It's been HOT here! I haven't been outdoors much except to go to the store and walk to the mailbox. Last week, Ingleside, Texas had 129° [F} heat index...while on the same day we had a true reading of 101° with the index number of 113°. Indoors I stay while the air conditioner is humming along at full throttle. We've been hotter than Death Valley - LOL
Even going early in the morning, it's quite a feat. I did drive to the beach at Rockport, Texas a few days back. There was a reported Sooty Tern that returned for the third straight year. I left before sunrise, and stayed until I got too uncomfortable to do any more birding. While there, I saw thousands of Laughing Gulls. Breeding, Nesting, or many numerous hatchlings. See here.
As I walked the cordoned off perimeter of the migration rookeries, I saw:
GREAT BLUE HERONS [each a different bird]
photos taken: Rockport Beach Trail
Habitat map: Heron
ROOKERY
photos taken: Across the Inlet of Rockport Beach [with zooming in]
habitat maps: Reddish Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron
TRI-COLORED HERON
photo taken: Rockport Beach Sunflower Patch
Habitat map: Heron
As I walked back to the car, at the Fish Cleaning area, Brown Pelicans flew in:
BROWN PELICAN
photo taken: Rockport, Texas
habitat map: Pelican
Driving home, staying in the car, I took a cutoff at Mustang State Park, and saw a meadowlark. I took these photos from the car, through the window. Too steamy by the time I arrived in this area! Tho extremely similar in looks there are TWO species of Meadowlarks in USA...Eastern and Western. And their range overlaps. I've seen both here in the Coastal Bend. One way to differentiate is the white above and behind the eye [western], while the eastern species has a lot more yellow above the eye. The best way is to distinguish or separate the two by song. VERY different "meadowlies".
WESTERN MEADOWLARK [the way I associate Western is the color White...both begin with "W"]
photo taken: Mustang Island
habitat map: Meadowlark
and paste into your blog post:
Your in-flight pictures are so beautiful! And the Spoonbills are breathtaking! What is that structure they are on? Something that was put there for the birds?
ReplyDeleteYes, Ginny, those are specially built for the rookery.
Deletelol, I don´t see as many birds in a year as you in one day. You really live in a good place. I envy you.
ReplyDeleteWe have crazy weathers too. Hot one day and cold the next. Never know what will come.
:( Wish you a great week.
I wish I could see so many birds in an outing, there is nowhere close to us that I can go to 😒 Mine are mostly seen in the garden so very limited. I love spoonbills they never cease to fascinate me. Have a good Sunday Diane
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many 'favorite' birds I can have but the Spoonbill has always been near the top of the list! I've only seen them in the wild a few times and they are so neat to see! It's been hot here too...but not higher than 95...still TOO HOT to get out! I've taken an early morning hike and a late afternoon hike this week. Few and far between! Love the Meadowlark! What a fun sighting! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHello, awesome visit to the rookery. So many beautiful birds. I think my favorite is the Reddish Egret and the Meadowlark. I also love the Pelicans. Great post and photos. Thanks for hosting. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteStay cool! Fine shots in abundance!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! "Catch of the day" indeed. Stay comfortable.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Those temperatures are much too hot for me. All your birds images look wonderful but my favourite are the Spoonbills Anni.
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ReplyDeleteThe Brown Pelican photo is my favorite from this group!
ReplyDeleteHope you get some relief from the heat soon
Thanks for hosting!
What a beautiful series of photos.
ReplyDeleteWhen it's so hot, it's not nice to be outside.
Photo 3 is my favorite.
Best regards Irma
I love all the rookery shots, i have never seen one, and so many different birds together is amazing. i love the herons and spoonbills together.
ReplyDeleteHi Anni. I've been busy. Over here it's fathers day.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that those rookeries are cordoned off. I can imagine that if not, there would be baddies out to do the birds harm. Such a great variety too, all seemingly mixed together.
I can't believe those temperatures. Not sure I could stand such heat, but then I guess you know what to do and weh to go out and stay indoors.
Wow. Certainly not used to seeing so many species hanging out together.
ReplyDeleteWonderful assortment of bird photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful gathering of long-legged waders in the rookery. We have the opposite situation her-- instead of enhancing it, the rookery was mostly clear-cut and the herons abandoned it. I think of the Western Meadowlark's song as a bubbling "Look at me, I'm a meadowlark," as opposed to the clear whistled "Spring of the year" of the Eastern species.
ReplyDeleteOh Anni, such beautiful pictures!! We had quite a few blue herons here in northern Indiana too. In fact, in the next town over is an inn named after them. I have friends in southern Louisiana and they're complaining of the extreme heat too. They grow a lot of their food and are having a horrible time this year keeping plants alive in such heat. Up here in the Midwest, at least where I am, the temperatures are much cooler than normal for this time of year. Farmers are having a heck of a time getting their crops in and some aren't even planting this year at all, due to the weather. Hope you stay cool. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a great group of shots...and to see all those birds in one day would be awesome. But my favorite is the ones of the Pelicans!
ReplyDelete