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Birds, Birds, and Some Other Things

4/22/2016

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Avocets in the Surf
We had a wonderful and very busy time this past week at FeatherFest, the annual spring birding festival in Galveston. 

Linda learned how birds are banded, and I learned how to crawl on my belly to take pictures at ground level. In between we went on buses and boats to a variety of birding spots, sat in workshops, and just had a grand old time getting up at 4:30 in the morning day after day. 
One Good Tern...
I'm sorry, Linda won't allow me to finish that phrase (you know the one, "One good tern deserves another."). I think she's a little tired of my joke.

Anyhow while on my belly in the sand, I watched one tern climb upon anther's back. Then along came a guy with a fish to join the group. Not long after, a third tern tried to land to make it a three level stack. It looked like we were going to have a cheerleader tower. Alas, after only one try he flew off. The guy on top is a Caspian Tern while the others are Royal Terns.
A Potpourri of Photos
Here's a collection of photos with no particular theme or story.
The Rookery
Smith's Oaks on the Bolivar Peninsula is where Great and Snowy Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and Cormorants gather to breed. The rookery is an island in the middle of a large, alligator-infested pond. The combination of the island and the 'gators means the birds are well protected during the vulnerable time they are on the nest.

The warm winter combined with FeatherFest being held a week later this year meant that we were able to see chicks instead of eggs this year at the rookery. I hope you enjoy these photos.
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Great Egret Chicks
Bird Banding
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A Bird in the Hand...
One of Linda's activities took her to a bird-banding facility. The birds are caught in special nets called mist nets. When a bird flies into the almost invisible net it becomes entangled without harm. The bird is retrieved and put in a mesh holding bag to wait for banding.

When a bird is caught, it is carefully handled to avoid stressing or injuring the bird. The band is affixed to the proper leg, and the bird is measured and weighed. The bird is also examined for any signs of illness or injury, as well as to determine the gender if possible. All this information can be valuable for conservation studies.
Approximately 5% of banded birds are caught during another banding session and identified by their bands. Correlating the data that was initially gathered on the bird compared to when it is recovered can provide information on migration and range. 
  • ​Migration: Tracking banded birds show migratory flyways and when they migrate.
  • Range: When banded birds are captured in two completely different areas, it helps define their different ranges.
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Banding a Female Cardinal
Reddish Egret
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Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret is a show unto itself. And if you see the show, be grateful, because there are only about 2000 breeding pair in the U.S.

​Their feeding behavior is the show. You might see them running through shallows with long strides, staggering sideways, leaping in air, raising one or both wings, and then abruptly stabbing at a fish.

​In fact the Reddish Egret is so interesting, I couldn't choose which pictures to include, so it is getting its own collection. We are fortunate to have these neat birds so close to us on the Gulf Coast
The photos below were all taken at the same time of one singular bird. I was at an event where we were learning to take pictures from ground level (on our bellies in the wet sand). The avocets at the top of the page are from the same shoot.

At one time this crazy bird scrooched down to go under a cable between two pilings. We were all fascinated because he's a bird and he can fly, and a hop over the cable would have been much easier.
Port of Galveston
While Port of Houston (busiest port in the U.S.) is the port on the Gulf Coast, there is still quite a bit happening in Galveston's own port. It is home to "jack-up" oil rigs and many other offshore vessels. Along with oil drilling, the port is involved with several other types of cargo including containers, dry and liquid bulk, RO-RO, and refrigerated cargoes. It even has its own railroad. ​
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The Old and the New
Looking Through the Elissa's Rigging at the Carnival Magic
Along with all of this, it is also home to the Elissa, a three-masted schooner that was built in 1877 in Scotland. The Elissa has a bit of a checkered past and has sailed under a number of flags and names. Today it is fully restored and functional making frequent trips from its home port of Galveston. The Elissa is one of the world's oldest sailing hulls still in operation.
​
Galveston is also the year-round homeport for three cruise ships from the Carnival Cruise Line and one ship from Royal Caribbean. Here you see the life boats from the Carnival Magic being tested. We were told the lifeboats must be checked every two weeks, so they do one side each week, with the ship facing the direction for those boats to be on the water side rather than the dock side.
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Lifeboat Testing on the Carnival Magic
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RO/RO Being Pushed to the Pier
This strange looking ship is known as a RO-RO (roll on - roll off). All its cargo is wheeled - anything from automobiles to trucks to tractors. The RO-RO has no facilities for above-deck loading, but has two loading ramps - one on the side and one at the stern. The port facilities determine which will be used.

Here you see the RO-RO being positioned at the pier by two tugboats. We watched this ship brought into harbor and rotated 180 degrees by the tugs before they began moving it to the pier.
Shrimp Boats
Commercial fishing has been a part of Galveston since the city was founded back in the early part of the 19th century. Today, shrimping is the key part of the commercial seafood industry.

​Right now the fleet is in port waiting for the beginning of shrimping season in July. 
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Shrimpers Waiting for the Season
Three Monochromes
Finally I'll finish this post with three monochrome photos that I particularly like. I hope they catch your eye.

Thanks for visiting!
1 Comment

Buds, Blooms and Birds

4/12/2016

4 Comments

 
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Entrance to Our Sub-Division
One of the neat things about the sub-divisions in Texas is how nice public areas are planted through out the year. Here's one of the entrances to our sub-division with the spring flowers in full bloom.

It seems there are flowers everywhere, and the other day I rode around the local area and grabbed a few shots of some of plantings - including the local shopping center and an intersection of two 4-lane boulevards.
Some Flowers Around the Yard and Around Town
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​So here are some photos of amaryllises in our yard and flowers from a number of places around the town along with one or two pretty flowers we saw while on a spring break trip to Florida to visit Linda's sister.

​
The little gallery below includes Linda's amaryllises, blooms found in a roadside rest in Mississippi, and the random flowers I saw at intersections, in sub-division public spaces, and even the entrance to the local shopping center.
The Birds are Also Busy
When I see all of the flowers there is no doubt that spring is in full bloom. And if there are blooms, there are bound to be birds.

​Birds like the handsome Great Blue Heron at the right. I never got so close to a GBH that just sat and posed for me. As a result, this is the best bird head-shot I have ever taken. Click on him and see the large size of the photo.
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Great Blue Heron
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The Cedar Waxwings made their annual visit to our place to gorge themselves on our loquats, fattening up before their long flight north for the summer. They are not real easy to photograph because the flit about quickly from fruit to fruit. They have very little time to sit on a branch and pose for pictures.

Cedar Waxwings are beauties. They have fine feathers, almost silky, along with a crest and a black mask. They seem to be gone now, so if you live in the northeast, you'll see them in a couple of weeks.
Seeing this photo of the evening sky brought back an old Nat King Cole song. I didn't have to reach too far back - I listen to the songs of the 40s while in the car. 

​Orange Colored Sky
I was walking along,
minding my business,
​When out of an orange colored sky,
(Flash, bam, alakazam),
Wonderful birds flew by.


Sung by Nat King Cole
Original lyrics by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein
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​Enjoy the little gallery of birds below. The Waxwings, the Mockingbird, and the Carolina Wren are from the backyard. All of the rest were taken in Florida a few weeks ago.

​Remember the "Teddy Bears' Picnic" Song?
Well the other week up on the lake we may have experienced a picinic with cormorants - thousands of cormorants. More cormorants than you ever need to see. I can only assume that it was the day for their spring picnic.
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Cormorants' Picnic
​"If you go up to the lake today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go up to the lake today,

You'd better go in disguise!"
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​

"For every cormorant that ever was,
Will gather there for certain,
Because today's the day the​
​
Cormorants have their picnic."
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"Picnic time for Cormorants,
The little Cormorants are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,

​And see them picnic on their holiday."

​
Apologies to “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by Jimmy Kennedy, 1932
I hope you have enjoyed the photos and have forgiven me for my silliness with old song lyrics.

​Thanks for visiting.
4 Comments
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TRAVELS WITH LINDA
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DON & LINDA SIMMONS