I'd Rather B Birdin': Cowbird

With my last birding trek around the Park and River banks on a nice clear, balmy, morning, I saw most of the birds shared here at the Hawkwatch platform and drip system. The park is located about a 20 minute drive from Corpus Christi, in Calallen, Texas. Photos of the park grounds, seen HERE..

BROWN HEADED COWBIRD
Habitat map: Cowbird

AMERICAN KESTREL
Habitat map: Kestrel

WHITE TIPPED DOVE
Habitat map: Dove

NORTHERN CARDINAL [female]
Habitat map: Cardinal

GREEN JAY
Habitat map: Jay

LONG BILLED THRASHER [?]
Duller in color than Brown Thrasher
brighter white breast with black streaks
-also, curved beak while Brown Thrasher beak is straighter.
Habitat map: Thrasher

NORTHERN CARDINAL [male]
Habitat map: Cardinal

GREAT KISKADEE
Habitat map: Kiskadee

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

or use text linking only copy text in gray text area below and paste into your blog post:

Linking is now Closed!
A new tool opens at NOON on Saturday, the 13th

I will be absent on Saturday...it's Bud's birthday!!

One Sunday morning this past few weeks, we found ourselves walking the Indian Point/Sunset Lakes hiking trail. Over yonder, on the banks of the lakes, the stranger appears!!! One I've been in search of for a few years now. It's believed to be endangered [and elusive]. It's the piping plover. A very small, very active plover that if you see one, you're lucky...or so I've been informed. I spotted this particular one for just a fleeting moment before it flew off to such a far distance it was even difficult to spot with binoculars. Sometimes I wish I had a scope, but then I think twice considering it would be something else to lug around as we walk in search of...

The Piping Plover has yellow legs, and a partial yellow beak, along with a very pale taupe back, head, and snow white belly. Also, the neck band is partial...leaving white or buff under the chin. Oh, and beside the yellow legs/beak, the other tell-tale mark is the dark/black dot on the forehead.

This bird marked my 211th species recorded with photos!!

PIPING PLOVER
photo taken: Sunset Lakes - Portland, Texas
habitat range: piping plover

The others found along the shores in our area are much more commonly seen by the two of us....

American Avocet

Cattle Egret - Breeding Plumage

Semipalmated Plover

Black Bellied Whistling Duck

Brownheaded Cowbird [female]

Brownheaded Cowbird [male]

Red Breasted Merganser [female]

Greater Yellowlegs

Common Loon & Diving Loon

Blue Winged Teal

Bufflehead Duck

Above: Willet & Breeding Plumage?

Now, share your birding experiences:

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

or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:

§ Park Walk...

§ Stranger on the Shore

Table of Contents