§ In Search of A Rare Bird...

Note to Christina in Sweden...I could not leave a comment on your blog...so, thanks for taking time to link in last week!...never found the rare bird tho! A reported Ruff was seen at South Pasture Boardwalk. This area is all revamped and finally open again to the public after repair work was done thru the help of FEMA fund after Hurricane Harvey nearly 5 years ago. Many people told me about seeing a Ruff in the salt flats, but I never saw it. Oh well.
I did see these tho while perusing the new trail and climbing the observation tower...








Top to Bottom [with habitat map links]
American Kestrel
Savannah [?] Sparrow
Little Blue Heron
Whooping Cranes [two photos]
Great Blue Heron
Reddish Egret [white morph]


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§ From my book...

I hope now that we're back in the 'business' of sharing, that your New Year started with happiness and health. With the lack of getting out because of all the renovations being done around Anni's; finishing three rooms so far and beginning the huge livingroom this weekend, I am resorting to sharing some photos taken thru the cellphone from the bird photo portfolio that I had published several years ago for my own Texas Reference Book. In the last pages of the book, I have recorded where each bird was seen [location] and month/year. All the photos shared are from my camera over the decade plus of birding in my own vicinity. {number of photos are over 200, but I share just a few for now}....

From top to bottom:

Bobolink [rare]

Bobwhite Quail

Groove-billed Ani

Lazuli Bunting [rare]

Whooping Crane

White-eyed Vireo

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§ Paradise Pointe...

If you follow me on my personal blog, Hootin' Anni's, you know that the week prior, I took my last trip to the islands for a while since the next two weeks will be College Spring Break here on our beaches. I wanted to go before the reported Whooping Crane Family of three leaves for the northern breeding grounds. I heard that they were filling up on blue crabs [that's a sure sign they're getting ready to migrate for their summer home]. Where they were reported at Port Aransas, I didn't find them the day I was there. I saw many other birds tho, included below. As I got ready to go home to Corpus after about 3-4 hours walking and birding, I decided to stop at a residential area that has canals and low lying fresh waterways that butt up against the homes. Before I even got into the area that the subdivision began, I saw the family!!  I arrived on the right day at the right time.  The three were nearly arms' distance from me at times.  The male, when upright, he stood a good 1/2 foot taller than I am!! Needless to say I was thrilled beyond measure!!
...They were busy dining. Follow me to Paradise Pointe...



WHITE FACED IBIS [snowy egret in background]
[not glossy]...white faced have red eyes, glossy ibises have black eyes
Habitat map: Ibis



ROSEATE SPOONBILL
Habitat map: Spoonbill



AMERICAN AVOCET
Habitat map: Avocet



ROYAL TERN
Habitat map: Tern



COMMON TERN
Habitat map: Tern



COMMON GALLINULE [aka moorhen]
Habitat map: Gallinule



WHOOPING CRANE[s]...male, female and juvenile
Habitat map: Crane


Spotting the Cranes in their winter habitat, made my winter birding complete! Now, I can concentrate on Spring Migration!!

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The Linking is now closed. Come back and share your birds with us on Saturady [March 20th at NOON, Central DST]

§ They've Left...

Once again, after all these years of birding, I feel a bit saddened that our Whoopers have left our area for their summer home. The few months we have them here in Coastal Texas, I think they're part of our world, even tho I know it's only temporary. This week, on our local news [the news anchors actually broke into the coronavirus coverage!] informed us with a small snippet telling us it's time to say goodbye 'til next year. This post is dedicated to the Whooping Crane. Bud and I know of two nearby areas we can usually find them on any given day. One area just 25 miles from home, the other area about 40 miles from Corpus Christi. We don't have to drive the long distance of 150 miles to ANWR near Austwell, Texas, thanks to other birders letting us know of close-by niches they use for the winter season...

This first group, there is usually two cranes. But there have been reports of three in one day. This is the third year they've re-established their territory in late fall thru March...

photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge Port Aransas

then...another day just recently, we had to make a return trip to the other area to see them -there are, at times, the rusty feathered young ones, but not on this day- one more time for this year:

photos taken: Goose Island State Park, Lamar Texas

WHOOPING CRANES
habitat map: Crane
length: 50 inches
wingspan: 85 inches

I bid them a safe journey and hope to see 'em all next year.


this image, the cranes' spring migration from Coastal Texas, is borrowed from Google Images


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Those that participated are:
A Quiet Corner
Lea's Menagerie [Mockingbird]
The Early Birder
Lintuilua-Birding
Linda, Virginia, USA
Sallie [Full Time Life]
Mary Howell Cromer
Traveling With Birds [doesn't follow rules of hyperlink]
Birds Seen  in Europe and Africa
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Lavender Dreams
Eileen
Crafty Gardener
Lea's Menagerie [Eagle]
Phil UK

§ At the Port's Refuge...

I was mesmerized watching this heron and his morning catch, an eel. All the while, an immature Black Crowned Night Heron also paid a bit of attention to it now and then.  The Heron finally lost the eel, and went back into the water and caught something closer to a size that he could conquer more easily...

GREAT BLUE HERON
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Heron
length:  48 inches
wingspan:  80 inches

American Eel in Texas

...as this was taking place, after the sun broke the horizon to the back of me, the mudflats about a half mile away revealed two of the continuing wintering Whooping Cranes.  This is nice...I don't have to drive 60 miles one way in hopes of seeing them on Goose Island, and then not find any when I arrive.  Awesome.

WHOOPING CRANE
photos taken: Port Aransas, Mustang Island
habitat map: Crane
length:  50 inches
wingspan:  85 inches


Those Participating this week:

Linda, Virginia, USA
Early Birder
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Christina, Sweden
Travels with Birds
Arun, Jaipur, India
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Eileen
Lavender Dreams
Lea's Menagerie
Phil UK


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