§ Officer Garcia spoiled my plans...

It's been another quiet week of going birding. I visited only a couple of parks and the nearby Navy Base Road with the usual waterfowl. I must admit this past week has been mainly doing odd jobs here and there. Lawn mowing, edging, safety inspection for auto license renewal. And then, the jinx was on my shoulder one day at the grocery store. A cop followed me into the parking lot with his Christmas Tree lights flashing...when I parked, he parked right behind me! I knew I did nothing wrong, but couldn't figure out what the problem was...I got out. As nonchalantly as I could muster. He said "Ma'am...[I don't like being called ma'am], your brake light on the passenger side is burnt out!" We talked a bit while he was filling out the warning for me to sign. Next day, I had to return to the mechanic to get the bulb replaced. Don't laugh, but Bud and I tried off and on the day before to loosen the socket from the chassis...it wouldn't budge! It took the technician less than 5 minutes....but it spoiled my morning chance of birding...again!!  After that, I was in no mood to do much but go back home and chill-out.

GREAT KISKADEE
[partial yellow crest showing! Some day I'm gonna witness the FULL crest]
Habitat map: Kiskadee


GREAT TAILED GRACKLE
Habitat map: Grackle


BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Habitat map: Oriole


BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE
Habitat map: Titmouse


RUDDY TURNSTONE
Habitat map: Turnstone


HOUSE SPARROWS
Habitat map: Sparrow


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§ April Archives...

This week, for lack of going out birding for any length of time, I share new photos from this past April when life was a bit less concerning with the global virus threat in our area of Texas...


BLACK POLL WARBLER
photo taken:  Port Aransas Birding Center
habitat map:  Warbler
Length:
Wingspan:


BLACK CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Hummingbird
Length:  3.75 inches
Wingspan:  4.75 inches


PAINTED BUNTING
photo taken:  Oso Bay Wetlands
habitat map:  Bunting
Length:  5.5 inches
Wingspan:  8.5 inches


BALTIMORE ORIOLE [female]
photo taken:  Packery Channel
habitat map:  Oriole
Length:  7-8 inches
Wingspan:  11-12 inches


CATTLE EGRET
photo taken:  Mustang Island
habitat map:  Egret
Length:  20 inches
Wingspan:  36 inches


RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
photo taken:  Back yard [home]
habitat map:  Hummingbird
Length: 3.5 inches
Wingspan:  4.5 inches



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Those participating:

Nature Footstep
Arun
Linda, Virginia, USA
Jean@SoNotOrganized
Lea's Menagerie
Eileen
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink]
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Ella
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Phil
Lavender Dreams

§ More Migrants Coming to Us...

It's been a good week for birding. Those heading north are stopping by on the islands and in the city parks. I have quite a few 'new' birds for the migrating season photographed, and will share sparingly for now. More to come in weeks ahead....

I begin with photos of my favorite Oriole of all the orioles seen in Texas:

ORCHARD ORIOLE
photos taken: Packery Channel Park
habitat map: Oriole
Length:  7 inches
Wingspan:  10 inches


BALTIMORE ORIOLE [female, yellow]
photos taken: Packery Channel
habitat map: Oriole
Length:  7-8 inches
Wingspan:  11-12 inches



ORCHARD AND BALTIMORE orioles
photo taken: Audubon Sanctuary


BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER
photo taken: Packery Channel Park
habitat map: Warbler
Length:  5 inches
Wingspan:  8 inches


ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK [female]
photo taken: Sand Dollar Drive
habitat map: Grosbeak
Length:  8 inches
Wingspan:  12.5 inches

**********

Two. One Rarity in Texas and the other unidentified...Any help would be appreciated on the ID. First, the rare. A beauty...the male of the species:


CAPE MAY WARBLER [my record keeping shows I've seen this once before...April 14, 2015]
photos taken: Sand Dollar Road
habitat map: Warbler
Length:  4.75 inches
Wingspan:  7 inches

Then, this cute little thing...I just can't seem to put a name to this.  Actually, when I typed this up to pre-schedule the post to publish on Saturday, I was hurried to get things done to be able to cook a dinner for us.  And I started birding later in the day so, I was later getting things off the camera card and uploaded to the blog.  Eventually, I hope to give it a name.  Maybe y'all can ID it?  If so, thanks in advance....

photo taken: Sand Dollar Road
North Padre Island [Texas]
THANKS TO KEN...THE BIRD IS BELL'S VIREO


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Those participating this week:

Christina, Sweden
Betty Crow
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink]
Eileen
The Early Birder
Linda, Virginia, USA
Denise/VA
Jean@SoNotOrganized
NatureFootstep PhotoArt
Birds Seen in  Europe and Africa
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
Lavender Dreams
Phil UK
tomthebackroadstraveler
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Etta
Lea's Menagerie
Sallie

§ Gone Birdin'!!

These birds were seen on two different mornings in mid-September:


September 15th...
All were seen in or near the Leonabelle Nature Reserve




TRI-COLORED HERON
habitat map:  Heron


COMMON MORHEN [Gallinule]
habitat map:  Gallinule


BLACK SKIMMERS
habitat map:  Skimmer


BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS
habitat map:  Heron


SNOWY EGRETS [mainly] One great heron, tricolored and spoonbill
habitat map:  Egret


September 17th...
All were seen at Bazemore Park:



BROWN THRASHER
habitat map:  Thrasher


BLACK NECKED STILTS
habitat map: Stilt


OLIVE  SPARROW
habitat map:  Sparrow


RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [female]
habitat map: Hummingbird


LITTLE GREEN HERON
habitat map:  Heron


CRESTED CARACARA
habitat map:  Caracara


BALTIMORE ORIOLE [it flew in front of me into the tree never to be spotted again!  I was lucky to get this much of it...most times it's a photo of a branch only]
habitat map:  Oriole


BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE
habitat map:  Titmouse


Participant Listing Before Closing on Thursday
LINKS below:


Rosy Finch Ramblings
Lavender Dreams
Nature Footstep Photography
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Orchid
Lea's Menagerie
Irma
Owl Sketch


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§ Look Up...It's a Plane...It's Superman...No, It's a Bird!!!

Have you ever heard of Warbler Neck? No, not possessive as in Warbler's...it's not the neck of the warbler...but, it's from using your binoculars, or just looking up in the trees for a long period of time during your outing...looking for birds. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Especially during the migration season, and the birds are flocking into the woods, and you're almost forced to .... LOOK UP! During the course of the year, all seasons, it's hard NOT to look up in search for birds flitting from branch to branch, tree to tree.  To me, Warbler Neck is a badge of honor!!!

I'm reminded of an article I read online several years ago. It goes like this:

“There it is in that green tree. It’s at 5 o’clock. Now it’s at 9 o’clock. Now it’s about 9 minutes to 5.”

And, if you take this sport [or hobby; obsession] seriously, you can understand that statement above.  With all too clear of truth to it!!  Especially with WARBLERS.  Oh how they love to flit around; always on the move.  This week I thought I'd do a theme of birds captured, where else? In the trees of course!!!

NORTHERN CARDINAL
photo taken:  Calallen Texas Hawkwatch Platform
habitat map:  Cardinal


CRESTED CARACARA
photo taken:  Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Caracara


BALTIMORE ORIOLE
photo taken:  Packery Channel Park
habitat map:  Oriole


ANHINGA
photo taken:  Carribean Drive Ponds
habitat map:  Anhinga


COOPERS HAWK
photo taken:  Rose Hill Cemetery
habitat map:  Hawk


LEAST FLYCATCHER
photo taken:  Oso Bay Wetlands
habitat map:  Flycatcher


EASTERN PHOEBE
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Phoebe


GREEN KINGFISHER
photo taken:  Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Kingfisher


SCISSORTAILED FLYCATCHER
photo taken:  County Road 70
habitat map:  Flycatcher



GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Woodpecker


_ _ _ _

And last but not least....of course, a Warbler! I'm not sure my ID is correct, but with the yellow breast, white belly, dark wing and wing bars...the clear sight of its yellow eye ring, Id guess it's a:

PINE WARBLER
photo taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Warbler

correct me if I'm wrong with identification with the warbler above.






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