With this posting I'm sharing a NEW bird spotted!! But first, these, of a Myrtle Warbler. Now, most call this bird a "Yellow Rumped" or I've read before they're also known as "Butter Butts". I'd prefer Myrtle Warbler myself. And I usually see them during Spring Migration...the winter plumage was a surprise. Usually gray, yellow, black and white...but this month, when I spotted them...much more brown. I like it!!!
MYRTLE WARBLER [aka Yellow Rumped Warbler]
photos taken: Packery Channel Motte - NORTH Padre Island
habitat map: Myrtle Warbler
This next bird is the NEW one!! Tho, sadly, it was sighted in a dark area with the lack of sunlight, I got this photo that still shows its ID markings/colors ---
BLUE HEADED VIREO
New one for me!!!
photo taken: Packery Channel Motte - NORTH Padre Island
habitat map: Blue Headed Vireo
...and this one that follows is one I've seen a few times before, but rarely get any decent photos. [there is a 'ruby' crown' but guide books tell me that is rarely seen, but once the ruby crown was exposed for me...photo shared on this post]---
RUBY CROWNED KINGLET
photo taken: Packery Channel Audubon Sanctuary - NORTH Padre Island
habitat map: Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Bud and I don't leave Port Aransas without checking out Paradise Pond, even tho there is so much construction going on surrounding the 'paradise'. The bird population has sadly dwindled to just a few. If lucky, and at the right time, some activity can be spotted.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER
photo taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
On a very chilly windy day after we went to lunch for some of the delicious fresh Gulf Shrimp, we drove over the harbor and I perused some of the pathway. Hardly any birds at all on the many lakes. But, on the Leeward side of one of the first lake shores, hundreds of sea gulls and terns and skimmers were huddled, protected by the strong wind. I set the camera lens on panoramic, but trust me this is just a 'sampling' of the numbers seen...the numbers were probably in the thousands, going on further to the northeast by several hundred yards...
SEA GULLS, TERNS & BLACK SKIMMERS
photos taken: Sunset Lakes - Portland, Texas
habitat map: Black Skimmer
At Leonabelle's Refuge, I spotted in the thick, dense tree-lined walkway, a White Eyed Vireo ---
WHITE EYED VIREO
photo taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Wildlife Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: White Eyed Vireo
...and lastly, trying to tally up my 10,000 steps for the outing, I walked the boardwalk to find one of my favorite species...once again, the horned lark!
HORNED LARK
photo taken: Charlie's Pasture North - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: Horned Lark
I took the Cornell Ornithology Quiz to find out what kind a of birder I am. The result:
I'm an INDEPENDENT BIRDER!! What are you? The quiz only takes less than a couple of minutes.
Now, share your birding experiences:
or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
Such a fantastic sighting of the blue headed vireo along with lots of other beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteI like the cute butter butt and the Vireo's. The Skimmers are cool looking birds. I would love to see the Scissortail Flycatcher. Great post and birds. Thanks for hosting. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat White Eyed Vireo is so beautiful and we have the Yellow Rumped Warblers here and I enjoy them so much. They actually eat Poison ivy berries...ugh ;) Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Day Anni~
ReplyDeleteWow !! These birds are beautiful !! I really enjoyed seeing them, Anni !!
ReplyDeleteFantastic shots !!
Have a nice weekend !
No surprises there Anni. Like you I seem to be an "Independent Birder" - anti-social some might say. Anyway who cares as long as we enjoy what we do?
ReplyDeleteI rather like "Butter Butt". It shows that independent birders like us regard them as familiar friends rather than folk we see once in a blue moon.
That is one of a helluva lot of terns and skimmers to picture in one shot. I'd love to spend an hour two searching through that panorama.
Congrats on the Blue headed Vireo. It's a real nice one to get and the eye ring & lores are just fabulous.
Texas is growing on me so much I may have to pay you and Bud a visit soon but I promise not to bring our UK weather with me. Take care and have a wonderful week.
If all of those sea birds had a beach towel there would be no sand in sight. That's a lot of birds! And you have so many pretty little ones today. It was a good week of birding.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos all! Congratulations on your first time seeing the Blue Headed Vireo. I agree that I'd prefer being called a Myrtle Warbler rather than a Butter Butt though the latter rolls off the tongue much easier ;-) Enjoy your weekend
ReplyDeleteThat horned lark is amazing! Of course, all of your images are beautiful. Thanks so much for hosting.
ReplyDeleteall are lovely!
ReplyDeleteAmazing shots. Some bird shots just are not the way we would want them,but if it's a lifer,than any picture will do.These really are good.
ReplyDeleteSweet birds! I am unfamiliar with Butter Butts!
ReplyDeleteFirstly I love your header. This post has a wonderful selection of bird images and it is Awalys special when you see. A new bird.
ReplyDeletelate this time but finally here :)
ReplyDeleteA bird I really wanted to see up close is the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. But I only got a glimpse of it and no shots. Thanks for sharing your little beauty :)
I saw a huge group of black skimmers last time we were at the beach. I'd never seen them before. They're gorgeous birds.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you!
http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/11/chicago.html
Stunning close ups all!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant set of birding pictures. I would be happy to see any one of them.
ReplyDeleteNorth Padre Island!?? I've never been there!
ReplyDeleteThe Black Skimmer is quite good-looking.
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Anni, Blue Headed Vireo, great capture. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I'd really love to see those Skimmers!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
It's always great to see so many beautiful and colorful birds. Birds that are not common in the Netherlands and I see only on TV or on the blog of fellow bloggers. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLate again, but I loved the Myrtle Warbler and Blue-headed Vireos! And the skimmers!!
ReplyDelete