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November 3 - Northern Jacana
Lower Rio Grande Valley: On Nov 3 a NORTHERN JACANA* was seen and photographed at Santa Ana NWR. Find directions to the sighting location in the website report. Refuge location: http://goo.gl/maps/DhKIK
November 3 - Purple Sandpiper
Coastal Bend: Jon McIntyre reported that on Nov 3 he found a PURPLE SANDPIPER* at Ingleside on the Bay (east of Corpus Christi). The bird (non breeding plumage) was way out on the breakwater with some turnstones and sanderlings.
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/6F6IS
October 27 - Mew Gull, Red Phalarope
Lower Rio Grande Valley: On the morning of Oct 27 Dan Jones found a MEW GULL* at Delta Lake, Hidalgo County. The bird flew off at about 1:15pm and hasn't been relocated.
Grayson County: On the morning of Oct 27 Ross Rasmussen found a RED PHALAROPE* at Hagerman NWR in Grayson County. The bird was at the end of the Plover Pad. It was found again in the afternoon. Bird was still present at 4:00 pm.
October 20 - Varied Thrush
West Texas: Late in the day on Oct 20 Carolyn Ohl photographed a VARIED THRUSH* at her Oasis in the Christmas Mountains. (Big Bend area). Visiting instructions are on Carolyn's blog, Christmas Mountains Oasis: http://cmoasis.blogspot.com/. Carolyn also has a female Buff-bellied Hummingbird at the Oasis. This is believed to be a first record for the region.
October 5 - Greater Pewee
Houston: Greg Page reported that on Oct 5 Jim Hinson and he found an unusual flycatcher at Bear Creek Park in west Houston. The bird was later refound by Teri Zambon and Greg. The bird had initially been spotted by Jim on Sullin's Way in the park. Experts who have seen the photos identify it as a GREATER PEWEE*. The call sounded very close to the Greater Pewee but not exactly like it. It would perch high in a tree and fly out to catch insects and usually land back in the same spot. Find links to photos and a trail map in the website report.
Bear Creek Park: http://goo.gl/maps/9jXPR
October 5 - Ruddy Ground-Dove
Bexar County: On the morning of Oct 5 Bob Doe found and photographed a male RUDDY GROUND-DOVE* at Crescent Bend Nature Park in Bexar County. The bird was first seen on bare branches along the trail between the parking lot and the rest room. It was also seen on the trail immediately in front of the rest room. He last saw it when it flew into the grove of trees across Lyndon from the rest room. Best bet on refinding the bird would be to check trail/road edges of bare branches in the rest room area. Find directions to the park in the website report.
September 29 - Brown Booby
Harris County: At 4:35pm on Sep 29 Janet Rathjen observed an immature BROWN BOOBY* at the Crosby-Lynchburg ferry landing on the Ship Channel east of Houston in Harris County. On Aug 29-30 an adult Brown Booby had been seen at the same location. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/0dpBg
September 24 - Heerman's Gull
West Texas: Barry Zimmer has submitted a photo of a HEERMAN'S GULL* which was photographed at Tornillo Reservoir in El Paso County on Sep 24. This would be a third record if accepted.
September 22 - Sabine's Gull
West Texas: West Texas: On the afternoon of Sep 22 Mark Lockwood found two Sabine's Gulls, including one adult, at Balmorhea Lake, Reeves County. Mark reported that there are only about 5 records of adults in Texas.
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/XSHf6
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70194759@N05/
September 22 - possible Pacific Golden-Plover
Bolivar Peninsula: Winnie Burkett reported that on the morning of Sep 22 a very good birder has found what is believed may be a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER* at Rollover Pass on the sand spit. Photos are being taken but they are hoping someone with a larger lens will arrive. Map link: http://goo.gl/maps/5ARPl
September 20 - Sabine's Gull
Coastal Bend: On Sep 20 Jon McIntyre photographed a Sabine's Gull on the beach in Port Aransas.
September 15 - Sabine's Gull
Lake Wichita: On the morning of Sep 15 Darlene Moore, Steve Glover and Greg Cook found 2 Sabine's Gulls at Lake Wichita, in both counties. The lake is three miles southwest of Wichita Falls in southeastern Wichita County and northeastern Archer County. Map link: http://goo.gl/maps/K66EQ.
September 3 - Short-tailed Hawk
Lower Rio Grande Valley: On the morning of Sep 3 John Brush and his father found a SHORT-TAILED HAWK* at Santa Ana NWR. They first saw it at Pintail Lakes and then had great looks from the hawk tower.
