TEXAS 
This Green Kingfisher along Cibolo Creek, Presidio County on 1 8 October 2008 provided a first 
for the county and the westernmost record for Texas. Photograph by Barry Zimmer. 
DDC, DL), and another was seen 22 Nov in 
Clay (GC). A Dusky-capped Flycatcher re- 
turned to Sabal Palm Grove, Cameron 5 Nov-r 
(DMu, WS et al.); just a few years ago, this 
species was unknown from the Lower Rio 
Grande Valley. Of note was an Ash-throated 
Flycatcher present near Olivia, Calhoun 25 
Nov (BrF). A Great Crested Flycatcher at Davis 
Mountains S.P., Jeff Davis 16 Sep (BZ) was a 
first for the county. A Great Kiskadee was 
heard around the spillway at Granger L. Dam, 
Williarnson 19 Oct (MBu, ECa). A Couchs 
Kingbird was last seen in the Smith Point area. 
Chambers 5 Sep a week prior to the passage of 
Hurricane Ike. It will be interesting to see if 
these birds are present again next year. Late 
Western Kingbirds were at Balmorhea L., 
Reeves 2 Nov (ph. ML) and McMullen 11 Nov 
(WS). An Eastern Kingbird at Ft. Bliss 15 Sep 
(BZ) was an excellent hnd for El Paso. A Fork- 
tailed Flycatcher just w. of Balmorhea, Reeves 
28-30 Aug (ph., tMGr, CRi, m.ob.) provided 
just the 2nd record for the Trans-Pecos. An 
imm. male Rose-throated Becard was discov- 
ered at Estero Llano Grande S.P, Hidalgo 6 
Nov-i- (tWS, m.ob.). Another imm. male was at 
Salineno, Starr 22 Nov-6 Dec (ph., tMGu). 
Two late-lingering Plumbeous Vireos were in 
El Paso 22 Nov (JP), with one still present 28 
Nov OP BZ). A Plumbeous Vireo was again 
present at Rosehill Cemetery in Corpus 
Christi, Nueces 16-17 Nov (MCo, LJo). Blue- 
headed Vireos wandering westward to the 
Trans-Pecos included singles at Et. Bliss, El 
Paso 26 Sep (BZ), Davis Mountains S.P., Jeff 
Davis 21 Oct (ML), and Rio Grande Village, 
Brewster 17 Oct (MF). Hutton’s Vireos are not 
as exciting or as hard to find in parts of the Ed- 
wards Plateau as they used to be. Still, one 
banded near Mason, Mason 17 Nov (ph. DC) 
was away from known locales for this species. 
A Yellow-green Vireo seen at Quintana, Brazo- 
ria 12 Oct QA) provided a first fall record for 
WRENS 
THROUGH 
WARBLERS 
A Carolina Wren at the 
Ft. Bliss ponds, El Paso 19-21 Aug (BZ) was 
well w. of typical range, even though the 
species has expanded its range up the Rio 
Grande to Big Bend. Winter Wrens were not- 
ed in above-average numbers in many areas of 
the e. half of the state; in the w. part of Texas, 
where the species is a rare visitor, singles were 
found in McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe 
Mountains N.R, Culberson 2 Nov (BrG), Bal- 
morhea S.P, Reeves 8 Nov (BrG), and Mid- 
land, Midland 29 Nov (TFe). Conversely, 
Golden-crowned Kinglets did not make much 
news this season, with only small numbers 
noted in most regions. Early birds included 2 
in Henderson 18 Oct (DDC, DL) and one at 
Quintana, Brazoria 28 Oct (SH). A lone 
Mountain Bluebird near Komensky, Lavaca 18 
Nov (BrF) was a bit out of place. 
Lone Townsend’s Solitaires were 
studied in Mason, Mason 6 Oct 
(BoF) and nw. Kimble 1 Nov (ph. 
MBl). A Swainson’s Thrush lingered 
near Mason, Mason 21-28 Sep (DF). 
An injured Wood Thrush was found 
in Lubbock, Lubbock 10 Oct (RLe), 
providing a rare record for the South 
Plains. A male Varied Thrush in up- 
per Pine Canyon, Guadalupe Moun- 
tains N.P, Culberson 31 Oct (TE, 
ph.) was a very nice Halloween treat. 
However, the thrush of the season 
was a Rufous-backed Robin that 
made a brief visit to El Paso, El Paso 
26-28 Nov (ph., tJP et al.) and pro- 
vided the 14th record for the state. 
An American Robin at Quintana, 
Brazoria 20 Aug (MLi) was out of 
season. An early Gray Catbird was at 
Muleshoe N.W.R., Bailey 15 Aug (MCa, 
AnH). Eastward-wandering Sage Thrashers 
are always of interest, and this season, singles 
were noted at Brazoria N.W.R., Brazoria 4 
Nov (MaS) and in Somervell 8 Nov (ph. GL), 
while 2 were near Belton, Bell 9 Nov (RP). A 
male Phainopepla at Buffalo Lake N.W.R., 
Randall 18 Oct (BP) was well away from the 
species’ normal fall range. 
One of the outstanding finds of the season 
was a female Olive Warbler in the Bowl, 
Guadalupe Mountains N.P, Culberson 9 Aug 
(ph., tBrG, LJ), providing just the 8th record 
for the state. A Golden-winged Warbler was at 
L. Tawakoni, Rains 10 Sep (RKi); however, 
more unexpected was a lingering bird on 
South Padre L, Cameron 23 Nov (PS). Blue- 
winged Warblers are scarce fall migrants, so 2 
in Austin, Travis 19 Aug (KA) and another at 
Alazan Bayou W.M.A., Nacogdoches 28 Sep 
(DW, RT) were of interest. Lingering migrant 
Tennessee Warblers were found on Galveston 
L, Galveston 14 Nov QSt) and Port O’Connor, 
Calhoun 27 Nov (BrE). A female Chestnut- 
sided Warbler in the Franklin Mts., El Paso 4 
Oct 0G> BJ) was a good hnd. A Magnolia 
Warbler strayed to Muleshoe N.W.R., Bailey 
20 Sep (SuB, AvH, m.ob.), while lingering in- 
dividuals were found at Pearland, Brazoria 16 
Nov (SR) and Houston, Hands 17 Nov (HE). 
A great hnd for the fall was a Cape May War- 
bler at San Antonio, Bexar 10 Nov (ph. CD). 
A Black-throated Blue Warbler at Chappell 
Hill, Washington 19 Oct (DV) was a county 
hrst. Black-throated Gray Warblers in El Paso, 
El Paso 2-27 QP) & 8 Nov (JP) were notably 
late. A Black-throated Green Warbler at Mata- 
dor, Motley 27 Sep (AnH) was a county hrst. 
A Blackburnian Warbler near Texline, Dallam 
20 Sep (BP) was also a county hrst. More ex- 
In a fall season with its share of surprises, this adult male Williamson's 
Sapsucker near Riviera, Kleberg County, Texas 10 November 2008 has to 
rank high among them. This bird provided the first documented record 
for South Texas. Photograph by Orville Ballard. 
pected, but still of note, were single Black- 
burnian Warblers at Tyler S.P, Smith 3 Sep 
(BSa) and L. Tawakoni S.P, Hunt 9 Sep (RKi). 
A very late Yellow-throated Warbler was at L. 
Sam Rayburn, San Augustine 23 Oct (DW). 
Palm Warblers found well inland included 
the U.T.C. Green Jays 
continue to be found 
outside of the n. fringes 
of the range; this sea- 
son, 2 were s. of Cuero, 
Dewitt 5 Oct (BrF). A 
Clark’s Nutcracker near 
Canyon, Randall 18 Oct 
(ph., tBP) was an ex- 
cellent hnd. A lingering 
Purple Martin was not- 
ed at Pearland, Brazo- 
ria 18 Oct (MMP). 
120 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
