numbers by studying plumage variations within species.  American Avocet was once again the most numerous species, with a few thousand present. A couple dozen Red Knots in various stages of molt provided nice studies, as did big numbers of Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Black-bellied Plover.  Common and Forster's Tern were roosting right next to one another, lending themselves to detailed scrutiny of their plumage and strctural differences.  We also got to compare the smaller, shorter-legged, droopy-billed "Eastern Willets" (local coastal breeders) with the taller, paler, godwit-like "Western WIllets" (Great Plains breeders).  We found our best birds back at the cars, where a quick scan of the Gulf produced a distant Northern Gannet and a flock of 20-25 diving ducks just beyond the breakers. ~13 Lesser Scaup, 1 female Greater Scaup, 4-6 Surf Scoters (1 first summer male and the rest females), and 1 adult female White-winged Scoter comprised the raft.  Back at the highway junction, there was an immature Crested Caracara being dived at by a White-tailed Kite.

The strong south wind kept things fairly quiet at HAS Boy Scout Woods today.  Even so, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was a nice addition to the preserve's woods, and many people enjoyed a brilliant male Prothonotary Warbler and a White-throated Sparrow coming to the Grandstands drip.  A "Western" Palm Warbler was seen on the edge of the marsh, and a Wood Thrush was noted near the bathrooms.  A Northern Waterthrush appeared at Purkey's Pond just before dusk.  Blue Grosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo were also noted today.

At HAS Smith Oaks there were reports of a male Scarlet Tanager and Blue-winged, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers.

- Michael Retter


April 8

Some new birds arrived after the drizzle and welcomed cloudy skies late this afternoon at HAS Boy Scout Woods.  At least three male Summer Tanagers were gorging on mulberries at the grandstands.  Unfortunely a couple people left with stained shirts and wet eyes thanks to close encounters! A bright breeding plumaged "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler seemed to have arrived this afternoon. Also noted at various points throughout the day were Buff-bellied Hummingbird (across the street in the Tropical Birding Info Center), Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Blue-headed Vireos, White-eyed Vireos, Red-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbirds, Black-and-white Warbler, "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Summer Tanagers, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Orchard Orioles.  The now resident Black-hooded Parakeet escapee came screaming overhead a couple times, and a dozen Black-bellied Whistling Ducks flew by the observation platform in the marsh.

 

The Bolivar Flats shorebird trip turned up 8 species of tern, Horned Lark, 20 Red Knots, American Oystercatcher, and all four small plovers. It was a real treat to watch an immature Peregrine Falcon harass a Least Tern, the tern plunging into the water trying to elude capture.  Witnessing the immese avocet flock take flight was quite a spectacle.  The tern finally prevailed, and the Peregrine then turned its attention to the flock of 3-4 thousand avocets.  There were Upland Sandpipers and American Golden-Plover mixed in with some Black-bellied Plover along TX-87 just west of the Joy Sands Motel.

 

- Michael Retter

April 7
HAS Boy Scout Woods held FOS Baltimore Orioles, a small group of males of which dropped into the top of the live oaks and posed up nicely in the 'scope, small parties of Scarlet and Summer Tanagers feeding in the mulberries around the boardwalks. Warblers included Black-and-white, Northern Parula, and several Hooded Warblers, at least one of which was visiting the drip beside Purkey's Pond, while Yellow-throated Warbler again visited trees close to the Tropical Birding Tower on 5th Street. A number of Eastern Wood Pewees were also perched up around the sanctuary. Over at HAS Smith Oaks, Prothonotory and Worm-eating Warblers were reported lurking in the brush.

Down at Bolivar Flats, Red Knot numbers picked up with over 15 birds hugging the shoreline there. The biggest spectacle though was absolutely thousands of rusty-headed breeding plumage American Avocets packed on the flats. 8 species of tern were also still around, that included a smattering of Black Terns.

- Sam Woods

April 6
HAS Boy Scouts held a bright male Blue-winged Warbler, White-eyed Vireo visited the drip a number of times by Purkey's Pond, as did one of the Hooded Warblers in the sanctuary. The drip as ever was often the center of attention, and this afternoon was no exception when a beautiful bright blue male Indigo Bunting decided to sing in the cypress just above it. Other notable birds around the reserve today included Blue and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, large numbers of Orchard Orioles on the move, and both Scarlet and Summer Tanagers visited some of the Mulberries in the sanctuary. A Worm-eating Warbler was also reported there too.

- Sam Woods

April 5
HAS Boy Scout Woods was pretty interesting this morning with a male Painted Bunting that was all too brief unfortunately. A mixed group of Indigo Buntings shared a tree with Blue Grosbeaks and a Northern Parula. Skulking in the thickets were Warbling Vireo, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler, while a flock of Northern Rough-winged Swallows were grounded and perched up low in the brush for us all. Some bright male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were also found in the sanctuary, our first breeding plumage males of the season. Over the road beside the Tropical Birding Information Center canopy tower, a group of birds dropped into the live oak, that included a male Indigo Bunting, several Blue Grosbeaks, Northern Parula, and a superb Yellow-throated Warbler. This afternoon a Violet-green Swallow dropped into HAS Smith Oaks, a rare sighting indeed for this part of the US. Other birds seen this afternoon include Black-throated Green Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler also in Smith Oaks, and a Black-throated Blue Warbler was seen first in TOS Hooks Woods sanctuary (where a Blue-winged Warbler was also present), and later on just before dusk in HAS Boy Scouts, where there were also a few Summer Tanagers seen.

- Sam Woods

April 4
Southerlies during the morning and bright skies overhead, meant things were a little slow in the morning, although still a step up from the day before, with a male Indigo Bunting bathing in the drip over at HAS Boy Scout Woods, while Kentucky, Prothonotory and Hooded Warblers were also found lurking in the brush there. Also in the sanctuary in the morning a Common Loon passed overhead, while in the afternoon a bunch of yellowlegs flew overhead there, of both species. A front moving in, in the late afternoon brought a slight change in events, bright male Summer Tanagers being found visiting a fruiting tree on the fringe of Boy Scouts, with another over at HAS Smith Oaks as well. A different Kentucky Warbler obliged by visiting the Boy Scouts drip, and a FOS Western Kingbird was found hanging around with a few Eastern Kingbirds over at the back of Boy Scouts. The front bought a load of swallows down low over the marsh at the rear of the reserve, that included a sprinkling of Northern Rough-wingeds. The main headline of the afternoon though was a fine male Black-throated Blue Warbler that was found along with a Louisiana Waterthrush near the drip in the TOS reserve on 1st Street. A fine finish to the day was a fantastic Blue-winged Warbler in Smith Oaks, that we hope heralds hope for the 'morrow!

- Sam Woods

April 3
The coastal woodlots were seriously quiet today (with a few lingering Hooded Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos and Black-and-white Warblers being the only things of note), and so once again attentions were focused on the shorebirding, that was just fantastic once more. Upland Sandpipers (3) were again seen along highway 87 close to the Joy Sands Motel, and (as usual) the flats at the HAS sanctuary in Bolivar were packed with shorebirds, gulls and terns. Terns numbered 8 species (including Black, Least and Common). A few Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were also noted perching out on the roadside wires along the Bolivar Peninsula.

April 2
The woodlots were a little quiet today with the clear night leading many of yesterdays migrants to move on. Kentucky Warbler was still lingering within HAS Boy Scout Woods, as were Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler and Black-and-white Warbler, and a Purple Gallinule still lurked in the reeds out the back. A male Wilson's Warbler continued to hang out in HAS Smith Oaks also. Shorebirders were in for a real treat today with many cool species seen. Both American Golden Plover and Upland Sandpiper were seen on the Bolivar Peninsula in fields alongside highway 87. A single Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found with a group of 30 or so Pectoral Sandpipers along highway 1985 to Anahuac (four and half miles from the intersection with highway 124 between Winnie and High Island). At Bolivar Flats American Avocets lingered on, and 8 species of tern were found resting on the flats (Black, Least, Gull-billed, Common, Forster's, Sandwich, Royal and Caspian). Sandpipers were represented with a few Semipalmateds amongst the large groups of Western Sands on the shore, with a few Leasts thrown in for good measure and the quartet of small plovers were all there up close and side-by-side - Piping, Semipalmated, Wilson's and Snowy all still being around. Marbled Godwits were dotted about the flats also in addtion to Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew.

- Sam Woods

April 1
A flurry of several migrants dropping in at Boy Scout Woods late this afternoon heightened the excitement as many birders joined the guided walks and eagerly patrolled the boardwalks and drip system and were rewarded with stunning males of Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, loose groups of Indigo Buntings and Orchard Orioles, and a few exciting warblers including male Kentucky, Hooded, Black-and-white, N. Parula and incredible close up scope-filling looks of a very cooperative Worm-eating Warbler which posed motionless for minutes on end, affording the best views ever of this stealthy skulker of dense brushy thickets. What a treat that was! Not to be outdone was a vibrant male Blue-winged Warbler and a couple of Prothonotary Warblers also showing well at the Cathedral. Several Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos were conspicuously singing from the treetops and Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak were also reported. A Louisiana Waterthrush was tame as ever at Purkey's Pond offering great scope views while Gray Catbirds and other songsters visited the drip. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Buff-bellied Hummingbird also were noted along the boardwalk loop and several Eastern Kingbirds were perched atop snags in the fading evening light to end another great day's birding.

The Bolivar Flats birdwalk had lots of great birds as usual, but was almost devoid of American Avocets today (with thousands present just yesterday) but many target birds did not dissapoint as scores of shorebirds, plovers, godwits, dowitchers, terns and many others provided plenty of excitement. Of note were several Red Knots, lots of Piping and Semipalmated Plovers, dozens of Gull-billed, Sandwich and Caspian Terns, a few Black Skimmers and some striking Reddish Egrets close in for great looks.

- Moez Ali



March 31
After 5-8 inches of rain falling in just a few hours the previous evening expectant birders were on the lookout for migrants in the coastal woodlots. HAS Smith Oaks held a gaudy male Summer Tanager, a FOS American Redstart, a bunch of Black-and-white Warblers working the trees nuthatch fashion, a few male Wilson's Warblers, and Northern Parula. Kentucky Warblers were glimpsed at HAS Boy Scout Woods, and heard over at the HAS Eubanks sanctuary where a lone Northern Waterthrush and a few more Wilson's Warblers put on a show. A morning walk in Boy Scout Woods brought us great long looks at a beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler gleaning in the live oak out the back of the HAS kiosk, while a Cliff Swallow and several Chimney Swifts cruised overhead, and Red-eyed, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos all worked the same area. The same tree that held these migrants also held a winter lingerer in the form of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Down at HAS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, the 'sea' of rusty-headed summer plumage American Avocets was a surefire highlight, numbering in the thousands once more. In amongst the avocet horde Marbled Godwits muscled in on the action, while tern species numbered six along the sandy beach (including Common, Gull-billed and Sandwich). A couple of Red Knots were again working the tideline, well away from the main pack of shorebirds, and plovers included several male Snowy Plovers and a number of Wilson's. As we left this haven for shorebirds we had unbeatable views of a Reddish Egret feeding in a brackish pool with a Mottled Duck for company.

- Sam Woods

March 30
Guided birwalks at Boy Scout woods hosted the regular male Buff-belied Hummingbird at the red salvia flowers along the boardwalk, and three female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, while a male Hooded Warbler, White-eyed and Blue-Headed Vireos and Gray Catbirds frequented the drip at the grandstand. A Summer Tanager was briefly heard calling at Bessie's Pond and a female Blue Grosbeak in a group of male Orchard Orioles was a new FOS addtion. A FOS Kentucky Warbler was briefly glimpsed in the thicket behind the HAS kiosk but failed to reappear despite much searching. A flurry of migrants at Smith Oaks just before the evening rains set in included multiple Yellow-throated, Black-and-white and Wilson's Warblers, N. Parula, Orchard Orioles and Eastern Kingbirds at the oak mottes and drip at the Winnie St. entrance to the sancturary. A persistent stormy deluge of heavy rain all night may drop in several new migrants for tomorrow's morning walks!

- Moez Ali


March 29
The guided walks this morning were a little quiet with clear skies and southerlies persisting.  Late winter lingerers included a Rose-breasted Grosbeak out by the marsh at the back of HAS Boy Scout Woods, and a Buff-bellied Hummingbird visited the flowers in the garden of The Roost along 5th Street. Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos were still both at HAS Boy Scout Woods and HAS Smith Oaks, with a Northern Parula also at the latter. Things picked up a little this afternoon with a group of 5 Upland Sandpipers being seen along Highway 87 between Crystal Beach and the HAS Bolivar Flats turnoff. While out on the flats hundreds of American Avocets flanked the shoreline, and the tern pack held both Sandwich and Gull-billed Terns.  The mid-afternoon walk picked up with another Indigo Bunting, although the afternoon headline was reserved for a male Painted Bunting that was first picked up from the Tropical Birding tower, visiting the backyard of the information center there. While we hung about for further sightings of this most handsome of US buntings, a group of 5 male Orchard Orioles chose that opportune moment to show off by bathing in the back yard water feature. Soon after the alarm went up from HAS Boy Scout Woods across the road, as the male Painted Bunting was now taking full advantage of their own water drip by the grandstands, and everyone was soon onto this beauty as it came in and out of the scrub by the drip alongside Purkey's Pond. Late afternoon brought a little flurry of activity to the drip at HAS Smith Oaks with a fenale Black-and-white Warbler, male Hooded Warbler and male Wilson's Warbler jostling for a place in the bird bath with Hermit Thrush, and Catbird also in attendance.

- Sam Woods

March 28
Today's guided birdwalks were quite lively with a flurry of migrant activity especially in the late afternoon around Purkey's Pond and Bessie's Pond where FOS Summer Tanager and Indigo Bunting were noted. A small group of male Orchard Orioles was also present, and Red-eyed, Yellow-throated, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos, Hooded Warbler, Gray Catbird and Common Yellowthroat  visiting the water drip. The Buff-bellied Hummingbird continues to show well at the red savlias at the Cathedral and along the boardwalks, and occasionally visting the feeders at the birding information center across from the sanctuary.

The regular noon Bolivar Flats walk showcased all four small plovers showing really well and up close, with Piping being most numerous and large numbers of the more common small peeps huddled close in higher up the beach. A few Red Knots posed for great looks as did good numbers of Marbled Godwits, American Avocets and lots of terns including several Gull-billed, Sandwich, Least, Royal, Forster's and Caspian for good comparisons. 8 flyby Fulvous Whistling-Ducks and a few Scissor-tailed Flycatchers also added to the excitement.

- Moez Ali

March 27
Late afternoon was quite exciting with a handful of new spring arrivals at Smith Oaks. FOS Swainson's Warbler, Ovenbird and Black-throated Green Warbler were at the water drip in the main oak motte, with Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, Tennessee, Hooded and Black-and-white Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush and N. Parula also in attendance. A small group of male Orchard Orioles and a couple of Eastern Kingbirds in the willows behind the pumphouse were also new arrivals.

At the birding information center, a nice group of 4 vibrant Orchard Oriole males descended to the water feature for a bath and were also captured on our live webcam! Also present briefly at the hummer feeder in the back garden was the male Buff-bellied Hummingbird, and two Eastern Kingbirds sat sentry in the high hackberries across the street at Boy Scouts. Earlier in the day, a fantastic adult White-tailed Kite sailed right over the canopy tower in the front garden, offering stunning low looks at this elegant and graceful raptor.

- Moez Ali

March 27
Over in Boy Scout Woods this morning the regular Buff-bellied Hummingbird gave us some great looks during Houston Audubon's guided walk, feeding on the red flowers by the Cathedral again, while out on the fringes of the marsh out back an Orchard Oriole and Palm Warbler worked the scrubby edge. Other continuing birds included a fine male Hooded Warbler and three species of vireo (Yellow-throated, White-eyed and Blue-headed). While over the road at the Tropical Birding Information Center 4 male Orchard Orioles checked out our water feature when they dropped in this afternoon (one even gaining webcam fame in the process!), and both Buff-bellied and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visited our garden, while up on the tower a White-tailed Kite ghosted over.

During our midday walk along the flats at the HAS Bolivar Shorebird Sanctuary clouds of shorebirds packed the beach, and swirled in the air. Numbers of American Avocets were down from just a few days earlier when thousands lined the shore. Some of the regular 'peeps' were in evidence such as Least, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and plovers were again well represented with Wilson's Plovers standing alongside Semipalmated, Piping and Snowy Plovers. The flock of roosting terns held Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns among others. A brief stop in at Rollover Pass found a horde of Black Skimmers decked down in the car park, a few feet from our assembled cars, while both on the way down there and back to High Island a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was noted on the roadside wires between High Island and Gilchrist.

- Sam Woods

March 26
Guided walks for Houston Audubon around HAS Boy Scout Woods today were a little quiet with southerly winds and clear skies not being conducive to bringing in migrants. Lingering birds in the sanctuary included Hooded Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Swamp Sparrows, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers while across the road in the Tropical Birding Information Center yard, a Buff-bellied Hummingbird visited one of the feeders, and a male Orchard Oriole also came in again to check out the garden.

Further down the Bolivar Peninsula at HAS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary the shore was packed with birds as usual with shorebirds lining the shore, and huge packs of terns roosting on the beach, that included Sandwich, Royal, Caspian, Least Terns, and a couple of Gull-billed Terns. In the deeper waters Marbled Godwits were 'plying their trade', while further out still sprawling groups of American Avocets dotted the waters. A varied selection of plovers were also on display, with Piping, Semipalmated, and Wilson's Plovers all feeding side-by-side.

This evening a Houston Audubon walk to the rookery at HAS Smith Oaks for the evening fly-in, produced the usual phenomenal views of nesting Roseate Spoonbills, a plethora of egrets and cormorants, while Ibises and herons streamed overhead. The passerines also got a look in though with a fine black-and-red Orchard Oriole and White-eyed Vireo found along the boardwalks.

- Sam Woods

March 25
The Prothonotary Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush were still present at Purkey's Pond this morning, and a handsome male Black-and-white Warbler also came down to the water's edge for a bath. Yellow-throated, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos were seen again along the boardwalk loop and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak continued just south of the Cathedral. The birding information center gardens hosted a brilliant male Buff-bellied Hummingbird and stunnin male Orchard Oriole which bathed in the water feature and lingered in the attractive bird garden.

Bolivar Flats produced all four small plovers (Wilson's, Piping, Snowy and Semi-palmated) in good numbers and up close on the beach. A few Baird's Sandpipers were mixed in with the more common peeps and good numbers of American Avocets, Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Curlews and Whimbrels were also notable along this stretch.

Rollover Pass had a nice flock of 35 Black Skimmers right in the sandy parking lot, with all 7 species of expected terns in attendance (Sandwich, Common, Forster's, Gull-billed, Caspian, Royal and Least). Also present were a few American Oystercatchers, Reddish Egrets, Long-billed Dowitchers and Black-necked Stilts.

- Moez Ali

March 24
Continuing migrants at Purkey's Pond in Boy Scout Woods included a stunning male Prothonotary Warbler and very tame Louisiana Waterthrush, with a singing Yellow-throated Vireo and numerous Gray Catbirds and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in close proximity. Other notables were N. Parula and Black-and-white Warbler and the boardwalk loop hosted White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a FOS Eastern Kingbird which was an exciting addition. The male Buff-belllied Hummingbird was at its favorite patch of salvia flowers at the Cathedral and a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird briefly visited the feeder in the front garden of the birding information center. Several sparrow species continue to show well in the sedges along the marsh boardwalk, and numerous adult Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are still present at the marsh.

- Moez Ali

March 23
In addition to yesterday's sightings at Boy Scout Woods, a FOS Red-eyed Vireo was present in the live oaks on 5th Street next to the birding information center and a surprise Crested Caracara flew over the Cathedral in the sanctuary earlier in the morning.

Purkey's pond continued to host most of the action for the rest of the late afternoon with Prothonotary, Black-and-white and Hooded Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, N. Parula, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos and male Buff-bellied Hummingbird seen well from the grandstand. An encouraging sign of more incoming migrants was a group of 4 newly-arrived Black-and-white Warblers at the pond just before dusk. Perhaps some more birds will drop in tonight and surprise us tomorrow morning!

- Moez Ali

March 23
A 'rail walk' through the Yellow Rail Prairie at Anahuac NWR this morning produced good views of two different Yellow Rails, and also a single Sora was seen in the same area. In the willows there a Louisiana Waterthrush was seen feeding quietly along the marshy edge of the small pool to the left as you enter the boardwalk.

Over at HAS Boy Scout Woods a Prothonotary Warbler (photo left) flitting around Purkey's Pond was a new arrival this morning, and a Louisiana Waterthrush (photo below) has also been around the sanctuary all day, while a Black-and-white Warbler and a Northern Parula were hanging around Prothontotary Pond this afternoon.

- Sam Woods

March 22
A morning walk in the HAS Boy Scouts Woods was fairly quiet, with bright sun and very light northeasterly winds not really being great for migrants. However, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, Wood Thrush, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos were all recorded on the reserve, in addition to the Buff-bellied Hummingbird which continued to be seen around the Cathedral area.

Big news this afternoon was a fantastic male Painted Bunting (the first of the season), that appeared in the mulberry tree right outside the Audubon kiosk in HAS Boy Scout Woods sanctuary, by Purkey's Pond.

- Sam Woods


March 21
A very pleasant walk through Boy Scout Woods produced a couple of vireos: Blue-headed and a showy White-eyed by Prothonotary Pond. Along the boardwalks a single Orchard Oriole and single Hooded Warbler were in evidence, although best of all were great looks at one of the "regular" wintering Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, which visited the cardinal flowers in the cathedral (where it has been hanging about on-and-off for the past week or so). In the meadow Gray Catbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and other pleasant songsters were around, along with a few Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers working the edge. Lingering winterers included White-throated and Lincoln's Sparrows, Hermit Thrush, and both kinglets. A brief foray on the observation tower produced eye-level views of cruising parties of Purple Martins, while Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows hawked overhead.  The Tropical Birding Information Center officially opens tomorrow, Saturday the 22nd, although free coffee, free information, and free guided walks in some of the Houston Audubon sanctuaries are available right now (see our events page for details).

This afternoon a Northern Parula and a Yellow-throated Vireo were new arrivals in the HAS Boy Scout Woods sanctuary, while the Louisiana Waterthrush continued to 'show off', giving great views right opposite the Houston Audubon shop that overlooks Purkey's Pond. The HAS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary was loaded with waterbirds this afternoon, including dozens of Piping Plovers, mixed in with Semi-palmated and Snowy Plovers. The pack of terns roosting onshore included Gull-billed and Least Terns, and a few Bonaparte's Gulls. Other notable shorebirds included around 1,000 American Avocets, many of which were sporting their rusty-headed breeding garb; a bunch of Marbled Godwits were also out on the flats, in addition to a few Reddish Egrets.

- Moez Ali


March 20
The overnight northerly winds were lighter than originally predicted, so they did not produce as much as we'd hoped. Nevertheless, new in today at HAS Boy Scout Woods was a Great Crested Flycatcher, and Orchard Oriole, Hooded and Tennessee Warblers, and White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos were also about. A pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers was noted along TX-87 between Gilchrist and Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. Other birds noted down on the peninsula included a bunch of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and Seaside Sparrows along Yacht Basin Road, south of Rollover Pass (in addition to a few Mottled Ducks and Lesser Scaups in the same area); and a whole host of shorebirds at the HAS Bolivar Flats sanctuary, including good numbers of Marbled Godwits, American Avocets, Piping Plovers, a few Wilson's and Snowy Plovers, along with Gull-billed Tern. New in this evening was a group of three Common Nighthawks circling the parking lot at dusk at HAS Smith Oaks on High Island.

- Sam Woods


March 19
After some heavy rain last night on the island this morning's walk in the HAS Boy Scout Woods Sanctuary produced three species of vireos: White-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Blue-headed Vireos. The "regular'" Buff-bellied Hummingbird was also still present this morning, hanging  around the Cathedral area (where it has been for the past week at least). However, the big news of the day is the first Worm-eating and Tennessee Warblers of the season today. Continuing Gray Catbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Common Yellowthroats are also in the area.  The First-of-the-season Wilson's Warbler was at HAS Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where there is good diversity in the Rookery (Great, Snowy, and Reddish Egrets, Little Blue and Tricolored Herons, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, Anhinga, and lots of Roseate Spoonbills). Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Golden-crowned Kinglet were seen again yesterday in Boy Scout Woods.

- Scott Olmstead

March 18

The winds over the last couple of days have not been conducive to dropping migrants on High Island, but Hooded Warbler was present today for the second consecutive day and Orchard Oriole was also reported.

- Sam Woods

March 15

An hour or so in the sanctuary this morning revealed a good mix of migrants. There were about ten species of warblers present, among them Cerulean, Nashville, Black-and-white, Yellow-throated, Northern Parula, and Northern Waterthrush. Other migrants: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wood Thrush, and three species of vireo (Blue-headed, White-eyed, and Yellow-throated, with Blue-headed being quite common today). Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard once and Buff-bellied Hummingbird was seen again; on Thursday the hummer made its first visit to the feeders at the information center.

-Scott Olmstead

March 13
A short walk through the sanctuary this morning yielded a few early migrants and plenty of birdsong along the trails. Purkey's Pond hosted most of the action with Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes, Northern Parula, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Blue-headed, Yellow-throated and White-eyed Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers among many of the common resident species.
Eye level atop the canopy tower were several Purple Martins, Tree and Barn Swallows circling just out of arm's reach and the unlimited views produced soaring Black Vultures, White Ibis, Anhingas, Roseate Spoonbills and several herons and egrets. A Whip-poor-will sang briefly from the sanctuary last night.

-Moez Ali