Been busy with non-bird stuff but did get out a little and some pictures. Back on January 3, I did Anahuac with the white-headed lesser scaup female. It was with ring-necked ducks but a tad larger http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154021569 But showed off its wing stripe when it pattered off to another part of the pond http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154021573 Lots of orange-crowned warblers in the edges http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154021843 Pied-billed grebes are starting to call and pair http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154022509 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154022512 The red-tailed hawk at the woodland sat for a change http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154022763 It looks very much like the bird that had been so cooperative down by the bay but has all freshly molted feathers and the bay bird was ratty all over http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154022763 Still a few fulvous whistling ducks lingering, but they were gone the following week http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154023598 Ruddy ducks are showing off their stiff-tails http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154023604 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154023602 I went looking for kingbirds down at smith point and found this western kingbird among the shells. This is the first time that I have had trouble getting clear pictures due to a) vast numbers of flies and b) visible fumes emanating from the shells. At first I had hopes for a cassin's which had been reported and there was a white-chinned look http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154036352 But the tail feathers said western kingbird and my first winter record of such http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154036354 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154036355 The rattlebox around the hawk watch tower had lots of song sparrows http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154036357 Home has downy woodpeckers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279019 Sleepy and fat fox squirrels http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279025 Cardinals starting to sing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279027 And super-abundant pine warblers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279029 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279031 The 14th had a very cooperative red-shouldered hawk on the 14th http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279059 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279055 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279054 Anahuac had the continuing canvasbacks in shoveler pond http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279063 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279064 Shovelers scarfing up the garbage http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279066 Pied-billed grebes were displaying the fine tail feathers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279069 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279067 One of the swamp sparrows was camera shy http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279072 And of course, there is the male vermilion flycatcher showing off near the buildings http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279075 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279073 The bird of the day was the krider's hawk along the refuge on 1986 west of the trailers and Skillern that had first been found back during the hawk watch. It was very tame and did not flush for passing vehicles except http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279095 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279096 It did not like porta-potty trucks and flushed when both of them passed. It went off to the north but after a bit returned to its pole http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279100 Spectacular tail pattern http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279099 The feather spread looks like feathered legs http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279102 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279105 And here comes the second porta-potty truck http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279106 And off it goes http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279107 Attwater refuge did not have many birds on the 16th but the county roads between there and eagle lake had lots of stuff including easter phoebe http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279112 A house wren scolded me for a long time http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279120 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279119 Maybe it wanted me to pull the thorn from its neck http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279117 But it did a good mystery bird pose http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279113 Lots of cranes up near the eagle lake airport until a couple of planes came over low http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279126 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279127 Northern harriers were over most fields http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279132 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279134 Ever hopeful but I never saw one actually catch prey http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279135 So off to try another patch http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/154279136 All the pictures can be browsed at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox -- 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
