A Birder's Life for Me

The swing from Port Orange to Central Texas yielded 192 total species observed with 81 new for this year and 12 life birds.  The 2024 YTD species count now stands at 301.

The Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge yielded this rare, unobstructed view of an American Bittern.

The place was swarming with mosquitos.  I came upon two women sitting in lawn chairs by their vehicle.  So, I stopped and asked, "How much bug repellent do you have on to be able to sit outside like this?" One replied, "It's not that bad outside the vehicle," as she swatted several mosquitos away from her face.  I replied that I would have to take their word for it.

The Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston was loaded with thousands of shorebirds.  I couldn't begin to take a photo that would do justice to 10,000 American Avocets.   So, this small group will have to do.

Out of the thousands of shorebirds at Bolivar, I found one Piping Plover.  This species is near threatened primarily because of habitat loss.  After all, who needs these little guys when we can construct a perfectly good Wal-Mart right on the beach.

Lafitte's Cove in Galveston yielded great looks at Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Baltimore Orioles feasting on mulberries under gray-washed skies.  Blue Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, Indigo Buntings and Western Kingbirds were also crushing the berries in the same tree.

It's tough to beat a nice look at a Roseate Spoonbill.

On a side note, if my good buddy Judson is following along, I wanted to point out that this cottonmouth is not a bird.  It's the first cottonmouth I have ever encountered and hopefully the last.

I'll be posting some more species on Flickr in the coming days.  Meanwhile, Wednesday will find us back in Key West as we start the final move with the cat and the aquarium.