September summary, Marathon, TX

This list reflects observations made in/around Marathon, TX, including Post Park, during September 2010 to the best of our recollection. Species are considered common unless otherwise noted. Locations indicate place(s) of observation.

Scaled Quail - Marathon Motel, road to Post Park
Wild Turkey - Post Park
Turkey Vulture - several seasonally fluctuating roosts around town
Osprey - Hwy 90
Cooper's Hawk - riparian area along train tracks on the west side of town
Broad-winged Hawk - NE side of town (late Sept.)
Swainson's Hawk - Hwy 90
Zone-tailed Hawk - Post Park (juv. seen Sept. 5 - see photo at the end of the post)
Red-tailed Hawk - Hwy 90
American Kestrel - Hwy 90
Aplomado Falcon* - young birds from release site east of town
American Coot - resident at Post Park
Upland Sandpiper - abundant nocturnal migrant
Rock Pigeon - one flock in town
Eurasian Collared-Dove - abundant in town
White-winged Dove - abundant in town
Mourning Dove - road to Post Park
Inca Dove - abundant in town
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Post Park
Lesser Nighthawk - edges of town
Common Nighthawk - edges of town
Black-chinned Hummingbird - feeders in town
Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Post Park
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - around town
Northern Flicker - newly arrived migrant
Black Phoebe - Post Park
Say's Phoebe - Post Park, Marathon Motel
Vermillion Flycatcher - Post Park, some yards in town
Ash-throated Flycatcher - few lingering in town, most departed
Cassin's Kingbird - around town
Western Kingbird - few lingering in town, most departed
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - young have departed, adults still moving through
Loggerhead Shrike - Marathon Motel
Bell's Vireo - Post Park
Chihuahuan Raven - edges of town (flyovers)
Common Raven - edges of town (flyovers)
Barn Swallow - massing for migration
Cliff Swallow - around town, Marathon Motel
Cave Swallow - Hwy 90 wash near Alpine
Cactus Wren - around town, Marathon Motel
Canyon Wren - Post Park
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - Post Park, Marathon Motel
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - around town, Marathon Motel
Northern Mockingbird - around town
Curve-billed Thrasher - around town
European Starling - around town
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Post Park, Marathon Motel
Wilson's Warbler - Marathon Motel, Post Park
Spotted Towhee - one heard in town
Canyon Towhee - around town
Cassin's Sparrow - edges of town
Field Sparrow - Post Park
Lark Sparrow - around town
Black-throated Sparrow - edges of town
Lark Bunting - edges of town (flyovers)
White-crowned Sparrow - one heard at Post Park
Summer Tanager - Post Park, around town
Western Tanager - Post Park, around town
Northern Cardinal - around town
Pyrrhuloxia - around town
Blue Grosbeak - road to Post Park
Painted Bunting - Post Park
Eastern Meadowlark - road to Post Park
Yellow-headed Blackbird - NE side of town, Hwy 90 near Alpine
Brewer's Blackbird - new arrivals around town
Great-tailed Grackle - around town in decreasing numbers
Brown-headed Cowbird - around town in decreasing numbers
Scott's Oriole - NE side of town
House Finch - around town, Marathon Motel
Lesser Goldfinch - around town, Post Park
American Goldfinch - Post Park
House Sparrow - around town



(Zone-tailed Hawk, photo by Heidi Trudell)

Notably absent:
Most hummingbirds (Ruby-throated and Rufous) migrated through in the last two weeks of August, so none other than Black-chinned were observed in September. Orioles, other than Scott's, seem to have departed in August. Barn Owls and Great Horned Owls were not heard in the evenings, Bronzed Cowbirds departed in August and the only shorebird migrants noted were Upland Sandpipers in decreasing numbers.

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