There were lots of birds around last Thursday. I started at Anahuac where bobwhite's were sitting up calling and preening http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415736 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415734 Lots of barn swallows are starting to gather while others are still nesting at the old entrance building http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415733 Young birds are losing the light colored gape mark they used to aim the parents food delivery http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415729 Orchard orioles are still singing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415726 Killdeers nest on the new road shoulder around shoveler pond. With the narrow shell edge, the are next to the pavement. I only saw this bird and eggs when I looked down while scanning birds out on the water http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415724 A single white pelican was out on a dike http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415722 You can tell it is hot when the common nighthawks start standing on their perch to allow more air flow http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415710 With tides very high, rails were more apparent but still well not seen out in the vegetation like this clapper rail http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415707 This was the first of 3 godwit species for the day http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415706 Young of the year white ibis are out and about http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415705 This shorebird was a mystery when I saw it and I am still uncertain as to who it is http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415704 Down at the godwit spot at Brazoria the breeding plumage hudsonian godwit way back there in the drying pond http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415644 I thought I had an angle on the black-tailed godwit sitting behind some vegetation but the picture turned out to be a female gadwall with the godwit still hidden. Young yellow-crowned night herons are out and are losing the last of their down. This bird was on the brazoria auto tour http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415641 Lots of roseate spoonbills out in the shallow water in all colors http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415637 Some showed off their spoon http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415636 Fulvous whistling ducks were common but I saw no young http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415634 But the black-bellied whistling duck youngsters were marching around http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415631 The young of the year boat-tailed grackles are out of the nest and still begging http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415632 Still abundant black-necked stilts including birds on eggs http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415627 And young that can fly http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415626 And in between http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/144415630 All the pictures for the day can be browsed at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
