Texas Gulf Coast Birding Trip

“Who in their right mind would go to Houston Texas in August?!” This was a question asked to me by many of my friends and coworkers. The answer, of course, is to see birds!

My family was headed to Colorado for the long Labor Day weekend, so Travis and I devised a plan for a short trip to the Gulf Coast. It’s a little early for migration in those parts but there was sure to be no shortage of interesting species and Life Birds for me.

As is my way, I spent far too much time planning a route that would maximize the number and variety of species. Varying habitat was a sure way to see more species. We selected three major “target” locations: Brazos Bend State Park, Brazoria National Wildlife Reserve, and Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. Our route would take us out of Houston, southwest toward Brazos, then southeast to Brazoria, and then east toward Bolivar and Anahuac.

I'll skip over all of the boring travel details which included a total car rental disaster at Hobby Airport. In short, avoid Priceline and Alamo. We arrived at Brazos Bend around 8:00am after numerous stops along the way to scope some interesting birds including my first Crested Caracara: 

Brazos was great. It has a lot a varied habitat ranging from grassland to swamp. Highlights were too numerous to list but I will say that a Mississippi Kite(a Life Bird for both of us) generated a lot of excitement, as did several close encounters of the American Alligator kind. Here's the ebird Checklist.

to be continued....

A Friendly Bobwhite

Ridgefield, CT 7:00pm 8/27/14

Shorebird Extravaganza

Today was great day for shorebirds on Plum Island. I logged 65 species inducing two life birds; a Hudsonian Godwit and Red Knot. I still find shorebirds incredibly tricky but am practicing to eliminate the ones that are most prevalent (ie. Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Plover, and Killdeer.

Red Knot 

Hudsonian Godwit

Short-billed Dowitcher

The highlight for me was great looks at two or three different Black Skimmers. I'd love for these birds to be a regular site in northern Massachusetts. They are so cool and a case study on evolution and adaptation.

Surprise of the day for me was a Bald Eagle. Not a extraordinary sight at Parker NWR but uncommon for this time of year I believe.

Plus some tern photos for good measure:

Least Tern and Chicks

Least Tern

Oh yeah, and some American Avocets!

Nemesis Bird: Worm-eating Warbler

Finally found a Worm-eating Warbler at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Pound Ridge, NY:

Along with some "face-melting" looks at Indigo Buntings:

My parents have a resident Red-shouldered Hawk that gave some great looks in the backyard:

Life Bird #319: Dickcissel

The views were long but I was able to spot the Dickcissel located a few days ago. It was a nice way to spend Father's Day with my family.

Life Birds 315, 316, and Finally Some Warm Weather!

Today was a really nice 85 degree June day. I headed out to the Revere area. I've tried a few times to see the Manx Shearwaters that frequent Revere Beach and finally had luck today. They are really sleak birds. They flew north to south along the breaking waves. There were eight of them in the flock. Flying in perfect formation mere inches from the water.

After Revere I headed to Belle Isle Marsh. The Mosquitos here were unbelievably thick! I forgot I had bug spray in the car and had about 30 bites before I remembered. I had some really good birds here. A pair of Bobolink and Blue-winged Teal. Ryan Schain said these were good birds for the Boston area in June. Perhaps they are breeding here? 

Spotted a Least Bittern hunting in a small pond. Life Bird #316.

Ended the day with a Glossy Ibis flyover. Drove all the way to Ipswich to see these guys earlier this year. I know they are common but it always seems like when you struggle to see a target bird that they start showing up all over the place. 

Mass Bird 255: Monk Parakeet

A couple of Monk Parakeets(Quaker Parrots) have taken up residence in Allston. They are in the process of building a nest and have made quite a bit of progress in the last 72 hours. It took me three trips to see these guys. Well worth it. I really love this bird. I think because its so fun to see a tropical looking bird in the City: Seemingly out of place but so well adapted. 

The locals tell me that they started building a nest in the same spot last year but abandoned it at some point. A friendly gentleman named Larry showed me a house a block away that has another next in one of the eaves(see photo below). I wonder if this is the successful next from last year? The whole neighborhood seems to know about these two and they are now local celebrities thanks to MassBird and eBird.

Good birding!

Old Nest?

Random Photo of  BCNH