I'd Rather B Birdin': Ring Necked Duck

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

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Over the last couple of weeks, I've been receiving emails that most of Texas is spotting migrant Sandhill Cranes! On November 22nd, Bud and I heard, then searched for them at Oso Bay Wetlands. We spotted four in a field close to the facility....

SANDHILL CRANES

photos taken: Oso Bay Wetlands - Corpus Christi, Texas

habitat map: Sandhill Cranes

But as we drove away from the area, out of the car window we spotted a good three dozen or more, but no place to pull off the road safely and get photos. Maybe again soon.

The two of us then drove to a small 'twin' community of Rockport-Fulton, Texas to view the Whooping Cranes that are arriving for their winter stay on Goose Island. I didn't get any decent photos of the four we found, but have promised ourselves to return when lighting and weather cooperates more for photography. After watching them for about an hour we drove to a newly opened sanctuary...a small four acre piece of land set aside for bird habitat. I posted pictures of the area on my personal blog....HERE. The Sanctuary is called Linda S. Castro Sanctuary, and it's on the outskirts of Rockport-Fulton near Capano Bay. While at the island, I asked another local birder where the Castro pond was and she told us how to find it, since it's so new, it's not been marked on the highway yet. We found it, and enjoyed seeing TWO new ducks!!! Altho, the Wood Duck was very well hidden in the bushes near the far side bank and in shadow, I did manage to get an 'identifying' photo for recording it as another new one for me. Tho, the quality of the photos leave a lot to be desired...it's still proof for me and my chart/recording. The other 'new' duck is the Ring Necked Duck. We spotted both male and female of this species.