C'est magnifique! Up to an 85" [215cm] wingspan---

I had plans of posting and sharing a few other birds that we spotted during the Spring Migration this past season, but after our Sunday morning outing over the previous weekend, and spotting a couple of birds that were on our list of wanting to see, I decided, with all the excitement of a kid with a new toy, to do a show n tell of the 'new sighting' instead!! It was a misty, quiet morning as we drove to the islands. The highway here and there was saturated with a wetness that has been far too long in seeing these past three years with the drought. Just minutes before; the rains came. And left. The clouds above were grey and dreary, but with a promise it may just clear out when the sun got past the horizon. I had read in the Texas Bird Sightings that this particular bird had been seen in the area of Port Aransas. Tho the report was the weekend of July 4th, Bud and I decided that maybe, just maybe, if we're lucky...we may spot one. After reaching Port Aransas, we made our first stop at a super spot, Leonabelle Wildlife Refuge. We figured if no special birds were there, perhaps we'd see an alligator or two in the pond amongst the tall reed. When we reached the parking lot of the Refuge, early in the morning as it was, there were already other vehicles in the vicinity. Loading up our birding equipment, we set off to walk the boardwalk and climb the observation tower. I had walked to the end of the boardwalk already and spotted two birds I had not seen before. My puzzler was sore as I snapped the shutter, wondering what species they were. They were HUGE! Bud had stopped several feet behind me, and was trying to get my attention. I finally relinquished my spot on the boardwalk and returned back to where he was.

"Anni? You wanted to see baby Coots all Summer"..."this is your chance", he whispered to me as he pointed into the clump of tall reed. At first glance, I saw nothing. Then I spotted some movement at the water level and heard a faint chirping. Out of the reed it came...showing its bright red orange downy head!!

...then, another came out to join in:

...finally, mama Coot showed up:

As little as they are, if you embiggen the photos, you can look through the swamp's water at the size of the baby's feet at this age. Very large, and long already. We last visited this area in June and there was no sign of any babies hatched at the time, so these chicks, we estimate at being between 1 week and 2 weeks of age. I took several [who am I kidding...tons of] photos!! Cute...cute, Coot!!

AMERICAN COOT CHICKS

photos taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Wildlife Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas

Habitat range:

TRIVIA:

Back Bay, Virginia, suggested that the local coot population ate 216 tons (in dry weight) of vegetation per winter.

The broad lobes, on a Coot's foot, fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so it doesn’t impede walking on dry land, though it supports the bird’s weight on mucky ground.

- - -

But, while I was busy getting photos of the baby Coots, I still glanced over at the other two birds far far away. The two continued to perch on a couple of pilings about 100 yards or more from where the boardwalk ended. Again, I had never seen this species before. I walked back to the last board on the walk, and used my zoom. Even looking through the zoomed image in the viewfinder I was at a loss of their identification. I was guessing at what they were, but still not positive as they were hunched up a bit. Without using the shutter button, I studied the image I was seeing through the camera's window and then, I knew!! We lucked out!! The person that had posted on the Texas Birding Forum was right. And they were still here!! Or at least another two were here. I was elated. And had a frenzied time just pushing the shutter over and over and over. We decided to walk back and climb the observation tower. While up there, scanning the entire pond and beyond the reed where smaller ponds can be seen...the two decided to give us a fabulous aerial show as they flew directly overhead! Taking an uneducated guess, I'm surmising that the two was one immature and the other an older female, perhaps its mother......

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

photos taken: Turnbull Wildlife Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas

habitat range:

As you can see by this range map, the Magnificent Frigatebird is normally NOT a land lubber...spending most of its life on Gulf/Ocean waters. Mainly the mating takes place around the area of the Galapagos Islands, and the Dry Tortugas. Altho, life is spent flying over the ocean waters, it rarely lands on/in the water since their feet are so small in proportion to its massive size. If you read the post title, you now know their wingspan can reach exceptional lengths up to 85-90 inches! And once you've witnessed this phenomenal bird, all others seem 'pint-sized' in comparison.

TRIVIA:

The breeding period of the Magnificent Frigatebird is exceptionally long and young fledglings are often still being fed by the female at one year of age.

The male Magnificent Frigatebird abandons its mate and half-grown chick and leaves the breeding colony, presumably to molt and return for another breeding attempt with a different mate. The female cares for the young for over a year. This difference in parental care allows the male to breed each year while the female breeds only every other year.

Researching tells me that the adult female has a dark head with white chest, the adult male is all black. The immature frigatebird has a buff-colored, dark, body with all white head and chest. So, as I stated above, I think this is mama and offspring. After we left this area, we stopped at five other spots [Paradise Pond, where we saw nada, zilch, nothing! Charlie's Pasture Refuge at the Ships' Channel...not much new there -the Marine Science Institute, the Gulf Bay Shore [where I spotted another 'first'] and then on to Charlies Pasture Refuge South [found a few good opportunities of photo shoots]. Then, heading home with summertime bumper to bumper traffic. Ugh.

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