The Rio Brazos Audubon Society field trip to the Texas Coastal Bend, January 25-26, 2025, was led by Karen Davis and Michelle McGehee.
The first location was Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, where ten members were met with an immediate flyover of an AMERICAN FLAMINGO, which had been missing from the area since November. Near the end of the boardwalk, the group had excellent views of three WHOOPING CRANE (2 adults and 1 colt). The group saw large flocks of waterfowl that included NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN- and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, plus many waders, gulls, pelicans, and passerines. Additional highlights included great views of OSPREY, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, MARSH WREN, SORA, sub-adult WHITE IBIS, SWAMP SPARROW, and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, among others.
After a couple of hours at Leonabelle, the group traveled towards Mustang Island State Park. Some roadside birding along the route added a BELTED KINGFISHER, a float of PIED-BILLED GREBE, and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in winter plumage at a decent-sized wash. However, one of the best experiences was when one of our newest RBAS members located a perched APLOMADO FALCON nearer to the park!! All-in-all, the group saw three falcons!
The next stop was downtown Corpus Christi for the CATTLE TYRANT. With the assistance of a very kind CC police officer, the group was able to locate the tyrant and watch it munching happily on a roach. We even stopped for a group photo in front of the Cattle Tyrant’s mural and the bird also joined several of us for lunch at a local restaurant.
The last stop of the first day on the field trip was Indian Point. Highlights there included MOTTLED DUCK, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, and another BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
The second day’s weather was a bit uncooperative, but despite this, the group was able to pick up several more species while birding Goose Island State Park. Highlights at the park included GREAT KISKADEE, BROWN THRASHER, BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE, REDHEAD, and INCA DOVE. At the pasture near the Big Tree, the group picked up additional numbers of WHOOPING CRANE, plus several SANDHILL CRANE and distant ROSEATE SPOONBILL.
Total species count for both days combined was 84 plus three additional taxa (hummingbird sp., meadowlark sp., and yellowlegs sp.). Several participants had dozens of lifers! The eBird trip report can be found here:
Texas Coastal Bend trip, Jan 2025
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