TEXAS 
Certainly one of the most unexpected finds of the season in Texas was 
this Red-faced Warbler near downtown Austin, Travis County 23 April 
2009. Although there had been a few other sightings of this species in 
the Hill Country, this is the first full documented record for this region. 
Photograph by David Heymann. 
were reported from Van Zandt 1 Mar (RK), 
Mustang I., Nueces 1-7 Mar (MC), and 
McGee L., Potter 22 Mar (BP), Two Black 
Skimmers were inland at Choke Canyon 
Res., McMullen 26 Apr (WS). Least Terns at 
unexpected locations included singles at Bo- 
quillas Canyon, Brewster 8 Apr (LAc, SD, PD, 
JD) and Uvalde, Uvalde 24 Apr (MO, ph, 
RSp). Eight Least Terns, including 2 con- 
hrmed as nesting, were at Richland Creek 
W.M.A., Navanv 28 May (DDC, DLi). A nest- 
ing pair was also found at E. V. Spence Res., 
Coke 29 May (AB). Ad. Pomarine Jaegers 
were noted at Sea Rim S.P., Jefferson 2 May 
(LBa, DSa) and at the Port Aransas jetties, 
Nueces 9 May (JM). A Parasitic Jaeger was 
seen from High L, Galveston 19 Apr (CC). 
PIGEONS THROUGH WOODPECKERS 
The Ruddy Ground-Dove near San Angelo, 
Tom Green continued from the winter through 
29 Mar (DBu, ph. JaP, m.ob.). Scarce in n.- 
cen. Texas, single Black-billed Cuckoos were 
at Connemara Meadow Preserve, Collin 2 
May (GBr), Prairie Creek Park, Dallas 14 May 
(GS), and Catherine Rose Park, Tarrant 25 
May OaF)- A male Long-eared Owl was found 
roosting in the Davis Mts. Preserve, Jeff Davis 
12 Apr-1 May (ML). No Lesser Nighthawk 
nests were found this spring at Bentsen S.P., 
Hidalgo (MGu). A Chuck-wilTs-widow was 
seen near Turkey, Hall 23 May (AH). A Whip- 
poor-will at Edith Moore Sanctuary, Harris 31 
Mar (TW) and a heard bird on the Katy 
Prairie, Harris 4 Apr (RW) provided rare 
records of seldom-detected migrants 
for the U.T.C. 
A potential Vaux’s Swift in El Paso, 
El Paso 16 Apr (ph., tJoK) was ob- 
served at close range, but conclusive 
documentation could not be ob- 
tained. There are no confirmed 
records for the state. Green Violetears 
made a splash this season, with single 
birds at the following locations: Cor- 
pus Christi, N. Padre L, Nueces 17 
Apr (ph., tLAl); Bentsen S.P., Hidalgo 
20 May (tMGu); Eaton Hills Wildlife 
Sanctuary, Sutton 26-27 May (ph., 
tDJa); and Ingram, Kerr 21 May-i- (MI 
et al). Broad-billed Hummingbird is 
a very rare find outside the Trans- 
Pecos, with only a handful of docu- 
mented records on the Edwards 
Plateau. Two different birds were doc- 
umented this spring: one near 
Kendalia, Kendall 10-17 Mar (ph. 
SuH, SaH, EC) and another at Lost 
Maples State Natural Area, Bandera 
10 Apr (ph. DaS). An ad. male White- 
eared Hummingbird appeared in the 
Davis Mts. Resort, Jeff Davis 6 Apr-r with a to- 
tal of 6 present by the end of the period (ph., 
TML). The continued seasonal presence of 
this species has led to speculation about pos- 
sible nesting in the Davis Mts. Bryan banded 
a gravid female 29 May, thus providing the 
first strong evidence of nesting for the state. 
A presumed Magnificent Hummingbird x 
White-eared Hummingbird hybrid was a re- 
markable discovery in the Davis Mts. Resort, 
Jeff Davis 29 Apr-11 May (ph. M&ME). A 
male Lucifer Hummingbird was banded in 
extreme n. Terrell 27 Apr (ph. BSa). A Ruby- 
throated Hummingbird in Canyon, Randall 
26 Apr (MSc) and an Anna’s Hummingbird at 
L. Tanglewood, Randall 9 May (MHi) provid- 
ed rare spring records for the Panhandle. A 
late Anna’s Hummingbird was in an El Paso, 
El Paso yard 19 Apr (BZ). There were at least 
8 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the Davis 
Mts., Jeff Davis 12 Apr-1 May (m.ob.). 
Ringed Kingfishers continue to be reported at 
various Central Texas locations, including 
one along the San Saba R., Menard 12 Mar 
(RRe). An unexpected Red-headed Wood- 
pecker was found in Young 24 May (DDC, 
DLi). The female Red-bellied Woodpecker 
from the fall and winter near Mason, Mason 
continued until 19 Apr (DP). At least one 
Hairy Woodpecker was present at Edith 
Moore Sanctuary, Harris 30 Apr-4 May (RW, 
JHi); another was seen along Pine Island Bay- 
ou, n. Jefferson 9 May (fide JW). A Pileated 
Woodpecker at Mineral Wells S.R, Parker 28 
May (DOw) was an excellent find. 
FLYCATCHERS THROUGH SWALLOWS 
Western Wood-Pewees may be overlooked on 
the Edwards Plateau. Two were studied at Lost 
Maples State Natural Area, Bandera 29 Mar 
(MHe), while another suspected bird was seen 
but only briefly heard at Hornsby Bend, Travis 
29 Apr (RW, AJJ). The wintering Gray Ply- 
catcher 24 km n. of Uvalde, Uvalde continued 
through 11 Mar (ph. TD). Surveys in the 
Davis Mts. Preserve, Jeff Davis 12 Apr+ pro- 
duced up to 3 territorial male Buff-breasted 
Plycatchers (ph., tML, m.ob.). Notable breed- 
ing records for Black Phoebe were document- 
ed this spring. Two nests were discovered near 
Mason, Mason 29 Apr (Dp BoP). The nests 
were washed away by high water, but at least 
one pair rebuilt their nest and successfully 
fledged 3 young. Another pair of Black 
Phoebes present all season at Guadalupe Riv- 
er S.R, Kendall/Comal also nested, though it is 
unclear if the nest was successful (m.ob.). Un- 
usual was an Eastern Phoebe staking out a 
bridge s. of Marfa, Presidio on the late date of 
23 May (COJ, ByS); one at High L, Galveston 
20 Apr was late (DMc). Very rare for n.-cen. 
Texas were single Say’s Phoebes at Village 
Creek Drying Beds, Tarrant 21 Apr (GC, EdW, 
KN) and Hagerman N.W.R., Grayson 21 Apr 
OaC, m.ob.). Vermilion Plycatchers n. of the 
expected range included singles at Palo Duro 
Canyon S.P, Randall 11 Mar (MHa), Buffalo 
Lake N.W.R., Randall 25 Mar (RM), and Lake 
Wichita Park, Wichita 13 Apr (ScL). Dusky- 
capped Flycatchers were again reported in the 
Davis and Chisos Mts. Four territorial pairs 
were found in the Davis Mts. Preserve, Jeff 
Davis 1 May+ (ph., tML), while a calling bird 
was along the Upper Pinnacles Trail, Brewster 
3 May (MBu, tEC). The wintering bird at Sa- 
bal Palm, Catrreron lingered until 4 Mar QiP)- 
An Ash-throated Flycatcher at Attwater 
Prairie-Chicken N.W.R., Colorado 26 Apr cer- 
tainly was at an odd location for the date (ph. 
MBS). A Great Kiskadee wandered northward 
to n. Terrell 27-28 Apr (BSa). Other Great 
Kiskadees of note were singles near Ingram, 
Kerr 1 May (TG), w. Austin, Travis 16 Apr (ph. 
DBl), and maybe the same bird at McKinney 
S.R, Travis 6-11 May (SS, CHa). Tropical King- 
birds nested again at Cottonwood Camp- 
ground, Brewster (m.ob.), while a Couch’s 
Kingbird frequented the same location 4 May+ 
(MBu, EC et al.). An Eastern Kingbird near 
Lobo, Culberson 13 May (ML) provided a rare 
county record. White-eyed Vireos wandered 
to two Brewster locations, with singles at Rio 
Grande Village 4 Mar (ME) and Alpine 2 Apr 
(ML). A pair of Bell’s Vireo at a nest near Jay- 
ton, Kent 26 Apr-10 May and two pairs at 
nests near Turkey, Hall 23 May (AH) provided 
first breeding records for these two counties. A 
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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
