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A lot of shorebirds are present on the coast and in nearby flooded rice fields. Here, an American Avocet and Greater Yellowlegs are walking in unison as they feed at Rollover Pass. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
Our week of birding in East Texas and the Upper Texas Coast proved great for migration and the local specialty birds as well. Each of our days along the coast found new migrants arriving that kept us busy. The weather cooperated very well. It was dry on the days we wanted it to be dry and we had a big rain one night that was certainly the cause of a lot of birds appearing the next day. We started off in the Piney Woods on our first morning. It took a bit of searching, but we finally had nice looks at a Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Jones State Forest where a beautiful Red-headed also showed well. We headed east to the Big Thicket and the bottomland forests, where we encountered several of the local breeding warblers. Prothonotary, Kentucky, Hooded, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, and Prairie were all seen, along with great looks at the very special Swainson's Warbler. We explored more of the Big Thicket that day and the next morning, where we drove north to good habitat for Bachman's Sparrow, another local specialty. Again, it took some searching but we ended up with wonderful views of this great sparrow in full song. We then headed south to the open coastal country with a detour to see two Whooping Cranes that had been frequenting a rice field near Winnie.
We spent the next 3 1/2 days chasing down local and migrating waterbirds and shorebirds and, of course, migrating passerines in the woods. In the extensive marshes of Anahuac NWR and the Bolivar Peninsula, we had nice looks at King and Clapper rails, Seaside and Nelson's Sparrows, Sedge Wren, and a slew of herons and egrets. On the beaches and sandbars and flooded rice fields, we located eight species of terns, and such great shorebirds as Hudsonian Godwits in breeding plumage, Upland Sandpipers, Snowy and Piping plovers, Red Knot, White-rumped Sandpiper, and lots of Whimbrels. The egret and spoonbill rookery at Smith Woods was also special, with close views of these birds with bright colors on their bills and feet that are only present for a short time during the breeding season.
Each afternoon found us in the woods at High Island seeing what migrants arrived that day, and each was productive. Some species did not perform well and only gave us fleeting looks, while others bathed in water drips, gorged themselves on mulberries and methodically worked the emerging leaves of pecan trees for insects and caterpillars. On our last full day, we recorded 19 species of warblers and we had 27 for the trip, plus Yellow-breasted Chat that used to be a warbler. Other highlights from the coast and woods included the flock of American Avocets all feeding in unison, a Peregrine causing hundreds of shorebirds to skip a heartbeat, lots of Eastern Kingbirds arriving on our first day at High Island, wonderful views of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, big numbers of Tree Swallows at Anahuac, big numbers of both Orchard and Baltimore orioles, a male Golden-winged Warbler, a couple of Blue-winged Warblers, several more Hooded Warblers, a couple of gorgeous male Ceruleans, Bay-breasteds, a brilliant Blackburnian, Chestnut-sideds, a locally uncommon Black-throated Blue Warbler, scores of Summer and Scarlet Tanagers and a big flock of Dickcissels.
This area of Texas is well-known for being informal with friendly people, and it was great fun to share it with all of you. I hope we get together again one of these days. John
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)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

The Great Egrets at High Island were in fine plumage, with some showing the bright green lores of breeding time. Photo by participant Elizabeth Harding.
FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna bicolor)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
GADWALL (Mareca strepera)
MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus americanus)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor)
Apodidae (Swifts)
CHIMNEY SWIFT (Chaetura pelagica)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
KING RAIL (Rallus elegans)
CLAPPER RAIL (GULF COAST) (Rallus crepitans saturatus)
SORA (Porzana carolina)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica)
Gruidae (Cranes)
WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus palliatus)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica)

There seems to be a bit of courtship going on between these Sandwich Terns, as one passes a fish to another at Bolivar Flats. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius nivosus)
WILSON'S PLOVER (Charadrius wilsonia)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
UPLAND SANDPIPER (Bartramia longicauda)
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus)
HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Limosa haemastica)
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
RED KNOT (Calidris canutus)
STILT SANDPIPER (Calidris himantopus)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)

A wintering bird along the coast, some Nelson’s Sparrows linger late into the spring before heading north to Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba. Photo by guide John Coons.
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (Calidris fuscicollis)
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (Tringa semipalmata)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
BLACK TERN (Chlidonias niger)

On a couple of our days at the woodlots, we saw a number of brilliant Scarlet Tanagers that were feeding on mulberries. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
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)
AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)

The water drips at the woodlots at High Island attract an array of species on some days. This Black-and-White Warbler enjoyed settling in after the long flight across the Gulf. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nyctanassa violacea)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius)
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Buteo lineatus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Strigidae (Owls)
BARRED OWL (Strix varia) [*]
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes carolinus)
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Dryobates pubescens)
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER (Dryobates borealis)
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway)

One of the more sought-after shorebirds that migrates through the Upper Texas Coast, this Hudsonian Godwit gave us very nice views on our last morning. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus virens)
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax virescens)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus)
EASTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus tyrannus)
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons)
PHILADELPHIA VIREO (Vireo philadelphicus)
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata)
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus)

During the high breeding season, many of the herons and egrets develop amazing colors on the soft parts such as the legs, bill and facial skin. This Cattle Egret shows a bright red bill with a yellow tip and purple coloration on the lores that is never illustrated in field guides. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
CAVE SWALLOW (Petrochelidon fulva)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
CAROLINA CHICKADEE (Poecile carolinensis)
TUFTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus bicolor)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH (Sitta pusilla)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
SEDGE WREN (Cistothorus platensis)
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris)
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (Catharus minimus)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus)
WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis)
BROWN THRASHER (Toxostoma rufum)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]

Shorebird migration in the flooded rice fields seemed to increase as the week went on, and we saw a lot of Whimbrels in some of the fields by the end of the week. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
BACHMAN'S SPARROW (Peucaea aestivalis)
SEASIDE SPARROW (Ammospiza maritima)
NELSON'S SPARROW (Ammospiza nelsoni)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna)
ORCHARD ORIOLE (Icterus spurius)
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)

Who doesn’t like a close view of a Roseate Spoonbill? We saw many of them at the rookery at High Island. Photo by guide John Coons.
COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula)
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus major)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla)
WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorum)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis)
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera)
"BREWSTER'S" WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera)
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora cyanoptera)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea)
SWAINSON'S WARBLER (Limnothlypis swainsonii)
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Oreothlypis peregrina)
KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
HOODED WARBLER (Setophaga citrina)
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla)
CERULEAN WARBLER (Setophaga cerulea)
NORTHERN PARULA (Setophaga americana)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Setophaga magnolia)
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (Setophaga castanea)
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Setophaga fusca)

No longer a warbler since it was moved to its own family, this Yellow-breasted Chat gave us nice looks in the Big Thicket. Photo by participant Merrill Lester.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Setophaga caerulescens)
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus)
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Setophaga dominica)
PRAIRIE WARBLER (Setophaga discolor)
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
SCARLET TANAGER (Piranga olivacea)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea)
PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris)
DICKCISSEL (Spiza americana)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
SWAMP RABBIT (Sylvilagus aquaticus)
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)
FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
Totals for the tour: 189 bird taxa and 5 mammal taxa