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BIRD TRACKS

Birding in Bali

by Suzanne Miller

My husband and I spent ten day in mid-April in Bali, Indonesia, a beautiful tropical island characterized by terraced rice fields and Hindu temples. At Sanur Beach, we spotted Yellow-vented Bulbuls and Sooty-headed Bulbuls in the palms. We also saw many Scaly-breasted Munias. At Ulu Watu Temple, near the coast, we spotted a soaring White-bellied Fish-eagle that frightened a flock of Spotted doves. We then drove to Ubud, a thriving artists' colony. Here we signed up for the famous Bali Bird Walk, sponsereci by Victor Mason, local birding expert and owner of the Beggar's Bush Restaurant and Pub. My husband and I were the only ones that day to participate. Before we left with our Balinese guide, Sue, a large Komodo dragon was seen perched several yards away at the top of a 100-foot tree.

The sought-after-bird-of-the-day was the Javan Kingfisher, a brightly colored medium-sized kingfisher who likes to hang out near the rice fields. Our walk took us to rice fields dotted with coconut palms, banana trees, and other tropical trees and bushes. Our first sighting was a colony of Streaked Weavers contructing nest on the leaves of a coconut palm. We saw Javan Pond-herons, a Ruddy-breasted crake, and a Collared kingfisher. We viewed White-bellied Swiftlets, a Fork-tailed Swift and an Asian Palm Swift, along with Barn, Pacific, and Striated Swallows. The Pied Bushchat, Javan Munia, Bar-winged Prinia, Zitting Cisticola, and Golden-headed Cisticola were spotted in the rice fields. We also saw the Indonesian version of a hummingbird, the Brown-throated Sunbird and the Olive-backed Sunbird., As we walked along a river gorge, dense with trees and undergrowth, we saw the beautiful Javan Kingfisher with its bright orange-red bill and feet, russet head, violet back and bright turquoise and black wings. We got a good look at it perched in a tree and later saw a number of them fly over a section office field and perch on poles and tree snags. Back at the Beggar's Bush, we saw the Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker and the Common Iora.

Just before sunset, we headed for the village of Petulu, renowned for the thousands of birds who roost there at night. The four varities that mingle there are the Javan Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret and Intermediate Egret. It is quite a sight to see theses birds fly in and jokey for position in the trees. The only bird endemic to Bali, the Bali Starling, is endangered and its natural habitat is now protected by the Bali Bird Park. It would have been a great bird to see in the wild, but I did see a pair caged at the Park. It is a beautiful bird (quite unlike our common and unpopulaar European Starlings), with its white body and crested head, royal blue mask, and black-tipped wings and tail.

I would recommend the Fielding Guide, Birding in Indonesia, for information about birding sites and A FieM Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Bali, by MacKinnon and Phillips, a well-done (and pricey $55) comprehensive field guide.

by Hugh Gillilan

During the week of April 24 - May l, may wife Jan, sone David and I were most fortunate to be able to explore the fabled Galveston, Texas, area during Spring Migration. The trip was long anticipated and certainly met our high expectations. In addition to birding extensively around Galveston Island and Texas City, we also made two trips to High Island with side trips to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and Bolivar Flats. Our explorations rewarded us with 154 species including 60 lifers for our son, whose previous birding had been done primarily in western states. He doesn't think he will equal that record again in the continental U.S., given the duplication factor. New to him were many of the eastern birds including such warblers as Golden-winged, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Cerulean, Pronthonotary, Worm-eating, and Hooded. By species our list included: warblers, 19; vireos, 5: herons and egrets, 12; shorebirds, 23; and terns, 6. Having spent my youth and some young adulthood birding in the Midwest, most of the birds were not new to me with some having been seen over 50 years ago, but all were joyfully seen again as old friends not seen again as old friends not seen for a long time. I did, however, manage to add 10 lifers to my North American list.

The three wooded areas at High Island managed by the Houston Audubon Society are fabulous to explore during migration. As one birding commentator has said, even a poor day at High Island would be a good birding day anywhere else. While we did not witness any fallout that High Island is famous for (and the birds were surely thankful for the that!), we did have many visual treats including 4 Scarlet Tanagers in one bhlocular field of vision at Pm'key's Pond. Seated in the small pond side bleachers we also savored many of the earlier mentioned warblers and vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, thrushes, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Catbirds. At the island rookery in Smith Oaks Sanmary at High Island we were mazed to see at close range hundreds of nesting Roseate Spoonbills, herons (6 species), egrets (3 species), and two species of nesting Cormorants, all filling every available tree and bush, with nests and nestlings in varying stages of development. The area was so crowded that some bids were literally walking on one another! The rookery is said to be so prolific, because the alligators patrolling the waters around the little island discourage marauding raccoons and coyotes.

In visiting a new area it is always interesting to note expected bird not seen. Among the thousands of birds observed over a week's time there was not a single Robin! And only on the last day of our sojourn did we finally see on pair of Mallards ( Mottled Sucks are much more prolific in that area).

In conclusion, I can't recommend too highly a visit to the upper Texas coast during migration or

any other part of the Gulf coast that yet beckons to us for future trips.

P.S. At the Audubon Society information booth at High Island, we picked up a little mystery featuring the locale and bird watchers, written by English author Ann Cieeves, titles High Island Blues. It is an entertaining read.

by Carol Gwynn

I spent a delightful week in southeast Arizona. I expected 90's, since that's what my trusty Internet research had shown. Most days, the temps were in the 70's, with very cool temperatures in the evenings and early mornings. As with my last visit, the favorite place was Portal. We spent 3 days there, and saw literally hundreds of hummingbirds often different species. There is currently a drought in the area, and there is little natural food for the hummers. So they are coming into feeders in droves. Besides the usual broadtails and Black-chins, it was a treat to see everything from Calliope to Costa's to Anna's to Broad-billed to Magnificent.

The next most abundant groups of birds were the orioles and tanagers. One can never see too many Western Tanagers, and we saw them everywhere. The Scott's and Hooded Orioles were also spectacular. We spent several evening owling, and were treated to great looks at two Elf Owls in Madera Canyon. One of them was NOT happy about being in a light, and he or she kept turning around and putting his/her back to us. Also in Ivladera Canyon, the Acorn Woodpeckers were everywhere. Frequently, I had four peckers in my binocular field of view at the same time. The trees were also thick with Black-headed Grosbeaks.

We made the obligatory trip to the Patoh's feeders on afternoon, and their yard was awash with birds. We were greeted by a male Vermillion Flycatcher as we drove up. In the yard were the usual hummers, and Lark and Song Sparrows, Orioles, Cardinals, Lazuli Buntings, Green-tailed Towhees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Western Tanagers, and even baby Great Blue Heron visible in a rookery a short distance behind the yard.

The Patagonia area was also wonderful for raptors. We watched both Black and Turkey Vultures, and saw 3 Zone-tail Hawks. Also, there were 3 Gray Hawks at King Springs, that we watched through a scope. Four Hams's Hawks were along the phone poles in the San Simon Valley, outside of Portal. The frosting on the cake was the Elegant Trogon in Cave Creek Canyon. What a Bird!

One of the impressive moments on the trip was the visit to a home that had a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake also visiting that morning. The rattler was coiled up under a little bush close to a bird feeder. The camouflage that snake displayed was amazing. It blended perfectly with its surroundings.

In the cute birds deparunents, the winner had to be the Wilson's Warblers, Red-faced Warblers and Hermit Warblers. It was great fun to watch those colorful little guys. What a great Trip!

Saturday, June 5th - 6:30 AM - Uinta Basis and Ouray NWR

Tuesday, June 22nd -Salt Lake Birders Summer Social

Saturday, June 26st - 7:00 - Willard Bay State Park and Campgrounds

Saturday, July 10th - Big Cottonwood Canyon and Brighton Bird Count

Great Bear River Bird Festival June 5

Great Salt Lake Audubon Bluebird Box Count June 12

Bald Eagle Watch June 16, 17 and 19