Sunrise and Cormorants

Can you see the crescent moon?

Monet or Van Gogh couldn't have done this any better...

 The petro-chemical industry, Beaumont to the east and Houston/Pasadena to the west, plus high levels of humidity provide the raw materials...

Trash pickup is a good excuse for birding...
I was surprised to see Neotropic Cormorant, white outlining the bill is diagnostic field mark...

This juvenile Double-crested is much paler than the adult, and the bill and throat patch is orange.

 The photo quality is lacking, but I couldn't resist the expressions on these head shots...

Time Flies!

Hard to believe I haven't posted anything for so long...
We spent a few days in Midland seeing doctors to get meds refilled, long drive up and back. Enjoyed sending time with my kids and grands, but was so happy to get back to the refuge and a much calmer existence. Must be getting old.

Adding to my bird list little by little...
American Pipit fly over and House Wren on the east fence Friday afternoon.

Massive wildfire on McFaddin cloaked the sun

sunspots

Amazing the amount of misinformation that abounds... media reported High Island threatened by flames, don't believe there was ever a danger. 

Sunset that evening would have made Monet proud. 

Super day at the VIS yesterday, pointed out Bronzed Cowbird to birders. Sadly, being seen too often. Doesn't even appear on the 2003 checklist. Both male and female Vermilion, with the male hanging out most of the day for the photographers. The winter sparrows are arriving, White-crowned, Lincoln, Swamp, and Savannah. 

Slow day at the VC today, rain seems to be keeping most people in this afternoon. 

All quiet on the Western Front

We missed Rice Festival and then Bike Around the Bay due to the government SH*TDOWN,

First bikers

Sometimes they came in groups

So we could only cheer them on and wave as they passed by. The rest stop was about 2 miles west on the grounds of a hunt club just across Oyster Bayou.

American Bittern

We decided to bird other locations while awaiting the re-opening of Anahuac. Checked out the progress, or lack thereof, of the reconstruction at Sea Rim SP. The boardwalk and beach area is still unfinished and many road graders and earth movers blocked the road to Gambusia Trail. A large load of fill dirt was delivered while we were there. The residence looks complete and a smaller building near the boat ramp in the marsh area is also under construction. The RV Loop looks finished, but don't think it's being used yet. Only restrooms are port-a-potties near the RV Loop. 

McFadden is 2 miles down the road. Best bird of the day was the American Bittern who was totally convinced we couldn't see him. Also found lots of Savannah Sparrow, Teal sp, and Mottled Duck

Mottled Duck

After returning to Anahuac, celebrated the open gates at Skillern... 

Vermilion Flycatcher

Good-bye lunch tomorrow at Napalitos in Anahuac, saying goodbye to Tami, she's off to the VA in Houston. Then meeting with Steph to get Bob and Terry, new volunteers acquainted with the area and the VC. Then Saturday, we run the VIS while training Bob and Terry with a repeat at the VC on Sunday.

Furlough time at Anahuac NWR

October 10

Well, it's been a very long 10 days... The idiots in Washington DC don't talk to each other and can't agree on anything, so the "government" is shut down. What a laugh! Only the little people are locked out of their jobs, not getting paid, and the big-wigs who are supposed to run our country are still not talking. As volunteers for the refuge, we are also idle. At least we have a place to stay without charge, but the days are getting longer even though the amount of daylight is getting shorter.

We've made several birding excursions taking Colin, since he has not personal vehicle and is not allowed to drive a government vehicle.

We visited Smith Point Thursday, October 3. The boat launch area provided  2 Magnificent Frigatebird, Ruddy Turnstone, American Oystercatcher, Laughing and Ring-billed Gull, Brown Pelican.
A good study in Royal Tern was a line of 2 adult and 1 juve, where we compared bills coloration, and wing markings. Considerable size difference also.

The mud flats showed Semi-palmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Willet, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs,, Black-bellied Plover, Great And Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron.

The Hawk Watch tower was amazing as always. Kettles of Broad-winged Hawk on towering thermals disappeared into the clouds, Tony counted 535. Coopers, Sharp-shinned, Merlin, Peregrine were flying as Blue-grey Gnatcatcher danced in the oaks.

Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, and Brown Thrasher were located in town on the way to a great lunch at A&D Restaurant. Beef Taco on corn tortilla with salsa rojo and verde.

Returning along FM 1985 we picked up Black-necked Stilt, White and White-faced Ibis, Red-tailed Hawk. Of course, thousands of Cattle Egret occupied the fields on both sides of the highway.

Friday, October 9, we were swarmed by BEES! Probably had 200 inside Clyde and another 100 outside. I sprayed inside the shower, then counted 58 dead bees. We found a few more the next day, both living and dead. Since then, no more bees.

Sunday, we moved all the furniture and sprayed the complete perimeter for the unending ant problem. Seems to have worked so far, keeping fingers crossed.

Bald Eagle during afternoon sit-out. Also Wilson Snipe, Merlin, Coopers Hawk. Hundreds of dragons swarming between us and the bayou.

Monday, we birded the peninsula... first stop High Island rest area... Nashville and Black-throated Green Warblers, Eastern Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole. Lots of Indigo Bunting...Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 Osprey.

Rollover Pass, cleaned up so much since last year...
Royal Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Skimmer, Foresters Tern, Laughing Gull, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Oyster Catcher, Willet.

On Tuna Road, we found an unusual Western Kingbird consorting with the Scissortails. On Bob Road, Long-billed Curlew and Willet.

On Yacht Basin Road, we were treated to Clapper Rail, Savannah Sparrow, and Reddish Egret. Another unusual migrant was Red-headed Woodpecker.

After sunset, we were treated to 3 planets and a new moon.
Venus, Saturn, and Mercury...

An ISS flyover at 8:15 finished the day.  3 minutes, 45 degrees, from WSW to NNE.



October 8 located Venus a few minutes before sunset with the crescent moon as a guide. Another ISS flyover, but just peaked out the door to see the beginning, mosquitoes won!

Thursday, October 10... met Stephanie in Anahuac for lunch at Nopalitos. Colin has decided to return home due to the shut-down. Tim and Monique came, also Kay and Travis from FOAR, so this was his good-bye luncheon. He flies home on Tuesday.