tomshaughnessy's Favourites

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

6 August 2020
Avondale Park
Denton, Denton County, Texas

This bird spent some time foraging in Cooper Creek and along its muddy bank and actually caught and ate at least three worms and/or small fish or both while we observed it. It gave us the opportunity to take a few. We'd been photographing damselflies and the bird landed next to us. We followed it for as long as we could before it took its leave. Most notable was its bobbing walk in which either end went up and down in turns with its tail pointing skyward per the rhythm of its hunt.
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"The contrasting white (not pale buffy) eyebrow getting thicker behind the eye as well as the buffy flanks suggests Louisiana Waterthrush. A good view of the throat would help, but I'm leaning toward Louisiana. Most Northerns come through Texas later in the fall while this is a typical time for Louisianas."--Greg Lasley @greglasley , on a different Louisiana Waterthrush ID in Denton County, Texas, July 20, 2018. See: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16063779

"In addition to the buffy flanks contrasting with the white breast, the streaking doesn't seem dense enough for a Northern."--P. Sweet @psweet , on a different Louisiana Waterthrush ID in Denton County, Texas, July 20, 2018. See: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16063779

Also, compare the two waterthrushes found in Denton County, Texas, on All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Louisiana_Waterthrush/species-compare/

Finally, note the pink to reddish legs of the Louisiana Waterthrush versus those of the Northern Waterthrush, distinctive apparently, according to All About Birds, who state: "The legs are bright pink." See: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Louisiana_Waterthrush/id

Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)

18 April 2020
Denton County, Texas

Female Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon) nectaring on Common Vetch (Vicia sativa).

See Butterflies of America, for dorsal view: https://butterfliesofamerica.com/poanes_zabulon_live1.htm

See Butterflies of America, for ventral view: https://butterfliesofamerica.com/poanes_zabulon_live2.htm

This is the first iNat record of Zabulon Skipper for Denton County, Texas: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=1862&subview=table&taxon_id=1081329