Author: Steve

  The black terns are back in town.    

  Buff breasted sandpiper.  Number 500.  In a field west of Corpus.   We thought number 500 would be a migrating warbler passing through town.  There are still two warblers to go: golden winged, and mourning.  But no.  We did it with a sandpiper.  It never quite works out like you expect.    

  Good birds today.  Got a yellow billed cuckoo.  Nothing new though.  Still at 499….  Jetty beach for terns.  Got seven.  Seven terns all at the same place: Caspian, Royal, Sandwich, Common, Forster’s, Least, and Black.  And black skimmers.  This place is amazing.    

  Morning coffee on our pond.  This is not a special wildlife-attracting pond.  It’s just a little decorative pond with mown grass around it.  In flies a purple gallinule, lands at the edge of the pond, take a drink, and proceeds to walk all around it, nibbling.  That was probably the first time he touched ground in 600 miles; flying across the gulf.  A southern swamp bird that walks around on floating vegetation.  Not wary or skittish at all today; too tired.  Just needs a drink, something to eat, and some rest.  A purple gallinule.  Right out in the open.  How cool is that?   Of course the coot had to paddle straight over to check him out.    

  One of these turtles is not like the others.     Cape May warbler.  #499.