§ From my book...

I hope now that we're back in the 'business' of sharing, that your New Year started with happiness and health. With the lack of getting out because of all the renovations being done around Anni's; finishing three rooms so far and beginning the huge livingroom this weekend, I am resorting to sharing some photos taken thru the cellphone from the bird photo portfolio that I had published several years ago for my own Texas Reference Book. In the last pages of the book, I have recorded where each bird was seen [location] and month/year. All the photos shared are from my camera over the decade plus of birding in my own vicinity. {number of photos are over 200, but I share just a few for now}....

From top to bottom:

Bobolink [rare]

Bobwhite Quail

Groove-billed Ani

Lazuli Bunting [rare]

Whooping Crane

White-eyed Vireo

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§ Long Time...No See!

On this particular morning, early when I left home, when I arrived at my trailhead I had planned on walking, the ground fog was thick. The air was heavy. But all was still and quiet. What broke the silence as I began my steps in the humid air, I heard a mockingbird; eventually seeing its silhouette in the brush ahead of me. The peace was broken a few times as other joggers and hikers passed me going the opposite direction back to the parking lot. Suddenly, off to my right, I saw another silhouette. A very distinctive profile!! I knew I 'stumbled' upon a bird that is not often seen or heard. You may say elusive. The morning light wasn't good for photography at all. And the mist in the air was a hindrance. I stopped and took photos anyway, just to record my sighting. I stood for some time watching. There were now three in the trees off the trail! Not a sound they made.

Wikipedia and other websites tell me they are uncommon, but NOT rare.  Their habitat extends from North West South America thru Old Mexico and just a fraction of the Coastal Bend of Texas in the USA as shown on the map I borrowed from the site. It's just more or less luck and being in the right place at the right time. After taking a few photos, I walked to the end of the trail. I turned around to finish. All in all about 3 miles only. I was beginning to suffer from the everlasting humidity since it wasn't burning off because of the cloud cover. I actually couldn't wait to get back to the car. As I neared the area where the elusive birds were seen, the sun was out and the air was somewhat clearer, but still hazy off in the distance where they were seen. I again stopped and got some BETTER photos of them...

From the beginning, in the foggy air, to a return trip back to the car---






GROVE BILLED ANI
Habitat map: Ani


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§ May Birds

Stll, the weather the past three weeks has just been no good, nor is the birding population. A couple of weeks ago, South Padre Island had a rare bird reported [about 200 miles from our home], but each time we planned on going there to see if we could find it Bud and I decided not to go because of the heavy rains forecasted. Oh well....it was just a pigeon. A white crowned pigeon from the Caribbean. At least that is what I've been saying to myself to help with the disappointment of not getting to travel there. It has now left and not been re-spotted anywhere close. [At least as of this posting].


So, with the lack of good birding in our area, I am going to go back to the month of May and share some more photos from then.....



MALLARD DUCK [domestic]
photo taken:  Lakeview Park
habitat map:  Duck


LONG BILLED THRASHER [compare to brown thrasher with brighter plumage, straight bill, and yellow eyes.  Texas' Long Billed Thrasher is duller in color, a slightly longer, down-curve bill and orange eyes]

photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Thrasher


BLACK SKIMMER
photos taken:  Rockport Park
habitat map:  Skimmer



SPOTTED SANDPIPER
photo taken:  Botanical Gardens
habitat map:  Sandpiper


PIED BILLED GREBE
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Grebe


GROVE BILLED ANI
photo taken: Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Ani


[hidden] GREAT BLUE HERON
photos taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Heron


TEXAS GOLDFINCH [or Lesser Goldfinch with all black head]
photos taken:  Falfurrias Texas
habitat map:  Goldfinch
*is is molting?


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§ Castro Sanctuary and Other Hotspots...

There is a small section of land that has been designated by the Castro [no relation to Fidel that I know of] family, named after their daughter, Linda, who was an avid birder.  The land with a small fresh water pond was donated to the town of Rockport, Texas.  Here, at different times of year several species of migrant and resident birds are seen...

WHITE FACED IBIS* [and greater yellowlegs]
photos taken:  Linda Castro Sanctuary
habitat map:  Ibis
*very similar to the Glossy Ibis of Florida. The Glossy has black eyes, and the White Faced has red eyes!!!


GROOVE BILLED ANI
photo taken:  Pollywog Ponds
habitat map:  Ani



BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE [immature top photo]

photos taken:  Hazel Bazemore Park
habitat map:  Titmouse


VEERY
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Veery


YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO
photo taken:  Hans Suter Wildlife Reuge
habitat map:  Cuckoo


YELLOW WARBLER
photo taken:  Blucher Park
habitat map:  Warbler


SCISSORTAILED FLYCATCHER family
photo taken:  Hazel Bazemore Park
habitat map: Scissortail


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§ Winter Birds....

I titled this post "winter" birds seen this past December, but some are considered year 'round residents here in South Texas...


EASTERN BLUEBIRD
photos taken:  Goliad, Texas
habitat map:  Bluebird


BLACK SKIMMERS
photo taken:  Hans Suter Park - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Skimmer


ANHINGA
photo taken:  Hans Suter Park - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Anhinga


GREEN KINGFISHER
photo taken:  Lion Shelly Park - Refugio, Texas
habitat map:  Kingfisher


MARSH WREN
photo taken:  Leonabelle Refuge - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map:  Wren


GROOVE BILLED ANI
photo taken:  Oso Bay Wetlands - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Ani


YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON [2nd image - juvenile]
photos taken:  Hans Suter Park - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map:  Heron






Now share your birding experiences:






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