Lots o' photos on this post, so I'll just say that this is Causeway Rookery, or Rookery Island, depending on who you talk to. It's in the Nueces bay, ...only way to get a good view of it all is to drive UNDER the bridge and park on the shoreline, or by boat. It's highly protected, and a zoom lens [or a scope] is a must to even get a good glimpse of what's on the island. I took my new zoom lens out for a test one Sunday...that explains the 'blurry' images... and we went under the causeway bridge, to view the rookery. There are supposedly 15 species of birds that use this area for hatching their families. We spotted terns of all sorts, herons, egrets, spoonbills, seagulls, pelicans, skimmers and more. Some chicks are visible in the nests, if you choose to enlarge the photos...also, when you notice the adult heron with wings open on nesting areas, they are protecting their chicks from the scorching sunlight....I'm assuming. I want to go back and do some more testing and perhaps get better views. The early morning light wasn't very good, but here they are:
My favorite today...the sweet juvenile G B Heron Chick waiting for mama to feed...
Also, there is a web cam situated on the island, if you'd like to watch the live stream, there is a graphic link for the 'action'...scroll down to after the postings here.
Now, share your birding experiences:
or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
Even from a distance it appears quite populated.
ReplyDeleteHi Anni, what an awesome spot to see the rookery and birds. The Spoonbills and Pelicans are some of my favorites. They have a safe spot to nest. Great post! Thanks for hosting, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great place for bird watching!
ReplyDeleteWow - a great place for watching these birds. Interesting to see as we don't have them in the UK! Thanks for sharing, J9 x
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! I don't even remember hearing about this place when we stayed in the area .... Thanks, I just love knowing it is there and really appreciate the pics... Love that hungry young heron!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to be the birding paparazzi and get great photos.
ReplyDeletelots of herons and pelicans!
ReplyDeleteWOW - what a cool place to play! That is really, really neat :o)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to see the young ones! Lots of activity! Great views! Hope you get to return soon too.
ReplyDeleteLots of birds everywhere.WOW!!!
ReplyDeleteOh you lucky duck! Such great birds!!!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteAnni, what a terrific location for photographing great birds. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteseeing things like this makes you happy. :) Thanks for sharing Anni.
ReplyDeleteThey are compelling images in spite of the challenges.
ReplyDeleteWOW1 Anni it is all going on in these shots. Birds ++
ReplyDeleteExcellent pictures of your visit to the rookery. Your efforts paid well.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many birds there Anni -phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that you had to work from such a distance away. I'm all in favour of not disturbing birds but that is a great educational resource and the " powers that be" should make better provision for people to learn about their local birds and to study them.
Good luck with that new lens - practice makes perfect.
WoW!!!! it sure is a party there!!! good luck with your new baby!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo much bird action! A rookery is a fun place to be if you're a birder. I still remember the squawks at a heron one we saw a few years ago. It was the strangest sound.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Wonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteOh, you found the best spot to use your new zoom lens. What fun and what wonderful shots. Thanks so much for sharing. I love tagging along on your birding adventures, especially when it includes the coast. I can almost smell the salt water. To me the ocean or any salty sea is a fountain of youth . . . when I get near enough to start smelling the sea air, I turn into a kid again. If I could afford a cottage by the sea, I might never grow old . . . oh, I guess it's too late for that, LOL
ReplyDeleteKeep smiling.
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
A gorgeous place! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteI love rookeries! What a wonderful place to visit with a zoom lens. With my 100-400mm it is necessary to use a tripod even though I have image stabilization. For your first time out I think you did great! Keep going and bringing back your amazing images. But watch out for the heat...it's getting brutal out there!
ReplyDeleteThat is an impressive gathering! Am still traveling so I have had little face time with the computer, so it was great to see all these posts even though my connection has been slow. Thanks so much for hosting!
ReplyDeleteReally neat to see! Have fun with your new lens.
ReplyDeleteI think those pink spoonbills really special to see. I believed it even when I heard of it but when I saw the pictures of them I knew they were real :-)
ReplyDeleteIn the Netherlands we only white spoonbills.
What a great place to visit with a great variety of birds. Those pink wings are awesome.
ReplyDeleteLots of activity there, great pictures. I am back and will be joining in next week.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anni; Oh I LOVE pelicans as we have in our city park p:-) Pink ones wing spreading scenes are wonderful And I wish I could see spoonbill♪
ReplyDeleteSending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Always nice to see these beautiful birds !!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots !!