Guest Sightings: White-eared Hummingbird at Boot Canyon

Better late than never, perhaps - this post has been backdated. Reposted from Texbirds with permission. Slightly edited to fit blog format.

***

White-eared Hummingbird, Monday, 7/20/15, at Boot Canyon
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015

On Monday I saw a White-eared Hummingbird at Boot Canyon that appears to be the same bird reported by Randy Pinkston.
It took the better part of 3.5 hours for me to get a solid view. When I finally saw the bird, it was perched mid-level in a tree near the picnic table above the spring. That was at ~3.30pm. Menacing skies and the threat of hail sent me on my way shortly thereafter.

Thanks to Randy and Byron for getting the word out,

Teresa C. Keck


***

Many thanks to Teresa Keck of South Texas for her permission to share her post! White-eared Hummingbirds *not* at feeders are quite an exceptional event!

Arctic View

SW Ponds and Red Phalarope in 102 degrees, with Mike Dupree. Photo by Matt York.

Red Phalarope, BREEDING PLUMAGE, Marathon Treatment Ponds - PRIVATE Property

YES, THEY ACTUALLY COME IN RED! And this is the first time I have seen it in breeding plumage. What a thrill!

Remember, this is Private Property. Contact, preferably via text, Heidi for arranging access.

Dale Ohl of Alpine and Canton, TX originally spotted the bird as the three of us ventured to the ponds this morning. More later, perhaps. Here are a few photos:

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

A general range map for this species:


**range map is from: http://offline.whatbird.com/obj/643/_/Red_Phalarope.aspx

Yes, that orange up there is its summer breeding range.

Lapland the 5th

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) 

In our brief four years in Marathon, we have become quite the Longspur enthusiasts. Something about the frozen gusts of wind blasting through your very soul... Who are we kidding? In the last year, access to private ponds has opened up a whole new world of longspur observation: less windy, less cold, lower numbers than the prairie dog town, but better looks.

I digress. This was about Lapland Longspurs. First record for Brewster County was a cat kill at the Marathon Motel. Second was road kill on Hwy 90. Third and fourth were very much alive just north of the prairie dog town on 385, as Matt was able to come and confirm that I was not hallucinating. 

Fifth record... this is June 8th, all self respecting longspurs should have left in late March or late April (McCown's and Chestnut-collared, respectively). But the dark peep foraging on the bank next to a Western Sandpiper and a Baird's Sandpiper... It turned around and looked an awful lot like a Horned Lark. But it just wasn't quite Horned Lark. Silly Lapland Longspur, why are you so geographically confused?

I hereby hand the post over to Matt and a few more of his photos:

Edit: check out the range map for Lapland Longspur in summer!

Red-necked Grebe, Balmorhea Lake

Reeves County.  It continues.
Only now does it show itself to us, along with our friend Candy.

First discovered by San Antonio birder Sheridan Coffey, along with her partner Martin Reid, back on the 10th of December.

EXCELLENT bird for the trans-Pecos of Texas.  Listed as "Accidental" (Bryan, K.2002), this is a species that has been a nemesis for Heidi and myself.  This species is a first "lower 48" bird for her, and a North American first for me.

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Balmorhea Lake, Balmorhea, Reeves Co., TX.

The following is a range map of Red-necked Grebe, more or less:


Got it.
Finally.

Balmorhea Lake is a valuable resource for birders. This time, the grebe showed itself to us.
Thanks to both.


Cited:
Bryan, KB. 2002.  Birds of the Trans-Pecos a field checklist.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Natural Resources Program.

Possible Nutting's Flycatcher, Rio Grande Village of Big Bend National Park

*UPDATE* 12 Dec 2013 This bird continues to be seen and photographed.  Antonio has retrieved additional photos and video.  Written description of vocalization differences between this bird and neighboring Ash-throated Flycatcher are promising.
HOWEVER, recorded audio of the possible Nutting's vocalization STILL NEEDS to be obtained.  

Remember that playback is prohibited in National Parks.  Not necessary here anyways..

*UPDATE* North American Rare Bird Alert (NARBA) "Dec 9: negative reports."


On Dec. 7th, an interesting Myiarchus flycatcher was photographed by Antonio Cantu near the Rio Grande Village campground at Big Bend National Park. It was seen along a paved service road.

Heavily cropped photos from Antonio Cantu (his original files are HUGE):

7 Dec 2013, possible Nutting's Flycatcher, © Antonio Cantu

7 Dec 2013, possible Nutting's Flycatcher, © Antonio Cantu

There have been two Ash-throated Flycatchers reported from the RGV campground since late November, so it's possible that 2-3 Myiarchus are in the area, just to keep folks on their toes.

Photos of a VERY bright-bellied Ash-throated Flycatcher were taken by Mark Flippo on Dec. 8th from the campground, so it's not a very cut-and-dry search.

8 Dec 2013, Ash-throated Flycatcher, © Mark Flippo

8 Dec 2013, Ash-throated Flycatcher, © Mark Flippo

And the search continues with Kelly Bryan and Carolyn Ohl-Johnson on the trail today... will keep everyone updated as we know. Will try to post additional photos as possible.

*** This would be a second state record if confirmed, for all NUFL posts on the blog, please check the tag in the side bar, or click here: Nutting's Flycatcher.

The ultimate goal is audio, due to tricky visual ID - for that, please see our coverage of Chris Benesh's commentary and spectrogram work on the first bird here.

Long-tailed Duck in Marathon!

... and other good species for the Brewster County lister..

7 Dec. 2013  Marathon Treatment Ponds (PRIVATE PROPERTY), Brewster County.

Visiting West TX birder, Steve Collins, initially found this gem and then put us on it:

on the right, Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), female

Low-light conditions and distance made photographing this individual less-than-optimal.  With the way these ponds are laid out, it just wasn't worth it to risk flushing this excellent bird.

A few other goodies for this location:

Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is 2nd from the top.  Top is an Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) that has been here for a while.  Even better, Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

The following is a complete ebird list from this morning at the ponds:

2 Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
8 Gadwall Anas strepera
3 American Wigeon Anas americana
1 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
1 Mallard (Mexican) Anas platyrhynchos diazi
10 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
1 Northern Pintail Anas acuta
20 Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
8 Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Side by side comparison with Redheads
4 Redhead Aythya americana
15 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
4 Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
1 Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
1 winter plumaged female, pics pending
4 Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
7 Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
1 Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
5 American Coot Fulica americana
1 Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
4 Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia
31 Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
1 Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya
1 Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
5 American Pipit Anthus rubescens
1 Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
3 House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus

Good to be Home: Lewis's Woodpecker

Heidi and I have been away for several weeks due to life. I returned home yesterday evening.
One thing that is certain to happen is good birds are found in our absence.
This held true back on December 1st for one species:

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), about 10 miles south of Alpine, Brewster County.

This morning, I paid a visit.

Lewis's Woodpecker

Originally discovered by visiting Texas birder, Dennis Shepler, this excellent species has been hanging around Mile High Road.  Actively picking and gleaning on telephone poles at times, it also has a fairly unique foraging behavior for a woodpecker.





It fly-catches.  Yep, a woodpecker species that actually fly-catches.  It was doing so this morning adding to an already wonderful time of observation.  Our Acorn Woodpeckers (M. formicivorus) occasionally do this, too.







Lewis's Woodpecker is generally a Rocky Mountains regional species.  The following is range map, more or less:

A fairly enigmatic species, and one nemesis species that has been hard for Heidi and myself to track down and catch-up to, the Lewis's Woodpecker is an Irruptive species in the trans-Pecos of Texas.
Irruptive species that may be abundant some years but absent, occasional, or rare all others. (Bryan, K.B. 2002)

Even with in an "Irruptive" year for the species, Lewis's Woodpecker is Rare.  Rare = seldom observed (Bryan K.B. 2002)

Lewis's Woodpecker is one of only a few woodpecker species in North America to have an ALL dark back.



Yeah, there is a bit of a gray collar.  Also, look up again at the first photo.




It would be nice if this individual digs in and stays the Winter.  As far as my personal life, it would be nice if this birds sticks around for a few more days so Heidi can enjoy it.  We all look forward to her return.

Now, what about that Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), first reported by Mark Lockwood, at Balmorhea Lake?  I'll wait a short while, if it is even still around..




Here's to a great Winter in Big Bend!

Cited:
Bryan, K.B. Birds of the Trans-Pecos a field checklist, Natural Resources Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Austin, TX. 2002

Davis Mountains Preserve. No matter what your objective...

No matter why, or for what, you are there or have been called out there.... things can happen.  Good things.

Most recently, Heidi and I were out at the Davis Mountains Preserve (DMP, The Nature Conservancy of Texas) aiding a very cool moth survey.  That can be fun enough.

Then this guy twitters a double-tap...triple, and perches...often... but not for long, all the while gnat-catching:

Look out.  Where did it go?

There it is, at the bottom left corner:

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

An outstanding bird. These less-than-excellent-photos attest to the fact that we were not on a birding trip specifically. Nevertheless, field notes and these photos were sent to The Nature Conservancy and to the Texas Bird Record Committee (TBRC).
Regarding the TBRC, if I am reading the Texas Review Species List correctly this would be the 34th documented White-eared Hummingbird for the state of Texas.
_____________________________

Rich Kostecke of The Nature Conservancy just posted, on TXBirds List-serve, a comprehensive Spring Review of the DMP and also alluded to the up-coming Open Weekend in mid-July.

The following is a copy-and-paste of this evening's post.  It is LONG but worth the read. Study up :-)

Dated Thu, 4 Jul 2013....

With field work, holiday travel and the like, I have been incredibly tardy in 
posting much of anything this year and this is no exception.  However, I 
figured I should post a report on the birds we have been seeing at The Nature 
Conservancy's Davis Mountains Preserve (Jeff Davis Co.) ahead of the open 
weekend in mid-July (12th-14th if I recall correctly), especially since last I 
heard several birders were considering the trip out there.  I also figured I'd 
comment on the Long-eared Owls we found nesting on the preserve.
First some set-up.  We have been conducting bird surveys on the preserve during 
May and June during the last couple of years (2012 and 2013) to assess the 
impacts of both the 2011-2012 wildfires and the on-going drought on the bird 
community.  This is a rare instance when we actually have data prior to the 
impacts
 with which to make comparisons.  I did a preliminary write-up on the project 
in the last Texas Birds Annual.  Anyway, as some have noted, beetles, drought, 
and wildfire have had a
 significant impact on the forest/woodland habitat in the Davis Mountains.  The 
system has definitely been impacted and changed, perhaps for good.  If the 
system has not been nudged onto a different ecological trajectory, we are 
certainly near that tipping point if drought continues and additional wildfires 
occur.  Large parts of the range could transform from pine forest and 
pinyon-juniper woodland into a chaparral-type community dominated by oaks and 
other hardwoods and/or grassland.  In many areas, the forest is more open and 
more exposed.  That may be a mixed blessing.  Historically (prior to the 
1930s), the natural ecological condition of the forest was likely more open 
with fewer trees.  Perhaps the biggest factor limiting recovery right now is 
precipitation.  Luckily, the area seems to be experiencing monsoon conditions a 
bit earlier than usual.  Hopefully these monsoon rains will not only start 
early, but go late to help alleviate some of
 the precipitation deficit.  If we get some good precipitation, the surviving 
trees should do alright and with more resources available to them due to 
reduced competition may actually be able to withstand beetles and drought 
better.  Anyway, so while there have been some significant changes in the 
mountains, not all is lost.  While numbers may have shifted in relation to 
environmental conditions, pretty much all the expected species are still 
present.  And, while we may not be finding as many exciting vagrants as in the 
past, there is still the potential to turn up some surprises.  The Long-eared 
Owls are a good example of that.

In regards to the owls, a group of us found them in the course of conducting 
the aforementioned, formal bird surveys on the preserve.  We kept things quiet 
for several reasons.  First and foremost, we wanted to reduce disturbance and 
the potential for nest abandonment.  This is a pretty rare and special 
occurrence, after all. Both nests were located in high traffic areas.  The 
pass-through traffic did not seem to bother them, but after we discovered the 
nests they were definitely very aware of our presence we when we were looking 
at them (so, having lots of people stop to gawk at them may not have been a 
good thing for nest success over the longer term).  Second, the owls were not 
going to be chaseable.  The upcoming open weekend is the first public access 
since the owls were discovered.  At this point, as of 6/22, the nests are 
deserted.  We assume that all of the young have fledged.  However, keep your 
eyes peeled for them from just below the
 mouth of Wolf Den Canyon up to the pipe gates at the end of the Madera Canyon 
Road as, though they may scatter somewhat after fledging, they may still be in 
the general vicinity.  Please, absolutely no use of tapes or recordings to draw 
them in!!!  Long-eared Owls are not particularly responsive to play back, 
anyway.

Anyway, the mountains are showing well after the recent rains.  Everything has 
greened up, the creek is flowing again, and the tanks have filled.  With that 
said, for those who will be visiting on the open weekend, the roads are a bit 
more interesting than they have been.  High clearance is usually adequate for 
Madera Canyon Road, but if the rains continue, there may be some spots where 
4WD could be needed.  High clearance will definitely be needed for the handful 
of low water crossings on Madera Canyon Road.  Upon arrival at the preserve, 
you will have to check in with preserve staff and/or volunteers.  They can 
provide updated info on road conditions.  Also, there may be some closures of 
certain trails (Tobe Canyon) to protect the resource.  Again, check in with 
preserve staff and/or volunteers for details.  Some good birds have been seen 
in Tobe Canyon (listed below) and a White-eared Hummingbird was recently seen 
in the canyon, but there are
 a few other places with equal birding potential.  If Tobe Canyon is closed 
off, perhaps the best and easiest alternative would be the Limpia Chute Trail.  
Pine Peak can also be good.  The bird communities for all of those sites are 
actually pretty similar.  Remember, hiking is involved in getting to all of 
these sites (4-6 miles round-trip). The recent rains have also resulted in a 
tremendous hatch of mosquitoes.  Finally, if you do bird the preserve, we would 
appreciate reports on what you observed.

Now the recent bird sightings and commentary of some species that are likely to 
targets for folks.

'Mexican' Mallard 2 (pair) on Madera Creek 6/24, but others were seeing them 
throughout 6/23-6/25; responding to the sudden availability of water in the 
creek and tanks.
Montezuma Quail 1 heard near Jones Tank on 6/24; other birds heard calling 
along Jones Tank Road/Trail
Wild Turkey 5-7/day
Turkey Vulture 4-8/day
Cooper's Hawk 1-5/day; several active nests (at least 1 with nestlings) 
throughout Madera Canyon, Right Hand Canyon, and Tobe Gap Road
Common Black-hawk 1 Madera Canyon Road on 6/25 (somewhat sparse this year? 
Nesting habitat may have really taken a hit from the fires and drought)
Zone-tailed Hawk 1 over Tobe Canyon on 6/25, but recent reports (fly-overs) 
from the lower parts of Madera Canyon on the Preserve and Jones Tank Road/Trail 
area
Red-tailed Hawk 0-2/day
White-winged Dove 1-8/day
Mourning Dove 9-26/day
Western Screech-owl 0-2/day (throughout Madera Canyon)
Elf Owl 1 heard on 6/23 from the McIvor Conservation Center or MCC 
(historically, they have been found in the LE Wood picnic area)
Common Nighthawk 1 on 6/23
Common Poorwill 1-5/night (several around the MCC and cabin)
Mexican Whip-poor-will 1 female with chick on 6/24 (usually fairly reliably 
found in the upper parts of Madera Canyon; also recently found in Pine Canyon 
and last year I had them in Tobe Canyon)
White-throated Swift 0-20/day (can be heard/seen overhead just about anywhere, 
but I have had best luck with them in the pinnacles above Tobe Spring and the 
rock outcroppings and walls around Mount Livermore)
Magnificent Hummingbird - none seen this trip, but I have recently had 1 at 
Tobe Spring, which might be the most accessible spot to try for the species
Black-chinned Hummingbird 0-6/day
Broad-tailed Hummingbird  2-17/day (most up Madera Canyon and in the higher 
country)
Acorn Woodpecker 2-3/day
Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1-5/day
Northern Flicker 1 on 6/24
American Kestrel 0-3/day (pair have nested around the buildings just west, 
up-canyon, of the MCC and have successfully fledged young this year)
Peregrine Falcon 0-3/day (pair have successfully fledged 3 young from a nest in 
the pinnacles in upper Tobe Canyon; they are all very vocal right now)
Western Wood-pewee 8-13/day
Gray Flycatcher 1-10/day (throughout Madera Canyon - the default empid during 
the breeding season)
Cordilleran Flycatcher 0-4/day (high country and mesic canyons)
Buff-breasted Flycatcher - none seen this trip, 1 was seen in late May in lower 
Wolf Den Canyon and may still be around, but is likely moving around 
extensively and is likely to be extremely difficult to locate)
Black Phoebe 1 on 6/24 at the tank by the cabin; responding to the recent 
availability of water in the creek and tanks
Say's Phoebe 1-3/day
Dusky-capped Flycatcher 0-1/day (Tobe Canyon, but can be found at other sites - 
Bridge Gap/Limpia Chute Trail, Pine Peak, etc.)

Ash-throated Flycatcher 7-24/day
Cassin's Kingbird 5-10/day
Plumbeous Vireo 5-8/day
Hutton's Vireo 1-4/day
Stellar's Jay 1+ on 6/25 (the higher you are, the better shot you have at them; 
spots like Tobe Canyon the canyon heads below Mt. Livermore, the Limpia Chute 
Trail, Pine Peak)
Western Scrub-jay 1-4/day
Common Raven 1-4/day
Violet-green Swallow 0-2/day
Barn Swallow 0-2/day
Mountain Chickadee 1-7/day (can be found along Madera Canyon up-canyon from the 
facilities, Right Hand Canyon Road, and the higher country)
Black-crested Titmouse 2-11/day
Bushtit 2-6/day
White-breasted Nuthatch 7-10/day
Canyon Wren 2-6/day
House Wren 0-2/day (best shot is the higher country)
Bewick's Wren 2-12/day
Western Bluebird 0-2/day (best shot is in lower Madera Canyon)
Hermit Thrush 1 on 6/25 upper Tobe Canyon

Northern Mockingbird 0-1/day
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 on 6/25 upper Tobe Canyon

Colima Warbler 1 on 6/24 upper Tobe Canyon (looked good for a pure Colima, 
though note that a hybrid swarm of Colima x Virginia's warblers are suspected 
in the mountains; rare but can stumble across any of the Colimoid-type warblers 
in any of the high country areas)

Virginia's Warbler 0-2/day upper Tobe Canyon and other highland areas
Grace's Warbler 2-4 day (mostly upper Madera Canyon, Tobe Gap Road, Tobe 
Canyon, Limpia Chute Trail, and other highland areas)
Painted Redstart - Maybe once a breeder, but seemingly more of a fall migrant 
in recent years with birds beginning to show up in August

Spotted Towhee 10-25/day
Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1-4/day
Canyon Towhee 0-2/day
Chipping Sparrow 7-13/day
Black-chinned Sparrow 2-6/day
Lark Sparrow 0-3/day
Hepatic Tanager 1-15/day
Western Tanager 0-4/day
Black-headed Grosbeak 4-6/day
Blue Grosbeak 1-4/day
Indigo Bunting 1-2 males on territory in Tobe Canyon on 6/24 and 6/25
'Lilian's' Eastern Meadowlark 1-2/day (in the meadow by the MCC)
Brown-headed Cowbird 1-3/day
Scott's Oriole 0-1/day
Lesser Goldfinch 2-13/day
 
Richard Kostecke, Ph.D.
The Nature Conservancy
318 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas 78701

Exciting Discoveries Return to the Davis Mountains.

Photo © Mark Lockwood

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

As one of the enigmatic species of North America, one does not always go out to see a Long-eared Owl (LEOW).
The LEOW finds you.  It is up to the bird.

Recently, in the Davis Mountains (no more specific than that for a few valid reasons), TWO nests belonging to LEOW were discovered.  Two nests and nestlings.  Quite the discovery!
Have LEOW had prior, even annual, nesting in these mountains, only revealed post-fires?

It would seem the last nesting record of this species in Texas was in 1996 from Amarillo.

Excellence number two:

                                                           Photo © Cathryn Hoyt                                                                  

Spotless Comma/Anglewing (Polygonia haroldii)

This individual was recently discovered in the Davis Mountains by Dr. Cathy Hoyt.
This is THE FIRST U.S. RECORD for this species.

Is this butterfly a lone ranger, perhaps blown to this location by south winds?
Is there actually an isolated population of the species, uncovered only now post-fires?

Amazing, intriguing, stuff.
Greatness.

Flame-colored Tanager via Colima Death March

 A bit of background: 6 May, Flame-colored Tanager was reported near the junction of Boot and Juniper trails by Mark Flippo, retired BBNP staff who continues to remain designated Trail Ninja. It has been seen/sort-of-seen almost daily since then. Our first attempt was on 28 May. It's funny, claiming the Colima Death March (traditionally a combination of Pinnacles or Laguna Meadows trails to Colima Trail... and back) in the name of a non-Colima. While we did trot past ~5 singing Colima Warblers on our way up Pinnacles (the steeper and more grueling, but shorter of the approaches), our goal was the same as it was last time... Flame-colored Tanager. "Heard-only" is a heck of a foot note for such a gorgeous bird, but that's what it was. So we had to give it another try. In late June. Because we are masochists and that's what our schedule allowed.

Colima Warbler before sun reached our slope.

Note:
Boot Canyon itself is listed as 'strenuous' but fails to mention 'grueling' in the description! Our traditional approach ends up being something like 11-12 miles round trip. Boot Canyon, as a trail, is not bad at all. But you have to GET to it first! Darn the Pinnacles...

Flame-colored Tanager, 21 June 2013

This time we were able to make it out of Marathon before 5 am and hit the trail just before 6:30 am. We scooted past Hutton's Vireo (food carrying), singing and snacking Colima Warblers, Canyon Wrens falling/chasing each other down a cliff face, and begging/parent-chasing White-throated Swifts. Nearing the end of the trek, we were graced by the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Bird Counts Past: Ron Weeks. Also, the Ghost of Gulf Coast Birding Past: Brad Lirette. Having not seen either of them in roughly 10 years, it was a very hasty but pleasant reunion (and introduction to Matt) as they graciously backtracked up the trail to show us the spot where we'd waited for hours last time: instead of sticking to the ridge line, however, the female Western Tanager and male Flame-colored Tanagers were staying mid-canopy along the trail!

Golden Banded-Skipper (Autochton cellus)

Butterflies were definitely out as well: Arizona Sister, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Lyside Sulphur, American Snout, Varigated Fritillary, Gulf Fritillary, Golden-banded Skipper, Juniper Hairstreak, etc.

Painted Redstart adult, preening.

In addition to the flame-colored proverbial icing on the cake, we shared the morning with a cluster of Painted Redstarts, Black-crested Titmice feeding young, singing Colima Warblers, singing Black-headed Grosbeaks, singing Hepatic Tanagers, fly-by Summer Tanagers, one Band-tailed Pigeon, groups of Mexican Jays, a pair of Dusky-capped Flycatchers, a Cordilleran Flycatcher, some Hutton's Vireos, a female Lucifer Hummingbird, and a smattering of other high-elevation goodies.
As we were leaving the park, we stopped at Panther Junction on social rounds and were given directions to a hybrid agave/lechuguilla... but that may be a plant for another post!





Click here for the eBird list from Boot Canyon, and here for the eBird list from Pinnacles Trail.

Here's another pile of Flame-colored goodness, all heavily cropped:

Flame-colored Tanager, 21 June 2013

Flame-colored Tanager, 21 June 2013

Flame-colored Tanager, 21 June 2013

Flame-colored Tanager, 21 June 2013

Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) Reviewed Jan.- June 2013

via Eric Carpenter of TBRC

**trans-Pecos in BOLD 

TBRC Members, Observers & Record Submitters, and other interested parties,

Below is a summary of the records that the Texas Bird Records
Committee (TBRC) has reviewed and voted on thus far in 2013.

The highlight of this batch of records is the acceptance of the first
state record of Black-tailed Godwit, bringing the official state list
to 639!

Accepted Records (27):

2012-74 - Red-necked Grebe (1), 4 December 2012, White Rock Lake, Dallas County
2012-60 - Great Shearwater (1), 31 August 2012, Wright Patman Lake, Cass County
2012-54 - Great Shearwater (1), 10 August 2012, Padre Island NS - mile 1, Kleberg County
2012-55 - Brown Booby (1), 25 August - 3 September 2012, Canyon Lake Dam, Comal County
2012-56 - Brown Booby (1), 29-30 August 2012, Lynchberg Ferry, Harris County
2012-64 - Brown Booby (1), 29 September 2012, Lynchberg Ferry, Harris County
2012-68 - Northern Jacana (1), 3 November 2012, Pintail Lake, Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo County
2012-45 - Black-tailed Godwit (1), 4 June - 13 August 2012, Brazoria NWR, Brazoria County
2013-03 - Purple Sandpiper (1), 24 November 2012, Baytown, Harris County
2012-67 - Red Phalarope (1), 27-30 October 2012, Hagerman NWR, Grayson County
2012-69 - Red Phalarope (1), 31 October 2012, Balmorhea Lake, Reeves County
2012-61 - Heermann's Gull (1), 24 September 2012, Tornillo Reservoir, El Paso County
2012-70 - Mew Gull (1), 27 October 2012, Delta Lake, Hidalgo County
2012-80 - Long-tailed Jaeger (1), 1 December 2012, Texas City Dike, Galveston County
2012-62 - Ruddy Ground-Dove (1), 5-18 October 2012, Crescent Bend Nature Park, Bexar County
2012-49 - White-collared Swift (1), 3 July 2012, along Galveston seawall, Galveston County
2012-77 - Costa's Hummingbird (1), 24 December 2012 - 3 February 2013, El Paso, El Paso County
2013-07 - Costa's Hummingbird (1), 14-20 January 2013, Study Butte, Brewster County
2013-09 - Costa's Hummingbird (1), 29 December 2012 - 26 January 2013, Kerrville, Kerr County
2012-73 - Costa's Hummingbird (1), 7-17 November 2012, Christmas Mountains, Brewster County
2012-46 - Buff-breasted Flycatcher (1), 26 April - 15 July 2012, Davis Mountains Preserve, Jeff Davis County
2012-76 - Fork-tailed Flycatcher (1), 15-26 December 2012, near McKinney Falls SP, Travis County
2012-66 - Varied Thrush (1), 20 October 2012 - 19 March 2013, Christmas Mountains, Brewster County (our posts are here and here)

2012-82 - Rufous-capped Warbler (1-2), 22 April - 27 May 2012, Chalk Bluff Park, Uvalde County
2012-59 - Slate-colored Fox Sparrow (1), 20-27 September 2012, El Paso, El Paso County
2013-01 - Pine Grosbeak (1), 30 December 2012, upper Dog Canyon, GMNP, Culberson County
2013-04 - Evening Grosbeak (4), 27-31 October 2012, Davis Mts Resort, Jeff Davis County

Not Accepted Records (6):

2013-08 - Masked Duck (2), 22 December 2012, Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo County
2013-13 - American Flamingo (4), 13 January 2013, Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo County
2012-71 - Northern Goshawk (1), 21 November 2012, se. of Lockett,
Wilbarger County
2012-52 - Long-toed Stint (1), 5 August 2012, Hagerman NWR, Grayson County
2012-53 - Brown Noddy (1), 4 August 2012, Lake Tanglewood, Randall County
2011-06 - Vaux’s Swift (1), 9 August 2009, Mitchell Lake, Bexar County

A funny thing happened...

15 June 2013

...on the afternoon I returned home from 3 months of fieldwork that took me away from our region.
This happened:

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris)

That afternoon, Heidi texted me about a likely Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (SBFL) down at Carolyn Ohl-Johnson's Christmas Mountains Oasis in south Brewster County.

By the time Heidi returned home, we were both dead-tired for a variety of reasons.  However, there were several hours of daylight remaining.  We meant to get down there first thing tomorrow.  However, tomorrow is never promised, nor is the bird.

We hopped in the truck and, fatigue-enduring, drove the distance down to Carolyn's.

No more than 10 minutes on-site brought us this:

WOW. A beautiful SBFL, entirely active in foraging, fly-catching right in front of us on the trail.  Heidi spotted it first.  I have found it very beneficial to have a birder-spouse who is a foot shorter than I.

While this individual seems to be the 21st record in Texas, it is ONLY the 2nd trans-Pecos Regional record. It is certainly still a Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) review species. Rest assured, field notes were taken along with these photos.

We enjoyed beautifully entertaining views, off and on, during a 45 minutes observation of this individual.
We were fortunate that we did tear our carcasses off the couch in Marathon and headed down to south county.
Divine inspiration, perhaps.

Because the following day, this bird was not relocated. It is HIGHLY likely that it has moved on.

You just never know when it comes to birding the Big Bend area of far-West Texas. Thanks so much for Carolyn Ohl-Johnson and her years of dedication to create and maintain an excellent habitat in south Brewster County. Check out her 'blog at cmoasis.blogspot.com. It is worth it to follow and subscribe to her posts.

Find your way down there, and I guarantee it is worth the price of a non-obligatory donation.
She and her oasis are icons of Texas and Big Bend birding.
What rarity will be next? It doesn't entirely matter, as even her expected resident birds are excellent and sought after.

Whew. Welcome home me, I guess. And thanks to Carolyn.

**photos taken mostly by Heidi Trudell. My only interference with them is some of the cropping for framing in a blog.