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September 16-18, 2005
On a hot September 16th morning four participants left Houston for South Padre Island. The other three participants meet the rest of the group the next morning at the pier for the pelagic trip. On the way to the hotel we stopped for a picnic lunch at a rest area along SH 281 after a trip through what used to be known as Hawk Alley between US 71 and SH 281. Only a couple Harris’ Hawks and a Crested Caracara were seen along Hawk Alley. During lunch we enjoyed good lucks at Summer Tanagers, Green Jays, Lesser Goldfinches, Common Ground Doves, a Ladder-backed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, and the Mexican race of the Carolina Wren. Before going to the hotel we decided to stop at Santa Anna and bird for a little over an hour because it was so hot. Highlights were Groove-billed Ani’s, Plain Chachalaca’s, a Long-billed Thrasher, Brown-crested Flycatchers, and Couch’s Kingbirds.
The next morning we arrived at the dock at 5:30 am for the pelagic trip we left port just a little after 6:00 and saw are first birds, two male Magnificent Frigatebirds near a shrimp boat around 10 am. Also around the shrimp boat were Bottle-nosed and Spotted Dolphins. We reached pelagic waters a little before 2 pm and promptly found the bird of the trip a near adult Red-billed Tropicbird. On our way back in we found a Red-necked Phalarope. Other highlights were several Bridled Terns, two Cory’s Shearwater’s and seeing flocks of migrant birds.
On our way back the next day we stopped at Laguna Atascosa to try and find a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher that had been reported there just two days earlier. Unfortunately we were not able to find it. It was a good trip with about 60 birds seen in all.
Participants: Pat Pease, Kathy Swarts, Patsy Lawrence, and Adam Wood.
~ Adam Wood
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