Showing posts with label Cattle Egret. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cattle Egret. Show all posts
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Monday, November 8, 2021
Monday, August 23, 2021
Monday, September 21, 2020
092120 Migratory Gulls, Swallows, Waders, and Shorebirds to the Rescue in Fall
090420 Spotted Sandpiper
This is a non-breeding bird, common for this time of year. Though the Spotted Sandpiper is known for its spots, not all birds will sport them now, especially those molting just before migration into winter plumage.
090920 Blue-winged Teal
090920 Blue-winged Teal
At first appearance, it appeared that these were simply Blue-winged Teal. If one looks a little closer, te green speculum can be seen at the edge of the femoral tract.
091020 Great Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
This loner was among a group of several protective Great Egrets on Shorebird Jetty on this rainy day when many waterbirds were out of the skies.
Pectoral Sandpiper
This was a nice find among the many more common individuals.
The "Silent Sentinel" at its best.
Franklin's Gull
Least Sandpiper
This may be the smallest sandpiper, but it is still beautiful in breeding plumage.
Cliff Swallow
It is rare for these birds to be perched due to rudimentary feet, but it happens on occasion.
One could say "three on a match." Note the red tip on the bill, one of the distinguishing characteristics for this species.
Some of these were before and after the Wyoming adventure, but it is always good to return to familiar grounds, especially in the midst of migration.
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Monday, July 6, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Monday, October 7, 2019
Monday, September 30, 2019
Migration Resurfaces In Higher Gear
Cattle, Egrets, View 1
Cattle Egrets, View 2
Yellow Warbler, View 1
Yellow Warbler, View 2
Yellow Warbler, View 3
092819
0726-0840/77-78 F/mostly cloudy/S-8/79% RH/29.77-29.80 Hg and rising
This was a higher migratory movement day. There were six Blue-winged Teal on the southeast corner lowlands, along with several Mallards, who were coming in the entire time there like a busy airport.
On the water, there were several Pied-billed Grebe and sixteen American Coot.
Observations were also made on a whopping forty-five Cattle Egrets, a few Snowy Egrets, the normal
six Great Egrets, and three Great Blue Herons.
Two non-breeding Forster's Terns were surveying the west side of the lake, and five Spotted Sandpipers were partaking of delectables on the shore of the southwest jetty, along with a Double-crested Cormorant on a snag not far from the jetty on the north side.
Overhead were a couple of southbound Barn Swallows over the water.
To make things interesting, the conservative number of ten Yellow Warblers are now classified as late arrivals by eBird. They were voraciously feeding between the Lakeview Road Bridge and the main path of Shorebird Jetty. There were no doubt more beyond that, as it is now a last minute dash for late birds to return south when they are in a state of Zugunruhe.
A Belted Kingfisher and a Cooper's Hawk also had words, and the size and speed of the kingfisher managed to speak volumes. The hawk had to carry on for breakfast, which was no doubt a young bird wasting time with a healthy kingfisher.
Ten Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were being sociable with each other, along with one that felt it was his duty to chase a Great Egret flying through the area several times. The flycatchers will be with us for another month or so, and if the males still have that much testosterone at this time of year, it could have something to do with all the singing males in flux like they seem to be now. The urge strikes, even though they are not quite ready to move south. It is an interesting concept.
Along with the normal birds for the season, there is no doubt that we are underway on our seasonal changes. There are still a few stragglers, like many warblers, and some likely have an added distance to deal with along with a first time journey. May they experience the best.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Going My Way?
Cattle Egret
This is a Cattle Egret, who enjoys hanging out with livestock. These birds enjoy the bugs that bovine
tend to kick up in the grass or dirt for them.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Birding On a Shoestring: High Island's Heron Island, Texas
Summer Tanager
Snowy Egret with Fish
Great Egret, High Breeding Plumage
Ditto
Ditto, Preening
Great Egret Chicks
Snowy Egret
Ditto
Another Snowy Egret
Same, High Breeding Plumage
Ditto
Nestling Great Egret
Same Nest
Another Group, Great Egret Nestlings
Great Egret, High Breeding Plumage
Great Egret Chick
 |
Great Egret |
Cattle Egret, High Breeding Plumage
Ditto
Great Egret, Standing Over Sleeping Chicks
Great Egret Parent, Face Engulfed by Hungry
Nestlings
Another Great Egret Chick Pose
Snowy Egret
Another Vocalizing Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret, Landing
Snowy Egret, High Breeding Plumage
Snowy Egret in Flight
Neotropic Cormorant on Nest
Male Neotropic Cormorant Standing by Nest
Preening Great Egret at Nest
Ditto
Ditto
Snowy Egret in Flight
Great Egret on Nest
Ditto
Same bird, at Rest
First Year Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Osprey
Reddish Egret Fishing
Ditto
Reddish Egret Closeup
Reddish Egret
This was the Final Visit at the Rookery and along Tuna Rd. across from the Gulf of Mexico.
The only birds with young on Heron Island was the Great Egret. The Neotropic Cormorants
and some of the Snowy Egrets were on eggs. None of the Roseate Spoonbills had eggs, and
there was a first year pair of Tri-colored Herons trying to build a nest. Due to inexperience,
they were unable to do so, and had been trying to create a nest for a number of days. Most
likely that they will not raise young this year. The Cattle Egrets didn't appear to be nesting, either, but I was unable to view the other side of the island.
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