Tag Archives: Birding in Texas

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding Life List, Number 387

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Lake Colorado City State Park, Colorado City, Texas, April, 2017

 ~Scaled Quail

Scaled Quail
Scaled Quail pair

Commonly known as the “blue quail”.

Several of these gorgeous birds were running around Lake Colorado City State Park, Colorado City, TX early this spring. Courtship was in full swing. Often we would see two males trying to win over the attention of one female.

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A typical RV site at this Texas State Park with lots of room. Our site had a view of the lake.

Home Sweet Home for a few days in April, 2017
Home Sweet Home for a few days in April, 2017
On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Long-billed Dowitcher

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Cattail Marsh, Beaumont, TX, April, 2017

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher

When feeding the Dowitcher uses their long bill in the motion of a sewing machine needle, up and down. They usually stay for longer periods of time in one spot, as opposed to other shorebirds that wade and probe.

I believe this bird is the Long-billed, which has a bulkier body with a more rounded back and a longer bill.

Can be difficult to tell between the Long and Short billed Dowitcher.

Happy Birding!

 

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Pink Legs, Big Eyes & a White Face

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Cattail Marsh, Beaumont, TX, April, 2017

Not many Black-necked Stilts on the marsh when we were there. We were lucky to see a few of these cute birds. They don’t stand still, continually using their long bill to forage for food in the muddy waters.

Black-necked Stilt

I saw my first Black-necked Stilt on April 7, 1995 in Kauai, Hawaii. Howard and I were there celebrating our 20th anniversary.

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Too far away for a good photo, but you can still make out this White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage.

White-faced Ibis

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The photo below shows  a typical marshy area in the southern states. Beaumont has done an excellent job in preserving this area. We observed several species of birds; however, it would have been fun to be there a little later to see more of them migrating through.

Cattail Marsh
Cattail Marsh

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Forty degrees this morning in Loveland, Colorado. We have cloudy skies and occasional snow flakes. Spring is coming!