A Pleasant Surprise This Morning

I got out around 9:00 this morning not expecting to see much. A strong south wind blew all night, and I figured the warblers and other migrants would all be gone. Boy was I wrong! The first bird I saw was a Yellow-breasted Chat in the thickets of yaupon holly and southern bayberry. Later down in the woods, I saw my first Bay-breasted Warbler of the season. There were quite a few birds out today. If this north wind continues tomorrow, I'm going birding right after church for a couple of hours.

I saw eight species of warblers today: Blue-winged, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, American Redstart, Hooded and Yellow-breasted Chat. Other migrants included Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Birds seen today 5/3/08 (38 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift ,Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

'08 Property Birds as of 5/3/08: 113

'04 Property Birds as of 5/3/04: 103

Warblers! Warblers Everywhere!

I knew this morning was going to be good. The front passed yesterday with a pretty good line of rain. The north winds were blowing 10 - 15 mph. The blew all night, so I knew the migrants that came in yesterday afternoon would have spent the night here and would be feeding waiting for more favorable south winds to continue their journey north. I wasn't disappointed.

In about 2 hours of birding, I saw 16 species of warblers! Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Blue-winged, Cerulean, Chestnut-sided, Golden-winged, Hooded, Kentucky, Magnolia, Orange-crowned, Tennessee, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird. The one that surprised me the most was the Golden-winged. I saw six individuals, which is more than I've seen probably in my whole life! At one point, I had a Black-throated Green, Magnolia and Chestnut-sided in a single binocular view! I don't know that I'd call this a fallout, but it was definitely busy! I wish I could go out this evening when the new wave of migrants comes in. Maybe I can get out for an hour in the morning if there is still a north wind.

Another thing that kind of surprised me today was the number of White Ibis I saw flying over. I saw flock after flock of 20+ birds fly over. Everytime I got a clear view of the sky, a flock would fly over. I don't think I've ever seen that many.

A note from 4/26: I saw a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the mulberry tree on the east side of the house. I haven't seen them at my feeders yet, but it was nice to see him there. Also a Tri-colored Heron flew over. He was the first one I've seen from the property all year.

Birds Seen 4/28 (47 species): Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, Carolina Chickadee, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Cattle Egret, Red-shouldered Hawk, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Blue Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Purple Martin, Ovenbird, Barred Owl, Northern Parula, Eastern Wood-Pewee, American Redstart, Spotted Sandpiper, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Summer Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, Red-eyed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Turkey Vulture, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat

What A Day!

I left work a little early today because of the potential for great birding this afternoon. Heavy rain moved through in the early afternoon grounding the migrants. I got out into the woods around 4:00 and had two hours before having to get back to get cleaned up for church. Things started off pretty slowly. However, I realized that I would be dealing with hordes of mosquitoes. How did people survive without DEET? I saw a Tennessee Warbler at the first place I stopped. A bit later, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew past. A Blue-winged Warbler called from a thicket of tri-foliate orange trees. After waiting for a couple of minutes and swatting hundreds of mosquitoes, he showed himself. Along the gully in the NE corner of the property, thrushes were abundant! I saw a Wood Thrush, a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a Veery and several Hermit Thrushes. The Wood Thrush called a few times. I don't believe I've ever heard one live before. What a treat that was! At my favorite yaupon stand, an Ovenbird walked along the ground. He was joined by several Indigo Buntings. I walked south along the eastern fence line to the dry gully. I almost turned around to head back because I hadn't seen that much and was ready to get out of the mosquitoes. I heard a warbler-like call from the other side of the dry gully, so I went across to see if I could find it. I sure am glad I did! I stopped in one spot and warblers came through in droves. It wasn't a matter of finding a bird to look at. It was trying to determine which one to look at! It reminded me of the fallout in 1997 at High Island. Warblers were everywhere: Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Yellow Warbler. And then it happened. It was one of those moments where you are simply in the right place at the right time. It was one of those moments where you know what is happening, but refuse to believe it. A warbler lit in a small tallow tree about 25 ft. from me. I looked at him through my binoculars and quickly identified it as a male Black-throated Blue Warbler! A LIFER!!! I had looked at that bird in my book so many times and wanted to someday visit their breeding grounds to see one. I never thought I'd see one on the Upper Texas Coast, especially not in our woods! But there he was. I followed him for about five minutes until he flew out of sight to the north. By this time, I needed to start heading home. At another spot in the woods, Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Painted Buntings and several warblers flew from tree to tree. I finally had to tear myself away from the spectacle and go home. I did stop for another couple of minutes and watched an Eastern Wood-Pewee catch several flying insects. They looked like flying termites, but I couldn't tell for sure. The Black-throated Blue Warbler and Cerulean Warbler were new property birds - #177 and #178. The Black-throated Blue Warbler is life bird #363 for me. What an incredible day! With 55 species, it is the most productive day on the property since we moved here in September 2003.

Warblers Seen (17 Species): Blue-winged Warbler (FOS), Tennessee Warbler (FOS), Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler (FOS), Chestnut-sided Warbler (FOS), Magnolia Warbler (FOS), Black-throated Blue Warbler (FOS & Lifer), Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler (FOS), Bay-breasted Warbler (FOS), Cerulean Warbler (FOS), Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird (FOS), Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler

Other Species (38 Species): Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Veery (FOS), Gray-cheeked Thrush (FOS), Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush (FOS), Gray Catbird, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (FOS), Blue Grosbeak (FOS), Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting (FOS), Red-winged Blackbird, Orchard Oriole (FOS), Baltimore Oriole (FOS), House Sparrow