Charadrius hiaticula semipalmatus Bonaparte: Ringed Plover.—We have a single record, an adult male (38913, testis 2 × 1 mm., heavy fat, 47.0 gm., 4 P old) taken on a sandbar at Camp 2 on July 9. The bird was feeding in company with a flock of Sanderlings.
There is no previous record of the Ringed Plover in Tamaulipas. In Texas, Hagar and Packard (1952:8) indicate that the first autumnal migrants reach the central Gulf coast in the last week of July. In coastal México, the species has previously been recorded from August 23 to May 12 (Mexican Check-list, 1950:91). Therefore, the present record must represent an exceptionally early southbound migrant, or, more probably, a nonbreeding, summering individual. According to the A.O.U. Check-list (1957:166), nonbreeding birds are found in summer in coastal areas south to California, Panamá, and Florida. Many individuals spend the northern summer along the coast of Surinam (Haverschmidt, 1955:336).
Charadrius wilsonia wilsonia Ord: Wilson Plover.—This small plover breeds commonly on the beach and on alkaline flats adjacent to the laguna. Previous evidence of breeding in Tamaulipas consisted only of a report of a male with brood patches and an enlarged testis taken near Tamós on May 30, 1947 (Loetscher, 1955:26).
We saw many pairs of adults and a large number of well-grown juveniles, and, at a point 4 miles south of Washington Beach, we collected a brood of three small juveniles that had only recently hatched. The breeding season apparently was drawing to a close, for several adults in our collection were in postnuptial molt and showed marked gonadal regression. From July 6 to 9, a few small groups of birds were noted, but large groups were not seen until July 10, when several flocks of up to 60 individuals were found along the coast 3 to 7 miles south of Washington Beach.
Specimens (12): ♂, 38904, testis 4.5 × 2 mm., 58 gm., 3 P old, brood patches refeathering; ♂, 38905, testis 5 × 2 mm., 59 gm., 4 P old, brood patches refeathering; ♂ juv., 38903, 6.2 gm.; 2 sex?, 38901, 38902, 5.7 and 6.2 gm., 4 miles south of Washington Beach, July 6. Male, 38907, testis 5 × 2 mm., 56 gm., 7 P old, brood patches refeathering; ♀, 38906, ova to 1 mm., 61 gm., 3 P old, brood patches refeathering; ♀ juv., 38908, ovary inactive, 54 gm., in body molt; Camp 1, July 6. Male, 38910, testis 6 × 3 mm., 60 gm., 4 P old; ♀, 38909, ova to 1 mm., 57 gm., 4 P old, brood patches refeathering; Camp 1, July 8. Male, 38911, testis 2 × 1 mm., 55 gm.; juv., 38912, no weight or sex recorded; Camp 2, July 9.
Numenius americanus parvus Bishop: Long-billed Curlew.—Lone individuals and groups of two to five were noted occasionally along the beach each day. In total, some 30 to 50 birds were counted, but some individuals may have been recorded more than once on different days. Specimens (2): ♂, 38918, testis 4 mm., some fat, 459 gm., Camp 2, July 9; ♀, 38933, ova to 1 mm., no weight recorded, Camp 2, July 8.
Our assumption that some or all individuals seen by us were nonbreeding, summering birds is supported by the fact that our specimens are referable to the small, northwestern subspecies, N. a. parvus, rather than to N. a. americanus; the latter breeds south in the eastern United States to south-central Texas (A.O.U. Check-list, 1957:181). Loetscher (1955:27) saw a flock of 39 curlews near Tamós on June 30, and he notes that nonbreeding birds are fairly common at all seasons in Veracruz. Similarly, the species is present throughout the year on the central Gulf coast of Texas (Hagar and Packard, 1952:8). Authors of the Mexican Check-list (1950:94) do not mention the possibility that birds of this species recorded in México in July are summering rather than migrating. Twelve supposed migrants seen along Laguna Chila (Cacalilao), Veracruz, by Coffey (1960:291) on May 31, 1957, may have been summering birds.
Limosa fedoa (Linnaeus): Marbled Godwit.—Three were seen in shallow waters of the laguna at Camp 2 on July 9. Specimen: ♂, 38919, testis 6 × 2 mm., fat, 305 gm., 6 P old, Camp 2, July 9. Probably our records were of nonbreeding birds, which are known to occur in summer elsewhere in México (Mexican Check-list, 1950:94), sparingly in Texas (Hagar and Packard, 1952:8), and in South Carolina (A.O.U. Check-list, 1957:205). Apparently the only record for this species in Veracruz is one seen on May 11, 1954, east of Cacalilao (Coffey, 1960:292).
Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin): Greater Yellowlegs.—Three birds were seen on alkaline flats at Camp 1 on July 7, and two were noted at Camp 2 on July 9. There is one previous report of this species in Tamaulipas, and, since it has been recorded as a migrant and winter resident in México between July 26 and April 26 (Mexican Check-list, 1950:95), our records seem to pertain to unusually early autumnal migrants or, possibly, to nonbreeding, summering birds. Other mid-summer records are available from Tamós on June 30 and July 1, and the species is "to be expected every month of the year" in Veracruz (Loetscher, 1955:27). Sight records for Veracruz in May (Coffey, 1960:291) may well pertain to summering birds. There are northern-summer records for this species from Texas (Hagar and Packard, 1952:8), Surinam (Haverschmidt, 1955:367), and other areas within the winter range of this yellowlegs (A.O.U. Check-list, 1957:190).
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus Gmelin: Willet.—The Willet was common on the island. We found evidence of breeding and also saw large flocks of birds that were either nonbreeders summering in the area or early, postbreeding migrants from more northerly places. All along the beach and at the edge of the laguna at both camps we found Willets in twos or threes, often accompanied by one or two Black-bellied Plovers. On July 10 a small juvenile was captured; two adults in breeding plumage evidenced obvious concern at this action. On July 6 a flock of 30 birds flew east over Camp 1, and a flock of 90 was seen flying south over Camp 1 on July 7.