After lots of days at the coast with shorebirds, I thought that I would do
the inland shorebirds with Anahuac and the rice fields the place to find
them. For the day I had eastern willet, black-necked stilt and killdeer and
no other shorebirds at all. Great rice and lots of water and spots where
birds should be but the good rain on the coast missed the inland.
Had a swainson's hawk preening and sitting for a long visit
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532474
Cleaned feathers one at a time
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532472
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532470
The feet are designed to catch goodies
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532466
and long poses
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532459
After many years of hearing about glossy ibis at the refuge, I finally
found one showing all the field marks. Actually it was feeding all the time
and the best look was at the computer when I got home
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532438
But the bluish legs without red knees and the face pattern broken at the
back had all the marks.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532436
And the gloss appeared redder than on the white-faced but I only had
non-breeding white-faces in the same light
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532441
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532435
this was a younger white-faced ibis with greener gloss but that could be an
age thing
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532434
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532432
Seaside sparrows were down near the bay but not sitting up in the wind
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532429
Purple gallinules are having a very good year at the refuge but no sign of
youngsters yet. Did have a single common gallinule chick
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532427
The very long toes let them walk where others cannot go
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532423
One can spend unlimited time with the gallinules as they feed
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532427
Little blue herons fledged last year are starting to turn blue
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532420
The blue feathers seem to grow in sort of randomly
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532418
Lots of fulvous whistling ducks all around shoveler pond
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532409
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532405
Many black-bellied whistling ducks too
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532404
And they did lots of photo-bombing
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532403
Blue-winged teal pairs are lingering and they may nest too
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532379
There were several black-necked stilt nests way out in shoveler pond
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532381
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532380
Eastern kingbirds are doing well at the refuge
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532386
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532384
And find nesting spots in very small shrubs etc
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532389
Alligators were sunning
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532375
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532377
Other birds seen were young of the year great blue herons. The rookery is
doing well with cattle egrets carrying sticks and lots of dark ibis going
back and forth. Later in the day, the ibis were flighting off to the
flooded rice fields. A female red-breasted merganser was down by the bay.
Dickcissel numbers were down except for the alternate singing birds. Also
down were orchard oriole, common nighthawk and pied-billed grebe.
Went down to Smith Point and found a western kingbird near where the
couch's nested for several years with an osprey en route. They were
breaking off green branches last August so one needs to watch for signs of
nesting.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532355
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532352
Have not been finding frigatebirds along the coast but they are at Smith
Point where they will be around for the hawk watch
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532350
And for hawk watch fans, the local zebra has moved and is not resident in
the field just across from the turn off the hawk watch
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165532349
Oak Island had rough-winged swallows.
Fort Anahuac Park had a red-headed woodpecker.
Tried to find signs of swallow-tailed kites where they have been seen in
recent years but had no luck again. But a great day.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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