Final Texas Migration Report

[John Barrow]

Hi Friends.

This has been a great weekend for migration along the Texas coast. Mixing storm systems resulted in a "fallout" of migrants that was beautiful to witness. Eight or ten warblers clung to most of the many live oak trees in Port O'Connor where I was for the weekend. If one were a good birder, which I am not, I suspect they could have identified 30 or so different species of warblers amongst the trees late Sat afternoon. Hundreds of other migrants were also flying through. I concentrated on my favorite-the buntings, both indigo and painted, and saw lots of both species. This morning most birds had continued northward, but large numbers of scissortail flycatchers were present.

The weekend also saw an influx of draggonflies and other migratory insects--arriving in huge numbers to help feed, at least while passing through, the many martins that have chosen this small Texas community to nest in. American and orchard orioles were seen passing over all locations, along with a spattering of rose breasted grosbeaks and scarlet tanagers. A large number of small swallows filled in with the landfall.

What was not seen were migrating purple martins. We had a large influx a week ago Friday that allowed many to pick up numbers early last week, and another big showing early in the week with over 150 subbies landing on our three systems in Port O'Connor.

Without the presence of martins arriving in the trans gulf migration fallout this weekend, it is safe to say that all arrivals are now coming through Mexico and I suspect that has been typical for the past several weeks. I look for migration along the Texas coast to begin declining over the next couple of weeks and then reach an end. There will still be lots of martins arriving, but the peak, in my opinion has passed for this year. Many of the large numbers of migrants that have passed over this coastline will not reach homes in the far north for about a month, and soon thereafter the birds of the south will begin returning south.

I wish all of those to the north a super year, and hope many wannabees will see their dreams fulfilled. Aong the coast, this has been the easiest migration year that I have witnessed, and hopefully it will be a great production year for our friends in purple.

Best wishes, John Barrow, Corpus Christi, Tx

[Scully]

John, thanks for the reports. And geeze!... I AM a bird watcher, and would have loved to witness that "fallout". Although a fallout for us means untold hardship and/or death for all those myriad songbirds running into the contrary front while still over over the Gulf.

Mike Scully

[klcretired]

John,
as always , thanks for the info & insight, we all sure appreciate it.
Have a Good one.

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

I also thank you for your updates again this year. It is good to know when the subbies are coming, now is the time to get my hopes up. It sure wasnt good martin weather here this weekend, It started raining friday morning and it has rained fairly steady till this afternoon, now we have off and on showers. Temps have been in the 50's supposed to warm up tomorrow and then more rain and a big cool down. My rain gauge has collected 3.75 inches since friday morning. We needed it though, it was getting a little dry.

[Guest]

Thanks, John. I too am a birder and I would have given a minor body part to see all those warblers and buntings!

Shel

[~Patrick~]

I'm an avid birder and grew up in Houston. High Island and Galveston were my old stomping grounds and in the spring they are absolutely amazing. If you're really interested in birding, a trip to the coast between April 15 and May 15 would be a real treat. I highly recommend it...

Patrick