If there are knots one needs to take knot pictures. The tide had left a lot
of fresh sargassum weed on the mud and the shorebirds were finding lots of
goodies in and around it, some of which had nothing to do with the
sargassum. 3 red red knots were almost the first birds seen
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323469
They were finding surf clams in the fresh wrack and eating them whole
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323470
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323476
They never got very upset with us and hung around
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323477
The tide was coming in and the other two knots were working the surf for
clams. Often, they walk east from the flats well past Retillon Road looking
for goodies as they go or fly 20 yards and walk more. They can make it well
past the cut east of Retillon and then fly back to the flats to rest.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323480
The less natty oldsquaw was sitting out on the wet sand with lesser scaup
friends. I have yet to see the second bird but have seen people who have
seen it.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323445
Periodically got up and preened a little
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323446
Tried to find better places to sit
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323449
Its a big footed duck
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323450
The tail feathers are especially in bad shape but the bird is well fed and
does a lot of decorations on the sand
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323452
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323453
When last seen, it had flown over to some dryer sand and was marching down
the way with a lesser scaup
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323455
There are several lesser scaup out there resting with the oldsquaw
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323393
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323391
One female especially gives the impression of a greater scaup at times as
it can make its lead seem rounded but the short white wing stripe says
lesser. The bright white would go well out in the primaries in the greater.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323395
And then she sits normally and shows the flat top of the head and the point
at the back
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323396
Still numbers of piping plovers running around the sand
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323375
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323374
Two birds had a long fight over who owned bolivar flats
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323378
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323376
which seemed to be a tie
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323377
Dunlin are in rapid molt
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323468
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323371
A group of first year common terns arrived and stayed together
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323370
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323368
Migrating cattle egrets can stop out on the flats to rest
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323364
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323367
One of the marks to distinguish eastern willets is the pink color at the
base of the bill of most birds. However, there is pink on the underside of
the bill even on the birds who do not show the color from the side
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323267
My friendly whimbrels is still around
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323266
And a lesser yellowlegs without his full spring coat
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323265
Forster's tern numbers are well down on the beaches as they head north. One
of the marks to id them from the common terns are the longer legs
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323263
As the common tern has very short legs as seen here
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323262
Royal terns up in crystal beach are eating a lot of shrimp
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323246
which has led some to have redder beaks
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323250
The red color is only on the outer beak at least on some birds. when you
look at the same bird with the light behind it, the beak appears to be
orange
There is also variation in the length and thickness of the beak
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323248
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323249
Sandwich terns are doing a lot of courting
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323251
Great spring days on the beaches were offset by a shortage of landbird
migrants.
this puddle at high island and the most migrants for the day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323269
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/165323268
I would normally say that next week would be really great but next week
already turned out to not even have birds in the puddle. But there will be
another next week in 2 days.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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