Very recently I read an article which stated that if you've been to Galveston Island, chances are you've seen the Roseate Spoonbill, a very attractive looking avian inhabitant that spends a significant amount of time on the Texas Gulf Coast. I was surprised I hadn't ever read about it being in these parts.
The weather was cooling down and after seeing some gorgeous pictures of the bird, I decided it was time to head to Galveston to check out some of its favorite haunts.
We drove there and we got on the road which a lot of people on the birding group I recently joined had talked about. Some had seen the beautiful pink and white bird right by the roadside, preening itself. A mile down the road I saw a big flock of birds in the fields to my right, and there was certainly some pink visible. Excitedly, I got off the car, and took a few pictures. They were too far away, I decided, for a decent picture. We resumed the drive. A small marshy area on the side further down the road looked promising, so I was on my feet again. Before I could say Jack Robinson, two Spoonbills took to the air. I had no time to even adjust my camera. Click click click... a couple of poor pictures later, I found myself focusing the camera on an obliging Great Blue Heron.
We moved on, and soon, I saw about a dozen birds some of which I had never seen before. White Ibis, Grey Ibis, Osprey, Reddish Egret, Willet, Clapper Rail, etc. They all provided for some excellent photos. The Spoonbill remained a mystery.
Road construction on the way back was a good excuse to try out a new route to head home and I decided to take a long detour via the Brazoria Wildlife Refuge. We saw an alligator and a few Flycatchers and Ibis. That rounded up the Saturday birding trip. It was a day well spent, beautiful weather and some great picture taking opportunities presented themselves, only the one that I was after was a no show. I will see it when it's time, I told myself, or maybe not.
Sunday was spent catching up on chores and in the evening, as is the practice, my husband and son set out to go the temple. I usually stay home but it was another beautiful fall day, so I took the camera to check out the lakes adjacent to the temple complex. I often find my connection with divinity as I walk around those trails. On the banks, there was a Great Blue Heron and a Tricolored Heron, a Great White Egret and surprisingly, a White Ibis. I had never seen an Ibis here before. I took a few pictures and headed further around the bend. I had seen a few birds where the path curves around a hillock. A Great White Egret was pushing through the water and a bird with what surely looked like pink feathers was following it. I stared in disbelief! Was it really what I was seeing! Not just one, there were four Spoonbills moving very slowly. A tricolored Heron went past them, and a Great Blue heron too. The four lingered on for a little while longer, decided I was showing too much interest in them, and then took off to the other side of the lake.
I got to take a lot of pictures. Not perfect ones, the light was poor, but was I complaining? No way! What a perfect way to end a weekend that I had decided was going to be the Roseate Spoonbill weekend!
The weather was cooling down and after seeing some gorgeous pictures of the bird, I decided it was time to head to Galveston to check out some of its favorite haunts.
We drove there and we got on the road which a lot of people on the birding group I recently joined had talked about. Some had seen the beautiful pink and white bird right by the roadside, preening itself. A mile down the road I saw a big flock of birds in the fields to my right, and there was certainly some pink visible. Excitedly, I got off the car, and took a few pictures. They were too far away, I decided, for a decent picture. We resumed the drive. A small marshy area on the side further down the road looked promising, so I was on my feet again. Before I could say Jack Robinson, two Spoonbills took to the air. I had no time to even adjust my camera. Click click click... a couple of poor pictures later, I found myself focusing the camera on an obliging Great Blue Heron.
We moved on, and soon, I saw about a dozen birds some of which I had never seen before. White Ibis, Grey Ibis, Osprey, Reddish Egret, Willet, Clapper Rail, etc. They all provided for some excellent photos. The Spoonbill remained a mystery.
Road construction on the way back was a good excuse to try out a new route to head home and I decided to take a long detour via the Brazoria Wildlife Refuge. We saw an alligator and a few Flycatchers and Ibis. That rounded up the Saturday birding trip. It was a day well spent, beautiful weather and some great picture taking opportunities presented themselves, only the one that I was after was a no show. I will see it when it's time, I told myself, or maybe not.
Sunday was spent catching up on chores and in the evening, as is the practice, my husband and son set out to go the temple. I usually stay home but it was another beautiful fall day, so I took the camera to check out the lakes adjacent to the temple complex. I often find my connection with divinity as I walk around those trails. On the banks, there was a Great Blue Heron and a Tricolored Heron, a Great White Egret and surprisingly, a White Ibis. I had never seen an Ibis here before. I took a few pictures and headed further around the bend. I had seen a few birds where the path curves around a hillock. A Great White Egret was pushing through the water and a bird with what surely looked like pink feathers was following it. I stared in disbelief! Was it really what I was seeing! Not just one, there were four Spoonbills moving very slowly. A tricolored Heron went past them, and a Great Blue heron too. The four lingered on for a little while longer, decided I was showing too much interest in them, and then took off to the other side of the lake.
