Texas Spring Migration 2012 April 18 - Big Thicket |
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A very early start to get to Big Thicket, a modest amount of mature pine forest north of Beaumont, not that far from the Louisiana border. There are a couple of specialties in Big Thicket, including the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. We had excellent views of the bird, as well as Prairie Warbler and a handsome juvenile Bald Eagle.
From there, we drove down to Port Arthur and out to the Gulf at Sabine Woods. Our timing was terrific: the songbirds that migrate across the Gulf arrive in the afternoon. We were there for the arrival of about half a dozen species, including both Scarlet Tanager and Summer Tanager. |
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We stayed at Sabine Woods until twilight as the birds continued to arrive. It was much less crowded than either Boy Scout Woods or Smith Woods. But a long ways from Winnie. | ||||||||||
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While Sabine Woods is less than 15 miles from High Island, the last hurricane took out the road along the shore. So we travelled around three sides of a square to get back. Once again, it was well after dark when we got back, but a very good day of birding. | ||||||||||