Both at Rollover Pass and Bolivar Flats, the terns, gulls and shorebirds are into the springtime courtship and moulting into summer colors. The wilson's plovers are paired and muttering at people or other ploverwho get to close http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577962 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577956 Western sandpipers have nice breast chevrons and well colored shoulders. One group on the flats was doing a lot of territorial displays hunched over with tails raised vertical http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577954 Dunlin are getting breast spots but not much in the way of red backs yet http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577944 One red knot had some new feathers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577946 But others were still gray. This bird was finding tiny crabs in newly stranded gulfweed http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577950 Herring gulls are growing new feathers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578046 One of the franklin's gulls at Rollover has a nice pink tinge to the breast but my camera does not like to show it well http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578064 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578055 Gull-billed terns are still feeding fish among themselves. This bird was out on the Bolivar Beach http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578094 Nice shaggy crests on the sandwich terns http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578097 The two colors of royal tern beaks appear to affect either males or females and not pairing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578745 But most pairs have the same color as the redder phase is much scarcer http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578766 Lots of strutting http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578284 But fish deliveries are not up to par. This male ate the fish after offering it to another bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142578281 Up at Anahuac refuge the outer all white willet tail feathers are used in displays http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577891 And eastern kingbirds have white edged tails http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577890 And the first least bittern of my spring http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577889 Hawks sit up early to dry; their feathers aborb lots of moisture when there is fog or heavy dew as with this merlin http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577888 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577887 Red-winged blackbirds are displaying http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577795 And swell their throats before singing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577794 The savannah sparrows out on the katy prairie were also damp from the dew http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577785 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577784 Lots of upland plover were in the fields http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577788 They are very alert to hawks, in this case a vulture http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577789 And can hide but keep watch http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577790 My long widowed downy woodpecker has finally found a mate and appears to eggs and perhaps young. The male does not help and is more of a vegetarian eating loquats and peanuts. He takes the peanuts to an anvil like a red-belly and breaks them apart. First time I have seen this http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577543 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577542 An unwise cottonmouth was set up in the middle of Hebert road and threatened passing vehicle. Not something that ensures a long life. He was safe while I was taking pictures and certainly lives up to his name http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577538 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/142577537 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 TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
