As usual over this winter, bald eagles were the featured bird at Anahuac refuge. There was a large flock a snow geese a ways north of shoveler pond which could not be seen unless the eagles gave them flying lessons. But they did keep eagles nearby like this almost adult with a little dirty feathers still in the head. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846176 And a younger bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846175 That were perched together http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846173 the plumes on the great blue herons continue to grow http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846158 Double-crested cormorants were around shoveler pond. Note the yellow lores (by the eyes above the beak http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846155 and the rounded corner of the yellow bill where the two parts meet http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846157 Pintails are paired and feeding together http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846159 No color on the pied-billed grebes bills yet but they are starting to chase http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846170 The white-faced ibis are starting to turn a little more pink around the face http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846171 The mowed edges of 1985 have very short grass and are flooded making the area great for birds and a close study for those who do not jump out of the car and run at them with a camera like the gentleman does with hawks. Bitterns really allow close looks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846254 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846255 The say's phoebe was at its usual spot for the third winter http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846259 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846260 Down on bolivar, a red-tailed hawk kept winking at the camera http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846263 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846262 Lots of Bonaparte's gulls at the ferry landing on the bolivar side http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846332 While down bolivar flats, a crested caracara from Galveston's east beach trespassed and was met by the bolivar flats pair and sent packing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846334 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846335 The returning bird put up lots of the small birds from the beach http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158846336 Checked out piping plovers and found 5 banded birds among them http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158857101 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/158857096 Don't have all the results yet but they seem to be mainly Missouri river birds. Horned larks are doing well and are one bird that hurricane Ike did good by when it moved lots of sand inland creating breeding flats that usually do not flood. -- 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