THE
“My favourite birdsong has to be the Blackbird. It’s a mellifluous sound that whenever I hear it, even in the heart of the concrete jungle, instantly calms me down, making me dream of hazy summer days.”
Piping Plover. There are two entrances to the site: one by Highway 361 and the other nearer Port Aransas proper. The latter entrance leads into Charlie’s Pasture, which was by far my favourite part of the preserve. I spent half a day watching clouds of Shoveler, American Wigeon, Pintail and Green-winged Teal launching themselves airborne to cut multiple shapes before dumping down on brackish pools. Although I was unsuccessful in finding any Wilson’s or Piping Plovers, I was still treated to great views of Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin and Semipalmated Plover. While squatting down on a boardwalk watching a very close feeding Stilt Sandpiper, to my great surprise and delight, a Clapper Rail strolled out from under where I was stooped, to feed quite DAVID unconcerned, literally an arm’s length SAYS away. I even managed to find a hunting When you first arrive Short-eared Owl and a flyover in a new country, get to Magnificent Frigatebird, both know the birds straight away by extreme scarcities here. doing a spot of urban birding at your
David Lindo
URBAN BIRDER
David Lindo heads to Texas, where he finds cranes and Ospreys galore
‘S
êLIFER Sandhill Cranes were a first for David
first destination. It will be a good way KEY SPECIES of getting yourself introduced WHOOPING to the more common CRANE species of the Situated behind a motel, this unlikely Port Aransas is a hotspot region you are looking spot is decidedly very urban. It’s a for waders and waterfowl, in. tiny two acre wet woodland coastal marsh owing to the predominance of containing the only freshwater on the whole of estuarine and marshy habitats. Mustang Island. However, it is an amazing migrant Outside of the town are the trap, no doubt its attraction enhanced by the presence wintering sites for the world of freshwater. It seemed to be bordered by wooden famed and highly endangered fencing on which I spotted a group of four cute Inca Whooping Crane. Their presence Doves cuddling up together. While creeping along the is celebrated annually in February boardwalk I was joined by a couple of Scottish birders at the Whooping Crane Festival from Aberdeen. As it happened, their local RSPB Group attended by hordes of locals and had only just received a talk from me the week before. holidaymakers. However, regular They had managed to miss it, so I whispered a vastly boat trips are organised during truncated version of it while we watched a lone juvenile the winter to see these American White Ibis feeding in muddy channel. We magnificent shy birds feeding in also managed to identify a Pine Warbler that was busily the fields. flitting over our heads in a nearby waterside tree. It ¿ Whooping Crane Festival was particularly pleasing for me as it was a new bird whoopingcranefestival.org for the list.
Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond
fine to walk around birding almost anywhere. The town’s close proximity to the sea means there is always a chance of spotting something overhead. So keep looking up!
KEY SPECIES OSPREY
The Osprey is one of the few raptors with a worldwide distribution. Indeed, it is found on every continent bar Antarctica and in South America it occurs as a non-breeding migrant. We are pretty familiar with this migratory fish-eating raptor in the UK, especially now as they are colonising new territories, largely thanks to reintroduction schemes. Ospreys are also increasingly occurring as regular migrants, even in cities like London. This species poses a bit of a taxonomic riddle among our scientific brethren due to some of its anatomical differences from other members of the hawk tribe. Some ornithologists are even lumping it with falcons. Currently, it is the sole member of the genus Pandion, named after the mythical Greek king Pandion of Athens who, legend has it, was turned into an eagle. In Texas, the Osprey is a common winter visitor and passage migrant and, despite the apparent presence of suitable habitat, doesn’t breed in the state.
Danita Delimont
David Tipling
David Lindo The Urban Birder is a familiar face on TV screens and is behind the Vote National Bird campaign
Port A is a small place and after spending a couple of o, this is what Poole in Dorset would look if it days I found the locals to be very hospitable and with were transplanted to coastal Texas.’ Those seafood to die for. It is a great urban birding venue, too. were the thoughts that bubbled into my mind You can easily loose yourself here for a couple of days as I drove into Port Aransas. My journey there exploring the plentiful bird-filled sites the place has to had been an eventful one. A three-hour drive north offer. The town itself, along with the rest of Mustang from the world famed bird-rich Rio Grande Valley Island, lies on a rich migration flyway. It consists of during which I saw my first Sandhill Cranes and had a habitats that include lots of wetlands, muddy inlets, run in with the Border Patrol – long story. coastal scrub and 18 miles of beach and dunes. This Have you ever heard of Port Aransas? Be honest now. suite of habitats is perfect for the resident birds, along It truth, I had never heard of the place, but I was totally with the thousands of migrants that are also attracted happy to have discovered it. Four hours drive from here. Although popular with birders and other Houston and Austin, the nearest major cities, Port A (as recreational users, I found that you could still often find it is locally known) is situated on the northern tip of the yourself alone with nature. evocatively named Mustang Island, one of the longest barrier islands along the Texas coastline. Port A is the island’s only established town and it really did remind Port Aransas Nature Preserve me of Poole, with the same affluent feel of that south For me, this 1,200 acres of extensive tidal mudflats coast English town. Plus, you were never far from the bordered by scrub is Port A’s flagship birding venue. It sea. I visited in Port A in November and one of the is part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail run first birds I saw as I hit the town was an Osprey. by the Texas Parks and Wildlife and is crissOver the ensuing days, I literally saw masses of crossed by elevated broadwalks and trails and them. This majestic fish-eater winters along has tower hides. The place is a haven for DAVID the Texan coast in numbers and I had seen waders, egrets, wintering Osprey and SAYS hundreds on South Padre Island to the passerines like Eastern Meadowlark. Port Aransas is a fairly south the week before. Plus, it plays host to the endangered relaxed place and it is totally
Osprey
Whooping Crane
Danita Delimont
PO R T A R A N SAS , T EXAS
T R AV E L FAC T S
Mustang Island OTHER SITES Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center This marsh adjoins a wastewater treatment plant. On my visit, it yielded Cinnamon and Bluewinged Teals, plentiful Ospreys, American Kestrel and delightful Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. UT Marine Science Institute Wetlands Education Center This 3.5 acre coastal site lies between the site’s visitor centre and the South Jetty. The small landscaped pond appeals to Great Blue Heron and the coastal scrub is definitely worth a search. WEBSITES David flew with Delta Airlines: delta.com He stayed at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port Aransas: ihg.com/holidayinnexpress Special thanks to Sheri Henneberger and all at the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau: portaransas.org South Texas Nature: southtexasnature.org REFERENCE GUIDES The North American Bird Guide – David Sibley National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America – Jonathan Alderfer, Jon L Dunn
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