Mom and I went on an adventure to the Texas Coast - a birding trip, hosted by Bryan of
Vermont Bird Tours. What a fun week with an excellent guide, a fabulous group of fellow bird-watchers, and an amazing array of 200+ species of birds plus other creatures. I took a bunch of photos plus you can see the really good stuff on Bryan's blog,
www.dailywing.net.
Houston, Mom has landed
Checking out a turtle in the swamp of Jesse Jones County Park
The turtle of interest
A boardwalk in the park
Kip taking part in the fun on the first evening (he drove me to Houston and departed the next day)
Bird identification
Beetle watching
At dinner the first evening
Getting loaded up, early in the morning
Looking at Red Cockaded Woodpeckers at a state park in The Woodlands
Stop! There's a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in the field!
A dragonfly encounter during lunch (catch and release)
Pond-side birding
A bunch of shore birds
Looking at shore birds (not the oil rigs in the distance)
Phyllis on the scope
Bryan's balancing act
Mom and Phyllis
Bryan giving a lesson
A Green Heron
More shore birds
Attempting a photo of gulls through a scope - not quite getting it yet
A better "digi-scope" shot, of Dowitchers and a Black-bellied Plover
Bryan stalking a red knot
Texas-sized thistle
Birding at Smith Oaks on High Island
I believe this is an Anole
A Turkey Vulture (TV) - very common in the air, but this one was really close to the trail
Trekking to the next great spot
Watching the drip at Boy Scout Woods
The drip is back in the shade - hard to get a good photo back in there
A dragonfly in the parking lot of Smith Oaks
More instruction
Cormorants at the Rookery - a very cool spot, not-to-be-missed
Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills at the Rookery
Lawn-side birding
Bench birding
Something's not quite right with this sign...
Mom and I having a fabulous time
Goofing around for the camera
Bryan managed not to run over this little fellow who had wandered onto the road
One of many beautiful, striking Scarlet Tanagers
Mom getting a ride from Jerry on the Gold Wing
I think she enjoyed it!
Mom with Jerry and Jenny
Inspecting a gift of a peanut patty - a Texas special
Group shot on our final night. It was over too soon...