§ This Week...

On Tuesday morning, early, this week, I took a short road trip to Wright's Pond between Calallen and Orange Grove, Texas. Only a hop, skip, and a jump from Corpus Christi, as the crow flies. As you head west, once you pass Calallen, the promise of Texas' famous hill country teases the senses. Nearing Orange Grove, I take a cutoff of what I call the Devil's Road...it's actually another highway but the highway number is 666. I don't have to drive too far on this road as the cutoff to the ranch is nearby. The pond is on a private ranch, but I can pull off the highway and take a few steps from the car to view through the fencing. On this particular day, there were three species of birds on or near the water...

Anhingas, Wood Storks, and Great Egrets

 

I then retraced my route going back to Calallen, and stopping at Bazemore Park. My intention was searching and hoping to find the fawn with its parents, but as I drove down the steep hill, only one doe crossed in front of the car. No other deer were seen while I was there. But, when I got out to do some walking along the river, I spotted these birds and photographed them... 

Green Heron, Great Kiskadee, Inca Dove, and a well camouflaged White Winged Dove.  I also saw, Golden Fronted Woodpeckers, Grackles, Mockingbirds, Sparrows, and a couple of young cottontail rabbits.

All links provided above are the bird[s] habitat maps.


Always use HYPERLINK when linking in

For use of graphic link in your post, copy text in gray text area below and paste into your blog post: <a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGykwuxLDOwQrESJgGvZEYYSjnrWmY_rGW2MegmddZNS5V5c0EXWlqbu3s4mtxehEUPnfRUQhoGhFuoIvgFk4goVKTaQBRZg5Ij2GX98-xSsPuvVkUZTMSkxmRRwaAI5EBo3OMjDdEU/s1600/IRBBlogo.png" width="120" height="120" /></a></center> or use text linking only copy text in gray text area below and paste into your blog post: <a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" />Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'</a></center>

Participating: 

Sharon Wagner

Linda

Rosyfinch Ramblings

Jaipur Gardens 

Jean

Lavender Dreams 

Traveling with Birds [no hyperlink]

Phil

Lea 

Eileen 

§ Along Navigation Highway...

One Sunday morning, I did some birding, mainly, from the car.  I found myself driving along the river on the back side of the city where the oil refineries are and railroad tracks. I drove and drove, and drove some more. Then, I decided to make a U Turn and head back to go to West Guth Park to see what birds were at that area. As I was nearing the area that intersects the highway I was on with the interstate system, I noticed what I missed by going the other direction [what was behind me, at the bottom of a hill that couldn't be seen from the car as I drove along the river]. Literally hundreds of birds!! White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, Herons, Wood Storks, Grackles, Stilts, and Spoonbills! Of course this highway is one of the busiest highways for semi-trucks 365 days a year!! What with the refineries and the port of call where some transport the grain from the trains to areas across South Texas.  I pulled off the highway onto the shoulder as far as I could, and waited for the truck traffic to clear out and crossed the highway to take photos. With the egrets there was quite a lot of either territorial disputes or some breeding rituals...I tend to think it was more territorial disputes as I couldn't distinguish any breeding facial colors....

WHITE IBIS, WOOD STORKS, SNOWY EGRETS, GREAT EGRETS, ROSEATE SPOONBILLS
[also seen that morning but no photos shared here, tri-color herons, great blue herons, mottled ducks, black necked stilts, grackles...and angus cattle on the hilltop]
photos taken:  Navigation Highway/Joe Fulton Corridor - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat maps:  Ibis, Storks, Snowy, Great, Spoonbills


Now share your birding experiences:










For use of graphic link in your post, copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:

<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGykwuxLDOwQrESJgGvZEYYSjnrWmY_rGW2MegmddZNS5V5c0EXWlqbu3s4mtxehEUPnfRUQhoGhFuoIvgFk4goVKTaQBRZg5Ij2GX98-xSsPuvVkUZTMSkxmRRwaAI5EBo3OMjDdEU/s1600/IRBBlogo.png" width="120" height="120" /></a>

or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" />Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'</a>

§ Misty Morning Birding...

On a dark, gloomy, misty morning last week, I ventured out and drove to Indian Point/Sunset Lakes parks on North Bay at the outskirts of Corpus Christi midway to Portland, Texas. Tho not many birds were seen; most of the tidal pools were uninhabited on this day.   I grabbed my umbrella and walked some. A couple of  photos on this post were taken from the car window as I drove out of the park to head back home over the bridge.  The first photo is looking out toward the Port Ship Channel and fishing pier in the park area.

As "scene" over the bay:


Harbor Bridge thru the mist


USS Lexington [WWII aircraft carrier that is now a naval museum]

...then, along the trails:


LAUGHING GULL
habitat map:  Gull


WILLET [consuming an oyster]
habitat map:  Willet


SNOWY EGRET [with breeding colors on legs & bill]
habitat map:  Egret


REDDISH EGRET [white morph]
habitat map:  Egret


GREAT BLUE HERON
habitat map:  Heron



....while continued mist fell, the winds picked up and many water birds went for a more sheltered area, out of the wind, in the brush along the pathway.


SNOWY EGRETS & GREAT EGRETS
habitat maps:  S. Egret and G. Egret


BLACK NECKED STILTS
habitat map:  Stilts



Now share your birding experiences:










For use of graphic link in your post, copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:

<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGykwuxLDOwQrESJgGvZEYYSjnrWmY_rGW2MegmddZNS5V5c0EXWlqbu3s4mtxehEUPnfRUQhoGhFuoIvgFk4goVKTaQBRZg5Ij2GX98-xSsPuvVkUZTMSkxmRRwaAI5EBo3OMjDdEU/s1600/IRBBlogo.png" width="120" height="120" /></a>

or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" />Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'</a>

§ Up Close and Personal....

Just some photos using my zoom lens...

TRI-COLORED HERON
photo taken:  Leonabelle Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Heron


RED TAILED HAWK - RED BREASTED MERGANSER
photos taken:  Goose Island State Park [hawk] - Sunset Lakes - Portland, Texas [merganser]
habitat maps:  Hawk, Merganser


YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER [Myrtle]
photo taken:  Packery Channel Park - Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Warbler


SNOWY EGRET
photo taken:  Sunset Lakes - Portland, Texas
habitat map:  Egret


REDDISH EGRET [white morph]
photo taken:  Charlie's Pasture - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Egret


GREAT EGRET [aka Common Egret]
photo taken:  Leonabelle Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Egret


NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
photo taken:  Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map:  Mockingbird


GREAT BLUE HERON - RING NECKED DUCK
photos taken:  Indian Point Park [heron] Bazemore Park [duck] Corpus Christi and Calallen, Texas
habitat maps:  Heron, Duck


HOODED MERGANSER
photo taken:  Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map:  Merganser

- - -

Ahem:  Now share your birding experiences:









For use of graphic link in your post, copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:

<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGykwuxLDOwQrESJgGvZEYYSjnrWmY_rGW2MegmddZNS5V5c0EXWlqbu3s4mtxehEUPnfRUQhoGhFuoIvgFk4goVKTaQBRZg5Ij2GX98-xSsPuvVkUZTMSkxmRRwaAI5EBo3OMjDdEU/s1600/IRBBlogo.png" width="120" height="120" /></a>

or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
<a href="http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com" />Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'</a>