Texas 
Mark W. Lockwood 
Randy Pinkston 
Ron Weeks 
D rought conditions continued to be se- 
vere on the southern Edwards Plateau 
and South Texas, with the National 
Weather Service continuing to list many 
counties in the “Exceptional Drought” cate- 
gory, the most severe. Eor most of the eastern 
two-thirds of the state, the precipitation was 
below average, as was documented at Hous- 
ton, where the cumulative total was 13.77 cm 
below average. In the Trans-Pecos and locally 
in northwestern Texas, rainfall was about av- 
erage, but the overall pattern was just below 
average in these areas as well. 
WATERFOWL THROUGH 
FRIGATEBIRD 
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were noted in ex- 
ceptional numbers in the Rio Grande Valley, 
with 500 at the La Feria sod farm, Hidalgo 12 
Jul QY) and an amazing 2000 birds tallied 
along Sugar House Rd., Hidalgo 22 Jul (DJ). 
Farther inland, 2 were at Hornsby Bend, 
Travis 10 Jun (BE, VE, ph. ECa), and most 
surprising were 7 at Ft. Hancock Res. 19 Jun 
(ph. JP), a first for Hudspeth. A Greater White- 
fronted Goose was unexpected at Mitchell L., 
Bexar 21 Jun (ph. LP). Ross’s Goose reports 
included 2 at Dimmitt, Castro 13 Jun (AH) 
and one that once again summered along with 
a Snow and a Greater White-fronted Goose at 
Tom Bass Park, Harris QKe). But the goose of 
the season was unquestionably the very worn 
Brant first seen 26 Jul at Brazoria N.W.R., Bra- 
zoria (ph., tGL; JKa). Likely not capable of 
migratory flight, it was seen until 2 Aug, 
when its favorite pond dried up. Two Wood 
Ducks were at McNary Res., Hudspeth 25 Jul 
QP), where they are rare in summer. Two 
Mottled Ducks stayed the season at Hornsby 
Bend, Travis (m.ob.), while 5 were at Belton 
L., Bell 30 Jul (RK, GE). Two pairs of Redhead 
successfully nested in the same Ft. Stockton, 
Pecos ponds where they have bred before 
(ML). Completely unseasonable was a Hood- 
ed Merganser that put in a brief appearance at 
Hornsby Bend, Travis 1 Jul (SMc). 
An unusually late Common Loon was ob- 
served at L. Lewisville, Denton 4 Jun (KS). A 
Least Grebe was on Fort Hood, Bell 6-26 Jul 
(ER, GE, RK). Now expected in the Austin 
area, a pair of Least Grebes bred successfully 
just n. of downtown Austin, Travis (m.ob.), 
and another pair fledged young sw. of town in 
late Jun QGi). In n.-cen. Texas, a Least Grebe 
was present at Village Creek Drying Beds, Tar- 
rant 27 Jun (CC), and 2 were at John Bunker 
Sands Wetlands, Kaufman 21 Jun+ (GC, TR, 
DDC, DL, BoS). The World Birding Center 
pelagic trip 25 Jul off of South Padre 1., 
Cameron found 4 Cory’s Shearwaters, 2 Leach’s 
Storm-Petrels, and up to 25 Band-rumped 
Storm-Petrels (tMGu, ECa et al). An Ameri- 
can White Pelican in Burleson 27 Jun (LS, BVe) 
contributed one of few summer records for L. 
Somerville. An apparently healthy Northern 
Gannet was photographed flying around the 
Quintana Jetty, Brazoria 6 Jun (MBa). An imm. 
and 2 ad. Double-crested Cormorants at White 
River L., Crosby 12 Jul (AH) were suggestive of 
a first local breeding record. 
HERONS THROUGH RAPTORS 
A Least Bittern at Richland Creek W.M.A. 21 
Jun (DO) made only the 2nd summer record 
for Freestone. An extremely high count of 24 
Least Bitterns was recorded at John Bunker 
Sands Wetlands, Kaufman 27 Jun (GC). An 
imm. at L. Six, Lubbock 1 Jul (CM) indicated 
the 3rd year in a row for breeding at 
this site. A Great Egret spotted on a 
nest at McNary Res., Hudspeth 15 
Jul was not seen subsequently, leav- 
ing breeding unconfirmed there 
(BZ). Wayward Little Blue Herons 
included single imms. near Crosby- 
ton, Crosby 28 Jul (KH) and Ft. 
Hancock Res., Hudspeth 20 Jul (ph. 
BZ). Seven Tricolored Herons in 
Uvalde, Uvalde 25 Jul (MH) was a 
noteworthy count. A juv. Reddish 
Egret at Canyon L., Comal 25 Jul 
(DP et al.) was at the same location 
where most of the records from the 
Hill Country have been found. Sin- 
gle imm. Yellow-crowned Night- 
Herons were spotted at Balmorhea 
L., Reeves 9 Jun QP) and 27 Jul (BGi). A count 
of 170 Wood Storks at Addicks Res., Harris 5 
Jun (AS) was an impressive total for so early 
in the summer. Seven Wood Storks in Temple 
31 Jul (RP) was a first summer record for Bell 
and only the 2nd record in more than two 
decades. A Jabiru at the recently established 
Nueces Delta Preserve, San Patricio 10 Jun 
provided yet another one-day appearance, as 
is typical for occurrences of this tropical stork 
(tGB, ph. CSp). 
An Osprey at Caprock Canyon S.P., Briscoe 
10 Jun (BGi) provided one of few summer 
records for the Panhandle. Unexpected Swal- 
low-tailed Kites were along the Nueces R. e. 
of Camp Wood, Edwards 28 Jul (TH) and w. 
of Utopia, Uvalde 30 Jul (MH). This species 
seems to be increasing in Texas, as likely 
breeders were seen in Jefferson, Chambers, and 
most notably w. to Brazoria through the sum- 
mer. A pair of White-tailed Kites at Rio 
Bosque Wetlands Park, El Paso (]S) made 
three unsuccessful breeding attempts, and a 
different ad. was seen with a buffy juv. not far 
away. This strongly suggests a successful El 
Paso nesting, but this location is less than a 
mile from Chihuahua. A pair of White-tailed 
Kites at the Stelzer Ranch, Kent 21 Jun (AH) 
furnished one of few records for the South 
Plains. Upper Coast numbers of Mississippi 
Kites seem to be increasing rapidly, with birds 
commonly noted in towns in every county, in- 
cluding w. to Austht, where fledged young 
were found at Stephen E Austin S.H.P 15 Jul 
(FF). A pair of Mississippi Kites successfully 
fledged young along Salado Cr., Bell (RP, 
WP), providing a first county breeding 
record. Elsewhere, a subad. Mississippi Kite at 
the South Shore Unit of Choke Canyon S.P., 
Live Oak 7 Jun (WS, DM) and an ad. at Cen- 
terville, Leon 29 Jun (RP) were away from 
known breeding areas. The Bald Eagles at L. 
Waco, McLennan successfully raised an eaglet 
(EH et al). A Cooper’s Hawk at Estero Llano 
Grande S.P., Hidalgo 26 Jul QY) was well out- 
side the known breeding range. A Harris’s 
Hawk at L. Kickapoo, Archer 1 Jul (BSu) made 
a great summer record. At least three Broad- 
winged Hawk nests were documented inside 
Unprecedented for summer in Texas, this very worn Brant was a stunning find at 
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge 26 July 2009 (here) through the end of the 
period. Photograph by Joanne Kamo. 
VOLUME 63 (20 0-9) • NUMBER 4 
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