VOLUME XIV, No. 5

July, 1965

THE

POONBBLL*«♦«•#♦**#»*#******* #

’* âf"Bird watching embraces individual enter- #

* prise on the one hand, collective effort on the #* other. Above all else, it is marked by a ready* exchange of experience, by a high regard for ** truth, and by a conviction that wild birds ex- #* press the most spectacular development of nature-"- # * * ,* Joseph J. Hickey, A Guide to Bird Watching, ** Doubleday, Natural History Library Ed., 1965 ** | *****•**#**»*»»**♦**##***•* * *

PUBLISHED BI THE OBNITHOLOGY GHOUP. OUTDOOR NATURE CLUB, HOUSTON, TEXAS

CtMING EVENTS

August 26 (Thursday) OG meeting, John O'Neill, who has birded much in Peru, will be our speaker.We are sure that anyone who heard John’s preview at the Annual Picnic Meeting will NOT want to miss this meeting. Watch for details concerning time and place later in this issue..

No August field trip; however, birders are advised to do their "homework" (birding on their own) so that they'll be warmed up and "hot to trot" come September, Happy Sum­mer!

CORRECTION to the June Spoonbillt It seems that both the typesetter and the proofreader goofed badly in the omission of ah inportant word in the "Coming Events" section of the last issue* The sentence, of course, should read; “We are sure that anyone who heard John’s preview at the Annual Picnic Meeting will not want to miss this meeting," Our apologies to Mr. O’Neill,

FIELD TRIP ON GALVESTON ISLAND JUNE 12 by Josiephine Wilkin

The Clapper Rails playing "hide and seek" at the East Jetty were most interesting. They would run up the side of the dam and before one could get a good look, they were back in thé grass. After everyone had seen the rails including some brave young ones go over- the dam much to our delight, our leaders Bill and Jean Harwell suggested that we be on our way.

Driving down the east end of the island, we saw a Black Skimmer colony with a number of young running around, a Reddish Egret showing off, a Seaside Sparrow teasing ua, and several species of terns including the Sandwich. Why, even chairs were there so. one could sit and look at the birds in comfort!On our way to the west end of the island we stopped at the Washburn's home. Their Purple Martin house was well-occupied and the birds very active. We were soon seeing Cattle Egrets along S Road, and on 8 Mile Road the first surprise of the day, an Avocet. Everyone was excited and Jean lost her sunglasses. Anderson Ways proved productive with the White Ibis and Clapper Rails: moat cooperative. One of the Clapper Rails was crippled, and we could not help but wonder how it hap­pened and admire its spunk as it searched for food. Backtracking towards S Road produced Jean’s glasses, but the Avocet was gone.

We saw Mottled Ducks and Black-necked Stilts with young where we usually see the Tree Ducks, but the latter were not seen by our party. Noel Pettingell, in Galveston the same day with his family., said he saw two Tree Ducks near Teichman Road,

Other places on and slightly of S Road were skipped in favor of heading straight for thé beach (15 Mile Road) to eat our lunch. Of course, while eating we were scanning the sky for Frigate birds. None was seen by our party; however, three were seen the following day, Sunday., by Norma Oates and Ruth Morman-.

Now, don’t get the idea we missed all the "goodies" because the best was yet to come! After lunch.

Page 2

Bill tallied, up the list and stated we had 45 species- The trip wSs supposed to break up after lunch, but we decided to try for 50= We turned right at Backhart Bay, and went all the way down to what looked like lands end, a beautiful spot» We had 51 birds and were ready to Head for home, but as we came back towards 11 Mile Road, the grand prize of the day was spotted- a Praire Chick­en: The car I was in was not more than six feet from the bird as it slipped, through the fence into a beautiful field of wild flowers» Bill went to the house nearby to obtain permission to search the field for the bird- This was granted, but the wild flowers provided such excellent camouflage that surely it was a stroke of good luck which enabled Wallace Mebane, Jr. to find it ’’frozen” as close to the ground as possible» The group quickly formed a semicircle within 20 feet, so as to study the bird- Soon Bill realized Jean was missing'and drove down the road to get her. When they returned and stepped into the field. Bill with à camera equipped with tele­photo lens, the bird promptly flew» Although the Praire Chicken was still in the field, we did not search too long because of its ability to blend with the flowers» Too, we were positive of our identification and so thrilled over this find that we called it a day.

Those participating on this trip were Bill and Jean Harwell leading. Pan and Marian Washburn of Galveston, Tess Barry of Beaumont, Wallace C- Mebane., Jr., Wallace C» Mebane, III, Louise Rogers., and Josiephine Wilkin»

The 52 species seen on this trip were;

Heron, Great Blue KilldeerGreen Plover, Golden, Am.Little Blue Turnstone, Ruddy

Egret, Gattie Curlew, Long-billedReddish WilletCommon Avocet, AmericanSnowy Stilt, Black-necked

Heron, Louisiana Gull, Ring-billedIbis, White-faced Laughing

White Tern, Gull-billedSpoonbill, Roseate Forster’sDuck, Mottled LeastPrairie Chicken RoyalBobwhite SandwichClapper Rail CaspianPlover, Semipalmated Black

Wilson’s Skimmer, Black

Dove, MourningCuckoo, Yellow-billedNighthawk, CommonFlycatcher, Scissor-tailedPewee, Eastern WoodLark, HornedSwallow, BarnMartin, PurpleMockingbirdShrike, LoggerheadSparrow, HouseMeadowlark, EasternBlackbird, RedwingedOrchard Oriole (imm. male)Crackle, Beat-tailedCowbird, Brown-headedCardinalSparrow, Seaside

ARIZONA BIRDING by John Tveten

Phainopeplas by the hundred, Red-faced Warblers a distraction, forty-one lifers in a week; £ haven’t even had dreams like that- And yet that was the kind of birding I experienced in Arizona June 15-21.

A week of meetings in Tempe gave me time for only short trips on the desert and the arid mountains along the Apache Trail» Such beautiful country in early morning or at sunset, and so very hot in the middle of the day! Some of the choice finds in that area were Gambel’a Quail, Gilded Flicker, Gila Woodpecker, Black and Say’s Phoebe, Western Wood Pewée, Violet-green Swallow., Scrub Jay, Black- tailed Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, Gray Vireo, Lucy’s Warbler, Hooded Oriole, Green-backed Goldfinch, and Abert’s Towhee- Many of these were, of course, common in that region, and there were many others worthy of more than a passing glance»

The last weekend was spent in Tucson for some serious -birding, Friday involved a trip led by Prof. C,S, Marvel and some other local birders, and proved to be a suprême success. Lovely Madera Canyon yielded White-throated Swift, Acorn Woodpecker, Caasin’s Kingbird, Olivaceous and Coues* Flycatcher, Mexican Jaÿ, Bridled Titmouse, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Painted Redstart» Proceding further south along the Mexican border, we found Black-bellied Tree-duck, Rose-throated Becard, Tropical Kingbird, Varied Bunting, Gray Hawk, and Thick-billed Kingbird»

A return to Madera Canyon for supper proved a real delight, for the presence of a number of hum­mingbird feeders beside the tablés of the little Inn gave us close looks at Rivoli's and Broad- billed Hummers» After dark we watched an Elf Owl feed its family in a hollow pole, called a Whis­kered Owl to within a few feet and watched him call, and listened to the Whip-poor-wills and Poor­wills on the surrounding hills. A day like that will never be forgotten» What a souvenir of a trip to a new part of the country?

On Saturday a few of us drove to the top of Mt» Lemon (9200 ft.) and hiked up the now-green ski trails in search of Red-faced Warblers, We found them- and found them- and them some more- and they always looked so beautiful that they often distracted us from other mountain birds we found in the dense conifers; Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay, Virginia’s Warbler, Olive Warbler, Grace’s Warbler, Hepatic and Western Tanagers, Evening Grosbeak, and Pine

iSiskina all passed readily in review. And. the Mountain Chickadees, Mexican Juncos, and White­breasted, Red-breasted, and Fygmy Nuthatches could, well have been pets for their tameness.. After much discussion about the validity of the species (Personally, if it looks different, I want to see it, subspecies or not) we sorted out a Brown-throated Wren, Then for a time we just sat against the trees and listened to the incredibly lovely song of the Hermit Thrushes, With time running out we headed for the desert and a spot reported to hold the rare Rufous-winged Sparrow, And believe it or not- it did!

A noon plane left time for one last fling on Sunday, and an old birding friend from Delaware, Rick West, and I headed back for Madera Canyon at dawn. On the way we saw a Bendire's Thrasher which had escaped us before. Starting up the trail we added. Harlequin Quail (when they went up under my feet I almost Went into the canyon!), a pair of Arizona Woodpeckers, and a Scott's Oriole, And then we heard the bird we had really come to find. We had heard his loud,' course "call" on Friday, but 25 people going up a canyon made even more noise. This time we devoted an hour to a cautious approach and suddenly there he was- a Coppery-tailed Trogpn, A beautiful male sitting in the sunlight with its red. belly and glossy green back, A strangely shaped bird, like nothing else in this country. If someone could only teach him to sing, I think he’d win my vote as the most beautiful bird. When he left., so did we. With barely enough time to catch a plane anyway, anything else would have been anticlimactic.

It wasn’t until I was flying over the desert on the way home that I had a chance to really total the week’s list? 41 lifers, 71 year birds, and 152 species. This is not a lot of species, per­haps, by Texas standards. But I found that somehow the vertical miles are so much longer than the horizontal ones we have here, and we had to leave a few species unseen for an excuse to re­turn soon.

VACATION BIRDING

"Bart the Birder" isn’t really "foaming at the mouth” out of sheer madness for birding! He had just gotten up from a hard night’s rest on his leaky air mattress and was brushing his teeth, when a Phenoleted Pebble Pecker alighted on a branch above hind

BIRDING TRIP ON JUNE 17 FROM LAKE HOUSTON TO BOLIVAR PENINSULA By Noel Pettingell

In order to familiarize myself with the alternate "Big Day" (i,e, maximum species in a day’s bird­ing) route as proposed in the May Spoonbill (Page 8) due, in part, to anticipated decline of Gal­veston as a birding Mecca (see comment by Harvey Patten in May Spoonbill, Page 2, 5rd paragraph)., I decided to try a "leisurely” run along a course from Houston to Sheldon-Lake Houston-Lynchburg Ferry thence Interstate 10 to Winnie and Route 124 to High Island, thence Bolivar Peninsula to ferry. Car miles totaled 150 miles, (as estimated in May Spoonbill) including stops at good bird­ing spots. No outstanding species were found of the 72 recorded between 5845 and 5825 PM, these being the most notables

Yellow-throated Vireo at Deussen Park, Lake HoustonWood Duck (female) at Sheldon MarshYellow-throated Warbler at Buckhorn LakeProthonotary Warbler at Mayes Ranch (just west of Tripity River in NW Chambers Co,)Dowitcher (sp,). Black-bellied Plover, Long-billed Curlew (2), Reddish Egret at Sun Oil Co,

property on Bolivar PeninsulaLesser Scaup (female), apparently crippled, perched at base of piling at Bolivar Ferry land­

ing.

Page 4"BUGS ABE FOR THE BIRDS"--- (Reprint from The Houston Chronicle, Û me 25, 1965, Sec. I, P. 6)

"HEDWIG VILLAGE HAS NEW PLANS FOR MOSQUITO WAR""Hedwig Village will bet $500 on a purple martin parlay over the mosquitoes. That, in effect, was the council action of the bedroom community in the southwest Thursday night, Hedwig Mayor James K. Holder has asked that the martins be given a fair shot at the mosquito problem. To encourage the nesting of martins in their community, he said, he needed $500 to install birdhouses. Each purple martin, said the mayor, is known to swallow 2000 mosquitoes daily,

"Councilman AT Smith wasn’t impressed. He was out-voted, however, by his council colleagues. Under the mayor’s plan, the birdhouses would be built on a 50-50 cost basis with homeowners. Each bird­house would cost $29,95, Councilman Tom Guinane speculated on the possible need of a purple martinoverseer." " V J .

(Reprinted by permission)Noel Pettingell called the above article to our attention* We -agree that this great idea

really beats spraying in the battle against mosquitoes,

MORE ARIZONA BIRDING by Gene PettitOn our vacation this spring, a group of nine went to southeastern Arizona, They were Bob Hesloff, Bernerd Pickering, Elrich and Doris Jean McHenry, Bill and Gene Pettit, Trevor and Marie Feltnor. (Trevor pTarmed and led the trip,) More than the following birds were seen by others, especially owls, so this is not a complete list. These are just the more interesting ones that I saw. Thé more common birds I saw, I omitted, such as the Great Blue Heron,

CORRECTIONS IN SUMMARY OF 1964 CHRISTMAS COUNTS, JUNE SPOONBILL

Rose-throated becard Mexican Junco Swallow, BarnWestern bluebird Kingbird, Gassin’s Rough-wl :ig-dCommon bushtit Thick-billed Violet-greenMexican chichadee Tropical White-throated SwiftBronzed cowbird Western Tanager, SummerRed crossbill Western meadowlark WesternDove, Ground Lesser Nighthawk Hepatic

White-winged Nuthatch, White-breasted Cinnamon TealBlack-bellied tree duck Pygmy Thrasher, Bendire’sHouse finch Oriole, Bullock’s Curve-billedFlicker, Red-shafted Hooded Bridled, titmouse

Gilded Scott’s Towhee, BrownFlycatcher, Ashthroated Owl, Elf Rufous-sided

Beardless Flammulated Copper-tailed TrogonCoues Whiskered VerdinSulphur-bellied Western wood pewee Bell’s viréoTraill’s Phainopepla Warbler, Audubon’sWestern Phoebe, Black Black-throated Gray

Black-headed Grosbeak Say’s Blue-wingedHawk, Gray Band-tailed pigeon Lucy’s.

Harris Poor-will OliveSwainson’s Pyrrhuloxia Red-facedZone-tailed Quail, Gambel’s Wilson’s

Hummingbird, Black-chinned Harlequin Yell ow—throatBlue-throated Raven, White-necked Whip-poor-willBroad-billed Common Woodpecker, AcornBroad-tailed Painted Redstart ArizonaRivoli’s Roadrunner Gila

Jay, Mexican Sparrow, Chipping, Desert, Ladder-backedSteller’s Olive (Texas), Rufous- Wrens, Bewick’s, Brown-throated,

crowned and Cactus

PageTop 10 Counts by Total Species and Texas Counts: Freeport observers should be changed from 29 to 25: Houston-Freeport-Galveston Summary total counts thru 1964 should be changed, from 3Q to 50, Page 4: Houston-Freeport-Galveston 1964 Count Species with Highest Individual Totals in North America Individual Totals: ,Following 3 species omitted in errors 12- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker H 238*13= Eastern Phoebe F 17314= Carolina Wren H 241

LATE NEWS FLASH* î!Î! !

WHAT??? 0,G. MEETINGWHERE?? Downtown Recreation Center

Page 5

WfiHN??? Thursday, August 26 at 7s30 P.M.

WHO???? John O’Neill, speaking on ’’The Worlds of Peru", We hear that his talk will be à brief glimpse into the major geographic areas of Peru plus a focus on its selva or jungle area, the focus primarily along the Rio Curanja in the extreme Southeast part of the Depart­ment Of Loreto. John will show the coast and the sierra pictures from a month’s visit among the Aguaruna (Jivaro) Indians in the Department of Amozonaa and pictures from his four visits among the Caahinahua Indians of the Curanja.

John, who received a BS degree at Oklahoma U.e is presently studying for his master's degree at L.S.U. He has made four trips to Peru from 1961= 1965. John will bring speci- mans and artifacts for us to see at the meeting. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about the exciting birds of Peru? Hope to see you there?

ANSWERS TO BILL’S ONE-SIDED QUESTION

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our question last month regarding "why you like a-*” how you use the monthly Clearing House reports." The reasons given fall into two general categories: Historical and Practical.

I. HistoricalA. Only real record of birds on the Upper Texas Coast.B. Useful to R.T. Peterson in preparation of the Field Guide to the Birds of Texas.C. Necessary for the updating of Steve Williams Upper Texas Coast Checklist (1962).D< Useful for-compiling the new Field Checklist for the Upper Texas Coast.

II. PracticalA. It is news telling us who saw what and where.B. The Clearing House tells us where and when birds have been seen in the past so that

bv reference to issues of past years, we may learn where to look for new lifers or birds that we would like to Observe further. This should be of benefit to all of us who have hot seen all of the "264 species that regularly occur at some time of the year in this area" (Williams, p. IF).

The compilation and printing of the Clearing House has been in the past and. is at present the respon­sibility of the co-editors of the Spoonbill. We accepted this office as such and the response to our question has left no doubt as to the value of the effort. The suggestion has been made a separ­ate supplement being sent to only those readers requesting it. As this may résuit in a consider­able saving to the Group, it may be worthy of further considération.

B & B

MÏT-TEF.Y BIRD

Last month’s issue (bottom of page one) had. Janet Kapner’s report of her birding trip to Central Texas, in April, when she saw a "large jay-sized bird, completely brown with a silky texture sort of like a Cedar Waxwing’s coat. Very strong, large jay-like beak (think gray) and a distinct black eye. No crest. Tail ended in three scallions. It flitted about a stream in a canyon, then took a bath. Does anyone know what this bird could be?"

Noel Pettingell wrote in, "The jay-sized bird described by Janet Kepner in June Spoonbill sounds something like a Mexican Brown Jay- possible escapee from zoo?"

CLEARING HOUSE - JUNE, 1965Pied-billed Grebeî (1) 5, (7)21 Cove AKM.Magnificant Frigate Bird; (2 females)6 Galveston over beach near old house ,GP.Least Bittern; (1)11, 18, Gove AKM.Roseate Spoonbill; (1) 2,9,(3)7,(2)11,(40)18,(4)21 Cove, AKM.Fulvous Tree Duck; (2)12 Galveston (pond beside Rt. 75 near Teichman Rd.) NP.Mottled Duck; (NC) 11 days,(28—9 in one brood)9, (30)18 Gove AKM.Pititail; (1)18,Cove AKM.Blue-winged Teal; (1)2,9§ (2)18 Cove, AKM.Wood Duck; (2)4 Cove AKM,Canvasback; (1)3 Cove AKM,Lesser Scaup; (1)21 Gove AKM.Ruddy Duck; (1)3 Cove AKM.Bed-shouldered Hawk; (1)5 Cove, AKM.Clapper Rail;(l) 18 Cove AKM.Common Gallinule:(1)29 Cove AKM.American Coot; (1)2,18; (8)3; (5)21 Cove, AKM.American Golden Plover; (1)18 Cove, AKM.Ruddy Turnstone; (4)2 Cove AKM.Willet; (1)17 Cove AKM.Lesser Yellowlegs;(14)18 Cove AKMWhite-rumped Sandpiper; (60)2; (6)4;(4)7;(1)9; (5)18, latest ever by 12 days, Gove AKM,

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Screech Owls (1 or 2)16,. 20, 29 Gove AKM.Barred Owl. (1)23 Cove AKM.Huby-throated Hummingbird:: (1) 21-28 Gove AKM.Great-Crested Flycatcher: (1)5,6 Cove AKM,Barn Swallow: (1)7 Cove., AKM,Brown Thrasher: (1 with fledgling) late June, Cove, JG.Robin: (3)10 Hermann Park, Houston, BP.Starling(l)17 Cove AKM.Summer Tanager: (1)3,5 Cove AKM,

CORRECTION TO MAY CLEARING HOUSEBlack-billed Cuckoo reported on May 24 in Noel Pettingell1s yard was probably Yellow-billed., as he identified the bird by call only and has since heard typical Yellow-billed calls in the area. The bird he heard on May 24 didn’t have the characteristic retarded ending of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

NOTES FROM CLEARING HOUSE REPORTS

Heimann Park and adjacent Rice University grounds are only locales I know of in Houston area whe.e Robins may be found any month of the year. Noel Pettingell,

I saw only 71 species in June, 30 year total of 164, 2 added in 1965S in first half 57; 87 in 1954, 148 in 30 years. Ruddy Duck added; second half 58, 82 in 1954 and 1961; 143 in 30 years. Golden Plover added. Arlie K. McKay.

CLEARING HOUSE CONTRIBUTORSAKM Arlie K. McKay GP Gene PettitNP Noel Pettingell JO Jim Greene

ADDENDA TO CLEARING HOUSE

Robert and Loraine Purrington of Texas A&M saw à male Surf Scoter on Bolivar Peninsula on April 27, 1965, we learned this month. The bird was resting on the beach and they studied it for 15 minutes with a 50X scope, Jerry Strickling, who gave us this report, reminds us that this is a really late date for such a rare bird.

OFFICERSChairman:Secretary:Treasurer;Field Trip Chairman;Program Chairman:Co-editors of Spoonbill:

Harvey Patten (fe- IpMiss KatrinaMiss EllaMrs. R.P. (Betty; wj-j-jL^amsDr. Pat SullivanBill and Betty Wright, 6734 Neff, Houston, Texas, 77036,

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