Over the past few weeks, I've been seeing double! In pairs that is:
...this little one was having a trial of the morning, trying to keep up with its mom. I couldn't resist watching. Of course, it's only a baby face a mother could love...
COMMON GALLINULE [AND chick]
photo taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Reserve
habitat map: Gallinule aka Common Moorhen
BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS
photo taken: Flour Bluff, Texas
habitat map: Duck
LITTLE GREEN HERON
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Heron
BLACK SKIMMER
photo taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Reserve
habitat map: Skimmer
BLACK NECKED STILT
photo taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Reserve
habitat map: Stilt
_ _ _ _
The highlight of the week for me was the very morning I was at Leonabelle's Reserve in Port Aransas Texas! The area was busy for the early morning hour I was there. Cormorants, Ibis, Coots, Pelicans, Spoonbills, Moorhens [Gallinules], Grackles, Seagulls, Skimmers, Herons, Egrets, Ducks, Stilts, a lone sandpiper, ....plus parks and city workers doing their jobs and more activity. As I had spent an hour or two there already, and was anxious to go to other hotspots in the village, I began to retrace my steps to exit the park, when high above, I saw 'em!! I was elated 'cause it's been a couple of years since I've last seen one....THREE Magnificent Frigatebirds. Along the Gulf Coast of Texas they can be common during the summer months. You just have to be there at the right time....The Magnificent Frigatebird is characterized by extremely long, pointed wings, the longest wings for any bird in comparison to overall body weight. They are most commonly seen soaring, dipping down close to the water's surface to pick up food items, but never landing or swimming in the water.
source: Sdakotabirds
source: Sdakotabirds
I took several photos and will share some here. I will leave one here to show you the relative size of the Frigatebird; comparing to the Neotropic Cormorant which is quite common and seen daily while out birding.
The Neotropic Cormorant [as seen in last photo below] -
Wingspan: approximately 40 inches [101.6 cm]
The Magnificent Frigatebird -
Wingspan: approximately 90 inches [228.6 cm]
If I spread my arms out as if to fly, and measure from fingertip to fingertip my "wingspan" is 61 inches [154.94 cm]
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
photos taken: Leonabelle Turnbull Reserve
habitat map: Frigatebird
and paste into your blog post:
Lovely photos of birds in flight
ReplyDeleteThe sailing of the frigatebird is so effortless. I'm still calling the Common Gallinule a "moorhen," as it seems so appropriate when compared with the Purple Gallinule. I also remember some old-timer birders calling them "mudhens." The legs of the stilt are unbelievably long!
ReplyDeleteI love your banner with the cardinal that you painted! And how perfect for you to show these magnificent Frigatebirds! Someone just asked me to help them with an id and it turned out to be Swallow-tailed Kites. He wondered if somehow it could have been Frigatebirds. Love your photos! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to draw my frog photos. I hope you do...let me know! Happy Sunday!
DeleteWow, what an awesome find!! I have never seen one in any blogs, in my memory. Their beak is very distinctive. Aren't they known as the pirates of the sea? Their silhouette in the sky is very impressive. I also learned something, did not know that a Gallinule is the same bird as a moorhen! The two stilts are such an amazing and cute photo.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds! Those wings are impressive.
ReplyDeleteThat Frigate bird is just amazing, thanks so much for sharing. Love all the other birds as well most of course which are new to me.
ReplyDeleteHave a good Sunday, Diane
I remember watching those frigatebirds in Mexico. They are very awesome creatures and it must be frightening for smaller birds to be chased by such a large aggressive creature. They don't give up easily either as I recall. Nice action shots Anni. Enjoy your day and the week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHello, beautiful variety of birds and photos. The Frigatebirds are cool, great sighting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting. Wishing you a great day and a happy new week!
I don't remember seeing a frigatebird.. they really do have long magnificent wings when spread. maybe they don't come to Florida...
ReplyDeleteOMG! Anni, the wingspan on these birds is incredible. I never realized that...thank YOU!...:)jp
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are the Little Green Herons - they are such fun birds to watch!
ReplyDeleteGreat in-flight photos of the other birds, too!
What fun day this must have been. I have been looking at them in All About Birds...did not realize how big they were.
ReplyDelete'Wait up, Mom'
ReplyDeleteOh such a day! I do love birdies and there are many here that I haven't seen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lovely photos.
Those cormorants are fabulous!
ReplyDelete