Duck Lake on the Headquarters Unit - October 5 |
CNWR, June - mid-Sept, 2018: https://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2018/09/catahoula-nwr-la-salle-catahoula.html
CNWR, Spring 2018: https://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2018/06/catahoula-nwr-la-salle-catahoula.html
CNWR, Jan - Feb, 2018: https://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2018/03/catahoula-nwr-january-february-and.html
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Fall is a great time to bird Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is an important stop for migrating waterbirds and songbirds, and is also often the first place I encounter many new winter arrivals. Besides birds, fairly impressive numbers of butterflies can be found on the refuge on sunny, warm autumn days. Hunting season, of course, is going on staring in October, so there's more people in the woods and less options for where to go walking off-road, but except for especially busy hunting days (such as opening weekend of squirrel season!!!) it's not too much of a hindrance to wildlife observation.
This fall I birded three of the refuge's four units, with most of those visits (9) being to the Headquarters Unit, which is located mostly in La Salle Parish but strays over the Catahoula Parish line in places. I made one trip to Bushley Bayou Unit (Catahoula Parish), and two to Willow Lake Unit (La Salle Parish). The bird lists below are separated by unit. After all of the bird stuff, there's a rundown of some of the other wildlife encountered -- including mammals, herps, and butterflies -- with all units combined on each of those lists.
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Headquarters Unit
habitat shots:
entrance area -- 11/19 |
woods along the refuge loop (Catahoula NWR Road or Wildlife Drive) - 11/19 |
refuge loop - 11/6 |
north end of Duck Lake - 11/6 |
north end of Duck Lake - 11/6 |
north end of Duck Lake - 11/11 |
the part of east leg of refuge loop where it runs along parish line and refuge boundary just south of sign-in station - 11/11 |
east leg of refuge loop - 11/30 |
gated walk-in road that goes down to east side of Duck Lake - 11/6 |
gated walk-in road that goes down to east side of Duck Lake - 11/11 |
east side of Duck Lake - 11/6 |
trail head for nature trail / woods along east leg of refuge loop - 11/30 |
area around one of the three "big culverts" on the south section of the loop - 11/30 |
September 30
8:42 a.m.; 5 hrs; 2.5 miles
73 - 81 degrees F.; cloudy; faint breeze; water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34 feet
my personal FOS: Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Stilt Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, Black-throated Green Warbler
October 5
2:41 p.m.; 3 hrs 30 mins; 3.2 miles
91-82 degrees F.; sunny or partly cloudy; light breeze; water level approx. 34'
October 12
8:15 a.m.; 4 hrs 43 mins; 2.9 miles
57 - 65 degrees F.; sunny; breezy
my FOS: Greater White-fronted Goose, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak
location FOS: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
October 17
10:30 a.m.; 4 hrs 22 mins; 3.2 miles
57 - 62 degrees F.; overcast; light misting rain until about 1:00; light breeze to moderate wind; water level approx. 34' or a little more
my FOS American Coot
October 31
8:05 a.m.; 3 hrs 47 mins; 2.2 miles
around 70 degrees F.; started overcast and light fog, sky becoming mixed; near calm at start, then light southerly wind
my FOS: Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Northern Harrier, Savannah Sparrow,
FOS for this location: House Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow
November 6
7:30 a.m.; 5 hrs 8 mins; 2.4 miles
Conditions: 65 - 76 degrees F.; started cloudy, became sunny; light wind out of east or northeast; water level approx. 34.5'
FOS for this location: Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Am. Goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warbler
November 11
10:06 a.m.; 4 hrs 50 mins; 2.2 miles
Conditions: 51 - 55 degrees F.; cloudy, then partly sunny; periods of light drizzle; light breeze; water level approx. 34.5'
my FOS: Ring-necked Duck, Merlin, Purple Finch
FOS for this location: Snow Goose, Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco
November 19
7:39 a.m.; 4 hrs 4 mins; 2.3 miles
Conditions: 53 - 55 degrees F.; overcast; on-and-off drizzle; on-and-off light breeze
water level approx. 35' and rising
November 30
8:35 p.m.; 6 hrs 18 mins; 4.9 miles
67 - 76 degrees F.; overcast at first, then mixed sky; drizzle with some breaks, with rain ending about 10:00; breeze
my FOS: Hooded Merganser
FOS for location: Pine Siskin
numbers of birds for the dates (Sept 30; Oct 5, 12, 17, 31; Nov 6, 11, 19, 30)
months separated by ' / '
'x' means present, but number of individuals not recorded
Snow Goose - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 345, x, 23
Snow Geese - 11/11 |
Wood Duck - 0 / 0, 0, 1, 2 / 0, 1, x, 23
male and female Wood Ducks - 10/31 |
Blue-winged Teal - 9/30 |
Northern Shovelers - 9/30 |
Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal - 9/30 |
American Wigeon - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 2 / 2, 4, 18, 5
Mallard - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 8 / 40, 30, 100, 40
Mallards, male and female - 1/30 |
Green-winged Teal - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 90 / 0, 5, 0, 0
Ring-necked Duck - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 350, 900, 45
(video: ducks - mostly Ring-necked - circling and landing at Duck Lake -- 11/19)
Hooded Merganser - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 3
duck sp. - 500 / 500, 100, 200, 100 / 710, 550, 1000, 1100
Mourning Dove - 1 / 0, 3, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 / 0, 2, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Chimney Swift - 2 / 0, 4, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
American Coot - 0 / 0, 0, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Black-necked Stilt - 11 / 7, 12, 18, 6 / 0, 0, 0, 0
American Avocet - 0 / 0, 6, 0, 3 / 4, 0, 0, 0
American Avocet - 10/31 |
American Avocets foraging - 10/31 |
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Least Sandpiper - 1 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
peep sp. - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Long-billed Dowitcher - 17 / 0, 75, 8, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Greater Yellowlegs - 8 / 4, 3, 0, 3 / 1, 0, 0, 0
Greater Yellowlegs foraging - 10/5 |
Greater Yellowlegs - 10/5 |
shorebird sp. - 0 / 0, 15, 0, 2 / 0, 0, 0, 0
(video: Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, and Black-necked Stilts - 10/5)
Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Black-necked Stilts - 10/5 |
Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilts, and American Avocets - 10/12 |
gull sp. - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 -- High flyover; appeared to be a large, white-headed, pale-billed gull, such as Herring Gull.
Wood Stork - 3 / 1, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Wood Stork - 10/12 |
Double-crested Cormorant - 2 / 0, 11, 0, 0 / 3, 0, 2, 1
American White Pelican - 17 / 50, 44, 22, 1 / 130, 0, 0, 0
American White Pelicans feeding - 10/17 |
American White Pelicans - 10/5 |
American White Pelicans - 10/12 |
Great Blue Heron - 11/6 |
Great Egret - 2 / 0, 4, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 2, 1
Snowy Egret - 6 / 8, 5, 7, 4 / 1, 1, 0, 0
Snowy Egret - 11/11 |
Tricolored Heron -- 10/17 |
White Ibis - 9 / 10, 20, 3, 19 / 105, 0, 0, 0
Glossy/White-faced Ibis - 16 / 14, 3, 4, 1 / 2, 0, 0, 0
Roseate Spoonbill - 30 / 66, 45, 17, 8 / 6, 1, 1, 0
Roseate Spoonbills - 10/5 |
Roseate Spoonbills foraging - 10/12 |
Roseate Spoonbills foraging - 10/12 |
Turkey Vulture - 4 / 9, 5, 5, 13 / 8, 6, 4, 10
Osprey - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Osprey - 10/12 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 0 / 0, 1, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 1, 1
Accipiter sp. - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1
Bald Eagle - 1 / 0, 0, 1, 1 / 1, 2, 2, 2
(video: Bald Eagle - 11/11)
Bald Eagle -- 11/30 |
Broad-winged Hawk - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 9/30 |
Buteo sp. - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1
Barred Owl - 2 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Belted Kingfisher - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 2, 0, 1, 0
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 0 / 0, 1, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 2, 2
Red-headed Woodpecker - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5 / 7, 8, 8, 3 / 5, 7, 4, 6
Downy Woodpecker - 6 / 3, 4, 5, 0 / 2, 2, 1, 8
Pileated Woodpecker - 4 / 1, 2, 1, 3 / 1, 0, 0, 3
Northern Flicker - 0 / 0, 6, 3, 4 / 3, 2, 3, 4
Peregrine Falcon - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Merlin - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 1, 1, 0
Merlin with dead Cedar Waxwing - 11/11 |
Merlin w/ C. Waxwing - 11/11 |
Merlin feeding on C. Waxwing - 11/11 |
Merlin with full crop after feeding on waxwing - 11/11 |
Merlin - 11/19 |
Eastern Phoebe - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 6 / 8, 11, 7, 14
Eastern Phoebe - 11/6 |
White-eyed Vireo - 0 / 2, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Blue-headed Vireo - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 1, 0, 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Blue Jay - 0 / 4, 10, 5, 3 / 3, 5, 3, 5
American Crow - 5 / 5, 3, 7, 8 / 6, 6, 36, 15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 0 / 0, 7, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Bank Swallow - 0 / 0, 3, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Tree Swallow - 2 / 0, 0, 0, 90 / 50, 35, 0, 0
Barn Swallow - 140 / 0, 2, 60, 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Cliff Swallow - 7 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
swallow sp. - 25 / 0, 5, 20, 50 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Carolina Chickadee - 7 / 5, 10, 11, 6 / 13, 16, 8, 16
Tufted Titmouse - 7 / 3, 9, 5, 3 / 7, 5, 2, 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 1, 0, 0, 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10/12 - same one in videos below |
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10/12 |
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 11/6 |
House Wren - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 3 / 3, 1, 2, 0
House Wren - 10/31 |
Winter Wren - 11/30 - same bird in videos |
Winter Wren - 11/30 |
Carolina Wren - 14 / 6, 7, 8, 8 / 7, 7, 13, 17
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 9 / 3, 3, 1, 4 / 1, 2, 1, 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 10/12 |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 11/11 |
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 11/11 |
Eastern Bluebird - 0 / 3, 0, 2, 0 / 0, 7, 4, 0
Hermit Thrush - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 3, 5, 1, 2
Wood Thrush - 0 / 1, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
American Robin - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 10, 5, 377, 20
American Robin - 11/6 |
Gray Catbird - 9/30 |
Northern Mockingbird - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1 / 0, 1, 0, 1
American Pipit - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1 / 1, 0, 0, 1
European Starling - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 2, 0
Cedar Waxwing - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 34, 95, 50
Purple Finch - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0
Pine Siskin - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 3
(video: Pine Siskin - 11/30)
American Goldfinch - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 6, 15, 168, 35
Chipping Sparrow - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 9, 50, 30
Chipping Sparrows - 11/19 |
White-throated Sparrow - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 4 / 12, 20, 4, 15
Savannah Sparrow - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 1 / 5, 2, 5, 4
Savannah Sparrow - 11/11 |
(video: Song Sparrow singing - 11/11/18)
Swamp Sparrow - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 2 / 1, 3, 5, 10
Eastern Towhee - 0 / 0, 2, 0, 0 / 0, 2, 0, 1
Eastern Meadowlark - 0 / 0, 1, 1, 1 / 3, 0, 0, 0
Eastern Meadowlarks - 11/6 |
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Black-and-white Warbler - 0 / 0, 0, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Black-and-white Warbler - 10/17 |
Common Yellowthroat - 2 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 2, 0
Kentucky Warbler - 0 / 1, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Hooded Warbler - 1 / 1, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
American Redstart - 3 / 1, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Northern Parula - 1 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Magnolia Warbler - 0 / 0, 0, 1, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Pine Warbler - 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 2, 1, 1, 0
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 0 / 0, 8, 4, 14 / 7, 65, 15, 35
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Summer Tanager - 3 / 2, 1, 3, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Northern Cardinal - 12 / 14, 11, 19, 19 / 11, 6, 7, 16
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 0 / 0, 1, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
(video: Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 10/12)
Blue Grosbeak - 1 / 0, 0, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 0
Indigo Bunting - 16 / 6, 12, 4, 0 / 5, 0, 1, 0
Indigo Bunting - 11/19 |
Willow Lake Unit
habitat shots:
Willow Lake Road - 9/30 |
the field - 11/2 |
Willow Lake - 11/2 |
right-of-way beside woods -- 11/2 |
September 30
7:46 a.m.; 52 minutes; 1 mile
72 - 74 F.; cloudy; some light breeze
Snowy Egret - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 4
American Crow - 2
Barn Swallow - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 1
Tufted Titmouse - 1
Carolina Wren - 5
Gray Catbird - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Easter Towhee - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 4
November 2
9:13 a.m.; 3 hrs 50 mins; 1.2 miles - 0.7 by vehicle, 0.5 on foot
Conditions: 51 - 63 degrees F.; clear; on-and-off breeze.
FOS: Wilson's Snipe, Sedge Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch
Greater White-fronted Goose - 27
Wilson's Snipe - 1
Anhinga - 4
Anhinga |
Great Blue Heron - 1
Great Egret - 1
Black Vulture - 9
Black Vulture |
Black Vulture |
Turkey Vulture |
juvenile Bald Eagle |
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 4
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 1
American Crow - 10
Tree Swallow - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Sedge Wren - 2
Carolina Wren - 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Brown Thrasher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 5
American Goldfinch - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 9
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 6
Song Sparrow |
(video: Swamp Sparrow)
Eastern Towhee - 2
sparrow sp. - 3 - sparrows that flushed from edge of grass while I was walking; could be additional Song, Swamp, or Savannah.
Eastern Meadowlark - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 7
Northern Cardinal - 7
Bushley Bayou Unit
Minnow Ponds Rd - 11/30 |
Minnow Ponds Rd - 11/30 |
Dry Bayou Road - 11/30 |
Green's Creek bridge, Dry Bayou Rd - 11/30 |
levees, impoundments just off Minnow Ponds Rd - 11/30 |
November 30
3:05 p.m.; 1 hr 20 mins; 1.9 miles at Minnow Ponds Road, Dry Bayou Road, and on foot at impoundment levees by MP Rd.
74 - 76 degrees F.; light breeze; cloudy
Great Blue Heron - 1
Great Egret - 2
Roseate Spoonbill - 2
Turkey Vulture - 8
Northern Harrier - 1
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 2
American Crow - 8
Carolina Chickadee - 2
House Wren - 3
Sedge Wren - 4
Carolina Wren - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5
American Robin - 25
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Northern Mockingbird |
Dark-eyed Junco - 6
White-throated Sparrow - 33
Savannah Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 8
Swamp Sparrow - 11
Eastern Towhee - 2
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
male Common Yellowthroat |
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Northern Cardinal - 9
*On December 14 I birded along the entire refuge loop on Headquarters Unit, seeing my FOS Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, and Field Sparrow, with additional highlight being a group of five Purple Finches foraging on ground and in trees in woods along west leg of the loop.*
non-avian fauna, all units:
Mammals
rabbits (Eastern Cottontail and/or Swamp Rabbit), Eastern Fox Squirrel, Northern Raccoon, White-tailed Deer
I talked to a deer hunter on 12/14 who mentioned (recently?) seeing Black Bear on HQ Unit.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Cope's Gray Treefrog, Cajun Chorus Frog, Southern Leopard Frog;
American Alligator...
American Alligator - Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Racer - Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Cottonmouth - HQ Unit, 11/6 |
Cottonmouth - Bushley Bayou Unit, 11/30 |
Sliders - HQ Unit, 11/6 |
Butterflies
Long-tailed Skipper -
Long-tailed Skipper - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
Long-tailed Skipper nectaring on Sida - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
Funereal Duskywing -
Funereal Duskywing - Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Funereal Duskywing - HQ Unit, 11/6 |
Common/White Checkered-Skipper - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
a pair of Common/White Checkered-Skippers -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
checkered-skipper sp. -
Clouded Skipper -
Least Skipper -
Fiery Skipper -
Whirlabout -
Whirlabout -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Whirlabout -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Little Yellow -
Sleepy Orange -
Sleepy Orange -- HQ Unit, 11/6 |
Red-banded Hairstreak -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Gray Hairstreak -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Gray Hairstreak - 11/2 - Willow Lake Unit |
Monarch -
Monarch - Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Gulf Fritillaries -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Variegated Fritillary -- HQ Unit, 11/6 |
Variegated Fritillary -- HQ Unit, 11/6 |
'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple - 10/5 - HQ Unit |
Hackberry Emperor -
Hackberry Emperor - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
Hackberry Emperor - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
Tawny Emperor - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
another Tawny Emperor - HQ Unit, 9/30 |
Phaon Crescent -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Common Buckeye -
Common Buckeye -- Willow Lake Unit, 11/2 |
Goatweed Leafwing -
Carolina Satyr -
This post is long enough as is, so I'll forego some of the other groups I usually include on these posts (fish, moths, Odonata, wildflowers), most of which were pretty scant this fall. I'll try to include all of them, though, on a 2018 year-end summary of what's been observed on CNWR.
As always, if you spot an incorrect i.d., feel free to let me know.
Happy and safe winter birding;
Jonathan