Did my usual start for the day at sunrise at east beach on Galveston. The
parking lot was again empty of birds. The only group of any size were
plovers down on the end of the drying out least tern nesting area and a
group of gulls, terns and shorebirds at the base of the jetty.
There was a lot of disturbance from 1) the avid aggie walker who walked
through all bird groups, 2) the photographer with a nice doggy that ran
after about every bird in the area again and again, 3) the caracara clan,
4) a peregrine chasing a merlin over who owns the area and 5) the
continuing pomarine jaeger and another pomarine jaeger that really has bad
plumage.
Walked down the channel waiting for the light to get getter and found few
birds on the water which has been high but 50+ black-bellied plovers and
100+ semipalmated plovers back near the lagoon. They were soon moved by a
peregrine falcon that came by from the north down low
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296929
Sort of moved most of the birds and came back
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296932
and perched
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296934
Took off and headed up the sand again only to deviate just past me to
intercept an incoming merlin from bolivar and the two chased up over the
jetty base really scaring everyone there
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296938
As I got back near the jetty, the summering pomarine jaeger flew in from
the west and landed moving a bunch of terns. Just after that, another
pomarine jaeger flew in from up the bay and really started chasing terns.
Lost this bird in the sun and did not find either after that. This bird has
ratty plumage that makes the summering bird a beau Brummel of jaegers by
comparison. Showed no white spot in the wing at all. This makes my 3rd
pomarine for the jetty this season.
Walking back to the jetty, I was greeted by a friend who has made the area
home for the winter
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296942
And a group of 6 red knots
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296945
One of the birds had a band on the lower leg which I did not see until
looking at pictures
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296949
After that they all stood in the water hiding any lower bands
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296962
And all did the one-legged pose so I never had more than the first glimpse
of a green flag
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296951
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296949
Other than a couple of least sandpipers, all of the peeps were western
sandpipers
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164296979
The ferry was very quiet but I did have a solitary sandpiper at the landing
for sort of a late bird.
A couple of marbled godwits and black-bellied plovers were all the
shorebirds at Fort Travis. I was greeted at the flats by another old friend
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297147
The horned lark family was out eating seeds from their favorite plant
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297138
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297140
An osprey going by scared most of the gulls and terns
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297145
But the great blue heron did not
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297126
Only found 2 red knots there; old 3K5 ate 2 surf clams whole in quick
succession which shows
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297151
The short-billed dowitchers were feeding
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297161
and sleeping
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297166
The gulls and terns had been moved off the beach into shallow water areas
before I arrived. A fair number of bean pickers were out and a couple of
other walkers. I waded well down the way and found and empty beach with a
peregrine sitting right behind it
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297174
I stopped with lots of shorebirds right in front of me who did not want to
walk any further. Was taking lots of pictures when they started walking
toward the peregrine and the peregrine flushed
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297177
One of the lessons that a photographer must remember is to move the camera
when the bird moves
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297175
In any event, a nice gentleman with binoculars and camera had walked right
into the birds I was photographing. After flushing the peregrine he turned
back and walked through each group of birds on the beach without even
lifting his binoculars. Probably not from Texas.
Drove lots of beach going east and in Crystal beach but did not find
anything different. One lesser black-backed gull but no greater or
franklins. More forster's terns are arriving and sandwich remain gone along
with least and black. A few more herring gulls but surprisingly few
ring-billed gulls.
Headed up to the texas city dike. 2 frigatebirds flew over the bolivar
ferry landing just as I was loading at ferry height but kept going and I
though it would be bad form to stop and take pictures.
There is lots of natural food on the dike this year which is bringing in
lots of rock pigeons
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297553
And a group of monk parakeets
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297946
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297921
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297907
Lots more parakeet pictures at
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox
There are more big gulls on the dike than the coast
including herring gulls
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297533
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297534
A lesser black-backed gull
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297540
And my mystery gull which I labeled as lbbg for want of anything else.
darker and smaller than the herring and not as dark as the lbbg.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297542
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297550
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164297548
Some discussion on north American gulls suggested an Appledore Gull which
is a hybrid lesser black-backxherring gull or even a relict Chandeleur gull
mix bird. But not a true lesser black-back. Will be waiting on any more
comments.
In any event an odd seagull does liven up the day. I take lots of pictures
of them and they usually fit the books when I get home but this bird did
not. Note that is is rather worn and not molting with most of the wear on
the white in the feathers.
Almost got the parakeets to pose with a gull and oystercatcher but they
walked in the wrong direction. Now that would have made a picture.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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