December 1999 Bird Count

Bird Sightings - January 2000

Coverage: Jefferson, Orange, Hardin, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Angelina, San Augustine and Sabine counties. Send Reports to: John Whittle, 3015 Nashville Avenue, Nederland, Texas 77627-6749 by the 10th of the month after or e-mail to whittleja@hal.lamar.edu or call (409) 880-8276 or fax to (409) 880-8270. For "very rare" birds, please submit a brief account of your sighting, including a description of the bird (unless unmistakable), brief details of what it was doing, and where it was seen (if on publicly accessible property). Format: "Common" to "abundant" birds are shown in the fashion "JEF 4 reps(25)" which means four reports in	Jefferson County totaling 25 birds. Less than "common", as "JEF-SW 7/5(2) ABC", which means seen in Jefferson County (JEF) at Sabine Woods (SW) on the 5th of July, two (2) birds, reported by observer "ABC". Commentary: This month's report is dominated by the Sea Rim State Park CBC, which saw 29 observers in the field for a whole day. Weather conditions during the month were warmer than and drier than average for the most part, but we received few reports. The wintering hummingbirds have thinned out. Waterfowl are still concentrated in a few areas, such as the Keith Lake area of Murphree WMA.
LOON, Common JEF 1 rep(1) GREBE, Pied-billed JEF 5 reps(1105) GREBE, Horned JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(2) SRCB GREBE, Eared JEF 3 reps(13) GANNET, Northern JEF-SRSP 1/2(115) JAW PELICAN, American White JEF 7 reps(1118) PELICAN, Brown JEF 13 reps(172) CORMORANT, Neotropic JEF 13 reps(662) CORMORANT, Double-crest. JEF 6 reps(405) CORMORANT, Species JEF 3 reps(299) ANHINGA JEF 1/2(12) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/22(1) FTTP BITTERN, American JEF-SRSP 1/2(1) SRCB HERON, Great Blue JEF 11 reps(79) EGRET, Great JEF 12 reps(298) EGRET, Snowy JEF 8 reps(161) HERON, Little Blue JEF 2 reps(45) HERON, Tricolored JEF 2 reps(37) EGRET, Cattle JEF 7 reps(41) HERON, Green JEF 1/2(1) SRCB NIGHT-HERON, Black-cr. JEF 1 rep(55) NIGHT-HERON, Yellow-cr. JEF 1/2(4) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB IBIS, White JEF 1/2(70) JAW; JEF 1/2(13) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(106) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(47) SRCB; JEF 1/9(55) JAW; JEF 1/15(3) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(3) JAW; JEF-TP 1/22(5) FTTP IBIS, White-faced JEF 1/2(2) JAW; JEF-MURW 1/2(303) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(30) SRCB; JEF 1/9(38) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(3) JAW; JEF-TP 1/22(95) FTTP; JEF 1/30(3) JAW IBIS, Plegadis JEF 1/2(34) JAW; JEF 1/9(749) JAW; JEF 1/15(14) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(250) JAW; JEF 1/30(1) JAW SPOONBILL, Roseate JEF 7 reps(338) VULTURE, Black JEF 6 reps(81)	VULTURE, Turkey JEF 9 reps(77) GOOSE, White-fronted JEF 3 reps(210) GOOSE, Snow JEF 6 reps(8806) GOOSE, Ross's JEF 1/2(6) JAW; JEF-NEDR 1/2(2) JAW; JEF-PI 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/22(4) FTTP GOOSE, Canada JEF 4 reps(123) DUCK, Wood JEF 1/15(14) JAW GADWALL JEF 4 reps(1361); ORA 1 rep(87) WIGEON, American JEF 2 reps(533) MALLARD JEF 4 reps(61) DUCK, Mottled JEF 1/2(4) JAW; JEF-MURW 1/2(14) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/16(2) JAW; JEF-TP 1/22(10) FTTP; JEF 1/30(4) JAW TEAL, Blue-winged JEF 4 reps(435) TEAL, Cinnamon JEF-TP 1/22(4) FTTP SHOVELER, Northern JEF 7 reps(947); ORA 1 rep(23) PINTAIL, Northern JEF 5 reps(315) TEAL, Green-winged JEF 4 reps(6016) CANVASBACK JEF-MURW 1/2(3500) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(300) SRCB REDHEAD JEF-MURW 1/2(12) SRCB DUCK, Ring-necked JEF 3 reps(745) SCAUP, Greater JEF-PI 1/2(4) SRCB SCAUP, Lesser JEF 5 reps(230); ORA 1 rep(45) SCAUP species JEF 1 rep(300) SCOTER, Surf JEF-SRSP 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-SRSP 1/2(2) SRCB SCOTER, White-winged JEF-SRSP 1/2(2) JAW SCOTER, Black JEF-SRSP 1/2(5) JAW BUFFLEHEAD JEF 2 reps(251); ORA 1 rep(4) MERGANSER, Hooded JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(15) SRCB; JEF-TXPT 1/9(16) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(1) JAW MERGANSER, Red-breasted JEF 1 rep(5) DUCK species JEF 2 reps(522)
DUCK, Ruddy JEF 5 reps(405) OSPREY JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB KITE, White-tailed JEF 5 reps(17) HARRIER, Northern JEF 8 reps(87) HAWK, Sharp-shinned JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF 1/9(2) JAW; JEF 1/15(1) JAW; JEF-NEDR 1/15(1) JAW HAWK, Cooper's JEF 1/2(4) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF 1/9(2) JAW; JEF 1/15(1) JAW; JEF-SRSP 1/16(1) JAW ACCIPITER species JEF-SW 1/16(1) JAW; ORA 1/22(1) KS HAWK, Red-shouldered JEF 9 reps(16) HAWK, Red-tailed JEF 16 reps(175) HAWK, Red-tailed (Krider's) JEF-TXPT 1/9(1) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(1) JAW; JEF-TX87 1/16(2) JAW HAWK, Rough-legged JEF 1/2(1) SRCB KESTREL, American JEF 13 reps(219) MERLIN JEF 1/2(2) JAW; JEF 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF 1/9(1) JAW; JEF 1/15(1) JAW; JEF 1/17(1) JAW; JEF-SW 1/23(1) KS FALCON, Peregrine JEF-MURW 1/2(1) SRCB BOBWHITE, Northern JEF 2 reps(6) RAIL, Clapper JEF 3 reps(4) RAIL, King JEF-MURW 1/2(3) SRCB RAIL, Virginia JEF-SRSP 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/16(1) JAW SORA JEF-MURW 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/16(3) JAW MOORHEN, Common JEF 2 reps(7) COOT, American JEF 5 reps(4795); ORA 1 rep(587) CRANE, Sandhill JEF 1/2(23) JAW PLOVER, Black-bellied JEF 5 reps(89) PLOVER, Snowy JEF-SRSP 1/2(9) JAW; JEF-SRSP 1/2(7) SRCB; JEF-SRSP 1/16(9) JAW PLOVER, Piping JEF-SRSP 1/2(2) JAW; JEF-SRSP 1/2(6) SRCB; JEF-SRSP 1/16(1) JAW KILLDEER JEF 13 reps(232) OYSTERCATCHER, Amer. JEF 1/2(3) SRCB STILT, Black-necked JEF 4 reps(175) AVOCET, American JEF 4 reps(302) YELLOWLEGS, Greater JEF 4 reps(20) YELLOWLEGS, Lesser JEF 3 reps(12) YELLOWLEGS species JEF 3 reps(8) SANDPIPER, Solitary JEF 1/2(1) SRCB WILLET JEF 5 reps(179) SANDPIPER, Spotted JEF 1/2(4) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(4) SRCB CURLEW, Long-billed JEF 3 reps(7) SANDERLING JEF 3 reps(990) SANDPIPER, Western JEF 3 reps(66) SANDPIPER, Least JEF 3 reps(119) DUNLIN JEF 4 reps(1910) DOWITCHER, Long-billed JEF 2 reps(100) DOWITCHER species JEF 2 reps(12) SNIPE, Common JEF 5 reps(14) WOODCOCK, American JEF-SW 1/2(6) SRCB GULL, Laughing JEF 9 reps(865) GULL, Bonaparte's JEF 3 reps(1532) GULL, Ring-billed JEF 8 reps(1646) GULL, Herring JEF 4 reps(109) TERN, Gull-billed JEF 1/9(2) JAW TERN, Caspian JEF 2 reps(4) TERN, Royal JEF 4 reps(177) TERN, Common JEF-SRSP 1/2(2) JAW; JEF-SRSP 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TXPT 1/9(1) JAW TERN, Forster's JEF 5 reps(322) SKIMMER, Black JEF 2 reps(41) DOVE, Rock JEF 5 reps(31) COLLARED-DOVE, Eurasian JEF-TX87 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-TX87 1/2(5) SRCB; JEF 1/9(8) JAW; JEF 1/17(4) JAW; JEF 1/30(2) JAW DOVE, White-winged JEF-TX87 1/2(32) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/9(19) JAW DOVE, Mourning JEF 15 reps(473) DOVE, Inca JEF 4 reps(15); ORA 1 rep(6) OWL, Barn JEF 1/2(5) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB OWL, Great Horned JEF 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(1)	SRCB; JEF-SW 1/9(1) JAW; JEF 1/23(1) KS; JEF-BMT 1/24-31(1) RAJ; JEF 1/30(2) KS; JEF-SW 1/30(1) KS OWL, Barred JEF-TX87 1/2(1) SRCB OWL, Short-eared JEF-MURW 1/2(1) SRCB HUMMINGBIRD, Black-chin. JEF-NEDR 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-SW 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-NEDR 1/4(1) JAW; JEF-NEDR 1/5(1) JFW; JEF-NEDR 1/6(1) JAW HUMMINGBIRD. Archilochus JEF-SW 1/2(1) JAW HUMMINGBIRD, Rufous JEF-BMT 1/1-31(2) RAJ; JEF-NEDR 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-NEDR 1/5(1) JFW; JEF-NEDR 1/6(1) JAW KINGFISHER, Belted JEF 9 reps(44) WOODPECKER, Red-bellied JEF 5 reps(9) SAPSUCKER, Yellow-bell. JEF 5 reps(10) WOODPECKER, Downy JEF 6 reps(28) FLICKER, Northern JEF 3 reps(8) PHOEBE, Eastern JEF 14 reps(122) SHRIKE, Loggerhead JEF 13 reps(333) VIREO, White-eyed JEF-PI 1/2(1) SRCB VIREO, Blue-headed JEF 3 reps(5) JAY, Blue JEF 15 reps(130) CROW, American JEF 4 reps(12) CROW, Fish JEF-TP 1/22(17) FTTP SWALLOW, Tree JEF-NEDR 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-TP 1/22(25) FTTP CHICKADEE, Carolina JEF 4 reps(18) TITMOUSE, Tufted ORA 1 rep(4) NUTHATCH, Red-breasted JEF-BMT 1/1-31(1) RAJ NUTHATCH, Brown-headed JEF-SW 1/23(1) KS WREN, Carolina JEF 4 reps(5); ORA 1 rep(1) WREN, House JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SRSP 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(5) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/16(1) JAW; JEF 1/23(2) KS; JEF 1/30(2) KS WREN, Sedge JEF 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF-SRSP 1/2(4) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/16(1) JAW WREN, Marsh JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF-SRSP 1/2(7) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/22(3) FTTP KINGLET, Golden-crowned JEF 1/2(8) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB KINGLET, Ruby-crowned JEF 6 reps(87) GNATCATCHER, Blue-gray JEF 8 reps(96) BLUEBIRD, Eastern JEF 8 reps(47) THRUSH, Hermit JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/9(1) JAW; JEF-SW 1/16(1) JAW; JEF-SW 1/23(1) KS ROBIN, American JEF 9 reps(43) CATBIRD, Gray JEF 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-MURW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-PI 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(3) JAW; JEF-SW 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/9(1) JAW; JEF 1/23(2) KS; JEF-SW 1/23(2) KS; JEF 1/30(2) KS JEF-SW 1/30(2) KS MOCKINGBIRD, Northern JEF 17 reps(197) THRASHER, Brown JEF 8 reps(79) STARLING, European JEF 14 reps(562) PIPIT, American JEF 4 reps(22) WAXWING, Cedar JEF 1 rep(5) WARBLER, Orange-crowned JEF 7 reps(103) WARBLER, Yellow-rumped JEF 12 reps(864); ORA 1 rep(23) WARBLER, Pine JEF 6 reps(41) WARBLER, Palm JEF-MURW 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TP 1/22(1) FTTP; JEF 1/30(1) KS YELLOWTHROAT, Common JEF 8 reps(36) TOWHEE, Spotted JEF 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/23(1) KS TOWHEE, Eastern JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/30(1) KS SPARROW, Chipping JEF 2 reps(3); ORA 1 rep(28) SPARROW, Field JEF 1/2(10) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF 1/23(8) KS; JEF-SW 1/23(3) KS; JEF 1/30(3) KS SPARROW, Vesper JEF-TP 1/16(1) JAW; JEF 1/23(5) KS SPARROW, Savannah JEF 12 reps(498) SPARROW, LeConte's JEF 1/2(2) SRCB SPARROW, Nelson's Sharp-t. JEF 3 reps(102) SPARROW, Seaside JEF 1 rep(12) SPARROW, Fox JEF-SW 1/30(6) KS SPARROW, Song JEF 7 reps(46)
SPARROW, Lincoln's JEF 1/2(14) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(1) JAW; JEF-SW 1/2(2) SRCB; JEF 1/23(3) KS SPARROW, Swamp JEF 8 reps(112) SPARROW, White-throated JEF 10 reps(288) SPARROW, White-crowned JEF 1/2(8) SRCB; JEF-SW 1/2(1) SRCB; JEF-TX87 1/2(3) SRCB; JEF 1/9(2) JAW; JEF 1/15(13) JAW; JEF-SW 1/16(1) JAW; JEF-TP 1/16(7) JAW; JEF-TP 1/22(30) FTTP; JEF 1/23(18) KS; JEF 1/30(1) KS CARDINAL, Northern JEF 14 reps(130) BLACKBIRD, Red-winged JEF 11 reps(7314) MEADOWLARK, Eastern JEF 5 reps(63) MEADOWLARK species JEF 6 reps(78) BLACKBIRD, Brewer's JEF 1/2(10) JAW; JEF 1/30(10) JAW GRACKLE, Common JEF 8 reps(1107) GRACKLE, Boat-tailed JEF 9 reps(894) GRACKLE, Great-tailed JEF 9 reps(584) COWBIRD, Brown-headed JEF 8 reps(480) BLACKBIRD species JEF 2 reps(525) FINCH, House JEF-NEDR 1/2(4) JAW GOLDFINCH, American JEF 13 reps(129); ORA 1 rep(28) SPARROW, House JEF 6 reps(117) Number of Species 178 Number of Individuals 63682 County Abbreviations: JEF - Jefferson; ORA - Orange Location Codes: BMT - Beaumont; MURW - J. D. Murphree WMA; NEDR - Nederland; PI - Pleasure Island, Port Arthur; SRSP - Sea Rim State Park; SW - Sabine Woods; TP - Tyrrell Park incl. Cattail Marsh; TX87 - Texas 87 Pt. Arthur-Sabine Pass-Sea Rim; TXPT - Road to Pilot Station at Texas Point Observer Abbreviations: FTTP - Field Trip to Tyrrell Park/Cattail Marsh; JAW - John Whittle; JFW - Jana Whittle; KS - Ken Sztraky; RAJ - Rose Ann Jordan; SRCB - Sea Rim Christmas Bird Count.	Details of Rare Birds Surf Scoter - 2 January 2000 - Dwight and Richard Peake Seen on the Gulf from Sea Rim during the Christmas count. Two birds (along with eight others identified only as scoter species). Large dark ducks, with white patches on crown and back of head. No white seen around eye or on wing. Rough-legged Hawk - 2 January 2000 - Tex Wells, Nancy and Don Fisher, Jana Whittle. Seen on Sea Rim Christmas Count on salt grass prairie with trees in Sabine Pass. Large hawk. Tail light brown with very thin bands. Head light brown and white streaked. Brown and white streaked feathers on legs. In flight, white on the tail and white patches on the upper wings were seen. American Oystercatcher - 2 January 2000 - Nancy and Don Fisher, Jana Whittle Seen on rocks on edge of Sabine Neches Waterway during Sea Rim Christmas Count. Unmistakable with black and white pattern and long orange bill. Very rare in Jefferson County. Solitary Sandpiper - 2 January 2000 - Carol Lynn Loker Seen on the road to the Pilot Station at Texas Pont during the Sea Rim Count. A smallish sandpiper, but larger than a "Peep", with greenish legs and a longish straight black bill. Medium gray back, streaked breast, white lower belly and vent. Black-chinned Hummingbird - 2 January 2000 - John Whittle An immature male hummingbird seen at the feeder in Sabine Woods during the Sea Rim Christmas count. "Normal" sized hummingbird with fairly long, thinnish, slightly curved bill. Upper parts bright metallic green. Underparts very dingy white with grayish-green flanks. Throat evenly marked with streaks a few enlarged. Streaks on throat were dark from numerous different angles. Wing tips did not quite reach the tip of the tail when perched. Outermost primary sharply curved at end and somewhat broad at tip.