At North Bay in Corpus Christi, between the city and a small town of Portland, Texas there are two areas I frequent .... one, Indian Point Park [with a fishing pier and an observation deck for birding]. The other area is connected via a walkway along Sunset Lakes [Portland, Texas]. On a foggy morning, I drove there and walked the distance; seeing quite a few birds. Herons, ibis, osprey, godwits, curlews, sandpipers, gulls, pelicans, egrets, a few newly arriving ducks [mergansers and buffleheads], spoonbills, willets, sandpipers and more. At one time the sun tried to break out of the misty air, but not for long as the fog continued to linger throughout the couple hours I was there. Here are some of them I photographed....
Red Breasted Merganser [female]
habitat map: Merganser
FORSTER'S TERN [winter, non-breeding plumage]
habitat map: Tern
TRI COLORED HERON
habitat map: Heron
MARBLED GODWIT
habitat map: Godwit
WHITE IBIS [and a snowy egret]
habitat map: Ibis
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
habitat map: Pelican
LONG BILLED CURLEW [note the similar marking and color with above Godwit]
habitat map: Curlew
OSPREY [feeding]
habitat map: Osprey
...and a very special one off the pier, feeding on crabs! A Winter Texan!! This is the only area I've ever seen them. I've HEARD them at Copano Bay near Rockport, Texas; their haunting, beautiful, mournful calls. I found a 5 second mp3 audio....listen HERE
COMMON LOON
habitat map: Loon
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I got myself an early Christmas present. I have been using my old and scratched pair of binoculars for years, birding, and wanted a larger magnification and viewing range at 1000 yards. Going to Academy Sports here in town, I inspected all the displayed binoculars on the counter and thought these were ideal for what I wanted. I've tried 'em out a couple of times while out birding already. It will take some 'getting used to the weight' for now, my vision is super, but after a while, my hands shake....making them a bit cumbersome. Yet...I can see much further, more clearly, AND a with a much wanted, wider range-view. Here is one review screenshot I found online...
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