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Had a fruitful meeting with Rockwall Parks and Rec folks today -- we checked out Pettinger Preserve and mapped a few possible trail locations. After, I went to eat and observed a few more critters. :)

MEGA FIND! Found resting on log in possible vernal pool during Virginia Master Naturalist walk through the Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest. One of the farthest western records for Virginia and a county first for Prince Edward. Also, possibly one of the earliest observation dates in the state, with a previous record being February 19. One of the best herps of the year for central Virginia. Observed by Evan S, Ty S, Al L, Betsy L, & Regina S.

Update - The same individual was found in a separate vernal pool about 2,000 feet east of this location on February 11, 2020.
My Obs: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40568726
Ty's Obs: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38548072

This thrush was seen on a Texas Ornithological Society winter meeting field trip. It was watched for more than 5 minutes high in a tree. The whole time it was facing us and this was all we could see. We could not see its back and when we tried to move around it, that was when it flew. The breast spotting is not as heavy as a Hermit Thrush usually has, leading some of the participants to think that it might be a Veery. But a Veery would not have the eye-ring and should be enjoying the warmer weather south of the border..The only thrush that thsi could be is a Hermit Thrush. Any contrary opinions are welcome.

See:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2091917
for yesterday's obs in this same area and for context.

This was a day we observed one of the amazing phenomena of nature regarding bird migration, and specifically, Ross’s Gull migration. Weather conditions for humans was very tough with temps of 22-24 degrees F and a very stiff NE wind ranging from 20 to 30 mph all day long. Isaac and I arrived at the base of the point at Barrow about 9:45 AM just after there was enough light to see. We started seeing Ross’s Gulls heading NE along the coast, typically from 100-300 meters offshore. They were mainly in loose groups of 5 to 25 individuals with a few minutes between groups. We took many photos, but it was dark and overcast and conditions for photos difficult. Most of out shots were taken at 3200 ISO in order to have any decent shutter speed, and with the birds 100 to 300 meters away it made photo ops challenging at best…..but we got shots. The conditions for humans was such that we could stand about 5 minutes outside before we had to seek shelter in the car. We were bundled in long underwear, many layers of warm clothing and parkas, but it was COLD! To make a long story short, we tallied 600-800 Ross’s Gulls between 9:45 AM and noon when the movement slowed down considerably. Can you believe 600-800 Ross’s Gulls! We were not using a scope, just binocs. I have no idea how many Ross's Gulls were moving NE along the coast beyond our vision but I am satisfied that multiple thousands of Ross's Gulls migrated past Barrow on this day. The birds were not stopping to feed, but simply moving against the strong wind with ease. Two other small groups of observers independently tallied over 1000 Ross’s Gulls this day in nearby spots along this same area of shoreline. The shoreline where you can view these birds is probably 7-10 miles long so just wherever you happen to plant yourself is where you can look from. It was an amazing spectacle, but we still have not had any of these birds very close so we are still hoping for that really close encounter that can happen. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, this species is likely the most seldom seen of North American gulls (and certainly one of the most beautiful) and most U.S. observers will never see one. To see 600+ in one day is just unbelievable. I will post several images of adult and immature birds to give an idea of the scope of the migration and what we saw. We have one more morning to try again, then back to Texas.

Image 1 shows an immature Ross's Gull leading an adult bird.

Image 2 shows 11 Ross's at a distance. This is a typical binocular view.

Image 3 shows 10 Ross's Gulls. The lead bird is immature.

Image 4 shows 2 immature Ross's Gulls

Image 5 shows 4 birds

Image 6 shows a nice adult, still quite pink.

Image 7 shows an adult not showing much pink

Image 8 shows two pink adults

Genus: Batrachostomus
Species :mixtus Sharpe, 1892.
Common name : Bornean Frogmouth.
It is fomerly considered conspecific with B.poliolophus but lacks extensive white on underparts, male has a much darker crown and female more contrastingly rich rufous. Vocalizations yet to be analysed in depth. It is considered to be monotypic.

We Found this TINY bug crawling around on the ground. When I tried to put it on to a better surface for photographing, it jumped nearly 5 centimeters high!
I think it was around 1 mm long?
I did some research and I think that it was most likely a Globular Springtail. Any further ID help would be appreciated.

These are scans from some old slides of the 6th Texas record of Black-headed Gull. One shot shows a cropped view of the bird in question, the other image shows it in comparison to several winter Bonaparte's Gulls. When this species is found in Texas it is usually with Bonaparte's Gulls. I have posted the accepted Texas records of this species from the files of the Bird Records Committee of the Texas Ornithology Society. You will see this record as number 6.

BLACK-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Accepted (27)

2 Jan-23 Feb 1982 Lake Livingston Dam, SAJ/POL (TPRF 260) (AB 36:308, 671)
1 & 3 Mar 1989 Lake Arlington, TAR (TBRC 1989-26) (AB 43:507)
31 Dec 1989-4 Feb 1990 Lake Waco, MCL (TBRC 1990-4; TPRF 844) (AB 44:292)
returning 11 Dec 1990-12 Jan 1991 (TBRC 1991-21) (AB 45:291)
2-20 Jan 1993 Wright Patman Lake, BOW (TBRC 1993-35) (AB 47:275, 865)
28 Feb 1993 Baffin Bay, KLE (TBRC 1993-38) (AB 47:275)
31 Dec 1993-18 Feb 1994 Wright Patman Lake, BOW/CAS (TBRC 1994-31; TPRF 1223) (FN 48:226, 748)
10 Dec 1995 Lake Tawakoni, RAI (TBRC 1995-153) (FN 50:190)
12 Feb-25 Mar 1996 Cooper Lake, DEL/HOP (TBRC 1996-20; TPRF 1516) (FN 50:190, 302)
returning 2 Nov 1996-13 Feb 1997 (TBRC 1996-161; TPRF 1555) (FN 51:84, 769)
returning 26 Oct 1997-14 Feb 1998 (TBRC 1997-162; TPRF 1596) (FN 52:89, 224)
returning 18 Nov 1998-24 Feb 1999 (TBRC 1999-9; TPRF 1741) (NAB 53:76, 181)
returning 26 Nov 1999-27 Feb 2000 (TBRC 1999-110; TPRF 1756)
28 Dec 1996 Lake Wright Patman, BOW/CAS (TBRC 1997-3) (FN 51:529, 769)
9 Feb 1997 Mountain Creek Lake, DAS (TBRC 1997-49) (FN 51:769)
24 Jan-23 Mar 1998 Fort Worth, TAR (TBRC 1998-16; TPRF 1597) (FN 52:224, 355)
1-21 Mar 1998 Fort Worth, TAR (TBRC 1998-42; TPRF 1608) (FN 52:355-356)
returning 2 Feb-mid Mar 1999 (TBRC 1999-21; TPRF 1740) (NAB 53:182)
returning 30 Nov 2000-8 Jan 2001 (TBRC 2000-144; TPRF 1862)
24 Dec 1999-18 Feb 2000 Fort Worth, TAR (TBRC 1999-115)
23 Dec 2000 Possum Kingdom L., PAP (TBRC 2001-113)
15-21 Nov 2003 Cooper Lake, DEL/HOP (TBRC 2004-8; TPRF 2182)
14-17 Mar 2004 Wright Patman Lake, BOW/CAS (TBRC 2004-24; TPRF 2190)
12 Dec 2004 South Padre Is., CAM (TBRC 2004-104; TPRF 2248)
1 Jan 2007 Lewisville Lake, DEN (TBRC 2007-09)
17-27 Dec 2007 Big Creek Lake/Cooper Lake, DEL (TBRC 2008-10; TPRF 2536)
7 Nov 2009 Cooper Lake, HOP (TBRC 2009-93; TPRF 2781)

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Bird was yawning, inside of his pouch is turned
partially inside-out during this process. After this yawn the bird
looked quite normal again.
Texas City Dike, Texas City,
Galveston Co., Texas
21 February 2005

White Rock lake, Sunset Bay
Show-Off
Those pouches require a lot of stretching. Also, as we approach breeding season, mature breeding pelicans, both male and female, are developing the bump/horn on their top beak. It is just beginning here, it will get much larger. After the breeding season is over, it falls off.

Melanistic Song Sparrow. Singing male, ID'ed as Song Sparrow by song, and similar face pattern (visible in photo though muted due to melanism). The bird was also associating with a standard-issue SOSP, possibly a mate.

I was extremely happy to find this melanistic individual along with regular examples of the species. Complete melanism is a very unusual occurrence in birds, possibly as rare or rarer than albnisim!

Shame it couldn't have been native, but what an awesome encounter...

The first indication that something exciting was about to happen was a series of really loud calls which immediately captured my attention. Then I was treated to this amazing display. Glad I can finally check "mating Western grebes" off the bucket list now

Experts - What is going on here? This male American Kestrel sure did seem to have the hots for this female Merlin. He kept trying to get close to her and even brought her a few treats (insects?) from the grass beneath the fence. She accepted the treats but didn't seem thrilled with the attention. However, when he flew off, she followed him...

I managed just a few quick shots from the car as an Osprey flew by with a fish over the Pedernales River in Johnson City, Texas. This was the only shot of the 4 or 5 that was in decent focus. This fish has been identified as:
American Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4870751

Continuing rarity found by homeowner Beau Shroyer at his feeders in Becker County, Minnesota. Minnesota's eighth state record, seen and well-documented by many observers. A huge thank you to the homeowners who are graciously open to visitors!

Cattle Egret
with Barn Swallow it has caught
Dry Tortugas, Florida
1 May 1988

Cattle Egrets are a species known to wander. They made it to the U.S. on their own in the early 1950s and are now a common species all over the Americas. I once found a dead Cattle Egret on a rocky beach in Antarctica. There are no insects on Antarctica, so that particular Cattle Egret just wandered too far. Such might be said for Florida's Dry Tortugas. They are called "dry" for good reason. There is no fresh water. Birds that end up there and are too tired to move on, simply die. It is a daily task of employees at Fort Jefferson to walk around and pick up and discard the Cattle Egret carcasses before they open the fort to the birdwatchers each spring day. On this day my group watched a starving Cattle Egret (there are few large insects for the egrets to feed on) grab a Barn Swallow. It certainly made for a strange scene!

I'm uploading these field sketches of two goldeneyes which were studied by a group of birders at Austin's Hornsby Bend in November 1979. One of these female goldeneye's generated a lot of discussion as to the possibility of it being a Barrow's. Despite much detailed research and @greglasley's photos*, no definitive conclusion was ever reached.

• http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5105221
  The present record applies to the other female duck, a standard (if rare for the area) Common Goldeneye. Note: My sketches, done the same day, were intialed by me with the date "11/17/78" but that year is in error.

My eBird checklist for this date lists both birds as "Common Goldeneye":
http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/view/checklist/S16836222