Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, 11/14/14

 

Hooded Merganser (female), north end of Duck Lake.

This is a somewhat tardy post, but I'm getting caught up. Of interest, it gives some insight into when some species arrived in numbers.
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   This was one of a series of unseasonably cold mornings we've had so far this November, and the most recent cold front seemed to have driven a further surge of winter birds into the area. The chill, clear morning revealed a number of first of season species for me, either all-around FOS or FOS for the location, and a boost in the numbers of some winter species that were already known to be present.
   As is typical of most trips during this season, there was minimal bird activity noted in the early morning between the entrance gate and the north end of the lake. This is a distance of approx. 1 mile through mostly wooded terrain. The woodland birds would be out and about in force and making their presence known on the drive back out a little later on.

Ducks and shorebirds, an icy north end of Duck Lake.

   Arriving at the lake, I was pleased to see that duck numbers, or at least variety, was greater than the previous week. One of the first species noted was a female Ruddy Duck in the northeast part of the lake by the inflow/outflow structure, probably the deepest part of the lake. I would find a female Hooded Merganser not too long after reaching my usual stop-and-stand-around spot at the north end of the lake. She came flying in and landed while I was out standing. This made me suspicious that the poorly seen pair of ducks that flew up while I was still driving may have been a pair of Hoodies. I thought they looked appropriate enough for this species in terms of size and proportion, but I had a very subpar look at them before they were gone.

Female Hooded Merganser, Duck Lake.

   At various points while around the lake I noted incoming groups of Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal, among others. Mallard and Northern Shoveler were present, as were Wood Ducks, of course. I didn't note any Gadwall (FOS on the previous week's trip) on this trip, but there very well could have been some among the distant groups of "duck species" out in the lake.

Killdeer, across the road from north end of Duck Lake.

   Many American Robins passed overhead, sometimes in large groups. More were likely missed while I was driving and had only an obstructed view of the sky.
   There were a few sparrows noted along the north edge of the lake, with Savannahs being the most numerous. After turning and heading back I found at least one Field Sparrow beside the northeast corner of the lake.
   Continuing back through the wooded areas, I did find a small mixed woodland flock or two and likely would have had more had I been able to stick around longer and spend more time stopped. Among the little woodland passerines was my FOS Blue-headed Vireo. With its sort of understated colorfulness, I consider the Blue-headed one of the most attractive songbirds common to this area. Though not terribly flashy or intricately marked and with mostly muted shades of green, yellow, and gray-blue, their standard backdrop of a gray wintery forest seems to make their plumage bright and bold by comparison.  Its always a treat to find one when out and about on a wintery day such as this one was.
   I left the refuge with an admittedly modest list for the morning, but satisfaction in having recorded first of season appearances for a host of species.
   The batteries in my camera were running low, and so I didn't take many photos.

The complete list from this trip is below.

Long-billed Dowitchers, Duck Lake.

eBird location name: Catahoula NWR--Headquarters Unit

La Salle Parish

11/14/14

6:48 am to 8:11 am

Conditions: 25 to 30 degrees f., clear, calm to light breeze.

Protocol: traveling, 1.1 mile.

Greater White-fronted Goose - 98
Snow Goose - 40
Ross's Goose - 2 (FOS)
Wood Duck - 19
Mallard - 20
Northern Shoverler - 13

Northern Shovelers,
across the road from north end of Duck Lake.

Green-winged Teal - 45 (FOS)
Ring-necked Duck - 4 (FOS)
Hooded Merganser - 1 (FOS)
Ruddy Duck - 1 (FOS)
duck sp. - 300











American White Pelican - 1

Great Blue Heron - 5
Great Egret - 1
Plegadis sp. - 1

Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

American Coot - 1

Killdeer, across the road from north end of Duck Lake.

Killdeer - 4
Greater Yellowlegs - 5
Lesser Yellowlegs - 7
Dunlin - 13 (FOS)
Least Sandpiper - 16
peep sp. - 9
Long-billed Dowitcher - 84
shorebird sp. - 50

Long-billed Dowitcher and Dunlin, Duck Lake.

Mourning Dove - 15

Downy Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 4

Blue-headed Vireo - 1 (FOS)

Blue Jay - 4
American Crow - 9
crow sp. - 10

Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 1

Carolina Wren - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1

Eastern Bluebird - 1
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - 170

American Pipin - 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4

Chipping Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Savannah Sparrow - 7
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 3

Northern Cardinal - 2

Red-winged Blackbird - 18
Common Grackle - 2

passerine sp. - 2

Long-billed Dowitchers and plegadis ibis sp. (probably White-faced Ibis).