Thanksgiving and Christmas on Catahoula NWR

  

A Pine Warbler partakes of some Thanksgiving grub, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, 11/24/2016

   11/24/2016:
   On my Thanksgiving visit to Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit I drove the entire refuge loop, with many stops. Duck numbers were way up from previous visits this autumn, and there was a nice variety and quantity of woodland songbirds and other groups. I started at 11:52 am and ended at about 4:37pm; a little over 9 miles by truck and a third of a mile of so on foot. Temperatures were 64 to 66 degrees f., the sky was sunny, there was a light breeze. Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 33.5 feet. Habitat shots from this visit:

refuge loop through bottomland hardwoods

north end of Duck Lake

one of the parking spots along Cowpen Bayou

 Bird list is below, followed by Lepidoptera list, and a run down of some of the other wildlife observed.

Birds:
Greater White-fronted Goose - 6
Snow Goose - 100
Wood Duck -4
Gadwall - 30
Mallard - 20

male Gadwall, Cowpen Bayou

female Gadwall, Cowpen Bayou

 Northern Shoveler - 105
Northern Pintail - 600
Ring-necked Duck - 1
duck sp. - 20,000 -- approx. number from estimates and counts, probably many more present in parts of lake that were out of sight from the several vantage points visited along the route. These were birds that were too distant and closely packed to suss out individual i.d.s. My guess is that Northern Pintail was the most numerous species in the "duck sp." mix, with Mallard likely also very numerous, and Shoveler, Ring-neck, and Gadwall probably all present in the mix, as well as other species that went undetected on this visit (Green-winged Teal should be present, for example). In other words, actual numbers (and probably diversity) of the ducks on the list should be much higher than what I show, which mostly represent smaller groups seen close to shore.

North end of Duck Lake -- ducks, ducks...

...more ducks...

...duck gumbo.

East side of Duck Lake from end of walk-in road -- lots of ducks.

 Anhinga - 2

American White Pelican - 110

south part of Duck Lake with ducks and American White Pelicans

east side of Duck Lake with ducks and American White Pelicans

Great Blue Heron - 9
Great Egret - 4

Turkey Vulture - 9
Bale Eagle - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

Black-necked Stilt - 2
American Avocet - 71

American Avocets, north end of Duck Lake

Long-billed Dowitcher - 2
Greater Yellowlegs - 6

Eastern Screech-Owl - 1
Great Horned Owl - 1
Barred Owl - 3

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 12
Yellow-bellied Sapsacker - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 5
Pileated Woodpecker - 6

Eastern Phoebe - 11

Eastern Phoebe, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

American Crow - 43

Carolina Chickadee - 10
Tufted Titmouse - 6

Brown Creeper - 1

Brown Creeper, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

Winter Wren -  1

Winter Wren, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

Winter Wren, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

Winter Wren, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

 Carolina Wren - 4

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 14
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 11

Hermit Thrush - 3
American Robin - 1

American Pipit - 2

Cedar Waxwing - 22

Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1

male Pine Warbler, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

Yellow-rumped Warbler close-up

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 18

Yellow-rumped Warbler, near Cowpen Bayou, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit, La Salle Parish

Chipping Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 1

Northern Cardinal - 4

American Goldfinch - 2 

Butterflies:

Tropical Checkered-Skipper, down walk-in road

Common/White Checkered-Skipper - 1
Tropical Checkered-Skipper - 3
checkered-skipper species - 6
Cloudless Sulphur - 2
Little Yellow - 10
Sleepy Orange - 3
Gulf Fritillary - 1
Viceroy - 1
Common Buckeye - 2





Other Wildlife:

American Alligator and Pond Sliders, Duck Lake Slough

   Among mammals, only Eastern Fox Squirrel was seen. As for reptiles, there were five American Alligators seen basking in the sun at various points along the route.

American Alligator, Cowpen Bayou

American Alligator, backwater near south side of Duck Lake

American Alligator, backwater area near south part of Duck Lake

Turtles -- most, possibly all, Pond Sliders -- were also out in good numbers, getting some sun. I counted 49, but likely overlooked many more when my attention was elsewhere. 

turtles in a cove near Duck Lake

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12/25/2016:

late Christmas afternoon, backwater area near south side of Duck Lake

   I returned to the refuge Christmas afternoon after not having visited since Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I hadn't been able to resume my weekly trips. I went by the Headquarters Unit first, then went by the Willow Lake Unit at the end of the day.

   Headquarters Unit Birds:
   I birded driving the entire refuge loop w/ numerous stops: 2:45 pm to 5:03 pm; 77 to 78 degrees f., breezy, the sky was a variable mix of cloud and sun. Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34.6 feet. It was an unusually warm, muggy Chirstmas. People still mention the "80-degree Christmas" of 2015, I guess this year's will be no different.
habitat shots, then bird list:

north end of Duck Lake

woods along refuge loop

Greater White-fronted Goose - 93 (some in video)
Snow Goose - 100
Wood Duck - 4
Mallard - 300 (some in video)

Northern Pintail - 10
Green-winged Teal - 10
Canvasback - 2
Ring-necked Duck - 9
duck sp. - 700

Anhinga - 1

Great Blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 3

Black Vulture - 4
Turkey Vulture - 7

gull sp. - 18 -- These were very distant (flying far out over Duck Lake), but Ring-billed Gull is a species I've come to expect at this location during winter, so that's the probable identity.

Mourning Dove - 2

Belted Kingfisher - 3

Red-bellied Woodpecker -1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 3
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe -13

American Crow - 7

Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 2

Carolina Wren - 3

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

Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - x

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 18 (3 in video)

Chipping Sparrow - x
White-throated Sparrow - 9

Northern Cardinal - 6

Other Headquarters Unit Wildlife:

a comfy spot to chill

   Four or more Common Buckeye were the only butterflies noticed. A large American Alligator was basking on a log in Cowpen Bayou. A fair number of Pond Sliders and potentially other similar turtles were basking in exposed places along the water ways.

(apologies for poor picture quality) American Alligator basking in the sun, Wood Ducks on far bank

"Beaver wuz here"

Willow Lake Unit:

Willow Lake Road at sunset, Christmas

 5:06 pm to about 5:50 pm. One mile. My hope was to get my FOS American Woodcock, but unfortunately I didn't see any. However, a few other birds were still being detected as night fell. The only non-avian wildlife noticed was a frog -- either Southern Leopard Frog or Green Frog, based on size -- leaping across the road as I was about to leave.

Wood Duck - 32
Great Egret - 1
Mourning Dove - 1
Carolina Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - x
Brown Thrasher - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 2

evening sky while watching for woodcocks, Christmas, Catahoula NWR Willow Lake Unit, La Salle Parish

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October Odds and Ends; 10/30 and 11/11 on Catahoula NWR

   I didn't get much real birding done during October, but noted FOS arrivals when I could. This year's fall migration season has been noteworthy for its slow birding; an observation mentioned by birders from around the state.
   Many species arrived later than usual. To illustrate the point, here are a few personal FOS (first-of-season) observations in La Salle Parish:
*Eastern Phoebe arrived in second week of October, usually FOS is somewhere in late Sept to early Oct.
*White-throated Sparrow FOS was October 21 this year. The usual FOS is during the first two weeks of Oct. Unusually late.
*Ruby-crowned Kinglet FOS on Oct. 22. Again, unusually late FOS; usually shows up by early Oct.
*Yellow-rumped Warbler FOS Oct. 25. Another unusually late FOS; usually present in first week or two of October.
*Yellow-bellied Sapsucker FOS Oct. 27. Once again, quite late for FOS.
   Not catching them immediately is to be expected when not birding every day, but not hearing or seeing these common fall-winter birds until sometimes weeks after they would normally have become a daily occurrence is notable. 

   October 12 was my last observation of the summer's Chimney Swifts.

Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit, La Salle Parish

   Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get out to Catahoula NWR during most of October, but I couldn't let the whole month slip past without a single trip to the refuge. So, I made an afternoon visit to the NWR on October 30. Things were dry, dusty; dead-seeming at first glance. A closer look and listen showed that some life was going on as usual despite the drought.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus), Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

    The most productive bit was a walk down the gated road that leads to the east side of Duck Lake. Flower diversity was low, but the butterflies were out and taking advantage of what was available. Tropical Checkered-Skippers and Common/White Checkered-Skippers were numerous.

Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens), Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

Pearl Crescent, Phaon Crescent, Little Yellow, Viceroy, Red Admiral, and Carolina Satyr were also present.

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

I was very pleased to find at least one (possibly two or three) Least Skipper. Thanks to Craig Marks for verifying this i.d. via photos. The species was a new one for La Salle Parish list.

Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

An even bigger highlight for me was a lifer Long-tailed Skipper. Though a common species, I had yet to see one of these in my year-and-a-half of butterflying.

a beautiful Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

a closer look at the Long-tailed Skipper

this moth species (species TBD) was abundant down the walk-in road, especially around the flowers w/ the butterflies

   While down this road I lucked into my FOS Sharp-shinned Hawk, Hermit Thrushes, and Orange-crowned Warbler. The Barred Owls were hootn'-and-hollerin'; it's always fun to hear them interact. Two can be heard in this video:

   After this, I rode around to the north end of Duck Lake. The dust clouds from vehicles on the road made it impractical to get out and bird, but I lingered a while in the truck (mostly with the windows up!) and was rewarded with sightings of four Bald Eagles and my FOS Northern Harrier.

dusty road near north end of Duck Lake (Bald Eagle in Bald Cypress)

   Over all, bird diversity and numbers were low for this point in the season, even for an afternoon trip, and several common/expected species went unrecorded. 
   Other wildlife included American Alligator and Eastern Fox Squirrel. 
   Complete list of birds from this visit is below, followed by account of my Nov. 11 trip to the NWR.

Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit, La Salle Parish
10/30/16
3:40 pm to 6:13 pm
Conditions: 83 to 72 degrees f., sunny, calm, dry and dusty.
Protocol: driving about 1.7  miles with a number of stops, walking about 0.3 miles.

Northern Shoveler - 30

Northern Shovelers, Duck Lake

Great Blue Heron - 7
white wader sp. - 3 (distant, could be Snowy Egret or young Little Blue Heron)
Glossy/White-faced Ibis - 17

Turkey Vulture - 5
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Bald Eagle - 4 (2 adult, 2 immature)

Bald Eagle in silhouette, seen through dust cloud

Killdeer - 20
Long-billed/Short-billed Dowitcher - 3
Greater Yellowlegs - 5
shorebird sp. - 20

Barred Owl - 3 (possibly 4)

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 3
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

American Kestrel - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 2

American Crow - 12

Carolina Chickadee - 4

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1

Hermit Thrush - 3

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2

Eastern Towhee - 1

Northern Cardinal - 5

Red-winged Blackbird - 2
      

11/11 dawn over Duck Lake

    The morning of November 11 on Catahoula NWR HQ Unit brought several more belated FOS winter species. With cloudy skies and a chill to the air, it was finally feeling like the fall-winter season. I birded a 1.5 mile stretch of the refuge loop; the north part. Water in Duck Lake was lower still and this provided mudflats and shallows for shorebirds including Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Killdeer, dowitchers, Least Sandpiper, and Greater Yellowlegs.

American Avocets foraging in Duck Lake

Ducks were present in decent numbers, but nothing spectacular. Northern Pintails and FOS Mallards and FOS Ring-necked Ducks were probably the most numerous, though many of the 900 or so ducks seen were far out in the lake or high in flight and were simply recorded as "duck species".

north end of Duck Lake, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Other FOS included American White Pelican, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and American Goldfinch.

Bald Eagle and Bald Cypress silhouetted against red dawn sky

   Bald Eagles continued to be present, with two seen on this visit. American Robins were on the move, with two large flyover groups and occasional individuals, all seen/heard as flyovers. It's always nice to hear one of the Eastern Screech-Owls calling.

Bald Eagle, Duck Lake, Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

   Non-avian wildlife included Pond Slider and Eastern Fox Squirrel. So, not much stirring besides the birds.
   Full bird list for his trip is below.

Catahoula NWR Headquarters Unit, La Salle Parish
11/11/16
5:58 am to 7:58 am
Conditions: 48 to 53 degrees f., calm, mostly cloudy.
Protocol: driving with a number of stops and long stand-around/walk-around period at north end of Duck Lake.

Wood Duck - 15
Mallard - 20
Northern Shoveler - 36
Northern Pintail - 25
Ring-necked Duck - 50
duck sp. - 800

Double-crested Cormorant - 2

American White Pelican - 29

American White Pelicans, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Great Blue Heron - 9
Great Egret - 3
Snowy Egret - 2

Black Vulture - 6
Turkey Vulture - 1
Bald Eagle - 2

Black-necked Stilt - 3
American Avocet - 27

American Avocets, Duck Lake, Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

American Avocet, Duck Lake

Killdeer - 8
Least Sandpiper - 9
dowitcher sp. - 17
Greater Yellowlegs - 3
shorebird sp. - 50; seen in distance, most or all were probably dowitchers

Eastern Screech-Owl - 1

Belted Kingfisher - 1

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

Eastern Phoebe - 8

Blue Jay - 5
American Crow - 13

Carolina Chickadee - 2
Tufted Titmouse - 3

House Wren - 2

House Wren, Catahoula NWR Hq Unit

House Wren, Catahoula NWR

Carolina Wren - 3

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3

Eastern Bluebird - 2
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - 125

Cedar Waxwing - 8

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 7

Dark-eyed Junco, Catahoula NWR HQ Unit

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 3

Northern Cardinal - 10

Red-winged Blackbird - 2
blackbird sp. - 10

American Goldfinch - 3

Other FOS heard or seen in La Salle Parish that day, but not on the NWR, included Snow Goose and American Pipit. American Goldfinch also seen off-refuge.

*I'd like to mention that I still plan on doing the two big summary posts about observations made on Catahoula NWR this July-September (Bushley Bayou Unit) and August-Sept (HQ and Willow Lake Units). I haven't had much time to focus on the blog in recent weeks, but there's a lot of observations and fun info from the many visits I made to the refuge during those months and I'd hate not to include them on the blog. Good stuff. Those will be up soon. *crosses fingers*
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