TEXAS 
Black-capped Vireo present at Weslaco, Hidal- 
go 11-12 Apr OuK, VH, ph. DJe, JoP) was a 
very good record away from the Edwards 
Plateau. A Yellow-throated Vireo at Palo Duro 
Canyon S.R, Randall 3 May (CP) and one at L. 
Tanglewood, Randall 4 May (TJ) were rare 
Panhandle migrants. One in Midland, Midland 
28 May was farther nw. than expected (DMe, 
JMe). The wintering Plumbeous Vireo at Cor- 
pus Christi, Nueces was detected again 16-21 
Mar (MC). Very rare and far w. was a Blue- 
headed Vireo at the Ft. Bliss sewage ponds in 
El Paso, El Paso 3 May (ph. JPa). A Warbling 
Vireo at High I., Galveston 1 Apr was on the 
early side, as was a Philadelphia Vireo there 10 
Apr {fide SWo). An excellent spring Trans- 
Pecos record was of a Philadelphia Vireo at Ju- 
niper Flat in the Chisos Mts., Brewster 29 Apr 
(ME), while one at South Llano River S.R, 
Kimble 15 May may have been a county first 
(RH). An estimated 100+ Red-eyed Vireos at 
High I., Galveston 25 May demonstrated the 
lateness of the migration window of these 
northerly breeders (DeS). Yellow-green Vireos 
wandered northward up the coast to Port 
Aransas Birding Center, Nueces 10 May (MaR, 
SC), Quintana, Brazoria 17-22 May OoE DeS 
et al.), and Dos Vacas Muertes, Galveston 28 
May (MW). There was bumper crop of Black- 
whiskered Vireos this spring on the U.T.C., 
with singles at Sea Rim S.R, Jefferson 16-17 
Apr (ph., tLBa), one or 2 birds 30 Apr-3 May 
at High I., Galveston QE, ph. GLa et 
al.), and a most surprising inland bird 
at Houston’s Russ Pitman Park, Harris 
(tDV, JSc). Farther down the coast, a 
Black-whiskered Vireo was at Paradise 
Pond, Nueces 12 May (tLBr). 
Three Green Jays were at Dagger 
Point on Aransas N.W.R., Aransas 3 
Apr (BFr). A male Purple Martin 
wandered westward to Ft. Stockton, 
Pecos 24 May (ByS). New county 
records were established for Cave 
Swallow, with 8 near Tahoka, Lynn 29 
May (AH) and 2 in Anderson 7 Mar 
(PB, MD). More noteworthy was the 
range expansion of the species into 
the Pineywoods: at least 2 were at the 
L. Livingston spillway, San Jacinto 16 
Mar (DW, RTr); at least 2 were at the 
TX 7 bridge over the Neches R., An- 
gelina/Houston 15 Apr (CM, LS); 2 
were at Alazan Bayou W.M.A., Nacog- 
doches 3-7 May (DW); and one was 
near Kennard, Houston 8 May (DW, 
MHW). A pair of Tree Swallows was 
found at Brazos Bend S.R, Fort Bend 
16 May+ (KeH, RW, BGo et al.), and 
two pairs were at Bay Area Park, 
Galveston 24 May (HT, CG). If nest- 
ing can be confirmed, this would be a first for 
the U.T.C. 
NUTHATCHES THROUGH WARBLERS 
A White-breasted Nuthatch at Tomball, Har- 
ris 23 May (]B) was a rare find for the U.T.C. 
Lingering Red-breasted Nuthatches included 
singles along the Pinnacles Trail, Big Bend 
N.R, Brewster 29 Apr (ME) and at Sargent, 
Matagorda 28 Mar-2 Apr (BFr). Two Verdins 
in Young 24 May (DDC, DLi) were on the 
edge of the species’ range. A Carolina Wren in 
Big Bend’s Pine Canyon, Brewster 4 May 
(MBu, EC) was away from expected areas 
along the Rio Grande. Carolina Wrens were in 
two locations at Midland, Midland 22 Mar 
(ph. BLu) and 20 Apr (AW). The flock of 12 
Western Bluebirds that spent much of the 
winter at Canyon L., Comal remained until 2 
Mar (m.ob.). Two Golden-crowned Kinglets 
at San Bernard N.W.R., Brazoria 3 Apr (GBu) 
were part of a late push of this species along 
the coast. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at High L, 
Galveston 24 May (DV) was extremely late for 
a migrant. A window-killed Veery in Hous- 
ton, Hants 18 May (CG) was late. A Swain- 
son’s Thrush of the ustulatus subspecies group 
(“Russet-backed” type) was in El Paso, El 
Paso 10 May QPa), where such birds are rare 
migrants. A Wood Tbrush at Port Aransas, 
Nueces 21 Mar (MC) may have been the same 
bird that was present in Feb. Wood Thrushes 
farther w. than expected included singles at 
Big Springs Ranch, Real 25 Apr (TG, MHe) 
and Dalhart, Dallam 19 May QMc). An out- 
of-place American Robin was in Port O’Con- 
nor, Calhoun 25 May (BFr). An American Pip- 
it at Paul Rushing Park, Harris 3 May (DD) 
was late for the U.T.C. A Sprague’s Pipit in 
Temple, Bell 3 May (RP) was a late migrant. A 
male Phainopepla was near Robertson, Crosby 
2-3 May (RL, ShL). 
An early Golden-winged Warbler was near 
Sargent, Matagorda 2 Apr (BFr). Migrating 
Nashville Warblers were noted in above-aver- 
age numbers on the South Plains (m.ob.). A 
Virginia’s Warbler in Canyon, Randall 24 Apr 
(MS) was a nice find. A Tropical Parula at 
Guadalupe Delta, Refugio 26 Mar (BFr) was on 
the n. edge of the species’ range. Tropical 
Parulas continue to increase in the Hill Coun- 
try, with a male studied on the Bamberger 
Ranch, Blanco 10 May (ByS) and a pair found 
nesting near Ingram, Kerr 17 May (TG). Both 
of the Kerr pair showed some white flecking 
around the eye, suggesting some possible in- 
trogression of Northern Parula genes. More 
unexpected was a male Tropical Parula at 
Davis Mountains S.P., Jeff Davis 28 May (ML). 
A Magnolia Warbler at High I., Galveston 12 
Apr (fide SWo) was early. Cape May and 
Black-throated Blue Warblers were noted in 
above-average numbers along the U.T.C. and 
the cen. coast during late Apr and early May 
(m.ob.). A male Black-throated Blue 
Warbler was near Utley, Bastrop 12 
May (ph. BFr). A late Audubon’s War- 
bler was at High I., Galveston 2 May 
(SWo, JE). A Black-throated Gray 
Warbler was a little farther e. than ex- 
pected at Kress, Swisher 5 May (MA). 
Townsend’s Warblers were detected at 
High L, Galveston 11, 17, 21, 61 22 
Apr, with 2 birds on the last date (fide 
CB, SWo). More expected was one at 
Lubbock, Lubbock 27 Apr (BGi, AH). 
A great find was a territorial male 
Prairie Warbler in se. Van Zarrdt 31 
May (GC). A Palm Warbler at Rich- 
land Creek W.M.A. 19 Apr (PB, DOh, 
JJa, LJ) provided a first for Freestorre. 
Blackpoll Warblers were found in 
above-average numbers away from 
the coast, particularly in the Austin 
area. A Prothonotary Warbler was at 
L. Waco, McLennan 17 May (EH), 
while one at Sabine Woods, Jefferson 
17 May (RW et al.) was late for that 
coastal location. A Worm-eating War- 
bler at the Fort Worth Nature Center, 
Tarrant 2 May QoC) provided a rare 
local record. An unsuccessful nesting 
attempt of Swainson’s Warbler was 
Table 1. Eastern warblers found in the western half of Texas during spring 2009. 
Species 
Date 
Location and observer(s) 
Chestnut-sided 
1 May 
Canyon, Randall (CSc) 
Black-throated Blue 
3 May 
Davis Mountains Resort, Jeff Davis (ph. M&ME) 
Yellow-throated 
22 Apr 
L. Tanglewood, Randall (MHi) 
27 Apr 
Lubbock, Lubbock (BGi) 
Palm 
23 Apr 
Ft. Bliss ponds, f/ P aso (BZ) 
3 May 
Lubbock, Lubbock (BGi) 
Blackpoll 
1 May 
Lubbock, Lubbock (TSo) 
Cerulean 
27 Apr 
Lubbock, Lubbock [M) 
28 Apr 
San Antonio, Bexar (ph. KBa) 
21 May 
Uvalde, Uvalde (JA) 
Black-and-white 
26 Apr 
El Paso, El Paso (JSp) 
Prothonotary 
17/25 Apr 
Rio Grande Village, 1 7 Apr (JSt) and 25 Apr (DE) 
1 May 
Midland, Midland (DMe, JMe) 
6 May 
Hueco Tanks S.H.P., El Paso (JSp) 
Worm-eating 
27 Apr-3 May 
Palo Duro Canyon S.R, Randall (RM, CP) 
28 Apr 
Christmas Mountains, Brewster (ph. COJ) 
Ovenbird 
4 May 
near Fort Dsvis, Jeff Davis (JT) 
Kentucky 
21 Apr 
L. Tanglewood, Randall (MHi) 
Mourning 
23 May 
near Matador, Afof/ey (AH) 
Hooded 
2-3 May 
Lubbock, Lubbock (BGi) 
10 May 
nearJayton,/(er)f (AH) 
11 May 
Balmorhea, Reeves (ph. EIW) 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
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