I started out on Galveston's east beach just after sunrise. The area was as
empty of birds as I have seen it but saw no reason for the missing birds.
However, a peregrine or other bogy-bird passed over and got everyone to
move around but I never saw the falcon.
The summering pomarine jaeger continues on his spot and continues to eat
well
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246027
Both crested caracaras stopped by out on the beach of the Roads but did not
seem to alarm the peeps and small plovers
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246021
Least sandpipers feed on sand a little dryer than other birds and do not
seem to have the territorial instinct that other small beach birds exhibit
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246024
You can tell when they are feeding
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246025
Snowy plovers are running around
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246029
And a nice shiny rock pigeon was riding the ferry after it left the dock.
They seem to be riding more than in the past when they cleaned up docked
boats
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246028
Black-bellied plovers and western willets now have territories away from
the beach
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246046
The piping plovers find prey on sand that is a little dryer by playing
pattycake with one foot or sometimes called foot trembling
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246047
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246051
They watch for movement after the session
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246049
And then pounce. Note that each pounce leaves a little mound and hole in
the sand where the beak went in
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246053
Numbers of feeding plovers can make quite a pattern in the sand
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246054
Groups will pattycake together
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246063
And they do get goodies
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246066
A dunlin does not have any hint of semipalmated feet
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246061
Short-billed dowitchers can show a good curve near the end of the beak
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246070
Young of the year sanderlings are molting into winter plumage
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246068
Large numbers of snowy plovers continue on the sand
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246071
As do good flocks of Caspian terns
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246084
There were two great panics when the peregrine falcon that had been on
Rettilon road ventured out to the beach
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246073
Least terns did not do well nesting this year and many abandoned late
renestings when there were eggs and tiny chicks. At least one late chick
did make it and was feeding itself with no sign of an adult
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246086
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246088
The young royal terns are still begging and being fed. This on wanted more
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246089
Snowy plovers sometimes are territorial and other times play nicely
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246093
Lesser black-backed gulls are molting into winter plumage with head spots
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246101
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246102
Not all piping plovers are banded especially those from Canada
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246103
The red knot which are now gray knots was resting
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246107
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246110
And later fed in the surf moving along the beach
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246111
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246113
There has been a flock including 2 banded birds for over a month. They have
attracted friends and I had 26 on Thursday after they got in feeding mode.
It helps to count when they all parade past you.
Further up the peninsula I had my only sandwich tern of the day on the
beach begging from forster's terns
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246138
The forster's are in their bandit plumage
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246131
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246130
And were joined by my only common tern of the day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246129
A reddish egret was preening on a bollard
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246133
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246134
And has two-toned legs like snowy egrets
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246136
A group of nearby birds included western willet
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246145
Western sandpiper
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246143
and semipalmated plover
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246139
All are semipalmated
willet
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246144
sandpiper
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246142
plover
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246140
A good group of brown pelicans were swimming around the ferry on the
bolivar side catching fish
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246157
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246158
Yellow crowned night herons feed on the texas city dike all day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246160
As do several great blue herons
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246162
with chestnut pantaloons
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246161
Ring-billed gulls are getting their striped winter head markings
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246178
But retain the spring colors inside the mouth
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246177
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164246176
Another great day on the coast
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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