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We were lucky enough to have a face-to-face encounter with our “holy gRail,” thanks to the banding operations taking place at the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
A Yellow Rail in a net? You bet! On this tour we joined the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival crew for an unforgettable afternoon. Some of us rode the giant, rice-harvesting combine and watched as rails, wrens, and sparrows flushed out of its way. Others stood to the side, hoping for good binocular views at flushing birds. Regardless of strategy, we were all there as our #1 target bird darted out of the field and swung into some mist nets. This was certainly a pleasant surprise, gifting closer looks than we imagined possible! Scores of Soras, Virginia Rails, and a rarely-sighted King Rail rounded out the day splendidly.
Along the roadsides, we drew out migrants such as Magnolia and Wilson’s Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeak, and wintering species like Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The latter two were numerous and always all too eager to investigate our pishing! Other roadside stops yielded flocks of White-faced Ibis and Greater White-fronted Geese by the thousands, with some Snow Geese and sandpipers mixed in. Roseate Spoonbills were head-turners as they cruised over us, aglow in bright pink garb, and two unexpected, captive-raised Whooping Cranes had us cheering. Shorebirds did not disappoint either -- we picked out Franklin’s Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Gull-billed Terns, several plover species, and many others along the beaches in Cameron Parish. Finally, a visit to Kisatchie National Forest gave us a Bachman’s Sparrow who sat still for a deliciously long time. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker was cooperative, too, along with a Barred Owl couple that boomed at us from the treetops. Add to this the lovely weather, stunning sunsets, kindness of locals, and tasty Cajun cookin’, and you’ve got yourself a smorgasbord for the senses!
Dan and I are very grateful to Kevin Berken, Donna Dittmann, Steve Cardiff, and all the volunteers who helped us get on the flighty birds at the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. And, of course, thanks to all of YOU for being a fantastically enthusiastic and fun group! A tidbit: in Russian, there is no word for “goodbye.” There is only “do svidanya,” which literally translates to “until we meet again.” That is certainly my wish.
Long live the Yellow Rail!
--Lena
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
There certainly was no shortage of Greater White-fronted Geese on this tour! (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons) SNOW GOOSE (Chen caerulescens)
MOTTLED DUCK (GULF COAST) (Anas fulvigula maculosa)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
Guide and artist Dan Lane crayon-sketched this Yellow Rail onto the paper tablecloth at the famous Blue Dog Café (hence the rail perching on top of a blue doggie’s head). This is a necessary ritual, which beckons the rail out of hiding (one hopes). Well, whatever it was, we all know it worked! (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
This giant red monster of a machine is precisely what gives birders any hope of seeing furtive rails in these vast rice fields. The birds flush out of the way of the noisy combine as it goes about its rice harvesting business. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis) CLAPPER RAIL (Rallus longirostris)
KING RAIL (Rallus elegans)
VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola)
SORA (Porzana carolina)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Gruidae (Cranes)
Sadly, the Whooping Crane was extirpated from Louisiana in the 1930s. We were therefore very lucky (and surprised) to see this pair along the roadside in Cameron Parish. Fortunately, there are now programs in place that aim to permanently reintroduce the Whooping Crane back into the state. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana) Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius nivosus)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
STILT SANDPIPER (Calidris himantopus)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus)
After getting our fill of rails in the morning, we were definitely ready for some savory Cajun cookin’! Where better to head than to Nott's Corner Seafood & Deli? (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus) WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
An example of some classic Cajun fare at Prejean’s, complete with corn maque chaux and pork-rice. YUM. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
Strigidae (Owls)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
BARRED OWL (Strix varia)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes carolinus)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER (Picoides borealis)
NORTHERN FLICKER (YELLOW-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus auratus)
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
At Holly Beach, we met up with several large flocks of gulls and terns. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
MERLIN (Falco columbarius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Birding on the beach. What will we see next? Gull-billed Tern, Snowy Plover, or Lesser Black-backed Gull? (Photo by participant Bill Denton)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus virens) EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos)
WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata)
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Why did the Sora cross the road? (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
CAROLINA CHICKADEE (Poecile carolinensis)
TUFTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus bicolor)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH (Sitta pusilla)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
SEDGE WREN (Cistothorus platensis)
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris)
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
A Bachman’s Sparrow sits tucked away in a maple sapling at Kisatchie National Forest. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) [*]
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
BROWN THRASHER (Toxostoma rufum)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Setophaga magnolia)
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
BACHMAN'S SPARROW (Peucaea aestivalis)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Heading off into the pines. Autumn has left its mark even in Louisiana. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
SEASIDE SPARROW (Ammodramus maritimus) LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Zonotrichia albicollis) [*]
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula)
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus major)
This gorgeous Gulf Fritillary was kind enough to strike up a photogenic pose for our cameras. (Photo by guide Lena Senko)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus) BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus) [*]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
NORTHERN RACCOON (Procyon lotor)
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
These Yellow Pitcher Plants are carnivorous plants and derive their nutrients from insects that get trapped inside their long, liquid-filled cavities. (Photo by Lena Senko)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
HERPS:
Green/Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis) – Art’s sharp eyes picked this one out.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) – While we can’t count the huge, stuffed one we saw at Prejean’s Restaurant, we will gladly add the submerged one at Sabine Nature Trail to our list.
River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) – These were the turtles we saw lounging on the lake at Kisatchie NF.
Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius valliceps)
INSECTS:
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
PLANTS:
Thank you, Mary, for sharing your abundant botany wisdom! The following were a few highlights:
Yellow Pitcher Plant a.k.a. Yellow Trumpet (Sarracenia flava)
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Blue Beech a.k.a. Ironwood a.k.a. Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Mulberry sp. (Morus sp.)
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
Totals for the tour: 141 bird taxa and 6 mammal taxa