Day seven Galveston Island

A tri-colored Heron

LaFitte Preserve. He eveidently landed here in the historical past.

The rain has gone, the north wind doth blow, and "poor Robin" is nowhere to be seen.

We had great birding today and I will concentrate on pictures to give you a better picture of the birds and vistas we had today. (pun unintended).

One story, and that included the discovery of  rare bird that I reported to my bird "Guru" when we returned to the trailer. (He lives in Galveston) It seems that we thought we saw a Garganey, a Eurasian bird seldom seen. It was in a small, man-made bay off the Galveston Bay. When we got home (after I sent the report to my friend) Ruth said, after more research, she felt it was  Pintail. Well, it wasn't. Two minutes after I turned in the report of the Graganey,  my bird "guru" e-mailed me back and said , "Did you know that what you  saw was a Pintail Decoy"? YIKES! Slightly embarrassed. But one more thing learned.  OT evidently is a joke the locals play.

These birds pictured, are all on Galveston Island today, and  all but one seen on the back Bay areas. (The Sanderlings were seen on the Gulf side.)

N.B. I am posting a second blog later tonight with some pictures  that Ruth took of flowers seen today.

Willet, seen frequently

Caracara in flight. (Quick shot)

A female Great Tailed Grackle The most abundant bird
on the Island.

Loggerhead Shrike. Many of these were seen. Always on wires.

A female Ruddy Duck. Note the blue bill  and short stuck up
tail.

Those sanderlings were running on the beach, Gulfside.