BIRDSOF

S H E L D O N L A K ES T A T E P A R KAND ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

A FIELD CHECKLIST

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

2007

Cover: Illustration of Great Blue Heron by Rob Fleming.

January 2007

INTRODUCTION

Sheldon Lake State Park (SLSP) is just 16 miles east ofdowntown Houston’s Tranquility Park, as the crow flies.During a workweek, trucks and trains bustle past SLSP going

to or from gravel pits, tube fabricators and pipeline companies.Daily commuter and family traffic ebbs and flows by. A few thousandfeet overhead, airliners and corporate jets approach and depart fromBush International, the nation’s ninth-busiest airport, in a constantstream to places near and far. The activity of the country’s third-largest county and fourth-largest metropolitan area reach right toSLSP’s boundaries. Urban activity is a matter of perspective.

Tranquility may seem unattainable around the park, butinside its 2,700 acres, things are different. Time is measured inseasons. Congestion comes from rafts of waterfowl moving pastone another to roost or feed in the shallow or deep parts of thelake. From thousands of feet overhead, flocks of shorebirdson their seasonal run across continents drop onto the prairiewetlands. The annual nesting activity on the lake’s spoil islandsis hectic and nonstop.

Sheldon Lake has provided quality habitat for a wide varietyof birds since it was created in 1942 as a reservoir for refineriescritical to the war effort. The source of the lake is CarpentersBayou, and park property extends north along its main drainage.There are 800 acres of open water and hundreds of acres of cypressswamp and marsh. The rest of the park, several hundred acreseast of the lake, is composed of coastal prairie and bottomlandwoods. SLSP is a microcosm of Upper Texas Coast (UTC) habitats.The diversity of flora and fauna in the park attracts and holdsnearly 250 bird species.

Surrounding the naturalized hatchery ponds of the Environ-mental Learning Center (ELC) are typical bottomland trees andshrubs preferred by woodland birds whether migratory, residentor wintering. In the wet prairie potholes, waterfowl, waders andshorebirds forage among pickerelweed and wapato. Winter grassesand forbs attract over a dozen sparrow and wren species. Amongthe reeds and vegetation mats along the lake edge in spring,

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nesting Purple Gallinule and Least Bittern prowl. All year long overthe lake is the constant traffic of seabirds, gulls, terns and theoccasional pelican, typical of the UTC.

When birding the park, it is important always to stay awareof your surroundings. Do not bird from the immediate roadshoulder. Find one of the pull-offs or parking lots and park. SLSPhas no controlled access. Secure your vehicle and belongings.Alligators and poisonous snakes like Eastern Cottonmouth can befound anywhere at anytime in the park. Watch for and avoid them.Always be aware of your step on the fishing peers.

This revision of the Birds of Sheldon Lake State Park andEnvironmental Learning Center checklist was started in January2001 and finished after the spring migration of 2006. The goal ofthe revision was to provide birders of all skill levels with a helpful,accurate depiction of SLSP birding possibilities. A challenge indeveloping a checklist on the UTC is the annual fluctuations anddensity of bird species. Therefore, a five-year project period allowedfor better determination of bird activity in the park. Many more birdspecies found on the UTC but not listed are certainly possible here.

Damien F. Carey compiled this checklist revision with thehelp of dedicated birders who regularly walked every corner of thepark, in every season, under every condition, recording the usualand chasing down the unusual birds. SLSP was fortunate to haveJohn Bregar, a top birder in the area, provide reports, expertiseand insight. Other birders who assisted included Caroline Carey,Chris Litherland, Nancy and Donny Fisher, and Ricci and DonDeibert. The members of the Friends of Sheldon Lake (FOSL) andLake Houston Area Nature Club contributed many sightings fromtheir regular visits and field trips. Nomenclature and organizationfor this checklist follow the seventh edition of the AmericanOrnithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds ascurrently supplemented.

In addition to the reports of individual birders, there weretwo great sources for this checklist: the Lake Houston AreaChristmas Bird Count from 1999–2006 and the Sheldon LakeTexas Colonial Waterbird Census for 2001–2006.

The birders who contributed to this checklist revision learneda great deal from their effort. The best lesson they learned was that

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on any given day, in any season, birding SLSP can be asrewarding as anywhere else on the UTC.

SLSP Superintendent Robert Comstock and InterpretiveSpecialist Tom Olson instigated this checklist revision. The effortwould not have been possible without their encouragement andsupport. Park Ranger Rick Spivey contributed his intimate knowl-edge of the park and technical assistance that greatly assisted theeffort. SLSP staff’s stewardship of the park inspired everyone. Thischecklist is dedicated to the SLSP and SLELC staff.

For current information about birding SLSP, visitwww.foslsp.org for recent sightings, or e-mail birding@foslsp.org.Report sightings of unlisted and rare species to the SLSP staff.

Please help us protect the natural avian communities in ourparks by refraining from using playback recordings of birdsongs. Frequent use of recordings disrupts normal avianactivity patterns, disrupts essential territorial behavior andmay lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation.

LEGEND

Seasonal Occurrence

Sp – Spring (March, April, May)S – Summer (June, July, August)F – Fall (September, October, November)W – Winter (December, January, February)

Abundance Designations

A – Abundant: hard to missC – Common: should be possible to find on most outingsU – Uncommon: present but might not be found on every outingO – Occasional: only one or two reported per seasonR – Rare: not expected every year

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CHECKLIST

Sp S F W

___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck .................. A A A C___ Fulvous Whistling-Duck ................................. O___ Greater White-fronted Goose ....................... U C C___ Snow Goose ..................................................... U C A___ Ross’s Goose .................................................... R R O___ Cackling Goose ............................................... R___ Canada Goose ................................................. R O___ Wood Duck .................................................... C C C C___ Gadwall ............................................................ O U C___ American Wigeon ........................................... O O U___ Mallard ............................................................. C U A___ Mottled Duck ................................................ U O O O___ Blue-winged Teal ......................................... C C C A___ Northern Shoveler ......................................... U U A___ Northern Pintail .............................................. C R O C___ Green-winged Teal ......................................... U A___ Canvasback ...................................................... O O U___ Redhead ........................................................... R___ Ring-necked Duck ........................................... O U C___ Greater Scaup .................................................. O___ Lesser Scaup .................................................... O C___ Common Goldeneye ...................................... R___ Ruddy Duck ..................................................... R O___ Northern Bobwhite ........................................ R R___ Pied-billed Grebe ............................................ U C___ American White Pelican ................................ R R U U___ Brown Pelican ................................................. O___ Neotropical Cormorant ............................ A U U U___ Double-crested Cormorant ........................... U R C A___ Anhinga .......................................................... A C C C___ American Bittern ............................................ R R O___ Least Bittern ................................................. O___ Great Blue Heron ........................................ A C C C

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Sp S F W

___ Great Egret .................................................... A C C C___ Snowy Egret .................................................. A C C U___ Little Blue Heron ......................................... A C C U___ Tricolored Heron ........................................ C C U U___ Reddish Egret .................................................. R O___ Cattle Egret .................................................... A A C R___ Green Heron ................................................. A U___ Black-crowned Night-Heron .................... U C U U___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron .................. A A C U___ White Ibis ....................................................... A A A A___ Glossy Ibis ....................................................... R___ White-faced Ibis ........................................... U O___ Roseate Spoonbill ....................................... C U U C___ Wood Stork ..................................................... R___ Black Vulture ................................................ C C C C___ Turkey Vulture ............................................. C C C C___ Osprey ............................................................. U U C C___ White-tailed Kite ............................................. R R___ Mississippi Kite ............................................... O O___ Bald Eagle ........................................................ R R U U___ Northern Harrier ............................................ O U___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ...................................... R R___ Cooper’s Hawk ................................................ R O R___ Red-shouldered Hawk ............................... A C C C___ Broad-winged Hawk ...................................... R U___ Swainson’s Hawk ............................................ U R___ Red-tailed Hawk .......................................... U U U C___ Crested Caracara ............................................ R___ American Kestrel ............................................ O C___ Merlin ............................................................... R___ Peregrine Falcon ............................................. R R O___ Yellow Rail ...................................................... R___ Sora ................................................................... O___ Purple Gallinule .......................................... U R___ Common Moorhen ..................................... A A O R

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Sp S F W

___ American Coot ................................................ U U C A___ Sandhill Crane ................................................ R___ Black-bellied Plover ....................................... O R O O___ American Golden-Plover ............................... R___ Wilson’s Plover ............................................... R___ Semipalmated Plover ..................................... R___ Killdeer ........................................................... A A C A___ Black-necked Stilt ........................................... O O O O___ American Avocet ............................................. R R___ Spotted Sandpiper .......................................... U C___ Solitary Sandpiper .......................................... O R___ Greater Yellowlegs ......................................... O C___ Lesser Yellowlegs ........................................... O C___ Upland Sandpiper .......................................... O___ Hudsonian Godwit ......................................... R___ Marbled Godwit .............................................. R___ Ruddy Turnstone ............................................ R R___ Sanderling ........................................................ U R U___ Semipalmated Sandpiper .............................. R R R___ Western Sandpiper ......................................... O R R___ Least Sandpiper .............................................. C U C___ White-rumped Sandpiper .............................. O___ Baird’s Sandpiper ........................................... U___ Pectoral Sandpiper ......................................... U___ Buff-breasted Sandpiper ................................ O___ Short-billed Dowitcher .................................. O O___ Long-billed Dowitcher ................................... O U___ Wilson’s Snipe ................................................. U U U___ American Woodcock ...................................... R R___ Wilson’s Phalarope ........................................ O___ Laughing Gull .................................................. C C C A___ Franklin’s Gull ................................................ R O___ Ring-billed Gull ............................................... A A A A___ Herring Gull .................................................... C C C C___ Least Tern ........................................................ U U O O

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Sp S F W

___ Caspian Tern ................................................... U U U U___ Forster’s Tern .................................................. U C C C___ Royal Tern ....................................................... U U U U___ Sandwich Tern ................................................ R R___ Rock Pigeon .................................................. C C C C___ White-winged Dove ..................................... R R R R___ Mourning Dove ............................................ C C C C___ Inca Dove ....................................................... U U U U___ Monk Parakeet ................................................ R R___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo ................................. U U___ Barn Owl ........................................................ C C C C___ Eastern Screech-Owl .................................. U U U U___ Great Horned Owl ....................................... U U U U___ Barred Owl .................................................... C C C C___ Common Nighthawk ...................................... R O___ Chimney Swift .............................................. C C___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird ................. C C U___ Black-chinned Hummingbird ........................ U U___ Belted Kingfisher ............................................ U U C___ Red-headed Woodpecker ......................... O O O O___ Red-bellied Woodpecker .......................... C C C C___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker .............................. U O___ Downy Woodpecker ................................... C C C C___ Hairy Woodpecker ......................................... R___ Northern Flicker ............................................. U O___ Pileated Woodpecker ................................ U U U___ Olive-sided Flycatcher .................................... R___ Eastern Wood-Pewee ..................................... U___ Acadian Flycatcher ..................................... O___ Willow Flycatcher ........................................... R___ Least Flycatcher .............................................. O___ Eastern Phoebe ............................................... U C___ Vermilion Flycatcher ...................................... U___ Ash-throated Flycatcher ................................. U___ Great Crested Flycatcher .......................... U

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Sp S F W

___ Great Kiskadee ................................................ R___ Eastern Kingbird ......................................... U___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher .......................... C C U___ Loggerhead Shrike ..................................... C C C C___ White-eyed Vireo ......................................... C U___ Yellow-throated Vireo ................................... O___ Blue-headed Vireo .......................................... U U___ Warbling Vireo ................................................ R___ Philadelphia Vireo ......................................... O___ Red-eyed Vireo ................................................ C___ Blue Jay ........................................................... C C C C___ American Crow ............................................ A C C A___ Fish Crow ......................................................... R R O O___ Purple Martin ............................................... C C U___ Tree Swallow ................................................... C U R___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow ................ U U R___ Cliff Swallow ................................................. C U___ Cave Swallow .................................................. R R___ Barn Swallow ............................................... A A___ Carolina Chickadee .................................... C C C C___ Tufted Titmouse .......................................... C C C C___ Brown Creeper ............................................... R R___ Carolina Wren .............................................. C C C C___ Bewick’s Wren ................................................ R___ House Wren ..................................................... U___ Winter Wren .................................................... O___ Sedge Wren ................................................... U C___ Marsh Wren .................................................. C U U U___ Golden-crowned Kinglet ............................... O O___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ................................... U C___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ................................... U U C___ Eastern Bluebird ......................................... C C C___ Gray-cheeked Thrush ..................................... R___ Swainson’s Thrush ......................................... O___ Hermit Thrush ................................................ U C

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Sp S F W

___ Wood Thrush ................................................ O O___ American Robin .............................................. O U U___ Gray Catbird .................................................... U U C___ Northern Mockingbird .............................. A C C A___ Brown Thrasher ............................................. U U___ Water Pipit ....................................................... U U C___ Cedar Waxwing .............................................. U U___ European Starling ....................................... A A A A___ Blue-winged Warbler ..................................... R___ Tennessee Warbler ......................................... C___ Orange-crowned Warbler .............................. U C___ Nashville Warbler ........................................... U U C___ Northern Parula .............................................. C___ Yellow Warbler ............................................... C___ Chestnut-sided Warbler ................................. U O___ Magnolia Warbler ........................................... U O___ Yellow-rumped Warbler ................................ C A___ Black-throated Green Warbler ..................... U___ Blackburnian Warbler ................................... U___ Yellow-throated Warbler ............................... U___ Pine Warbler ................................................... C C C C___ Palm Warbler .................................................. R R___ Bay-breasted Warbler .................................... O___ Blackpoll Warbler .......................................... R___ Black-and-white Warbler ............................... U R___ American Redstart .......................................... O___ Prothonotary Warbler ................................... C R R___ Worm-eating Warbler .................................... O___ Ovenbird .......................................................... O___ Northern Waterthrush ................................... U R___ Louisiana Waterthrush .................................. U O___ Kentucky Warbler .......................................... O___ Connecticut Warbler ...................................... R___ Mourning Warbler .......................................... O___ Common Yellowthroat .............................. C U U

Sp S F W

___ Hooded Warbler ............................................. U___ Wilson’s Warbler ............................................ O R___ Canada Warbler .............................................. R___ Yellow-breasted Chat ..................................... O___ Summer Tanager ........................................ U___ Scarlet Tanager ............................................... O___ Eastern Towhee .............................................. R O___ Chipping Sparrow .......................................... O U___ Field Sparrow .................................................. O___ Vesper Sparrow .............................................. U___ Lark Sparrow ................................................... R___ Savannah Sparrow ......................................... C C A___ Grasshopper Sparrow .................................... R___ Le Conte’s Sparrow ........................................ U___ Fox Sparrow .................................................... U___ Song Sparrow .................................................. U___ Lincoln’s Sparrow ........................................... U U___ Swamp Sparrow .......................................... U U C___ White-throated Sparrow ................................ U C___ White-crowned Sparrow ............................... R U___ Dark-eyed Junco ............................................. R___ Northern Cardinal ...................................... A A C C___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak ................................ U___ Blue Grosbeak ................................................. U U___ Indigo Bunting ................................................ C U___ Painted Bunting .............................................. U U___ Dickcissel ......................................................... U___ Red-winged Blackbird ............................... A A A A___ Eastern Meadowlark .................................. C C C C___ Rusty Blackbird ............................................... R___ Common Grackle ........................................ A C A C___ Great-tailed Grackle ................................... A C A A___ Brown-headed Cowbird ............................ U R U___ Orchard Oriole ............................................ C C___ Baltimore Oriole ............................................. U

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Sp S F W

___ House Finch .................................................. U U U___ Pine Siskin ....................................................... R___ American Goldfinch ....................................... C U A___ House Sparrow ............................................ C C C C

bold = nesting species

Density of Bird Species by Season

Sp S F W

Abundant 23 11 7 19

Common 45 38 40 53

Uncommon 62 14 46 40

Occasional 39 4 18 24

Rare 38 13 14 35___ ___ ___ ___207 80 125 171

CITATIONCarey, Damien F. June 2006. Birds of Sheldon Lake State Parkand Environmental Learning Center: A Field Checklist. NaturalResources Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

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In 1983, the Texas Legislature created the Special Nongame andEndangered Species Conservation Fund. This fund may be used fornongame wildlife and endangered species research andconservation, habitat acquisition and development anddissemination of information pertaining to nongame management.Money for this fund is obtained through private donations and saleof nongame wildlife art prints and stamps. This fund now givesTexans a unique opportunity to help support this state’s valuableand sensitive nongame resources. Your individual contributionsand purchases of nongame art prints and stamps will helpdetermine the level of nongame conservation activities in Texas.For more information call toll-free (1-800-792-1112) or contact:Nongame and Endangered Species Program, Texas Parksand Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin,Texas 78744.

Natural Resources ProgramTexas Parks and Wildlife Department

4200 Smith School RoadAustin, Texas 78744

© 2007 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BK P4504-138D (1/07)In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at theTexas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.