Rice-Houston Audubon Bird Survey 14 May, 2019

14 May, 2019

We conducted our official Rice-Houston Audubon bird survey today, May 14, 2019.  I was joined by Cassidy Johnson, Doris Heard, Carol Price, Janet Neath, Alan Mutt, Charles Fischer, Mark Kulstad, Chris Hysinger, Pedro Brandao, and Daniel Morrisett.  The spring migration of songbirds is near its end by mid-May. However, radar from last night and before dawn this morning still showed large numbers of migrants passing overhead. Skies were perfectly clear in terms of weather. Most of these birds are in a rush to get north so they do not usually stop in Houston unless we have a hard rain.  This morning, migrant numbers were low, but there were still a few migrants around, confirming that migration is still on, even this late in the season.  Beginning at Harris Gully, we had the usual yellow-crowned and black-crowned night herons flying over as they go back and forth between their nesting sites at Rice (and neighborhood) and the bayou. Gulf Coast Toads and Squirrel Treefrogs were calling from the cattails.  A Cooper's Hawk made a surprise showing, chasing blue jays and mockingbirds unsuccessfully.  Our large mulberry tree is almost barren of fruits now, and this was the first day we did not see the Cedar Waxwings, so perhaps they have finally departed for their northerly breeding grounds. We searched the brushy areas for migrants, but did not find any except for our lingering catbird, which was still singing its head off, hoping to get a mate.

Things got more exciting as we entered the oak grove just behind Huff House.  An Eastern Wood-Pewee called, a Great Crested Flycatcher flew overhead briefly, but the highlight again was our nesting Red-shouldered Hawks, now with three medium sized fledglings!  They are growing up fast and probably, within a week or so, they will be out of their nests, testing their wings for the first time.  Further searching of the oak grove produced a few of the typically late migrants we get here.  A couple of Swainson's Thrushes popped up into the trees, followed by an Acadian Flycatcher.  Our last bird was another empidonax, which stayed high in the canopy, eluding us continuously. We eventually got on the bird and it turned out to be a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.  Mid-may is the peak of flycatcher migration, even though many of the warblers have passed through already.

What is so special about going out into nature, even in an urban environment, is that every day is different.  The birds are still migrating, but each week brings a different set of birds.  And each week, a new set of flowers comes into bloom. Today, the first prairie clovers were in bloom. What will come next?  How fortunate we are to be able to experience these rhythms of life.

Until next time... look up, look down and listen to the trees.

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  6
White-winged Dove  20
Chimney Swift  5
Great Egret  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  7
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  3
Downy Woodpecker  4
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Blue Jay  15
Carolina Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  4
Swainson's Thrush  2
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  12
European Starling  15
House Finch  8
Great-tailed Grackle  20
Northern Cardinal  1
Indigo Bunting  2