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Birdwatching
with Phyllis Yochem
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Tuesday, August 15, 2000
Shorebirds, the first of the flying fall migrants, have arrived at area beaches
Fall migrants have started to arrive, but don't look for them in the treetops or the birdbath. These birds are not woodwarblers or passerines, although a few of those will soon be here also. Shorebirds are always the earliest travelers.
We have our own Famous Amos: Tony Amos, marine biologist at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. For many years he has inventoried Mustang Island Beaches, constantly noting and protesting the trash found there, and also listing birds and animals he sees. His weekly column, Island Observer, runs in the Port Aransas South jetty, and always contains gems of information or opinion.
In a recent column, Amos told readers to be on the lookout for increasing numbers of sanderlings, and for several species of plover, especially piping, snowy and Wilson's. The latter two breed in this area, but the third, the piping plover, is now on the endangered list. It breeds in the northern United States, around the northeast coastline, and in Canada. A larger part of the world's population of piping plovers winters here.
Other birds to look for on the beach are ruddy turnstones, American oystercatchers, and long-billed curlews. Sanderlings are the busy, small birds that scamper back and forth, always at the wave's edge. Their interpersonal relations are somewhat confrontive and frequently one in front will turn around and take a run at the one following it.
Ruddy turnstones will have begun to change from their spectacular breeding plumage with its harlequin face pattern into something a little more sedate for winter. In flight, they still bedazzle with a complex pattern on back and wings.
Oystercatchers gather at this time of year in easygoing random flocks along the beach. A sighting of even one of these large black and white birds with its prominent orange red bill is always a treat. Curlews travel in flocks also in fall. They are more likely to be found in grassy fields such as shoolyards or cemeteries. Drought drives all the birds to any available water.
If you are unaccustomed to driving on the beach, be especially careful now when there have been no rains to pack the sand. Try to drive in the tracks ahead of you. Try not to disturb birds or make them fly. This is a demanding travel time for them after a hard summer's work.
Other places to look for migrating shore birds are Hans Suter Wildlife Area, flats in the Oso on both sides of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus, and Indian Point County Park.
If you are a beginning birder or would like to improve your skills, now is the time to sign up for a fall birding class with Gene Blacklock at the Botanical Gardens. Call 852-2100 for information.
Phyllis Yochem, a Corpus Christi
resident, has studied birds of Texas since 1960.
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