I'd Rather B Birdin': CATTLE Egret

Showing posts with label CATTLE Egret. Show all posts

§ It's All About Color...

...breeding colors that is! [And seasonal beak growth on white pelican - Pelicans of both sexes develop a bump in breeding season, and it's not on their bellies. The lump forms on top of the bird's beak, and falls off after the birds have mated and laid eggs. Its function is not entirely known, but is thought to be a display of fertility.]

Top to Bottom [with habitat links]
Brown Pelican
Tri-colored Heron
White Ibis
Cattle Egret
White Pelican
American Avocet
Roseate Spoonbill
Reddish Egret [white morph]

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§ This Week...

This past week, I stayed off the ladder. The only bit of work I did was act as an apprentice for Bud and his electrical work. He is removing the old light sockets and plates with the new improved "modern" ones that are shielded from electrical shock. I guess it's a good thing. But, holding the flashlight and setting up the hurricane lanterns for him was "my job".

I did get out to see what birds I could see on the islands. Thing is by the time I arrived at my destination, the sea fog moved in and I couldn't even see the big cargo ships on the channel. I did see a few birds tho. So the trip wasn't wasted...

APLOMADO FALCON
Habitat map: Falcon

greater/LESSER SCAUP
Habitat map: Scaup

LEAST GREBE
Habitat map: Grebe

CATTLE EGRET
Habitat map: Egret

GREEN WINGED TEAL
Habitat map: Teal

TRI-COLORED HERON
Habitat map: Heron

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§ Chapman Ranch...

Bud and I went for a short drive through the ranch land of Chapman's Ranch the other day in hopes of seeing a few hawks. We only saw one. But other birds as well. And the hawk, I'm taking an uneducated guess as to the species. Not sure, so all you expert birders out there, can help ID?
The first one I show off is a Caracara. NOTICE the flesh colored nodule on its breast. This is: ...a distended crop showing that it has recently eaten.

CRESTED CARACARA
Habitat map: Caracara

A perfect showing of why these egrets are named. They DO follow cattle! Oftentimes I see them where cattle graze.

CATTLE EGRETS
Habitat map: Egret

The next image is poorly discolored. I am usually forced to stop the car and focus through the tinted windshield for these birds! For, they fly away as soon as the car is stopped, and I end up playing tag...losing of course. So, I slowed the car down and aimed through the window beFORE it flew off!

AMERICAN KESTREL
Habitat map: Kestrel

Also, bird watching for over a decade in Arizona, the following bird, the white winged dove, also reside year 'round there and in Texas...but my observation that I've never mentioned before is: The doves in Arizona have a completely different 'call' than those in Texas. In Texas they actually 'coo' as a dove would, but in Arizona they 'chortle'. And, we had dozens in our backyard. I can swear the calling is totally different than those in our backyard in Texas.

WHITE WINGED DOVE
Habitat map: Dove

Then the hawk...My guess is a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk?

RED TAILED HAWK [juvenile or dark morph?]
Habitat map: Hawk

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§ Birding...

BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE
Habitat map: Titmouse

KILLDEER
Habitat map: Killdeer

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
Habitat map: Dove

CATTLE EGRET
Habitat map: Egret

EASTERN KINGBIRD
Habitat map: Kingbird

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§ May Days...

It's only the middle of May for us all, yet, here in Coastal Texas we have had scorching days and warm nights. Temperatures of late August already. We have even reached the century mark for heat indices!! I'm not looking forward to summer. LOL

Being that it's been so hot, if I don't get out before sunrise, I don't get out. I've also been nursing a sprained pelvis along with the chiropractor's help. So, not much long distance walking either, lately. Birding has been put on the back burner so to speak. But, I haven't stayed home ALL the time. When I do get out, I'm only out for a couple of hours, then rush home to the Air Conditioning!!