I'd Rather B Birdin': Wilson's Snipe

Showing posts with label Wilson's Snipe. Show all posts

§ Island Birds Seen...

It all boils down to a few "different birds" this week. Not new birds mind you, but ones I haven't seen for some time. Starting with the Yellowheaded Blackbird. It's usually seen here in mid-March. Early. And the Wilson's Snipe was ground feeding [naturally] out in the open. I had a good opportunity to follow it in action without going into hiding for quite a while. The Great Egret was spotted in a different area for me...Paradise Pointe [it's a residential area that has homes along the waterway]. The GRUMPY EGRET was a bit on the perturbed side of its morning. A Tri-colored Heron had caught a fish, and the egret was chasing after, to no avail...hence, the grumpy look [snowy egret]. And lastly, the Red Winged Blackbird was in amongst the others of his own kind, and the yellowheaded. All photos are from Port Aransas, Texas.

YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRD
Habitat map: Blackbird

WILSON'S SNIPE
Habitat map: Snipe

GREAT EGRET
Habitat map: Egret

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD
Habitat map: Blackbird

GRUMPY EGRET [aka Snowy Egret]
Habitat map: Egret

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§ Autumn Birds this week...

We've had a couple of Autumn Cold Fronts move in to the area...finally! Tho, it's not "COLD" for most living in the north; but, for those that live in the southern areas of USA... High 50s at night, and low to upper 70s during the day for high temps. A perfect time for me. A few scattered showers now and then, crisp air, I couldn't ask for better days. The birding is slow, a small number of migrants are moving in, but for now, the migrants are also scattered like the rain showers. What I've seen in the past week are mostly ducks and white pelicans taking residence for the winter months. Along the Mustang Island highway, I spotted a gorgeous Peregrine Falcon...the first of many, I hope, for the season...

PEREGRINE FALCON
photos taken: Island Highway
habitat map: Falcon

...then, at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas, I sighted in on this. i think the whole time I watched it it never did show its feet.

WILSON'S SNIPE
photos taken: Paradise Pond
habitat map: Snipe

While walking the trail at the park in Calallen Texas, a couple of these beauties flitted by me and landed on a bare tree stump....

SCISSORTAIL[ED] FLYCATCHER
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Flycatcher

Visiting another small park downtown, I saw this bird I haven't seen in some time. It was a nice change from house sparrows...

LARK SPARROW
photo taken: Blucher Park
habitat map: Sparrow

At Labonte Park, along the river bank, this bird greeted me with its [how it got named] unmistakable call....

GREAT KISKADEE
photo taken: Labonte Park
habitat map: Kiskadee

Another sunny morning, I walked the beach....

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER[S]
photo taken: Gulf of Mexico Beach
habitat map: Oystercatcher

The participants for this week are as follows:

Lea's Menagerie
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Phil UK
Lavender Dreams
Travel with Birds
Linda in Virginia
Christina [Sweeden]
Coloring Outside the Lines

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§ Last Week Continued....

To begin my post today, last week I mentioned that a startling discovery was seen through the foggy, misty, air, when I pulled off the island highway to check and see if the Aplomado Falcons were still active around the special platform in the field. Both were there, but the prairie grass and dunes had been burned right up to and surrounding the platform as you can see the charred land!! Perhaps, with the pattern of the burned area, it was a 'controlled' burn -what with the post in the foreground you can see the prairie grasses were NOT burned in line...but, why now when the season for breeding is upon us? I was surprised they both were still there!!

APLOMADO FALCON
photos taken: Mustang Island
habitat map: Falcon

I guess I'll never know what happened. I will continue to follow the two birds as long as it takes. And, I will stop quibbling the matter. For the day continued from last week, I sighted in on several water fowl at Leonabelle Refuge now that it has re-opened to the public. And afterward, the tidal pool near the Port Aransas Jetty [which has a new-found damaged area; and dangerous ---possible future collapse], and stopping on the way out of Port A, the last stop for the day, the Wetland Park across from Post Office on Highway 361:

COMMON GALLINULE [one returning Luecistic]
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Moorhen [aka Gallinule]

WILSON'S SNIPE
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Snipe

...at Port Aransas Wetland Park, through dense fog, I spotted:

WHITE IBIS
photos taken: Wetland Park
habitat map: Ibis

...at the Ship Channel's Tidal Pool

These look like Laughing Gulls...so similar in marking, but they're Franklin's Gulls (the distinctive Pink Breast [look closely] during breeding season) and larger eye ring eclipse are IDing factors for Franklin's Gull....

FRANKLIN'S GULL
photos taken: Port Aransas Jetty
habitat map: Gull

SNOWY EGRET, GREAT EGRET, GREAT BLUE HERON
photos taken: Tidal Pool
habitat maps: S. Egret, G. Egret, G B Heron

SNOWY EGRET
photo taken: Tidal Pool
habitat map: Egret

TRI-COLORED HERON and ROSEATE SPOONBILL
photos taken: Tidal Pool

habitat maps: Heron, Spoonbill

CATTLE EGRET
photos taken: Tidal Pool
habitat map: Egret

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§ A Snipe, Some Pelicans, A Heron and Grackles...

WILSON'S SNIPE
photos taken: Pollywog Ponds
habitat map: Snipe

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
photos taken: Han Suter Wildlife Refuge
habitat map: Pelican

[ps, compare size ratio with the Roseate Spoonbill - the Spoonbill ranges from Length: 28-32 inches; Weight: 2.6 - 4 pounds; Wingspan: 50 inches ...the pelicans are massive]

YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON
photos taken: Feeder Ditch to the Bay
habitat map: Heron

A bit of comedy relief!! These birds were trying to get out the gusty winds coming off the gulf, and warming themselves with the sunlight!! So, they used the wheel well of a pickup truck, and cozied up on the warm rubber of the tires... Genius!!!

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§ Island Birds Seen...

§ Autumn Birds this week...

§ Last Week Continued....

§ A Snipe, Some Pelicans, A Heron and Grackles...

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