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Northeast Texas Bird Report - March 2016 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for March. Highlights include a Vermilion Flycatcher, Wild Turkeys, an Ovenbird and Sandhill Cranes again. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
The first Black-bellied Whistling Ducks of the spring were found on 3/12 when 15 showed up in Daingerfield (DB,LB,BF). A large group of 75 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were photographed at dusk in Hunt county on 3/25 (ebird LD). The pair of Ross’s Geese were tallied once again at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on several dates (m.ob). Canada Geese reported from nine counties, with a max of 12 noted in Henderson county on 3/13 (ebird DC,DL). Two Cinnamon Teal reported from RC WMA in Freestone on 3/3 (ebird TS). The only Northern Pintail reported from the area came from Lake Bob Sandlin State Park in Titus county on 3/16 (ebird MO). The sole seven Hooded Mergansers reported for the area came from a pond near Pittsburgh in Camp county on 3/25 (DB et al). The only Red-breasted Merganser reported was a beautiful male photographed on 3/13 at Lake O Pines in Marion county (ebird MW).
A Northern Bobwhite was reported from Jefferson in Marion county on 3/6 (ebird LBe). A dozen Wild Turkeys were noted from Lamar county on 3/4 (ebird SG), and one Wild Turkey was found on 3/18 in Cherokee county (ebird CW). The sole Anhinga reported came from Henderson county on 3/26 (ebird DL). The first Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons reported outside of RC WMA for the year came from Wood county on 3/28 (ebird BS). Cattle Egrets were noted more commonly starting on 3/25 in Upshur county when 30 were noted (ebird LP). The first Green Heron was noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/18 (ebird MB). The first Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was also found at Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/30 (ebird MB). The only White-faced Ibis were noted from RC WMA in Freestone with a max of 70 noted on 3/25 (ebird AT). Surprisingly to me, the only two Ospreys were reported from Lake Tyler in Smith county on 3/28 (ebird BSa).
When I first came to NE Texas - decades ago - we had a Bald Eagle that would show up at the plant where I worked in Lone Star on the first week of November and it would leave after the first week of March. And if I ever saw a Bald Eagle outside that November-to-early-March window it was a big, big, big deal. This year, there were numerous records of Bald Eagles after the first week of March... Times, they do change. The first three Broad-winged Hawks were noted in Camp county on 3/14 (ebird JH).
A Virginia Rail was noted at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 3/20 (ebird EV). Common Gallinules were reported from the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 3/14 (ebird JH), and in Mineola in Wood county on 3/28 (ebird BS). For the 3rd month in a row Sandhill Cranes were tallied in the NETFO area with 16 noted at Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar county on 3/4 (ebird SG). Black-necked Stilts were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county with a max of 12 noted on 3/22 (ebird CW). The first two American Golden-Plovers were found near Pittsburg in Camp county on 3/26 (JC et al). Two Spotted Sandpipers were reported from Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 3/11 (DB,LB), while another Spotted Sandpiper was reported from Upshur county on 3/29 (ebird TH). A Solitary Sandpiper was photographed in Upshur county on 3/26 (ebird LP). Lesser Yellowlegs were noted in two counties with a max of five noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/4 (ebird GK). The only sighting of Long-billed Dowitchers came from RC WMA in Freestone county where 50 were noted on 3/4 (ebird GK). Reported from ten counties, the max of 40 Wilson’s Snipe were tallied in Marion county on 3/3 (ebird MW). Reported from five different counties, the eastern-most White-winged Dove came from Daingerfield City Park in Morris county on 3/16 (DB,LB).
Chimney Swifts were first reported from the Caldwell Zoo (ebird RQ) and at Lake Gladewater (ebird LP) in Upshur county, both on 3/18. The first Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported on 3/24 in Gregg county (ebird WB). The first Common Nighthawk was reported from Van Zandt county on 3/6 (ebird LBe). Reported from seven counties, the farthest-east record of Crested Caracara came from Mt. Pleasant airport in Titus county on 3/26 (PB et al). The Vermilion Flycatcher found last fall in Morris county made it to 3/10 (BF). The first Great Crested Flycatcher came on 3/21 from Van Zandt county (ebird DO). The first Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was noted on 3/22 from RC WMA in Freestone (ebird CW). The earliest Yellow-throated Vireo reported came on 3/26 in Smith county (ebird EV). Two Horned Larks were noted at Mt. Pleasant airport on 3/26 (DB et al); while one Horned Lark was found in Franklin county on the same date 3/26 (DB et al). The first two Northern Rough-winged Swallows were observed at Lake Gilmer on 3/5 (DB,LB). The first two Barn Swallows of the season were observed in Henderson county on 3/6 (ebird EV). The first 100 Cliff Swallows were tallied at Lake Palestine in Henderson county on 3/6 (ebird EV). A Sedge Wren was found in Morris county on 3/12 (DB,LB). Two Marsh Wrens were located at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 3/20 (ebird EV). A Bewick’s Wren was found in Cherokee county on 3/1 (ebird LW), and another Bewick’s Wren was located in Upshur county on 3/5 (DB,LB).
The first three Blue-gray Gnatcatchers of the spring were found at Tyler State Park on 3/19 (ebird BS). The only Sprague’s Pipit report came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/22 (ebird CW). One of the few reported in Texas during the month, an Ovenbird was reported from Henderson county on 3/14 (ebird LBe). The first of the season Black-and-White Warbler was noted in Morris county on 3/12 (DB,LB). The first Hooded Warbler was “recorded” in Upshur county on 3/26 (ebird LP). The first report of Northern Parula comes from Upshur county on 3/25 (ebird LP). The first Yellow-throated Warbler noted came a little early, observed on 3/7 in Harrison county (ebird BT). Noted in two counties, the first Black-throated Green Warbler was tallied on 3/25 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS).
Two Grasshopper Sparrows were recorded on consecutive dates at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park on 3/16 and 3/17 (ebird MO). The first of the season Lark Sparrow was reported in Bowie county on 3/25 (DB,LB). The only two Spotted Towhees in the area were reported from Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county on 3/25 (ebird LD). A Purple Finch was reported from Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county on 3/4 (ebird SG). Pine Siskins were reported from five counties with a peak of 38 in Rusk county on 3/3 (ebird PH).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Ferndale Club, Pittsburg Cherokee Co.: Franklin Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Harrison Co.: Henderson Co.: Lake Palestine Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake State Park Hunt Co.: Lamar Co.: Pat Mayes Lake Marion Co.: Lake O Pines, Jefferson Morris Co.: Daingerfield, Daingerfield City Park Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Bellwood Lake, Tyler State Park, Lake Tyler, Caldwell Zoo Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, Mt. Pleasant Airport Upshur Co.: Lake Gladewater, Lake Gilmer Van Zandt Co.: Wood Co.: Mineola
Northeast Texas Bird Report - February 2016 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for February. A Vermilion Flycatcher, a Painted Bunting, Sandhill Cranes and an American Bittern top this month’s highlights. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Greater White-fronted Geese were restricted to RC WMA in Freestone county with a max of 25 photographed on 2/14 (ebird MS). Noted in six counties the max of 200 Snow Geese were tallied in Bonham in Fannin county on 2/13 (ebird ML). The single Ross’s Goose at Lake Bob Sandlin that has been there for a long, long, long time, has a friend! I believe it was three winters ago when this happened before, so for now they are a pair (DB,LB). The only other report of Ross’s Geese came from Bonham where 50 were tallied on 2/13 (ebird ML). Found in 13 counties, the peak of 120 Canada Geese were tallied in Fannin county flying north on 2/12 (ebird HL).
Blue-winged Teal were tallied in four counties with a peak of eight noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/12 (ebird DP). Greater Scaup were restricted to Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 2/13 with a count of 120 (DB,LB). The only two Horned Grebes reported from the area came from Lake Wright Patman in Cass county on 2/7 (DB,LB). Two Eared Grebes were tallied from RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/12 and 2/14 (ebird MS, WS).
The following sightings were restricted to RC WMA in Freestone county. An American Bittern was found on 2/5, 2/12 and 2/13 (ebird DP,TS). A Snowy Egret was reported on 2/4 (ebird TS). A Tricolored Heron was found on several dates (ebird m.ob). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found on 2/12 (ebird DP). Found on several dates, the max of 50 White Ibis were tallied on 2/14 (ebird MS). Also found on many dates, a peak of 50 White-faced Ibis were counted on 2/12 (ebird DP).
A Cattle Egret was tallied at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county on 2/3 (ebird DBo). A Sora was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/4 (ebird TS). A Common Gallinule was tallied at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 2/1 (ebird JH). While another Common Gallinule was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/12 (ebird TS). Thirteen Sandhill Cranes were counted flying over Navarro county on 2/13 (ebird MS,WS).
A Willet and two Lesser Yellowlegs were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/12 (ebird DP). The sole American Woodcock was reported from Bowie county on 2/2 (ebird DLa). A Franklin’s Gull was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/4 (ebird TS). White-winged Doves were reported from nine counties with the farthest east coming from LeTourneau University in Gregg county on 2/15 (ebird JM).
Barn Owls were reported in ebird from Franklin county on 2/3 (RC) and in Fannin county on 2/12 and 2/13 (HL). Crested Caracaras were reported from four counties with the farthest east sighting coming from Hopkins county on 2/6 (DB). A Merlin was spotted on two dates at RC WMA in Freestone county 2/5 (ebird TS) and on 2/12 (ebird DP). A Peregrine Falcon was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/2 (ebird RQ).
The male Vermilion Flycatcher found early in the fall was present all month in Morris county (BF). Fish Crows were reported from six counties with a max of 16 tallied in Camp county on 2/13 (DB,LB). The first Purple Martin of the season was reported from Harrison county on 2/13 (RP). A Tree Swallow was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/2 (ebird RQ), while two were reported from the same location on 2/14 (ebird MS). Up to three Sedge Wrens were noted and photographed at a location in Navarro county from 2/12 through 2/15 (ebird MS,WS). A Bewick’s Wren was photographed in Van Zandt county on 2/1 (ebird DO).
A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was observed at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 2/13 (ebird MB). A Common Yellowthroat was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/14 (ebird MS). On 2/12 a Le Conte’s Sparrow was photographed in Navarro county, and on the next day at the same location four were found and photographed (ebird MS,WS). The only Spotted Towhee reported for the month came from Canton City Lake in Van Zandt county on 2/6 (ebird DO). The Painted Bunting found in Hopkins county during January was photographed in February coming to a feeder (LM). Reported from three counties, the max of 70 Rusty Blackbirds came from Lake Murvaul in Panola county (ebird CW). Two Purple Finches were photographed in Harrison county on 2/13 (ebird LP). While one Purple Finch was photographed at Lake Crook in Lamar county on 2/6 (DB).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Cass Co.: Lake Wright Patman Fannin Co.: Bonham Franklin Co.: Lake Cypress Springs Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: LeTourneau University Harrison Co.: Hopkins Co.: Lamar Co.: Lake Crook Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: Panola Co.: Lake Murvaul Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: Canton City Lake
For You eBirders:
Through February, the lowest total of all twenty-six NETFO counties for the year is Morris county with 69 species. I’ll put Luanne on it. Get out there and bird!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - January 2016 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for January. I will try to summarize the three Christmas Bird Counts held during the month along with the normal report. Highlights include a Couch’s Kingbird, a Painted Bunting, a Black-and-White Warbler, Sandhill Cranes and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Christmas Bird Count Summary:
There were three CBCs held during the month. Tenaha-Timpson count was held on January 1, while Tyler and Texarkana were held on January 2nd. Tenaha had 92 species, while Texarkana had 72 species and Tyler came in with 111 species.
Tyler was the only count of the three with species not recorded on the previous ten counts. This included a Gray Catbird and 22 Fish Crows!
Tyler tied or had ten year highs with 46 Great Egret, 45 Red-shouldered Hawks, three Spotted Sandpipers, 19 Belted Kingfishers, 41 White-breasted Nuthatches, 19 Brown Creepers, eight Winter Wrens, 40 Hermit Thrushes, 625 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 528 Dark-eyed Juncos, 55 Swamp Sparrows and 32,954 Red-winged Blackbirds.
Texarkana tied or had ten year highs with 150 Lesser Scaup, 200 Great Egrets, 1,607 Ring-billed Gulls, eight Eurasian Collared-Doves, two Barred Owls, four Red-headed Woodpeckers, 40 Northern Flickers, 101 Blue Jays, eight White-breasted Nuthatches, ten Brown-headed Nuthatches, 64 Northern Mockingbirds, 68 European Starlings, and 391 Red-winged Blackbirds.
Tenaha tied or had ten year highs with 67 Rock Pigeons, eight Fox Sparrows, 297 Eastern Meadowlarks and 500 Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Tyler tied or had ten year lows with eight Wood Ducks, five Green-winged Teal, 75 Rock Pigeon, 11 American Pipits, and one Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Texarkana tied or had ten year lows with 12 Black Vultures and five Killdeer.
Tenaha tied or had ten year lows with 87 Black Vultures, 11 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 15 Eastern Screech-Owls, 116 Carolina Chickadees, 58 American Robins, 17 American Pipits, 166 Dark-eyed Juncos and 119 American Goldfinches.
Tyler’s biggest miss was Greater Scaup, noted on 9 of the 10 previous counts.
Texarkana had several misses of birds normally recorded including Savannah Sparrow, Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser and Bufflehead all seen on 9 of the 10 previous years. Texarkana also missed Bald Eagle seen on 8 of the 10 previous years.
Tenaha had several misses of birds normally recorded including Ring-necked Duck and Common Goldeneye both seen on all 10 of the previous counts. Seen on 9 of 10 previous counts, but missed on this count was American Wigeon. And Inca Dove, Gray Catbird, White-crowned Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird and House Finch were missed despite being seen on 8 of the previous 10 counts.
Neat birds found on the Tyler count that have not been seen on more than half of the previous ten counts included three Snow Geese, 23 Redheads, an Osprey, two Virginia Rails, a Herring Gull, a Greater Roadrunner, a Rufous Hummingbird, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, five Common Yellowthroats, and a Spotted Towhee.
Neat birds found on the Texarkana count that have not been seen on half of the previous ten counts included a Gray Catbird, nine Canada Geese, a Horned Grebe, and three Cooper’s Hawks.
Neat birds found on the Tenaha count that have not been seen on more than half of the previous ten counts included 12 Neotropic Cormorants, three Spotted Sandpipers, a Marsh Wren, a Bewick’s Wren and two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.
Month Bird Report: (Non CBC):
Greater White-fronted Geese were found in five counties with a peak of 12 noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/26 (ebird CW). Noted in five counties the max of 8000 Snow Geese were tallied in Delta county on 1/31 (ebird EJ). Canada Geese were found in most of the counties in the NETFO area with a max of 36 noted in Camp county near Pittsburg on 1/9 (DB,LB) and in Edgewood on several dates (ebird RK).
Presumably the same Eurasian x American Wigeon that was found on the RC WMA CBC last month was relocated in Henderson county on 1/1 and photographed (ebird LF). Five Blue-winged Teal were recorded at Pleasant Acres Lake on 1/17 (ebird JK). The sole location noted for Red-breasted Mergansers during the month was LTW, with a peak of 100 noted on 1/15 in Rains county (ebird DG).
A Northern Bobwhite was found in Red River county on 1/3 (ebird LP). Four Wild Turkeys were tallied on Joy Wright Mountain Road in Smith county on 1/30 (ebird JR,EV). You’ve heard of three days of the condor, well we had three days of the Eared Grebe; 1/15 found at Lake Bonham in Fannin county (ebird MM), 1/16 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RP), and finally 1/17 at LTW State Park in Hunt county (ebird RK).
Neat waders were restricted to RC WMA in Freestone county. An American Bittern and a Snowy Egret were found on 1/19 (ebird DCo,KP). A peak of three Tricolored Herons were tallied on 1/25 (ebird SH). A peak of 40 White Ibis and 60 White-faced Ibis were reported on 1/26 (ebird CW). Outside of RC WMA the only other neat “wader” type bird was two Cattle Egrets found at LTW in Rains county on 1/7 (ebird RK).
There were eight reports of Osprey during the month throughout the NETFO area (m.ob). Numbers of Bald Eagles seem low to this observer during the month, although one photographed on a nest near Mt. Pleasant in Titus county on 1/22 was cool (DB,LB). A Sandhill Crane was found at LTW in Rains county on 1/7 (ebird RK). Up to twelve Sandhill Cranes were tallied in Fannin county on 1/15 (ebird BSt,CWi). Two American Avocets were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/30 (ebird CSe). A max of six Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/30 (ebird CSe).
A Lesser Black-backed Gull was tallied at LTW in Rains county on 1/16 (ebird RP). The eastern most White-winged Doves came from Kilgore in Rusk county on 1/26 when ten were tallied (ebird PH). A Selasphorus hummingbird was reported in Smith county on 1/15 (ebird PB). The eastern most Crested Caracaras were noted near Mt. Vernon in Franklin county when three were photographed on 1/31 (DB,LB). Four sightings of Merlins were tallied during the month (m.ob). A Peregrine Falcon was tallied at LTW in Rains county on 1/13 (ebird RK).
The male Vermilion Flycatcher that was found in October in Morris county made another month (BF). The Say’s Phoebe found on the RC WMA CBC was refound on 1/3 in Navarro county (ebird DC,DL). The first “Wow” of the month, a Couch’s Kingbird was photographed near Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 1/24 (LP), but was not to be found the following day. The sole Horned Lark sightings came from Franklin county on 1/31 (DB,LB). Up to four Tree Swallows and eight Cave Swallows were tallied at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 1/17 (m.ob). Besides the CBCs, a max of two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were found at LTW State Park on 1/15 (ebird JKe,AM,CR).
A Sprague’s Pipit was tallied at LTW in Rains county on 1/17 (ebird TB,FC,CWa). A count of 248 Smith’s Longspurs was tallied on private land in Lamar county on 1/5 (DH,CS). Otherwise Smith’s Longspurs were tallied at the regular place at LTW in Rains county with a peak of 75 tallied on 1/17 (ebird RK et al). A Black-and-white Warbler was observed at LTW State Park from 1/15 through 1/17 (ebird m.ob). Three Bachman’s Sparrows were reported from Martin Creek Lake State Park in Rusk county on 1/18 (ebird JK). Three Grasshopper Sparrows were reported from Pleasant Acres Lake on 1/17 (ebird JK), while one was reported from there on 1/20 (ebird EVo). A Henslow’s Sparrow was found and photographed on 1/18 and 1/23 at Tom Walker’s Farm in Marion county (MW). A Le Conte’s Sparrow was found at LTW in Rains county on 1/16 (ebird RP). While two Le Conte’s Sparrows were located in Hunt county on 1/17 (ebird GB,BSt).
A second “Wow” for the month, a “green” Painted Bunting showed up in Hopkins county during the last part of the month and was photographed coming to a feeder in Hopkins county (LM). Rusty Blackbirds were totaled in four counties with a peak of 75 tallied in Bowie county on 1/16 (DB,LB). Purple Finches were found in eight counties with a peak of 7 noted at Bonham State Park in Fannin county on 1/15 (ebird BSt,CWi). Noted in eleven counties the peak of 15 Pine Siskins were tallied at Tyler State Park on 1/1 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Pittsburg Delta Co.: Fannin Co.: Lake Bonham, Bonham State Park Franklin Co.: Mt. Vernon Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW State Park Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: Tom Walker’s Farm Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Rusk Co.: Martin Creek State Park, Kilgore Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Joy Wright Mountain Road Titus Co.: Mt. Pleasant Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood
For You eBirders:
All twenty-six NETFO counties were birded during January! Get out there and bird!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - December 2015 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for December. I will try to summarize the four Christmas Bird Counts held during the month along with the normal report. Highlights include a Tundra Swan, two Say’s Phoebes, a Vermilion Flycatcher, a Black-legged Kittiwake and Tree and Barn Swallows and how about maybe a Chuck-will’s-widow! Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Christmas Bird Count Summary:
There were four CBCs held during the month. Longview was held on December 19th. Lake Tawakoni and Lake O’ Pines were held on December 26th. While Richland Creek WMA was held on December 31st. Longview had 108 species, while Lake Tawakoni had 133 species, and Lake O’ Pines had their lowest total in more than a decade with 99 species. Richland Creek WMA had 125 species.
In it’s second year, the RC WMA CBC had new sightings of ten Greater White-fronted Geese, seven Common Goldeneyes, three Red-breasted Mergansers, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, two Franklin’s Gulls, four Rock Pigeons, six Eurasian Collared Doves, one Blue-headed Vireo and the highlight of the count a Say’s Phoebe. Also reported for the first time, 45 Tree Swallows, one Barn Swallow, one Red-breasted Nuthatch, one Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, one Western Meadowlark and three Pine Siskins.
Other neat sightings on the RC WMA CBC included three Tricolored Herons, 27 White Ibis, 15 White-faced Ibis, three Soras, six Crested Caracaras and two Peregrine Falcons.
For the counts that had some histories:
New species for the counts: Longview had four Wild Turkeys. Longview also had a species not seen since 1999 on the count, a Tricolored Heron. LTW had a Black-legged Kittiwake and a Caprimulgus sp, probably a Chuck-will’s-widow. Also LTW had a count week Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Lake O’ Pines didn’t have any brand new species but had three Blue-winged Teal, a species not observed since 1994.
Longview tied or had ten year highs with 188 Bufflehead, 345 Black Vultures, three Sharp-shinned Hawks, six Cooper’s Hawks, 25 Red-tailed Hawks, seven Great Horned Owls, 70 Eastern Phoebes, four Blue-headed Vireos, and 80 Eastern Meadowlarks.
LTW tied or had ten year highs with 66 Redheads, four Greater Scaup, four American Woodcock, four Barn Owl including two young, 63 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 45 Hermit Thrush, 32,650 American Robins, 2,751 Cedar Waxwings, 37 Orange-crowned Warblers, 88 Pine Warblers, 36,167 Red-winged Blackbirds, 677 Brewer’s Blackbirds and 2,014 Common Grackles.
LOP tied or had ten year highs with nine Barred Owls, five Blue-headed Vireos, 25 White-breasted Nuthatches, 161 Carolina Wrens, and 263 Eastern Bluebirds.
Other neat rarer birds found on the Longview CBC were seven Redhead, two Common Goldeneyes, a Snowy Egret, three White-winged Doves, 16 Fish Crows, a Gray Catbird, a Common Yellowthroat, four Great-tailed Grackles, and two Pine Siskins.
Other neat rarer birds found on the LTW CBC were two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, a Merlin, a Blue-headed Vireo, four Cave Swallows, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
Other neat rarer birds found on the LOP CBC were a Greater Roadrunner, an Osprey, a Spotted Towhee, eight Vesper Sparrows, and 40 Pine Siskins.
Longview’s biggest miss was Northern Pintail which had been recorded in each of the last 10 years. LOP missed Gadwall and Bonaparte’s Gull each observed in each of the last 10 years. Also, found lacking on the LOP count were American Wigeon, Red-breasted Mergansers and Northern Shoveler each observed in 9 of the 10 previous years.
Longview tied or had ten year lows with 202 Gadwall, 44 American Wigeon, 24 Mallards, 51 Northern Shovelers, 42 Green-winged Teal, 74 Lesser Scaup, a Hooded Merganser, two American Woodcock, 13 Savannah Sparrows, 40 Song Sparrows, 229 White-throated Sparrows, 83 Common Grackles, and 104 American Goldfinch.
LTW tied or had ten year lows with 112 Gadwall, 19 Northern Shovelers, 30 Ring-necked Ducks, two Bufflehead, 14 Common Goldeneye, four Ruddy Ducks, 36 Great Blue Herons, two Great Egrets, 145 Black Vultures, 243 Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, two Cooper’s Hawks, 18 Red-tailed Hawks, a Sora, two Greater Yellowlegs, 45 Ring-billed Gulls, four Herring Gulls, two Pileated Woodpeckers, 170 American Crows, 12 White-breasted Nuthatches, three Brown Creepers, a Bewick’s Wren, 206 Eastern Bluebirds, 77 Field Sparrows, three Vesper Sparrows, 69 Savannah Sparrows, 23 Song Sparrows and ten House Finch.
LOP tied or had ten year lows with seven Mallards, two Canvasback, 496 Double-crested Cormorants, 19 Great Blue Herons, two Great Egrets, three (yea three) Bald Eagles, 67 Mourning Doves, 17 Eastern Screech Owls (not a bad low!), six Belted Kingfishers, 21 Hermit Thrush, 82 American Robins, 98 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 291 White-throated Sparrows, and 288 Dark-eyed Juncos.
Month Bird Report: (Non CBC):
Greater White-fronted Geese were found in five counties with a peak of 16 noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/25 (ebird DC,DL). Snow Geese were also tallied in five counties with a peak of 70 found at Big Creek Lake in Delta county on 12/22 (DB). Single Ross’s Geese were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 12/24 (ebird CW), RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/25 (ebird DC,DL) and at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 12/24 and 12/25 (ebird JH). Canada Geese were tallied in eight counties with a peak of 39 tallied in Corsicana in Navarro county on 12/9 (ebird BW).
A Tundra Swan was found in Red River county on 12/22 (DB) and noted also on 12/23 (DB,LB) and on 12/26 (DS). Two Blue-winged Teal were found at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 12/8 (ebird LP), while six were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/25 (ebird DC,DL). Other than CBC’s four Red-breasted Mergansers were tallied at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 12/5 (m.ob), and one was noted at Lake Wright Patman in Cass county on 12/23 (DB,LB).
The only two Eared Grebes were tallied at Trinidad Lake on 12/31 in Henderson county (m.ob). A Western Grebe and a Pacific Loon (what a combination!) were found at Martin Creek State Park in Rusk county on 12/6 (ebird BC,GC,SG).
A Snowy Egret and Tricolored Heron first discovered by PH and DM on the Longview CBC were refound at Longview Wastewater Treatment Plant in Gregg county on 12/24 (ebird BC,GC,SG); while another Tricolored Heron was found on 12/25 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). A White Ibis was observed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 12/30 (ebird SH).
Two Virginia Rail were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/25 (ebird DC,DL). Six Lesser Yellowlegs were found with a Greater Yellowlegs for comparison in Rusk county on 12/6 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Three American Woodcocks were noted at Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county on 12/29 and 12/30 (ebird CL).
Franklin’s Gulls were surprisingly common this December with two noted at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county from 12/5 thru 12/22 (m.ob). Two were in Hunt county on 12/26 (ebird DO). One Franklin’s Gull was at Lake Palestine in Cherokee county on 12/24 (ebird BC,SC,SG). While two other Franklin’s Gulls were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 12/25 (ebird BF). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 12/8 (ebird DH,RK,RR,CS).
The farthest eastern sighting of a White-winged Dove came from the Longview Wastewater Treatment Plant on 12/24 (ebird BC,GC,SG). The farthest eastern sighting of two Crested Caracaras came from Mt. Vernon in Franklin county on 12/20 (ebird BC,GC,SG). A Merlin was found at LTW in Rains county on 12/18 (ebird CL), while one was found at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 12/20 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Besides the Say’s Phoebe found on the RC WMA CBC, another Say’s Phoebe was found in Red River county on 12/26 (DS). The male Vermilion Flycatcher that was found in October in Morris county made the month (BF).
An amazing flock of 126 Fish Crows were tallied flying to roost in Lamar county on 12/10 (DH,CS). Three Horned Larks were tallied in Red River county on 12/23 (DB,LB). Besides the swallows that were tallied on the RC WMA CBC, a Barn Swallow was noted at LTW in Rains county on 12/8 (ebird RK). Tallied in three counties a peak of four Sedge Wrens were tallied at Caddo Lake NWR on 12/29 and 12/30 (ebird CL). Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were reported from three counties with a peak of two noted at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 12/4 (ebird MB). An outstanding number of 13 Sprague’s Pipits were found in Lamar county on 12/10 (DH,CS). A Lapland Longspur was noted at LTW in Rains county on 12/8 (ebird RK). Forty-five Smith’s Longspurs were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 12/8, while 22 Smith’s Longspurs were tallied in Lamar county on 12/10 (DH,CS).
Three Le Conte’s Sparrows were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 12/8 (ebird RK). The farthest eastern Western Meadowlarks were reported from Hopkins county on 12/21 (ebird SC). Found in three counties the max of 20 Rusty Blackbirds were found at Lake Tyler on 12/6 (ebird EV). Purple Finches were found in five different counties with no more than three noted (m.ob). Found in several counties the peak of 100 Pine Siskins were tallied at Tyler State Park on 12/9 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Cass Co.: Lake Wright Patman Cherokee Co.: Lake Palestine Delta Co.: Big Creek Lake Franklin Co.: Mt. Vernon Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Wastewater Treatment Plant Harrison Co.: Caddo National Wildlife Refuge Henderson Co.: Trinidad Lake Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Corsicana Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Rusk Co.: Martin Creek State Park Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Lake Tyler Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni
For You eBirders:
All twenty-six NETFO counties had tallies of at least 120 species for the year. The top counties were Freestone with 222, Van Zandt with 217 and Hunt with 213. The lowest three counties were Cass with 123, Bowie with 131 and Red River with 135. The median number of species recorded for the 26 counties was 160.5, with an average of 167.3. Red River is the only county with less than 200 species overall with 199 species recorded in ebird. Get out there and bird!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - November 2015 by David Brotherton
Wow! November had some neat sightings. How about Long-tailed Jaeger, Cackling Geese, Pacific Loon, Long-tailed Ducks, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Vermilion Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole and Chestnut-collared Longspur. Read on! Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
November had single sightings of four types of geese. Twenty-five Greater White-fronted Geese were found in Delta county on 11/1 (ebird EJ). Forty Snow Geese were observed flying over Lake O’ Pines in Upshur county on 11/7 (DB,BE,ME,HK). Twenty Cackling Geese were reported from LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/22 (ebird AM). And the reliable Ross’s Goose was tallied at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Canada Geese were reported from six counties with a peak of seventy reported from Henderson county on 11/27 (ebird DC,DL).
The first two Canvasback of the fall for the NETFO area came from TXE in Harrison county on 11/4 (DB,ME). The first Greater Scaup was found at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Two flying Long-tailed Ducks were described from LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/22 (ebird AM). The first two Hooded Mergansers were noted at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 11/14 (ebird SB). The first three Red-breasted Mergansers were noted at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus/Camp county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG).
A Pacific Loon was observed at TXE on 11/25 (DB,ME). The first six Common Loons were tallied at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 11/7 (DB,BE,ME,HK). The lone two Horned Grebes were reported from Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). The first Eared Grebes of the season were noted in two places on 11/22, LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird AM), and at Lake Palestine in Smith county (ebird HH). Two Neotropic Cormorants were east of normal at TXE on 11/4 (DB,ME). The sole Anhinga for the period was reported from Caddo Lake State Park in Harrison county on 11/8 (ebird CR). The biggest group of American White Pelicans reported during the period was 300 tallied at Richland Creek in Freestone county on 11/27 (ebird DC,DL).
The lone Snowy Egret for the period and the last Cattle Egret of the season were reported from Caddo Lake State Park on 11/8 (ebird CR). Four White-faced Ibis were also noted at Caddo Lake State Park on 11/8, while forty were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/27 (ebird DC,LF,DL).
The sole Sora for the month was reported from Trinidad Lake in Henderson county on 11/27 (ebird DC,LF,DL). Four American Avocets were photographed at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 11/10 (ebird KT), while 11 were tallied at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Two Black-bellied Plovers were tallied at Lake Bob Sandlin in both Titus and Camp county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). Seven Dunlin and three Pectoral Sandpipers were noted at a wet spot in Hunt county on 11/22 (ebird JG).
A wow Long-tailed Jaeger was observed flying around LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/24 (ebird RR, fide RK). One Franklin’s Gull was reported from the month and it came from LTW State Park on 11/14 (ebird SB). The first Herring Gull of the season was reported from Lake Cypress Springs on 11/15 (ebird BC,SC,SG). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/22 (ebird AM). A Caspian Tern found at LTW in Hunt county on 11/21 was one of the farthest inland sightings for the the month (ebird MH).
A surprise to me, the farthest east sighting of Eurasian Collared-Dove came from Hunt county. And another surprise, only one report of three Inca Doves found in Rusk county on 11/1 (ebird BM). The only Greater Roadrunner report came from Big Creek Lake in Delta county on 11/13 (ebird KP). A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird stayed in Daingerfield in Morris county until 11/21 (DB,LB). I was surprised how few times a day we would see the bird at the hummingbird feeder. The first frost came on 11/22, we woke up pre-dawn and changed the feed out in the feeder. We waited like we were waiting for a teenager to come home. The bird either decided it was too cold to stick around or it was too cold to have stuck around.
A Crested Caracara was found a little farther east than normal when it was discovered in Camp county on 11/15 (ebird BC,SC,SG). A Peregrine Falcon was found at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 11/15 (ebird BC,SC,SG). A male Vermilion Flycatcher spent the month in Morris county (BF,SF). The last Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was reported from Camp county on 11/15 (ebird BC,SC,SG). The first Blue-headed Vireo was reported from Lake Tyler in Smith county on 11/9 (ebird RN). Up to three Fish Crows were tallied at TXE on 11/25 (DB,ME). The sole three Rough-winged Swallows were tallied at Tyler State Park on 11/3 (ebird BS). The last three Tree Swallows were found at Trinidad Lake on 11/27 (ebird DC,LF,DL).
A Sedge Wren was reported from Navarro county on 11/25 (ebird WS). A Marsh Wren was found in Delta county on 11/1 (ebird EJ), and another Marsh Wren was found at Clymer Meadow Preserve in Hunt county on 11/19 (ebird GB). Single Gray Catbirds were found at Caddo State Park on 11/8 (ebird CR), and in Franklin county on 11/15 (ebird BC,SC,SG). The first dozen Cedar Waxwings were found at Tyler State Park on 11/12 (ebird BS). Four Chestnut-collared Longspurs were found on 11/1 in Delta county (ebird EJ). A Common Yellowthroat was found in Delta county on 11/1 (ebird EJ), and another Common Yellowthroat was reported at Trinidad Lake on 11/27 (ebird DC,LF,DL).
The first two Fox Sparrows of the fall were tallied in Delta county on 11/1 (ebird EJ). The Clymer Meadow Preserve was the only location reporting Harris’s Sparrows with the first three found on 11/19 (ebird GB). The only Spotted Towhee report came from Purtis Creek State Park in Van Zandt county on 11/28 (ebird GeB). A female Baltimore Oriole visited a bird bath three times during the passage of a cold front on 11/21 in Smith county (MB). The first Rusty Blackbird was reported from Franklin county on 11/15 (ebird BC,GC,SG). The first 100 Brewer’s Blackbirds were found on 11/21 in Van Zandt county on 11/21 (ebird MH). The first six Pine Siskins of the fall were reported from Tyler State Park on 11/23 (ebird MS).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Delta Co.: Big Creek Lake Franklin Co.: Lake Cypress Springs Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman, Caddo Lake State Park Henderson Co.: Trinidad Lake Hunt Co.: Lake Tawakani State Park, Clymer Meadow Preserve Marion Co.: Lake O’ Pines Morris Co.: Daingerfield Navarro Co.: Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Lake O’ Pines Van Zandt.: Lake Tawakani, Purtis Creek State Park
For You eBirders:
With the sighting of a Black-bellied Plover on 11/15, Camp county reached the 200 species overall mark in eBird. That leaves only Red River with 198 as the only county in NETFO that does not have 200 species overall. Good Luck Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - October 2015 by David Brotherton
Fall is upon us! Highlights include a Vermilion Flycatcher and Least Bitterns. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Fifteen Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (DC,DL,LF,BT), while four were tallied in Morris county on 10/18 (DB,LB,BF). The first 18 migrating Greater White-fronted Geese of the fall were observed in Smith county on 10/15 (ebird BS). Tallied in six counties the max of 80 Canada Geese came from Henderson county on 10/3 (ebird LBe). The first two American Wigeons of the fall were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/10 (PB). A Mottled Duck was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/5 (ebird CW). The first Ring-necked Duck of the fall came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/5 (ebird BFa). The first Lesser Scaup of the fall was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/3 (ebird DC,DL). The first Ruddy Ducks of the fall were reported from Henderson county on 10/19 (ebird MH,BT).
Up to 11 Wood Storks were reported at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB), while one Wood Stork was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (m.ob). Three Wood Storks were tallied at the Angelina River in Cherokee county on 10/4 (ebird GC,SG). A max of 540 Neotropic Cormorants were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (ebird DC,DL). Outside of RC, 80 Neotropic Cormorants were counted at Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 10/31 (DB,LB). An Anhinga was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (m.ob). Found in ten different counties the max of 200 American White Pelicans were tallied at Lake Wright Patman in Bowie county on 10/25 (ebird RP).
An American Bittern was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/3 (ebird DC,DL). A Least Bittern was found at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 10/4 (ebird JH). Two Least Bitterns were found at RC WMA in Freestonc county on 10/5 (ebird CW). Up to six Tricolored Herons were counted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). Thirteen Black-crowned Night-Herons were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found in Lamar county on 10/3 (ebird EJ). Another Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was observed at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (m.ob). White Ibis were restricted to RC WMA, with a max of 50 observed in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). Also restricted to RC, the max of 60 White-faced Ibis were tallied on 10/3 in Freestone county (PB,LBe,DS,EM). Up to three Roseate Spoonbills were found at RC WMA in Navarro county 10/10 (m.ob).
Found in at least nine counties during the month a max of 15 Ospreys were noted at Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 10/12 (ebird RK). Not many sightings for Broad-winged Hawk in October, with the latest being observed on 10/10 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird DC,LF,DL,BT). Two Swainson’s Hawks were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL).
Soras were found at RC WMA, with a max of seven noted on 10/3 (PB,LBe,DS,ET). Common Gallinules were found at RC WMA, with a max of six noted on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). While up to three Common Gallinules were tallied at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 10/3 (ebird JH).
A Black-necked Stilt was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB,LBe,DS,ET). An American Avocet was present at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB,LBe,DS,ET). While six American Avocets were tallied at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 10/29 (DB,LB). And 29 American Avocets were a fly over at Coleman Park in Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 10/31 (DB,LB). One of two sightings recorded in ebird in Texas for the month, an American Golden-Plover was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/5 (ebird CW). Reported from five counties during the month, the max of 20 Greater Yellowlegs was tallied from Lake Wright Patman at Clear Spring Park in Bowie county on 10/23 (ebird RP). Second highest were eight recorded from Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 10/29 (DB,LB).
Three Lesser Yellowlegs were recorded from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB). While a single Lesser Yellowlegs was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (m.ob). Two Stilt Sandpipers were found at Lake Wright Patman on 10/23 (ebird RP). The max of “peep” sandpipers was found on 10/23 at Lake Wright Patman with over a hundred birds. Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Western Sandpipers were all identified (ebird RP). A Western Sandpiper was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB,LBe,DS,ET). With a total of five sightings reported in ebird in Texas, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/3 was quite a find (PB,LBe,DS,ET). A Pectoral Sandpiper was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird LF,DL). Four Long-billed Dowitchers were found at Lake Striker in Cherokee county on 10/4 (ebird GC,SG), while a max of 14 were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL).
I have a belated report of a Laughing Gull that was photographed at Lakeside Park at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 3/10 (KT). 2100 Franklin’s Gulls were tallied at Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 10/31 (DB,LB). A Caspian Tern was found at Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 10/12 (ebird RK). Inca Doves were reported from two counties with a max of seven tallied in Kilgore in Rusk county on 10/29 (ebird PH). The farthest eastern White-winged Doves were reported from Kilgore in Rusk county when eight were found on 10/17 (ebird PH). The latest Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found in Cherokee county on 10/14 (ebird LW).
The only Common Nighthawk for the month was found in the early morning of 10/6 in Smith county (PB). One of the things Luanne and I do in October is listen to our chimney every night for Chimney Swifts to find out when their last night with us is. For the NETFO area the last record of Chimney Swifts came from Tyler State Park on 10/21 (ebird BS). The first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker for the fall was recorded in Camp county on 10/3 (ebird JH).
The only sighting of Crested Caracara in our area came from I-30 in Hunt county on 10/20 (ebird GH). This sighting of Crested Caracara was the farthest north sighting of the species this month recorded in ebird. A Peregrine Falcon was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,DL). A male Vermilion Flycatcher was in Morris county from 10/1 through 10/29 (BF). Photos were taken of the bird on 10/18 (DB,LB). The first three Blue-headed Vireos for the fall were tallied at Tyler State Park on 10/9 (ebird BS).
The latest date for Rough-winged Swallow came from Camp county on 10/4 (ebird JH). The late date for Tree Swallow came on 10/10 from several locations (m.ob). Fifteen Bank Swallows were recorded from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/5 (ebird CW). The last sighting of Barn Swallow came from Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 10/12 (ebird RK), while an awesome number of 225 Barn Swallows were recorded at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). The only Cliff Swallow recorded in the area for the month came from RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,LF,DL). Cave Swallows were recorded from RC WMA, with a max of 100 found in Freestone county on 10/3 (PB,LBe,DS,ET).
The first-of-the-season Brown Creeper was found in Cherokee county on 10/14 (ebird LW). The first-of-the-season Winter Wren was located at Tyler State Park on 10/12 (ebird GB,SB). The farthest eastern recording in the US during the month for Bewick’s Wren was observed on 10/11 in Smith county (ebird GB,SB). The first Golden-crowned Kinglet of the fall was found at TXE in Harrison county on 10/22 (DB,ME). The first-of-the-fall Hermit Thrush was found at Tyler State Park on 10/20 (ebird BS). The first-of-the-fall, and only, recorded during the month, American Pipits were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/3 (ebird DC,DL).
An American Redstart and a Tennessee Warbler were found in Lamar county on 10/3 (ebird EJ). Three Nashville Warblers were tallied at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 10/2 (ebird MB), while one Nashville Warbler was observed in Henderson county on 10/4 (ebird LBe). And the last-of-the-fall Nashville Warbler was found at Tyler State Park on 10/9 (ebird BS). A Palm Warbler was reported from Atlanta in Cass county on 10/3 and 10/31 (ebird DD). The first-of-the-fall Yellow-rumped Warblers came from Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 10/10 (ebird MB).
The first-of-the-fall Field Sparrow was tallied at Tyler State Park on 10/21 (ebird BS). The first Dark-eyed Junco was found in Morris county on 10/15 (LB). The first White-crowned Sparrow was observed at the Ferndale Club on 10/17 (ebird JH). While the first White-throated Sparrow was tallied in Henderson county on 10/17 (ebird LBe). The first three Vesper Sparrows were found in Upshur county on 10/28 (ebird SF). The first Savannah Sparrows were found at RC WMA on 10/10 (m.ob). The earliest Song Sparrow was located at Lake Wright Patman in Bowie county on 10/25 (ebird RP). The first Swamp Sparrow was found at Lake Striker on 10/4 (ebird GC,SG). The earliest five Lincoln’s Sparrows were reported from RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/3 (ebird DC,DL). The first Eastern Towhee of the fall was reported from Tyler State Park on 10/28 (ebird BS).
Maybe the last Summer Tanager for the year was seen at Tyler State Park on 10/9 (ebird BS). Perhaps the latest Indigo Bunting of the year was found in Henderson county on 10/27 (ebird LBe). The sole Western Meadowlark reported for the month came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/31 (ebird DC,DL). The only Baltimore Oriole for the month was found at Tyler State Park on 10/9 (ebird BS). The first American Goldfinch of the fall was reported from Lamar county on 10/3 (ebird EJ).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Clear Springs Park - Lake Wright Patman Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Cass Co.: Atlanta Cherokee Co.: Angelina River, Lake Striker Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake, Coleman Park Sulphur Springs Hunt Co.: I-30 Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: Lakeside Park - Lake O’ the Pines Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake, Bellwood Lake Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.:
Northeast Texas Bird Report - September 2015 by David Brotherton
Migration is upon us. Highlights include a Swallow-tailed Kite, American Bitterns and Roseate Spoonbills. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Found in three counties during the month, the peak of 30 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were counted at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 9/12 (ebird GC,SG). The first four Snow Geese of the fall were noted in Henderson county on 9/23 (ebird LBe). Reported in four counties the peak of 30 Canada Geese were tallied in Wood county on 9/13 (ebird GC,SG). The only two Gadwall reported during the month were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/7 (ebird DC,DL). Reported in eight counties, the peak of 200 Blue-winged Teal were tallied in Delta county on 9/12 (ebird EJ). The sole Northern Pintail was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). The only reported sighting of Green-winged Teal came from Delta county where 15 were tallied on 9/12 (ebird EJ). Single Redheads were noted at RC WMA on 9/5 (ebird DC,DL,BT,BW) and at Lake Palestine in Smith county on 9/7 (ebird OA),
A Northern Bobwhite was reported from Smith county on 9/6 (ebird MA). Wood Storks were reported throughout the month at RC WMA, with a high of 76 tallied on 9/2 in Navarro county (ebird BTo). Outside of RC, Wood Storks were spotted in Henderson county on 9/4 (ebird LBe), and on 9/9 (ebird BT). A Wood Stork was also spotted on Lake O’ Pines in Morris county on 9/23 (LB). Anhingas were restricted to RC WMA with a high of four noted in Navarro county on 9/2 (ebird BTo).
An American Bittern was photographed at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/2 (ebird MB). Another American Bittern was tallied at LTW in Rains county on 9/11 (ebird RK). Tricolored Herons were noted on several dates at RC WMA, with a max of seven noted in Freestone county on 9/12 (ebird LW,RW). Away from RC, the only Tricolored Heron reported came from Delta county on 9/12 (ebird EJ). Fifteen Black-crowned Night-Herons were reported from RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (PB), while one was found in Henderson county on 9/29 (ebird LBe). Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were reported from four counties with a max of eight tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (ebird DC,DL). Found in four counties the max of 137 White Ibis were tallied on 9/5 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). Found in five counties, the max of 77 White-faced Ibis’s were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/20 (ebird LBu). Roseate Spoonbills were reported on three dates during the month at RC WMA, with a peak of 20 noted on 9/5 in Navarro county (ebird BW). Outside of RC the only Roseate Spoonbill was reported from Henderson county on 9/29 (ebird DE).
Noted in seven counties the peak of three Ospreys were totaled at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 9/12 (ebird GC,SG) and at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 9/27 (ebird RK). Last month’s Swallow-tailed Kite was relocated on 9/2 in Van Zandt county (DO). Mississippi Kites faded out of the area in early September with the last sighting being eight found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). 125 Broad-winged Hawks were observed flying over Lake Bob Sandlin in both Camp and Titus county on 9/12 (ebird GC,SG). An observer had 132 Broad-winged Hawks fly by Daingerfield State Park in Morris county on 9/23 (LB). Two Swainson’s Hawks were tallied in Navarro county on 9/7, while one Swainson’s Hawk was observed at Pleasant Acres Lake is Smith county on 9/8 (PB,JC).
One Sora and a Common Gallinule were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (m.ob), while another Sora was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/12 (ebird LW,RW). While five Common Gallinules were tallied at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 9/14 (ebird JH). Black-necked Stilts were restricted to RC WMA with a max of 95 tallied in Freestone county on 9/2 (ebird MB). American Avocets were observed on many dates at RC WMA with a max of 32 tallied in Freestone county on 9/7 (ebird DC,DL). Outside of RC WMA, their was one sighting of four American Avocets at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 9/26 (DB,LB). The m.ob observed a Black-bellied Plover at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/5. Noted on three dates at RC, the max of four Semipalmated Plovers was tallied in Navarro county on 9/5 (ebird DC,DL). Noted on several dates the max of five Solitary Sandpipers were tallied on 9/5 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird BSa). Restricted to RC, the max of 50 Lesser Yellowlegs was tallied on 9/6 in Freestone county (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). A Marbled Godwit was observed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/5 (EW fide PB).
An Upland Sandpiper was recorded in Henderson county on 9/4 (ebird DC,DL), while another Upland Sandpiper was reported from Hunt county on 9/8 (ebird SHa). Stilt Sandpipers were also restricted to RC WMA with a max of four tallied on 9/5 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). Five Baird’s Sandpipers were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). Found in eight counties the peak of 100 Least Sandpipers were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (ebird CH,SL,JR,ST). Restricted to RC WMA, the peak of five Semipalmated Sandpipers was tallied on 9/20 in Freestone county (ebird TH). Found in three counties the peak of 10 Western Sandpipers was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/2 (ebird BTo). Restricted to RC WMA the max of 20 Long-billed Dowitchers were tallied on 9/5 (ebird PB,DC,DL,BW). Found in three counties the max of three Wilson’s Snipes were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (ebird PB,DC,DL). Wilson’s Phalaropes were recorded on 9/5 and 9/6 at RC WMA with a meager max of two on 9/5 in Freestone county (m.ob).
Restricted to RC WMA, the max of 85 Black Terns was tallied on 9/2 in Freestone county (ebird BTo). The farthest eastern White-winged Dove was recorded in Rusk county (ebird PH). Piling up throughout the month the max of forty Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were tallied in Kilgore in Rusk county on 9/18 (ebird PH). Almost as high, 36 were tallied at LTW Cedar Cove in Rains county on 9/2 (ebird RK). Noted in three counties the farthest east Crested Caracara was tallied on 9/5 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The sole Peregrine Falcon reported during the month came from Daingerfield State Park on 9/23 (LB). The sole Merlin reported during the month came from Henderson county on 9/27 (ebird DC,DL).
An Alder Flycatcher was reported from Navarro county on 9/10 (ebird WS). A Least Flycatcher was reported on several dates at LTW State Park (ebird RK), while two Least Flycatchers were tallied in Smith county on 9/4 (ebird MB). The latest Eastern Kingbird was reported in Camp county on 9/14 (ebird JH). Always a neat find, a Bell’s Vireo was found at Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS). The last date for Yellow-throated Vireo was recorded on 9/13 in Camp county (ebird GC,SG). A Warbling Vireo was found on 9/10 at West Tawakoni City Park in Hunt county (ebird RK). While another Warbling Vireo was tallied at Pleasant Acres Lake on 9/29 (ebird MB). Bank Swallows were restricted to RC WMA with a max of 11 noted on 9/5 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). Last month it was noted that no Cliff Swallows were reported east of Sulphur Springs, this month none were noted east of Lake Tawakoni State Park. Fourteen Cave Swallows were reported from Titus county on 9/12 (ebird GC,SG).
The first House Wren of the fall was recorded on 9/27 at LTW State Park (ebird RK), while the first Marsh Wren was recorded on 9/10 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS). The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet also came from Tyler State Park, with a first date of 9/25 (ebird BS). A Gray Catbird was tallied on 9/29 at Pleasant Acres Lake (PB). The sole Louisiana Waterthrush tallied during the month came from Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS). A Northern Waterthrush was found at LTW State Park on 9/2 (ebird RK). Two Northern Waterthrushes were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (ebird m.ob), while two other Northern Waterthrushes were found at Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS). And still another Northern Waterthrush was found in Titus county on 9/12 (ebird GC,SG). The sole Prothonotary Warbler was reported from LTW State Park on 9/5 (ebird RK,AL). The lone Tennessee Warbler report came from Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS). The earliest and lone Orange-crowned Warbler report came from Delta county on 9/12 (ebird EJ). Nashville Warblers were reported from five counties with a max of no more than two birds reported (m.ob).
Mourning Warblers were reported from three counties with a max of two noted at Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS), and also two were noted at LTW State Park on 9/11 (ebird RK). Reported from six counties the max of 12 Yellow Warblers was tallied at LTW State Park on 9/2 (ebird RK). Two Prairie Warblers were reported from Tyler State Park on 9/12 (ebird CN). A Black-throated Green Warbler was found in Smith county on 9/8 (PB), while another Black-throated Green Warbler was tallied at LTW State Park on 9/27 (ebird RK). Two Canada Warblers were reported from Tyler State Park on 9/10 (ebird BS), while another Canada Warbler was found in Henderson county on 9/27 (ebird LBe). Found in six counties the max of four Wilson’s Warblers was reported from Pleasant Acres Lake on 9/25 (ebird MB).
One of the largest numbers I remember in the NETFO area, 27 Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found in Van Zandt county on 9/18 (ebird DO). Making a quick retreat south, the only two Orchard Orioles reported came from RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/5 (ebird PB,DC,DL,BW). Reported from five counties the last Baltimore Oriole was tallied on 9/19 in Henderson county (ebird LBe).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: LBS Lake Bob Sandlin, Ferndale Club Delta Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Henderson Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Tawakoni State Park, West Tawakoni City Park Morris Co.: Lake O’ Pines, Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Cedar Cove Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Lake Tyler, Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake, Lake Palestine Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park Wood Co.: Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni
For You Ebirders:
For 2014 the lowest county in NETFO had records for 120 species, with Camp county going up to 121. For 2015 all NETFO counties are above the 120 plateau.
Hope you have Great Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - August 2015 by David Brotherton
Birds started moving during the month. Highlights include a Swallow-tailed Kite, a Laughing Gull and Roseate Spoonbills. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Found in four counties during the month, the peak of 25 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were counted at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 8/29 (DB,LB). Tallied in seven different counties during the month the high of 41 Canada Geese were found in Camp county on 8/29 (DB,LB). Seven Gadwall were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL), while seven Gadwall were noted at the same location on 8/26 (ebird MB), and six were found in RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/26 (ebird MB). The earliest fall Blue-winged Teal was tallied at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 8/21 (PB). The earliest dozen Northern Shovelers were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/21 (ebird SH). Six Northern Pintails and twelve Green-winged Teal were found at LTW in Rains county on 8/27 (ebird RK). A Canvasback that appears to have over summered at Lake O’ Pines was relocated on 8/21 (PB).
A Pied-billed Grebe was tallied at Tyler State Park in Smith county on 8/26 (ebird BS), and one was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/29 (ebird JR). The NETFO high of 45 Wood Storks were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL), while away from RC a pair of Wood Storks were found in Bowie county on 8/6 (DB,LB). The farthest east three Neotropic Cormorants were found at Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county on 8/14 (DB). An Anhinga was found at RC WMA in Navarro county, while two were noted at the same location in Freestone county all on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL). While a sole Anhinga was found on Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 8/24 and 8/27 (ebird MB). Noted in four counties, the max of 185 American White Pelicans was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL).
Restricted to RC WMA, the max of three Tricolored Herons were tallied on 8/23 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). The sole Black-crowned Night-Heron was noted in Henderson county on 8/15 (ebird LBe). Single Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were tallied in five different counties (m.ob). Found in five counties the peak of 100 White Ibis was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL). Found in three counties during the month, a peak of a dozen White-faced Ibis were tallied in Van Zandt county on 8/30 (ebird DO). The sole pair of Roseate Spoonbills were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL).
An Osprey was found at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK), while another Osprey was located at Lake Bob Sandlin on 8/29 (DB,LB). A Swallow-tailed Kite was reported from Van Zandt county on 8/25 (DO). Found in 14 different counties the max of 22 Mississippi Kites were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). An unusual Northern Harrier was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/26 (ebird MB). Almost as unusual, a Sharp-shinned Hawk was tallied on 8/18 in Henderson county (ebird LBe). A Cooper’s Hawk was found in Camp county on 8/11 (DB,LB), while another Cooper’s Hawk was found at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 8/22 (ebird PB). Found in four different counties a max of two adult Bald Eagles were seen at TXE in Harrison county on 8/23 (DB). The single Broad-winged Hawk reported in the month came from Cass county on 8/1 (ebird PB,KT).
A Sora was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL). The sole American Coot was reported from Lake Bob Sandlin on 8/29 (DB,LB). Black-necked Stilts were restricted to RC WMA, with a max of 15 noted on 8/23 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). The max at RC WMA of American Avocets was tallied on 8/23 with 19 birds reported (ebird DC,DL). Outside of RC, the sole report of American Avocets came from LTW in Rains county on 8/26 where four birds were found (ebird RK). A total of four Solitary Sandpipers were tallied in Marion county on 8/21 (PB). A pair of Lesser Yellowlegs were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL) and on 8/29 (ebird JR), while a Lesser Yellowlegs was found on LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). The only Upland Sandpipers were tallied from LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK) where a dozen were counted (ebird RK).
Five Baird’s Sandpipers were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/26 (ebird MB), while two were tallied at Lake Bob Sandlin on 8/29 (DB,LB). Found in nine different counties, the max of 50 Least Sandpipers came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL). The sole Pectoral Sandpiper came from Lake Bob Sandlin on 8/29 (DB,LB). The sole Buff-breasted Sandpiper was noted at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). Tallied in four counties the max of four Semipalmated Sandpipers was counted on 8/26 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Found in four counties the peak of two Western Sandpipers were tallied on 8/23 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL), while another pair were tallied on 8/29 at Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro county (ebird RS). Nine Long-billed Dowitchers were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL), while one was found at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). The sole Wilson’s Snipe for the region was located in Smith county on 8/2 (ebird MB). Ten Wilson’s Phalaropes were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/21 (ebird SH), while one was found at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK).
A Laughing Gull was found at LTW, it was first located in Van Zandt county on 8/9 (ebird CL) and then found in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). Tallied in six counties, the max of 65 Ring-billed Gulls were counted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/26 (ebird RK). The lone Herring Gull for the region was noted on 8/29 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird CL). A Least Tern was noted at Cooper Lake State Park in Delta county on 8/1 (DB,LB), while another was noted at LTW in Van Zandt and Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). A Caspian Tern was found at Cooper Lake State Park in Delta county on 8/1 (DB,LB), while two Caspian Terns were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). Black Terns were tallied in nine different counties during the month with a max of 350 tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (ebird DC,DL). Forster’s Terns were noted in six counties during the month with a max of 250 noted at LTW in Hunt county on 8/27 (ebird RK).
The eastern most White-winged Dove for the month came from Rusk county on several dates during the month (ebird PH). High School Football has started! The only observation of Common Nighthawks came from Wills Point High School Football Stadium in Van Zandt county when two were found flying around during the game on 8/28 (ebird AC). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds really started packing into some observers feeders by the end of the month, with a max of 30 birds reported from Kilgore in Rusk county on 8/30 (PH). The sole Northern Flicker report came from Lake O’ Pines on 8/21 in Marion county (PB).
August 26th was Crested Caracara Day! One Crested Caracara was found at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK), while two were photographed at RC WMA in Navarro county on the same day (ebird MB). A pair of American Kestrels were reported from Hopkins county on 8/25 (ebird MB), while one was found at TXE in Harrison county on 8/27 (ME). One observer had two Least Flycatchers on 8/26 at RC WMA in Freestone county, and the same observer had three Least Flycatchers on 8/29 at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county (ebird MB). An Olive-sided Flycatcher was tallied at Lake O’ Pines on 8/21 (PB,KT), while one was noted at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park on 8/29 (DB,LB). The eastern most Western Kingbird was reported from Bowie county on 8/22 (ebird ACh). The only report of Yellow-throated Vireos came from Old Sabine Bottom WMA in Smith county when seven were reported on 8/28 (ebird MB).
Tallied in five counties the max of 19 Fish Crows were tallied at TXE on 8/27 (ME). Tree Swallows were reported from Cooper Lake State Park in Delta county on 8/1 (DB,LB), Hopkins county on 8/25 (ebird MB), and a pair of Tree Swallows were reported at LTW in Rains county on 8/26 (ebird RK). Noticed more by their absence, Cliff Swallows were not reported east of Sulphur Springs during the month. While two Cave Swallows were reported from Marion county on 8/22 (PB). August 22nd was Gray Catbird Day! One was reported from Henderson county (ebird DL), while another Gray Catbird was noted at TXE (ME). The sole two Northern Waterthrushes were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/26 (ebird MB). The first nine Yellow Warblers were reported from Hopkins county on 8/14 (DB), while the max of 13 Yellow Warblers were tallied from RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/26 (ebird MB). Mostly void from the area a Dickcissel came to visit a feeder in Rusk county on 8/7 (PH). A total of four Baltimore Orioles were reported from Henderson county on 8/21 (ebird LBe), while sole Baltimore Orioles were reported from Smith county on 8/29 (ebird MB) and in Camp county on the same date (DB).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Cass Co.: Delta Co.: Cooper Lake State Park Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake State Park Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Marion Co.: Lake O’ Pines Navarro Co.: Richland Chambers Reservoir, RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Lake Tyler, Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake, Old Sabine Bottoms WMA Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Will’s Point High School
For You Ebirders:
A total of 170 checklists were turned in during the month, with a tally of 156 species. In the NETFO area there are two counties with less than 120 birds for the year. Those are Delta and Cass county with 119 species.
Hope you have Great Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - June/July 2015 by David Brotherton
What a change in weather! We went from rain every day to no rain in sight and 100 degree days in just a blink. Lakes are full; shore birding should be a challenge this fall. I was very pleased that many got out and birded during these usually slow months. Highlights include a Hermit Thrush, Tricolored Herons, and American Avocets. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Special Quiz: What are the eleven most common birds observed during June and July? Answer below in “For You Ebirders” section.
Found in six counties during the month, the peak of six Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were tallied in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 7/25 (ebird RK). Counted in ten different counties during the month, the peak of 57 Canada Geese were tallied at TXE in Harrison county on 6/24 (DB,ME). A male Canvasback was photographed on Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 6/24 (KT). A pair of Gadwall appeared to have spent the summer TXE in Harrison county 6/30 (DB,ME)
Two Northern Bobwhite were reported at Echo Springs Blueberry Farm in Henderson county on 6/14 (ebird NB), while three seen Northern Bobwhites surprised observers on 7/4, a half-mile from home in Morris County. Several attempts to relocate/hear them failed (DB,LB). A Wild Turkey was found at Cooper Lake in Delta county on 6/3 (ebird DP). Wood Storks were noted first at RC WMA in Freestone county when six were found on 6/18 (ebird WS). Fifty Wood Storks were tallied at the same location on 7/26 (ebird DL).
The sole Pied-billed Grebe was noted on a pond in Titus county on 7/25 (DB,LB). Neotropic Cormorants were found in six counties with the farthest to the east being three found at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 7/5 (ebird GC,SG). Single Anhingas were noted in Marion county on 7/11 (PB), and at Lake O‘ Pines on 7/13 (ebird KT), while two Anhingas were found at Hope Springs Lake in Harrison county on 6/25 (LP). American White Pelicans were noted in six counties during the period, with a max of ten noted at Lake Fork in Wood county on 6/12 (ebird BrS).
About four days in June created the trifecta of sightings of Tricolored Herons for the period. The first Tricolored Heron was noted at Cedar Creek WMA in Henderson county on 6/23 (ebird LBe). While 6/27 was the date for the other two sightings, one at Caddo Lake in Harrison county (ebird DJ), while the last Tricolored Heron was noted in Morris county (ebird MM). The only sighting of Black-crowned Night-Herons was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/26 when eight were tallied (ebird DL). Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were found in five counties during the period with a max of seven tallied at White Oak WMA in Morris county on 7/21 (DB,LB). The only White Ibis sighting came from RC WMA in Freestone county when a dozen were tallied on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL). Two Roseate Spoonbills were reported on 6/18 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird WS).
An Osprey was noted at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 6/26 (ebird JH). Another Osprey was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL). Two Ospreys were tallied at LOP on 7/24, one in Morris county and one in Upshur county (DB,LB). A late Sharp-shinned Hawk was tallied on 6/3 and 6/6 in Henderson county (ebird LBe). Cooper’s Hawks were tallied in five different counties during the period (m.ob). A Bald Eagle was found at Fairfield Lake State Park in Freestone county on 6/13 (ebird JS). Another Bald Eagle was sighted at Lake Palestine in Smith county on 6/18 (PB). An adult Bald Eagle was sighted three times during the period from 6/24 till 7/30 at TXE (DB). Broad-winged Hawks were found in five different counties during the period (m.ob). The sole sighting of Swainson’s Hawk came from Farmersville in Hunt county on 6/20 (ebird MP).
Six American Coots were tallied at Lake O’ Pines in Upshur county on 6/17 (ebird MMa); while a single American Coot was found at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 7/24 (DB,LB). Eighteen American Avocets were tallied at Lakeside Park at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county on 7/31 (PB,KT). A Semipalmated Plover was photographed on 7/24 at Lakeside Park (DB,LB). Two Spotted Sandpipers were tallied at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 7/25 (DB,LB), while four Spotted Sandpipers were found at Lakeside Park on 7/24 (DB,LB) and were still present on 7/31 (PB,KT). A Willet was found at TXE on 6/3 (ME). Four Least Sandpipers were at Lakeside Park on 7/24 (DB,LB), while three were there on 7/31 (PB,KT). A Western Sandpiper was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL), and another one was at Lakeside Park on 7/24 (DB,LB).
Two Least Terns were observed at Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro county on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL), while Least Terns were observed on several dates at RC WMA in Freestone county, with a max of a dozen noted on 6/18 (ebird WS). The only sighting of Black Terns came from Richland Chambers Reservoir when a half-dozen were noted there on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL). Three Forster’s Terns were noted at Richland Chambers Reservoir on 7/5 (ebird DC,DL), while two Forster’s Terns were noted at Lakeside Park on Lake O’ Pines on 7/31 (PB,KT), and six were at LTW in Van Zandt county on the same date (ebird RK).
White-winged Doves were reported from four counties with the farthest east coming from Daingerfield City Park in Morris county on 7/22 (DB). Good to see, Greater Roadrunners were reported from nine different counties during the period (m.ob). Common Nighthawks just disappear in north-east Texas during the summer. There were three sightings of Common Nighthawks during the period with last one being 6/8 in Camp county (ebird JHe). Two locations reported Northern Flicker during the period, one at Lake Palestine in Smith county on 6/18 (PB), and another in Kilgore in Rusk county on 7/26 and 7/30 (ebird PH).
There were four sightings in two counties of Crested Caracara, with the farthest eastern sighting coming from Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 7/25 (ebird RK). The 2nd was American Kestrel Day! On 6/2 an American Kestrel was observed in Van Zandt county and again on 7/2 at the same location (ebird KTu). While also on 7/2 an American Kestrel was reported from Camp county (DB,LB). Acadian Flycatchers were reported from four counties with the farthest west being found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 7/27 (ebird RK). The farthest eastern Western Kingbird during the period turned out to be a first county record in Morris county on 7/10 (DB,LB).
Once very common during the summer, a total of four sightings of Loggerhead Shrike were reported during the period. Fish Crows were reported from several counties with the farthest western sighting coming from Lake Crockett in Fannin county (ebird ND,KW). The sole Horned Lark reported in the area came from Delta county on 6/6 (DB). Reported in six counties, the peak of 25 Northern Rough-winged Swallows were tallied in Camp county on 7/25 (DB,LB), and not far behind 23 were tallied in Lamar county on 7/12 (ebird EJ). Reported in five counties the peak of a dozen Tree Swallows were tallied at Lake Fork in Wood county on 6/12 (ebird BrS). The sole Bank Swallow was observed in Henderson county on 6/19 (ebird LBe). Cave Swallows were restricted to LTW with a peak of a dozen noted on 7/27 in Van Zandt county (ebird RK).
A Bewick’s Wren was reported from Cooper Lake in Delta county on 6/3 (ebird DP), while one Bewick’s Wren was noted on three dates in July in Van Zandt county (ebird DO). Probably the bird of the period, a well described Hermit Thrush was noted in Henderson county on 7/25 (ebird DL). Noted in four counties the peak of five Wood Thrush were tallied at Daingerfield State Park on 7/26 (DB). While the farthest western Wood Thrush noted in Texas (or Oklahoma for that matter) during the period came from Henderson county on 7/6 (ebird LBe). The sole Gray Catbird for the area was reported on 6/9 and 7/24 at residence in Marshall in Harrison county (ebird TA). The sole Louisiana Waterthrush reported came from Camp county on 7/6 (ebird GC,SG). The only two Swainson’s Warblers noted came from Camp county on 7/6 (ebird GC,SG). The sole Baltimore Oriole was reported from Lake Bonham on 6/15 (ebird ND,KW). A lingering pair of American Goldfinches were tallied on 6/2 in Van Zandt county (ebird KTu).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Delta Co.: Cooper Lake Fannin Co.: Lake Bonham State Park, Lake Crockett Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Fairfield Lake State Park Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman, Hope Springs Lake, Caddo Lake, Marshall Henderson Co.: Cedar Creek WMA, Echo Springs Blueberry Farm Hunt Co.: Farmersville Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: Lake O’ Pines, Lakeside Park Morris Co.: White Oak WMA, Daingerfield City Park, Lake O’ Pines, Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: Richland Chambers Reservoir Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Lake O’ Pines Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood Wood Co.: Lake Fork
For You Ebirders:
In the NETFO area there are three counties with less than 120 birds for the year. Those are Delta with 115 species, Cass and Bowie. Over 143 species were reported during the period. There were over 300 checklists turned in during the period, 200 of them had Northern Cardinal on it, 165 Northern Mockingbird, 148 had American Crow and Mourning Dove, 147 had Carolina Chickadee, 141 had Blue Jay, 127 had Tufted Titmouse, 125 had Turkey Vulture, 113 had Eastern Bluebird, 112 had Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and 110 of those checklists had Red-bellied Woodpecker on them.
Hope you have Great Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - May 2015 by David Brotherton
Record amounts of rainfall with constant storms, caused some real bizarre things such as a Booby being found on Lake O’ Pines and fallouts of passerines better than High Island. On the other hand - Shorebird habitat? What’s that? My best shorebirds came from cattle lots. Other highlights for the May NETFO report was a Black-headed Grosbeak, Lesser Goldfinches, Least Bitterns, Glossy Ibis, a Black-billed Cuckoo, and two Scarlet Tanager reports and Bobolinks! Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results, and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Found in ten counties during the month, the peak of six Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were tallied in Van Zandt county on 5/14 (ebird RK). Found in nine different counties the peak of 34 Canada Geese were tallied in Camp county on 5/24 (DB,LB). A Mottled Duck was found at Lake Fork in Wood county on 5/12 (ebird RK). A late pair of Hooded Mergansers were found at TXE in Harrison county on 5/19 (ebird ME).
Fourteen Wild Turkeys were tallied in Lamar county on 5/16 (ebird RW). A single Wild Turkey was found in Red River county on 5/17 (LM). Found in three counties the peak of four Northern Bobwhites were tallied at the Sabine Mine Company area in Harrison county on 5/25 (ebird MO,LZ). A late Common Loon was found at Bonham State Park in Fannin county on 5/9 (ebird GC,SG).
In a very bizarre event during the month a juvenile Booby, I believe a juvenile Brown Booby (although I could be real wrong), appeared to have clipped a power-line and jolted himself to a halt below a power line, where the bird was photographed. The bird shortly “disappeared” and was not refound. This happened at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county around 5/13 (KO). The pictures were sent to the TBRC.
Anhingas were found in seven counties with a peak of four at Caddo Lake State Park in Harrison county (ebird MO,LZ). A Least Bittern was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/1 (ebird DP). While another Least Bittern was reported from Little Sandy Hunting Club in Wood county on 5/28 (CS et al). A Tricolored Heron was noted in both counties at RC WMA on 5/7 (PB). A Black-crowned Night-Heron was found on 5/6 at RC WMA on 5/6 (ebird WS). Found in five counties, the peak of two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were tallied at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 5/5 (ebird PB,CR) and two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were also found in Upshur county on 5/10 (ebird TC). White Ibis were found in three counties with a peak of 200 at Tyler State Park on 5/9 (ebird BS,BrS). Two adult Glossy Ibis were photographed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7 (PB). White-faced Ibis were restricted to RC WMA with a peak of 56 in Freestone county on 5/7 (PB). A Roseate Spoonbill was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/6 (ebird WS). Bald Eagles were found in a dozen counties during the month. Three Swainson’s Hawks were found in Fannin county on 5/9 (ebird GC,SG), while another Swainson’s Hawk was noted in Lamar county on 5/18 (ebird JK).
The only two Soras were tallied at the Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 5/12 (ebird RK). An American Avocet was found at LTW in Hunt county on 5/2 (ebird AP,JP). Black-necked Stilts were restricted to RC WMA with a max of 13 noted on 5/7 in Freestone county (PB). An American Golden-Plover was at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7, and one American Golden-Plover was found at White Oak WMA in Morris county on 5/10 (DB,LB). The solitary Solitary Sandpiper was located at LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/2 (ebird AP,JP). A Lesser Yellowlegs was found at White Oak WMA on 5/10 ( DB,LB), while 70 were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7 (PB). The only four Upland Sandpipers were found on 5/10 in Smith county (ebird DP). A Baird’s Sandpiper was found at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 5/17, and five were tallied at White Oak WMA on 5/10 (DB,LB). Found in four counties during the month, the peak of 30 White-rumped Sandpipers were tallied at LTW in Hunt county on 5/7 (ebird RK). Pectoral Sandpipers were found in four counties with a max of 15 tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7 (PB). Semipalmated Sandpipers were found in only three counties with a max of 16 tallied at TXE on 5/19 (ebird ME). The only two Western Sandpipers found during the month were discovered at Lake Gilmer on 5/17 (DB,LB). Four Willets were found at Lake Gibbons in Lamar county on 5/2 (ebird JH). Fifty Wilson’s Phalaropes were at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7 (PB).
Seven Herring Gulls were at Lake O' Pines in Marion county on 5/13 (DB,LB) and 5/14 (PH,LP). The only report of Franklin’s Gull for the month came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/6 (ebird WS). Caspian Terns were tallied in four counties with a max of two photographed at Lake O' Pines in Marion county on 5/13 (DB,LB). The only two Black Terns reported during the month came from Richland Chambers Reservoir on 5/5 in Navarro county (ebird AH).
Maybe it’s about time to say they have expanded almost throughout the NETFO area, White-winged Doves were reported from ten different counties, five of the counties from Smith county east. By a smidgen, the farthest east White-winged Dove was tallied at Daingerfield City Park in Morris county on 5/24 (DB,LB). A Black-billed Cuckoo was observed at Tyler State Park on 5/9 (ebird BS,BrS). An Eastern Whip-poor-will was noted on consecutive days in Henderson county, starting on 5/12 (ebird LBe). The Texas ebird high for the year of five Hairy Woodpeckers was noted on 5/13 in Van Zandt county (ebird KT).
Crested Caracaras were reported in five counties, none farther east than Rains county. One observer was lucky enough to see Peregrine Falcons in two locations, one at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/7 and the second at Camp Tyler in Smith county on 5/10 (PB). While a third Peregrine Falcon was reported from LTW State Park in Hunt county on 5/11 (ebird CR).
Olive-sided Flycatchers were tallied in five different counties during the month. The first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher of the season was reported from LTW State Park on 5/15 (ebird RK). Reported from three counties, the first Alder Flycatcher was found at LTW State Park on 5/4 (ebird RK). The first Willow Flycatcher was also reported from LTW State Park on 5/1 (ebird RK). Willow Flycatchers were reported on several dates at LTW State Park with an Texas ebird high of seven on 5/16 (ebird RK). The only other Willow Flycatcher reported came from Gregg county on 5/8 (ebird LP). Least Flycatchers were reported from six counties with a max of eight tallied at LTW State Park on 5/4 (ebird RK). Western Kingbirds were a little more east than normal, being found in four counties from Franklin county east. The farthest eastern Western Kingbird was almost in Louisiana, photographed in Panola county on 5/29 (LP).
The Texas ebird high of 14 Warbling Vireos was tallied on 5/1 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). Found in three counties the peak of 5 Philadelphia Vireos was reported from LTW State Park on 5/8. Three Bell’s Vireos were tallied at the Sabine Mines area in Harrison county on 5/29 (LP). Bank Swallows were reported in three counties with a max of fifteen at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird DP), and in Fannin county on 5/9 (ebird GC,SG). A melanistic Northern Rough-winged Swallow was observed at LTW State Park on 5/6 (PB,CR). The last Ruby-crowned Kinglet was reported from Lake Gladewater in Upshur county on 5/5 (LP). A Veery was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/3 (ebird RK), and a second one was found in Cherokee county on 5/4 (ebird AH). While a third Veery was reported from Bonham State Park on 5/9 (ebird SG). Swainson’s Thrushes were reported from five counties with a max of four found in Van Zandt county on 5/11 (ebird RK). The only Gray-cheeked Thrush reported came from Bonham State Park on 5/9 (ebird GC,SG).
Ovenbirds were reported from three counties with a max of six found at LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). There were two Worm-eating Warbler sightings in different locations in Upshur county. One sighting was on 5/2 and the other on 5/16 (LP). A Northern Waterthrush was reported from Pleasant Acres Lake on 5/8 (ebird MB), while Northern Waterthrushes were seen routinely throughout the month at LTW State Park with a peak of eight noted on 5/8 (ebird RK). A Blue-winged Warbler was found at Tyler State Park on 5/9 (ebird BS,BrS), while another Blue-winged Warbler was reported from the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 5/13 (ebird JHe). A Golden-winged Warbler was found on 5/6 at LTW State Park (ebird CR), while two were noted there on 5/8 (ebird RK). A delight to note, Swainson’s Warblers were reported from seven different counties during the month. Noted in six counties the peak of 30 Tennessee Warblers was tallied on 5/2 at LTW State Park. Found in eight counties the Texas ebird high of 75 Nashville Warblers was tallied at LTW State Park on 5/2 (ebird RK). A Mourning Warbler was found in Edom in Van Zandt county on 5/14 (ebird RK). While up to four Mourning Warblers were reported from LTW State Park on 5/15 (ebird RK).
The storms of 6/8 dumped 75 American Redstarts at LTW State Park, which is the highest number reported in Texas this year according to ebird (ebird RK). Magnolia Warblers were reported from eight counties during the period with a peak of 25 tallied at LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). A Bay-breasted Warbler was found at Lake O' Pines in Marion county on 5/14 (ebird PH). While up to two Bay-breasted Warblers were noted at LTW State Park on 5/4 and 5/8 (ebird MH,RK). Blackburnian Warblers were found in six counties, with a max of five noted at LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). The most common warbler migrant was the Yellow Warbler, tallied in ten different counties with a max of 125 found at LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). Tallied in eight different counties, the max of six Chestnut-sided Warblers was tallied on 5/4 (ebird RK) and on 5/6 (ebird DP) at LTW State Park. Two Blackpoll Warlbers were tallied in Gregg county on 5/12 (LP), while one was noted at LOP in Marion county on 5/14 (PH,LP). While Blackpoll Warblers were reported on several dates at LTW State Park with a max of six noted on 5/2 (ebird RK). Found in nine counties, the peak of a dozen Black-throated Green Warblers was tallied from LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). A Canada Warbler was tallied at LTW State Park on 5/6 (PB), and on 5/8 (ebird MH,RK,RiW). Wilson’s Warblers were tallied in five counties with a max of 28 noted at LTW State Park on 5/8 (ebird RK).
A pair of Lark Buntings was reported without documentation in ebird at LTW State Park on 5/6 (ebird DP). One of the fallacies of ebird is sometimes it makes you document birds that I don’t think you should have to, and others like Lark Buntings anywhere on this side of Dallas you can put in ebird with no questions asked. No fault of the observer, I mean who wants to document; but I believe if you think the bird is rare you should document it regardless of whether ebird asks or not. Falling into the same category for the month, a Bullock’s Oriole was reported from Lamar county on 5/24 (ebird EJ). Six Common Ground-Doves from Van Zandt county on 5/13 (ebird KT). A Black-chinned Hummingbird at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 5/19 (ebird JK), and finally a Ladder-backed Woodpecker reported from LTW State Park on 5/18 (ebird JK). Okay, off my soap box.
Two Clay-colored Sparrows were reported from LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/3 (ebird RK). Reported from three counties, the farthest eastern Grasshopper Sparrow was noted in Rains county on 5/1 (ebird RK). A Scarlet Tanager was reported from Smith county on 5/2 (ebird ME), while another Scarlet Tanager was found at LTW State Park on 5/15 and 5/16 (ebird SB,RK,AL,RR). One of the many highlights for the month, a Black-headed Grosbeak was found in Marion county on 5/9 (PB et al). Reported from ten counties, the max of eight Rose-breasted Grosbeaks was tallied at LTW State Park on 5/2 (ebird RK).
One of my favorites, a Bobolink was reported from Harrison county on 5/3 (HK), while two were noted at White Oak WMA on 5/10 (DB,LB). While a pair of Bobolinks were noted in Rains county on 5/1 and 5/7 (ebird RK). Another favorite of mine, a dozen Yellow-headed Blackbirds were tallied in Rains county on 5/1 (ebird RK), while three were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/2 (ebird AP,JP). The Texas ebird max for the year of 125 Orchard Orioles was tallied at LTW Sate Park on 5/8 (ebird RK). While only a mere 100 Baltimore Orioles were tallied on 5/4 at the same location (ebird RK). Baltimore Orioles were noted in ten different counties during their trek across the NETFO area during the month. A pair of Pine Siskins were tallied at LTW State Park on 5/15 (ebird RK). A pair of fly-over Lesser Goldfinches were described flying over Canton City Lake in Van Zandt county on 5/3 (ebird AP,JP). The latest American Goldfinch was noted from Van Zandt county on 5/13 (ebird KT).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Cherokee Co.: Fannin Co.: Lake Bonham State Park Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman, Sabine Mines, Caddo Lake State Park Henderson Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW State Park Lamar Co.: Lake Gibbons Marion Co.: Lake O’ Pines Morris Co.: White Oak WMA, Daingerfield City Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Richland Chambers Reservoir Panola Co.: Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co: Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake, Camp Tyler Upshur Co.: Lake Gladewater, Lake Gilmer Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Grand Saline Marsh, Edom, Canton City Lake Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve, Little Sandy Hunting Club, Lake Fork
For You Ebirders:
Every one of the 26 NETFO counties is now over 100 species in ebird for the year, with Cass county bringing up the rear at 101. Did you know that last year the lowest county in the NETFO area had 120 birds for the year. Currently their are four counties below 120, they are Cass, Delta, Bowie and Red River.
Did you ever want to feel like Lewis and Clark? That is exploring an area and documenting your records for the first “real” record of an area. Boy do I have an opportunity for you! Sixteen of the 26 NETFO counties have had a checklist done during every week of the year. Ebird breaks each month into four weeks. Well with 16 done that leaves ten counties that have not been birded every week for a total of 42 county weeks left unexplored. The following counties have “holes” for the next three months, Cherokee the 3rd week of July and the 2nd and 3rd week of August. Delta, the 4th week of June does not have a checklist. Fannin, the 3rd week of June, Franklin the 2nd week of July. Hopkins is missing checklists from the 2nd through the 4th week of July. Lamar is missing the last week of June, while Red River is missing the last week of June and the last week of July. Luanne says I’m the only one who knows, or cares. Well now you know.
Hope you have Great Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - April 2015 by David BrothertonThis is the NETFO bird report for April. There are many first-of-the-year sightings. Highlights include Cinnamon Teal, Hudsonian Godwit, Scarlet Tanagers, Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Lazuli Bunting and a belated Sandhill Crane. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Found in seven counties during the month, the peak of four Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were tallied in Van Zandt county on 4/30 (ebird RK). Noted in twelve different counties, the peak of 35 Canada Geese were counted in Fannin county on 4/20 (ebird DY). Should be mostly gone by now, a surprise to me of 250 Gadwalls were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). A Cinnamon Teal was found in both counties of the RC WMA on 4/12 while two were noted in Navarro county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). Always one of my favorites to find, Red-breasted Mergansers were noted in three counties during the month with a peak of 17 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/24 (PB).
April 19th was “Wild Turkey” day in the NETFO area, with Wild Turkeys being found in three counties on that day. Two were noted in Van Zandt county, three were also found in Rains county (ebird BC), while four other Wild Turkeys were found on the same date in Lamar county (ebird EJ). The only Northern Bobwhite was reported from Freestone county on 4/3 (ebird HM). Seemingly spread out a little wider than normal, probably while they migrate through, Common Loons were noted at locations not normally found with a peak of 22 noted at LBS in Titus county on 4/12 (DB,LB). An Eared Grebe was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/12 and two were noted there on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL), while another Eared Grebe was found at Lake Lone Star in Morris county on 4/14 (DB,LB). Four Horned Grebes were still on LTW in Van Zandt county as of 4/11 (ebird RK).
Noted in four counties during the month, the peak of 70 Anhingas were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). 750 American White Pelicans were still present at LTW in Van Zandt county as of 4/11 (ebird RK). An American Bittern was found at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 4/11 (ebird MB) and on 4/23 (PB). While two American Bitterns were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL), and three were tallied there on 4/29 (ebird RQ). While still another American Bittern was found on 4/29 in Bowie county (ebird RP). Restricted to only RC WMA a peak of 13 Tricolored Herons were tallied in Navarro county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). A White Ibis was tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). While a little more common than White Ibis, White-faced Ibis were still restricted to RC WMA with a peak of 25 noted in Navarro county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). Roseate Spoonbills were also restricted to RC WMA with a peak of four tallied on 4/25 (ebird DL).
What I am going to take as a positive sign of their breeding in the area, Bald Eagles were tallied in nine counties during the month. One of my wife’s favorites, the first Mississippi Kite of the season was noted in Upshur county on 4/7 (ebird LP). Noted in five counties, the farthest east Swainson’s Hawk was located in Camp county on 4/12 (DB,LB).
A Sora was tallied at the Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 4/26 (ebird BC,GC,SG). While a peak of six Soras were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). Another of my wife’s favorites, a Purple Gallinule was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/24 (ebird WS). While Common Gallinules were restricted to RC WMA in Navarro county with a peak of three noted on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). A last month flyover of a pair of Sandhill Cranes was reported from Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/28 (MB).
Restricted to RC WMA, the peak of six Black-necked Stilts were tallied on 4/10 in Freestone county (ebird SH). Found in two counties the peak of 18 American Avocets were tallied at Pleasant Acres Lake on 4/23 (PB). Five American Golden-Plovers were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). Eighteen Semipalmated Plovers were counted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/24 (PB), while five were still there on 4/29 (ebird RQ). By far the most widespread shorebird reported, found in 12 counties, the peak of ten Spotted Sandpipers was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/29 (ebird RQ).
True to it’s name Solitary Sandpipers were noted solitarily at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/12, 4/24 and 4/25 (ebird PB,DC,DL), while also noted in the same amount at TXE in Harrison county on 4/7 and 4/16 (DB,ME). Noted in six counties the peak of 58 Greater Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/29 (ebird RQ). April 25th was “Willet” day! With thirteen Willets found at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL), while four Willets were tallied in Fannin county on the same date (ebird GF). Noted in seven counties, the peak of 81 Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). Found in five counties the peak of seven Upland Sandpipers was recorded from RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL).
Three Hudsonian Godwits were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). The sole Stilt Sandpiper was discovered on 4/24 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/24 (PB). Baird’s Sandpipers were restricted to RC WMA with a peak of 11 tallied on 4/29 in Freestone county (ebird RQ). Found only in four counties, probably a sign that not many “shores” were available due to the frequent rains, the peak of 100 Least Sandpipers were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/24 (PB). Pectoral Sandpipers also restricted to RC WMA, peaked with 15 on 4/25 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). Also restricted to RC, the peak of 25 Semipalmated Sandpipers were noted on 4/19 in Freestone county (ebird LBe). A Short-billed Dowitcher was picked out of a flock at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/28 (ebird PW). Restricted to RC WMA, the peak of 100 Long-billed Dowitchers was noted on 4/24 in Navarro county (PB). Found in four counties the max of six Wilson’s Snipe was located at LBS in Titus county on 4/7 (ebird TH). Also restricted the peak of 35 Wilson’s Phalaropes were tallied on 4/25 in Navarro county (ebird DC,DL).
Noted in six counties the peak of 60 Franklin’s Gulls at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/24 (PB), barely beat 48 found at Langford Creek Lake in Red River county on 4/26 (DB,LB). Noted in four counties up to fifty Bonaparte’s Gulls were still being seen in Rains county as of 4/26 (ebird BC,GC,SG). A Herring Gull was sticking around the NETFO area until 4/6 when found at Lake Bonham in Fannin county (ebird JP). Single Caspian Terns made visits to RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL) and on 4/29 (ebird RQ). And single Caspian Terns were at LTW State Park on 4/27 (ebird RK) and at Pleasant Acres Lake on 4/30 (PB).
Noted in four counties, the farthest eastern White-winged Dove was in Kilgore in Rusk county on 4/2 (ebird PH). The first Yellow-billed Cuckoos of the season were found on 4/19 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird BC) and at Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county (ebird AT). The earliest Common Nighthawk for the area was found in Celeste in Hunt county on 4/23 (ebird AN).
Tyler State Park had several of the first of the season sightings on 4/8, starting with the first Chuck-will’s widow (ebird BS). The sole Eastern Whip-poor-will reported for the period came from Morris county on 4/14 (DB,LB). Crested Caracaras were reported in five counties with the farthest eastern sighting coming from the Athens loop in Henderson county on 4/24 (PB). On 4/24 both counties of RC WMA had sightings of Peregrine Falcon (PB). And on the next day, 4/25, Peregrine Falcons were found at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird DC,DL) and at Lake Tyler in Smith county (PB,ME).
Olive-sided Flycatchers were noted from LTW State Park on 4/27 (ebird RK) and at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 4/28 (ebird BrS). The first of the season Eastern Wood-Pewee was found in Van Zandt county on 4/21 (ebird RK). The earliest Acadian Flycatcher was tallied at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/29 (ebird BC). Least Flycatchers were found at LTW State Park on 4/26 and 4/27 (ebird RK). The first Great Crested Flycatcher was found in Kilgore in Rusk county on 4/2 (ebird PH).
Almost a month tardier than their eastern kin, the first Western Kingbird was found in Fannin county on 4/22 (ebird AN), while disappointingly the furthest eastern one was found in Van Zandt county. The sole Bell’s Vireo reported was from Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 4/24 (ebird RK). Reported from five counties the first Warbling Vireo was noted at Tyler State Park on 4/18 (ebird BS). Found in four counties the earliest pair of Philadelphia Vireos came from Pleasant Acres Lake on 4/6 (ebird MB). Of note Fish Crows were reported from seven different counties during the month. The Texas ebird year max of 45 Blue Jays was reported from LTW State Park on 4/26 (ebird SG). Reported from four counties the peak of two Horned Larks were noted in Hunt county on 4/22 and 4/23 (ebird AN) and in Red River county on 4/26 (DB,LB).
Bank Swallows were reported from three counties, with first sighting being on 4/4 in Panola county (ebird NM). Almost void for the season a Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported from Harrison county on 4/10 (ebird DJ). A whopping 30 Marsh Wrens were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). Tallied in seven counties, the first Swainson’s Thrush was reported from Tyler State Park on 4/8 (ebird BS). The first Wood Thrush was heard (ain’t it the coolest sound!) at Daingerfield State Park in Morris county on 4/19 (DB,LB). Always a cool one, a Veery was found at Tyler State Park on 4/23 (ebird BS).
An Ovenbird was found at Fairfield Lake State Park in Freestone county on 4/29 (ebird AH) and one was found in Van Zandt county on 4/30 (ebird RK). A Worm-eating Warbler was at Tyler State Park on 4/23 and 4/25 (ebird LBe, BS, BrS), while another Worm-eating Warbler was found in Gregg county on 4/30 (LP). Northern Waterthrushes were reported from Jacksonville College in Cherokee county on 4/24 (ebird JH) and in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 4/27 (ebird RK). Blue-winged Warblers were restricted to Hunt county, one found in Celeste on 4/23 (ebird AN), and one found at LTW State Park on 4/27 (ebird RK).
Reported from four counties the first of the season Swainson’s Warbler was tallied at Tyler State Park on 4/8 (ebird BS). Tallied in seven counties the first Tennessee Warbler was also found at Tyler State Park on 4/14 (ebird BS). Found in ten counties the first Nashville Warbler stopped by Tyler State Park on 4/8 (ebird BS). The first Kentucky Warbler of the season was tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/12 (ebird DC,DL). Maybe a sign that spring came late this year (or birders got out late), the first of the season Hooded Warbler wasn’t recorded until 4/19 found at Caddo Lake NWR on 4/19 (ebird AT). The only American Redstart reported came from LTW State Park on 4/27 (ebird RK). Magnolia Warblers were restricted to Panola county as one was found on 4/29 and another in a different location on 4/30 (ebird SC). LTW State Park was also the first location for Blackburnian Warbler also found on 4/27 (ebird RK), while another Blackburnian Warbler was tallied in Smith county on 4/30 (PB). Found in four counties the first Yellow Warbler was recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL). Located in four counties the first Chestnut-sided Warblers were tallied on 4/25 in Jacksonville in Cherokee county (ebird JH) and at Tyler State Park (ebird EH).
A Blackpoll Warbler was found at Lake Murvaul in Panola county on 4/29 (ebird SC). A Black-throated Blue Warbler was photographed at LTW State Park on 4/25 (ebird RB). Palm Warblers were found in three counties during the month! Don’t know if that has ever happened before. Evidently they made reservations at Texas State Parks. A Palm Warbler was found at Tyler State Park on 4/25 (ebird LBe,BS,BrS). And on 4/30 Palm Warblers were located at LTW State Park (ebird RR), and at Fairfield Lake State Park (ebird AH). The sole Prairie Warbler reported for the period came from LTW State Park on 4/27 (ebird RK). Reported from four counties, the first two Black-throated Green Warblers were found at Tyler State Park on 4/14, while the peak of five was found at the same location on 4/28 (ebird BS). The only pair of Wilson’s Warblers reported came from LTW State Park on 4/29 (ebird RK). The Texas ebird year high of 12 Yellow-throated Warblers was tallied at LTW Van Zandt county on 4/11 (ebird RK). The first Yellow-breasted Chat was reported from Caddo Lake NWR on 4/19 (ebird AT).
The late date for Spotted Towhee was 4/17 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird BC). The late date for Eastern Towhee was 4/8 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS). A wow of fifteen Grasshopper Sparrows were tallied in Fannin county on 4/22 (ebird AN). The first of the season Summer Tanager was reported from Tyler State Park on 4/8 (ebird BS). Two Scarlet Tanagers were reported from Fannin county on 4/22 (ebird AN).
“What’s this bird at my feeder?” I got asked that more in April over Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Not only were they more plentiful than normal, but they seemed to stay more days than normal. Reported from seven counties, the earliest Rose-breasted Grosbeak report came from Daingerfield on 4/22 (LB). The first Blue Grosbeak report came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/12 (ebird DL). The earliest Indigo Bunting record came from Panola county on 4/4 (ebird NM). While “waves of blue” were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county where 45 Indigo Buntings were noted on 4/25 (ebird DC,DL) and 36 Indigo Buntings were reported from one feeder in Smith county on 4/20 (MB). While the earliest Painted Bunting report came from Smith county on 4/19 (ebird MB). A Lazuli Bunting was photographed at LTW State Park on 4/30 (ebird fide RK).
The first Dickcissel was reported from Hunt county on 4/22 (ebird AN). While found in five counties, the first three Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported from Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 4/12 (DB,LB). The high of 32 Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported from LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/27 (ebird RK). The first Orchard Oriole was found in Smith county on 4/3 (PB). Reported from nine counties the first Baltimore Oriole was located in Harrison county on 4/14 (ebird HK), while the peak of 30 Baltimore Orioles was tallied at LTW State Park on 4/26 (ebird RK). Pine Siskins were observed throughout the month all over the area with a peak of 30 tallied in Gregg county on 4/28 (LP).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Cherokee Co.: Jacksonville College, Jacksonville Fannin Co.: Lake Bonham Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Fairfield Lake State Park Gregg Co.: Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake NWR, TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Athens Hunt Co.: LTW State Park, Celeste Lamar Co.: Morris Co.: Lake Lone Star, Daingerfield, Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Panola Co.: Lake Murvaul Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co: Langford Creek Lake Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Grand Saline Marsh, Edgewood Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve
For You Ebirders:
Only four of the 26 NETFO counties are below100 species so far for the year. Those counties were Delta, Rusk, Cass and Bowie. If you get a chance, bird one of these counties this month! And put your sightings in ebird! Thank you Happy King!
Christmas Bird Count Stuff:
I did some research on last years Christmas Bird Count and found species that our local counts did well compared to all the other CBC’s held. The first was Double-crested Cormorant where LTW had 17,116 birds counted, that was the 2nd highest number for all CBC’s held. Lake Wright Patman had the highest total for all CBCs for American White Pelicans with a total of 5,238, LTW was in 3rd place with 2,757. Lake O’ Pines was 13th in American Coots with 14,391. Lake Wright Patman was 9th with 440 Forster’s Terns. Lake O’ Pines was 11th in Eastern Screech-Owls with 54. Lake O’ Pines was 3rd in Brown Thrashers with 59, while Longview was twelve with 34. Lake O’ Pines was 7th in Chipping Sparrows with 1,299. LTW was 2nd in Eastern Meadowlarks with 884. And finally Lake O’ Pines was 9th in American Goldfinches with 984.
Northeast Texas Bird Report - March 2015 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for March. Many first-of-the-year sightings. Highlights include a Red-throated Loon, Cinnamon Teal, Long-tailed Duck, and Sandhill Cranes! Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
After a month off, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were noted in three counties during the month, with a peak of 29 found in Franklin County on 3/29 (DB,LB). The only sighting of Greater White-fronted Geese were 25 noted at Cedar Creek Reservoir in Henderson county on 3/7 (ebird BC). Observed in six counties the peak of 600 Snow Geese were tallied at Lake Fork in Wood county on 3/14 (ebird JC). Two Ross’s Geese were found at Cedar Creek Reservoir on 3/7 (ebird BC). Found in twelve different counties during the period the peak of 60 Canada Geese were tallied in Henderson county on 3/14 (ebird LBe). Two Cinnamon Teal were recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/24 (ebird SH). A Long-tailed Duck was reported from LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/14 (ebird RB). Restricted to LTW during the period the peak of fifty Red-breasted Mergansers were tallied in Van Zandt county on 3/6 (ebird RK). Seven Wild Turkeys were found in Navarro county on 3/29 (ebird WS).
A Red-throated Loon was found amongst 85 Common Loons at Cedar Creek Reservoir on 3/7 (ebird BC). The eastern most Neotropic Cormorant reported came from Lake Lone Star in Morris county on 3/15 (ebird DC,DL). Single American Bitterns were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/10 (ebird RQ), Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 3/22 (ebird MB), and at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 3/31 (ebird JH). The first Yellow-crowned Night-Heron of the year was noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/20 (ebird MB). The only White Ibis reported during the month came from RC WMA in Freestone county with a peak of 10 on 3/6 (ebird DP). White-faced Ibis were tallied from three counties with a high of three noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/22 (ebird BT).
Broad-winged Hawks were noted in two counties with the first being recorded at Tyler State Park on 3/27 (ebird BS). A Swainson’s Hawk was observed flying over the interstate in Hopkins county on 3/31 (DB,LB). A Virginia Rail was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/6 (ebird DP), while six Virginia Rails were tallied at Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 3/7 (ebird BC). The lone Sora reported during the period came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/10 (ebird RQ). What a NETFO thrill! Eighty Sandhill Cranes flew over LTW State Park in Hunt county on 3/24 (ebird BT). Two Black-neck Stilts were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/6 (ebird DP). Four American Avocets were tallied at LTW in Hunt county on 3/6 (ebird RK). Four American Golden-Plovers were tallied on 3/21 in Edom in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). While seven American Golden-Plovers were counted in Franklin county on 3/29 (DB,LB). A Solitary Sandpiper was found in Edom on 3/21 (ebird RK). Lesser Yellowlegs were noted on three dates at RC WMA with a peak of three noted on 3/24 in Freestone county (ebird SH).
Four Franklin’s Gulls were observed at Cooper Lake State Park in Delta county on 3/31 (DB,LB). Noted in six counties during the period the furthest eastern White-winged Doves were noted at Caddo Lake (can’t get much eastier) in Harrison county on 3/8 (ebird DJ). A Common Ground-Dove was reported in ebird in Franklin county on 3/8 (MO). A night-time observance of a Barn Owl was reported on 3/7 in Navarro county (ebird JL). The first Chimney Swifts reported of the season came from Daingerfield in Morris county on 3/29 (DB,LB). While the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds came from Daingerfield (LB) and Henderson in Rusk county on 3/26 (TS).
The current Texas ebird high for Hairy Woodpeckers came from Tyler State Park, when three were tallied there on 3/21 (ebird BS). Found in six counties during the period the eastern most Crested Caracaras was found in Franklin county on 3/29 (DB,LB). Pi Day was also Merlin Day! 3/14 found Merlins at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park in Titus county (DC et al) and in Lamar County (ebird EJ). The first Eastern Kingbird of the season was reported from the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 3/29 (ebird JH). The first Scissor-tailed Flycatcher of the season was noted in Franklin county on 3/7 (ebird MO). The first two White-eyed Vireos of the spring appeared to have been tallied at Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 3/11 (ebird DJ). Yellow-throated Vireos were tallied in two locations on 3/31, one was found at Tyler State Park (ebird BS), while another was at the Ferndale Club (ebird JH). Four Horned Larks were tallied in Rains county on 3/29 (ebird LS), while two were noted on the same day in Franklin county (DB,LB). While seven Horned Larks were tallied at Big Creek Lake in Delta county on 3/31 (DB,LB). Fish Crows were tallied in several counties with the furthest west being from the Caddo National Grasslands in Fannin county on 3/22 (ebird JS,KW).
The first three Barn Swallows were tallied from Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 3/6 (ME). The first four Northern Rough-winged Swallows were tallied at Lake Holbrook in Wood county on 3/1 (ebird BrS). While the first five Cliff Swallows were found in Henderson county on 3/13 (ebird KM,ST). Cave Swallows were record in three counties with the farthest east coming from Morris county on 3/29 (ebird BN). The Texas ebird high of 33 Tufted Titmouse were tallied at Tyler State Park on 3/23 (ebird BT). A Gray Catbird was found in Bowie county on 3/4 (ebird CD). A Sprague’s Pipit was recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/24 (ebird SH).
The first Louisiana Waterthrush and Black-and-White Warbler were tallied in Van Zandt county on 3/16 (ebird RK). The first Prothonotary Warbler was found on 3/28 in Rains county (ebird RK). The first three Northern Parulas were found at Caddo Lake State Park in Harrison county on 3/17 (ebird DE). The first Yellow-throated Warblers were tallied from Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar county (ebird BN) and at Lake O’ Pines in Marion county (PB) both on 3/28. The current Texas ebird high of seven Eastern Towhees were tallied at Tyler State Park on 3/21 (ebird BS). A Clay-colored Sparrow was tallied at Tyler State Park on 3/23 (ebird BT). A Le Conte’s Sparrow was found at LTW State Park on 3/7 (ebird RK), while one was noted Tyler State Park on 3/10 (ebird BS). A Grasshopper Sparrow was tallied at LTW State Park on 3/30 (ebird DA).
Western Meadowlarks were tallied in five counties with the farthest east being recorded in Morris county on 3/6 (DB,LB). Purple Finches were found in four different counties with a late date and peak of 11 at Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/21 (ebird MB). Pine Siskins were recorded in nine counties with a peak of 90 found at Tyler State Park on 3/10 (ebird BS). A current year Texas ebird high of 500 American Goldfinches were tallied at Daingerfield State Park in Morris county on 3/15 (ebird DL).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Delta Co.: Cooper Lake State Park, Big Creek Lake Fannin Co.: Caddo National Grassland Franklin Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake State Park Henderson Co.: Cedar Creek Reservoir Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW State Park Lamar Co.: Pat Mayse Lake Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Lake Lone Star, Daingerfield, Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Rusk Co.: Henderson Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Pleasant Acres Lake Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Grand Saline Marsh, Edom Wood Co.: Lake Fork, Mineola Nature Preserve, Lake Holbrook
For You Ebirders:
Fifteen of the 26 NETFO counties already have tallied 100 species so far for the year. The highest county is Van Zandt with 143 species. The lowest counties are Gregg with 69, Cass with 70 and Delta with 77. If you get a chance, bird one of these counties this month! And put your sightings in ebird!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - February 2015 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for February. Despite the chilly, wet weather there were many bird reports. I believe all but Delta county had an ebird observation during the month. Highlights include a Red-throated Loon, Wild Turkeys, and a Prairie Falcon. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Restricted to two counties the peak of 22 Greater White-fronted Geese were tallied at Navarro Mills Lake on 2/14 (ebird ES). Found in five counties the peak of 600 Snow Geese were also tallied on 2/14 at Navarro Mills Lake (ebird ES). The only Ross’s Geese noted during the period were the old reliables at LTW in Rains county (ebird BC,RK) and at LBS in Titus county (DB,LB) . Reported in 15 different counties, the peak of 34 Canada Geese were reported at Crook Lake in Lamar county on 2/14 (ebird RB).
A huge count of 1750 Gadwall and 2000 Norther Shovelers were tallied on LTW in Hunt county on 2/15 (ebird RK). Blue-winged Teal were first noted on 2/14 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird KP) and in Upshur county (LP). Red-breasted Merganser sightings were restricted to 90 found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 2/14 (ebird BC), and one at LOP in Marion county on 2/27 (DB et al). Always a treat, four sightings of Wild Turkey were noted during the month. Two in Lamar county with 18 being seen on 2/6 (ebird PL), and two noted on 2/11 (ebird DaJ). Ten Wild Turkeys were noted on 2/16 in Red River county (ebird HB), while eight were tallied in Van Zandt county on 2/17 (ebird RK).
A Red-throated Loon, along with a current 2015 Texas high in ebird of 103 Common Loons were tallied on 2/14 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird BC). While at the same location current 2015 Texas highs in ebird of 310 Horned Grebes and 15,000 Double-crested Cormorants were tallied on 2/15 (ebird RK). Eared Grebe sightings were restricted to three noted at LTW in Hunt county on 2/17 (ebird RK), while one was tallied at LOP in Marion county on 2/14 and 2/28 (DB et al). The farthest eastern sighting of Neotropic Cormorant occurred at Caddo Lake NWR on 2/9 in Harrison county (ebird DaJ).
Reported from three counties, the max of six Snowy Egrets were tallied in Navarro county on 2/14 (ebird JM). A Little Blue Heron was reported from Van Zandt county on 2/14 (ebird AB). Reported from two counties, the peak of five Cattle Egrets were tallied on 2/21 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird DP). A Black-crowned Night-Heron was observed from RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/28 (ebird DC,DL). Two White Ibis were observed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/27 (ebird DP). White-faced Ibis were noted at RC WMA with a peak of 44 reported on 2/27 in Navarro county (ebird m.ob).
Ospreys were noted in four counties during the period (m.ob). The Texas ebird high for 2015 of ten Bald Eagles were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/28 (m.ob). While a Bald Eagle was again photographed on a nest in Titus county on 2/8 (DB,LB). A max of four Virginia Rails and two Soras along with a Common Gallinule were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/28 (ebird DC, DL et al). A Common Gallinule was also noted at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 2/21 (ebird RB,JHe). A Sandhill Crane was heard in Navarro county on 2/14 (ebird ES).
Five Lesser Yellowlegs were noted at RC WMA in Navarro on 2/21 (ebird DP). Up to 64 Long-billed Dowitchers were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/28 (ebird DC,DL et al). An American Woodcock was observed in Van Zandt county on 2/9 (ebird RK) and in Hopkins county on 2/27 (ebird TH). A Laughing Gull was noted at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 2/14 (ebird RK). A Franklin’s Gull was found on Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 2/27 (PB,MB et al). A max of 17 Herring Gulls were tallied at LTW in Van Zandt county on 2/14 (ebird BC).
Up to two Common Ground-Doves were reported from RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/21 (ebird DP). The farthest east White-winged Doves were reported from Kilgore in Rusk county when four were noted on 2/2 (PH). Almost completely absent last winter, Red-headed Woodpeckers were very common during this winter with even a Texas ebird 2015 high of 20 noted at the Ferndale Club on 2/21 (ebird RB). Crested Caracaras were reported from four counties during the month with the farthest northeast being reported from LTW (m.ob). A Peregrine Falcon was observed at RC WMA in both counties on 2/27 and 2/28 (ebird DC, DL et al). A Merlin was observed in Lamar county on 2/27 (ebird EJ). Unusual for the NETFO area a Prairie Falcon was reported from LTW in Rains county on 2/14 (ebird BC).
Hey Spring! The first Purple Martin sighting occurred on 2/16 at Lake Tyler (ebird ShC, StC). A Tree Swallow and up to 10 Cave Swallows were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/28 (ebird DC,DL et al). Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were tallied from Lake Fork on 2/13 (ebird BrS) and at LOP in Marion county on 2/27 (ebird NR). A Sprague’s Pipit was recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/27 (ebird DP). Up to three Common Yellowthroats were counted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/27 (ebird DC,DL et al).
Spotted Towhees were reported “easter” than normal, with sightings in Red River, Morris, Marion and Smith county during the month (m.ob). Single Le Conte’s Sparrows were noted at LBS in Titus county on 2/8 (DB), and in Hopkins county on 2/27 (ebird TH). While 8 Le Conte’s Sparrows were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 2/17 (ebird RK). The Texas ebird high of 102 Dark-eyed Juncos were recorded at Bonham State Park in Fannin county on 2/16 (ebird JL). Purple Finches were noted in eight counties during the period with a peak of 16 noted in Upshur county on 2/28 (SH et al). Pine Siskins were noted in nine counties, the peak by a factor of twenty were 100 tallied on 2/13 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Fannin Co.: Bonham State Park Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: Caddo National Wildlife Refuge Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW State Park Lamar Co.: Crook Lake Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Navarro Mills Lake Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Tyler State Park, Bellwood Lake, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Wood Co.: Lake Fork
For You Ebirders:
Nine of the 26 NETFO counties already have tallied 100 species so far for the year. Since I’ve been keeping track this is the most counties having 100 species by the end of February. The highest county is Navarro with 124 species. The lowest counties are Delta with 51, Gregg with 55 and Franklin with 58. If you get a chance, bird one of these counties this month! And put your sightings in ebird!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - January 2015 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for January. I’ve included a summary on CBC’s not yet reported on along with a month summary for non CBC findings. Highlights include an American Tree Sparrow, a Black Scoter, a Surf Scoter, a Red-throated Loon, two Pacific Loons, a Glaucous Gull, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Christmas Bird Count Summary:
The Tenaha CBC was cancelled due to terrible weather. The Longview CBC was held on January 3rd. The Longview CBC also was held on a rainy morning, but still 109 species were recorded, right above the median number for the last 10 years.
The highlight of the Longview CBC was four adult Laughing Gulls, only seen once before on a CBC. Other neat sightings included a Snow Goose, a Blue-winged Teal, four Neotropic Cormorants, two Cattle Egrets, four Inca Doves, a Fish Crow, a Bewick’s Wren, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 12 Brewer’s Blackbirds and three Pine Siskins.
For species recorded with ten year highs were 101 Canada Geese, 2207 Double-crested Cormorants, five Cooper’s Hawks, 7180 American Coots, 31 Eurasian Collared-Doves, 662 Mourning Doves, 17 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1840 European Starlings, 156 meadowlark sp., and 247 Brown-headed Cowbirds.
The biggest “misses” for the Longview CBC were probably Greater Scaup and Least Sandpiper, both recorded on 9 of the previous 10 CBCs. Other species recorded at 10 year lows included 131 American Wigeon, 36 Ruddy Duck, 71 Turkey Vultures, one Eastern Screech-Owl, 12 Belted Kingfishers, one Hairy Woodpecker, 38 Eastern Phoebe, two Brown-Creeper, 64 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 17 Hermit Thrushes, four American Pipits, and two Orange-crowned Warblers.
I’ve gotten belated details of the Texarkana CBC which is centered around Lake Wright Patman and the Paris CBC which takes in at least some of Pat Mayse Lake.
The Texarkana count was held on 12/15 with a tally on that date of 79 species. Half the participants made a great effort two days later and recorded 20 count week birds.
The highlights of the Texarkana CBC included a Great Horned Owl and a Spotted Towhee, neither had been recorded in the last ten years. Species that were at or above their ten year highs included 11 Canada Geese, 113 Gadwall, 15 American Wigeon, 194 Northern Shovelers, 5,238 American White Pelicans, 264 Black Vultures, 246 Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 24 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 17 Northern Flickers, 16 Pileated Woodpeckers, 37 Carolina Wrens, 620 American Robins, 52 Pine Warblers, 389 Red-winged Blackbirds, 9 Pine Siskins and 287 American Goldfinches.
There were two “misses,” that is birds recorded for the last 10 years that were missed this year. They were Ruddy Duck and American Coot which were both count week birds. There was only one other species that was recorded at it’s 10-year low or below and that was one Belted Kingfisher.
The Paris count was held on 12/30 and recorded 83 species. The highlights of the Paris CBC included four Wild Turkeys and a Least Sandpiper neither of these species had been recorded in the last 10 years. Another highlight was two Red-breasted Nuthatches, only the second time in the last 10 hears.
Species that were tallied at or above their 10-year high were two Eared Grebes, five Bald Eagles, four Sharp-shinned Hawks, three Cooper’s Hawks, 11 Red-shouldered Hawks, 32 Red-tailed Hawks, 372 American Coots, three Greater Roadrunners, two Barred Owls, 37 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 18 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 32 Northern Flickers, eight Loggerhead Shrikes, 570 American Crows, four Brown Creepers, 78 Eastern Bluebirds, 110 Northern Mockingbirds, eight Brown Thrashers, 157 Chipping Sparrows, 133 White-throated Sparrows, 84 White-crowned Sparrows, 198 Northern Cardinals, 441 Red-winged Blackbirds, 47 Brown-headed Cowbirds, and 43,894 blackbird sp.
There were no big “misses.” Species that were recorded at 10-year lows were two American Wigeon, 10 Mallards, 19 Rock Pigeons, 12 American Robins, 35 Cedar Waxwings, 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 23 American Goldfinches.
Month Bird Report: (Non CBC):
The only sighting of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were 19 found in Camp county on 1/10 (DB,LB). Reported from ten and six counties respectively the peak of 11,700 Snow Geese and 1,300 Ross’s Geese were reported from Delta county on 1/17 (ebird BC). Reported from six counties the peak of 75 Greater White-fronted Geese was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/8 (ebird WJW). Reported from ten counties the peak of 100 Canada Geese were noted in Lamar county on 1/17 (ebird BC). The Cinnamon Teal found at RC WMA in Freestone county last month was seen on three dates during the month 1/5, 1/6 and 1/14 (ebird m.ob). Reported from four counties the peak of five Blue-winged Teal was noted from RC WMA in Freestone county 1/14 (ebird AN). A pair of Long-tailed Ducks were found and photographed on 1/10 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RB,RK) and re-found on 1/18 (ebird ST). A Surf Scoter was found on LOP in Marion county on 1/21 (MD). Last month’s Black Scoter was re-found on 1/2 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird MS, WJW). Found in four counties the peak of 65 Red-breasted Mergansers were noted at LTW in Rains county on 1/27 (ebird RK).
A Red-throated Loon was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 1/9 (ebird RK), while a Pacific Loon was noted at the same location on 1/4 and two were noted on 1/27 (ebird RK). Single Eared Grebes were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/8 (ebird WJW) and 1/16 (ebird KB) and at Lake Hawkins in Wood county on 1/13 (ebird BrS). A peak of 1,750 American White Pelicans were tallied at LTW in Van Zandt county on 1/26 (ebird RK). While 15,000 Double-crested Cormorants were “counted” at LTW in Rains county on 1/27 (ebird RK). Last month’s Brown Pelican was found twice on LTW in Van Zandt county, once on 1/9 (ebird RK), and the other on 1/20 (ebird DO).
The neat egrets and herons were restricted to RC WMA with a max of three Snowy Egrets noted on 1/2 in Navarro county (ebird WJW), and three were also found in Freestone county on 1/14 (ebird AN). A max of two Tricolored Herons was found in Navarro county on 1/2 (ebird WJW). The sole Black-crowned Night-Heron was found in Freestone county on 1/14 (ebird AN). The White Ibis max of 25 was found in Freestone county on 1/2 (ebird WJW). The peak thirty of White-faced Ibis was noted in Navarro county on 1/8 (ebird WJW).
Two Virginia Rails were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 1/8 (ebird WJW). Two Virginia Rails and two Soras were found at Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 1/27 (ebird RK). Single Soras were tallied on several dates at RC WMA (m.ob). A Common Gallinule was photographed at RC WMA in Navarro county on 1/8 (ebird WJW), while another Common Gallinule was reported from Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 1/24 (ebird RP).
A single Black-necked Stilt was found on several dates at RC WMA (m.ob). American Avocets were noted at LTW with a peak of 18 found on 1/19 in Rains county (ebird RK). Lesser Yellowlegs were noted in four counties during the period with a max of seven at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/2 (ebird MS). Normally found in more areas Long-billed Dowitchers were restricted to RC WMA with a max of 100 noted on 1/8 (ebird WJW).
A whopping 3,400 Bonaparte’s Gulls were tallied on 1/26 and 1/27 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). A Glaucous Gull was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 1/15 (ebird RR). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 1/22 (PB) and 1/24 (ebird BrS). The eastern most five White-winged Doves were reported from Waskom in Harrison county on 1/2 (ebird DJ). Found in six counties the eastern most Crested Caracara was tallied at Lake Fork in Wood county on 1/24 (ebird RaK). A Merlin was found in Wood county on 1/3 (ebird BrS), another Merlin was found at LTW in Rains county on 1/31 (ebird JH). While another Merlin was found on three dates in Lamar county (ebird EJ). A Peregrine Falcon was observed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/6 (ebird MS, WS), while another Peregrine Falcon was found in Wood county on 1/17 (ebird KF).
Fish Crows were noted in five counties with the farthest west being in Red River county on 1/17 (DB,LB). Up to eight Cave Swallows were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/2 (MS,WJW). A Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported from Tyler State Park on 1/17 (ebird KB). Noted in only three counties during the period a peak of five Horned Larks were counted at Lake Fork in Wood county on 1/3 (BrS). Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were observed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/8 (ebird WJW), Tyler State Park on 1/17 (ebird KB) and on the same date at Lake Wright Patman in Bowie county (ME). The sole Gray Catbird recorded was found at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 1/28 (ebird RQ). Rains county held all the Smith’s Longspurs sightings, with a peak of 150 noted on 1/26 (ebird RK). The farthest eastern Spotted Towhee was tallied at Pleasant Acres Lake on 1/2 (ebird MB).
For me the bird of the month, an American Tree Sparrow came to a feeder in Rusk county and made a one-day appearance on 1/9 (PH). A Grasshopper Sparrow was tallied in Panola county on 1/30 (ebird SC). A pair of Le Conte’s Sparrows was tallied at LTW in Rains county on 1/3 (ebird ST,IS) and on 1/9 (ebird RK). While another Le Conte’s Sparrow was found in Panola county on 1/29 (ebird SC). The sole Lark Sparrow reported was found at Lake Holbrook in Wood county on 1/28 (ebird BrS). Only two sightings of Rusty Blackbird were recorded, one at Lake Wright Patman on 1/17 (PB,ME) and the other was two found in Smith county on 1/10 (PB). Found in four counties during the month a peak of four Purple Finch were recorded at Lake Wright Patman in Bowie county on 1/17 (PB,PH). Also found in four counties the overwhelming peak of 100 Pine Siskins were tallied at Tyler State Park on 1/31 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Lake Wright Patman Camp Co.: Delta Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: Wascom Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Panola Co.: Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Bellwood Lake, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Grand Saline Marsh Wood Co.: Lake Fork, Lake Holbrook, Lake Hawkins
For You Ebirders:
All twenty-six NETFO counties had bird reports during January! Four counties are already over 100 species for the year! Get out there and do some birding, and report those checklists!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - December 2014 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for December. I will try to summarize the four Christmas Bird Counts held during the month along with the normal report. Highlights include a Black Scoter, a Brown Pelican, a Red-throated Loon, a Pacific Loon, a Sandhill Crane and a Henslow’s Sparrow. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Christmas Bird Count Summary:
There were four CBCs held during the month. Tyler was held on December 20th. Lake Tawakani and Lake O’ Pines were held on December 27th. While Richland Creek WMA was held on December 28th. In the best Saturday weather of the period Tyler had a record high of 118 species. LTW and LOP counts had poor weather, but LTW had 130 species and LOP had 109 species. In the inaugural CBC Richland Creek WMA tallied 131 species.
The highlights for the RC WMA CBC included two Mottled Ducks, a Black Scoter, three American Bitterns, six Snowy Egrets, four Tricolored Herons, 12 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 17 White Ibis, 36 White-faced Ibis, a Roseate Spoonbill, 7 Virginia Rail, ten Soras, a Black-necked Stilt, a Merlin, a Peregrine Falcon, a White-eyed Vireo, 26 Cave Swallows, a Purple Finch and count week Cinnamon Teal and Tree Swallow. Even with an outstanding tally of 131 species there were maybe at least two “misses”, Eastern Screech Owl and House Wren.
For the counts that had some histories:
New species for the counts; Tyler had a Herring Gull. LTW had two American Avocets and a Brown Pelican. While LOP had a White-eyed Vireo, not reported in more than ten years.
Tyler tied or had ten year highs with 15 Canada Geese, six Redheads, 30 Hooded Mergansers, six Common Loons, eight Sharp-shinned Hawks, three Virginia Rails, two Soras, four American Woodcocks, 13 Great Horned Owls, 18 Belted Kingfishers, one White-eyed Vireo, one Bewick’s Wren, 30 Hermit Thrushs, two Spotted Towhees, 36 Eastern Towhees, 47 Swamp Sparrows, and 270 Eastern Meadowlarks.
LTW tied or had ten year highs with 2757 American White Pelicans, 17,116 Double-crested Cormorants, 686 Turkey Vultures, 15 Bald Eagles, 645 Killdeer, 195 Rock Pigeons, 77 Eurasian Collared Doves, 1582 European Starlings, 37 Vesper Sparrows, 141 Harris’s Sparrows, 596 Brewer’s Blackbirds, and 10 Western Meadowlarks.
LOP tied or had ten year highs with 454 Common Goldeneyes, three Cooper’s Hawks, 18 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 439 European Starlings, three Spotted Towhees, 1299 Chipping Sparrows, five White-crowned Sparrows, 51 Eastern Meadowlarks, 32 Brewer’s Blackbirds, 14 Pine Siskins and 984 American Goldfinches.
Other neat rarer birds found on the Tyler CBC were an Osprey, a White-eyed Vireo, a Rufous Hummingbird, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a Common Yellowthroat.
Other neat rarer birds found on the LTW CBC were 46 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, an Eared Grebe, a Red-throated Loon, and a count week Pacific Loon, a Spotted Sandpiper, and a Red-shafted Northern Flicker.
Other neat rarer birds found on the LOP CBC were a pair of count week Common Mergansers, a Northern Harrier, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, three Spotted Towhees, and a Harris’s Sparrows.
Since Tyler had a record high in species, not many species were “missed.” Probably the biggest miss was Bald Eagle observed in 7 of the previous ten years. LTW biggest miss was Lapland Longspurs tallied in each of the previous ten years. LOP missed two species seen in the previous ten years Sharp-shinned Hawk and House Finch.
Tyler tied or had ten year lows with 14 American Kestrels, three Brown Creepers, four White-crowned Sparrows and 193 Northern Cardinals.
LTW tied or had ten year lows with 140 Mallards, 44 Ring-necked Ducks, three Horned Grebes, one Sora, two Wilson’s Snipes, four Herring Gulls, three Eastern Screech-Owls, 15 Barred Owls, 145 Carolina Chickadees, two Bewick’s Wrens, five Winter Wrens, one Marsh Wren, 209 Eastern Bluebirds, three American Robins, 11 Brown Thrashers, 40 Cedar Waxwings, 4 Orange-crowned Warblers, one Pine Warbler, 68 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 54 Chipping Sparrows, 107 Savannah Sparrows, seven Fox Sparrows, one Lincoln’s Sparrow, 347 White-throated Sparrows, and 66 American Goldfinches.
LOP tied or had ten year lows with seven Gadwall, five Red-shouldered Hawk, 120 Ring-billed Gulls, 67 Mourning Doves, 20 Eastern Phoebes, 113 Carolina Chickadees, one American Pipit, and 464 Dark-eyed Juncos.
Month Bird Report: (Non CBC):
The peak for the area of 100 Snow Geese and 100 Canada Geese were recorded in Lamar county on 12/20 (ebird EJ). Found in four counties during the month a peak of two Blue-winged Teal were found in Van Zandt county on 12/1 (ebird DO) and in Hunt county on 12/5 (ebird AT). The Black Scoter reported on the RC WMA CBC was first found on 12/25 (What a Christmas gift!) in Freestone county (MS, WS). A pair of Common Mergansers were found at LOP in Marion county on 12/25 (Another great Christmas gift!) (BE,ME).
A Northern Bobwhite was noted in Navarro county on 12/20 (ebird EW). The Red-throated Loon and Pacific Loon recorded on the LTW CBC were first found on 12/17 in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The Brown Pelican also recorded on the LTW CBC was found on 12/26 in Van Zandt county (ebird RR). Three Anhingas were reported from Martin Creek Lake State Park in Rusk county on 12/26 (ebird CW).
A Little Blue Heron was reported from LTW in Rains county on 12/13 (ebird SL,JM,JR). Snowy Egrets were noted in Freestone and Navarro county on several dates other than the CBC with a peak of five noted on 12/25 in Freestone county (ebird MS,WS). Three Tricolored Herons noted on the RC CBC were also found on 12/25 in Freestone county (ebird MS,WS).
A Sandhill Crane was reported from Bowie county on 12/1 (ebird PD). An American Avocet noted on the LTW CBC was first found on 12/17 in Rains county (ebird RK). A Lesser Yellowlegs was noted from LTW in Rains county on 12/13 (ebird SL,JM,JR). Two Dunlin were found at LTW in Rains county on 12/3 (ebird CR), while four were noted on 12/17 (ebird RK). Two Western Sandpipers were tallied on 12/3 at LTW in Rains county (ebird CR). The eastern most White-winged Dove was reported from Longview, Gregg county on 12/25 (LE,CT).
Talked to the Forester from the Fairchild State Forest in Cherokee county, she informed me they had imported some new blood from a forest in Arkansas. Luanne and I went on 12/21 and witnessed at least evidence of one Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
Merlins were reported from three different counties during the period (m.ob). A Peregrine Falcon was noted at LTW in Rains county on 12/3 (ebird CR), while one was noted at RC WMA on 12/25 (ebird MS,WS). A Fish Crow was reported from Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 12/6 (ebird MB). Single Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported from Tyler State Park on 12/4 (ebird BS), and in Franklin county on 12/9 (ebird LP). Two Lapland Longspurs were reported at LTW in Rains county on 12/3 (ebird CR). Besides the normal location at LTW, fifty Smith’s Longspurs were reported from Franklin county on 12/9 (ebird JB, RV).
A stray Nashville’s Warbler was reported from Lamar county on 12/20 (ebird EJ). Spotted Towhees appeared to be more common this year in the NETFO area being reported from four counties (m.ob). A Le Conte’s Sparrow was reported from Franklin county on 12/9 (ebird JB, RV). A Henslow’s Sparrow was found at TXE in Harrison county on 12/24 (ME). Rusty Blackbirds were noted in four counties during the month (m.ob). Purple Finch were record in four counties with a peak of three noted at Tyler State Park on 12/4 (ebird BS). Pine Siskins were noted in three counties with a peak of seven noted in Harrison county on 12/27 (DB).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Cherokee Co.: Fairchild State Forest Franklin Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Hunt Co.: Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Rusk Co.: Martin Creek State Park Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni
For You Ebirders:
All twenty-six NETFO counties had tallies of at least 120 species for the year. The top counties were Van Zandt with 238, Hunt 227, and Freestone with 226. The lowest three were Red River with 120, Cherokee with 122 and Delta with 125. The average county had 168 species versus 2013 average of 158 species.
Northeast Texas Bird Report - November 2014 by David Brotherton
This is the NETFO bird report for November. Twenty-one of the twenty-six counties in the NETFO area had bird reports. Highlights include a Red-throated Loon, a Western Grebe, a Rufous Hummingbird and Purple Finches. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Recorded in two counties during the period, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were found with a peak of 14 in Van Zandt county on 11/7 (ebird DO). Three Greater White-fronted Geese were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/26 (ebird RK). Tallied in two counties, the peak of 74 Snow Geese and six Ross’s Geese were tallied in Navarro county on 11/29 (ebird MS). Tallied in four counties, the peak of 80 Canada Geese were noted at Wills Point in Van Zandt county.
The earliest Common Goldeneye was noted at Tyler State Park on 11/21 (ebird BS). Restricted to two counties, the earliest Red-breasted Merganser was found on 11/8 at LOP in Marion county (DB). A peak for the area of 49 Common Loons was tallied from one spot on LOP on 11/8 in Marion county (DB). A Red-throated Loon was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/26 (ebird RK). A peak of 95 Horned Grebes were tallied at LOP in Marion county on 11/22 (PB). A Western Grebe was found at LOP in Marion county on 11/22 (PB et al). A lingering Snowy Egret was tallied in Henderson county on 11/23 (ebird LBe). Fifteen Cattle Egrets were found at Lake Fork in Wood county on 11/28 (ebird RaK). A Little Blue Heron was located in Longview in Gregg county on 11/5 (LP). A White Ibis was tallied at Lake Fork in Wood county on 11/15 (ebird RaK). A Roseate Spoonbill was observed on 11/20 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird TS).
Eighteen American Avocets were photographed at LOP in Marion county on 11/8, while the late date so far for American Avocets is 11/25 when seven were noted at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). LTW had three sightings of Dunlin during the month with a peak of two on 11/9 in Rains county with a late date of 11/24 in Hunt county (both ebird RK). Found all over LTW, the peak of 5,000 Franklin’s Gulls were tallied on 11/14 in Hunt county (ebird RK).
The eastern-most White-winged Dove was found in Kilgore, Rusk county on 11/22 (PH). The male Rufous Hummingbird observed in Tyler last month was still present as of 11/4 (DBi). Fall/Winter Hummingbird Central for NE Texas is in Kilgore in Rusk county. Ms Peggy has had several fall/winter hummingbirds throughout the years. This year was no exception as a hummingbird sp. was observed on 11/7 (ebird PH). Noted in four counties, the farthest east Crested Caracara was observed in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 11/24 (ebird RK). A total of seven Merlins were found in four counties during the month (ebird m.ob). A Peregrine Falcon was observed in Rusk county on 11/27 (ebird PH).
The latest Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was recorded on 11/24 in Hunt county (ebird RK). Fish Crows were reported from non-normal areas during the month. One was reported at Tyler State Park on 11/9 and 11/10 (ebird KB). And a duo of Fish Crows were noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 11/7 (ebird MB). Cave Swallows were noted in all three of the counties around LTW during the month (ebird RK).
A late Yellow-throated Warbler was reported from Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar county on 11/11 (ebird DCo). The first of the season Spotted Towhee was found at Tyler State Park on 11/7 (ebird BS). Clay-colored Sparrows were reported farther east than normal this fall with sightings in Smith county on 11/2 (PB), Pleasant Acres Lake on 11/6 (ebird MB), and in Lamar county on 11/8 (ebird EJ). Two late Lark Sparrows were found in Edgewood on 11/24 (ebird RK). The peak for Texas in ebird for 2014 of 120 White-throated Sparrows were tallied at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/11 (ebird RK). A wow number of 225 Western Meadowlarks was reported in ebird at LTW in Rains county on 11/14 (ebird RK). The only Rusty Blackbird report was from Pleasant Acres Lake where three were tallied on 11/28 (ebird MB). The first Brewer’s Blackbird report came from Tyler State Park on 11/7 (ebird BS). Tyler State Park was also the location for the first two Purple Finches, and the first 8 Pine Siskins found on 11/8 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Henderson Co.: Hunt Co.: Lake Tawakoni State Park Lamar Co.: Pat Mayse Lake Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Tyler Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve, Lake Fork Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood, Will’s Point
Northeast Texas Bird Report - October 2014 by David BrothertonThis is the NETFO bird report for October. Twenty-two of the twenty-six counties in the NETFO area had bird reports. Lots of “first of the season” sightings. Highlights include Sandhill Cranes and a Rufous Hummingbird. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Recorded in four counties during the period, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were found with a peak of 80 in Rains county on 10/3 (ebird JC). The first time I ever observed Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in NE Texas was 25 years ago at Lake Fork and they were found in October with a string of chicks behind them. I remember being surprised by them having youngsters so late. On 10/24 LB and I noted 8 adults and 3 little chicks following a parent in Morris county.
The two straggling/resident Ross’s Geese for the area were noted once again at LBS in Titus county on 10/11 (DB,LB) and in Rains county on 10/24 (ebird RK). Noted in five counties, the peak of 21 Canada Geese was reported from Texarkana in Bowie county on 10/18 (ebird JT). Always a neat find in the NETFO area, three Mottled Ducks were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10 (ebird DC,DL), while two were noted in Freestone county on 10/11 (ebird DC,DL).
Two Wild Turkeys were found in Cherokee county on 10/12 (ebird JHa). A Wood Stork was noted in Smith county on 10/10 (ebird JR,EV), while another Wood Stork was noted in Upshur county on 10/11 (ME). Two American Bitterns were noted at each of the counties at RC WMA on 10/11 (DC,DL). Tricolored Herons were found on several dates at RC WMA with a peak of six noted on 10/11 in Freestone county (ebird DC,DL). Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-Herons were also restricted to the RC WMA with a peak of two and four respectively were noted on 10/11 in Navarro county (ebird DC,DL). 10/11 was the date for peak White Ibis in Navarro county when 300 were sighted (ebird DC,DL). While 300 was also the peak for White-faced Ibis noted at RC WMA on Freestone county on 10/11 (ebird DC,DL). Six Roseate Spoonbills were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/10, while 14 were noted in Freestone county on 10/11 (both ebird DC,DL). Another Roseate Spoonbill was observed on both sides of LOP, being observed in both Upshur and Marion county on 10/20 (ebird AH).
Up to three Swainson’s Hawk was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/11 (ebird DC,DL). Another Swainson’s Hawk was observed and photographed in Bowie county on 10/19 (DB,LB). Two Virginia Rails, and four Soras were found at the Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 10/23 (ebird RK). Up to 30 Soras were tallied at RC WMA in each county on 10/10 and 10/11 (ebird DC,DL). Four Sandhill Cranes were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 10/24 (ebird RK).
Six Black-necked Stilts were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/10 (ebird DL), while one was noted the next day at the same location (PB). Seemingly everywhere, American Avocets were tallied in nine different counties during the month with a peak of 43 counted from Atlanta State Park in Cass county on 10/25 (DB,LB). A Black-bellied Plover was observed at LTW State Park on 10/7, while another Black-bellied Plover was found at LTW in Rains county on 10/24 (both ebird RK). Noted in five counties, the peak of 12 Lesser Yellowlegs was tallied at LTW in Hunt county on 10/18 (ebird RK). Noted in three counties, the peak of six Stilt Sandpipers was tallied on 10/18 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Two Sanderlings were found at LTW in Rains county on 10/24 (ebird RK). Noted only at LTW, a peak of 12 Baird’s Sandpipers were tallied in Hunt county and also in Van Zandt county on 10/24 (ebird RK). Tallied in eight counties during the period the max of 1000 Least Sandpipers was noted on 10/18 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Noted in five counties, the peak of six Pectoral Sandpipers were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 10/24 (ebird RK). Restricted to LTW, a peak of a dozen Western Sandpipers were noted in all three counties on 10/24 (ebird RK). Found in three counties, the peak of 77 Long-billed Dowitchers was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county 10/26 (ebird DL).
The only sighting of Bonaparte’s Gull came from Cooper Lake in Hopkins county when 30 were noted on 10/10 (ebird MP). Found in ten counties, the max of 500 Franklin’s Gulls were tallied at Lake Fork in Wood county on 10/28 (ebird JC). The sole Caspian Tern was reported from LTW in Rains county on 10/24 (ebird RK). The only Black Tern was found at RC WMA in Freestone county 10/11 (ebird DC,DL).
The easternmost White-winged Dove was found at Holly Lake in Wood county on 10/26 (ebird SF,TH). A Great Horned Owl reported by John Hale in Cherokee county on 10/12 was the 200th species ever recorded in ebird for the county. Noted in three counties, the last Common Nighthawk was tallied on 10/12 in Cherokee county (ebird JHa). The latest date for Chimney Swift was 10/21 in Gregg county (ebird AH). The late date for Ruby-throated Hummingbird was 10/18 at Lake Fork in Wood county (ebird JC). A male Rufous Hummingbird seen last winter at a feeder in Tyler, appears to have returned. The bird was first observed on 10/29 (DBi). Crested Caracara sightings were limited to the LTW area (ebird RK). A pair of Merlins were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/11 (ebird DC,DL). Single Peregrine Falcons were noted in both counties at RC WMA area on 10/11 (ebird DC,DL). Single Peregrine Falcons were also noted at LTW on 10/18, 10/19 and 10/24 (ebird RK).
A Traill’s Flycatcher was noted at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 10/21 (MB). Not in their “normal” area, up to two Fish Crows were noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 10/12 (PB) and on 10/24 (ebird MB). The first Blue-headed Vireo noted for the season was noted at LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). A Philadelphia Vireo was found in Morris county on 10/10 (DB). The first of the season Brown Creeper was noted at LBS State Park in Titus county on 10/17 (ebird AH). The earliest Winter Wren was found in Morris county on 10/20 (ebird AH). The first of the fall House Wrens were found at LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). The earliest Golden-crowned Kinglet was noted at Bonham State Park in Fannin county on 10/18 (ebird CW). A Hermit Thrush was first found on 10/16 at LBS State Park (ebird AH). Found in three counties the first Gray Catbird was sighted at LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). The first American Pipit of the fall was found in Smith county on 10/19 (ebird PB).
The only Black-and-white Warbler reported was noted in Gregg county on 10/21 (ebird AH). A Tennessee Warbler was found at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 10/24 (ebird PJ,SL) and on 10/25 (ebird RK). Noted in five different counties the last Nashville Warbler was noted on 10/25 at the Mineola Nature Preserve (ebird RK). The only Hooded Warbler reported was found at LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). Single American Redstarts were noted in Henderson county on 10/10 (ebird DC,DL), and at LTW State Park on 10/12 (ebird RK). On the same date the only Northern Parula noted during the period was also found at LTW State Park (ebird RK). A Blackburnian Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 10/16 (ebird RK). The sole Yellow Warbler reported during the month was found in Cherokee county on 10/4 (ebird JHa). The earliest Yellow-rumped Warbler was tallied at Tyler State Park on 10/7 (ebird BS). Found in five different counties, the last two Black-throated Green Warblers were discovered at LOP in Upshur county on 10/20 (ebird AH). A Wilson’s Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). Another Wilson’s Warbler was discovered in Morris county on 10/20 (ebird AH).
The first-of-the-season Eastern Towhee was tallied in Camp county on 10/17 (ebird AH). The sole Clay-colored Sparrow reported came from LTW in Rains county on 10/25 (ebird JS). The earliest Vesper Sparrow reported came from Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 10/21 (ebird RK). The first of the fall Song Sparrow came from Lamar county on 10/12 (ebird EJ). Two Grasshopper Sparrows were tallied at LBS State Park on 10/16, and three were found in Morris county on 10/20 (both ebird AH). The earliest Lincoln’s Sparrow was recorded from LTW State Park on 10/7 (ebird RK). The earliest Swamp Sparrows were found at LTW in Hunt county on 10/18 (ebird RK). The first of the fall White-throated Sparrow was tallied at LTW State Park on 10/16 (ebird RK). While the earliest White-crowned Sparrows were tallied in Hunt county on 10/18 (ebird RK). The earliest Dark-eyed Junco was spotted in Canton in Van Zandt county on 10/18 (ebird DO). Western Meadowlarks were only reported from LTW in Rains count on 10/24 (ebird RK). Noted in two counties the first and most, twelve Pine Siskins, were found on 10/7 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). The first two American Goldfinches were tallied at Mineola Nature Preserve on 10/25 (ebird RK).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Texarkana Camp Co.: Cass Co.: Atlanta State Park Cherokee Co.: Fannin Co.: Bonham State Park Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake Hunt Co.: Lake Tawakoni State Park Lamar Co.: Pat Mayse Lake Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park Upshur Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve, Lake Fork, Holly Lake Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood, Canton, Grand Saline Marsh
For You Ebirders:
With Cherokee county reaching the 200 Club, the only two counties that do not have 200 species overall in ebird are Red River with 192 and Camp with 194. The lowest counties for the year are Cherokee with 116, Red River with 117 and Delta with 121. The counties with over 200 species for 2014 are Van Zandt with 237, Hunt with 224, Freestone with 221, Smith with 217, Navarro with 216 and Rains with 212. Good luck birding this month!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - July, August, September 2014 by David BrothertonThis is a bird report from July through September. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Recorded in ten counties during the period, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were found with a peak of 65 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 (PB,LBe,DO). The first Greater White-fronted Goose for the fall was noted at Tyler State Park on 9/27 (ebird BS). Canada Geese were noted in ten counties during the period with a max of 40 noted in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 8/18 (ebird RK). The peak of 900 Blue-winged Teal were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (PB et al). Two Gadwall, six Blue-winged Teal, a Ring-necked Duck and a Lesser Scaup were all noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 7/5 (ebird DL,EW). A Northern Shoveler was also noted on the same date at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird KP). A Mottled Duck was also noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on the same date (ebird BS). Five Northern Pintail were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/25 (ebird RQ). Four Green-winged Teal were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/4 (ebird AT). A Redhead was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/9 (DB,LB). A Greater Scaup was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/5 (ebird AT). A Ruddy Duck was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/25 (ebird RQ), and another Ruddy Duck was noted at TXE in Harrison county on 7/31 (DB).
The only Northern Bobwhite recorded came from Henderson county on 7/1 (ebird BT). A heard-only Wild Turkey was recorded at Pleasure Acres Lake in Smith county on 7/18 (ebird BB). Ten Eared Grebes were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/23 and 9/6 (ebird LBe). Recorded from many observers at RC WMA, the peak of 195 Wood Storks was tallied on 7/5 in Freestone county (ebird BS). Outside of RC, three Wood Storks were found in Henderson county on 7/3 (ebird SG, DM), while five were noted at Caddo Lake in Harrison county (ebird DJ), one was noted at Lake Palestine in Cherokee county on 9/13 (ebird JHa), while 35 Wood Storks were tallied at the Ferndale Club in Camp County on 9/23 (ebird JH). Recorded in ten counties during the period, a max of 500 Neotropic Cormorants were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 7/5, 8/13 and 8/31 (ebird m.ob). Recorded in seven counties a high total of 100 Anhingas at RC WMA in Navarro county was tallied on 7/5 (ebird DL). 2500 was the recorded max of American White Pelicans recorded at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). One observer noted a Least Bittern on 7/12 at RC WMA in Navarro county and then was rewarded with two on 7/19 at the same location (ebird JS). Another Least Bittern was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/2 (ebird AT). Tricolored Heron sightings were noted throughout the period at RC WMA with a max of 28 noted on 8/13 in Freestone county (ebird PB, LBe). The only other Tricolored Heron noted during the period was one found at LOP in Upshur county on 8/27 (DB). RC WMA had some outstanding heron/egret numbers, including 400 Little Blue Herons, 750 Snowy Egrets and1250 White Ibis in Freestone county on 8/13 (PB et al). Black-crowned Night-Herons were found at RC WMA, with a max of 34 noted on 8/22 (ebird MB). While outside of RC, up to three Black-crowned Night-Herons were noted at Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson county (ebird LBe). Observed in nine counties during the period, the max of 13 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (PB et al). Noted in six counties, the max of 600 White-faced Ibis were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/14 (DC,DL). Found in both counties of RC WMA, the max of 25 Roseate Spoonbills was recorded on 8/24 in Navarro county (ebird SL, JR).
The sole Osprey sighting prior to September occurred at Cedar Creek Reservoir on 7/29 (ebird LBe). The peak number of Mississippi Kites recorded was 80 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/23 (ebird CW). Cooper’s Hawks were noted in Lamar, Henderson and two locations in Smith county during the month or July (RC,LBe,RQ,MB). While a peak of six Cooper’s Hawks and 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). Broad-winged Hawks were noted in semi-good numbers with 158 tallied at Tyler State Park on 9/27 (ebird BS), 125 at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 9/26 (ebird MB), and 105 Broad-winged Hawks were noted on 9/24 at Daingerfield State Park (DB,LB). A Swainson’s Hawk was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/17 (ebird SG,DM), while another was on 7/26 (ebird BTo). The only August observation was at Will’s Point in Van Zandt county on 8/18 (ebird RK), while the only September record of Swainson’s Hawk was from LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). Soras were found at both areas of RC with a max of six noted in Navarro county on 9/14 (ebird DC,DL). The only other Sora was found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/22 (ebird MB). Found only at RC WMA in Navarro county a peak of seven Purple Gallinules were tallied on 7/17 (ebird SG,DM). Noted in both counties of RC WMA, the peak of 13 Common Gallinules was tallied by on 7/5 (ebird KP).
Restricted to the RC WMA, the peak of 90 Black-necked Stilts was tallied in Navarro county on 8/24 (ebird SL,JR). Discovered in five counties, the first American Avocet of the fall was found on 8/16 at Lake Wright Patman in Cass county (DB,LB), while the max of 30 American Avocets was tallied on 8/24 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird SL,JR). Found in four counties, the first two Black-bellied Plovers were found in both counties of RC WMA on 8/9 (PB). Found in four counties, the first Semipalmated Plover was discovered at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/5 (ebird AT), while the peak of eight was noted on 8/9 in Navarro county (ebird DC,DL). The sole Piping Plover noted during the period was found at LTW in Rains county on 9/2 (ebird RK). Found in three counties, the first Solitary Sandpiper of the fall was noted on 8/6 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird CG,ZP), while the peak of 10 was in Navarro county on 8/12 (ebird RQ). Found in four counties, the first four Willets were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/9 (ebird DC,DL), while the peak of 30 Willets was counted at LTW in Rains county on 9/2 (ebird RK).
Observed in four counties, the first two Upland Sandpipers were tallied on 7/30 at LTW in Rains county (ebird CR), while the peak of 13 Upland Sandpipers were counted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/13 (PB, LBe). Discovered in three counties during the period, the first Marbled Godwit was noted on 8/9 at RC WMA in Freestone county (PB,DC,DL). Also noted in three counties the first 13 Stilt Sandpipers were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/6 (ebird CG,ZP), while the peak of 200 was noted on the same location on 8/13 (PB). Four Sanderlings were noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/2, while a single was tallied there on 9/27 (ebird RK). Found at LTW and RC, the first seven Baird’s Sandpipers were noted on 8/9 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 8/9 (ebird DC,DL), while the max of 20 was noted at the same location on 8/23 (PB,LBe). A max of 500 Least Sandpipers were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 9/2 (ebird RK). Buff-breasted Sandpiper’s were found in three counties, with the first date of 7/30 at LTW in Rains county (ebird CR), with a max of 36 tallied at the same location on 9/2 (ebird RK). Pectoral Sandpiper’s were reported in four counties with a first found date of 8/6 at RC WMA Freestone county (ebird CG), while the max of 20 was found at the same location on 8/9 (PB). Found in three counties, the first four Wilson’s Phalaropes were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/6 (ebird CG,ZP), while the max of 500 was found at the same location on 8/23 (PB et al).
A Laughing Gull was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/24 (ebird MC). The earliest fall Ring-billed Gulls were found at Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar county on 8/20 (ebird DCo,VC). The only Herring Gull sighting was reported from LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). Found in four counties the max of 18 Least Terns were reported on 7/2 and 7/30 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK, CR). Reported from four counties, the first Caspian Tern of the fall was recorded on 8/13 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The most widespread tern, the Black Tern was found in ten counties during the period, with an early date of 7/2 when 46 were tallied at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). The max of 200 Black Terns were counted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/6 (PB et al). Two Common Terns were identified at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK).
Observed in nine counties during the period, the farthest eastern White-winged Dove was recorded at the Daingerfield City Park on 7/21 (DB,LB). Noted in six counties the max of 18 Common Nighthawks were tallied in Smith county on 9/7 (ebird MB). Single Black-chinned Hummingbirds were reported from RC WMA in Navarro county on 7/4 (ebird JD), and on 9/2 (ebird JJ). A male Rufous Hummingbird was photographed in Gregg county on 8/24 (GT). Another male Rufous Hummingbird visited Daingerfield in Morris county from 8/27 through 9/1 (DB,LB). A Rufous Hummingbird was found at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). The max of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reported was 22 in Daingerfield on 9/22 (LB).
Summer time Northern Flicker sightings were restricted to Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county on 7/28 (ebird HH), and in Smith county on 8/16 (ebird MB). Possibly the first “fall” Northern Flicker was tallied at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/5 (ebird MB). The sole Merlin was observed at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). A Peregrine Falcon was noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/2 and 9/27 (ebird RK), while another was noted at the Canton City Lake in Van Zandt county on 9/25 (PB). Crested Caracaras were noted in six counties during the period, the furthest eastern sighting was at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK).
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was discovered in Van Zandt county on 9/17 and 9/20 (ebird DO). Alder Flycatchers were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/13 (PB,LBe), at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 9/7 (PB), and at Pleasant Acres Lake on 9/10 (ebird MB). Willow Flycatchers were spotted on 9/9 at Pleasant Acres Lake on 9/9 (ebird MB), and at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). Noted in eight different counties, the first Least Flycatcher was tallied on 7/26 at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county (ebird CW). The sole Bell’s Vireo reported during the period occurred at Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro county on 8/24 (ebird DR). Up to three Warbling Vireos were found and photographed on 9/19 and 9/20 at Pleasant Acres Lake (ebird MB). Another Warbling Vireo was tallied at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 9/25 (ebird RK). Two Philadelphia Vireos were noted on 9/23, 9/26 and 9/27 at Pleasant Acres Lake (ebird MB).
Cave Swallows were noted in four different counties with a max of 225 recorded at LTW in Rains county on 9/27 (ebird RK). The first Marsh Wren was tallied on 9/2 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird JJ). A Sedge Wren was found on 9/27 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall was recorded on 9/24 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS). The last Wood Thrush for the area was noted at Daingerfield State Park on 7/27 (DB). The only Swainson’s Thrush was reported from Van Zandt county on 9/26 (ebird RK). Reported from four counties, the first two Gray Catbirds were observed on 9/23 at Pleasant Acres Lake (ebird MB).
The first Orange-crowned Warbler of the season was reported from Van Zandt county on 9/18 (ebird DO). Reported from five counties, the first two fall Nashville Warblers were tallied on 9/19 at Pleasant Acres Lake (ebird MB). A Mourning Warbler was noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 9/7 (PB) and on 9/23 (ebird MB). A Northern Waterthrush was observed at LTW State Park on 8/13 (ebird RK). Pleasant Acres Lake had sightings of Northern Waterthrush on 8/30 and 9/20 (PB). The only Swainson’s Warbler record during the period was reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 7/12 (ebird JS). A Blue-winged Warbler was recorded in Cass county on 8/16 (DB,LB). Always a cool bird, an American Redstart was noted on 9/20 at Pleasant Acres Lake (PB). By far the most common warbler migrant, Yellow Warblers were noted in twelve counties, with a first date of 8/2 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). While the peak number of 12 Yellow Warblers was tallied at LTW State Park on 9/3 (ebird RK). Black-throated Green Warblers were tallied in five counties with a first date of 9/13 at Tyler State Park (ebird BS). Found in four counties, the first pair of Wilson’s Warblers were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 8/17 (ebird SL,JR). The most prolific spot for Wilson’s Warblers was Pleasant Acres Lake from 9/5 throughout the month with a max of five noted on 9/20 (ebird MB).
The first of the season Savannah Sparrow was reported on 8/31 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird SH). Four Grasshopper Sparrows were found in Smith county on 7/3 (ebird MB), one was tallied in Lamar county on 8/22 (ebird EJ), while another Grasshopper Sparrow was tallied in Navarro county on 9/30 (ebird WS). A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 9/19 (ebird RK). Reported in five counties, the first Baltimore Oriole was tallied on 7/1 in Henderson county (ebird BT). The peak number of five Baltimore Orioles was tallied at Wills Point in Van Zandt county on 9/21 (ebird VP). A reported Bullock’s x Baltimore Oriole hybrid was recorded at Tyler State Park on 9/24 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Cass Co.: Lake Wright Patman Cherokee Co.: Lake Palestine Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake NWR, TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Cedar Creek Lake Hunt Co.: Lake Tawakoni State Park Lamar Co.: Pat Mayse Lake Morris Co.: Daingerfield, Daingerfield City Park, Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Richland Chambers Reservoir Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Bellwood Lake, Tyler State Park Upshur Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood, Wills Point, Canton City Lakes
Northeast Texas Bird Report - June 2014 by David Brotherton
Bird reports from all NETFO counties were noted during the month except from Fannin and Red River counties. In Ebird a total of 156 species were tallied during the month on just over 400 checklists. Two species observed in the NETFO area during the month, Wood Stork and Prothonotary Warbler were noted in Ebird at Texas high levels for the year. Highlights include Swallow-tailed Kite, Mottled Duck and a Purple Gallinule. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Noted in eight counties during the month, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were found with a peak of nine at LBS in Titus county on 6/13 (DB,LB), while a pair of adults with four ducklings were noted in Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 6/28 (DB,LB). Canada Geese were noted in three counties during the month with a max of 26 noted at TXE in Harrison county on 6/26 (DB). A Gadwall was still being observed at RC WMA in Navarro county as of 6/20 (ebird DC,DL,BT). Always a neat find in the NETFO area, a pair of Mottled Ducks were reported from RC WMA in Freestone county on 6/9 (ebird CF). Several observers noted Blue-winged Teal lingering at RC WMA throughout the month with a max of ten noted on 6/9 in Navarro county (ebird CF). The only other two Blue-winged Teal noted during the period were found at LBS in Titus county on 6/13 (DB,LB). RC WMA in Freestone county had several late dates for lingering ducks, Northern Shoveler and Lesser Scaup 6/21 (ebird LS), Northern Pintail 6/22 (ebird m.ob) and Green-winged Teal 6/20 (ebird DC,DL,BT). Another Lesser Scaup was noted at LBS in Titus county on 6/13 (DB,LB). A Ruddy Duck was noted at TXE in Harrison county on 6/5 (DB,ME).
Northern Bobwhites were noted by observers in three counties during the period, Panola and Harrison counties on 6/8 (LP) and in Smith county on 6/28 (ebird JR,EV). Pied-billed Grebes were restricted to the RC WMA (m.ob) and to Camp county on 6/28 (DB,LB). Wow! RC WMA had the Wood Storks! A Texas state high for 2014 so far, of 328 were tallied on 6/20 (DC,DL,BT). The only other spot reporting Wood Storks came from Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 6/22 (ebird DJ). Anhingas were noted in seven counties during the month with a max of six noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 6/20 (DC,DL,BT). Still lingering in seven counties a max of 95 American White Pelicans were noted at LTW in Rains county on 6/6 (ebird RK). Tricolored Herons were restricted to RC WMA with a max of four noted on 6/20 in Navarro county (DC,DL,BT). Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were tallied in seven counties during the month with a max of seven noted in Lamar county on 6/3 (ebird EJ), and six at Pleasure Acres Lake on 6/13 (ebird MB). Black-crowned Night-Herons were found in only five counties with a max of eight noted at RC WMA (both counties ) on 6/20 (DC,DL,BT), while six noted at Pleasure Acres Lake on 6/27 must have been neat also (ebird MB). White Ibis were found throughout the month at RC WMA with max of 100 noted on 6/7 in Freestone county (ebird KC). While a similar number were found in Navarro county on 6/20 (DC,DL,BT). The only other observation of White Ibis came from the roadside of FM 555 in Upshur county where 50 were noted in a wet spot on 6/22 (LP). White-faced Ibis were mostly restricted to RC WMA with a max of 17 noted on 6/22 in Freestone county (ebird SL,JM,US,ST). The only other White-faced Ibis sighting came from the Sulphur River in Hopkins county on 6/3 (ebird CF). Seen throughout the month, a max of five Roseate Spoonbills were tallied at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 6/22 (ebird SL,JM,US,ST).
Noted much more on the eastern side of the area, observed in nine counties the max of seven Mississippi Kites were noted in Kilgore in Rusk county on 6/30 (PH). Probably the bird of the month, a Swallow-tailed Kite was reported “swooping down the river” upstream of Caddo Lake in Marion county on 6/19 (ebird MW). Believed to nest in NE Texas, Cooper's Hawk sightings from six different counties in the area during the month makes one hopeful. Noted in four counties a max of four Bald Eagles (1 JV, 2 Im, 1ad) were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 6/6 (ebird RK). The lone Swainson’s Hawk noted came from Van Zandt county on 6/7 (ebird RK).
A King Rail was reported from Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro county on 6/14 (ebird RS). A Purple Gallinule was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 6/9 (ebird CF). Common Gallinules were restricted to the RC WMA with a max of 15 noted on 6/9 in Navarro county (ebird CF). Also restricted to the RC WMA a max of 12 American Coots were tallied on 6/22 (ebird SL,JM,US,ST). Same thing with Black-necked Stilts with a max of 15 noted on 6/20 in Navarro county (DC,DL,BT). A Lesser Yellowlegs was noted on 6/20 and 6/22 at RC WMA in Freestone county (m.ob). Three White-rumped Sandpipers were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 6/6 (ebird RK), while four were noted at RC WMA on 6/9 (ebird CF).
Least Terns were noted in three counties with a max of ten recorded at LTW in Rains county on 6/6 (ebird RK), and also at RC WMA in Freestone county on 6/17 (ebird LL,LS). The only Forster’s Tern was noted from RC WMA in Navarro county on 6/9 (ebird CF). For the second month the easternmost White-winged Dove was noted in Kilgore, Rusk county (PH). A Barn Owl was noted on 6/4 and 6/19 in Edgewood in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Pulling their usual June disappearing act, the only Common Nighthawks east of Tyler were recorded on 6/6 in Cherokee county (PB) and 6/2 in Marion county (DB,LB). Noted in five counties, the easternmost Crested Caracara was found in Franklin county on 6/1 (ebird RJ). American Kestrels were recorded in Gregg county on 6/2, TXE on 6/5 (both DB) and in Tyler on 6/12 (PB). A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was recorded in Henderson county on 6/1 (ebird LBe). The easternmost Western Kingbird was noted in Mt. Pleasant in Titus county on 6/13 (DB,LB). Almost a shut out, the only Loggerhead Shrikes were tallied in Rusk county on 6/1 (ebird DCo,VC) and a pair in Harrison county on 6/8 (LP). The sole Bell’s Vireo was tallied from LTW in Rains county on 6/6 (ebird RK). A Warbling Vireo was noted in Longview, Gregg county on 6/1 (ebird DCo,VC) and in Harrison county on 6/16 (LP). Potential breeders, Tree Swallows were noted in six different counties during the month with a max of 18 noted at Lake Fork in Wood county on 6/27 (ebird RK).
The ebird Texas state high for 2014 of twenty Prothonotary Warblers was noted at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 6/10 (ebird RK). Swainson’s Warblers were noted at the Mineola Nature Preserve (m.ob), Caddo Lake area (DB,LB,LP) and in Panola county (ebird SC). The only pair of American Redstarts noted during the month came from near Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county on 6/14 (DB,LB). The only “migrant” warblers reported during the period were three Yellow Warblers found at the Mineola Nature Preserve on 6/11 (ebird JH,SL,JM,ST). Two Grasshopper Sparrows were reported on 6/6 from LTW Van Zandt county (ebird RK), one was noted in Lamar county on 6/25 (ebird MY), and another two Grasshopper Sparrows were noted near Lake Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 6/28 (DB,LB). A Baltimore Oriole was reported from Panola county on 6/8 (LP), while another was noted at Lake Crook in Lamar county on 6/20 (ebird BB).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Cherokee Co.: Franklin Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake NWR, TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Sulphur River, Sulphur Springs, Lake Sulphur Springs Lamar Co.: Lake Crook Marion Co.: Caddo Lake Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Richland Chambers Reservoir Panola Co.: Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin, Mt. Pleasant Upshur Co.: Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve, Lake Fork Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood
For You Ebirders:
There are presently five NETFO counties with over 200 species for the year, Van Zandt with 232, Henderson with 217, Freestone with 205, Smith 203 and Navarro with 200. Cherokee is the lowest NETFO county with 101 species, Red River is next with 112 and third from the bottom is Delta and Cass with 114 species. The county with most species ever recorded in July is Van Zandt county with 152 species, Rains is right behind with 150. Cherokee is on the other end with only 34 species recorded in July, Franklin has 57 and Titus and Hopkins both have 58. Stay cool and Good Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - May 2014 by David Brotherton
All NETFO counties had bird reports during the month. Ebird showed a total of 246 species observed in the NETFO area during the period. Highlights include Whimbrel, Palm Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Bobolink. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks expanded to five counties during the month with a max of three found at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 5/10 (ebird JH et al). Single female looking Red-breasted Mergansers were noted at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county on 5/1 at Lake Lone Star in Morris county on 5/9 and at Cooper Lake in Delta county on 5/17 (all DB,LB). The sole Northern Bobwhite reported came from Henderson county on 5/30 (ebird LBe). The only Wild Turkey for the area was reported in Lamar county on 5/6 (ebird WS). A late Common Loon was reported from Lake Palestine in Cherokee county on 5/26 (ebird PE).
The first Wood Stork of the year was reported from RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/26 (ebird BTo). An American Bittern was noted on several dates and by several observers during the month at the RC WMA in Navarro county. An American Bittern was noted at the Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 5/3 (ebird BrS). In Franklin county at the Daphne Prairie another American Bittern was found on 5/4 (ebird BSt). A Least Bittern was discovered on 5/3 (DC,DL) and on 5/23 (ebird BTo) at RC WMA in Navarro county. Tricolored Herons were noted throughout the month at RC WMA in both counties with a max of 10 noted on 5/10 in Navarro county (DC,DL). The only other Tricolored Heron reported was found at Mineola Nature Preserve on 5/31 (ebird RK). A pair of Black-crowned Night-Herons were observed on 5/7 in Henderson county and at least one was seen throughout the month at the same location (ebird LBe). A Single Black-crowned Night-Heron was noted at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/26 (ebird JS). Three Black-crowned Night-Herons were noted on 5/30 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL,BT). Yellow-crowned Night-Herons observations were limited to three counties during the month with a max of five noted on several dates at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county (ebird MB). White Ibis were found in four counties with a max of 20 found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/10 (DC,DL) and another 20 White Ibis were found in Upshur county on 5/31 (LP). White-faced Ibis were noted in five counties with a max of 35 at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/10 (DC,DL). First found in April, a Glossy Ibis was noted again on 5/3 at the RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL).
Ospreys were noted in six counties during the month and one was still being observed as of 5/30 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL,BT). The sole Northern Harrier was observed on 5/3 in Franklin county (ebird CW). When I first moved to north-east Texas, I hardly ever saw a Bald Eagle after mid-March. Observers from nine counties had reports of Bald Eagle during the month. In Titus county, two recently fledged juveniles were noted near their nest on 5/26 (DB,LB). Swainson’s Hawks were noted in four counties during the period with farthest eastern one noted in Franklin county on 5/3 (ebird CW).
RC WMA hosted the most Soras in Texas this year as noted in ebird. Forty Soras were tallied on 5/3 in Navarro county (DC,DL). Outside of RC WMA the only other pair of Soras were found at the Daphne Prairie in Franklin county on 5/4 (ebird BSt). RC WMA in Navarro hosted up to two Purple Gallinules and seven Common Gallinules throughout the month (m.ob).
Black-necked Stilts were found all month at RC WMA with a max of 10 noted on 5/4 in Navarro county (ebird BSt). The only two American Avocets and Black-bellied Plover reported during the period occurred on 5/4 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird BSt). American Golden-Plovers were found in three counties during the month with a max of eight noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/3 (DC,DL). Three Semipalmated Plovers were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/3 (DC,DL,BSt) and a single Semipalmated Plover was noted at LTW in Rains county on 5/6 (ebird RK). A solitary Solitary Sandpiper was noted in Franklin county on 5/2 and 5/3 (ebird BSt), while another Solitary Sandpiper was recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/3 (DC,DL). Greater Yellowlegs were noted in seven NETFO counties with a max of 20 on 5/3 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). While eight counties hosted Lesser Yellowlegs with a max of 100 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/4 (ebird BSt). The max of 28 Willets was tallied on 5/3 at Richland Chambers Reservoir on 5/3 in Navarro county (DC,DL). Single Upland Sandpipers were noted on 5/3 in Franklin county (ebird BSt) and at LTW State Park on 5/9 (ebird DP). A Whimbrel was photographed at RC WMA in both counties on 5/4 (ebird BSt). Hudsonian Godwits were noted at both counties of the RC WMA with a max of 18 observed on 5/4 in Freestone county (ebird BSt). A Marbled Godwit was discovered on 5/3 at Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro county (DC,DL). While eleven Marbled Godwits were tallied the next day at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL).
The sole Stilt Sandpipers were noted on 5/26 (ebird BTo) and 5/28 (ebird BT) at RC WMA in Freestone county. Baird’s Sandpipers were noted in six counties during the period with a max of 25 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/3 (DC,DL). Also noted in six counties the max for White-rumped Sandpipers were 50 found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/30 (DL). Found in eight counties during the month the max of 200 Pectoral Sandpipers was noted on 5/4 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird BSt). Semipalmated Sandpipers were limited to five counties with a max of six at LTW in Rains county on 5/6 (ebird RK). Western Sandpipers were limited further to only three counties with a max of eleven noted on 5/1 at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county (DB,LB). Long-billed Dowitchers were found in three counties with a max of 60 noted on 5/4 at RC WMA in Freestonc county (ebird BSt). Two Wilson’s Snipes were located at RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/3 (DC,DL). Found in six counties the max of 300 Wilson’s Phalaropes was found at on 5/7 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird CW).
The only two Bonaparte’s Gulls were noted at Cedar Creek Reservoir in Henderson county on 5/9 (ebird LBe). Franklin’s Gulls were found in seven different counties with a max of 80 on 5/4 at Greenville Reservoir in Hunt county (ebird GC,SG,DM). Limited to two counties the max of seven Least Tern was found at Fairfield Lake State Park in Freestone county (ebird CW). A Caspian Tern was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/1 (ebird MP), while another Caspian Tern was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 5/10 (DC,DL). Found in six counties the max of 100 Black Terns was found at Lake Tyler on 5/16 (ebird TF).
The easternmost pair of White-winged Doves were noted on several dates during the month in Kilgore, Rusk county (PH). A Black-billed Cuckoo was found in Cherokee county on 5/15 (LP), while another Black-billed Cuckoo was found in Smith county on 5/19 (PB,RR). Reported from eight different counties a max of six Greater Roadrunners were tallied in southwest Van Zandt county on 5/17 (ebird RK). Noted in fourteen counties a max of 54 Common Nighthawks were tallied in Henderson county on 5/9 (DC,DL).
The only Merlin noted during the month occured on 5/18 at Atlanta State Park in Cass county (HK). On 5/1 Peregrine Falcons were observed at LTW State Park (ebird MP) and at Lake Bob Sandlin in Titus county (DB,LB). Peregrine Falcons were noted in both counties of RC WMA on 5/4 and 5/10 (DC,DL,BSt). Olive-sided Flycatchers were observed at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 5/3 (ME), LTW State Park on 5/11 (ebird RK) and in Cherokee county on 5/21 (PB). Alder Flycatchers were noted in Bowie county on 5/4 (LP), Hunt county on 5/11 and 5/12 (ebird RK), 5/15 (ebird CF) and in Red River county on 5/17 (DB,LB). The sole Willow Flycatcher was tallied in Henderson county on 5/4 (ebird LBe). Noted in six counties the Texas max of 12 Least Flycatchers as noted in ebird was tallied at LTW State Park on 5/9 (ebird RK). The eastern most Western Kingbird reported came from Tyler on 5/22 (ebird DE,SE). While the Texas all time high ever recorded in ebird of 550 Eastern Kingbirds was noted on 5/9 at LTW State Park (ebird RK).
Warbling Vireos were found in six counties with a max of five noted at LTW State Park on 5/15 (ebird CF). Blue-headed Vireos were noted in five counties also with a max of four tallied in Franklin county on 5/3 (ebird BSt). The sole Philadelphia Vireo reported came from LTW State Park on 5/16 (ebird RK). Discovered in seven counties during the month, the max of thirty Cave Swallows was found at LTW in Rains county on 5/6 (ebird RK). The last Ruby-crowned Kinglet noted was found on 5/10 at LTW State Park (ebird RK).
Found in four counties the max of four Swainson’s Thrushes was tallied in Franklin county on 5/3 (ebird BSt). The last American Pipit was noted on 5/11 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Two Sprague’s Pipits were found on the Daphne Prairie in Franklin county on 5/4 (ebird BSt).
There were three sightings of Ovenbird, one on 5/4 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird GC,SG,DM) and one at LTW State Park on 5/5 (ebird RK). The third Ovenbird sighting was of two found at Caddo Lake State Park in Harrison county on 5/22 (ebird JG). The sole reported Worm-eating Warbler was discovered in Cass county on 5/4 (LP). Single sightings of Northern Waterthrush occurred on 5/4 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL) and on the same date at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird GC,SG,DM), and finally on 5/10 and 5/11 one was at LTW State Park (ebird RK). One of my favorites, Swainson’s Warblers were found in four counties with two being noted in Cherokee county on 5/21 (PB).
This month’s most common migrant warbler, the Tennessee Warbler was observed in fourteen counties, with a max of 13 noted on 5/3 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). Last month’s most common migrant warbler, the Nashville Warbler was only noted in nine counties, with a max of six noted on 5/3 in Franklin county (ebird BSt). A Mourning Warbler was at Tyler State Park on 5/16 (ebird TF), while another Mourning Warbler was spotted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 5/17 (ebird CC,CF,RK). The only Cerulean Warbler observed was found on 5/10 and 5/11 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). Found in five counties the max of three Magnolia Warblers was tallied on 5/10 (m.ob) and on 5/11 (ebird RK) at LTW State Park. A Bay-breasted Warbler was found at Tyler State Park on 5/8 (ebird JS), and one was noted at LTW State Park on 5/11 and 5/16 (ebird RK).
Three Blackburnian Warblers were tallied at Pleasant Acres Lake on 5/8 (PB), and one was still there on 5/9 (MB). Another Blackburnian Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 5/11 (ebird RK). Tallied in twelve counties, the max of 50 Yellow Warblers was tallied at LTW State Park on 5/9 (ebird RK). Discovered in four counties the max of two Chestnut-sided Warblers was tallied on 5/9 (ebird DP) and on 5/10 (ebird RK) at LTW State Park. Four Blackpoll Warblers were found at Atlanta State Park on 5/2 (MD,BH). While another Blackpoll Warbler was found in Marion county on 5/3 (LP) and another at LTW State Park on 5/9 (PB,GC,RK,DP,RR). A Palm Warbler was reported at Tyler State Park on 5/16 (ebird TF). Reported from six counties the max of two Black-throated Green Warblers was noted on 5/9 in Henderson county (DC,DL) and on 5/10 at LTW State Park (m.ob). A Canada Warbler was reported from Tyler State Park on 5/8 (ebird JS) and at LTW State Park on 5/11 (ebird RK). Wilson’s Warblers were reported from three counties with a max of three noted on 5/9 at both Pleasant Acres Lake (MB) and at LTW State Park (ebird RK).
East of where they are normally reported, Clay-colored Sparrows were noted in Franklin county on 5/3 (ebird BSt, CW). Noted in seven counties a max of 40 Grasshopper Sparrows was tallied at the Daphne Prairie on 5/4 (ebird BSt). The sole Scarlet Tanager was reported from Kilgore in Rusk county on 5/3 (PH). Observed in five counties the max of two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks came from LTW State Park on 5/10 (ebird RK). The sole Bobolink reported was photographed at RC WMA in Freestone county on 5/4 (ebird BSt). Yellow-headed Blackbirds were tallied in three counties with a max of 100 found on 5/4 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). Ten counties had reports of Baltimore Orioles with a max of forty noted on 5/16 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). The sole Pine Siskin was reported from Franklin county on 5/3 (ebird BSt). The last American Goldfinch reported occurred on 5/17 at LTW State Park (ebird CC,CF).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Cass Co.: Atlanta State Park Cherokee Co.: Lake Palestine Delta Co.: Cooper Lake Franklin Co.: Daphne Prairie Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Fairfield Lake State Park, Richland Chambers Reservoir Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake State Park Henderson Co.: Cedar Creek Reservoir Hunt Co.: LTW - LTW State Park, Greenville Reservoir Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: Morris Co.: Lake Lone Star Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Richland Chambers Reservoir Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Rusk Co.: Kilgore Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Lake Tyler, Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer Wood Co.: Mineola Nature Preserve Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni
For You Ebirders:
All NETFO counties now have over 100 species observed for the year! Way to go! Good Birding!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - April 2014 by David Brotherton
In April, birding reports were received from all NETFO counties except Fannin and Delta. Highlights include Long-tailed Duck, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Scarlet Tanagers, and Lazuli Buntings. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks expanded to four counties during the month with a max of 28 found near Lake Fork in Rains county on 4/15 (ebird JC). Up to a pair of Mottled Ducks were reported on 4/12 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird BC,DC,DL,BT). A high of 100 Blue-winged Teal were tallied at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/27 (DC). RC WMA was also the sole source for up to three Redheads seen in both counties from 4/18 through 4/20. (BC,DC,DL,BT). A Long-tailed Duck was observed and photographed from 4/18 through 4/20 at RC WMA in Freestone county (BC,DC,DL,BT). The last Bufflehead was reported on 4/10 at TXE in Harrison county (DB). The only six Common Goldeneyes reported came from Cedar Creek Reservoir in Henderson county on 4/4 (ebird LBe). The sole Red-breasted Merganser was noted from Lake Wright Patman in Cass county on 4/7 (ebird JK,LK).
The last Horned Grebe reported was found at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 4/22 (ebird RK). An American Bittern was found in each county of the RC WMA on 4/5 (ebird CF,BT) and a week later on 4/12 two were found in the Navarro county portion of the WMA (ebird DC,DL,BT). Another American Bittern was noted at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county from 4/9 through 4/19 (PB,MB). Two American Bitterns were found at the Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 4/28 (ebird BrS). Still another American Bittern was found at LTW in Rains county on 4/21 (ebird RK). The sole Tricolored Heron reported in the area was observed at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/18 (ebird DC,DL,BT). Up to five Black-crowned Night-Herons were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/5 (ebird DC,CF,DL,BT). The RC WMA was the sole location for White Ibis with a max of six noted on 4/18 in Freestone county (DC,DL). A Glossy Ibis was found on 4/27 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). Seen throughout the month a max of 30 White-faced Ibis was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county reported on 4/18 (ebird BT). Another White-faced Ibis was observed at LTW in Rains county on 4/28 (ebird CR).
The first ten Mississippi Kites were observed on 4/24 in Whitehouse in Smith county (ebird DP). Noted in seven different counties the first Swainson’s Hawk was noted on 4/5 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). Farther east than usual two Swainson’s Hawks were found at LBS in Titus county on 4/25 (ebird KP). Almost as far east another Swainson’s Hawk was found on the same date in Smith county (PB).
A Virginia Rail was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/5 (CF,BT) and 4/18 (DC,DL,BT). Sora’s were noted in five counties with a first date of 4/5 (CF,BT) at RC WMA in Navarro county with a max of six noted at the same place on 4/18 (DC,DL). Five Common Gallinules were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 4/12 (DC,DL,BT). Another Common Gallinule was noted in Henderson county on 4/26 (BT). A Purple Gallinule was found at Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county on 4/19 (ebird AT).
Black-necked Stilts were found in both counties of the RC WMA during the month with a peak of 10 found on 4/12 in Freestone county (DC,DL). American Avocets were observed in three counties during the month with a peak of 13 observed in Van Zandt county on 4/24 (ebird DO). American Golden Plovers were noted in six counties during the month with a max of 200 found at LTW in Hunt county on 4/5 (ebird BC). The only Snowy Plover found during the month was found in Rains county on LTW on 4/4 (ebird RK). The first Semipalmated Plover was found on 4/17 in Navarro county (ebird TD), while the max of four was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/29 (ebird RK). Spotted Sandpipers were noted throughout the month with a Texas max for the year as noted in ebird of 90 noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/27 (DL).
Solitary Sandpipers were found in six counties with a max of three at LTW in Rains county on 4/27 (ebird BC). The first Willet of the spring was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/20 (ebird RK), while the max of four was noted at LTW Rains county on 4/28 (ebird CR) and in LTW Hunt county on 4/25 (ebird RK). Noted in eight counties the max of 300 Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/27 (DC). Found in five different counties the peak of a dozen Upland Sandpipers were noted at LTW on several dates. A Whimbrel was observed on 4/20 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird BC). Hudsonian Godwits were noted from 4/15 through 4/26 at LTW in Rains county with a peak of 39 tallied on 4/15 (ebird CF). A Stilt Sandpiper was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/8 (ebird BSc), while two were noted at the same location on 4/29 (ebird RK). Three Sanderlings were found on 4/28 at LTW in Rains county on 4/28 (ebird CR), while two were found on 4/29 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Found in four counties during the month the peak of Baird’s Sandpipers of 30 was found on 4/28 at LTW in Rains county (ebird CR). The only Buff-breasted Sandpiper reported came from RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/13 (DC,DL). Reported in six different counties the peak of 200 Pectoral Sandpipers were noted on 4/27 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). Found in five counties during the month the first Semipalmated Sandpiper was noted on 4/12 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL,BT), while the peak of fifteen were found at LTW in Rains county on 4/28 (ebird CR). Western Sandpipers were found in only three counties with the first and peak of ten were found on 4/4 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Found in five counties the peak of 150 Long-billed Dowitchers was noted on 4/27 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL). Located in four counties, the first ten Wilson’s Phalaropes were found on 4/12 at RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL,BT), while the peak of 400 was found at LTW in Rains county on 4/28 (ebird CR).
A Laughing Gull was noted on 4/5 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird BC). Another Laughing Gull was found on 4/27 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 4/27 (DC,DL). Restricted to five counties, the peak of 200 Franklin’s Gulls were found at LTW in Hunt county on 4/25 (ebird RK). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/4 (ebird RK), and on 4/5 (ebird BC).
The easternmost White-winged Doves were noted at Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 4/9 (ebird DJ). The first Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found in Marshall on 4/18 (LP). The first two Common Nighthawks were reported from the Corsicana Airport on 4/23 (BT). The first Chuck-will’s-widow was reported from Lake Wright Patman in Cass county on 4/7 (ebird JK,LK). The first Eastern Whip-poor-will was reported from LTW State Park on 4/4 (ebird RK). The easternmost Crested Caracara was reported from Smith county on 4/28 (PB). The lone Merlin sighting came from LTW in Rains county on 4/21 (ebird RK). Peregrine Falcon sightings occurred on 4/12 at RC WMA in Navarro and Freestone county on 4/12 (DC,DL,BT), at the same location in Freestone county on 4/27 (DC,DL). Peregrine Falcons were also noted at LTW in Hunt county on 4/21 and in Van Zandt county on 4/22 (ebird RK).
The first Eastern Wood-Pewee of the spring was noted at Tyler State Park on 4/15 (ebird BS). The first Acadian Flycatcher was reported from Henderson county on 4/4 (ebird LBe). The earliest Least Flycatcher was found at LTW State Park on 4/22 (ebird RK). Great Crested Flycatchers were first found at Tyler State Park on 4/8 (ebird BS). Later than their eastern brethen, Western Kingbirds were first noted on 4/18 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL,BT). The sole Bell’s Vireo for the month was reported on 4/28 at LTW State Park (ebird RK). Noted in four NETFO counties, the earliest Warbling Vireo was found in Smith county at Pleasure Acres Lake on 4/9 (PB). A Philadelphia Vireo was also found at the Old Sabine Bottom WMA in Smith county (ebird MB).
Found in six counties, the earliest Bank Swallow was noted on 4/8 in Van Zandt county (ebird BSc). A Veery was found at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK). The first Swainson’s Thrush was located at Caddo Lake State Park on 4/10 (ebird TA). The first Wood Thrush was heard at Daingerfield State Park on 4/20 (DB,LB). The sole Sprague’s Pipit reported was from LTW State Park on 4/4 (ebird RK).
The sole Blue-winged Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK). A Golden-winged Warbler was observed at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/26 (PB,RK,RR). The first Prothonotary Warblers were found at Lake Murvaul in Panola county (ebird CM), and at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird BC), both on 4/5. Noted in three counties, the first Swainson’s Warbler was found on 4/13 in both counties of the RC WMA (DC,DL), and in Smith county (PB). Found in five counties, the earliest Tennessee Warbler was found at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 4/19 (ebird MB). Reported in nine different counties, the peak number of fifty Nashville Warblers came from LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/19 (ebird RK).
The first Kentucky Warbler was found at Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood county on 4/12 (PB). The earliest American Redstart was observed on 4/19 in Henderson county (DL). A Magnolia Warbler was found on 4/29 at Canton City Lake in Van Zandt county (ebird DO). Noted in three counties the first Chestnut-sided Warbler was discovered at Caddo Lake State Park on 4/18 (LP). Noted in four counties the earliest Yellow Warbler was found at Canton City Lake on 4/7 (ebird DO), while the Texas peak of the year so far of 75 Yellow Warblers was noted at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK). The only Prairie Warbler noted during the month came from LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/23 (ebird RK). Noted in four counties the peak of six Black-throated Green Warblers was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/4 (ebird RK). Two Wilson’s Warblers were found at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK). The first Yellow-breasted Chat was found at Pleasant Acres Lake on 4/19 (ebird MB).
Grasshopper Sparrows were reported from four counties with a peak of six noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/28 (ebird RK). The sole Le Conte’s Sparrow was found on 4/21 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). A Scarlet Tanager was reported from Caddo Lake NWR on 4/21 (ebird DN). On 4/28 one observer found a Scarlet Tanager at LTW State Park and in Edgewood in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Found in three different counties the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found on 4/20 in Flint in Smith county (ebird SE). The first Blue Grosbeaks were reported in Hopkins county (ebird TH), and at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL) on 4/13. A Lazuli Bunting was photographed in Smith county on 4/24 (ebird MB), while two were found at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK). The first Painted Bunting was found at LTW State Park on 4/21 (ebird RK). The first of the season Dickcissel was noted on 4/19 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The sole pair of Bobolinks were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 4/28 (ebird RK). The first Orchard Oriole was noted in Smith county on 4/13 (PB). Found in five counties the first Yellow-headed Blackbird was noted in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 4/12 (ebird RK). Located in six different counties the earliest Baltimore Oriole was found on 4/13 in Harrison county (ebird DJ,CO). While the Texas ebird state peak of 70 Baltimore Orioles were found at LTW State Park on 4/28 (ebird RK).
Locations and Counties:
Cass Co.: Lake Wright Patman Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake NWR, TXE - Texas Eastman, Marshall, Caddo Lake Henderson Co.: Trinidad, Cedar Creek Reservoir Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW - LTW State Park Morris Co.: Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Corsicana Airport Panola Co.: Lake Murvaul Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park, Whitehouse, Old Sabine Bottom WMA, Flint Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Wood Co.: Winnsboro City Park, Lake Fork, Mineola Nature Preserve Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Canton City Lake, Edgewood
For You Ebirders:
During the month Titus, Panola, Gregg and Lamar joined the 100 club for 2014. That makes 20 NETFO counties for which birders have tallied 100 or more species during the year. Van Zandt county leads all counties with 213 species for the year, with Smith county in second place with 182 species. The lowest county through April is Cherokee county with 65 species. Rusk with 80 and Cass with 86 are 2nd and 3rd from the bottom. Good luck birding this month!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - March 2014 by David Brotherton
In March, all 26 counties in the NETFO area had reports for the period. Highlights include White-winged Scoter, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loons, Thayer’s Gull, a California Gull, along with several Lesser Black-backed Gulls, just to name a few. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were restricted to Van Zandt and Wood counties during the month with a high of 36 noted on 3/19 at Wills Point in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Snow Geese passed through the area sort of unnoticed, found in only five counties with a peak of 90 found on 3/6 at the Caddo National Grasslands in Fannin county (ebird CF). A Cackling Goose was found at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 3/28 (ebird MB).
Peaks of 1700 Gadwall, 500 Blue-winged Teal, 2500 Northern Shovelers, 1800 Northern Pintail, and 1300 Green-winged Teal were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/1 (PB,DP,DS,ET). While up to five Cinnamon Teal were found there on the same date (PB,DP,DS,ET,BW). The Tyler State Park White-winged Scoter found last month was seen several times during the month till at least 3/21 (ebird BS). Red-breasted Mergansers were restricted to Van Zandt and Hopkins counties with a peak of 11 birds found at Lake Sulphur Springs on 3/30 (DB,LB). Twelve Wild Turkeys were tallied near Wills Point in Van Zandt county on 3/19 (ebird RK), while three were photographed in Upshur county on 3/14 (LP).
Up to two Red-throated Loons were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/24 (ebird BC,RK). A Pacific Loon was noted on several dates during March at LTW in Van Zandt county with a last date of 3/24 (ebird BC,RK). Another Pacific Loon was tallied at LOP in Marion county on 3/9 (DB,LB). The high for the month of 250 Horned Grebes were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/8 (ebird RK). Eared Grebes were noted in five counties with a peak of ten noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/15 (DC,DL). Thirteen counties had records of Neotropic Cormorants with a peak of 100 noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/8 (ebird RK). The Texas high so far of 25,000 Double-crested Cormorants was tallied at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/1 (ebird BC). Two Anhingas were reported from Pinedale Lake in Smith county on 3/10 (ebird TG).
An American Bittern was found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 3/24 (ebird MB). The first Snowy Egret of the spring was noted in Franklin county on 3/18 (ebird MO). The first Little Blue Heron was noted at Pleasure Acres Lake on 3/13 (ebird MB). The first Cattle Egret was found in Upshur county on 3/14 (ebird KH). The earliest Green Heron was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/15 (ebird LBe). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was noted at Pleasure Acres Lake from 3/13 onward (ebird MB). The sole White Ibis for the area was found in Navarro county on 3/16 (ebird WS). Restricted to RC WMA the high for White-faced Ibis were 28 found on 3/9 (DC,DL).
A pair of Bald Eagles were observed occupying a nest at Cooper Lake in Hopkins county on 3/29 (DB,LB). The first Broad-winged Hawk was noted over Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 3/29 (DB). A Common Gallinule was noted at Ferndale in Camp county (ebird JH).
American Avocets were still being seeing in both counties of the RC WMA with a max of thirty reported from Freestone county on 3/1 (ebird BW). American Golden-Plovers were first found on 3/1 at RC WMA in Freestone county (PB,BW). They were noted in nine different counties during the month with a max of 70 American Golden-Plovers noted just south of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 3/29 (DB,LB). Solitary Sandpipers were restricted to Van Zandt county with the first pair found at LTW on 3/15 (ebird MB). Noted in fourteen different counties, a max of 44 Greater Yellowlegs were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 3/11 (ebird RK). Only in seven counties, a max of 25 Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/9 (DC,DL).
A pair of Upland Sandpipers were noted in Upshur county on 3/10 (ME), while single Upland Sandpipers were found in Titus county on 3/25 (ebird RS) and at LTW State Park on 3/30 (ebird RK). The first six Pectoral Sandpipers were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 3/7 (ebird RK). The first twenty, also the high, of Baird’s Sandpipers were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/1 (PB,DP,DS,ET). A wow of 1000 Least Sandpipers were noted on three dates from 3/8 to 3/14 at LTW Oak Cove in Rains county (ebird RK). The max of 100 Long-billed Dowitchers were tallied on 3/1 at RC WMA in Freestone county (PB). A max of eighty Wilson’s Snipes were tallied at a field in Upshur county on 3/6 (LP). Eight American Woodcocks were counted in Harrison county on 3/1 (LP), while one American Woodcock was noted in Upshur county and six in Marion county on 3/9 (ME) and (DB) respectively.
The Texas high for Bonaparte’s Gulls to date of 5000 as noted in ebird was recorded at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/1 (ebird BC). A first winter Little Gull was documented on 3/9 at LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The first 5, and almost the only, Franklin’s Gulls noted in the area occurred on 3/1 at RC WMA in Navarro county (ebird DP). The peak of 500 Ring-billed Gulls occurred at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/1 (ebird RK). A Thayer’s Gull was found at LTW in Rains county on 3/1 (ebird CF,BT). While a Thayer’s Gull, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a California Gull were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/8 (ebird RK,RR). An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was also found at the same location on 3/15 (m.ob). On the same date another Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at Lake Tyler (RSc).
Six White-winged Doves at the Winnsboro City Park in Wood county were the farthest eastern ones found during the period (ebird DO). A Barn Owl was noted at the Corsicana Country Club in Navarro county on 3/29 (ebird WS). The first three Chimney Swifts were recorded in Longview on 3/31 (LP). A beautiful male Rufous Hummingbird was photographed in Smith county on 3/3 and the bird was also observed with an early/late Ruby-throated Hummingbird (ebird MB). The next earliest Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted on 3/24 in Rusk county (ebird KH). Two Crested Caracaras were photographed together on 3/22 near Mt Vernon for the farthest eastern ones noted (DB,LB). A total of 3 sightings of Merlins were noted on 3/30 at LTW, two at the State Park and one in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). A Peregrine Falcon was spotted at LTW State Park on 3/9 (ebird RK).
The first Eastern Kingbird was noted in Daingerfield on 3/27 (DB,LB). The first Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was found at Lake Fork in Wood county on 3/20 (ebird JC). The first of the spring White-eyed Vireo was found at LTW in Rains county on 3/11 (ebird LL). The first Yellow-throated Vireo was located in Harrison county on 3/25 (LP). The earliest Red-eyed Vireo was noted at Caddo Lake NWR in Harrison county on 3/28 (ebird PW).
Thirty Horned Larks were found at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 3/22 (LP). Two were found at Sulphur Springs Airport in Hopkins county on 3/22 (DB,LB), while four other Horned Larks were found on a field near Big Creek Lake in Delta county on the same date (DB,LB). Cave Swallows were found in three counties during the month, with a max of 20 noted at Lake Bonham in Fannin county on 3/6 (ebird CF). The sole Red-breasted Nuthatch was noted once again in Henderson county on 3/8 and 3/22 (DC,DL). Bewick’s Wrens were noted on 3/8 in Van Zandt county and at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 3/9 (ebird RK). Blue-gray Gnatcatchers appeared to have shown up on 3/19 at LTW State Park when 20 appeared. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers then appeared to show up all over the NETFO region. The sole Sprague’s Pipit was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/15 (PB,LBe,DC,DL).
The first Louisiana Waterthrush was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 3/18 (ebird RK). The earliest Black-and-white Warbler was found at Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county on 3/18 (ebird CF). A Nashville Warbler was found in Trinidad in Henderson county on 3/21 (ebird BT), while another Nashville Warbler was found in the same county in another location on 3/22 (DC,DL). The first Hooded Warbler of the season was recorded in Van Zandt county on 3/29 (ebird RK). The earliest Northern Parula was found in Upshur county on 3/14 (LP). I always think of Saint Patty’s Day as the first day for Yellow-throated Warbler, although it doesn’t always work that way. Well this year it did, when a Yellow-throated Warbler was found in Henderson county (ebird LaB). The first two Black-throated Green Warblers were noted at Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/28 (ebird MB).
Spotted Towhees were found in three counties during the period with farthest east and peak of 2 found on 3/18 at Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county (ebird CF). The sole Clay-colored Sparrow found during the period was reported from Pleasant Acres Lake on 3/14 (ebird MB). On the same date the sole Grasshopper Sparrow was found in Upshur county (LP). A Le Conte’s Sparrow as found in Fannin county on 3/6 (ebird CF), and in Upshur county on 3/22 (LP). The Texas ebird max for the year of 100 White-throated Sparrows were tallied at LTW in Van Zandt on 3/14 (ebird RK).
The earliest Indigo Bunting for the spring was found on 3/28 in Smith county (ebird MB). The first Summer Tanager was recorded at Lake Gladewater in Upshur county on 3/28 (LP). Not very common in the area during this season, two Western Meadowlarks were reported from Fannin county on 3/6 (ebird CF), while another two were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 3/9 (DC,DL,BT). Noted in six counties during the month, the max of 40 Rusty Blackbirds was found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 3/1 (ebird BW). The sole Pine Siskin was noted from Daingerfield on 3/7 (LB).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Ferndale Delta.: Big Creek Lake Fannin Co.: Caddo National Grassland Franklin Co.: Mt Vernon, Mt Vernon Airport Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake NWR Henderson Co.: Trinidad Hopkins Co.: Lake Sulphur Springs, Sulphur Springs, Sulphur Springs Airport, Cooper Lake State Park Hunt Co.: LTW - LTW State Park Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Daingerfield Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Corsicana Country Club Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer, Lake Gladewater Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Oak Cove LTW Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Pinedale Lake, Tyler State Park, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: Wood Co.: Winnsboro City Park, Lake Fork Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Wills Point
For You Ebirders:
Eight more counties make it a total of 16 NETFO counties that now have 100 species for the year. The new counties to join are Fannin, Harrison, Hopkins, Wood, Franklin, Marion, Morris and Camp. Van Zandt county leads all counties with 158 species for the year, with Smith county in second with 143 species. The lowest county through March is Cherokee county with 53 species. Cass with 72 and Rusk with 80 are 2nd and 3rd from the bottom. For April, the county with the lowest total ever is Franklin with 71, Red River with 77 and Cass with 82. While Van Zandt has the most with an amazing 260 species! Good luck birding this month!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - February 2014 by David Brotherton
In February all 26 counties in the NETFO area had reports for the period. Highlights include Black-legged Kittiwake, Cackling Goose, White-winged Scoters, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loons, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Thayer’s Gull, and Western Grebe, just to name a few. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were restricted to Van Zandt county with a high of 170 noted on 2/8 (PB). The peak of 300 Greater White-fronted Geese and 15000 Snow Geese and 25 Ross’s Geese were found on the Navarro county line on FM 85 on 2/15 (ebird TD, MWe). The peak of 42 Canada Geese were noted in Gregg county on 2/17 (ebird JM). A Cackling Goose was photographed at Lake Gladewater in Upshur county on 2/21 (LP).
1500 Gadwall and 1750 Northern Shovelers were tallied at LTW in Rains county at Cedar Cove on 2/5 (ebird RK). A few Blue-winged Teal started passing through the area with the first noted at Lake Bob Sandlin in Camp county on 2/15 (DB,LB,LE,CT,DW,SW). 1050 was the peak for Northern Pintail during the month found on 2/22 at RC WMA (DC,DL). 1000 was the peak for Green-winged Teal found at LTW in Rains county on 2/15 (ebird RK). The peak for Canvasback for the month was 183 noted at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 2/1 (DB,LB). 250 was the peak for Redhead’s found on the Edgewood City Lake in Van Zandt county on 2/4 (ebird RK). The peak for the year in Texas so far 350 Ring-necked Ducks were tallied at Edgewood City Lake on 2/4 (ebird RK). Greater Scaup were found in three counties during the month with a peak of 22 at LOP in Upshur county on 2/22 (DB,LB).
Two White-winged Scoters were found on LOP at Oak Valley in Marion county on 2/8 (DB,LB). Three were found at the same location the next day (DB,LB,MD,LE,CT). The birds were noted until at least 2/16 (DB,LB,MD,PH). Another White-winged Scoter was found and photographed at Tyler State Park in Smith county on 2/19 (BS,BrS). This bird was found and photographed by several birders throughout the month. Red-breasted Mergansers were noted at both LOP in Marion county and at LTW near the dam with a high of 165 noted from Rains county on 2/15 (ebird RK).
A Pacific Loon was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 2/9 (ebird BC). Three Pacific Loons were noted at LOP in Marion county near the dam on 2/8 (DB,LB). Two of the Pacific Loons were still present and photographed on 2/15 (LP). On 2/9 at LOP while observers were watching one of the Pacific Loons, a Red-throated Loon was found (DB,LB,LE,CT). The Red-throated Loon was observed through at least 2/22 (ME). The Texas high for the year of 50 Common Loons was tallied at LOP in Marion county on 2/15 (LP). A peak of 1750 Horned Grebes were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 2/15 (ebird RK). The sole Eared Grebe for the period was tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL). A Western Grebe, probably the one found on the LOP CBC, was relocated at the lake in Marion county on 2/21 (ME). The Texas high of 12,500 Double-crested Cormorants were tallied at LTW in Rains county on 2/15 (ebird RK). Neotropic Cormorants were noted in eleven counties during the month with a peak of fifty noted at Holiday Marina on LTW in Van Zandt county on 2/8 (PB).
Great Blue Herons were noted on nest by 2/7 at Lake Lone Star in Morris County (DB,LB). The peak of Great Egrets noted during the period was 19 tallied at Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 2/15 (ebird CS). Two Black-crowned Night-Herons were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/22 (DC,DL). Seven White Ibis were tallied at Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 2/15 (ebird CS). While one White Ibis and four White-faced Ibis were tallied at RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL).
The only pair of Ospreys were noted at LOP in Marion county on 2/15 (ebird BrS). A Red-tailed Hawk was found tending a nest in Franklin county on 2/23 (DB,LB). A pair of Virginia Rails were heard, observed and photographed at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 2/22 (PB,DG). A sickly Sora was noted in Tyler in Smith county on 2/20 (JC), while another healthy one was found at Bellwood Lake on 2/22 (PB,DG).
American Avocets were noted in both counties of RC WMA on 2/22 with a max of 7 in Navarro county (LBe,DC,DL). Observers tallied Spotted Sandpiper in five different counties with a peak of two at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 2/4 (PB). Ten counties reported Greater Yellowlegs with a peak of 12 noted on 2/26 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Two Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (LBe, DC,DL). Dunlin were noted at LTW in Rains county when two were found on 2/15 and 11 were recorded on 2/26 (ebird RK). Least Sandpipers were noted in six counties with a max of 100 at LTW in Rains county on 2/26 (ebird RK). Pectoral Sandpipers a sometimes early migrant, was observed at Lake Halbert in Navarro county on 2/18 (ebird BC). While two Pectoral Sandpipers were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL). Long-billed Dowitchers were noted in three counties during the month with a max of 50 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL). Wilson’s Snipe were noted in seven counties with a max of 30 in Harrison county on 2/8 (LP). The lone American Woodcock report came from Longview, Gregg county, on 2/15 during an early morning run (DW).
The sole Black-legged Kittiwake confirmed in ebird during February not on the east or west coast was observed and photographed at Lake Palestine in Smith county on 2/9 (PB,BC,GC,DC,DL). At the same location on 2/13 the sole Laughing Gull for the area was observed (MDu). The Texas peak for the year so far of 1250 Bonaparte’s Gulls was noted at LTW in Rains county on 2/15 (ebird RK). Two thousand Ring-billed Gulls were the high for the area noted at LTW in Rains county on 2/12 (ebird CR). Herring Gulls were noted in fairly good numbers with a max of twenty at LTW in Rains county on 2/12 (ebird CR), and on 2/15 (ebird RK). While the same tally of twenty Herring Gulls was also noted at LOP in Marion county also on 2/15 (LP). A first-winter Thayer’s Gull was observed at LTW State Park on 2/26 (ebird RK). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at at LTW in Rains county on 2/12 (ebird CR), relocated on 2/26 in the same county (ebird RK), and also recorded in Van Zandt county on 2/16 (ebird RK).
Found in six counties, the eastern most White-winged Doves, three of them, were found in Texarkana in Bowie county on 2/16 (ebird KS). Noted in ten different counties, the peak of 10 Inca Doves was noted in Gregg county on 2/6 (LP). A Great Horned Owl was photographed on nest in a huge power pole in Franklin county on 2/23 (DB,LB). A neat bird wherever noted in NETFO area, Crested Caracaras were noted east of normal this month with two being tallied in Franklin county near the Mt. Vernon airport on 2/23 (DB,LB). And further east a Crested Caracara was found and photographed just north of the Morris county airport on 2/28 (DB,LB). Single Merlins were noted at LOP in Upshur county on 2/1 (PB,DG), in Harrison county on 2/8 (LP), in Van Zandt county also on 2/8 (DP) and in Henderson county on 2/14 (ebird LBe).
Ten Horned Larks were observed at Martin’s Mill in Van Zandt county on 2/8 (ebird DP), while three Horned Larks were found in Franklin county on 2/23 (DB,LB). The first Northern Rough-winged Swallows for the spring were located at Lake Gladewater in Upshur county on 2/21 (LP). A Tree Swallow was also found at Lake Gladewater on the same date (LP), while up to two Tree Swallows were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL). The first Barn Swallows of the season was reported at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 2/21 (LP), and also at LTW State Park on the same date (ebird RK). Cave Swallows were reported in four counties during the month with a max of 16 noted on 2/26 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Single Red-breasted Nuthatches were record in Henderson county on 2/8 (DC,DL), in Smith county on 2/12 (ebird MDu) and at LOP in Upshur county on 2/16 (ebird LL,DN,LS).
Two Marsh Wrens were noted at LBS in Wood county on 2/3 (PH,LP), while one Marsh Wren was found at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 2/22 (LBe,DC,DL). The farthest east Bewick’s Wren was located in Van Zandt county, found on 2/14 (ebird DO). The peak of 800 American Robins was noted in Henderson county on 2/8 (DC,DL). The max of 120 American Pipits were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 2/22 (DC,DL). The sole Sprague’s Pipit found in Texas north of Llano county during February was found at Lake Fork in Wood county on 2/16 (BrS). The max of 450 Cedar Waxwings were tallied near Lone Star in Morris county on 2/7 (DB,LB). A Spotted Towhee was observed at Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county on 2/6 (ebird MB) and another Spotted Towhee was recorded at LTW State Park on 2/16 (ebird RK).
Vesper Sparrows were record in five different counties with a peak of 5 in Van Zandt county on 2/8 (PB). A Lark Sparrow was found in Camp county on 2/15 (DB,LE,CT). A Grasshopper Sparrow was noted at Lake Fork in Wood county on 2/16 (ebird BrS). The sole location reporting Le Conte’s Sparrow was at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK, AW). Harris’s Sparrows were recorded in eleven counties with a max of ten being recorded in Freestone county on 2/18 (ebird CF), in Franklin county on 2/23 (DB,LB), and in Van Zandt county on 2/24 (PH,LP). The peak of White-crowned Sparrows were 59 recorded near the Mt. Vernon airport in Franklin county on 2/23 (DB,LB).
The furthest east Western Meadowlarks were 11 recorded in Smith county on 2/3 (PB). Rusty Blackbird’s were noted in eight different counties with a peak of 19 recorded in Longview, Gregg county on 2/26 (LP). Eleven different counties reported Brewer’s Blackbird’s with a peak of 430 in Morris county on 2/28 (DB,LB). A Purple Finch was found in Upshur county on 2/15 and joined by a friend the next day (ME), while another Purple Finch was found in Van Zandt county on 2/24 (PH,LP). Pine Siskins almost as rare as Purple Finches this winter had a peak of two found in Smith county on 2/12 (ebird MDu). The peak of 250 American Goldfinches was tallied in De Kalb in Bowie county on 2/15 (ebird JR).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: De Kalb, Texarkana Camp Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Franklin Co.: Mt Vernon, Mt Vernon Airport Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake Henderson Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW - LTW State Park Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines, Oak Valley Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Lone Star, Lake Lone Star, Morris County Airport Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Lake Halbert Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer, LOP - Lake O Pines, Lake Gladewater Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Cedar Cove LTW Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Lake Tyler, Bellwood Lake, Lake Palestine, Tyler State Park Wood Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Fork Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood City Lake, Martin Mills, Holiday Marina - LTW
For You Ebirders:
Eight of the 26 NETFO counties already have 100 species for the year. Those counties with 100 species are Smith, Navarro, Henderson, Hunt, Rains, Van Zandt, Freestone and Upshur. Van Zandt county leads all counties with 130 species for the year. The lowest county to date is Fannin county with 34 species. The county with the lowest March total in eBird is Hopkins county with 77 species, so on Saturday, March 29 we will have a Hopkins County Blitz. Join Luanne and me at the McDonalds in Sulphur Springs off of I-30 at 1:00 pm. We will compare maps, split into groups and go see some birds! If nothing else, we will have some fun!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - December 2013 / January 2014 by David Brotherton
In December and January all 26 counties in the NETFO area had reports for the period. Six CBC’s were held during the period, a seventh (Caddo Lake) was cancelled due to weather. Longview and Lake O’ the Pines CBC’s were effected by weather also, with the best part of the day found at 4:30 am in the morning and going down hill from there. Longview CBC held on Dec. 14 tallied 109 species. Lake O’ Pines CBC held on Dec. 22 tallied 107 species. Lake Tawakoni CBC held on Dec. 28 tallied 134 species. Tenaha-Timpson CBC held on Jan. 1 tallied 98 species. Texarkana CBC held on Jan. 3 tallied 87 species, while Tyler CBC held on Jan. 4 tallied 111 species. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Three counties had reports of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a high of 125 in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on Dec. 3 (ebird RK). A first for the LTW CBC, fifty Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were recorded also in Van Zandt county (RK). A highlight of the Longview CBC 18 Greater White-fronted Geese were recorded at the Longview Waste Water Treatment Area in Gregg county (PH,LP). Beside’s the LBS Ross’s Goose, single Ross’s Geese were recorded at LTW in Rains and Van Zandt county on several dates, while one was also noted at RC WMA on 12/29 (DC,DL). The peak of 400 Snow Geese were noted at Trinidad Lake in Henderson county on Jan. 1 (DC,DL). Twenty Cackling Geese were recorded in Lamar county on Dec. 21 (ebird EJ). Canada Geese were noted in ten counties with a max of 110 in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on Dec. 28 (ebird RK).
Blue-winged Teal were noted in both counties of the RC WMA with a peak of 13 in Navarro county on 12/29. Two Cinnamon Teal were noted at the RC WMA in Freestone county on (DC,DL) on 12/29, and one was relocated on 1/8 (ebird MS). The LTW CBC tallied a whopping 2144 Northern Shovelers and 2609 Green-winged Teal. An amazing 2917 Northern Pintails were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 12/29 (DC,DL). Three White-winged Scoters were found and photographed at the Greenville City Lakes in Hunt county on 1/25 (ebird BrS). The bird of the Texarkana CBC, a Long-tailed Duck was located in the spillway of Lake Wright Patman in Cass county (CM). The bird was seen by several others during the month. After a poor year last year Red-breasted Mergansers have come back with a flurry. A mere 10 year high of 15 were recorded on the LOP CBC in Marion county (DB,LB,MD), while an amazing 635 were recorded on the LTW CBC in Rains county (RK).
Two Red-throated Loons were tallied on the LTW CBC in Rains county, one of the birds presumably was relocated on 1/10 (RK et al). Another Red-throated Loon was recorded from Cooper Lake State Park in Hopkins county on 1/26 (ebird BC,DM). A Pacific Loon was one of the highlights of the LOP CBC in Marion county (MD). LOP CBC had the highest Common Loon total with 66 (DB et al), while LTW CBC had 62 (RK et al). 1700 Horned Grebes were tallied on the LTW CBC in Rains county (RK et al), while a mere 788 were noted at LOP at Alley Creek on 12/23 (DB,ME). On 1/20 an amazing 4300 Horned Grebes were tallied at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). A Western Grebe was noted at LOP in Marion county from 12/21 through 12/23 (DB,LB,MD,ME). A solo Eared Grebe was noted on Lake Trinidad on 1/1 (DC,DL) and 1/11 (ebird BT). Another solo Eared Grebe was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on several dates with many observers. The bird of the LOP CBC was a soaring Magnificent Frigatebird that was observed flying high over the southern shore probably blew in by the constant huge storm from the south the day before (MD). LTW CBC tallied high counts of 13,986 Double-crested Cormorants and 1,899 American White Pelicans (RK et al). While the Texarkana CBC tallied 10,214 Double-crested Cormorants and 2,206 American White Pelicans (MD et al). Unusual for the eastern pinewoods counts were Neotropic Cormorants. Two were recorded on the Longview CBC at TXE (DB,LB), while three parties reported single birds on the Tenaha CBC in Panola county, and four were recorded at the Tyler CBC (DC,DL).
An American Bittern was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/6 (ebird MS). A White Ibis was noted at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/6 (ebird MS) and on 12/29 (DC,DL). White-faced Ibis were tallied at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/6 (7), 1/8 (17) (ebird MS) and on 1/26 (4) (ebird CF). While a plegadis sp was noted at the same place on 12/29 (DC,DL). Ospreys were noted in five counties during the period with a max of a pair noted in Panola county on 12/16 (LP). A Bald Eagle was observed sitting on a nest near Mt. Pleasant in Titus county on 1/25 (DB,LB). This nest site has had Bald Eagles in previous years. A pair of Virginia Rails and a Sora were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 12/29 (DC,DL). While four Virginia Rails and three Soras were noted at the same location on 1/26 (ebird CF). While a max of three Virginia Rails were found at Grand Saline Marsh on 12/28 and a max of four Soras were found on the same place on 12/25 (ebird RK). Two Virginia Rails were tallied on the Tyler CBC (DC,DL). A single Sora was found at Trinidad Lake on 1/1 (DC,DL). A Sandhill Crane was reported from LTW in Rains county on 12/3 (ebird DS), while three were tallied in Lamar county on 12/21 (ebird EJ).
A Black-bellied Plover was found at LTW in Rains county on 1/20 (RK,AP,JP). American Avocets were observed several times during December at LTW in Rains county with a high of ten noted on 12/3 and the last four observed on 12/20 (ebird RK,CR). American Avocets were noted in both counties of the RC WMA on 1/26 with a max of 15 noted in Navarro county (PB,CF). The shorebird of the period in my mind was a Black-necked Stilt found on 12/29 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL). Greater Yellowlegs were tallied in thirteen different counties during the period with a max of 13 noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 12/28 (m.ob), and at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/26 (PB). Lesser Yellowlegs were noted in three counties during the period with a max of 25 found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 1/26 (PB). Dunlin were found throughout the period at LTW in Rains county with a max of 22 noted on 12/2 (ebird CR). Western Sandpipers were also found throughout the period at LTW in Rains county with a peak of six on 12/4 (ebird RK). Long-billed Dowitchers were recorded in five counties with a max of 65 on 12/6 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird MS). American Woodcock seem to be present in good numbers this year with nine tallied on the Longview CBC (DB,LB,LE,CT), 14 were found on the LOP CBC (DB,LB,DW), eight tallied on the Tenaha CBC (DB,LB,DW), and four were tallied on the Tyler CBC (DB,LB,DSc).
LTW CBC tallied a new high of 1082 Bonaparte’s Gulls (RK et al). The high for Ring-billed Gulls was 1000 noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 12/20 (ebird RK). LTW Van Zandt county was also the location for the high of 24 Herring Gulls on 1/25 (ebird RK). A Lesser Black-backed Gull visited Pleasure Acres Lake in Smith county on 12/8 (PB), while another Lesser Black-backed Gull was at LTW in Van Zandt county on 1/25 and 1/26 (ebird RK, RR). A Glaucous Gull was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 12/12 (ebird RK). A Franklin’s Gull was noted at LWP in Cass county on the Texarkana CBC (CM), while two were found at the same location on 1/19 (MD,CM).
Found in five counties, the easternmost White-winged Dove found in the area were 7 at the Bogota City Park in Red River county on 12/24 (DB,LB). Just about as east ten White-winged Doves were recorded on the Tyler CBC (m.ob). Six Common Ground-Doves were found at LTW in Hunt county on 1/26 (ebird RK). While up to four Common Ground-Doves are being reported consistently at a residence in Hunt county (ebird BW). A total of nine Greater Roadrunners were tallied on the LTW CBC (RK et al). The Tenaha CBC tallied the high of 31 Eastern Screech-Owls (DB,LB,DW), while LTW CBC had the high of 23 Great Horned Owls, 27 Barred Owls and 3 Barn Owls (RK et al).
Four hummingbirds were tallied on the Tyler CBC. Not a misprint - four! One was an adult male Rufous Hummingbird (LBe, DBi). Two were recorded as selasphorus sp. (Rufous or Allen’s), and one was recorded as a archilochus sp. (Ruby-throated, Costa or Black-chinned). After reviewing pictures outside experts think it is most likely a Black-chinned Hummingbird (CF). It must be those Tyler Roses. All four were found at different locations (m.ob). Single Red Headed Woodpeckers were noted at Pleasures Acre Lake (MB), at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county on 12/28 (DB,LB), and in Henderson county on 1/26 (DL), while the species was missed on all six CBC’s. A Red-shafted Common Flicker was found on the Tyler CBC (DC,DL).
A total of eight Crested Caracaras were tallied on the LTW CBC (RK et al). While a Crested Caracara was one of the highlights of the Tyler CBC (PB,LBe,RRi,ZS). Merlins were found in four different counties during the period with a peak of two at LTW in Rains county on 12/12 (ebird CR). New for the LTW CBC in it’s 30th year a Peregrine Falcon was found in Rains county (RK et al). A Prairie Falcon was found at LTW in Rains county on 12/3 (ebird RK). A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was noted on 12/1 at LTW in Rains county (PB). Generally absent during the period, single Blue-headed Vireos were noted on the Tenaha CBC in Panola county (DB,LB) and on the Tyler CBC (ebird MB). Fish Crows were mostly absent with three noted at TXE on 12/10 (ME). One Fish Crow was recorded on the LOP CBC (MD), while one was reported from Lake Tyler on 1/11 (ebird MB). Horned Larks were noted at LTW in Rains county on 12/12 with 30 and 12/17 with 10 found (ebird CR).
The first two Purple Martins (spring is coming!) were found on 1/28 in Cherokee county. The same observer at the same location also recorded two swallow sp. (LP). A Northern Rough-winged Swallow was noted at Lake Tyler dam in Smith county on 12/24 (ebird JH). Tree Swallows were noted at RC WMA in both counties on several dates starting with a max of twenty-one 12/6 at in Freestone county (ebird CF,MS). Four Cave Swallows were found at West Tawakoni City Park in Hunt county on 12/12 (ebird RK), while two were noted in Freestone county on 1/8 (ebird LS). The sole Red-breasted Nuthatch found in the area was found on several dates in Henderson county (DC,DL). Sedge Wrens were found on several CBC’s with LOP CBC leading with 12. While LTW and Longview totaled six Marsh Wrens. A Rock Wren was found at LTW in Rains county on 1/20 (RK,AP,JP).
There were three sightings reported of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher during the period, with one found at the RC WMA on 12/6 (ebird MS), LTW reported one on their CBC in Van Zandt county and one was found on the Tyler CBC (m.ob). Gray Catbirds were recorded on the Longview CBC (ME), LOP CBC (DW), and two were found on the Tenaha CBC (DW). Lapland Longspurs were restricted being reported from the LTW area with a max of 12 on 12/17 in Rains county (ebird CR). Smith’s Longspurs were found in their normal haunts at LTW during the CBC with a total of 29 (ebird RK,CR). The sole Sprague’s Pipit was found at the Daphne Prairie in Franklin county on 1/18 (PB,DG,BS,ET). Four Common Yellowthroats were reported on the Longview CBC, three in Gregg county (PH,LP), and one at TXE in Harrison county (DB,LB). Three Common Yellowthroats were at the Grand Saline Marsh on 12/25 and 12/28 (ebird RK). While several observers noted them at both counties of the RC WMA with a peak of 5 noted on 1/26 in Navarro county (ebird CF). A Palm Warbler was observed on 1/1 and 1/7 in Navarro county (ebird BT). The bird of the Longview CBC, a Black-and-white Warbler was found in Gregg county (LP). An Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler was reported on the Tyler CBC (BS).
A Spotted Towhee was record on the Tyler CBC (BS). A Spotted Towhee was recorded throughout the period at Pleasure Acres Lake (ebird MB), otherwise no Spotted Towhees were recorded east of Hunt county. A Lark Sparrow, not reported since 1989, was the bird of the day for the Tenaha CBC (PB,BE,ME). The only Henslow’s Sparrow was recorded on the LOP CBC on Oney Road in Harrison county (DB). Le Conte’s Sparrows were recorded in five different counties during the period with a max of nine recorded at LTW in Rains county (ebird DuL). Rusty Blackbirds appear to be a little more common during this year than last with six counties reporting them, with a max of 121 being recorded on the Tyler CBC (PB et al). Sole Purple Finches were recorded in Rusk county on 12/7 (PH) and at Edgewood City Lake in Van Zandt county on 12/28 (RK). While two Purple Finches and two Pine Siskins were reported on the Longview CBC in Gregg county (EB). Four Pine Siskins were reported on the Texarkana CBC. The only other Pine Siskin noted during the period was a solo bird at a feeder in Daingerfield in Morris county along with 240 American Goldfinches on 1/7 and 1/31 (DB,LB).
In my review of the last 10 years of CBC’s I noted five song birds that were observed in lowest or lower numbers than have been seen in previous years. They are as follows: Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Locations and Counties:
Cass Co.: Lake Wright Patman Cherokee Co.: Franklin Co.: Lake Cypress Springs Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Longview Waste Water Treatment Area Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Co, Oney Road Henderson Co.: Trinidad, Trinidad Lake Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake State Park Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, West Tawakoni City Park, Greenville City Lakes Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Daingerfield Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Panola Co.: Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: Bogota City Park Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Pleasant Acres Lake, Lake Tyler Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: Grand Saline Marsh, LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood City Lake, Edgewood
For You Ebirders:
My goals for NETFO during 2014 is that observers report more than 100 species in all 26 of the NETFO counties during the year. If so, it will be the 5th year in a row that has been accomplished. It is also my goal that the median of those 26 counties be over 146 species (the median for 2013). This would mean all counties are being birded and that they are being birded well. Make a goal for 2014, pick a NETFO county that you haven’t birded very much and go see what you can see!
And if you don’t ebird, give it a try!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - November 2013 by David Brotherton
Nineteen of the 26 counties in the NETFO area had reports for the month. Highlights include a Red-throated and Pacific Loon, a pair of Western Grebes, a Rufous Hummingbird and a Prairie Falcon. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Only two counties had reports of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a high of 15 at Caddo Lake in Harrison county on 11/4 (ebird JB). The only Greater White-fronted Goose was reported from Pleasure Acres in Smith county on 11/1 (ebird MB). Snow Geese were reported from six counties with a max of 70 noted at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 11/23 (LP). Besides the normal single Ross’s Geese found at LTW and LBS, an additional single Ross’s Goose was found at Richland Creek WMA in Navarro county on 11/16 (m.ob). A Cackling Goose was noted in Lamar county on 11/23 (ebird EJ).
Richland Creek WMA in Freestone county noted huge numbers of dabblers on 11/16, 500 Gadwall, 800 Northern Shovelers, 900 Northern Pintails and 500 Green-winged Teal (m.ob). The first six Canvasback of the fall were noted at Edgewood City Lake on 11/10 (ebird RK). The first Greater Scaups were found at RC WMA in both counties on 11/16 (m.ob). The first of the fall Buffleheads were noted at LOP in Upshur county on 11/9 (DB et al). The first of the fall Common Goldeneye was found at Bellwood Lake in Smith county on 11/24 (PB). Red-breasted Mergansers hopefully will be a little more common than they were last year. The peak for LTW for the period was a dozen on 11/17 in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). While four Red-breasted Mergansers were noted at LOP in Marion county on 11/2 (DB,LB).
A Red-throated Loon was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/28 (ebird RK). While a Pacific Loon was found at Lake Fork in Wood county on 11/13 (ebird RK). Common Loons were noted in eight counties with a max of 35 at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/15 (ebird CR). The first four Horned Grebes were found at LOP in Marion county on 11/2 (DB,LB), with a peak of 83 noted at the same location on 11/28 (DB). A pair of Western Grebes were noted “dancing” across LOP in Marion county on 11/28 near where they were seen last year (DB).
Neotropic Cormorants were reported in eight different counties, with a max of 35 found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 11/16 (PB,JC,DG). An American Bittern was noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/14 (ebird TH), and on 11/16 (ebird LBe,DC,DL). The last date for Cattle Egrets were 52 in Lamar county on 11/30 (ebird EJ). White Ibis were only reported from the RC WMA in both counties with a max of 50 noted on 11/16 in Freestone county (DC,DL). White-faced Ibis were seen at the same places and same date with a max of 15 in both counties (m.ob).
Ospreys were noted in four counties during the period, the last date was 11/9 seen in Smith county (PB) and in Henderson county (ebird LBe). Very uncommon for the NETFO area a Ferruginous Hawk was located at LTW in Rains county on 11/14 (ebird RK). Two Virginia Rails and six Soras were noted at the Grand Saline Marsh on 11/11 (ebird RK). Up to a dozen Soras were noted at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 11/16 (m.ob).
American Avocets were noted in four counties during the month with a peak of 60 found at RC WMA on 11/16 (DC,DL). The latest date for American Avocets was 11/28 when a dozen were noted at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Four hundred Greater Yellowlegs recorded at RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/16 was an impressive number (PB,JC). Dunlins were noted on several dates around LTW, with a late date of 11/18 when six were in Rains county and four were in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Western Sandpipers were noted at LTW on several dates with a last date of 11/28 in Rains county (ebird RK). A peak of 650 Long-billed Dowitchers were tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/16 (DC,DL). The first American Woodcock of the fall was found at Pleasure Acres on 11/28 (ebird MB).
The first Bonaparte’s Gull was noted at LTW in Rains county on 11/14 (ebird RK). Franklin’s Gulls were found in seven different counties with a peak of 750 at LTW in Hunt county (ebird RK). The eastern most White-winged Dove found in the area was at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/15 (ebird RK). A high of three Greater Roadrunners were recorded in Cherokee county on 11/29 (DC,DL). The annual NETFO Owl Prowl on 11/9 produced 13 Eastern Screech-Owls, one red phase noted in the light, along with an immature “screeching” Great Horned Owl in Marion county (DB et al).
A beautiful Rufous Hummingbird was photographed in Smith county on 11/4 (PB). The Rufous Hummingbird was first noted on 10/27 (DBi). A Merlin was observed at LBS in Titus county on 11/10 (DB,LB), and one was also found in Lamar county on 11/23 (ebird EJ). A Peregrine Falcon was seen in RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/14 (ebird TH). Rare for NETFO, a Prairie Falcon was recorded at LTW in Rains county on 11/28 (ebird RK). A late Western Kingbird was noted in Hopkins county on 11/10 (ebird JP). An even later Eastern Kingbird was recorded on 11/30 in Lamar county (ebird EJ). The last Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen on 11/18 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). The only nine Horned Larks reported during the period came from Lamar county on 11/30 (ebird EJ). The last Tree Swallow was noted in Quinlan in Hunt county on 11/28 (ebird RK). Two Barn Swallows were found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 11/15 (ebird MB). Cave Swallows were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 11/10 (ebird RK), also at RC WMA in Freestone county when four were found on 11/16 (LBe, DC,DL). And finally a whopping 100 Cave Swallows were noted in Quinlan in Hunt county on 11/28 (ebird RK). A Yellow Warbler was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 11/16 (m.ob).
The only Red-breasted Nuthatch recorded during the month occurred in Henderson county on 11/15 and 11/30 (DC,DL). Single Spotted Towhees were recorded at LTW State Park on 11/11 (ebird RK), and at Pleasure Acres Lake on 11/28 (ebird MB). The sole Grasshopper Sparrow was noted at Lake Gilmer on 11/7 (LP). The first Le Conte’s Sparrow and Harris’s Sparrows of the fall were found near Trinidad in Henderson county on 11/3 (ebird LBe). The first four of the fall Fox Sparrows were recorded at Lake Gilmer on 11/7 (LP). The easternmost of the Western Meadowlarks was recorded at Cantrell Lake in Van Zandt county when three were found on 11/2 (PB). A Rusty Blackbird was found at LTW in Rains county on 11/14 (ebird RK), while nine were recorded in Lamar county on 11/30 (ebird EJ). Twenty-five Brewer’s Blackbirds were observed at LBS in Titus county on 11/2 (ebird KP), while eleven were noted in Corsicana in Navarro county on 11/9 (ebird WS). American Goldfinches were first noted on 11/7 in the area in three counties Henderson, Tyler State Park and Gilmer Lake (ebird RS, BS, LP respectively).
Locations and Counties:
Cherokee Co.: Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake Henderson Co.: Trinidad Hopkins Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Tawakoni State Park, Quinlan Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA, Corsicana Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Smith Co.: Bellwood Lake, Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer, LOP - Lake O Pines Van Zandt Co.: Grand Saline Marsh, LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Cantrell Lake Wood Co.: Lake Fork
For You Ebirders:
With one month to go the county with the highest tally year to date is Van Zandt with 239 followed by Smith with 234 and Rains with 222 species. The counties that are lowest for the year so far are Delta with 100, Red River with 103 and Hopkins with 105. For December, Hunt county has more species seen ever during the month with 183. While for the NETFO area, the lowest are Hopkins with 70, Cherokee with 73 and Bowie with 81 species. Good Birding to All!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - October 2013 by David Brotherton
A Big Sit held at Richland Creek WMA proved to be timed and located right as several sightings are noted for this report. Only five counties in the NETFO area didn’t have reports for the month. Highlights include a Brown Pelican, a Say’s Phoebe, amazing rail counts and Mottled Ducks. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for everything.
Only two counties had reports of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a high of 15 at the the RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/12 (ebird LBe). The first Greater White-fronted Geese of the fall were discovered on 10/12 at the RC WMA in Navarro (DC,DL), while the peak of 42 were noted at LTW in Rains county on 10/27 (ebird BSt). The first Snow Geese were noted in Henderson county on 10/13 (DC,DL), while a peak of only seven birds were noted in Texarkana in Bowie county on 10/17 (ebird MR). Canada Geese were found in three different counties with a peak of 51 found in Van Zandt county on 10/9 (ebird TG). The first American Wigeon noted during the fall were found at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/11 (DC,DL). A pair of Mottled Duck, rare for NE Texas, were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/26 (DC,DL). A whopping 1000 Blue-winged Teal were noted at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/11 (DC,DL). The first Redheads and Lesser Scaup were noted at the RC WMA on 10/26 in both Navarro and Freestone counties (DC,DL). The first of the fall Ring-necked Ducks were located on 10/11 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL). The first of the fall Ruddy Duck was located on 10/11 at the RC WMA in Freestone county (DC,DL).
Three Wild Turkeys were found at LBS in Titus county on 10/11 (ebird KP), while two were found at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/12 (ebird LBe). The first pair of Common Loons were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 10/28 (ebird RK). The peak number of Pied-billed Grebes for the whole state of Texas recorded in ebird for the year so far was 175 tallied at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/26 (DC,DL). Neotropic Cormorants were only found near LTW and RC WMA with a peak of 31 noted on 10/12 at RC WMA in Navarro county (LBe,DC,DL). American White Pelicans started showing up in big numbers by the middle of the month with a peak of 650 recorded at LTW in Rains county on 10/18 (ebird RK). The Brown Pelican found last month at LTW was refound on 10/1 in Rains county (ebird RK).
American Bitterns were seen on three dates during the month at RC WMA in Navarro county with a max of six on 10/12 (LBe, DC,DL). The latest Little Blue Heron was noted on 10/22 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Tricolored Herons were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county with five on 10/12 and two on 10/26 (LBe,DC,DL). Black-crowned Night-Herons were found at RC WMA in both Freestone and Navarro county on 10/12, with seven found in Freestone and two in Navarro county (LBe,DC,DL). White Ibis and White-faced Ibis were noted in both counties of the RC WMA area during the month with a peak of 250 for White Ibis and 304 White-faced Ibis noted on 10/12 in Navarro county (LBe,DC,DL). A Roseate Spoonbill was found at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 10/12 (ebird MB).
October 12th was Rail Day! Two locations had great rail numbers on this date. The Grand Saline Marsh had five Virginia Rails and a dozen Soras on this date (ebird RK), while RC WMA in Navarro county had three Virginia Rails and fifty (yea fifty) Soras (LBe,DC,DL). Four Common Gallinules were found at the end of September (9/29) at the Ferndale Club in Camp county (JHe et al). A Common Gallinule was seen on several dates from 10/12 through 10/26 at RC WMA in Navarro county (LBe,DC,DL,LP). While another Common Gallinule was found at the RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/12 (DL).
American Avocets were found the second month in a row in five different counties. The max of 29 American Avocets was recorded at TXE on 10/25 (DB). Black-bellied Plovers were found in both counties of RC WMA on 10/11 (DC,DL). Four Black-bellied Plovers were at LTW in Rains county on 10/21 (ebird CR), and three were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 10/27 (BSt). Lesser Yellowlegs were noted in five different counties with a max of 20 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/11 (DC,DL). The high tally for Texas so far this year recorded in ebird of Greater Yellowlegs of 120 was noted at RC WMA on 10/26 (DC,DL). The sole Stilt Sandpiper noted during the month was found at LTW in Rains county on 10/22 (ebird RK). Dunlin were noted at LTW in both Rains and Van Zandt county. The first Dunlin were noted in both counties on 10/18, while the max of 18 were tallied on 10/22 (ebird RK). Ten Baird’s Sandpipers were noted at LTW in Rains county on 10/1 (ebird RK), while three were fount at LTW in Hunt county on 10/3 (PH,LP). Least Sandpipers were found in seven different counties with a max of 500 noted in both Rains and Van Zandt counties on several dates (ebird RK, BSt). Western Sandpipers sightings were restricted to the three counties around LTW with a max of 30 found on 10/1 in Rains county (ebird RK). Pectoral Sandpipers were noted in both Smith and Freestone county with a max of twenty recorded at RC WMA on 10/26 (DC,DL). Long-billed Dowitchers were noted in six different counties with a max of 65 found on at LTW in Rains county on 10/18 (ebird RK).
Franklin’s Gulls were limited to LTW with a peak of 440 in Van Zandt county on 10/27 (ebird BSt). The peak of 550 Forster’s Terns were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 10/18 (ebird RK). The last Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted on 10/22 in Rains county (ebird SW). Common Nighthawks seemed to pass by mostly unnoticed, the only one recorded for the month was at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/11 (DC,DL). An Eastern Whip-poor-will was noted on 10/13 at RC WMA in Navarro county (LP). The last Chimney Swift was noted on 10/18 at Pleasure Acres in Smith county (ebird MB).
A pair of Crested Caracaras was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/12 (LBe,DC), two were noted at RC WMA in Freestone county on 10/26 (DC,DL). While three Crested Caracaras were observed at LTW in Van Zandt county on 10/18 (ebird RK). A Merlin was noted at LTW in Rains county on 10/1 and one in Van Zandt county on 10/23 (ebird RK). Another Merlin was noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/12 (LBe,DC,DL). Peregrine Falcons were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 10/12 and 10/13 (LBe,DC,DL,LP).
An Alder Flycatcher was discovered at LTW State Park on 10/1 (ebird RK). A pair of Least Flycatchers were tallied at LTW State Park on 10/1 and 10/7 (ebird RK), while another was found in Henderson county on 10/20 (ebird LBe). The first of the fall Blue-headed Vireo was noted on 10/13 at Atlanta State Park in Cass county (DB). A Say’s Phoebe was found on 10/1 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). The sole Western Kingbird was recorded on 10/15 in Rains county (ebird SW). The only three Horned Larks noted were found in Red River county on 10/12 (DB,LB). Cave Swallows were found in five different counties with a max of 175 at LTW in Rains county on 10/1 (ebird RK). Red-breasted Nuthatches do not appear to be as common as last year, but singles were found in Van Zandt county on 10/9 (ebird TG), Lake Fork on 10/14 (ebird JC), and in Smith county on 10/18 (ebird DD). The first Brown Creeper was noted in Henderson county on 10/27 (DC,DL). The first of the fall Golden-crowned Kinglet was noted in Smith county on 10/18 (ebird DD). The first of the fall Hermit Thrush was found in Wood county on 10/22 (LP).
The sole Northern Waterthrush noted during the month occurred at Pleasure Acres on 10/1 (ebird MB). Nashville Warblers were noted in five different counties with a peak of 24 noted at LTW State Park on 10/11 (ebird RK). A Blackburnian Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 10/1 (ebird RK). Black-throated Green Warblers were found in four different counties, with a last date of 10/26 in Henderson county (DC,DL). The sole Wilson’s Warbler was found at Pleasure Acres on 10/6 (ebird DG). A Yellow-breasted Chat was noted on both 10/3 and 10/4 at Pleasure Acres (ebird MB).
The first Spotted Towhee was spotted on 10/27 at LTW State Park (ebird BSt). The first Eastern Towhees were noted on 10/22 in three different counties, Rains, Smith and Wood (RK,MB,LP respectively). The first Vesper Sparrows were noted at LTW in both Hunt and Rains county (ebird BSt). A Grasshopper Sparrow was noted in Wood county on 10/22 (LP), and another was found at LTW in Rains county on 10/27 (ebird BSt). The first of the fall Song Sparrow was found at LTW in Hunt county on 10/3 (PH,LP). The first of the fall Swamp Sparrows were noted at all three counties around LTW on 10/18 (ebird RK). The first of the fall White-throated Sparrow was found at Tyler State Park on 10/17 (ebird BS). The first of the fall White-crowned Sparrow was tallied at Pleasure Acres on 10/22 (ebird MB). The first of the fall Dark-eyed Junco was found at Tyler State Park on 10/20 (ebird BS). The first Pine Siskin was noted in Wood county on 10/22 (LP).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Texarkana Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Cass Co.: Atlanta State Park Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Tawakoni State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Smith Co.: Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler East, Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: Grand Saline Marsh, LTW - Lake Tawakoni Wood Co.:
For You Ebirders:
During October the last NETFO county, Red River, went over 100 species. This makes it four years in a row that all NETFO counties have gone over 100 species. The county with the highest tally year to date is Van Zandt with 238 followed by Smith with 232. The counties that are lowest for the year so far are Hopkins with 100, Cherokee with 101 and Delta with 102. For November, Rains county has more species seen during the month with 201. While for the NETFO area the lowest are Red River with 30, Panola with 40, and Hopkins with 41 species. Good Birding to All!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - September 2013 by David Brotherton
September brought with it a few fronts and a few birds and a good number of birders! Red River, Bowie, and Cass counties were the only counties to not have an observer share birding observations in the NETFO area. Highlights include Brown Pelicans and a White-tailed Kite. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for her efforts at keeping me on task.
Seven different counties reported Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a high of 36 in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 9/24 (ebird RK). The single semi-resident Ross’s Geese were noted throughout the month at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK) and at LBS in Titus county (PB,DB,LB). The first three Gadwalls of the fall were noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/1 (DC,DL). Blue-winged Teal were present throughout the area with a max of 150 noted at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/29 (PB). The first Northern Shoveler of the fall was noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/16 (ebird CR). The first Northern Pintail was found in the Quinlan area in Hunt county on 9/27 (ebird RK). The four Wild Turkey were again noted in Edgewood in Van Zandt county on 9/12 (ebird RK). The sole Eared Grebe noted during the month came from RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/29 (PB). Lone Wood Storks were noted in Freestone county on 9/1 (ebird SM) and at Daingerfield State Park on 9/28 (DB, LB et al).
Neotropic Cormorants were noted in seven different counties during the month with a max of 40 at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/29 (PB). Anhingas were noted in four counties with a max of nine at RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/1 (DC,DL). American White Pelicans were noted in six counties during the period with a max of 30 at the Athens Fish Hatchery in Henderson county (ebird LBe). Brown Pelicans were reported at their second and third location for the season. The first Brown Pelican was noted at Lake Palestine in Smith county at the Villages Marina on 9/13 (ebird RH). Two Brown Pelicans were seen at the same location on 9/26 (PB et al). The third location for Brown Pelican of the season was found at LTW in Rains county on 9/30 (ebird CR). A Tricolored Heron was found on 9/1 at RC WMA in Navarro county (DC,DL), while three were found there on 9/29 (PB). An American Bittern was discovered at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/28 (DC,DL), while another was found the next day in the Freestone section of the RC WMA (PB). The lone Black-crowned Night-Heron noted during the month was found at Cedar Creek Reservoir in Henderson county (ebird LBe). Up to two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were noted around the Pleasant Acres Lake in Smith county throughout the first half of the month (PB,MB,DG). A pair of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/7 (MB), while a single one was noted in the Navarro county portion of the RC WMA on 9/29 (PB). White Ibis were noted in four different counties during the period with a max of 54 reported at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/7 (MB). Five different counties had reports of White-faced Ibis with a max of 70 at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/29 (PB).
The first Osprey was noted on 9/7 at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county (BC). Rather rare for the area a White-tailed Kite was found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/2 (DC,DL). Mississippi Kites left the area rather early with the last one noted in Gregg county on 9/3 (LP). The first Northern Harriers were noted on 9/29 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK), and on the same day at RC WMA in Freestone county (PB). Bald Eagles were noted in ten different counties during the period. The high count of Sharp-shinned Hawks recorded in Texas so far this year occurred at LTW in Rains county when 14 were spotted migrating (ebird RK). Broad-winged Hawks passed through the area mostly observed in non-big numbers although observed in nine different counties. The high count of Broad-winged Hawks were 51 at LTW in Rains county on 9/29 (ebird RK). Always neat, a Virginia Rail was flushed from a field in Lamar county a couple of times on 9/13 (MW,NW). Another Virginia Rail was found in Henderson county on 9/28 (DC,DL). Soras were first found at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/7 when three were found (ebird MB). Three Soras were also at the Grand Saline Marsh in Van Zandt county on 9/27 (ebird RK). While a whopping 29 Soras were counted at the RC WMA in Navarro county on 9/28 (DC,DL).
American Avocets were found in five different counties during the month. The first date was 9/2 when seven American Avocets were found at Lake Tyler East in Smith county (ebird MB). The max was 22 at LBS in Titus county on 9/29 (DB,LB). A Semipalmated Plover was found at LTW in Rains county on 9/1 (ebird JR). A trifecta, a Semipalmated Plover was found in each of the three counties around LTW on 9/18 (ebird RK). A Semipalmated Plover was found at LOP in Marion county on 9/21 (DB,LB). Solitary Sandpipers were observed in four different counties with a max of four at both Lake Tyler East on 9/2 (PB) and at TXE on 9/7 (PB,DG et al). LTW in Rains county and LOP in Marion county each hosted a Willet for a day. The LTW Willet was on 9/18 (ebird RK), while the LOP Willet was on 9/21 (DB,LB).
Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied in seven counties, the first two noted at TXE on 9/5 (DB), while the high count of 20 Lesser Yellowlegs was at RC WMA in Freestone county on 9/29 (PB). One of my favorite shorebirds, Upland Sandpipers, were noted in three different counties with a max of 11 in Henderson county on 9/2 (DC,DL). Stilt Sandpipers kept to LTW in Rains county with six being seen there on 9/12 and 9/18 (ebird RK), while a single bird was observed there on 9/16 (ebird CR). Seven Sanderlings were noted at LOP in Marion county on 9/21 (DB,LB). Observers in five counties tallied Baird’s Sandpiper during the month with a peak of 12 on 9/12 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). Least Sandpiper was the most common sandpiper observed with a few tallies of over 100 in 8 different counties with a max of 112 at LTW in Rains county on 9/12 (ebird RK). Buff-breasted Sandpipers were noted at LTW in Rains and Van Zandt county during the month with a high of ten seen on 9/12 in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). Pectoral Sandpipers were noted in nine different counties with a max of 35 at LTW in Rains county on 9/28 (ebird RK). Semipalmated Sandpipers were noted in five counties with a max of ten at LTW in Van Zandt county on 9/12 (ebird RK). Western Sandpipers were a little more common, seen in seven counties with a max of 18 at LTW in Rains county on 9/12 (ebird RK). Single Wilson’s Phalaropes were noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/16 (ebird CR), and at Lake Tyler East on 9/20 (PB,MB).
A Laughing Gull was observed on 9/18 on LTW in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). The only six Franklin’s Gulls reported were observed at Cedar Creek Reservoir on 9/28 (ebird LBe). LTW was the only location where Ring-billed Gulls were reported for the month with up to 15 being reported with a first date of 9/1 in Rains county (ebird JR). The sole Herring Gull and Least Tern was reported on LTW in Rains county on 9/16 (ebird CR). Caspian Terns were observed in six counties with a mere max of two at LOP Marion county on 9/21 (DB,LB). Black Terns were restricted to the three counties around LTW, with a max of eight in Van Zandt county on 9/12 (ebird RK).
The eastern-most White-winged Dove was noted in Lamar county on 9/25 (ebird CC). The first Northern Flicker of the fall was noted at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county on 9/21 (PB). The high for Crested Caracaras for the month were five at Cedar Creek Reservoir in Henderson county on 9/26 (ebird LBe). A Peregrine Falcon was the highlight of the Daingerfield State Park Hawk Watch on 9/29 (DB, LB et al). An Olive-sided Flycatcher was found at LTW State Park in Hunt county on 9/1 (ebird JR) and on 9/18 (ebird RK). Another Olive-sided Flycatcher was noted at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/20 (PB). An Alder Flycatcher was found at LTW State Park and at LTW in Rains county on 9/18 (ebird RK). While another Alder Flycatcher was noted at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/22 (PB). A Willow Flycatcher was found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/12 (MB) and at LTW Van Zandt county on 9/18 (ebird RK). Least Flycatchers were noted in six counties with the first one noted at Tyler State Park on 9/3 (ebird BS).
A Warbling Vireo was located at LTW State Park on 9/5 (ebird BT). One was found in Smith county on 9/4 and two were found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/26 (PB). A Philadelphia Vireo was found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/26, while another Philadelphia Vireo was located at the Ferndale Club in Camp county on 9/28 (JHe,JR,ST). Fifty Cave Swallows were noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/16 (ebird CR). Fifty Cave Swallows also were observed in Hunt county on 9/23 (MW). A high of 250 Barn Swallows were tallied at LTW State Park on 9/28 (ebird RK). The first House Wren of the fall was located at LTW State Park on 9/21 (ebird JH,CH,JR,ST). The first Sedge Wren was noted at LTW in Rains county on 9/29 (ebird RK). The first Marsh Wren was found at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/30 (PB).
The first two Ruby-crowned Kinglets were found at Tyler State Park on 9/21 (ebird BS). The first of the fall Gray Catbird was found on 9/8 at Lake Palestine in Smith county (ebird RH). The first of the fall American Pipit was found at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin county on 9/7 (BC). The first ten Cedar Waxwings were noted on 9/21 at LBS in Franklin county (PB). Northern Waterthrushes were present all month, starting on 9/2 at Pleasure Acres Lake with a max of four (PB,MB,DG). The first Orange-crowned Warbler of the fall was noted on 9/10 at Lake Palestine in Smith county (ebird RH). Nashville Warblers were noted in five different counties with a first date of 9/7 at RC WMA in Freestone county (ebird MB), while the max was four at Pleasure Acres Lake on 9/12 (ebird MB).
A Mourning Warbler was found at LTW State Park on 9/21 (ebird RK et al). Another Mourning Warbler was found at Cedar Creek Reservoir on 9/23 (ebird LBe). Two Mourning Warblers were noted at LOP in Marion county on 9/25 (MD,BH,JS). And still another sighting of one was found near Canton in Van Zandt county on 9/30 (ebird RK). Four Magnolia Warblers were noted at the Athens Fish Hatchery on 9/14 (ebird LBe). Blackburnian Warblers were noted at Tyler State Park on three dates from 9/3 through 9/21 with a max of two on 9/21 (ebird BS). Yellow Warbler was the most common migrant, seen in nine different counties with a max of ten seen at LTW State Park on 9/18 (ebird RK). The first Yellow-rumped Warbler was noted on 9/1 at LTW State Park (ebird JR). The sole Canada Warbler found during the period was at Tyler State Park on 9/7 (ebird BS). Wilson’s Warblers were noted in seven counties. The first Wilson’s Warbler was found at Tyler State Park on 9/6 (ebird BS). The max for the period was three found in three locations and dates.
The first Lincoln’s Sparrow for the fall was noted at LTW State Park on 9/23 (ebird RK). The first Savannah Sparrows were found at LOP in Marion county on 9/25 (MD,BH,JS). The sole Grasshopper Sparrow located was found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 9/18 (ebird RK). Baltimore Orioles were noted in seven different counties with a first one seen on 9/1 in Gregg county (LP), while the max of five Baltimore Orioles were noted at Tyler State Park on 9/3 (ebird BS).
Locations and Counties:
Camp Co.: Ferndale Club Franklin Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Cypress Springs Freestone Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Gregg Co.: Harrison Co.: TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Athens Fish Hatchery, Cedar Creek Reservoir Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Tawakoni State Park, Quinlan Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Morris Co.: Daingerfield State Park Navarro Co.: RC WMA - Richland Creek WMA Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Smith Co.: Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler East, Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: Canton, LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood
For You Ebirders:
During September, Hopkins and Freestone went over 100 species. That leaves Red River, at 91, the only county in the NETFO area with less than 100 species. For October, Hunt county has more species seen during that month (with 216 being recorded in past years) than any other county in NETFO. Panola with 54, Red River with 56, and Cass with 63, are on the low end for October. Good Birding to All!
Northeast Texas Bird Report - August 2013 by David Brotherton
August! Nobody birds in August. Well 25 of the 26 counties in the NETFO area had someone bird in them! I was impressed! Highlights include Brown Pelican, King Rail and Rufous Hummingbird. Thanks to all who birded and sent in their results and thanks again to Luanne for her efforts at keeping me on task.
Four different counties reported Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with a high of four at LBS in Titus county on 8/9 (ebird PG), four at LTW in Rains county on 8/16 and 8/21 (ebird RK), and four in Edgewood on 8/20 (ebird RK). The first of the fall Blue-winged Teal were noted on 8/16 at LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). A Green-winged Teal female was at TXE on 8/29 believed to be one of the pair seen during the summer (DB,ME). Four Wild Turkey were noted in Edgewood in Van Zandt county (ebird RK). A Pied-billed Grebe was noted at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 8/23 (LP). Nine Wood Storks were found just north of the Sulphur River in Bowie county on 8/1 (DB,LB). On 8/2, a pair of Wood Storks were found at the “swamp” area on CR 3510 in Camp county discussed in last month’s report (DB,LB). A Wood Stork was noted on 8/30 in Henderson county (DC,DL).
Neotropic Cormorants were noted in seven different counties during the month with a max of 75 at LTW in Rains county on 8/16 (ebird RK). Anhingas were noted in six counties with a max of three at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 8/9 (DB,LB). Single American White Pelicans were noted in both Upshur and Marion county at LOP on 8/12 (LP). A single American White Pelican continued to spend the summer at TXE seen on most work days during the month (DB). A Brown Pelican was found on 8/9 at the Mt. Pleasant City Lake in Titus county (PP). It was found and photographed on 8/13 (LB). Several attempts to find it again were fruitless. Darn. The sole Tricolored Heron noted during the summer so far was found in Henderson county on 8/21 (LBe). A high of 1,011 Cattle Egrets were counted going to roost at Lake Gilmer in Upshur county on 8/9 (DB,LB). Six different counties had reports of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons during the period with a max of four at the “swamp” in Camp county on 8/2 (DB,LB). Pleasure Acres Lake in Smith county was the most reliable sight of the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons with species being noted on eight occasions (ebird MB). Five locations in three counties reported White Ibis, with a max of eight at LBS in Franklin county on 8/29 and 8/30 (PH,LP). Lake Tyler East in Smith county hosted the two sightings of White-faced Ibis during the period, one was seen on 8/28 and 17 on 8/31 (PB). A Plegadis sp was noted at LBS in Franklin county on 8/29 (LP).
Mississippi Kites were reported in fifteen counties in the area with a max of a dozen seen in Franklin county on 8/20 (PH,LP). An adult Bald Eagle was noted at TXE on 8/15 (DB), while three were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16 (ebird RK). The sole Broad-winged Hawk observed during the period was found at LTW in Hunt county on 8/16 (ebird RK). The sole Sharp-shinned Hawk was noted in Henderson county on 8/17 (ebird LBe). A Cooper’s Hawk was noted twice in Smith county on 8/19 and 8/30 (ebird MB). The only Swainson’s Hawk was observed in Lamar county on 8/4 (ebird EJ).
A King Rail was noted at Lake Tyler in Smith county on 8/23 (LP). Three Semipalmated Plovers were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16, while one was found on 8/21 in LTW in Rains county (ebird RK). A pair of Semipalmated Plovers were also at LOP in Marion county on 8/28 (MD). Solitary Solitary Sandpipers were found on 8/20 at LTW in Hunt county (ebird RK) and at Tyler State Park on 8/29 (ebird BS). Greater Yellowlegs were noted in six counties with the first being observed on 8/3 at Cooper Lake in Delta county (DB,LB). A Willet was noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16 (ebird RK), while a pair were found at Lake Tyler on 8/24 (PB). Upland Sandpipers were noted in seven different counties with a first date of 8/10 in Hopkins county (DB,LB). While a max of six Upland Sandpipers were noted at LBS in Franklin county on 8/29 (LP) and at LTW in Van Zandt on 8/16 (ebird RK).
Semipalmated Sandpipers were noted in five counties with the first being seen at LOP in Marion county on 8/12 (LP), and the max of ten noted at TXE on 8/29 (DB,ME). Western Sandpipers were recorded in eight counties the first two being seen at LBS in Titus county on 8/9 (DB,LB), while the max was a dozen on 8/21 at LTW Rains county on 8/21 (ebird RK). The “Least” of the peeps were found in nine counties with the first being seen on 8/9 at LBS in Titus county (DB,LB), while the max of 30 were found at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16 (ebird RK), and 8/29 at LBS in Franklin county (PH,LP). Six Baird’s Sandpipers were noted at LTW in Rains county on 8/21 (ebird RK), while 2-3 were seen at LBS in Franklin and Wood county on 8/30 (PH,LP). Pectoral Sandpipers were spotted in five different counties during the period, with the first one being observed at LOP in Marion county on 8/12 (LP). The maximum number of Pectoral Sandpipers were noted on 8/30 at LBS in Wood county on 8/30 (PH,LP). One of my favorites, Buff-breasted Sandpipers were first noted in the area on 8/16 at LTW in Van Zandt county, and a pair were noted also at LTW in Rains county on 8/21 (ebird RK). Buff-breasted Sandpipers were also noted at LBS in Franklin county on 8/29 and 8/30, while the peak number of 28 were noted at LBS in Wood county on 8/30 (PH,LP).
Two Least Terns were seen at Cooper Lake in Delta county on 8/3 (DB,LB). Thirteen Black Terns were at Lake Sulphur Springs in Hopkins county on 8/10 (DB,LB) and six were noted at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16 (ebird RK). Forster’s Terns were reported in seven counties with a max of 175 noted in Quinlan in Hunt county on 8/16 (ebird RK). The lone Caspian Tern for the month was reported from LBS in Titus county on 8/30 (PH,LP).
The eastern most White-winged Dove was noted in Lamar county on 8/4 (ebird EJ). Had to go west of Corsicana in Navarro county to find the sole Common Nighthawks reported in the NETFO area on 8/16 and 8/17 (ebird MS). The sole Chuck-will’s-widow was reported on 8/24 at Lake Bonham in Fannin county (DC,DL). A pair of Rufous Hummingbirds were found and photographed in Gregg county (JN). Northern Flickers were noted on 8/3 in Smith county (ebird MB) and in Rusk county on 8/14 (PH). A Crested Caracara was noted in Navarro county on 8/17 (ebird MS), and a pair were noted at LTW in Rains county on 8/21 (ebird RK). American Kestrel sightings were limited to the North Longview Business Park in Gregg county on 8/1 and 8/25 (LP).
Olive-sided Flycatchers were reported at LTW in Van Zandt county on 8/16 (ebird RK) and on 8/18 at Langford Creek Lake in Red River county on 8/18 (DB,LB), while a third Olive-sided Flycatcher was observed at Tyler State Park on 8/28 (ebird BS). An Alder Flycatcher was noted at LTW State Park on 8/16 (ebird RK), and another Alder Flycatcher was observed at LBS in Franklin county on 8/29 (LP). A Traill’s Flycatcher was noted at Panola County Park on 8/7 (LP). The only non-nester warbler noted during the month was Yellow Warbler. They were observed in eleven different counties during the month with the first date of 8/10 at LBS in Titus county (PG).
Locations and Counties:
Bowie Co.: Sulphur River, Camp Co.: “swamp” CR 3510 Delta Co.: Cooper Lake Fannin Co.: Lake Bonham Franklin Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Gregg Co.: North Longview Business Park Harrison Co.: Caddo Lake, TXE - Texas Eastman Henderson Co.: Hopkins Co.: Cooper Lake, Lake Sulphur Springs Hunt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Lake Tawakoni State Park, Quinlan Lamar Co.: Marion Co.: LOP - Lake O Pines Navarro Co.: Corsicana Panola Co.: Lake Murvaul, Panola County Park Rains Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni Red River Co.: - Langford Creek Lake Rusk Co.: Smith Co.: Lake Tyler, Pleasant Acres Lake, Tyler State Park Titus Co.: LBS - Lake Bob Sandlin, Mt. Pleasant City Lake Upshur Co.: Lake Gilmer Wood Co.: Lake Bob Sandlin Van Zandt Co.: LTW - Lake Tawakoni, Edgewood
For You Ebirders:
During August, Delta went over 100 species for the year. That leaves Freestone 89, Red River 91 and Hopkins 93 the only three counties in the NETFO area with less than a 100 species for the year. Van Zandt is still leading the year with 237 species with Smith at 224 in 2nd. For September, Rains has more species seen during that month with 201 being recorded in past years than any other county in NETFO. Red River with 30, Panola with 40 and Hopkins with 41 are on the low end for September. Good Birding to All!
More Bird ReportsJanuary 2007 - July 2013
November 2005 -
December 2006
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