Migration is on!

The wind blew me down to Galveston today, and at first the woods seemed kind of quiet. Makes you appreciate the beauty of the common birds, like this spectacular cardinal!
This is the one and only white eyed vireo - eyeing me!
I was admiring this Louisiana Waterthrush, striking with the pink legs and feet!
His little tail was bobbing so cute.
I enjoyed watching him for a good long time.
So I decided to focus my camera on the log and see if anything else came out.
Yes, the Hooded Warbler came out!
This is such a great bird, the woods were suddenly full of singing male Hooded Warblers!

I just loved this!

Up in the tree tops the Yellowrumps were not holding still very long.

It is like a wonderland in the woods with the beautiful birds and songs.


The Harris Sparrows were still around too.



What a great afternoon!

Galveston

We're having some unseasonably warm weather so I decided to go to the coast to see what it would be like to go birding there with no mosquitos! (It was great!!!) This Red Admiral was also out enjoying the fabulous lantana!So beautiful!

Ever wish you could just shed your skin and start over?
Not too many warblers are here yet in huge numbers except the Yellow Rumps!
I drove around the island and found some Grasshopper Sparrows.
The yellow armpit is something I had never noticed before!

The Eastern Phoebe was just singing away.

Kestrels were on patrol too!
I noticed some Redheaded Ducks in the marsh.
Boy are those legs red! This is the White Ibis!
Best bird of the day was this Harris Sparrow, one of 3 I saw today.
It is a handsome bird!
He just thought he could hide from me in the grass.
Two Belted Kingfishers flew over!
It makes for a great day to see TWO in one day, today I saw THREE!


There are always Western Willets around.
Hmm, what is this down in the grass?
It is a field sparrow!
Someone's pier was absolutely covered with birds, Laughing Gulls, Marbled Godwits, Willets, American Oystercatchers, and more!
The Oyster catchers seemed to be planning their strategy for their next meal.

There is one royal tern here!
It had been a royal couple hours seeing all these birds and enjoying such nice weather.

Spring is here!

I wanted to upload a few photos before the reality of Daylight savings time hits me hard... I headed down to Galveston looking for early spring migrants - and was shocked to find a pheasant roaming around :) Especially since I had searched for one recently in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He looks to be a fresh escapee from a hunting camp (glad he got away and hope it survives out there!)There were a few sandhill cranes still foraging before their long flight north.
I had seconds to take a picture through the windshield, as a surprise Clapper Rail darted out in the street.
Car birding in mosquito country is the way to go - here is a Tri colored Heron
Who could resist Lafitte's Cove, I was looking for early warblers, but found this gorgeous Ruby Throated hummingbird resting on a branch.

This is for sure the first photo I have ever snapped of a hummingbird BLINKING!

When the light catches him the right way, the color is terrific!

This anole could not decide if it wanted to be Green or Brown today (must be a female!).
What a beautiful tiny white butterfly, I don't know what it is.
My first Red Eyed Vireo of the year!
Here's a beautiful Brown Thrasher up in a tree.
Finally I got a glimpse of the Eastern Phoebe I had been hearing!
I love the Snowy Egrets and their dancing shoes.
Along the seawall I found one Ruddy Turnstone.
I am excited that I did see one Black & White Warbler and heard some Yellowthroats and Northern Parula, but I will have to go back down there soon to get some photos!