A Bird, A 'Courtin' and Breeding Plumage....

From Texas Birding and Texas Bird Atlas I am inclined to think the species is becoming uncommon in our state...with the severe reduction of spotting them when we're out birding, the fact that for the previous five years South Texas has experienced a devastating drought, this may be the reason for their decline in our area. Who knows. But I do know prior to the drought we spotted them often. Now, this is the FIRST one I've seen in years! At the same time, in the park where this was sighted, another two gentlemen birders agreed with me - that they've been scarce in our area for several years. We have had some flooding recently [as recent as Saturday March 19th....3 inches of rain fell with 80MPH winds of hurricane force...all in one hour's time!!!], but perhaps it coincides with our average lack of tropical rainfall in the recent years...with more rain this year so far, maybe their population will be on the upswing:

STATUS: Like the bitterns and Green Heron, its cryptic coloration, secretiveness, and scattered small colonies, the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is so difficult to census that no reliable nesting census data are available. However, North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Texas (Sauer et al. 2005) give annual trends of 10.4% (1966-1979), -6.1% (1980-2005), and -4.7% (1966-2005); thus indicating a declining trend but, this may reflect survey coverage rather than a decreasing number of birds. 

source: Texas Bird Atlas

YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON
photos taken: Blucher Park - downtown Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map: Heron

And speaking of herons, the Great Blue Heron and mates are seen recently on Rookery Island   in North Bay!! Along with egrets, spoonbills, and some seagulls. One Sunday morning [way too early for good photo opportunities, and such a far distance off shore]....I stood by the car and watched in hopes of seeing some courtship displaying. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, and the shadows and distance were a bit of a hindrance, but I still captured some photos to give you an idea of part of their rituals. I apologize for the poor lighting, they're not black and white photos, just too early and a hazy morning for any clarity.

GREAT BLUE HERONS
photos taken:  Rookery Island - Corpus Christi, Texas

Both male and female stretch their necks far into the air...then, they entwine, lovingly!! And mate eventually. I went back a couple of days later at a much later hour, tho, still too lazy to set up the tripod, I zoomed in as far as I could and took more 'action' shots along the island rookery.  From the bay shore, where I have to  park, the island is approximately a  half mile away...and of course, only accessible by boat along the island's shore since it's 'off limits'...

...a partial view of the large rookery island with camera set on panoramic:


LAUGHING GULLS - EGRETS, HERONS, SPOONBILLS
photos taken:  Rookery Island - Corpus Christi, Texas


You can watch an exceptional video on YOU TUBE
or a live video feed of Rookery Island is below this post on the blog page!!

One more that day....only after I left the area near the island, I ventured over to the other side of the bay, and ended up at Sunset Lakes in Portland, Texas. One beauty was a lot more cooperative for me this day. The white morphed Reddish Egret...in his breeding plumage! I zoomed in...

REDDISH EGRET [white morph, breeding plumage]
photos taken:  Sunset Lakes - Portland, Texas
habitat map:  Egret

From a previous post, a white morphed reddish egret in non-breeding plumage seen HERE




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