TexBirders:
Seabirding off my balcony has been really good lately with the Brown Boobies
still frequenting the bay markers out from the Port O’Connor beach park on Park
St. They can be seen daily but at a distance that requires a good scope. When
checking on them this later afternoon/early evening I counted a total of 7 that
were perched on markers 30, 29, 28, 27. At least 3 adults were present.
The biggest surprise and thrill happened at 6:55 p.m. when an unusually
contrasty gull flew through my field of view. I swung the scope around
immediately and confirmed my initial suspicion - a beautiful adult Sabine’s
Gull with its distinctive 3-toned black, white and gray M pattern. The head had
already molted into non-breeding plumage and at the distance looked like a dark
band across the head. I followed it in the scope for about a mile (measured on
Google Earth) hoping it would perch on the jetties or a bay marker but it kept
flying towards the barrier islands and the open Gulf beyond.
Tomorrow we are planning to take the boat out to Pass Cavallo, a favorite gull
and tern hang-out spot with good feeding areas just offshore. Maybe I’ll luck
into it again but fishing will be the main pursuit.
Petra Hockey
Port O’Connor, Calhoun Co.Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
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