One good tern…

…deserves several more. Following on from yesterday’s Royal extravaganza, here are some more Texan terns. First up, something familiar from home: Sandwich Terns.

Another familiar bird from Europe, but one I wasn’t really expecting to see in good numbers on the coast: we came across several groups of 50+ Black Terns, pausing on their northward migration. Individual birds could be found in just about any state of moult between full winter and full summer plumage… this one is at the former end of the scale.

We also came across a few Least Terns, with birds showing particularly well off the jetty at Quintana. The light was very harsh during the middle of the day, which made it difficult to get good sharp photos, especially of predominantly white birds!

And finally, something very unfamiliar, a bird that I’d been really keen to see: Black Skimmer. They proved to be pretty widespread and easily seen along the coast. The most showy and approachable birds were at Rockport beach, where you can drive alongside them.

A Royal occasion

No, not that Royal occasion – there’s more than enough web space wasted on devoted to today’s events in London already! Staunch Republicans can read on in safety.

In Texas we encountered Royal Terns all along the coast, frequently showing very well in nice light for photography. Suzanne will testify that I spent quite some time enjoying them… but I think the results are worth it! These were taken in Rockport and Port Aransas.

Texas: the List!

Since getting home, I’ve fielded several questions about what I saw in Texas – so here’s the definitive answer, for those who like that sort of thing. Obviously I forced myself to keep track of things during the trip, having no interest in lists whatsoever…

#	Species	Sites / comments	Lifer?
1	Common Loon	1 at Quintana
2	Pied-billed Grebe	various sites e.g. Brazos Bend, Aransas
3	Least Grebe	surprisingly easy to find: 4 at Aransas, 1 at Santa Ana	X
4	American White Pelican	few on roadside pools near Quintana, plus one at Rollover Pass
5	Brown Pelican	common	X
6	Magnificent Frigatebird	one from East Reef Beach Park, Galveston; one from Yacht Basin Road (High Island)	X
7	Anhinga	few at Brazos Bend, plus few in flight (e.g. thermalling at Santa Ana)	X
8	Double-crested Cormorant	various coastal sites
9	Neotropic Cormorant	various sites	X
10	American Bittern	3+ at Brazos Bend
11	Least Bittern	one almost flew into me at the Port Aransas Birding Center; others at Anahuac	X
12	Great Blue Heron	common
13	Great Egret	abundant
14	Snowy Egret	common	X
15	Reddish Egret	noted at Laguna Atascosa, Rockport Beach Park, Eight Mile Road (Galveston), Rollover Pass	X
16	Little Blue Heron	common	X
17	Tricolored Heron	common	X
18	Cattle Egret	common
19	Green Heron	common
20	Black-crowned Night Heron	noted at Brazos Bend, and a few in flight from car
21	Yellow-crowned Night Heron	noted at Brazos Bend, and a few in flight from car	X
22	White-faced Ibis	various sites	X
23	White Ibis	common	X
24	Roseate Spoonbill	noted at Smith Oaks rookery and various coastal sites	X
25	Fulvous Whistling Duck	only a few seen, on pools from Eight Mile Rd (Galveston)
26	Black-bellied Whistling Duck	common	X
27	Wood Duck	4 in flight at Brazos Bend; 2 in suitable breeding habitat at WG Jones State Park
28	Mottled Duck	common	X
29	Pintail	noted at Laguna Atascosa
30	Shoveler	e.g. Anahuac, Laguna Atascosa, Quintana
31	Blue-winged Teal	common
32	Green-winged Teal	one at Aransas
33	Redhead	few at Port Aransas Birding Center
34	Lesser Scaup	pair on roadside channel near Quintana, at least
35	Red-breasted Merganser	few singles e.g. Laguna Atascosa
36	Ruddy Duck	numerous on pools near Quintana
37	Black Vulture	relatively common, though less so than Turkey Vulture	X
38	Turkey Vulture	abundant
39	Osprey	various coastal sites; at least 5 at Laguna Atascosa
40	White-tailed Kite	just one from Santa Ana hawkwatch tower	X
41	Swallow-tailed Kite	one from roadside along Trinity River valley btw Dayton & Liberty	X
42	Mississippi Kite	good numbers on migration over RGV (e.g 250+ over Santa Ana; 500+ over Bentsen)	X
43	Sharp-shinned Hawk	several singles, plus c5 from Santa Ana
44	Cooper's Hawk	c10 from Santa Ana plus one near Neals Lodge
45	Northern Harrier	fairly regular in suitable habitat e.g 4+ at San Bernard Refuge
46	Harris's Hawk	singles at Falcon State Park, and from roadside south of Kingsville	X
47	Red-shouldered Hawk	one at Santa Ana	X
48	Gray Hawk	one at Frontera Audubon, Weslaco	X
49	Zone-tailed Hawk	one near Neals Lodge	X
50	Broad-winged Hawk	c10 from Santa Ana and similar numbers over Bentsen the following day	X
51	Red-tailed Hawk	the commonest roadside Buteo
52	White-tailed Hawk	one adult at Laguna Atascosa, after much searching	X
53	Swainson's Hawk	c10 from Santa Ana, few other small numbers	X
54	Bald Eagle	one near Aransas was a surprise
55	Crested Caracara	reasonably common roadside bird; noted as far north as Galveston	X
56	American Kestrel	just a couple - one at Laguna Atascosa, one at Santa Ana
57	Merlin	two at the Concan Bat Cave
58	Plain Chachalaca	easily seen at e.g. Santa Ana, Laguna Atascosa, Bentsen	X
59	Wild Turkey	seen well at Aransas	X
60	Northern Bobwhite	brief views on the Laguna Atascosa approach road, and at Anahuac	X
61	Clapper Rail	superb views several times on Yacht Basin Road	X
62	Sora Rail	various suitable sites
63	Common Moorhen	various suitable sites
64	American Purple Gallinule	just one, at Anahuac	X
65	American Coot	common
66	Black-bellied Plover	various
67	American Golden Plover	noted at South Padre Island and Rollover Pass
68	Killdeer	common
69	Semipalmated Plover	various coastal sites
70	Piping Plover	only noted from East Reef Beach Park, Galveston	X
71	Wilson's Plover	Laguna Atascosa; Rollover Pass	X
72	American Oystercatcher	various coastal sites from Galveston north	X
73	Black-necked Stilt	various suitable sites	X
74	American Avocet	c200 on pools near Quintana; ,much smaller numbers at e.g. Rollover Pass	X
75	Greater Yellowlegs	common
76	Lesser Yellowlegs	common
77	Solitary Sandpiper	noted at South Padre Island, Lafitte's Cove, Boy Scout Wood
78	Spotted Sandpiper	few singles e.g. South Padre Island Birding Center
79	Willet	common	X
80	Marbled Godwit	only noted at Rollover Pass	X
81	Whimbrel	various sites e.g. Laguna Atascosa; rice fields near Winnie
82	Long-billed Curlew	several at Laguna Atascosa	X
83	Upland Sandpiper	four at La Feria sod fields
84	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	15 in rice fields near Winnie
85	Ruddy Turnstone	common on the coast
86	Sanderling	common on the coast
87	Dunlin	common on the coast
88	Pectoral Sandpiper	noted in small numbers at South Padre Island and Aransas, and c50 in rice fields near Winnie
89	White-rumped Sandpiper	small numbers on pools on Pelican Island, Galveston
90	Semipalmated Sandpiper	various coastal sites
91	Western Sandpiper	20+ on pools on Pelican Island, Galveston
92	Least Sandpiper	commonest peep, present in most suitable habitat
93	Stilt Sandpiper	various sites e.g South Padre Island; Port Aransas Birding Center
94	Long-billed Dowitcher	various sites
95	Short-billed Dowitcher	various sites
96	Wilson's Snipe	singles at Anahuac and Aransas
97	Wilson's Phalarope	single at Laguna Atascosa was well received by other birders, plus two in rice fields near Winnie
98	Laughing Gull	abundant
99	Franklin's Gull	a group of 15 moved purposefully north near Indianola - no others noted
100	Ring-billed Gull	small numbers at various coastal sites
101	American Herring Gull	small numbers at various coastal sites - almost invariably pretty ugly brutes
102	Black Tern	c50 at each of Rollover Pass and Port Aransas Jetty
103	Caspian Tern	ones and twos at various sites with many Royal Terns
104	Gull-billed Tern	small numbers away from the coast e.g. Laguna Atascosa
105	Royal Tern	common on the coast
106	Sandwich Tern	common on the coast
107	Forster's Tern	various sites e.g. Rollover Pass	X
108	Common Tern	only a couple noted, at Quintana
109	Least Tern	various sites; showed well at Quintana	X
110	Black Skimmer	great views at Rockport Beach Park; also noted at various coastal sites	X
111	Rock Dove	common (feral birds)
112	White-winged Dove	common	X
113	Mourning Dove	abundant
114	Inca Dove	various sites e.g. Frontera Audubon; Smith Oaks	X
115	Common Ground-Dove	only specifically noted near Pollywog Pond	X
116	Eurasian Collared Dove	various sites around towns
117	White-tipped Dove	common in LRGV	X
118	Green Parakeet	c250 in pre-roost at junction of 10th / Violet in McAllen	X
119	Yellow-billed Cuckoo	singles at Smith Oaks and Sabine Woods	X
120	Greater Roadrunner	1 of 3 was very well seen at Laguna Atascosa; another confiding bird at Falcon State Park, plus calling birds near Neals Lodge	X
121	Great Horned Owl	heard at Concan Bat Cave; one downy youngster at a nest site in High Island
122	Common Nighthawk	one hawking over Sheepshead Rd, South Padre Island then subsequently roosted; at least 4 at Anahuac showed very well; heard at Sabine Woods and Boy Scout Wood
123	Common Poorwill	heard at Concan Bat Cave, and from Neals Lodge	X
124	Chimney Swift	common	X
125	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	not uncommon on passage; seen well at feeders at Bentsen	X
126	Black-chinned Hummingbird	common in Hill Country; well seen around Neals Lodge feeders	X
127	Buff-bellied Hummingbird	noted at Laguna Atascosa and Bentsen, at least	X
128	Belted Kingfisher	one at Anahuac
129	Ringed Kingfisher	one at Santa Ana	X
130	Green Kingfisher	one at Frontera Audubon, Weslaco	X
131	Red-headed Woodpecker	several at WG Jones State Park	X
132	Red-bellied Woodpecker	several sites e.g. Brazos Bend, Sabine Woods; WG Jones State Park	X
133	Golden-fronted Woodpecker	common in LRGV	X
134	Downy Woodpecker	noted at Rockport Demo Garden; pair at Sabine Woods, plus other sites
135	Ladder-backed Woodpecker	relatively common in LRGV	X
136	Red-cockaded Woodpecker	one showed well at WG Jones State Park	X
137	Pileated Woodpecker	one showed well at WG Jones State Park	X
138	Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet	pair nestbuilding at Bentsen	X
139	Eastern Wood-Pewee	singles at Paradise Pond (Port Aransas), Smith Oaks, Sabine Woods	X
140	Eastern Phoebe	several around Neals Lodge and Lost Maples	X
141	Black Phoebe	well seen along the river at Laredo and at Neals Lodge	X
142	Vermilion Flycatcher	Chalk Bluff Park and Neals Lodge	X
143	Ash-throated Flycatcher	just one specifically identified, near Neals Lodge - though I may have been throwing these away as Brown-crested when not calling	X
144	Brown-crested Flycatcher	several in LRGV and one heard at Neals Lodge	X
145	Great Crested Flycatcher	singles at various sites in LRGV, also Aransas	X
146	Western Kingbird	one at Sabine Woods
147	Eastern Kingbird	common on the Upper Coast
148	Couch's Kingbird	few singles - non calling birds assumed to be this species rather than Tropical	X
149	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	common roadside bid	X
150	Great Kiskadee	several sites in LRGV, and also Aransas	X
151	Loggerhead Shrike	common on Upper and Central coast	X
152	Warbling Vireo	few single passage birds noted e.g. Port Aransas, South Padre Island, Smith Oaks
153	Philadelphia Vireo	one at Boy Scout Wood on 20/4	X
154	White-eyed Vireo	reasonably common: loads singing in dense scrub at Aransas, plus smaller numbers elsewhere on the coast	X
155	Bell's Vireo	pair at Neals Lodge	X
156	Black-capped Vireo	pair well seen, plus another singing male, on the plateau on the East Trail at Lost Maples	X
157	Red-eyed Vireo	singing bird at Lost Maples, plus singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods
158	Yellow-throated Vireo	single at Sabine Woods was the only one of the trip	X
159	Blue-headed Vireo	single outside our cabin at Neals Lodge, plus another heard at Lost Maples	X
160	Blue Jay	one particularly tame bird at Sabine Woods was gathering nesting material; also plenty in WG Jones State Park
161	Green Jay	seen well at Laguna Atascosa, Bentsen and Santa Ana	X
162	Western Scrub-Jay	couple at Lost Maples	X
163	American Crow	only seen in the north of the area (e.g. sites east of Houston); one non-calling bird at Sabine Woods could have been this species or Fish Crow!
164	Common Raven	several in the Hill Country e.g. Lost Maples
165	Chihuahan Raven	noted at Falcon State Park, and from the car in the same area	X
166	Horned Lark	three at La Feria sod fields
167	Barn Swallow	common
168	Cliff Swallow	reasonably regularly seen, with breeding colonies under many road bridges (though NB Cave Swallow not usually explicitly eliminated!)	X
169	Cave Swallow	100+ from Concan Bat Cave; also a small colony noted breeding under a concrete pier near Port Aransas ferry dock	X
170	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	various sites	X
171	Bank Swallow	only noted at Zapata near suitable breeding site; others may have been overlooked
172	Tree Swallow	reasonably common on the upper coast e.g. over Sabine Woods and Boy Scout Wood	X
173	Purple Martin	common - just look for the boxes in people's garden!	X
174	Carolina Chickadee	various sites in the north e.g. Brazos Bend; Jesse Jones State Park; Sabine Woods	X
175	Tufted Titmouse	only noted at Jesse Jones State Park, in Houston	X
176	Black-crested Titmouse	various wooded sites e.g. Santa Ana	X
177	Brown-headed Nuthatch	easily found at WG Jones State Park	X
178	Verdin	couple around Neals Lodge and nearby roadside brushy habitat	X
179	Cactus Wren	heard several times, and seen badly in flight only, near Neals Lodge	X
180	Marsh Wren
181	Sedge Wren	couple of vocal birds showed briefly at Aransas	X
182	Canyon Wren	heard only while waiting for the bats to emerge near Neals Lodge
183	Carolina Wren	pretty common (and vocal)	X
184	Bewick's Wren	one holding territory and visiting a nest at Neals Lodge; others at Chalk Bluff Park
185	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	passage bird at Paradise Pond, and singing birds on territory at Lost Maples	X
186	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	noted at Santa Ana and Bentsen	X
187	Eastern Bluebird	several at WG Jones State Park	X
188	Swainson's Thrush	one at Smith Oaks
189	Veery	one appeared in front of the photography blind late evening at Boy Scout Wood on 21st and 22nd	X
190	Gray-cheeked Thrush	one at South Padre Island, one at Boy Scout Wood
191	Wood Thrush	one late evening at Boy Scout Wood showed superbly	X
192	Clay-colored Robin	one at Santa Ana	X
193	Gray Catbird	common
194	Northern Mockingbird	abundant	X
195	Brown Thrasher	noted at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods	X
196	Long-billed Thrasher	showy birds at Laguna Atascosa, plus others seen in LRGV	X
197	Curve-billed Thrasher	one singing bird at Magic Ridge, near Indianola, was the only one seen	X
198	Sprague's Pipit	one found by Suzanne while driving at La Feria sod farm: "Stop, stop, there's a little thing down there!"	X
199	European Starling	all too common!
200	Tennessee Warbler	probably the most commonly seen warbler, both on the coast and inland	X
201	Nashville Warbler	regularly seen, often in small groups of up to six birds, during the first week of the trip, but sightings dried up later on
202	Orange-crowned Warbler	only specifically noted at Lost Maples, but others possibly overlooked
203	Blue-winged Warbler	seen at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods	X
204	Northern Parula	two at South Padre Island, other singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods	X
205	Yellow Warbler	relatively common at coastal migration watchpoints
206	Chestnut-sided Warbler	three in a single bush at Smith Oaks, plus singles at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Wood	X
207	Magnolia Warbler	three together (with the Chestnut-sideds) at Smith Oaks, plus single at Boy Scout Wood. Probably my favourite Dendroica!	X
208	Blackburnian Warbler	just one seen, a female on the edge of Boy Scout Wood. Still want good views of a flaming male!	X
209	Cerulean Warbler	one seen briefly by Suzanne at Sabine Woods could not be relocated, to both our frustration
210	Black-throated Green Warbler	several at Boy Scout Wood, plus a single at Smith Oaks	X
211	Golden-cheeked Warbler	easily found along the East Trail at Lost Maples - we must've heard at least 10 singing birds, some showing well	X
212	Yellow-rumped Warbler	just one or two noted early in the trip e.g. Port Aransas
213	Pine Warbler	a common bird on breeding terrory e.g. at WG Jones State Park, but not noted on the coast	X
214	Blackpoll Warbler	smart males noted at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods
215	Bay-breasted Warbler	singles at Boy Scout Wood and Smith Oaks	X
216	Yellow-throated Warbler	another stunner: seen on passage at Port Aransas, and on territory at and near Neals Lodge	X
217	Black-and-white Warbler	a particularly showy individual at Port Aransas, plus others in the High Island area. Also at least four singing males at Lost Maples	X
218	American Redstart	a male at South Padre Island, plus females at Smith Oaks and in the carpark at Boy Scout Wood
219	Prothonotary Warbler	one showing well on territory at Lake Charlotte	X
220	Common Yellowthroat	pretty common in suitable breeding habitat, and also on passage
221	Kentucky Warbler	one from the photo blind at Boy Scout Wood	X
222	Northern Waterthrush	one at Boy Scout Wood near Purkey's Pond
223	Ovenbird	one at South Padre Island	X
224	Swainson's Warbler	one showing well from the photo bling at Boy Scout Wood	X
225	Hooded Warbler	a male at Port Aransas and a female at Boy Scout Wood	X
226	Wilson's Warbler	one at South Padre Island
227	Yellow-breasted Chat	several singles seen e.g. Chalk Bluff Park; near Neals Lodge; Frontera Audubon	X
228	Scarlet Tanager	not uncommon at migration watchpoint sites e.g. Smith Oaks	X
229	Summer Tanager	as Scarlet Tanager, plus a few territorial birds in the Hill Countrt e.g. Chalk Bluff Park	X
230	Western Tanager	a single at Smith Oaks was rather smart
231	Dickcissel	singles at Sabine Woods and near Winnie, plus four on Pelican Island near Galveston	X
232	Blue Grosbeak	a single male at Lost Maples feeding station, plus three at WG Jones State Park	X
233	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	several around High Island sites, plus one at Lafitte's Cove	X
234	Indigo Bunting	relatively common: seen at most coastal migration sites in small numbers, plus a few in LRGV	X
235	Painted Bunting	small numbers at several sites: one at Rockport Demo Garden; one at Neals Lodge; two females and a male at Sabine Woods; one at Boy Scout Wood	X
236	Northern Cardinal	abundant - tracking down diverse songs and calls took me quite some time!	X
237	Pyrrhuloxia	only noted at Falcon State Park, where small groups showed wel	X
238	Spotted Towhee	single at feeders at Neals Lodge
239	Canyon Towhee	only seen at and near Neals Lodge	X
240	Olive Sparrow	easily found at Laguna Atascosa and other LRGV sites	X
241	White-collared Seedeater	one female on the Las Palmas Trail in Laredo	X
242	Black-throated Sparrow	two or three near Neals Lodge, and one at the Concan Bat Cave	X
243	Rufous-crowned Sparrow	one at Neals Lodge, plus a small group on the plateau on the Lost Maples East Trail	X
244	Chipping Sparrow	one of the commoner sparrows
245	Clay-colored Sparrow	reasonably common, seen at various sites	X
246	Field Sparrow	singing bird/s on the plateau on the Lost Maples East Trail	X
247	Vesper Sparrow	just one seen, at Neals Lodge	X
248	Lark Sparrow	plenty around the Hill Country, and on inland ranches e.g. near Kingsville
249	Grasshopper Sparrow	just one, at Bentsen	X
250	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	about five seen well early morning along Yacht Basin Road near Rollover Pass - but note I completely failed to find any in exactly the same area in two attempts during the middle of the day	X
251	Seaside Sparrow	easily found near Frozen Point at Anahuac	X
252	Savannah Sparrow	another relatively common sparrow in open country
253	Lincoln's Sparrow	several singles seen, generally in shady cover e.g. Neals Lodge feeders; South Padre Island convention center	X
254	Swamp Sparrow	singles at Port Aransas and Anahuac at least	X
255	White-crowned Sparrow	several on the coast and one at Neals Lodge
256	White-throated Sparrow	lingering birds at Boy Scout Wood and Sabine Woods
257	Baltimore Oriole	easily seen at various coastal sites
258	Orchard Oriole	the commonest oriole on the coast, e.g. 20+ at Sabine Woods	X
259	Hooded Oriole	a cracking male noted at Neals Lodge	X
260	Altamira Oriole	another superb oriole - just one male seen briefly at Bentsen	X
261	Audubon's Oriole	unfortunately heard only, at Lost Maples	X
262	Scott's Oriole	one singing and showing well, on the plateau of the Lost Maples East Trail	X
263	Eastern Meadowlark	regularly seen and heard in suitable habitat; all non-singing Meadowlarks assumed to be this species	X
264	Red-winged Blackbird	abundant
265	Common Grackle	easily seen on the Upper Coast	X
266	Great-tailed Grackle	abundant	X
267	Boat-tailed Grackle	only specifically noted at Brazos Bend	X
268	Brown-headed Cowbird	common
269	Bronzed Cowbird	only noted at Rockport Demo Garden, but quite likely overlooked	X
270	House Sparrow	common in urban areas
271	Lesser Goldfinch	easily seen around Neals Lodge	X
272	Pine Siskin	several at Neals Lodge feeders
273	House Finch	several around Neals Lodge

PS – have another Laughing Gull, I’ve got loads.