I think the correct term is mottled rather than masked. Maybe a little bit
hopeful for another trip.
On Mon, Mar 13, 2017 at 10:29 AM, Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
A couple of weeks ago I spent a day on Galveston Island and the texas city
dike.
Started at the new fishing/viewing area on 61st street to get the early
morning loons. Did not find any.
Headed to the A&M campus on pelican island to see if the tropical
kingbirds were in residence but did not find any. There is less
construction disturbance but lots of vehicles and traffic across the street
in the wetlands where they feed. A problem may be the cooper's hawk that
was sitting on a favorite perch of last summer.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041278
It was a good day for ospreys with 11 perched birds and perhaps a couple
of others flying in the general area of the perches. One bird was busy
eating a ribbon fish and ignored me and the other cars passing
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041279
The fish was easy to eat and pull apart unlike some catches.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041286
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041288
Other ospreys were just sitting
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041289
Masked ducks were all paired
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041295
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041304
And the mate
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041305
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041298
and preening
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041302
A pair of buffleheads were at Lafitte Woods hanging with a female lesser
scaup
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041318
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041312
Again lots of preening and wing flapping
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041314
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041315
Several redheads were down on the west end of the island
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041325
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041330
And again preening and flapping
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041328
And a female
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041323
East beach was rather empty. Both parking lots had lots of water but the
beach area and the fenced off nesting area were dry due to the very low
tide. I did not see a single shorebird anywhere in the area.
Actually I did not see a singly shorebird on the island with the exception
of one group of long-billed curlews feeding near the west end
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041319
or sleeping
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041322
I ended up with 8 other shorebirds for the day of 3 species on the texas
city dike. Really notable absence of birds but there is great habitat but
maybe better habitat over at bolivar flats.
Had a loon way out there from Sportsman's road that appeared to have a
small bird trying to steal food. It turned out that the loon had a really
full crop that was flopping around to the side as the bird moved. Leaving
the island a few loons came out of the little harbor northwest across from
61st street and one had a fish it could not swallow.
Keeping with the large fish theme, a loon at the texas city dike caught a
fish that was almost too big to swallow
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041353
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041354
The loon ended up stretched out and got it going underwater
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041355
The effort did attract a couple of other loons with some starting to molt
into breeding plumage
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041356
In another sign of the approaching breeding season, the white pelicans are
growing bill knobs
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041357
There were two large groups of eared grebes, one with many bonaparte's
gulls and the other with only a couple.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041351
There is some sign of molt on the grebes
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041364
I could not see what they were eating but they dive in unison. You can
tell they are going to dive as the group starts calling and then they are
gone
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041366
Apparently feeding in dense flocks helps catch prey. The gulls look for
leftovers and also call at the dive signal
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041362
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165041361
Lots more osprey and grebe pictures etc at
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
