Also notable: Flocks of 200+ Pectoral Sandpipers have been foraging in freshly flushed rice - which appears to be crucial drought relief and perfect timing for the Texas coastal plain. Even better, today's unexpected steady rain just might expand habitat a bit longer, right as the Buffies arrive!

For the past few weeks, several thousand Sandhill Cranes have used a small complex of managed freshwater wetlands. Yesterday, I went for a peek. These inland wetlands are on private working lands along the midcoast of Texas, the same I monitor for shorebird use during migration. Beautiful to see.