Northern Jacana brings me to 968

Northern Jacana

     After two weeks of travel, I wanted to relax at home on Sunday. I was watching IPL. During the innings break I got the second ebird alert of Jacana at Corpus Christie. The first one was on Saturday, but I thought I’ll take rest. I got news that the bird was co-operative and easy to see. Northern Jacana juveniles are seen once in a few years, if I’m not mistaken. Often the sightings are closer to the Mexico border requiring a longer drive. The current bird was not only closer but was the much more beautiful adult! I checked that the place was open until 6 pm and the drive was 3.5 hours. Time was 11:45 am, and I was on the road in 20 mins after taking some cardamom tea in a flask. I arrived at the parking lot of S. Texas Botanical Garden and noted a few other birders arriving. I paid the park fee and the receptionist knew about the bird. She gave me directions to its spot, and I met a few birders there who were yet to find it. Me and another birder decided to split up and look, after our initial scan did not produce the bird. While walking, a birder on top of the Observation tower called me and told that the bird was out a little bit and went back in. I climbed up the tower, and the bird remained hidden behind vegetation. I went down the trail to call the fellow birder and his group to the observation tower and we all had good binocular looks when the bird eventually walked out in the open. The ABA code 4 Northern Jacana was bird 968. We had prolonged looks. When I saw the bird walk away I was wondering if it could offer closer views down the trail, which it did! The pale yellow on the wings which it lifts occasionally was a delight to see. It is difficult to match the beauty of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas of Chennai, but this bird was pretty and glistening under the sun. The bill too was glowing yellow under the sun. Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44607678.

     I heard that Harvey (the Hurricane) had destroyed much of Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center and Paradise Pond at Port Aransas. Since I drove all the way here, I thought I can check them out to see the damage which they said was heart breaking. I also checked for new places, and found Mustang Islands – The Willows to be good for migrants. When I went there I wasn’t sure where to bird – there was a clump of trees over a pond, and I drove around to check for more places. The clump of trees looked most promising and I saw a warbler or two when I stopped my car. A few birders sat down on the grass to watch the trees for birds. I felt it was better to park my car and sit in case more birders show up. This proved to be a pleasant surprise with good views of a few species of warblers. There was no expectation and I was enjoying the birds! Hooded Warblers would occasionally come close by to eat insects, an Overbird offered the best looks I’ve had of the bird so far. I did not want to leave, but felt I needed to check out the places I went to last time to see the damage. I spent close to an hour here - https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44612660. Holt Paradise Pond had non-native trees cut down in addition to hurricane damage, and was more birdy than I imagined - https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44615359. I ended up spending close to an hour here as well. I got good looks at Yellow-headed Blackbirds which are the most beautiful of the North American Blackbirds in my opinion. I had good looks at feeding Waterthrushes. When I turned to walk back at the end of the short boardwalk, a Prothonotary Warbler was a few feet away! I finished off the day with the Prothonotary Warbler coming close once again. It was feeding actively and did not mind me and another birder. Sometimes, it was too close for photos too. These birds come down tired after a long journey over the Gulf of Mexico. They don’t mind coming near you if they see a meal. Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44615359.

     Light was fading and I quickly drove to the nearby Birding Center to be heartbroken. The boardwalk was completely broken a little after it started. I had great closeup views of a couple of feeding Least Bitterns here last year. The clump of trees at the place where we see the Warblers and Vireos were gone. There were only two or three trees in that whole section. Last time, under these trees I saw a Wood Thrush and Veery during sunset. Now, nothing would ever come here! A lone Yellow-throated Warbler over a tree top was the only interesting bird - https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44615728. I have good memories of this place - been here once during winter, once during spring. Spring is the best for migration - my first Philadelphia Vireo (saw three) was here. Acadian Flycatcher was relaxing at eye-level and stayed at that spot for a few hours. Virginia Rail offered good looks here. My first Golden-winged Warbler was here...

     I took the ferry and headed to ATX after a wonderful calm evening of enjoying birds! Just like the last time when I came here, I had no expectations, no listing goals, and ended up enjoying the birds!