Seasonal Sightings for Central Prairie and
East Texas Seasonal Sightings for Central Prairie and
East TexasThe 67 Texas counties included in this report are: Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Bowie, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Coleman, Comanche, Coryell, DeWitt, Falls, Fayette, Franklin, Freestone, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Jasper, Karnes, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Travis (eastern only), Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Walker, Waller, Washington, Williamson, and Wilson.
Reduced from over 500 reports of 181 species from 1 June to 31 July 2002..
Randy Pinkston, 7 July, Bell County, "I visited Union Grove Wildlife Area on Stillhouse Hollow Lake this afternoon around 7-7:30 p.m. First of all, the lake level is higher than I've seen before in my eight years in Bell County. So much for any shorebirding potential over the next couple of months."
Tim Fennell, 21 July, Williamson County, "Byron Stone and I birded Granger Lake (which is in eastern Williamson County about 35 miles northeast of Austin). Very high lake levels have resulted in an abundance of waders. A large roost of egrets and herons has formed on the north shore of the lake, visible to the south of the FM 971 bridge over Sore Finger WMA. The best birding (with a surprising number of shorebirds, considering lake levels) was at some mudflats that have formed to the east of a right angle turn on CR 349."
Tim Fennell, 30 July, Granger Lake, Williamson County, "I birded Sore Finger WMA (where a bridge on FM 971 crosses an arm of the lake) on Granger Lake on the way home from work today and a nice mix of birds were present, the most interesting being Snowy Plovers. The lake level has dropped significantly since 21 July and the mudflats on CR 349 have dried up."
Randy Pinkston, summer report, Bell County, "The rains have created plenty of habitat for long-legged waders and they have responded with greater than usual numbers in their usual post-breeding (mid- to late summer) appearance in Bell County. Numbers of all regular migratory species (Great & Snowy Egrets, LBH, Tricolored & Green Herons, and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron) are up."
Randy Pinkston, summer season, Bell County, "It has been the wettest summer season since I arrived in Bell County in 1994. Also cooler so far, although August and early September might be more typical. Shorebird habitat was largely lost with the rains."
Tim Fennell, summer season, Williamson County, "The heavy rain of the last two weeks of June caused extensive flooding in Central Texas. Normal Average rainfall for June is 2.48" for the Austin area. This June the area received 8.37" of rain. Rain continued for the first half of July, the area having 17 rainy days and 5.02" of rain (Not including this year, there have only been 21 rainy days in July since 1997). By July 21st, Granger Lake was at the highest levels I've ever seen but it was back down to normal levels by July 30th. As a result of all the rain, temperatures ran almost 5 degrees lower than normal from the middle of June to the end of the period. Following the rains, the singing of many species, most notably Northern Bobwhites, Painted Buntings, Dickcissels and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, seemed to increase dramatically, possibly signaling a second round of breeding for the season."
Pacific Loon: (1 first summer) 26 June (Grant Critchfield); 27 June (Grant Critchfield, Randy Pinkston), 28 June (Grant Critchfield); 29 June (Jeremy D., Julie Shank); 2 July (Shawn Ashbaugh, Jeffrey Hanson, Tom Ashbaugh), Lake Belton dam, Bell County [casual; first summer record for county].
Randy Pinkston, 27 June, "A subadult Pacific Loon in first summer plumage is present at the Belton Lake dam in Bell County. The bird was discovered by Grant Critchfield after the rainstorm yesterday. Grant and I relocated the bird this morning and again this afternoon around 6 p.m. It was foraging along the base of the dam and seemed little concerned with the busy boat traffic below the dam."
Jeffrey Hanson, "This is just the 5th report (which ones were TBRC accepted I don't know) of Pacific Loon in TX during the summer months; and the first during this season for the Austin Checklist circle."
Randy Pinkston, summer report, "A Pacific Loon was present at the Belton Lake dam June 26-July 2. … Interestingly, this evening I discovered an e-mail from Gil Eckrich reporting that he had relocated the Pacific Loon on Stillhouse Hollow Lake on July 31."
Pacific Loon: (1) 31 July (Gil Eckrich), Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Bell County [casual; probably same bird seen at Lake Belton 26 June to 2 July].
Least Grebe: (1) 9 July (Brush Freeman), small pond south of O' Quinn, Fayette County [rare].
Pied-billed Grebe: (2) 12 June; (3 adults, 1 juvenile) 24 June; (3 adults, 5 juveniles,
including a female feeding 4 of the juveniles) 17 July; (7 adults, 1 juvenile) 29 July
(Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake area, Angelina County [occasional].
Pied-billed Grebe: (pair with 2 small chicks) 29 June (Jesse Fagan, David Wolf), TX 147
bridge over Sam Rayburn Reservoir, San Augustine County [occasional].
Pied-billed Grebe: (1 calling) 7 July (Peter Barnes), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County
[rare in summer].
Pied-billed Grebe: (3) 20 July (Nancy Bird), Lufkin Country Club Lake, Lufkin, Angelina
County [occasional].
American White Pelican: (137) 27 June (Tim Fennell), Willis Creek
Park, Granger Lake, Williamson County [unusually large number for summer; photographed].
American White Pelican: (~22) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County
[occasional].
American White Pelican: (3) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rare in summer].
American White Pelican: (8) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Bryron Stone), Willis Creek Park,
Granger Lake, Williamson County [occasional].
Neotropic Cormorant: (4) 5 July (Randy Pinkston), Arrowhead Point, Lake Belton, Bell
County [occasional].
Neotropic Cormorant: (100) 7 July (Peter Barnes), Richland Creek WMA,
Freestone County [unusually large number for summer when it is rare in the area].
Peter Barnes, "There were approximately 100 Wood Storks in the north unit, 80 by Hwy 287, visible from the north unit entrance, and 20 in the ponds at the very back of the north unit. These ponds had impressive numbers of large wading birds, including 1,500 Cattle Egret, 150 Great and 150 Snowy Egrets, 40 Little Blue Herons, 30 Yellow-crowned and 2 Black-crowned Night Herons and 250 White Ibis. Also at the ponds were a calling Pied-billed Grebe, notable for the summer, 2 Anhingas and 100 Neotropic Cormorants."
Neotropic Cormorant: (2) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County
[occasional].
Neotropic Cormorant: (30) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rare in summer].
Double-crested Cormorant: ("small colony") summer (Jesse
Fagan, David Wolf), TX 147 bridge over Lake Sam Rayburn, San Augustine County [small
colony nested this year again on the island to the southeast of the bridge].
Double-crested Cormorant: (12+) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County
[occasional].
Double-crested Cormorant: (30) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth &
Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rare in summer;
high count].
Double-crested Cormorant: (1) 17 July (Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake, Angelina County
[occasional].
Anhinga: (2) 23 June (Brush Freeman), CR969, Bastrop County [possible breeding in egret
colony].
Anhinga: (1) 29 June (Shawn Ashbaugh), Williamson Road, southeast Travis County
[occasional].
Anhinga: (2) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (5) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas
Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
Anhinga: (45) 24 July (Georgette Guernsey), Allen/Ryan Lakes area,
Angelina County [unusually large number].
Great Egret: (~150) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (100+) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [good count; reflects change in water levels are WMA].
Snowy Egret: (~150) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (100) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [uncommon; good count].
Reddish Egret: (1) 30 July (Brush Freeman), ranch lake near 1704 & 969, Bastrop County [rare].
Black-crowned Night-Heron: (2) 7 July (Peter Barnes), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [very rare in summer although coincidentally was also reported 8 July 2001 in same WMA, but only a handful of other summer records in the Central Oaks and Prairies in four decades.].
Black-crowned Night-Heron: (1 immature) 30 July (Dick Payne), his yard, Huntsville, Walker County [only second summer record for Walker County; previous record was 3 July 1986].
Dick Payne, "The only other Summer record for Black-crowned Night-Heron 3 July 1986, and it was on the extreme eastern side of the county, at a small lake very close to the Trinity River near the town of Riverside. Mine was, as I said in the original note, in my front yard. I'm in Huntsville just west of I-45. The habitat around the place would suit BCNH, I would think, but it was also a new yard bird for me."
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: (~30) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (25) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [unusually large numbers for Oak & Prairies region].
White Ibis: (~250) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (200) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional; high count].
White-faced Ibis: (4) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
White-faced Ibis: (4, plus 3 Plegadis species) 30 July (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife
Area, Granger Lake, Williamson County [occasional].
Roseate Spoonbill: (1 juvenile) 27 June; (up to 3 juveniles) from 27
June to end of summer (Tim Fennell), Granger Lake, Williamson County [rare in June and
first half of July].
Roseate Spoonbill: (2) 5 July (Perry & Lynne Leite), small lake near Smithville,
Bastrop County [occasional].
Wood Stork: (15) 3 July (James Phelps), FM 159 at Terrell Farms, south Brazos County
[early arrival after post-breeding dispersal].
Wood Stork: (94) 5 July (Perry & Lynne Leite), on 71 between LaGrange &
Smithville, Bastrop County [high count].
Wood Stork: (~200) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (50+) 13 July (D.D. Curie and
Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County
[uncommon; unusually large number].
Peter Barnes, "There were approximately 100 Wood Storks in the north unit, 80 by Hwy 287, visible from the north unit entrance, and 20 in the ponds at the very back of the north unit."
Black Vulture: (10+, including 2 nestlings at the nest) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [breeding data].
Wood Duck: (100+) 24 July (Georgette Guernsey), Allen/Ryan Lakes area, Angelina County [unusually large number].
Gadwall: (1) 9 July (Brush Freeman), near Fayetteville, Fayette County [out of season lingerer].
Mottled Duck: (2) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Shipp Lake, Bastrop County [occasional].
Hooded Merganser: (1 juvenile) 16 June
(Guy Luneau, Joan Luneau, Scott Luneau), Gregg County [casual in summer in East Texas].
Hooded Merganser: (1 male) 17 July
(Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake, Angelina County [very early fall arrival].
Jesse Fagan, " Last year's August sighting of two Hooded Mergansers on Ryan Lake (Angelina) possibly represented the first May through September record for the entire Pineywoods region. Now, we are able to add a few more solid summer sightings. A juvenile bird was seen in Gregg County on 6/16/02 (GL, JL, SL) and an adult male was seen at Kurth Lake on 7/17/02 (Angelina, GG). Although this species breeds locally in East Texas, they are all but absent (unobserved) in the summer months."
Ruddy Duck: (1 female) 20-21 and 27 July
(Nancy Bird), Lufkin Country Club Lake, Lufkin, Angelina County [very rare;very early
arrival].
Ruddy Duck: (1 breeding plumaged male) 20-21
July (Nancy Bird), Ellen Trout Lake, Lufkin, Angelina County [very rare;very early
arrival].
Jesse Fagan, " Though Hooded Mergansers are known to breed locally in East Texas, the presence of Ruddy Ducks in two different locations is harder to explain. These birds could be injured, early migrants, or represent an isolated range expansion. "
Osprey: (1) throughout June and July (Mike Dillon), Martin Creek Lake, Rusk and Panola counties [rare in summer].
Although regular in Liberty County, this season brought reports of uncommonly large
numbers of the kites were seen at one time.
Swallow-tailed Kite: (14) 5 June (fide Jason Leifester), Liberty, Liberty
County [unusually large number].
Jason Leifester, "This report comes from my parents, who live in a part of Liberty that has been frequented by Swallow-tailed Kites for several years now. For the last few days, they'd been seeing up to five birds soaring above their neighborhood (the Travis Park Subdivision), but this evening they had fourteen birds at once low over the trees near their house."
Swallow-tailed Kite: (2) late April to 8 May; (1) 12 June (Vanessa Adams, et al.), Old
Sabine Bottom WMA, Smith County [rare].
Swallow-tailed Kite: (2) 14 June (Robert Row), along Texas 92, 4 miles south of Spurger
and about 18 miles north of Silsbee, Jasper County [uncommon].
Swallow-tailed Kite: (10-17) "last few days" to 14 June; (16)
21 June; (13) 23 June (Ellen Pickett), roosting in a pecan tree, 7000 Block of Lakeside,
Travis Park subdivision, Liberty, Liberty County [unusually large number].
Swallow-tailed Kite: (1) 23 June (fide Cliff Shackelford), soaring over Lake Texana,
Jackson County [rare].
Swallow-tailed Kite: (5) 6 July (Derek Muschalek, Rob Thacker); (4) 14 July (Barbara
Tilton), Hwy 90 in Liberty west of Trinity River, Liberty County [good count].
Barbara Tilton, "The Swallow-tailed Kites are being seen pretty regularly through the river bottom between Dayton & Liberty. I saw them Thursday (but not quite as many as Sue Davison) and saw them again on Friday around 10:30-11:00 and came back through around 1:00. Today I was through around 12:30-1:00 and there were 4 working the tree tops along either side of US90. There is a culvert going off the North side of the highway with a private road (at one of the cross overs about half way between the two cities). This culvert is a good place to park and watch as you can pull completely off the highway and most of the time some of the kites are working the trees in this area looking back toward Dayton."
Mississippi Kite: (2) 5 July (Perry & Lynne Leite), La Grange, Fayette County [rare].
Mississippi Kite: (1 older adult, 2 younger adults) ~8-21 July (Randy Pinkston), Temple, Bell County [post-breeding dispersal?, not known to breed locally but this is early for migrants].
Randy Pinkston, 15 July, Bell County, "Also a single adult Mississippi Kite has been hanging around on the Mill Creek golf course in Salado the past week or so. This evening I watched it swoop down to catch a 3-4 inch leopard frog along Salado Creek, then perch in a snag and consume it piecemeal. I presume the bird to be an early fall migrant but it is my earliest ever in Bell County. The typical migration window here is about six weeks away in early September. I am unaware of any local nesting records."
Randy Pinkston, summer report, "Interesting locally were up to three Mississippi Kites in suitable nesting habitat on the Mill Creek golf course in Salado beginning ~July 8. One bird was an adult in its second summer or beyond, probably a male because of its very white head. The other two birds were adults but appeared to be in their first summer with tail banding and speckled wing linings. All three birds were ~equal in size. Anyway, they occupied a very small area of willows, sycamores, and shady oaks along Salado Creek. They were observed carrying sticks of various sizes, as well as fresh grass shoots, which Mississippi Kites apparently use to line their nests. The kites were also highly territorial toward a young Red-shouldered Hawk that happened to pass through their choice grove of trees. No nest was ever found and the birds were last seen on Sunday afternoon, July 21. I am unaware of any local nesting records, historical or otherwise. The usual autumn migration window begins about 5-6 weeks later in early September."
Mississippi Kite: (1 adult carrying potential nesting material) 9 July
(Tim Fennell), Walsh Drive, Round Rock, Williamson County [rare].
Mississippi Kite:
(2 fledglings turned in to rehabilitator) 8-11 July (fide Tim Fennell), recovered at
Tahitian Village subdivision, Bastrop, Bastrop County [first confirmed breeding for the
Travis Audubon Society checklist area since 1902; Mississippi Kites nest regularly in
Washington County, two counties east of Bastrop County; photos sent to TCWC].
Tim Fennell, "Mississippi Kites apparently nested and fledged young at 141 Kolai, Tahitian Village, Bastrop, TX during the summer of 2002. Preston Doughty, a Wildlife Rescue volunteer, was called by Bastrop Animal Control to pick up fledgling Mississippi Kites on two dates in early July. He was told they were collected on the ground although he did not know if the landowner or the animal control officer did the collecting. The animal control officer told Preston that the landowner tried to show him the nest high in a pine tree but he could not see it. According to Brush Freeman, this would be the first confirmed breeding record for the Travis Audubon Society checklist area since 1902."
Mississippi Kite: (1) 28 July (Guy Luneau), Rusk County [occasional].
Mississippi Kite: (3) 28 July (Jesse Fagan, Claudia De La Cruz), Cass County [occasional].
Sharp-shinned Hawk: (1) 3 July (David Wolf), Central Heights, Nacogdoches County [very rare in summer].
Cooper's Hawk: (1 adult carrying rodent) 13 July (Tim Fennell), CR 176, Williamson County [occasional].
Broad-winged Hawk: (pair) 11 June (Sue Morris), mixed pine/oak/juniper woodland just south of Camp Swift, between Bastrop and Elgin, Bastrop County [rare breeder].
Sue Morris, "I saw and heard a pair of broad-winged hawks in Bastrop County today. I was doing some work in a mixed pine/oak/juniper woodland just south of Camp Swift, between Bastrop and Elgin. The birds were soaring far overhead, calling fairly frequently. I hadn't ever heard a BWHA before except on CD's, but it was one of those memorable calls that stuck in my head. I was surprised to see them there. Do they typically breed in Bastrop Co.?"
Brush Freeman, "In answer to a recent query about Broad-winged Hawks in Bastrop County. They bred in Bastrop State Park last year with a successful fledging of 2 young at least. These birds were seen within the inter-loop of the park itself. A single bird was also seen flying through the pine woods there in early June of this year. The Birds of Bastrop and Buescher State Parks checklist (1995) is now dated in this regard. I suspect that the birds that Sue Morris reported are probably breeding as they have been noted yearly during the summer in Bastrop Co. for 4-5 years now."
Swainson's Hawk: (74) 3 June (Willie Sekula), along FM 3191 near Cestohowa, Karnes County [rare].
Willie Sekula, "Zooming home from Karnes City this evening I saw a lone Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post along FM 3191 near Cestohowa in Karnes County. I turned around and noticed that there were more hawks in the field. I scanned two fields and had a total of 74 Swainson's Hawks. The hawks were quite active catching and feeding on grasshoppers. I saw one hawk with a good sized rat! Pretty cool. All the birds were sub-adults."
Swainson's Hawk: (106 sub-adult/immature) 15 June; (250+) 25 June (Willie Sekula), near Pawelekville, Karnes County [unusually large number].
Willie Sekula, 15 June, "Near Pawelekville in Karnes County I tallied 106 Swainson's Hawks. All of these birds appeared to sub-adult/immature birds. The hawks were feasting on the abundant grasshoppers."
Willie Sekula, 25 June, "I tallied 250+ Swainson's Hawks near Pawelekville in Karnes County this evening. The birds were mostly on the ground stuffed with grasshoppers. A few of them were still catching and eating the grasshoppers. At times a couple of individuals would take off to roosting sites along the riparian zone of Cibolo Creek."
Swainson's Hawk: (1 adult) 5 July (Randy Pinkston), above the dam at Lake Belton, Bell County [occasional].
Swainson's Hawk: (2 adults and a probable second year bird) 27 June to 16 July (Tim Fennell), perched in same group of trees where two adults and a juvenile were seen in August 2001, Granger Lake, Williamson County [rare].
Tim Fennell, "6/27- 7/16/02: Up to 3 birds (2 adults and a probable second year bird) present in the same area (including the same perches) of Willis Creek Park where two adults and a fledgling were found in late August last year. On 7/16, an adult was seen carrying a rodent down into the trees on the north side of Willis Creek and flying back into view a couple of minutes later without it."
Swainson's Hawk: (1 light adult) all summer through 28 July; (2 juveniles) 23 June (Darrell Vollert), FM2447 east of Chappell Hill, Brazos River bottoms, Washington County [rare].
Darrell Vollert, "Swainson's Hawk (1) light adult that has been observed soaring over the agricultural fields along FM2447 all summer. This summer I have only seen one adult Swainson's Hawk in the Brazos River bottom east of Chappell Hill. On Sunday, June 23 I observed (2) juvenile Swainson's Hawks perched in the tree line near the road's end. Have talked to Fred Collins about summering Swainson's Hawks in southeast Texas. He says they can be found soaring over hay fields and other open areas in the Central Brazos Valley and in the Houston area."
Crested Caracara: (109) 9 July (Brush Freeman), various locations in Gonzales and Lavaca counties [unusually large number; most seen feeding in flood debris.].
Brush Freeman, "I started in Gonzales proper and ended at Lake Fayetteville birding along the way. ... Also as I made this circuit I counted 109 C. Caracaras. No Bobwhites or E. Meadowlarks seen or heard...though this region used to be really thick with them."
American Kestrel: (pair) all summer (Jerry Walls), Christmas Creek
Nature Preserve, extreme western Montgomery County [western edge of breeding territory].
American Kestrel: (young fledged) late June (Jesse Fagan), Nacogdoches County [breeding
data; occasional summer resident in East Texas Pineywoods].
American Kestrel: (1) 30 June (fide Nancy Bird), behind Brookshire Brothers Warehouses,
Lufkin, Angelina County [occasional].
American Kestrel: (1) 21 July (Angelyn Bassinger), Lufkin, Angelina County [occasional].
American Kestrel: (1) 28 July (Darrell Vollert), FM2447 at Routt Road,
Brazos River bottoms, Washington County [very early arrival; earliest record for Central
Brazos Valley, beating prior record of 30 July 1994 in Limestone County. Some kestrels
nest in the East Texas Pineywoods and a very few records of nesting occurred in the
Central Oaks & Prairies in Bell and McLennan counties, but not in Washington County].
Darrell Vollert, "The most notable find for me in the river bottom was an early American Kestrel along FM2447 at Routt Road. Today's date is the earliest Am. Kestrel I have ever seen in the Central Brazos Valley. Several years ago an Am. Kestrel was observed along FM2447 in late August."
Peregrine Falcon: (1) 25 July (Darrell Vollert), FM2621 near Palestine Road, Sandy Hill, Washington County [very rare in July; only other summer records in Central Brazos Valley are 11 July 2000 in McLennan, 11 July 1984 in Brazos or Burleson and 22 July 2001 in Milam].
Darrell Vollert, "I saw a Peregrine Falcon on Thursday, July 25 along FM2621 near Palestine Road in Sandy Hill. The falcon was observed flying low over a field. I saw the bird at close range."
We again received an increased number of reports of Bobwhites this season.
Northern Bobwhite: (1-3) 3 June (Hazel Bluhm), Marion County [uncommon].
Northern Bobwhite: (2) 4 June (Darrell Vollert), Rocky Hill School Road, Burton BBS,
Washington County [rare].
Northern Bobwhite: (1) 31 May and 24 June (Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake area, Angelina
County [uncommon].
Northern Bobwhite: (3) 30 June; (1-2) daily thereafter (Ann Richardson), feeding under her
bird feeders, Lufkin, Angelina County [uncommon].
fide Nancy Bird, 30 July, "Ann Richardson reported 3 Northern Bobwhites feeding under their bird feeders on 6/31. Since this date they and have seen one or two daily."
Northern Bobwhite: (1 heard) 3 July (Darrell Vollert), Stella Michalak's residence one mile west of the Brazos River along US290, Washington County [occasional].
Darrell Vollert, "Wednesday, July 3 - Heard one Northern Bobwhite calling in the evening at Stella Michalak's residence one mile west of the Brazos River along US290. First time I've ever heard a Bobwhite calling at her residence. The Bobwhite was calling from an area in a pasture that had tall weeds."
Northern Bobwhite: (15+, including 10+ singing birds and a female with 4 juveniles) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [rare].
Tim Fennell, "Yesterday (7/5/02), I hiked 8- 9 miles of the Sweetwater Trail on the south side of Lake Georgetown in Williamson County (~ 20 mile N. of Austin). This area is on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau. Nothing unusual was seen but I was impressed by the number of singing birds, particularly Northern Bobwhites, Painted Buntings and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Makes me wonder what effect all of our recent rain will have on the breeding season."
Northern Bobwhite: (1) 13 July (Darrell Vollert), Brazos River Road, east of Chappell
Hill, Washington County [occasional].
Northern Bobwhite: (1 heard) 24 July (Darrell Vollert), heard calling in Chappell Hills
subdivision from the New Year's Creek bottom, Washington County [occasional].
Northern Bobwhite: (1 heard) 25 July (Darrell Vollert), along FM2621, Sandy Hill,
Washington County [occasional].
Bert Frenz, "There has been an increase in Northern Bobwhite reports, which may or may not reflect an actual increase in Bobwhites. Here are the number of reports I have received by season for the Central Oaks & Prairies region:
Winter 2000 - 1
Spring 2000 - 2
Summer 2000 - 0
Fall 2000 - 2
Winter 2001 - 0
Spring 2001 - 2
Fall 2001 - 0
Winter 2002 - 1
Spring 2002 - 6
Summer 2002 - 7 (if I include the 2 sightings on Aug 1)"
Northern Bobwhite: (2) 1 August (Darrell Vollert, Tim Kiphart), Brazos River Road, east
of Chappell Hill, Washington County [occasional].
Northern Bobwhite: (1 heard) 1 August (Darrell Vollert), heard calling in Chappell Hills
subdivision from the New Year's Creek bottom, Washington County [occasional].
Sora: (1 adult) 13 July (Charley Amos, fide D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), north unit of Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [not expected in summer; only prior summer record in Central Brazos Valley is 2 June 1974 in Brazos County; extreme arrival dates in Pulich's book for North Central region are 7 August (Grayson), 25 August (Tarrant) and 23 August (Wichita); Pulich also mentions July records of 4 July (Dallas), 10 July (Grayson), 18 July (Denton) and specimens taken 28 July (Palo Pinto and Henderson); in the adjacent ecoregion there are no summer records included on Pineywoods East Texas checklist].
Peter Barnes, "Soras are unexpected in the summer in north-central and north-east Texas, and breeding in this region has not been well-documented."
D. D. Curie, "Two people saw the bird. The sora was seen at the north unit on the road that runs along the right side of the first big pond on the right. There is a gate across the entrance to the road, so we walked the road to the right of the pond. The bird flew across the road. There was no obvious evidence of nesting."
Charley Amos, "It flew from the right side of the road as we were walking out to the left side and into the big pond area. I only got a look at it during flight. It had a yellow bill, so I assume it was a mature bird. I couldn't relocate it after it landed."
Purple Gallinule: (1) 24 May; (2) 12 June; (1) 24 June; (1) 3 July; (2 adults, 2 half-size juveniles) 29 July (Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake area, Angelina County [occasional].
fide Nancy Bird, "Georgette birded Kurth Lake 7/29 finally locating 2 Juvenile Purple Gallinules in addition to two adults. Georgette stated the juveniles were only about 1/2 the size of the adults."
Only received one report of Common Moorhens was received for East Texas and the Central Prairie, where there typically at least occasional sightings. Prior to 2000, the small lake in Bryan supported dozens of moorhens, but this season only produced one offspring. Do nesting moorhens go unreported or have their numbers dropped off significantly?
Common Moorhen: (2 adults with 3 young) 26 July 2001 and 2 August; (1 immature, likely from first brood) 9 August; (no survey) 16 August; (none) 23 August; (1) 3 September; (none) 19 September; (none) 24 September; (2) 1 October; (2) 8 October; (2) 19 November; (1) 26 November; (2) 1 January 2002; (1) 8 January; (2) 15 January; (none) 23 January; (none) 29 January; (2) 7 February; (1) 21 February; (2) 28 February; (3) 7 March; (1) 15 March; (none) 19 March; (2) 1 April; (3) 10 April; (1) 23 April; (1 adult with 1/3-size downy chick) 14 May; (1 adult, 1 3/4-size immature) 21 May; (1 adult, 1 nearly full-grown immature) 30 May; (1 immature) 13 June; (1 immature) 20 June; (1 immature) 25 June; (1 adult) 3 July; (1 immature) 11 July; (2 adults) 18 July; (1 fully-grown immature) 30 July (Keith Arnold), Country Club Lake, Bryan, Brazos County [weekly surveys].
Keith Arnold, 6 August, "As far as I know CoMo produced but ONE young this year and even that fully-grown immature was not around on the 6th."
American Coot: (2) 21 July (Nancy Bird), Lufkin Country Club Lake, Lufkin, Angelina County [occasional].
Snowy Plover: (2) 30 July (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife Area, Granger Lake, Williamson County [rare; photographed].
Tim Fennell, 30 July, Granger Lake, Williamson County, "I birded Sore Finger WMA (where a bridge on FM 971 crosses an arm of the lake) on Granger Lake on the way home from work today and a nice mix of birds were present, the most interesting being Snowy Plovers. The lake level has dropped significantly since 7/21 and the mudflats on CR 349 have dried up."
American Avocet: (1) 30 July (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife Area, Granger Lake, Williamson County [early arrival].
Greater Yellowlegs: (2) 4 July (David Wolf, Jesse Fagan), Alazan Bayou WMA, Nacogdoches County [occasional].
Jesse Fagan, " Two Greater Yellowlegs were at Alazan Bayou W.M.A. on 7/4/02 (Nacogdoches, DW, JF), hardly a month after the last spring shorebirds were seen."
Lesser Yellowlegs: (2) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rare].
Lesser Yellowlegs: (3) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), Granger Lake, Williamson County
[occasional].
Solitary Sandpiper: (3) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), Granger Lake, Williamson County [occasional].
Willet: (1) 28 June (Grant Critchfield), Temple Park, Lake Belton, Bell County [rare].
Willet: (1) 5 July (Perry & Lynne Leite), small lake near Smithville, Bastrop County
[rare].
Willet: (1) 31 July - 1 August (David Cimprich), small gravel pit on west side of Fort
Hood, Coryell County [rare].
Spotted Sandpiper: (2) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
Long-billed Curlew: (2) 28 June (Grant Critchfield, Randy Pinkston), Lake Belton dam, Bell County [rare in summer].
Randy Pinkston, "A pair of Long-billed Curlews flew low over the lake while we were searching [for the Pacific Loon]. They crossed over the dam heading toward the southeast."
Long-billed Curlew: (2) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), CR 349, shore of Granger Lake, Williamson County [early arrival].
Semipalmated Sandpiper: (4) 30 July (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife Area, Granger Lake, Williamson County [FOS; typical].
Western Sandpiper: (20) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), Granger Lake, Williamson County [FOS; typical].
Least Sandpiper: (1) 20 July (Brush Freeman), Old Barton ranch, Utley, Bastrop County [FOS, typical].
Pectoral Sandipiper: (12) 21 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), Granger Lake, Williamson County [FOS; typical].
Stilt Sandpiper: (1) 20 July (Brush Freeman), Old Barton ranch, Utley, Bastrop County [FOS, typical].
Long-billed Dowitcher: (1) 21 July; (2, calling) 30 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), Granger Lake, Williamson County [FOS; occasional].
Wilson's Phalarope: (1) 30 July (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife Area, Granger Lake, Williamson County [early migrant].
Franklin's Gull: (1) 27 June (Tim Fennell), on an island in Granger
Lake, Williamson County [rare in summer].
Franklin's/Laughing Gull: (5) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County [too
many heat waves, too far away for specific id].
Forster's Tern: (8) 29 June (David Wolf, Jesse Fagan), TX 147 bridge at Lake Sam Rayburn, Angelina County [occasional].
Least Tern: (2) 27 June (Tim Fennell), Sore Finger Wildlife Area, Granger Lake,
Williamson County [rare].
Least Tern: (3) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County [rare].
Black Tern: (2) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Fayette Lake, Fayette County [rare].
Black Tern: (2) 26 July (Brush Freeman), ranch lake near 1704 & 969, Bastrop County
[occasional].
Black Tern: (1) 31 July (Georgette Guernsey), Allen/Ryan Lake, Angelina County [FOS (East
Texas); occasional in July and early August].
Five dove species in sight at one time: 6 July (Frank & Jeanette Bumgardner), McGregor, McLennan County [probably the first time this has occurred in Texas].
Frank Bumgardner, "This afternoon myself and my wife Jeanette had five doves insight at one time in McGregor, TX: 1 Rock Dove, 5 Inca Dove, 7 Mourning Dove, 9 White-winged Dove, 11 Eurasian Collared-Dove."
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (6) 2 June (Shirley Wilkerson), High School area, Caldwell, Burleson County [rare in this county; photographed].
Shirley Wilkerson, "2 at the High School and 4 at the Lutheran church just down from the high school (closer to Hwy 21). The doves at the church seemed to be nesting among the many, many grackles nesting in live oak trees at the church. The two doves at the high school were in and out of one live oak tree, where nesting Western kingbirds and nesting grackles competed for nesting spots. This oak tree had at least 5 nests that I could count of these various birds."
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (2) 15 June (Rusty Alderson), Leander, Williamson County [continued spread of this species].
Rusty Alderson, "This morning I spotted a pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves in a neighbor's tree. This is the first I have seen this species here."
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (11) 6 July (Frank & Jeanette Bumgardner), McGregor,
McLennan County.
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (~22) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Moulton, Lavaca County.
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (7-8) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Gonzales, Gonzales County.
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (4-5) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Waelder, Gonzales County.
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (10-12) 9 July (Brush Freeman), La Grange, Fayette County.
Eurasian Collared-Dove: (6) 31 July; (12-15) 12-13 August (James Phelps), Terrell and
Moore Farms, southwest Brazos County.
Status of White-winged Doves in the Central Brazos Valley is slowly changing from
occasional to uncommon.
White-winged Dove: ("nice population") summer (Darrell Vollert), area around
Jackson Street Park near Blinn College Station, Brenham, Washington County [uncommon].
White-winged Dove: (1 heard) at least two times in June (Darrell Vollert), Harrison Street
- Walnut Hill Street neighborhood, Brenham, Washington County [uncommon].
White-winged Dove: (1) 25 June (Darrell Vollert), Leroy Dreyer Field, Blinn College
Station, Brenham, Washington County [uncommon].
White-winged Dove: (1) 21 July (Fred & Mary Brandt), backyard feeders, Chappell Hill
subdivision, Washington County [uncommon].
White-winged Dove: (1) 4 July (Jesse Fagan),
Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County [casual in East Texas; first summer sighting for East
Texas].
Common Ground-Dove: (1) 3 June (Jeffrey Hanson, Shawn Ashbaugh), Webberville Park, eastern Travis County [rare].
Monk Parakeet: (3) 16 June (Dan Smith), Bastrop, Bastrop County [rare].
Dan Smith, "My daughter and I did a bike ride from Bastrop through the parks (Bastrop & Buescher State Parks) to Smithville, Smithville to Upton (southwest of Smithville), and back around to Bastrop. Coming back into town from the west. I noticed three Monk Parakeets near the old and new river bridges almost into downtown. The Austin feral population is well established, of course, but I had not heard of these birds expanding into Bastrop."
Monk Parakeet: (3) 1 July (Darrell Vollert, Willie Vollert, Mary Ann Grahmann), Farewell Street near Prairie Lea Cemetery, Brenham, Washington County [escapees or wanderers from other cities?; first record for Washington County; fourth record for Central Brazos Valley, others being Nov 1985, Aug 2001 and Oct 2001 all in College Station].
Greater Roadrunner: (1) 5 June (Georgette Guernsey), Ryan Lake area, Angelina County
[occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (1) 6 and 19 June (Hazel Bluhm), Gregg County [occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (1) 9 July (Mary Ann Grahmann, Willie Vollert Jr.) FM2447 near Old
Chappell Hill Road, west of Chappell Hill, Washington County [occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (2) seen regularly (Mack Farr), along Old Landua Road in northern
Washington County [occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (1) 11 July (Georgette Guernsey), Ryan Lake, Angelina County
[occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (1) 17 July (Georgette Guernsey), Kurth Lake, Angelina County
[occasional].
Greater Roadrunner: (1 adult, 1 juvenile) 17 July; (1 juvenile) 20 and 22 July (Guy
Luneau), Gregg County [occasional].
Groove-billed Ani: (3) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Hwy 532 near Nickel, Gonzales County [occasional].
Chuck-will's-widow: (1) 13 July (Derek Muschalek), 8 miles south of Yorktown, DeWitt County [casual in July].
Black-chinned Hummingbird: (1) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of
Lake Georgetown, Williamson County.
Black-chinning Hummingbird: (1 first-year male) 14 July (Brush Freeman), Utley, Bastrop
County [early migrant].
Belted Kingfisher: (1 male) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake
Georgetown, Williamson County [not often reported in summer].
Belted Kingfisher: (1) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
Red-headed Woodpecker: (3) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
Eastern Wood-Pewee: (2 calling and feeding young) 24 June (Bryon Stone, Brush Freeman),
Webberville Park, eastern Travis County [occasional].
Eastern Wood-Pewee: (1) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake
Georgetown, Williamson County [rare].
Acadian Flycatcher: (15+, males very vocal, pair feeding 3 short-tailed fledglings) 8
June (Darrell Vollert, Srinand Karuppoor), Stubblefield Lake, Walker County [good count;
nesting data].
Acadian Flycatcher: (2) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), north and south units of Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rarely
reported in July].
Least Flycatcher: (1) 1 June (Lynn Smith), Azalea Trail, Lufkin,
Angelina County [late departure; no June records shown on 2001 checklist for Pineywoods of
East Texas].
Least Flycatcher: (1) 20 July (Brush Freeman), Old Barton Ranch, Bastrop County [FOS].
Least Flycatcher: (1) 25 July (Derek Muschalek), his yard 11 miles northwest of Yorktown,
DeWitt County [FOS].
Eastern Phoebe: (1) 5 July (Georgette Guernsey), Ryan/Allen Lake area, Angelina County [possible nester; bird in same area as one in late spring; occasional].
fide Nancy Bird, "7/5 - In the Ryan/Allen Lake areas Georgette found an Eastern Phoebe in the same area she found one in late spring. Possible nester..... Georgette noted that several of the Mockingbirds in the area were mimicking his "phoebe" call."
Eastern Phoebe: (2) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [rare].
Brown-crested Flycatcher: (pair nesting in a post) 15 June (Willie Sekula), his yard,
Falls City, Karnes County [occasional].
Brown-crested Flycatcher: (2) 16 June (Brush Freeman), two different areas of Independence
Park, Gonzales, Gonzales County [breeding probable].
Brown-crested Flycatcher: (1) 3 June (Brush
Freeman, Jeffrey Hanson, Shawn Ashbaugh); (1) 4 June (Byron Stone); (2) 8 June (Jennifer
Reidy); (1) 19 June (Rob Fergus); (1) 24 June (Byron Stone, Brush Freeman), Webberville
Park, eastern Travis County [first county record].
Brush Freeman, 3 June, "I dropped by the park around 9:00 this morning after running some errands just to check the progress of the Couch's Kingbirds. I did not have bins. As I was standing at the Couch's tree I suddenly heard the whit calls of the Brown-crested some distance off. Upon investigating found the bird and had great looks at it even without bins, I returned home quickly and grabbed my bins and a blank tape and returned. It took me over 30 minutes to relocate the now silent bird...Beware of the silent Great Cresteds that dart about as they took me off course more than once. I finally relocated the BC Flycatcher just as I was about to give up, by a single whit note or maybe two. It can be surprisingly difficult to locate if not vocalizing. I watched this bird for about 20 minutes but saw no sign of nest building or other breeding activities. Nor did I see a second bird. One has to wonder just how long this bird has been present. Mark informed me of a Hays Co. record, and there Bastrop Co. records (i.e., the bizarre bird that wintered there for 3-4 winters in the mid '90s). There are also Fayette Co. records and recently they appear to be regular breeders in portions of Gonzales Co. But I also believe this is a first Travis Co. record."
Jennifer Reidy, 8 June, "I went to Webberville Park in Travis County on Saturday evening to see the Brown-crested Flycatchers. Within 10 minutes, my roommate and I saw 2 and heard 1 of them singing in the large trees near the blue swings, as previously described."
Brown-crested Flycatcher: (1 heard) 9 July (Brush Freeman), east Gonzales, Gonzales County [occasional].
Great Kiskadee: (1) 23 June (Erik Huebner), San Marcos River near Caldwell/Hays line, Caldwell County [rare].
Couch's Kingbird: (2) 16 June (Brush Freeman), Independence Park, Gonzales, Gonzales County [breeding probable].
Couch's Kingbird: (2 continuing since 28 April) 3 June (Brush Freeman, Jeffrey Hanson, Shawn Ashbaugh); 4 June (Byron Stone); 19 June (Rob Fergus); 24 June (Bryon Stone, Brush Freeman); 2 July (Brush Freeman); 5 July (Brush Freeman, Fred & Judy Donaldson), Webberville Park, eastern Travis County [casual; first Travis County breeding record].
Byron Stone, 4 June, "The Couch's Kingbirds continue to go busily and noisily about the business of making frequent trips to their nest bringing various large flying insects to an apparent hungry brood, not visible or audible yet to those of us who must keep our feet planted firmly on the ground. Soon perhaps we will see fledglings poking up above the edge of the nest."
Bryon Stone, 24 June, "The pair is still present, though not as vocal as before. We didn't hear the birds vocalize until almost 8:30 a.m., and thereafter only infrequently. The birds have moved from their former haunts and first nest in the tall pecan tree by the restroom. They now appear to be attempting to build a nest in one of the highline towers about 70 feet off the ground, but they are competing with House Sparrows for nesting material, so one can only hope that this second attempt at a nest will be successful. I witnessed one of the kingbirds lose a strand of grass fiber to a House Sparrow which grabbed the strand from the kingbird and took it to its own nest site."
Bell's Vireo: (2 singing on territory) from June through at least 4 July (Jesse Fagan, David Wolf, Robert Truss), Alazan Bayou WMA, Nacogdoches County [occasional].
Yellow-throated Vireo: (3) 1 June (Brush Freeman, Paul Sunby, Matt Heindel, Mark
Lockwood), Lost Pines woodlands of Bastrop County [uncommon].
Yellow-throated Vireo: (1) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society
Field Trip), south unit of Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional].
Warbling Vireo: (1 male) late April and May; (1 male) 3 June; (2) 21 June; (adult feeding 3-day-old Brown-headed Cowbird chick) 2 July (Brush Freeman), Webberville Park, eastern Travis County [very rare].
Austin RBA, "On the 21st: Brush Freeman located 2 probable breeding Warbling Vireo at Webberville Park. It seems tenacity has paid dividends for the aggressively singing male that was first reported at the park on May 3. June reports of Warbling Vireo in the TAS checklist area are very rare, so a nesting pair would be a huge occurrence."
Brush Freeman, 2 July, "Between rain bouts I went for the mail and made a short trip to Webberville Co. Park on the Bastrop/Travis Co. line. The first area breeding by Warbling Vireo was confirmed today with one young bird out of the nest no more than 3-4 days out if that long. It was soaked and miserable and may have been dislodged early due to recent weather and heavy rains. Adult was seen feeding the bird once. Young bird's gape was very visible and there is still some sheathing on the still growing tail feathers which appear rather spatulate owing to the presence of the sheathing in the basal half plus. It was fairly easy to locate due to its begging calls and was seen following one adult around briefly. Presence of the adult nearby was easily discerned due to a sharp increase in the young birds begging calls as the adult approached. Unfortunately the young bird is a Brown-headed Cowbird."
Philadelphia Vireo: (1) 1 June (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County [accidental in summer; photographed].
Susan Schaezler, "One of the photos was ID'd by Shawn Ashbaugh, RBA Austin. John Ingram also photographed a Philadelphia Vireo here."
Green Jay: (2) 8 June (C. Bludau), CR 189 5 mi SW of Karnes City, Karnes County [rare].
Western Scrub-Jay: (4, including 1 juvenile) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [breeding data].
Tree Swallow: (1 male, 1 female) 24 May; (2) 31 May (1) 12 June (Georgette Guernsey),
Kurth Lake area, Angelina County [occasional].
Tree Swallow (1) 29 June (David Wolf, Jesse Fagan), Lake Sam Rayburn TX 147 bridge,
Angelina County [occasional].
Tree Swallow: (2) 23 June; (6) 29 June; (2
juveniles) 7 July (Randy Pinkston), Union Grove Wildlife Area, Stillhouse Hollow Lake,
Bell County [very rare in summer; probably nesting].
Randy Pinkston, "Up to six Tree Swallows, both adults and juveniles, were present on Stillhouse Hollow Lake June 23-July 7, and possibly longer. These birds were always present around the same group of snags. Two apparent juveniles were observed repeatedly entering a nest cavity in one of the snags on July 7. Definite confirmation of nest and eggs remains elusive, although there can be little doubt that the birds are nesting here. I intend to put up several nest boxes in suitable land-locked sites next year."
White-breasted Nuthatch: (1) 9 July (Tim Fennell), CR 337, Williamson County [rare].
Cactus Wren: (1) 23 July (Derek Muschalek), his yard 11 miles northwest of Yorktown, DeWitt County [rare for area; his last yard record was in 1984].
Bewick's Wren: (1) 1 June (Brush Freeman, Paul Sunby, Matt Heindel, Mark Lockwood), Lost Pines woodlands of Bastrop County [rare in summer].
Brush Freeman, "Actually my best bird of the day, found by Paul and Matt, these animals are rarely found in the forest here especially during breeding season."
Bewick's Wren: (1 taking food to young in a nest box) ~15 June (Willie Sekula), his yard, Falls City, Karnes County.
Bewick's Wren: (10+) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [common; good count].
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: (10, including nest with young in mesquite tree) 9 June (Derek Muschalek), south Yorktown, DeWitt County [casual breeder in this area].
Clay-colored Robin: (1) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Bright St., Gonzales, Gonzales County [first county record].
Brush Freeman, "Since Feb. - Mar. 2001 I have heard a Robin singing on several occasions in Gonzales. I long suspected this bird to be a Clay-colored but could never get a visual on it due to the privately held habitat it was heard in (i.e. large old yards around old multi-story homes with many thick trees. Pecans, anaquas etc.). In short it is an elusive animal. Today I finally saw a bird that is definitely a Clay-colored Robin in that old historic district of town just as I had given up on it. I began listening for it at 5:45am but never heard any song or calls all morning. At 7:13 I spotted a mockingbird chasing a likely candidate and followed the bird's flight into a pecan in a backyard. I was able to see the Clay-colored well, noting its field marks, though amid foliage, for about 3 minutes before it dropped to the ground in a fenced backyard and behind a garage where it was no longer in view. I know Clay-coloreds are a bit mundane for Texas birders but should you want to try your luck with this first county record, some hints/advice. This morning the bird was seen near the east end of the block enclosed by St. Matthew on the north, Bright on the east, St. Michael on the south and College on the west. However on previous visits the bird was heard singing closer to the St. Vincent & Hamilton area. It is very difficult, almost impossible, to locate if it is not singing or calling so if your looking for it I would suggest being there at the crack of dawn to catch any possible dawn song. It will be far easier to at least know where to look if you hear it. One can only wonder if a pair might not be present though after 10-11 visits now, I am not likely to take on that hunt soon."
American Robin: (1) 5 July (Tim Fennell), on entrance road to Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [rare in summer on Edward's Plateau].
Gray Catbird: (1) 19 July (Louis Debetaz), Azalea Trail, Lufkin, Angelina County
[occasional].
Gray Catbird: (no.?) all summer (Angelyn Bassinger), Lufkin, Angelina County [occasional].
Nancy Bird, "Louis found a Gray Catbird on the Azalea Trail. Louis also reported that Angelyn Bassinger has seen Gray Catbirds in her yard on a regular basis all summer. Many of you will recall this has been a regular nesting site for Gray Catbirds for many years."
Long-billed Thrasher: (1) 1 and 3 June (Susan Schaezler, m.ob.), her property, Guadalupe County [rare].
Tennessee Warbler: (1) 1 June (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County [late departure; photographed].
Yellow Warbler: (1) 1 and 3 June (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County
[late departure].
Yellow Warbler: (1) 8 June (C. Bludau), Butler Ranch 13 mi SW of Karnes
City, Karnes County [late migrant].
Yellow Warbler: (1) 27 July (Brush Freeman), Webberville Park, eastern Travis County [FOS;
early arrival].
Black-throated Green Warbler: (2 singing) 2-3 June (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County [late departure].
Yellow-throated Warbler: (1 male singing) several days in mid-June; (male with young) 18 June (Mimi Hoppe Wolf, David Wolf), Central Heights, Nacogdoches County [uncommon; nesting data].
Golden-cheeked Warbler: (1 first fall male) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail,
south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [rare].
Golden-cheeked Warbler: (1 male) 5 July (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County
[rare].
Susan Schaezler, "I ran in for email, while watching all the horrible flood damage and I was distracted by a male Golden-cheeked Warbler outside, trying to take a bath, if you can imagine that after >13" of rain the last many days! I went out and watched as it moved about, but when it finally came closer for a picture, my dogs arrived to scare it off."
Pine Warbler: (1 singing) 4 June (Darrell Vollert), in a juniper woodland along Rehburg Road at stop 22, Burton BBS, Washington County [rare in summer in Oaks & Prairies region].
American Redstart: (no.?) 29 May (Susan Schaezler); (5) 30 May (Susan Schaezler); ("several") 31 May (Susan Schaezler); (1) 1 June (Susan Schaezler, Brian Funk); (1) 3 June (Susan Schaezler); (no.?) 5 June (Susan Schaezler); (7+) 6 June (Susan Schaezler, Carol & David Lowrey, Wanda Simons), Schaezler property, Guadalupe County [late departure; photographed].
American Redstart: (1 female) 31 July (Nancy Bird), her birdbath, Lufkin, Angelina County [uncommon].
Prothonotary Warbler: (1 singing male) 9 July (Brush Freeman), off 1680 north of Moulton, Lavaca County [rare; not listed in summer on the Central Texas Coast checklist which includes Lavaca County].
Worm-eating Warbler: (2) 22 July (Rob Thacker), Big Creek Scenic Area, San Jacinto
County [occasional; breeding probable].
Worm-eating Warbler: (1) 3 July (Charles Bryant), Turkey Creek, off Oak Ridge Drive off FM
3081 between Cold Spring and Willis, western San Jacinto County [occasional].
Louisiana Waterthrush: (4-5) 1 June (Brush Freeman, Paul Sunby, Matt Heindel, Mark Lockwood), Lost Pines woodlands of Bastrop County [rare].
MacGillivray's Warbler: (1) 1 June (Susan Schaezler, Brian Funk), Schaezler property, Guadalupe County [rare in spring; accidental in summer; photographed].
Split eye ring is evident on photograph. Photo by Susan Schaezler.
Wilson's Warbler: (1 male) 3 June; (3+) 6 June (Susan Schaezler), her property, Guadalupe County [late departure; photographed].
Yellow-breasted Chat: (2) 1 June (Brush Freeman, Paul Sunby, Matt Heindel, Mark
Lockwood), Lost Pines woodlands of Bastrop County [rare].
Yellow-breasted Chat: (2) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (4) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth
& Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [occasional
to uncommon here, but rare elsewhere in Central Oaks & Prairies region in summer].
Canyon Towhee: (5, including at least 2 fledglings) 7-13 July (Tim Fennell, Byron Stone), CR 280, Williamson County [breeding confirmed - fledglings].
Cassin's Sparrow: (2) 8 June (Jeffrey Hanson), Williamson Road, extreme southeastern Travis County [rare].
Jeffrey Hanson, "~7:00am this morning I had at least two singing and skylarking Cassin's Sparrows along Willamson Rd. in extreme southeastern Travis Co. There was very likely a third bird as well, however only the wavering/trilling part of the song seemed to be audible intermittently; probably due to distance (at least 4-500').
Rufous-crowned Sparrow: (25+, including 3 different females feeding juveniles and many singing birds) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown, Williamson County [uncommon].
Tim Fennell, "Yesterday (7/5/02), I hiked 8- 9 miles of the Sweetwater Trail on the south side of Lake Georgetown in Williamson County (~ 20 mile N. of Austin). This area is on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau. Nothing unusual was seen but I was impressed by the number of singing birds, particularly Northern Bobwhites, Painted Buntings and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Makes me wonder what effect all of our recent rain will have on the breeding season."
Field Sparrow: (2 adults, 1 juvenile) 24 May; (1 adult) 12 June (Georgette Guernsey),
Kurth Lake area, Angelina County [occasional].
Field Sparrow: (1) 5 July (Tim Fennell), Sweetwater Trail, south side of Lake Georgetown,
Williamson County [uncommon?].
Harris's Sparrow: (1) 1 June (Jason Leifester), Elgin, Bastrop County [exceptionally late departure].
Jason Leifester, "At about 3:30 p.m. today a gorgeous Harris's Sparrow made a brief appearance in our yard in Elgin. These sparrows were common visitors earlier in the year, but I haven't seen one since April. The pink bill and very large size made it stand out among the House Sparrows that were feeding on the ground around it, but something spooked all the birds and it disappeared into the thick brush over the fence from our yard after less than a minute of feeding. I thought I'd have to go to northern Canada to see this species in June!"
White-crowned Sparrow: (1, singing) 19 June (David Cimprich), his backyard, Kempner, Lampasas County [extremely late departure; no June records listed for the following checklists: Austin Area, Oaks & Prairies & Osage Plains, Edwards Plateau, Central Brazos Valley, Pineywoods of East Texas. A very few summer records, including June, are indicated on the High Plains & Rolling Plains checklist. The latest nearby record is 27 May 2000 in Waco, McLennan County.].
David Cimprich, "White-crowned Sparrow. 19 June. Kempner, Lampasas Co. (this one was in my back yard. I was just sitting down to dinner with company on our patio when this bird started singing. Of course that totally interrupted the meal. I grabbed my binocular, but couldn't find the bird. Later, I looked up from eating and the bird was under the feeder with the Inca Doves)."
David Cimprich, "The stripes on its head were black and white rather than brown, but in June, this doesn't reveal anything about its age (according to Pyle 1997) except that it isn't a second year bird of the nuttalli race. I first detected the bird because it sang several times and so it was likely a male (though I'm not sure if females of this species ever sing). The bird's lores were completely black and so the only subspecies I can totally rule out is gambelii. So, to sum up, all I can say is that it was likely a male and not of the subspecies gambelii."
Blue Grosbeak: (1 territorial male singing), 4-18 June (Derek Muschalek), DeWitt County
[occasional breeder].
Blue Grosbeak: (20+) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field
Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [good count].
Blue Grosbeak: (up to 4 males and 2 females) 4 May through 1 August (Darrell Vollert),
FM2447 east of Chappell Hill, Brazos River bottoms, Washington County [occasional in
region; very reliable at this location].
Lazuli X Indigo Bunting: (1 male banded) 6 July (Chris Sargent), Ft. Hood, 5 miles south of Gatesville, Bell County [rare].
Chris Sargent, "We banded about 5 miles south of Gatesville coming from Temple. The habitat is horribly bare with few scattered oak species and some hackberry with quite a few grape vines with a lot of fruit. Anyway we caught what I thought at first glance to be an Indigo Bunting, but with closer inspection it turns out to be a male after second year lazuli bunting in breeding condition. This is quite far off of Sibley's map of breeding range. This was not the only strange thing, this bird from what we can gather is probably a lazuli x indigo hybrid. This is not a strange phenomenon except for location and breeding condition. It was in full male ASY plumage but with a very light colored, almost indistinct buffy throat band. After obtaining many pics of this gorgeous creature it flew away."
Indigo Bunting: (75+) 7 July (Peter Barnes); (40+) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [uncommon; high count].
Dickcissel: (100+) 13 July (D.D. Curie and Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [uncommon; good count].
Great-tailed Grackle: (5-10) June (Peter Barnes), Tyler airport, western Smith County [expansion of territory].
Peter Barnes, "Great-tailed Grackles in Smith County have previously been confined to the area around Lake Tyler, but 5-10 birds were present in June at the Tyler airport in western Smith County."
Bronzed Cowbird: (4) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Moulton, Lavaca County.
Bronzed Cowbird: (5-6) 9 July (Brush Freeman), Gonzales, Gonzales County.
Orchard Oriole: (100+) 28 July (Darrell Vollert), FM2447 east of Chappell Hill, Brazos River bottoms, Washington County [unusually large number].
Darrell Vollert, "Orchard Oriole (100+) around 7:20 PM a huge flock was observed streaming across FM2447 just east of New Year's Creek. The orioles flew from a stand of hackberry trees into a milo field nearby. This is the largest flock of Orchard Orioles I have ever seen in the Chappell Hill area. More orioles were observed farther east along FM2447."
Bert Frenz, "I looked for precedents to this amazing sighting. Here are two: ~140-160 on 29 August 2001 and 40+ on 16 August 2001 both sightings in Williamson County. All other records are 16 or less."
Darrell Vollert, "As you can see, the Brazos River corridor is a very important migration pathway for Orchard Orioles, as well as for many other species of birds. Large numbers of Orchard Orioles will continue to migrate through the area until at least the second week of September.
Lesser Goldfinch: (4) 13 July (Derek Muschalek), 8 miles south of Yorktown, DeWitt County [occasional; breeding probable - territorial].
American Goldfinch: (1-2 females) 13 July (Steve ____ on Ft. Worth & Dallas Audubon Society Field Trip), Richland Creek WMA, Freestone County [remarkable summer record with few precedents; last season in Huntsville (Walker Co.) several goldfinch were seen in June and July; other records are much older.].
Bert to Steve, "Steve, your goldfinch sighting is highly unusual . ... Your sighting would be the first summer record for the Central Oaks & Prairies Region, although there is a precedent in the Northern Oaks & Prairies. There are no prior June or July records and the earliest fall migrant records are 15 Aug 1997 and 27 Aug 1967, although they generally are not expected until November. Summer American Goldfinches are extremely rare in the East Texas Pineywoods, just east of Richland Creek WMA. "
Steve, "Bert, I feel confident in the ID of one female AG if not two. .... Several others saw the same two birds."
Peter Barnes, "I have never seen them there in summer. In fact, they seem to disappear there earlier than in Tyler."
Vanessa Adams, Rusty Alderson, Charley Amos, Keith Arnold, Shawn Ashbaugh, Peter Barnes, Angelyn Bassinger, Nancy Bird, C. Bludau, Hazel Bluhm, Fred & Mary Brandt, Charles Bryant, Frank & Jeanette Bumgardner, David Cimprich, Grant Critchfield, D.D. Curie, Louis Debetaz, Mike Dillon, Gil Eckrich, Jesse Fagan, Mack Farr, Tim Fennell, Rob Fergus, Brush Freeman, Bert Frenz, Brian Funk, Mary Ann Grahmann, Georgette Guernsey, Erik Huebner, Tim Kiphart, Jason Leifester, Perry & Lynne Leite, Guy Luneau, Joan Luneau, Scott Luneau, Sue Morris, Derek Muschalek, Dick Payne, James Phelps, Ellen Pickett, Randy Pinkston, Jennifer Reidy, Ann Richardson, Robert Row, Chris Sargent, Willie Sekula, Cliff Shackelford, Susan Schaezler, Dan Smith, Lynn Smith, Byron Stone, Rob Thacker, Barbara Tilton, Darrell Vollert, Willie Vollert, Shirley Wilkerson, David Wolf, and Mimi Hoppe Wolf.
For additions, corrections and new sightings, contact bert@bafrenz.com