American kestrels are one of the hardest bird to get close pictures. They appear to have esp and can tell when one plans to take a picture and get a close look. They fly up the road and perch again and fly again. However, every 10 years for 10 minutes at 10 in the morning they are required to perch. Like this bird at Quintana that was catching small critters down in the grass http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737101 Nothing very fancy but lots of close up pictures http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737090 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737078 Lots more too and there are lots of snowy plover shots too with the large roost down close to where the old berm comes near the beach http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737029 They were out of the wind on the beach side so made for good looks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737022 Many went out to feed after the gulls went inland but were back asleep around midday http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737011 The jetty had a single bonaparte's gull http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148736778 Feeding closely with an eared grebe next to the rocks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148736775 A neotropic cormorant had most of its breeding plumage http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148736771 And you have to take pictures of the many lesser black-backed gulls http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148736773 More gulls were on Follett Island http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737105 And a white-tailed kite was on the wires http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737106 The american oystercather also known as good old N1 was up on the texas city dike. A second bird kept its numbers hidden from the camera http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737605 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737589 Many forster's terns are getting their breeding plumage and colors http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737616 While others are a little more retarded http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737623 The ring-billed gulls are getting red eye rings but still have head stripes http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737634 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737630 Herring gulls are getting their yellow eye rings http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737877 And are starting to do lots of calling http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737874 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737868 Some of the younger birds are starting to get a little less dark http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737872 The glaucous gull was with the gull flock but did not stay long http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737904 The gull headed into the gulf for a swim http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737906 It swam out and vanished in the distance. This is the only time I have seen a gull swim more than a half mile http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737908 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148737910 It never returned in a couple of hours so I got no other pictures. I did lots better yesterday with lots of pictures of one of the glaucous gulls many of which were so close I could only get pictures of part of the bird. Still have to process them but this one is representative http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148786427 The gull was feeding on the remains of fish that had been cleaned at the fish cleaning station. Very odd looking fish remains. Lots more kestrels, snowy plover etc with many more gull pictures to come. It is seagull time on the UTC. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
