§ 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]

§ 'Twas the Week Before Christmas...

In the midst of the holiday season, and days of unending rainfall the previous week, I still found some time out to travel to check out the birds in my vicinity:

WHITE FACED IBIS [white faced has red eyes while the Glossy Ibis has dark eyes]
photo taken:  Port Aransas

habitat map:  Ibis
length  22-26 inches
wingspan 38 inches


SPOTTED SANDPIPER [tail constantly bobbing -non breeding plumage]
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Sandpiper
length 7.5 inches
wingspan 14 inches


BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Titmouse
length 6.5 inches
wingspan 9.75 inches


WHITE WINGED DOVES
photo taken:  Calallen, Texas Country Club Golf Course
habitat map: Dove
length 11-12 inches
wingspan 17-18 inches

RED BREASTED MERGANSER [female]  An interesting fact, according to sdakotabirds.com - - They are among the fastest of all flying waterfowl, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.

photo taken:  Indian Point Park
habitat map:  Merganser
length 15-25 inches
wingspan 30-36 inches


RED TAILED HAWK [immature? or leucistic?  I'd say immature]
photo taken:  Chapman Ranch
habitat map:  Hawk
length 19-25 inches
wingspan 46-58 inches

May your new year, 2020, be a very happy one...and filled with beautiful birds!!!!

Participating this week are:
Christina
Mary
Eileen
Debbie
Cranium  Bolts
Linda
Lea
Lavender Dreams
David
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Anni


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§ Castro Sanctuary and Other Hotspots...

There is a small section of land that has been designated by the Castro [no relation to Fidel that I know of] family, named after their daughter, Linda, who was an avid birder.  The land with a small fresh water pond was donated to the town of Rockport, Texas.  Here, at different times of year several species of migrant and resident birds are seen...

WHITE FACED IBIS* [and greater yellowlegs]
photos taken:  Linda Castro Sanctuary
habitat map:  Ibis
*very similar to the Glossy Ibis of Florida. The Glossy has black eyes, and the White Faced has red eyes!!!


GROOVE BILLED ANI
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Ani



BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE [immature top photo]

photos taken:  Hazel Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Titmouse


VEERY
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Veery


YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO
photo taken:  Hans Suter Wildlife Reuge
habitat map:  Cuckoo


YELLOW WARBLER
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Warbler


SCISSORTAILED FLYCATCHER family
photo taken:  Hazel Bazemore Park
habitat map: Scissortail


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§ Winter Months....

I don't know about other bird enthusiasts in this area of Texas, but since Hurricane Harvey, in August of 2017, I have noticed that so many birds were displaced. Very little numbers have been seen since until recently. Lately I haven't been out birding because of the landscape disaster and/or inclement weather. Now it seems they're slowly returning.

NORTHERN CARDINAL{female and male}
photos taken:  H. Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Cardinal


WHITE FACED IBIS
photo taken:  H. Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Ibis


GREAT KISKADEE
photo taken:  Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge
habitat map:  Kiskadee


AMERICAN AVOCET
photo taken:  Indian Point Park
habitat map:  Avocet


REDHEAD DUCK
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Redhead



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§ From Town to Goose Island

Another post with several different species sighted around town and over to Copano Bay...



LADDER BACKED WOODPECKER
photo taken:  Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Woodpecker



RED WINGED BLACKBIRD [female]
photo taken:  Leonabelle Turnbull Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Blackbird



WHITE FACED IBIS
photo taken:  Leonabelle Turnbull Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Ibis



BONAPARTE'S GULL
photo taken:  Lydia Ann Channel Jetty - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: Gull



WOOD THRUSH
photo taken:  Blucher Park - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Thrush



COOPER'S HAWK
photo taken:  Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Hawk



WILSON'S WARBLER
photo taken:  Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Warbler



GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
photo taken:  Rose Hill Cemetery - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Woodpecker



WHOOPING CRANE
photo taken:  Goose Island - Lamar/Rockport/Fulton Texas Area
habitat map:  Crane

ps...if I'm tardy getting around to visiting on Sunday, I hope you'll understand...Go Broncos!!!


Now share your birding experiences:









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