On a County Road

Along the shoulder of the road, a hawk posed for me!!


BROAD WINGED HAWK
I believe it's immature by the way it was fumbling while hunting.
photo taken:  County Road 6 Chapman Ranch - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  hawk

Last Saturday morning, the air was hot and very humid. After a severe flooding at the beginning of the week, we hadn't seen too many birds out and about. And, at such an early hour, just before daybreak, we didn't expect many on this morning. We took to the county roads towards Chapman Ranch area [south of Corpus Christi]. Mainly 'cause it was a weekend, and we didn't want to deal with any heavy traffic on the island since there was a Beach to Bay Marathon scheduled for the only highway along the coast. The first two county roads were paved. The adjacent fields were still flooded in some spots from the rain on Monday. We turned off the road and headed onto a caliche farm road. In some spots the road was swamped but we got through to the dead end and this was posted [photo above].

The farmland to the right was swampy; standing water here and there. The birdsong was pleasing to the ears. The mosquitoes were ferociously ravenous!! Still, I got out of the car and walked along the road searching the open land in hopes of spotting something. The first bird I saw was a wader...a black necked stilt. In fact several were foraging in the water-laden field. Then, I spotted a few dark moving objects and figured they were birds. I lifted my binoculars for a better view since they were quite some distance from the road....Indeed they were birds. A near rarity. And ONE species I've longed to find on our excursions over the years!!! The Hudsonian Godwit! And some were still in breeding plumage!! I took a few photos even tho they were well 'hidden' in the high grasses...

All too quickly something spooked them and they flew off to land at such a distance I would've needed my tripod and set it up. I was lazy. Didn't go back to get the stand that's in the trunk of the car. I was satisfied to have seen the elusive Godwit as it was.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT
photos taken:  County Road 6 - Chapman Ranch, Corpus Christi Texas
habitat map:  godwit

By this time, the humidity was getting heavier and I couldn't focus well for the fact sweat was running in my eyes. I turned back to the car where Bud was searching other areas nearby. Along the fence line between where I stopped to photograph the Godwits and the car, another bird caught my eye! Tho by all means it knew I was there, it didn't move a muscle...

COMMON NIGHTHAWK
photos taken:  Chapman Ranch - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  nighthawk


Ending my walking along the road, Bud got my attention and pointed upward toward the power pole...

CRESTED CARACARA
photo taken:  Chapman Ranch - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  caracara

Just as we were getting in the car to leave, two Glossy Ibis flew into the area to have breakfast. There are three species of Ibis found in Texas. The White, seen very often, the White Faced Ibis, and then there is the Glossy Ibis. Most often in North America the Glossy Ibis is found around Florida and the Atlantic Coast; seldom seen in Texas. The two, most prevalent identifying and differentiating points with the Glossy and the White Faced...they are VERY similar... are eye color and facial markings. The Glossy Ibis has brown eyes with no eye ring, while the White Faced has red eyes surrounded by light 'white-pink' partial eye-ring...

GLOSSY IBIS
photo taken:  Chapman Ranch - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  ibis

...back in the comfort of the car, the air conditioner was full blast and we headed back to the city!  I was totally a happy birder finding a 'new' species after years of searching....the Hudsonian Godwit.



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