A brief, targeted tour like this one can be nerve-racking and thrilling at the same time. We all knew what we were there for...to ride a combine! What if it wouldn't start? What if the operator was sick? What if it had a flat tire? Luckily for us, none of those things happened. Oh and we got to see that bird - haha. Mother Nature was undeniably a factor in how our tour played out (probably impacted our species total significantly as well), but in the end we saw a lot of exciting species and the regional specialties showed up for us in spades.
We began the tour with the knowledge that our number wouldn't be called to witness the rice harvesting until Sunday. The forecasted rain for Friday afternoon into Saturday meant the crop would be too moist to harvest. This information made our decision for Friday morning easy...we were off to the longleaf pine habitat of Kisatchie National Forest in central-western Louisiana. Our early departure was rewarded right from the start. At precisely 0808, a pair of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers emerged from their roost cavity. What a treat to study this endangered, longleaf pine specialist. Brown-headed nuthatches and elusive Bachman's Sparrows rounded out our targets in the area. After retreating south and grabbing some lunch, we lucked into a window in the rain showers and studied Lake Charles from the north shore. Three Brown Boobies had been reported from this location for about a week and we caught up to them.
The rain showers dissipated overnight so we were informed to "stand by" for a possible call to the rice fields. We needed to stay reasonably close to the rice region this day. Owen put together an excellent route of birding sites that kept us in striking distance. We moved from one noteworthy species to another: a brilliant Great Kiskadee pair, elegant Vermilion Flycatchers, a family of spectacular Whooping Cranes. After successfully tracking down those rarities, we moved onto abundance. Flooded fields held shorebirds, waders and ducks by the thousands. Most numerous were Long-billed Dowitchers, White-faced Ibis and Northern Pintail. The swirling clouds of birds were mesmerizing. The day was capped off with a needle in a haystack experience when a Yellow-headed Blackbird was teased out of many Red-winged Blackbirds.
Sunday morning began with a dash to the coast. We tacked on a bunch of new species quickly: American Bittern, Piping Plover, Clapper Rail, Seaside Sparrow, Nelson's Sparrow and Lesser Black-backed Gull to name a few. Our journey to the rice fields was interrupted by a pair of soaring White-tailed Hawks. Once we joined the harvest, things got really exciting. Riding the combine was a thrill but so was seeing a dozen Yellow Rails! A King Rail running off was an uncommon bonus, plus we added Sora, Virginia Rail and LeConte's Sparrow. What a wonderful way to cap off our fleeting tour.
Thanks again for choosing Field Guides for your Cajun adventure. Take care and good luck birding in the new year.
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
SNOW GOOSE (Anser caerulescens)
Just a few overhead; many more migrants will arrive later in the fall
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons)
Many thousands already on their wintering grounds
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
Just a small flock at Lake Charles
WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa)
Four circled overhead repeatedly at White Lake
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors)
Numerous
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
By the hundreds
GADWALL (Mareca strepera)
Multiple stops
MOTTLED DUCK (GULF COAST) (Anas fulvigula maculosa)
Good looks Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning at this regional specialty
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
The enormous flocks in flight were mesmerizing
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
Thousands
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Roadside ditches provided some great looks
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
Yep
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
Quite a few
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
Only a couple people got on this tiny dove with a long tail
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
A grand total of one individual on the wire at Rutherford Beach
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Plenty
KING RAIL (Rallus elegans)
We enjoyed a prolonged view of this large rail as it ran off ahead of the combine into the other field
CLAPPER RAIL (Rallus crepitans)
We almost didn't realize it was practically under foot!
VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola)
It was exciting to see this gorgeous little rail in-hand
SORA (Porzana carolina)
Several were flushed from the rice fields
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
By the hundreds
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Also numerous in the marshes as we go closer to the coast on Sunday
YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis)
Wow -- what an amazing experience and incredible species. We encountered about a dozen of these secretive beauties. Seeing several in-hand was the cherry on top. The intricate details of their plumage were remarkable.
SANDHILL CRANE (Antigone canadensis)
Just a few of us spotted one in the distance as we drove away from the Whooping Cranes
WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana)
Louisiana is working to establish a resident population of this majestic, endangered species. We were fortunate enough to come upon a pair with a juvenile and it was even more exciting when they started calling!
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
An elegant shorebird
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Many good looks in the flooded agriculture fields
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
Several along the coast
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Good looks in Lake Charles
PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus)
A highlight for many of us; we enjoyed excellent scope views at Rutherford Beach
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
All over the place
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)
Several giant, orange shorebirds were in a flooded field north of Jennings
STILT SANDPIPER (Calidris himantopus)
We enjoyed a wonderful study of hundreds of foraging birds on Saturday; this bird fits somewhere in between dowitchers and yellowlegs when it comes to structure and behavior
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
Many at Rutherford Beach
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
Impressive numbers of this dumpy shorebird
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
The smallest of all shorebirds
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
In good numbers in several flooded fields
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Wow - thousands in several locations
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
Our first was just hunkering down on a lawn
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
"Everything about a Greater is greater"
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
One seemed to be "owning" that puddle
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Multiple locations
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Numerous
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
Strange to only catch up to one of these; it was in flight on Saturday afternoon
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
Fewer than the Laughing Gulls
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
One juvenile at Cameron
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)
A subadult was in flight in front of us, among many Laughing Gulls, at Cameron
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Occupying conspicuously different habitat than the other terns
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
The largest tern in the world
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
Our first looks were at Lake Charles
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
Hundreds
BROWN BOOBY (Sula leucogaster)
Our views were distant but certainly diagnostic of three of these unexpected seabirds
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Nannopterum auritum)
Many
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum)
Good looks Sunday morning near the coast
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
The state bird
AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus)
What a wonderful view of that bird in golden light as it flew across the marsh
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
All over the place
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
"Ditch Heron"
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
Daily
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
We got to see their behavior that helped them earn their name
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
Not spotted until Sunday morning
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Also a Sunday morning bird along the canals
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
Every day
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Many thousands winter in this region; undoubtedly there were some Glossy Ibis mixed in but we never took the time to tease one out
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
It is fun to say pink bird
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
Seen in flight as we drove south on Friday as we returned from the longleaf pine habitat
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
This vulture rocks!
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Perched on poles
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius)
Plenty of habitat for this graceful flyer
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
A bird overhead while we made a comfort stop in Kisatchie National Forest
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
Most sightings occurred while we were in transit
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Three immatures and two adults were drawn to some out-of-view carcass Saturday afternoon
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)
Another species that seems to be extending its range from Texas into Louisiana. Owen spotted this striking Buteo as we were driving back from the coast Sunday morning.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Buteo lineatus)
A common roadside raptor in southern Louisiana
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Lots of birds wintering in the region
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
One bird was perched on a sign as we drove west on I-10 at dawn. It took off as we passed by and flew across the interstate between our vans
BARRED OWL (Strix varia)
It was really thrilling to hear a variety of calls and then eventually see it perched
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Most seen on Sunday
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
It was interesting to see this migrant species get driven off by the territorial Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes carolinus)
Heard more than seen
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Dryobates pubescens)
A couple close birds on Saturday morning
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER (Dryobates borealis)
One of the highlights of the tour. This longleaf pine habitat specialist is endangered. Our particularly early rise on Friday allowed us to be in their territory as they emerged from their night roost cavity. The pair proved cooperative for a good stretch.
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
This dramatic woodpecker gave us a good flyby and a more distant perched view in Kisatchie National Forest
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara plancus)
We came across this scavenger in bunches on Sunday morning
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
On the wires on most of our drives
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Several birds perched on utility poles; one was tearing apart a prey item
EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe)
Several Saturday morning
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Wonderful, prolonged views of several immature birds
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
This species seems to be expanding its range. Our Saturday morning was punctuated by a pair of these colorful, vocal flycatchers.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus)
The last species to be added to our list... Owen spotted two birds on the wire as we headed back to Scott
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Daily
BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata)
Up in Kisatchie; they seemed upset by my Barred Owl hooting
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
We passed a lot of crows in our travels; the ones we knew with certainty by voice were encountered when we headed NW on Friday morning
FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus)
We had to find some classic habitat to hear their nasal call: fast food parking lots
CAROLINA CHICKADEE (Poecile carolinensis)
Multiple encounters
TUFTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus bicolor)
Just a few
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
Huge concentrations in several places
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Daily but not nearly as numerous as the Tree Swallows
CAVE SWALLOW (Petrochelidon fulva)
We savored excellent scope views of a bird on the wire among Tree Swallows
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Corthylio calendula)
Multiple encounters
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa)
Several came into pishing at "awesome bridge"
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH (Sitta pusilla)
A longleaf pine specialist
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
A few migrants Saturday morning
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
This skulker was more heard than seen
SEDGE WREN (Cistothorus stellaris)
We teased a few into the open in grassy areas near the coast but many flushed out of the rice fields as well
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris)
We had a few in cattails as expected but a bird in-hand was a pleasant surprise
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Loud and distinctive calls and songs
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)
Yep
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Daily
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
Distinctive tail pumping behavior
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
Yep
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
We had a few flyovers but never got an on-the-ground look
BACHMAN'S SPARROW (Peucaea aestivalis)
We had no problem detecting this evasive species under the longleaf pines by its call notes and we had a few brief glimpses but that satisfying view proved elusive
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
In the longleaf pine habitat
LECONTE'S SPARROW (Ammospiza leconteii)
Such a gorgeous species! We were fortunate that the banders were set up on Sunday
SEASIDE SPARROW (Ammospiza maritima)
We couldn't have asked for a more cooperative individual (or two)
NELSON'S SPARROW (Ammospiza nelsoni)
This colorful skulker was a treat to see so well
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Many
SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana)
Their chip is more of a sip
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
The ultimate game of "Where's Waldo"
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna)
Daily but in low numbers
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Thousands
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
Less than the previous species
COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula)
A few flocks
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus major)
The round-headed, more coastal one
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
The more flat-headed, asphalt type
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Leiothlypis peregrina)
One bird was in that mixed flock
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Leiothlypis celata)
Several
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
Good looks at the masked bandit
PALM WARBLER (Setophaga palmarum)
One was working the edge of the wetland at White Lake
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus)
In the longleaf pines
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
A few here and many there
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens)
One in the mixed flock
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea)
A couple "spitting" at White Lake
FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger)
Spotted a few on our drives
MARSH RICE RAT (Oryzomys palustris)
One of the critters scurrying away from the combine
HISPID COTTON RAT (Sigmodon hispidus)
Numerous in the rice thanks to the drier than normal conditions
Totals for the tour: 134 bird taxa and 3 mammal taxa