Catahoula NWR, November 2015

frosty morning and fall colors on Catahoula NWR, 11/23/15

Here's an account of the several trips I made to Catahoula NWR during November. Decided to hold off of doing individual blog posts for these and combine them into one big post. Bird lists from these trips are at the bottom of the post.
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half-way down the walk-in road

11/6/2015:
   After the recent rain events, ending the drought, I was eager to go to Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit and see how things had improved. There was a marked up-tick in numbers of winter bird species. I got my FOS Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Song Sparrow for this fall/winter season that morning. What will likely be my last Indigo Bunting (a summer species) of the year was seen as well. 
   There continued to be a large Tree Swallow presence centered around Duck Lake. However, no other swallow species were recorded, though any that might have been present could easily have been overlooked among the hundreds of Tree Swallows.
   "Herptiles" were limited, with only Blanchard's Cricket Frog and Green Anole making the list. Eastern Fox Squirrel was the morning's only mammal species.

Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) nectaring on Sida, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) nectaring on Sida,
 Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

   Butterflies were out in good numbers. Little Yellows were especially numerous with a rough count of 59 individuals. The Sleepy Oranges, which are becoming one of my favorite butterfly species to see, were out as well (6).
Checkered-Skippers were a pretty frequent sight (12). Fiery Skippers were tallied at at least 10, and a "dark/brown skipper" of some species was seen briefly but I didn't get to snap a photo or take my time looking it over in the field.

 Fiery Skipper nectaring on Sida, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta),
 Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

   Both Phaon Crescent (3) and Pearl Crescent (3 or 4) were seen, as were Common Buckeye (7). Though absent from my Lep list from the 10/23 visit, Red Admirals were seen at several locations on this morning's outing, with at least 4 individuals encountered.  Two Gulf Fritillries were seen nectaring on Brazilian Verbena. A single Carolina Satyr was seen at the gate on the walk-in road. A single Gray Hairsyreak was seen nectaring on "aster species" (see flowers in Common Buckeye photo below or photo in flower section below) near the north end of Duck Lake.

Carolina Satyr, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) nectaring on asters, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

   I photographed three moths as well, all of them along the walk-in road. A Celery Leaftier Moth (Udea rubigalis, tentative i.d, but pretty confident)

Celery Leaftier Moth, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

, Hawaiian Beet Webworm moth (Spoledea recurvalis, comfirmed/accepted by BAMONA)

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

, and a Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis, confirmed/accepted by BAMONA).

Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

   (Tentatively identified) Flowering plants from that outing include Annual Marsh Elder (Iva annua), Sickle-pod Coffeeweed (Senna obtusifolia), Prickly Fanpetals (Sida spinosa), Fourspike Heliotrope (Heliotropium procumbens), Indian Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum), Halberdleaf Rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis), Frogfruit (Phyla lanceolata), Acmella species, White Morning-Glory (Ipomoea lacunosa), and Brazilian Verbena (Verbena brasiliensis).
  In early December, I'll be putting together a blog post covering the wildflowers I've photographed/documented during this fall season as part of my ongoing quest to learn to i.d. the wildflowers of my region, so the photos and further details about the plants from this outing (including possible corrections) will be in that post.


...and, below... Asters which I mentioned above. I think they may be Symphyotrichum praealtum (and maybe more than one Sym. species present??), but I'll certainly look into it more before "fall flower" post.

This one's from HQ Unit...

...this one from Willow Lake

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HQ Unit and Willow Lake Unit, 11/20/2015:

North end of Duck Lake, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

   I returned to the HQ Unit on November 20 to find that more winter species had arrived. My FOS Ross's Geese, Mallards, Gadwalls, Ring-necked Ducks were among them. Water levels were up a little and at about 'normal' level in Duck Lake. There was the normal assortment of woodland and grass birds such as Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Dark-eyed Juncos and several sparrow species. No Tree Swallows were observed this time, and it seems that all exclusively 'summer' bird species have departed.

   The highlight of the day were the seven Wild Turkey. They looked to be a group of young birds - Jakes and Jennys. I got lucky and was able to photograph them and get some short video footage. Its always a treat to watch these charismatic birds making their rounds through the woods, especially when its more than a fleeting glimpse of a frightened or distant bird.
   After the headquarter unit, I made a pass through Willow Lake Unit. By this point in the morning, things were quieter, but a few of the usual suspects such as Swamp and Song Sparrows, and Eastern Towhee were encountered. A Northern Harrier was patrolling the weedy 'meadow' - an almost guaranteed sight at this location during the cooler months.

Savannah Sparrow, Catahoula NWR Willow Lake Unit, La Salle Parish

   A formerly dense weedy/brushy section of 'meadow' - the part west of the little slough - had been cleared since my last visit a few weeks ago, and one can now see what lays at ground level all the way across the open area including some shallow water associated with Willow Lake. The water was too distant to scan thoroughly from the road (and I didn't have time to go out there on foot) but it looks promising for some ducks and shorebirds. I did spot a Mallard and some sort of shorebird (possibly Wilson's Snipe) that flew briefly before landing again behind some grass. A Great Egret was also hunting out there. I heard American Pipit - a species found on open ground and short grass - there as well. It'll be interesting to see what species this now mostly very short-grass area will attract.

recently cleared area of Willow Lake Unit

   Other than birds, there wasn't much going on at either unit that morning. Wildflowers, with the exception of some bedraggled-looking Halberdleaf Rosemallow and a smattering of small asters (see photo in above section) were hard to come by. The hale, vibrant Swamp Leatherflower that I spotted at Willow Lake stood out as a last holdout from among the bountiful and diverse flowers that characterize the location in the warmer months.

Swamp Leatherflower (Clematis crispa), Catahoula NWR Willow Lake Unit

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Sunrise at Duck Lake

sunrise at Duck Lake

Headquarters Unit, 11/23/15:

   I made another visit to the HQ Unit on 11/23. A cold, wintery morning, with frost on the grass, fog rising from the lake, and a chill, clear-blue sky certainly made it feel like winter had come. The birdlife reflected that to some extent. Nothing summer-y remained, and more winter species continue to arrive. FOS Redhead was a nice find. This duck was in the company of Mallards in the water across the road/levee from the north end of Duck Lake.
   There doesn't seem to be as many ducks on the lake as I might have expected at this part of the season, though hopefully that's because I just haven't seen them having only visited the one part of the lake in the past few visits, or perhaps because they just haven't arrived yet.

male Redhead, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

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Bushley Bayou Unit, 11/24/15:

   And, finally, I broke the routine and this time went to the Bushley Bayou Unit, which I haven't birded since September. I walked a half mile or a little more, one way, along Minnow Ponds Road from the Highway 8 entrance and some of the levee beside the adjacent impoundments.

middle impoundment

   It was a fairly 'birdy' morning. Flocks of geese and ducks, some too high or distant to i.d. with certainty, were frequently passing overhead. There were at least two species of ducks - Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck - flying to/from the private shiner farm ponds on either side of this corridor of the refuge. Shots from hunters were heard there several times and the hunting activity seemed to have the ducks on the move.

Field Sparrow, Catahoula NWR Bushley Bayou Unit 

Swamp Sparrow

   A nice assortment of winter sparrows were seen. White-throated were common where the cover was more woody. Savannah Sparrows were at the open, grassy, wet impoundments. Swamp and Song Sparrows were a common sight and sound, with a Song Sparrow or two occasionally singing. There was a Vesper Sparrow or two and a Field Sparrow seen, as well as some Chipping Sparrows. Lots of Eastern Towhees (some of them permanent residents, some winter visitors?) noisily scratched in the leaf litter.
  Unfortunately, I didn't find any Fox Sparrows or Lincoln Sparrows - two species which can sometimes be found here. It was disappointing that Common Yellowthroat - a common bird here year-round - didn't seem to be present, either.
   A pair of Bald Eagles seen briefly as they flew over was a definite highlight of the trip, as was my first of season (FOS) Pine Siskin, which was heard as it passed overhead.  The Tricolored Heron was unexpected (photo in checklist below). Though several may be seen in some years wintering in the area (usually HQ Unit of refuge, or elsewhere near Catahoula Lake), Trics are not a 'common' winter bird in the area and this is probably my first at this location from the 'winter' part of the year.
   Despite the cold, there were still a few wildflowers to see. I'll include photos and i.d.'s. for those (some of which I still need to identify) in the upcoming "fall flowers" blog post. Other plant observations... I came across a Persimmon tree, leafless but decorated with its famous orange fruit.

Persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana) w/ fruit, Catahoula NWR Bushley Bayou Unit

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), (close-up of fruit), Catahoula NWR Bushley Bayou Unit

Bird lists from 11/6, 11/20, 11/23, and 11/24 are below...
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11/6/2015
Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish 
7:41 am to 10:47 am
75 to 80 degrees f., near calm, occasional very light brief sprinkles of rain, cloudy with a brief partly-sunny period and ending the trip when it began to rain in earnest.

Greater White-fronted Goose - 55
Snow Goose - 1
Wood Duck - 10

Double-crested Cormorant - 5

Great Blue Heron - 4
Great Egret - 2
Snowy Egret - 1
White Ibis - 1

Turkey Vulture - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 3

Mourning Dove - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 6
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 8

Blue Jay - 3
American Crow - 4

Tree Swallow - 300

Carolina Chickadee - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 3

Carolina Wren - 4

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5

Hermit Thrush - 3
American Robin - 23

Northern Mockingbird - 1

American Pipit - 1

Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 8

White-throated Sparrow - 9
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Eastern Towhee - 2

Northern Cardinal - 15
Indigo Bunting - 1

Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 32
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11/20/2015
Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish
6:52 am to 8:56 am
1.5 mile
48 to 51 degrees f., sunny, light breeze

Snow Geese and Ross's Geese

Mallards

Snow Goose - 11
Ross's Goose - 3
Gadwall - 2
Mallard - 62
Ring-necked Duck - 2
duck species - 80

Wild Turkey - 7

Wild Turkey "Jenny" (young female)

Wild Turkey "Jakes" (young males)

Double-crested Cormorant - 7

Great Blue Heron - 4

Red-shouldered Hawk - 2

shorebird sp. - 20

Mourning Dove -

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 7
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 4
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 5

American Crow - 7

Carolina Chickadee - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 2

House Wren - 2
Carolina Wren - 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4

Eastern Bluebird - 4
American Robin - x

American Pipit - 2

Cedar Waxwing - x

Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 11

Chipping Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 9
Savannah Sparrow - 8
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 4
Eastern Towhee - 1

Northern Cardinal - 12

Red-winged Blackbird - 5
Common Grackle - 16
blackbird sp. - 20

American Goldfinch - x

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11/20/2015
Catahoula NWR Willow Lake Unit, La Salle Parish
9:00 am to 9:54 am
1 mile
55 to 56 degrees f., sunny, light breeze

Mallard - 1

Cormorant - 1

Great Egret - 1

Black Vulture - 2
Turkey Vulture - 1
Northern Harrier - 1

shorebird sp. - 1

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 2

Eastern Phoebe - 5

Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 15

Carolina Chickadee -

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4

Eastern Bluebird -
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - x

Brown Thrasher - 1

American Pipit - 2

Cedar Waxwing - 20

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2

Savannah Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 5
Swamp Sparrow - 4
Eastern Towhee - 3

Northern Cardinal - 2

blackbird sp. - 30

American Goldfinch - x
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11/23/2015
Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit, La Salle Parish
6:44 am to 8:04 am
1.5 mile
31 to 35 degrees f., clear, calm, light frost early, some fog at lake.

Redhead and Mallard (males)

Snow Goose - 100
goose species - 20
Wood Duck - 1
Mallard - 35
Northern Pintail - 22
Ring-necked Duck - 4
Redhead - 1
duck sp. - 200

Pied-billed Grebe - 1

Double-crested Cormorant - 10

Great Blue Heron - 3

Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

Mourning Dove - 3

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 3
Pileated Woodpecker - 3

Eastern Phoebe - 7

Blue Jay - 3
American Crow - 10

Carolina Chickadee - 3

House Wren - 1
Carolina Wren - 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 6

American Robin - 4

Cedar Waxwing - 30

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 14

Yellow-rumped Warbler on left and Chipping Sparrow on right

Chipping Sparrow - 5
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 17
Savannah Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 2

Northern Cardinal - 12

Red-winged Blackbird - 3

American Goldfinch - x
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11/24/2015
Catahoula NWR Bushley Bayou Unit, Catahoula Parish
7:02 am to 9:27 am
0.5 mile
Conditions: chilly, start temp 41 degrees f., cloudy at first but sunny by the end, wind calm or near calm.

Greater White-fronted Goose - 285
Snow Goose - 180
Green-winged Teal - 63
Ring-necked Duck - 40
duck sp. - 100

Great Blue Heron - 1
Great Egret - 4
Tricolored Heron - 1

Tricolored Heron

Bald Eagle - 2 adults
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

Killdeer - 33 - flyover flock, hunting activity/shots on private land sent them over the refuge
Greater Yellowlegs - 4 - in impoundments

Mourning Dove - 2

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 2

Blue Jay - 3
American Crow - 9

Carolina Chickadee - 2
Tufted Titmouse - 3

House Wren - 1
Carolina Wren - 5

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7

Eastern Bluebird - 1
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - 4

Brown Thrasher - 3
Northern Mockingbird - 2

American Pipit - 2

Cedar Waxwing - 5

Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 3

Chipping Sparrow - 2
Field Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 12
Vesper Sparrow - 2
Savannah Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 5
Swamp Sparrow - 5
Eastern Towhee - 9

Northern Cardinal - 5

Red-winged Blackbird - 100

Pine Siskin - 1
American Goldfinch - 30
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