phil jeffrey:: LA-TX, May 2011 trip report

Texas Birding Trip, Jan 2011

Three days tacked onto the front of a conference trip to New Orleans led me on a little side trip to search for Bachman's Sparrow (US nemesis bird #1) and sundry other interesting species. This was an extremely short and targeted trip with only a few target species. Reports of Shny Cowbird and American Flamingo from LA were interesting in the weeks prior to the trip but ultimately did not change plans significantly.

If you're reading this for trip planning, my TX web resources and site guide has details that might be some use to you - to avoid repetition I've spun it off into its own web page. However it is weak on the northern TX sites. In recent years I have ceased flying into Houston, with the result that I haven't been to the Anahuac-High Island-Bolivar area in quite some time. For this trip I used less of my usual TX resources but instead first canvassed the TXBIRDS list and also wrote a query program for eBird. The eBird API allows the database to be queried and results returned in XML format (XML is the superset of HTML). With a small amount of programming I herded this into a web page format with links to google maps, but some iPhone apps make use of this. Also the Birds Eye app for the iPhone allows dynamic querying of the eBird database in a similar way. Although only a small proportions of sightings make it into eBird I suspect this app will prove invaluable on trips.

I flew into New Orleans via Delta out of Philadelphia on the Wednesday evening, drove west for a couple of hours and stayed overnight at Lafayette LA, staging for a pre-dawn push toward Boykin Springs for my first attempt at Bachman's Sparrow. I had only alotted myself two days for the Bachman's.

• Wednesday
  • Delta 1761 (1530-1730) PHL/ATL; Delta 552 (1952-2027) ATL-MSY.
  • New Orleans to Lafayette is 2 hours. Overnight Super8. This is the only predictable night of the mini-trip
  • Motel 6 Lafayette #461, 2724 Ne Evangeline Thrwy, I-49 At Pont Des Mouton Rd, Exit #1-b, Lafayette, LA, 70507; Phone: (337) 233-2055; FAX: (337) 269-9267 ; Reservation #461MS19234. Appears to be US-90 south of I-10 where I-49 meets it
• Thursday
  • A.M. Boykin Springs
  • Midday Big Thicket
  • either keep at Boykin until success, o/n Lufkin OR
  • P.M. Anahuac, Rollover; o/n Beamont ?
• Friday
  • Either a Boykin Repeat or Anahuac-Sabine Woods, into LA
  • midday Cameron area, Sabine NWR, Flamingo, the other NWR
  • PM Achalafaya if not flooded
  • o/n somewhere close to N.O. for Saturday morning push
• Saturday
  • Honey Island
  • Slidell, areas north of Ponchartrain
  • Return car, shuttle from airport (busy?)
  • FLYMSY, www.airportshuttleneworleans.com, Bus: Airport-Downtown Express (E-2) Bus picks up outside airport Entrance #7 on the upper level. jeffersontransit.org The fare for Airport-Downtown Express (E-2) is $2.00. The fare boxes will accept $1, $5, $10, $20 dollar bills and all U.S. coins. The Airport-Downtown Express (E-2) provides service from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, down Airline Drive into New Orleans, which takes approximately 35 minutes. The Airport bus stop is on the second level of the Airport in the outer lanes at Door 7
• Lafayette LA to Jasper TX is 3 hours via Lake Charles and back roads. There's two McDonald's in Jasper.

Target Species and Specific Locations

• LIFE: Bachman's Sparrow
  • Boykin Springs, Angelina SF, also a Red-cockaded Woodpecker site. Google map. NW of Jasper along 63. West of 63 via dirt roads. South of Lake Sam Rayburn. From Lake Charles via Merryville, Newton, Jasper (112 miles, 2 hours). "In Zavalla, TX, at the intersection of State Rts.147 and 63, take Rt. 63 east 10.6 miles to Boykin Springs Recreation Area sign (Forest Rt. 313). Turn right onto Rt. 313 and go 2.6 miles to campground. Once inside campground, turn left before Picnic Area for camping area. Combined sites are to the right at the "T" intersection and tent-only sites are to the left."
  • 217 Dogwood Park Rd, Bellwood LA, from eBird.
  • 30.983505, -93.155801, Off LA-10 (Litkin Highway). Nearest to Fort Polk South LA (North of Lake Charles).
  • 31.205295, -92.581502, south of SR-488/Twin Bridges Road, sw of Alexandria, LA.
  • Lacombe area north of N.O.
  • (TX-Prairie/Pineywoods East) PPW-E 036 Longleaf Pines Park near Hemphill
• Red-cockaded Woodpecker
  • Boykin Springs, as above *=("There are a number of Red- cockaded Woodpecker groups in this area. One of the accessible groups has been marked, so look for the signs as you enter along FR 313.")
  • other locations nearer Houston
  • Lacombe area north of N.O.
  • Big Branch NWR: "Highlights were Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at the Boy Scout Road and Lucille Drive areas" also at Lacombe-Lake Road
• Swainson's Warbler
  • various swampy in LA, TX - determinate later
  • Honey Island Swamp [check flooding]
  • Atchafalaya NWR (Sherburne WMA) multiple locations [check flooding]
  • Sandy Creek Park, west of Jasper, near Bachman's site, se of BA Steinhagen Lake
  • From Bon Wier, return west on US 190 to FM 2626, then travel north on FM 2626 until it merges with TX 87. Continue north on TX 87 to FM 1414, then east on FM 1414 to Wild Azalea Canyons and Temple-Inland Wilderness Park (UTC-003) THIS IS THE LA BORDER AREA
  • Gore Store Road and Fire Tower Road (burnt?)
  • Waddill Wildlife Refuge, East Baton Rouge, US-LA (Swainson's Warbler) ; Walked the trails to the north first, but it was set up for an archery contest, so did not linger. ; Walked the Woods trail and the Swamp trail to the south& east. Trail needs some maintenance -- couple of trees blocking it that I had to detour around
• Prothonotary Warbler
  • various swampy in LA, TX - determine later
  • "White Kitchen" nr Slidell
  • MANY at Honey Island Swamp
  • probably Atchafalaya NWR (Sherburne WMA)
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
  • coastal prairie near Anahuac NWR
• Dickcissel
  • not sure if it breeds far enough south
  • LA/Cameron: "birds establishing territories along Turf Grass Road immediately south of the turf grass fields."
  • LA/Shreveport - see under Cassin's Sparrow
• American Flamingo
  • Adjacent to house on morning of 5/8
  • Reported from here along LA-82/Grand Chenier Hwy, 20-30 miles EAST of Cameron LA in early May.
  • Evening roost: The location is 4253 Hwy 82 near Grand Chenier, LA (between Grand Chenier and Rockefeller WMA - about 13 miles east of Oak Grove). When driving west to east on Hwy 82, look for a red/white/blue Wilkerson for Sheriff sign on the left side of the road. The house is a tan trailer on the left -- mailbox in front w/ address. The family is very friendly to birders and invited us to walk back in the yard. They do ask that folks park only in the mowed areas of the lot.
  • well seen in the marsh immediately south of 4253 Grand Chenier Hwy. in Grand Chenier yesterday, 4 May. It was foraging, bathing, preening, and resting as I watched between 6:45 and 7:35 PM.
  • Still there on 5/13
• Shiny Cowbird
  • Reported from here along back roads north of LA-82 (ne of Cameron) in early May. "found a really brilliant bluish-purple male near a gate behind 138 A Joe Rutherford Road around 10:25 AM this morning."
  • "adult male Shiny Cowbird at the Oak Grove Sanctuary" - Oak Grove is here, cannot find sanctuary info. Oak Grove e. of Cameron - seems to be along a local loop of Trosclair Rd west of Oak Grove aka Pr357
  • behind the houses on Joe Rutherford Road, near the gate to the oilfield road.
• Cassin's Sparrow
  • The city property just to the n can be traversed walking from the gravel parking lot on the north side of Bass pro. If one is facing the building, this parking lot lies on the right side. The field is on the right side of the parking lot Cross the ditch to the mown part of the field parallel to the slope into the wooded strip along the river. Walk along the dirt road approx .4 miles across the field along this edge and you'll get to some large concrete footings/pylons. The Cassin's Sparrow should be easily/closely seen skylarking from there. The property just past this where the sparrow displays is private. I do not know who owns it. Do not exit at I-20 onto Traffic st. Traffic St is blocked between Barksdale Blvd and E Texas St (hwy 80) The locality is reached easiest by going north on Spring St off of I-20 near downtown Shreveport, then turning right (e) onto Texas Street and cross the Red River at the Texas St bridge. Bass Pro parking lot is at the foot of the bridge on the n side as as soon as you cross the bridge into Bossier. However, you cannot turn left going eastbound. Go to the next light at Traffic St and make a left. Turn left again on the 1st street (Colloquit Street) to the left. This street will dead-end in the gravel parking lot. You cannot get lost as you are within a few hundred yards of the parking lot.
• Swallows (Cave/Cliff): mixed swallow colony at Exit 44 (jct. of US-165) of I-10, the best spot to see the greatest number of Caves overhead at one time is at the east end of the westbound bridge, essentially over the railroad tracks and frontage rd. turnaround.
• Little Gull on Davis Rd. to E. Jetty. (Cameron, east side of river).

• My Google LA-TX map
• Louisiana list via birdingonthe.net
• LOS RBA via text messaging (seems infrequently used)
• LA breeding bird atlas
• Cameron and Environs
• Cameron Prairie NWR
• Vincent NWR southwest of Lafayette: map
• SouthEast LA bird finding guide (does not work on Firefox) :
  • Pearl River/Honey Island
  • Lacombe area (Bachman's etc)
  • Grand Isle
  • Barataria Unit of Jean Laffitte NHP
  • Suburban N.O. and Jefferson Parish
  • Bayou Sauvage NWR and Eastern N.O.
  • White Kitchen and MS line
• Atchafalaya NWR
• Anahuac new visitor center: new headquarters and visitor center is open. It is located on 4017 FM 563 less than 2 miles south of I-10 (Liberty/Anahuac exit)
• Texas Big Thicket Loop
  • UTC 007 Angelina NF Boykin Springs Recreation Area Site open daily. Developed camping available. Fee charged. Continue west on R255 from Sam Rayburn Reservoir to TX 63. Travel northwest on TX 63 to Angelina National Forest (NF) and Boykin Springs Recreation Area. Boykin Springs, as perhaps no other single location in the Pineywoods, offers a rich diversity of woodland birding possibilities. As you enter along Boykin Springs Road (FR 313), you will cross a fire-maintained longleaf pine forest. The bluestem grasslands within the forest are the preferred habitat for Bachmans Sparrows. The wetter grasslands attract a few Henslows Sparrows in winter. Brown-headed Nuthatches may be seen throughout the year in dense pine stands, and Kentucky Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Painted Buntings nest in the yaupon thickets. Listen for Chipping Sparrows here in late spring and summer (dont credit all the trilling to Pine Warblers). There are a number of Red- cockaded Woodpecker groups in this area. One of the accessible groups has been marked, so look for the signs as you enter along FR 313.
  • UTC 012 Steinhagen Reservoir Site open daily. Developed camping available. Fee charged. Return to FM 1747, then continue south to US 190. Travel east on US 190 to FM 777, then go south on FM 777 to CR 155. Go west on CR 155 to ACOE Sandy Creek Park and East Steinhagen Lake. After visiting this area, return to FM 777, and continue south to ACOE East End Park/Town Bluff. The eastern edge of B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir offers a number of opportunities for woodland birding. These woods often attract numbers of migrants in spring, and most of the Pineywoods breeding birds are present here in summer.
  • UTC 013 Martin Dies SP Site open daily. Developed camping available. Fee charged. Return north to US 190, then turn west on US 190 to PR 48 and the Martin Dies SP headquarters. Martin Dies SP is divided into three different units (the Hen House Ridge, Walnut Ridge, and Cherokee units), placed both north and south of US 190. Look for Pileated and other woodpeckers throughout the year, and Brown Creepers in winter. There are several rookeries (heron and egret nesting colonies) in and around this reservoir, and Anhingas are commonly seen here. Angelina-Neches Scientific Area and Dam B WMA are situated north of the park, and are only accessible by boat.
  • UTC 014 West B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir Site open daily. Developed camping available. Fee charged. Continue west on US 190 to Martin Dies SP Cherokee Unit and West B.A. Steinhagen Lake. Listen for Yellow-throated Warblers and Indigo Buntings around the Cherokee Unit in summer. Continue west on US 190 to FM 92, then travel north on FM 92 to ACOE Magnolia Ridge Park. American Redstarts have nested in Magnolia Ridge Park near the Wolf Creek Trail parking area. Return south on FM 92 to US 190, then continue south on FM 92 to CR 4130. Go east on CR 4130 to ACOE Campers Cove Park. All of these sites offer similar birding opportunities, although local birders believe Campers Cove Park south to Town Bluff to be the best stretch around the lake for finding migrant landbirds in spring and sparrows in winter.
  • UTC 015 Big Thicket National Preserve Site open for day use only. Return to FM 92, then continue south to Spurger and the intersection with FM 1013. Travel west on FM 1013 to US 69/287, then go south on US 69 to Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP). However, en route from Warren, you may wish to visit Hickory Creek and the Sundew Trail. The Hickory Creek Savannah Unit is located west of US 69 on FM 2827. Continue south on US 69 to FM 420, then east on FM 420 to the BTNP visitors center. BTNP is divided into a number of widely separated units. A complete list (as well as a detailed map) may be obtained at the visitors center. BTNP locations preferred by birders include Cook’s Lake, Hickory Creek Savannah, Kirby Nature Trail, Lance Rosier Unit, McQueens Landing, Pitcher Plant Trail, Turkey Creek Trail, and Village Creek.
  • UTC 016 Gore Store Road and Turkey Creek Site open for day use only. Return on FM 420 to US 69, then go north on US 69 approximately 3.5 miles to Gore Store Road and Turkey Creek. Travel east on Gore Store Road to Firetower Road (11.7 miles). The birding along Gore Store Road is renowned, and for many years birders have visited this area to find the Pineywoods specialties. However, extensive timbering in the area has left the pine forests in a perpetual state of early succession. As a result, species such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachmans Sparrow have become quite difficult to find in this area. Conversely, species that prefer early succession growth and dense yaupon thickets, such as Prairie and Swainsons warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Indigo and Painted buntings, have become quite common here (look and listen for Prairie Warblers in young pine plantations). Reaching Firetower Road, travel south. Camp Waluta Road (0.2 mile) is often worth a try (Eastern Towhees apparently nest here). Continue south to FM 418, then east on FM 418 to FM 92. In late spring through early summer, listen for Eastern Screech-Owls, Barred Owls, and Chuck-wills-widows just after dark or immediately before sunrise.