The Highs and Lows of Birding

2018 was a great year of birding. I got to see some amazing birds. With that said, there were some lows. I had unreal luck with rarities. My first chance was in January with a Red-throated Loon and American Black Duck at White Rock Lake. I got the duck, but not the loon. Dipping on a rarity happens, especially when you're at my level of experience. I did get Tundra Swan in Fort Worth later in the month. It was miserably cold but I got 3 of them. It was a birding highlight of the year.

American Black Duck at White Rock Lake

Tundra Swan at Fort Worth Nature Center

A great start, right? I had another chance to get a rarity when an Elegant Trogon showed up at Landa Park in New Braunfels. My amazing girlfriend Katie braved an enthusiastic birder and a brisk morning to look for a bird that didn't show up. It sucked, but I told myself that dips happen.

Another chance at hard to find birds occurred in the Davis Mountains and South Llano River SP. There Alex and I missed Golden-cheeked Warbler and Montezuma Quail. I expected Montezuma Quail to miss but missing Golden-cheeked Warbler was irritating. We were in the place to see them, and we just missed it.

In November I missed Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Sugar Land. I had to be somewhere during the 24 hours it was seen. I got back in the middle of a storm and the bird was never seen again. That hurt a lot.

December hurt the most for rarities. I already detailed the crushing miss of Great Black Hawk in Maine. I was in the city and there was nothing I could do once it had been found. 20 minutes later I would miss Snowy Owl, a grail bird of mine, at the best place in the state to see it. On Galveston Island on Christmas Eve I missed Prairie Warbler, despite it probably seeing me. A week later I would miss Tropical Parula in Houston at Edith Moore Sanctuary.

Sounds like birding is just a disappointment, but that's far from the truth. The highs always make up for the lows.

In San Francisco I was exhausted after birding the entire city. I was walking out on a pier to look at grebes and I saw a Common Murre just chillin right by the pier. I knew I they were in the area, but I didn't even consider seeing one. A lot of rare birds (which this wasn't) are stumbled upon. You have to be at the right place at the right time. I was in the right place at the right time and I got lucky.

Common Murre in San Francisco

In May at South Llano River it was hot and Alex and I were exhausted. We went out at the wrong time to bird. To be fair, we were just stopping briefly at the park to look for the endangered Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler. Vireos are hard for me to find an identify. Sweating profusely, we saw the BCVI fly into a tree. We saw the black cap. We drove the remaining 5 hours to Fort Davis more energized than before. 

Later on in that trip we were feeder watching at sunset. The birds were stunning. Black-headed Grosbeak, Western and Hepatic Tanagers, and a flash of...pale blue? We had seen plenty of Blue Grosbeak, but this was baby blue. I nearly jumped through the ceiling. Someone had been studying their field guide, and even though it was the tail end of migration, it was undoubtedly Lazuli Bunting. This was one of the last few flying through and we got a brief glimpse at it. I would have given our chances at seeing it at 5%, and we got it!

A not so great pic of the Lazuli Bunting

Right before I started my job I got to spend some time in Dallas with my family. I got what would be my last shot at Golden-cheeked Warbler. I drove to Dinosaur Valley State Park, which is full of the perfect Ash Juniper habitat that they are exclusively found in. I hiked all day but didn't find one. I heard a few calls, but nothing showed up. Safe to say it was demoralizing and frustrating. But as I descended towards my car I heard the buzzy call of what sounded like Black-throated Green Warbler, except that bird would be very rare in late May. And guess what bird sounds exactly like it! Sunburned and dehydrated I sprinted to where the sound was coming from. There wasn't just one Golden-cheeked Warbler, there were 4 or 5! I went from nearly passing out to feeling energized. What an amazing feeling.

As I highlighted in my last post the disappointment of missing Great Black Hawk and Snowy Owl was negated by the high of seeing Snow Bunting and Razorbill in the span of 5 minutes.

The last high of the year was at Galveston Island State Park. Palm Warbler was a lifer for me, I was unsure I'd be able to find one due to inexperience. 30 minutes into my walk I saw a bird flitting around with yellow near the rump. I figured it was the abundant Yellow-rumped Warbler, but I was wrong. A spitting image of the field guide, Palm Warbler. While locally common, this was a big win for me after Maine. I used to miss a lot of locally common birds because I had no clue where to look. Normally I'd look for Palm Warbler in the tall trees, but I knew to look lower for them. It's a small win that was particularly motivating, just like when I found Louisiana Waterthrush at Bear Creek Park in August.

Louisiana Waterthrush at Bear Creek Park

But that wasn't the only high in Galveston. Rails are all over the marshes down there, but they're crazy secretive. They live in tall grass in and run instead of fly. In fact, they can be so hard to see that the ABA started to allow records of "heard only" because of birds like rails. The most notorious is Black Rail, and few if any are seen in a year. I didn't see Black Rail, but I did get amazing looks at 2 different Clapper Rails on the trail. 2 runners scared one off before I could get a picture of one, and my slow movement to grab my camera scared the other off, but that was after I froze and looked for a few minutes. So much for bad luck, right?

Birding is never a bad time. The unexpected makes every trip an adventure, and usually there's something cool lurking around every corner, even if it's not the most stunning or sought after bird. The highs outweighed the lows by far, and despite the disappointment of a dip you bet I'll chase the next big rarity with gusto. I cannot wait to see what 2019 has in store, and lets just say a few massive moves are in the works.

Birding the Northeast

Portland Head Light

The temperature was 9 degrees when I checked the weather in Portland, Maine the day before my trip. Yikes. I had a crazy weekend planned in the city. I scored a great deal on a flight and rental car for the weekend, so like a rational person I decided to go to Maine in the winter. My plan was to spend Friday afternoon looking for the first ever ABA record of Great Black Hawk that had been seen in a local park, then try to get Snowy Owl at the Portland Jetport. What I didn't realize was that the sun starts setting around 4 PM, and I got off the plane after 3. I was exhausted after getting up at 4:30 to fly to Philly then connect to Portland, and in the fading I did not see the star bird. The weather was actually very pleasant, but it gets COLD once that sun goes down. It got into the low 30s while I was there but during the day it was in the 40s. I decided for a lobster roll, settled in at the Airbnb, and I was in bed at 8:30.

My plan for the weekend was to drive 90 minutes South to Parker River NWR and then work my way north and stop at various places in New Hampshire and Maine. I wanted to spend Sunday in the general area of Portland to make sure I got to my flight in time. I was going to start at Biddleford Pool before heading to Dyer Point and fitting Scarbrough Marsh in if I had time. I was refreshing eBird in case the Great Black Hawk returned, but I booked my flight before it was rediscovered in the area so wasn't gonna spend all day chasing it. No way I would miss it if it showed up, but I came in expecting to not see it.

The High Roller Lobster Roll

A not so great picture of a White-winged Scoter, but a lifer is a lifer!

Lifer Common Loon! I snapped this through my scope

Parker River is a must see. It boasts a species list that is second only to the legendary Cape May. It's as birdy as it is beautiful. Wow. I spent the first chunk of the morning scoping the beach by the entrance, immediately getting lifer Common Loon and Black Scoter. Long-tailed Duck and Herring weren't too far behind. The coastal dunes were picturesque, and it's easy to see why this place draws nature lovers from across the region. A fellow birder pointed me in the direction of a King Eider and Snowy Owl, and although they were gone by the time I got there I got excellent looks at all 3 scoters, Common Eider, and Red-breasted Merganser. American Tree Sparrow was present as well in the lot. Off the beach there was various waterfowl including a ton of American Black Duck. Northern Harriers hovered over the fields and a Bald Eagle scared off a flock of Canada Geese. I will definitely be back at some point. It is gorgeous and there's not a bad place to see birds at all. Overall I had 29 species.
I had such a great time that I ran out of light. I raced across the state line to New Hampshire to go to Hampton Harbor to look for my lifer Glaucous Gull. As the sun went down it got freezing, but I was out there in a parking lot scoping for gulls. The best way for me to tell the difference was the lack of black on the wings. Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls were abundant, and a Common Loon was floating around. Then in the fading light I looked up and it was right above me! Glaucous Gull! It flew up to a post and I enjoyed good looks of it, but the wind was whipping up and I had to go back and get me a lobster roll!

Sunday was another early morning. I stopped in Saco along the river to get Common Goldeneye on my way to East Point in Biddleford, which is supposed to be a can't miss in the winter. A snowstorm was blowing in, and the wind was bone chilling. East Point has little tree cover and my scope couldn't even stay straight. Staying out of the wind I was able to get up close views of White-winged Scoter and Red-necked Grebe. Just as I was packing up to move on I saw a white flash along the ground. That could only be one thing, SNOW BUNTING. It was right in front of me and I missed the picture. I pretty much walked right over it. I set my scope back up on the other side and I saw plenty of ducks bouncing around, including Razorbill! In the span of 10 minutes I got 2 of the birds I was dying to see. I was the crazy man laughing into the freezing wind. It was glorious. I then drove north to Dyer Point, Portland Head Light, and 2 Lights State Park to get the stunning Harlequin Duck. That was another bird I used to longingly look at in my field guide as a kid.

I've dreamed of seeing Harlequin Ducks, I could not have asked for better looks

As unforgettable as the trip was, there were a few disappointing moments. I couldn't find Common Redpoll, as you either find a flock of 50 or see none. Surprisingly I missed Black Guillemot. I missed Snowy Owl despite chasing it on Saturday and going to the Jetport where it is supposed to be reliable. The worst miss was Great Black Hawk. It had been seen pretty much every day leading up to the trip, and it disappeared the day my flight landed. I looked as I rushed to the airport on Sunday and it wasn't there on Sunday as well. Someone reported it 30 minutes after I had gone through security at the airport. I was crushed. It had been in an adjacent yard all weekend and the owner got around to reporting it at sunset on Sunday. I was frustrated, but that's how birding goes. I had a brutal year with rarities and I'll write a post about that later on.

Long-tailed Duck! This is an immature or female but I got fantastic looks at the long-tailed males as well

This trip was incredible. The Maine/Massachusetts birders were incredibly friendly and extremely helpful with finding some incredible birds. The lobster is out of this world and I got to try an authentic Philly cheesesteak when I stopped in Philadelphia. The Razorbill and Snow Bunting were 100% worth the freezing winds, and the Harlequin Ducks were so stunning that I sat and watched them swim for an hour. Maine in the winter sounds a little insane, but it is a must do and I can't wait to go back!

Still can't get over the Harlequin Ducks!

Big Moves

American White Pelican

It's been a while since I last got out and birded, but this weekend I got a surprise chance to go to Dallas and do a little bit of birding.

In between my last post I picked up a whopping 2 birds on the year, a Tricolored Heron on my way driving back from the A&M-Auburn and Sandhill Cranes while driving to Disney World in Florida.

I decided to brave the freezing weather this weekend while up in Dallas and I headed off to White Rock Lake. A Red-breasted Merganser had been seen by the spillway, but unfortunately it was not there. There was a large raft of various waterbirds, but I could not tell find the duck in question.

Franklin's Gulls at the White Rock spillway

There was not much to note, but I did get Franklin's Gull for number 251 on the year! The gulls are still coming in, and I'm sure the Arctic blast that we got pushed plenty of them down further. I'm sure there was a Herring Gull out there, but unfortunately I'm terrible with gulls. I did get a scope that arrived once I got back from birding, so hopefully I'll get better with gulls and sandpipers.

I'm convinced that the Red-breasted Merganser was in this raft, but with my new scope I should have an easier time finding birds that far out!

More importantly, I'm going to Maine in a month! The flights are booked and I'm going to brave the cold to look for what should be an amazing list of birds. Canadian biologists reported that some bird foods will be scarce this winter, which is already leading to an irruption of winter finches. Maine is already getting lots of Evening Grosbeaks, and Pine Grosbeak and Common Redpoll should be coming in towards where I am as well. I'll be staying in Portland so hopefully some of them make it down to southern Maine, but Snowy Owl and Snow Bunting winter in the area, and Bohemian Waxwing is a potential find as well. I should get amazing winter ducks and alcids like Harlequin Duck and Razorbill, too.

Thanksgiving will be a busy week as well, hopefully Hagerman recovers from the flooding, it would be really nice to get some sparrows for the year out there. Let's get to 300!

WG Jones State Forest/Bear Creek Park

Before I moved to Houston I bought a book that gave birding sites on the Upper Texas Coast. My goal was to hit a new site every other week. The World Cup and a few trips to Dallas and College Station to see family and friends derailed that for a few weeks, but 3 weeks ago I made it out to WG Jones State Forest (a site I put on my summer preview, more on that below) and then I went to a previously unfamiliar place, Bear Creek Park in Katy, on Sunday morning.

WG Jones is a fantastic place to get Red-cockaded Woodpecker, an endangered woodpecker that has fragmented populations across the Southeast. I think Noah Strycker stopped in this forest during his world wide, record breaking big year. The pine forest also is home to all the woodpeckers that spend time in East Texas, including the stunning Red-headed Woodpecker. It also offers a chance to get Brown-headed Nuthatch and Pine Warbler. While the number of species isn't out of this world, the quality if definitely there. 

Of course, I chose to go during the heatwave so I was only out for an hour. I go to the northern area of the forest, where the trail is named after the famous woodpecker. The few times I've been have been during nesting season, so a huge chunk of the trail is closed down to not disturb the birds.

Summer Tanager. This picture was taken at South Llano River State Park.

The hour I was there offered a quick glimpse of a Red-cockaded Woodpecker, which I was able to identify by call before seeing it fly off. I got Red-headed Woodpecker as well, but surprising no nuthatch or Pine Warbler. I'm 0/2 on Brown-headed Nuthatch so far, I may have to add it to the nemesis bird list. On my way out I did get Summer Tanager and Indigo Bunting, but that Red-Cockaded Woodpecker was a summer highlight.

Sunday was a fantastic day as well. I chose this over the coast because I had the chance to snag a waterthrush. Either species would be a year bird for me, but Northern Waterthrush would be a lifer. I also wanted to go after flycatchers that had been seen out there, as well as Pine Warbler.

The park is a great place to bird. There is a 4 mile round trip trail that goes through a variety of habitat. Tufted Titmice chattered overhead and Carolina Chickadees sang, but there was a group of flycatchers darting around that caught my attention.

Empidonax Flycatchers are so tough to ID. You have to look for small details and listen for songs. Song is easy, but in the post breeding season it can be harder to hear calls as they are less frequent. Willow, Alder, and Acadian had all been reported at Bear Creek. I know for sure I saw an Acadian because I noticed an eye ring and it hung out closer to tree tops. I am 99% sure I had Alder as well. They are nearly identical to Willow Flycatcher, and were actually once lumped into the same species. They distinction is Willow's have a "whit" versus the Alder "pip call." The call was more of a pip, and they were hanging out towards the ground, which is typical for them.

Acadian Flycatcher. See why Empids are so hard to identify?

The highlight of the day was when I was crossing the bridge alone the creek. I made some bird real made, and it started calling and flicking its tail. WATERTHRUSH! I snapped a great pic of it and tried to ID it, but given that I've only seen one waterthrush, a Louisiana, and it was from a distance. Initially I was thinking Northern Waterthrush, but after posting looking at a field guide and posting to Texbirds it was clear that it was Louisiana, still a fantastic find. I wasn't expecting to see one this late in the season, although I held out hope. It was great to see that it paid off. What started out as a dismal year is turning out pretty well! 

Louisiana Waterthrush. The fat look of the bird and the eyestripe doesn't narrow, which separates it from Northern Waterthrush.

I ended the day walking through a section of pines. I got Pine Warbler singing way up in the trees, in addition to other woodland birds like Summer Tanager and Red-headed Woodpecker. By that point the heat was getting awful and I had to go, but it was a great day overall, and it put me up to 248 birds on the year. My goal for 300 unfortunately won't hit this summer, but I am optimistic on finishing above that. I would have probably hit 300 had I made it to the valley, but I had to postpone those plans until the fall. That should get me up there, and I'll have a shot at wintering Northern Waterthursh/Yellow-throated Warbler to add to the tally. Next stop is hopefully Texas City to get Magnificent Frigatebirds!

Red-headed Woodpecker. They aren't the most cooperative at times.

Brazos Bend

It's time to get started on my run to 300. I just finished my first week of work, and I was eager to get out and see the local birds. The original plan was to try WG Jones State Forest, but checking on Birdseye I realized that Prothonotary Warbler was not going to be reliable after June, but the next few weekends I'll traveling, so I had to get it this weekend or risk not getting it at all. I've had a disappointing warbler year, and although Yellow-breasted Chat is gonna be a tough find now, I decided on Brazos Bend.

The main goal was Prothonotary Warbler, but another lifer, Purple Gallinule was an almost guarantee as well. There were also a few year birds out there.

Brazos Bend itself is one of the better state parks, offering unique habitat that I haven't been able to find in Texas. It's a place for gator lovers, there are over 250 6 foot long or more gators in the park, and they are easily seen throughout the park. The trees are the things that catch my eye the most. I feel like I'm deep in the bayou of Louisiana when I hike through there. The park is also great for new outdoorspeople, as it is close to the city, has great facilities, and it still has some wilderness to it.

Absolute unit

It was a humid day, I only could put in about 2.5 hours, and that was enough time to get on the 40 Acre Lake Trail and the Spillway Trail. It had Prothonotary Warbler reliably, and my other goal birds were all around there. Prothonotary Warblers have a call similar to Black-and-White Warbler, but to me it sounds slower and more enunciated. The habitat is perfect for them at Brazos Bend along the Spillway Trail.

Anhinga

On my way there I came across tons of wading birds. Green, Great Blue, and Little Blue Herons were all abundant, as well as Anhinga. White Ibises were wading amongst a few gators as well, but the best lead was a calling Prothonotary Warbler, but it was impossible to locate. I don't count lifers as heard only unless they are owls, rails, or nightjars so I was not going to count it. 

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks flew overhead, alligators swam by me, but the incessant call of the warbler was both frustrating and distracting.  I had an amazing view of alligator walking across the trail, but no warbler. I stayed on the spillway for over an hour, chatting with a park volunteer but always looking. Then it happened. A small bird was flitting around in Spanish Moss, but the bird didn't seem yellow enough. It was definitely yellow enough in the binoculars! Prothonotary Warbler! Before I would leave I'd see another 2. This is the second time I've gotten a warbler late in the trip, developing patience in birding has paid off! 

Little Blue Heron

I'm sitting at 243 on the year now. Can't wait to visit Brazos Bend again soon!

The Race to 300

So far this year has gotten off to a much better start than I expected. I owe a lot of that to going out to Utah and California. I got about 29 year birds off of those 2 trips. Outside of those trips, I've made a West Texas trip, like I did last year. After that trip I was around 215 or so, and right now I am sitting at 238. So far, I am on pace to shatter my record of 272 year birds. I really want to get to 300 this year, and I think I have a chance. The number is important to me not because of the number itself, but it symbolizes a really solid year of birding. That shows with the year I've had so far. In 5 months I have been all over the country birding, and I've had some amazing experiences. I want to keep that rolling through the summer. I've made some tentative plans through the summer of where I plan to go and what I hope to see, as well as some birds I've missed along the way.

I move to Houston on Thursday to start my first big boy job. Although that's less time to bird each week, I've mostly cleaned up on Dallas birds, but Houston one of the best birding areas of Texas. Most of these are day trips, and I would welcome some company on them. I'll throw in some pictures, although a heads up a ton of these aren't mine. After I visit I should have some good pics.

WG Jones State Forest
Jones State Forest in The Woodlands is a pine forest that is the best place to find the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Other year birds here are the stunning Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Great-crested Flycatcher, Pine Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat. I've been here before  and I know where to look, so I should nab all 6 of these to get up to 244.

Pileated Woodpecker, another bird that can be found at WG Jones State Forest

Smith Point Hawkwatch

This will be an early August day trip out to Smith Point on the east side of Trinity Bay. This is a place to see thousands of migrating raptors as they head south. I should finally get Broad-winged Hawk, and in addition to that I should get a lifer Swallow-tailed Kite and White-tailed Hawk. I am expecting to get Wood Stork and lifer Magnificent Frigatebird as well, which are 2 fantastic birds. I got Wood Stork and White-tailed Hawk last year, but not the other three. Lifers/birds I missed last year are the key to getting to 300. If I get all 5, as expected with BirdsEye data, I'll go up to 249.

Red-shouldered Hawk is another migrant raptor that can be seen at Smith Point

Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend is one of the best state parks in the state. Known for it's insane amount of alligators, it also has some great birding opportunities. I picked up a ton of wading birds last year at Quintana and Lafitte's Cove that I haven't gotten this year, and I have a chance to get them this here. Anhinga is as close to automatic as it can get here, and I am almost assured to get Tricolored and Green Heron as well. After this it looks the only wader I should be missing is Reddish Egret. I should be able to get lifers Purple Gallinule and Prothonotary Warbler, which would be big. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, and Red-eyed Vireo are all possibilities, and I think 1 out of those 3 should be a lock. I'd expect another 5 here to go up to 254.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron should be almost a sure thing at Brazos Bend

Galveston Island State Park

Another great state park, Galveston Island should bring in some needed coastal birds. Mottled and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck are resident, and Reddish Egret appears to be a common find. White-tailed Kite is present, and Least and Royal Terns should be there as well. Black Skimmer is another great bird I hope to find there, and if not I can search for it at San Jacinto. Dickcissel and Bronzed Cowbird are possible, and I bet I get one of those. I also have an outside chance at Clapper Rail.

An August trip to Apffel Park that I can do the same day can get some great shorebirds. American Oystercatcher, Snowy, Piping, and Wilson's Plover, Red Knot will all be there as will Black, Common, Royal, Least, Caspian, and Sandwich Terns. The big possible bird is Pomarine Jaeger, but I won't hold my breath for that. A few sandpipers could be in play as well. I think expecting 15 year birds here is a fair expectation, bumping me up to 269. Pomarine Jaeger, Clapper Rail, and Red Knot are the few birds I doubt I get, and getting all 3 is not happening.

I'd expected Semipalmated Plover somewhere on Galveston

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

I should have included this with Smith Point. It's a great NWR that I have visited before, and it will offer some great chances at other birds. Seaside Sparrow is the big kahuna for me here, and it is the only sparrow being reported, and since I'm garbage at sparrows it'll help me ID it. Dickcissel is another almost given, and Marsh Wren was abundant last time I went as well. 3 year birds are likely and that'll get me to 272, what I finished with last year.

Rio Grande Valley

My big likely August weekend trip will likely be to the Rio Grande Valley, one of the birding holy lands that every birder must go to. While plans are far from finalized, I picked up an insane number of year birds last August. I hit I think 25, which got me up to 250 by the end of the summer. Last year I did the east side of the valley one weekend and the west side in December. Having been twice, I kind of have a better idea of where to go now. For the sake of this we'll say Estero Llano Grande, Santa Ana, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, which are in my opinion the 3 best birding sites.  Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Harris's Hawk, Gray Hawk, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Buff-bellied Hummer, Green Kingfisher, Northern-beardless Tyrannulet, Great Kiskadee, Couch's and Tropical Kingbird, Green Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Olive Sparrow, Hooded and Altamire Oriole, Green Parakeet, Red-crowned Amazon, and Ringed Kingfisher are a good chunk of the year birds we can get there. 25 is a conservative estimate, putting me at 297 year birds.

Altamira Oriole

Plain Chachalaca

Common Paraque

I'm really pumped for this summer. I should be able to get all of these sites in 3 months, as most are day trips I can do on the weekends and one weekend trip. I didn't realize that I could get to 300 by September. 4 day trips and weekend trip. There are plenty of other chances. Chambers and Harris usually get a good rarity or 2 in the summer, and this time I don't have Fish Camp from keeping me from a Jabiru chase. I left out Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a bird I should get but I won't know where as they're tough to see, and Tropical Parula/Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, as that will be it's own trip that I have to ask myself if I want to do it (I do, I just don't know if I'll have time). I think 1 rarity over the summer is chaseable for me as well. There is a late summer Pelagic trip out of Port Aransas that I would jump on if the dates line up well in addition.

I'm always looking for a partner on these trips. It makes it a lot more fun, especially on a chase. Please hit me up if you like what you read and want to book your ticket for a coastal birding trip!

Migration/Utah

I'm super late on this post, as it came right in the middle of finals season and I was super sick afterwards. There are three smaller trips between April and May. I went to Sabine Woods, Provo,Utah, and then the Big Sit at Brison Park.

Indigo Bunting at Sabine Woods

Sabine Woods was supposed to be a huge day. Fallout occurs when a storm blows migrating birds off of the Gulf of Mexico and onto the first land they find. There are strategic fallout spots across Texas, from South Padre Island, to Blucher Park in Corpus, to High Island/Quintana in Houston, and finally Sabine Woods in Beaumont. Normally fallout occurs later in the afternoon, but there is always potential after a big storm. I've been to Quintana once last year and it was jaw dropping. Unfortunately, the weather conditions didn't line up and we missed a huge fallout, which probably occurred farther north in Louisiana. Although we missed on some great warblers, we had some solid shorebirds at Sea Rim State Park down the road.

Painted Bunting at Sabine Woods

I would suggest in the future to focus on High Island or Quintana. Sabine Woods is a little on the small side, and Galveston has Quintana and Lafitte's Cove within a close driving distance, which will allow you to really clean up on migrants. High Island is on the Bolivar Peninsula so it'll offer more shorebirds than Sea Rim did. Sabine Woods is a good spot, but it may be better to hit those up instead. Outside of migrants when I did Quitana I got every single kind of heron, and the only ibis we didn't get was Glossy Ibis. We had 66 species at Sabine Woods/Sea Rim, while hitting about 100 at Quintana just for reference

American Avocet at Sea Rim

American Golden Plover at Sea Rim

Black-necked Stilt, Sea Rim State Park

Blue Grosbeak, Sabine Woods

Dunlin, Sea Rim State Park

Semipalmated Plover, Sea Rim State Park

Next trip was to Provo, Utah for my boy Daniel's wedding. I came in super early to hang out, and we went on a hike to Millcreek Canyon, and then while he did wedding prep I snuck off to the Provo Airport. Utah is gorgeous, and it's canyons offer amazing diversity of habitat and species. I was there at the wrong time of year, as the mountains at super high elevations are still snowed over, but there are some amazing birds like Gray Jay and American Three-toed Woodpecker. We were at about 6600 feet, still in great shape to get some good birds. The biggest problem with Utah is that it is very underreported up in the canyons. There are tons of trails and routes, which makes it hard to keep track of everything.

We did the Desolation Trail of Millcreek Canyon. It's an amazing hike! It wasn't super birdy, but I think the lack of wind didn't favor Golden Eagles are known to soar in the canyon. Great birds, some were tough to ID because I'm not familiar with the birds. Of the birds we got an ID on, I got lifer Mountain Chickadee, my main target,  and Red-breasted Nuthatch, and then Hairy Woodpecker and Steller's Jay being the other notable birds. Not a huge quantity of birds, but really good quality.

While Daniel was doing wedding prep I snuck off and went to the Provo Airport, which is really well reported because it is easy to access. I only had time to go halfway around the airport, but wow it is such a great spot! Great birds including Great-horned Owl with chicks, Ring-necked Pheasant, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and the best bird of the trip, Brewer's Sparrow!

Barn Swallows, Provo Airport

Black-capped Chickadee, another lifer

Northern Harrier

Great-horned Owl with chicks, a great way to get a lifer

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Ring-necked Pheasant

Brewer's Sparrow, best bird of the trip

The last part of migration that was the Big Sit at Brison Park. I didn't get any good pictures, but I got one of my favorite birds of the year, Bay-breasted Warbler. Other highlights were American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. It was a great way to end my migration, and even though I missed some good warblers, it was a solid end as I picked up some good ones and some of my favorite migrants. Next post will be up soon, and I'm beyond pumped for it. I'll outline the rest of the plans for the summer and moving up to 300 birds on the year!

Obviously not my picture, but this is one of my favorite birds on the year, Bay-breasted Warbler. Taken from allaboutbirds.com