From North Padre Island to Mustang Island

[Don't confuse NORTH Padre Island with South Padre Island which is about 200 miles southwest of us]

Once again, many birds were spotted. My first stop was off the 'beaten path', taking an exit ramp to a pier on Humble Channel. There, early in the morning, I spotted 100s of Readhead Ducks, Scaups, gulls, grackles, egrets, herons and a couple of Bufflehead ducks that dived below the water surface to not be found again. I then took off toward Port Aransas, spying five ospreys along the power lines before taking the turn off North Padre Island to Mustang Island. I made several stops along the park highway since so many birds were also perched on the power lines/poles. The usual 30 minute drive took nearly an hour. At Port Aransas, I spent most of my time photographing and watching the sea of white [massive numbers of pelicans and egrets] and a resident alligator, known as Boots! I got 'up close and personal' with him if you'd like to see what I saw through my lens, zooming in on him as he snoozed in the shallow water under the warm sun. Took several close up photos of him too, very reptilian detail I might add. LOL[kidding]

BLACK NECKED STILT
photo taken:  Port Aransas
habitat map:  Stilt
length 14-15 inches
wingspan 26 inches


GREAT EGRET
photos taken in series:  Port Aransas
habitat map:  Egret
length 37-41 inches
wingspan 56 inches


NORTHERN SHOVELER
photo taken:  Humble Channel
habitat map:  Shoveler
length 17-20 inches
wingspan 27-33 inches


SNOWY EGRET
photo taken:  Port Aransas
habitat map:  Egret
length 22-26 inches
wingspan 46 inches


GREATER YELLOWLEGS/Lesser [this has a long beak, so greater?]
photo taken:  Port Aransas
habitat map:  Yellowlegs
length [Greater] 14 inches
wingspan [Greater] 25 inches


LESSER SCAUP [this species has a rounded head, Greater Scaup is more flat]
photos taken:  Humble Channel
habitat map:  Scaup
length 16-18 inches
wingspan 24-32 inches


REDHEAD DUCK
photo taken:  Humble Channel
habitat map:  Redhead
length 19 inches
wingspan 32 inches


BELTED KINGFISHER
photo taken:  Mustang Island
habitat map:  Kingfisher
length 12-14 inches
wingspan 22-26 inches


AMERICAN KESTREL
photo taken:  Mustang Island
habitat map:  Kestrel
length 10 inches
wingspan 22 inches


PEREGRINE FALCON
photo taken:  Mustang Island
habitat map:  Falcon
length 16-20 inches
wingspan 40-48 inches

Lastly:  I'd like to take this time to wish all who observe the holiday, a very MERRY CHRISTMAS from Bud and me.  May your day be merry and bright.

Those that participated are:
Christina, Sweden
Shiju Sugunan
Birds seen in Europe and Africa
Linda, Virginia, USA
Rosyfinch Ramblings
It's All About Purple 
Lea's Menagerie 
David Gascoigne 
Phil UK 
Sallie (FullTime-Life)


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