Shore Birds by the Seashore...

NOTE: This weekend, all weekend, is the 55th Annual Jazz Festival here in town. This year, in celebration of 55 years, there will be fifty-five bands!!!!  Bud and I will be attending [weather permitting] so I will be late visiting...probably on Monday....or stop by EARLY before sunup on Sunday.


Several of our favorite hot spots are getting make overs and nearby construction keeps most of the birds scarce. For a couple of outings, Bud and I walked the Padre Island Seashore beaches. Even there, on those days, the birds were a bit lacking in presence, but here are a few we spotted along the beaches:

One of my favorite little plovers...We also photographed and reported last week a banded [ringed] Piping Plover. I haven't heard back from the Bird Banding Laboratory as of this posting, but continue to hope for a full report on the records of that particular bird [not the one shared here]. If I do get anything written to me through an email on the plover, I will be sure to include it sometime in the future.  IDing feature is the pair of yellow legs.  In breeding season, the plover will have yellow and black beak as compared to their winter all black beak.

PIPING PLOVER

photo taken: Padre Island [North] Whitecap Beach - Corpus Christi, Texas

habitat range: Piping Plover

Most often, when we do spot an 'odd seagull' other than the very common laughing gull, they're immature. But, not this particular day.  I've been hoping to find ones considered vagrant - greater/lesser black backed gulls that have been spotted in the area of Kleberg County section of the seashore. I spotted this white head and yellow, red-tipped, beak and was hoping it was one I have been trying to find. But, once it got out from the group of other laughing gulls, it had the light gray back....an adult Herring Gull! [pink legs and feet...the black backed have YELLOW]

HERRING GULL [adult]

photos taken: Bob Hall Pier Vicinity -Kleberg County Padre Island [Texas]

habitat range: Herring Gull

The Marbled Godwit was just minding its own business and ol' Anni had to interrupt its hunt! It flew off just a short distance and landed to begin anew.

MARBLED GODWIT

photos taken: Bob Hall Pier Vicinity -Kleberg County Padre Island [Texas]

habitat range: Marbled Godwit

One thing I like about the oystercatchers is their eyes and eye ring. They're almost hypnotic with the sharp eye and the brilliant red/orange eye ring. And they're beautiful in flight!!

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER

photos taken: Bob Hall Pier Vicinity -Kleberg County Padre Island [Texas]
habitat range:  American Oystercatcher

Several different sandpipers in their winter garb were on their feeding frenzy motion along the ebbing/receding wave actions. This one, by the orange legs, and feet is identifiable as the non-breeding [winter] plummage ---Ruddy Turnstone

RUDDY TURNSTONE

photo taken: Padre Island [North] Whitecap Beach - Corpus Christi, Texas

habitat range: Ruddy Turnstone

And lastly today, this wasn't spotted on the islands but over the harbor bridge and Corpus Christi's North Bay....a Belted Kingfisher; female.

BELTED KINGFISHER

photo taken: Indian Point Park - Corpus Christi North Bay, Texas

habitat range: Belted Kingfisher

Now share your birding experiences:








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