Jon McIntyre's Winter Swainson's Thrush

Today (15 Jan 2009) Jon McIntyre found and photographed a Swainson's Thrush at Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond in Port Aransas. To the best of our knowledge this is the first documented record of this migrant species in winter in our state. Although this species has been reported on a number of occasions in winter (such as from the CBCs), this is the first time that similar species (such as western Hermit) can be definitively ruled out. Also of interest was a Yellow Warbler seen by Jon at the Port Aransas Turnbull Birding Center.

Jon has given us permission to publish this photograph of the bird along with this note. Thanks, Jon, and congratulations on the great find!