I'd Rather B Birdin': New Year Birds

It was early New Year's Day. While Bud remained in bed to catch up on the lack of sleep from the neighborhood revelers' noise the night before, I took the freeway over Harbor Bridge, driving through fog, heading to Indian Point Park. The bay water was rough, so I knew in an instant I wouldn't see the bird I was hoping to see. The Loon. I know around here they tend to be in still waters, diving for food. Along the highway the Portland police were getting their monthly quota of handing out speeding tickets before the hour was up. Everywhere, every direction. They'd pull one vehicle over, ticket the driver, and then remain in their patrol car to only catch another unsuspecting ~~idiot~~ driver that was speeding through the fog!! I was wondering just how many were drunk behind the wheel from New Year's Eve celebrations. [Portland, Texas is about 10 miles past Corpus Christi city limits, over North Bay causeway]

Once at the park, I didn't get out of the car much. It was really too damp and misty. But the water birds seemed to be enjoying the inclement weather more than I - - -

BUFFLEHEAD DUCKS
habitat map: Bufflehead
length: 14-16 inches
wingspan: 20-24 inches

AMERICAN AVOCETS
habitat map: Avocets
length: 18 inches
wingspan: 30-35 inches

RED BREASTED MERGANSER
habitat map: Merganser
length: 17-25 inches
wingspan: 30-36 inches

RUDDY TURNSTONE
habitat map: Turnstone
length: 9-10 inches
wingspan: 17-18 inches

EGRETS and GREAT BLUE HERONS
habitat maps: Egret - Heron
length [heron]: 48 inches [egret]: 37-41 inches
wingspan [heron]: 80 inches [egret]: 56 inches

Above, I put the camera on panoramic and did some drive-by shooting of the tidal pools and the activity...Spoonbills, cormorants, egrets, herons, mergansers, were seen. After this area, I continued out of the park and drove about a mile further north east to Sunset Lakes. There, not much happenin'. A few terns flying overhead, seagulls huddled in masses, a snowy egret and a great egret, a willet and this one. The pinkish color of the long bill tells me it's marbled instead of hudsonian which its bill is more orange than pink, as seen here...

MARBLED GODWIT
habitat map: Godwit
length: 18-20 inches
wingspan: 32 inches

Only about an hour and a half out and about on such a dreary beginning of 2020, I rec'd a text from Bud. He was up and making breakfast! Within seconds, I turned the car around, heading home to the warm fire, and a happy meal. [Not McDonald's...MY happy meal...a homemade breakfast prepared by the king of the house: Grits, bacon, eggs, toast and hashbrowns...fit for the queen.

There's a method to my madness. I leave, Bud takes over the kitchen. No work for me at all. That's why I'D RATHER B BIRDIN' lol

Those that participated this week are:

Bird Watching Nana
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Christina, Sweden
Linda, Virginia USA
Nature Footstep Photo Art
Lavender Dreams
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Travels With Birds
Sallie [Full Time Life]
Eileen
Phil
Lea's Menagerie

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15 comments:

eileeninmdJanuary 11, 2020 at 1:18 PM
Hello, I am always happy to see large groups of Egret, herons and the Spoonbills. The Avocets are lovely birds. It is great to see the Marbled Godwit too. Awesome sightings. I get annoyed with speeders, tailgaters and over all crazy drivers. They deserve a ticket. Thanks for hosting. Have a happy day and weekend.
Ginny HartzlerJanuary 11, 2020 at 1:34 PM
It's so cool that bud can cook! And even better that he actually will summon you for a meal!! Does whoever cook then not have to do the dishes? the Bufflehead and Avocet are fantastic! I have never seen either. But I think for me, my favorite has to be the Godwit. He is just outstanding, and so impressive!!
David M. Gascoigne,January 11, 2020 at 1:35 PM
You are pretty lucky - all that great birding followed by a home-cooked breakfast. I should try it, but I suspect that the former would not be followed by the latter!
~Lavender Dreamer~January 11, 2020 at 3:45 PM
How nice to come home to a breakfast fit for a queen....with all those great photos to look at and enjoy! We live good lives, now don't we? Wish we could go out together some time! Weekend hugs, Diane
LeaJanuary 11, 2020 at 5:27 PM
Love your bird photos!
NatureFootstepJanuary 11, 2020 at 9:34 PM
it does seem vvery damp out there. Love to see the avocets and other birdlife. The marabled godwith looks very beautiful. Don´t think I have sen that one before. :)
LindaJanuary 11, 2020 at 11:40 PM
A fun post. I love the egrets in flight!
JoyfulJanuary 12, 2020 at 5:12 AM
Some beautiful captures Anni. Happy New Year to you!
MadSnapper n BeauJanuary 12, 2020 at 5:38 AM
it is takes me going birding to get bob to cook, look out birds. ha ha.... the photos are beautiful and I know how hard it is to get clear shots when it is misty... the Buffleheads are gorgeous. I have not seen them in real life. about the tickets, on the road I travel to TOPS every Thursday, there is a 10 block stretch that the speed limit is 30, not 40. lots of warnings about it. every Thursday they have FOUR police cars working that 10 blocks. I have never seen less than 3 of them writing tickets. they even set it up at the same time, between 10:30 and 11:00 yet people speed through it. the reason for it is senior condos and a catholic church/school. yet people ignore the warnings.
ChristinaJanuary 12, 2020 at 6:56 AM
It is a lovely light in the pictures. I wish you a Happy New Year 2020!
Phil SladeJanuary 12, 2020 at 8:19 AM
Hi Anni. That made me laugh. All those folk missing out on birding and Bud's breakfast but getting a ticket instead. Shame about the misty start but your drive-by shooting still achieved some cracking pictures, much better than my own recent efforts. Those Buffleheads are sure pretty with that very distinctive head shape and black and white colouration.
Kenneth Cole SchneiderJanuary 12, 2020 at 10:30 AM
Very nice images! You did very well under those challenging conditions!
RoseJanuary 12, 2020 at 5:21 PM
I would be in 7th heaven to see such a variety!
Sallie (FullTime-Life)January 13, 2020 at 2:02 PM
Love the way you think (leave the house....), love the sound of your breakfast, ** ... oh and yes a thousand times love your birds and your fabulous photos of them. It was monochrome for the first few pictures, really getting across the feeling for the kind of day it was... and then it all brightened up with the Spoonbill definitely brightening up the day. But all the birds in black and white were gorgeous, beautiful drive by or from the car photos. Thanks !

**. I’m a small town Pacific Northwest kind of girl, but am pretty sure I was a Southerner in a previous life, because I love grits, collards, etc etc...pretty much all the foods we never ate until we traveled !
UnknownMarch 11, 2020 at 12:13 AM
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New Year Birds

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