Boy Scout Woods
I arrived at High Island at around 7:30 AM after driving for about 2 hours and 120 miles in the predawn darkness. Just as I parked my car, I saw a few birds on the ground -- these turned out to be Inca Doves -- a Mexican species that has spread into Texas and a very common bird, but a new one for me nonetheless. (Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
Because it thunderstormed the night before, and because the wind was from the northwest, it seems like a lot of birds were detained after crossing the Gulf of Mexico. There were birds everywhere -- warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, orioles, vireos, thrushes, cuckoos, and lots of hummingbirds too! It was an amazing feat for a birder or bird photographer.
But birds were not the only wildlife on this day -- there was a rabbit leisurely eating grass amid all the actions. But most people came to see birds, and it was surely the most neglected creature that day.
At noon we were supposed to go to the Bolivar Peninsular to see the shore birds. Just as I walked back to my car, another bird landed right in front of me -- a Brown Thrasher. They are everywhere indeed!
Inca Dove
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Northern Parula Warbler
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Red-eyed Vireo
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)
Painted Bunting (female)
Orchard Oriole (female)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rabit
Brown Thrasher
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