Quick trip to Houston, Texas

I made a quick (family) trip to Houston, Texas in March, 2014. Unlike last year, this time my timing was not as good -- I came a month earlier this time, before the spring migration season gets really under way. The weather was also bad during the few days I was there -- cold, cloudy, windy, raining, foggy -- anything that is bad for bird photography basically happened. And I came down with an ailment.

Alas, I still managed to get out a couple of times. Unlike last year's "Big Day", I merely saw and photographed 2 new birds (see below). (Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

My first stop was at Brazos Bend State Park. Most of the birds I saw were the "usual", but a Great Horned Owl and her owlet were a nice encounter (a new bird for me).


Little Blue Heron


Snowy Egret


Common Gallinule


White Ibis


Great Horned Owl


Great Horned Owl

And an obligatory American Alligator shot.


Alligator

The second day I went to Galveston. The whole island was covered in fog. In fact, this was the day when an oil tanker and a barge collided in the same bay. Definitely not the best weather for birding (or for birds, as the oil leak dirtied many seabirds).

I arrived at Lafitte's Cove. A few days ago many migrating warblers were present. Not this foggy, cold day. But I managed to take pictures of a few familiar birds.


White-eyed Vireo


Yellow-rumped Warbler


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Great Egret

I pretty much gave up on any hope of seeing any new bird and was ready to leave. Then I heard some clucking sounds in the marsh. A Sora! This secretive bird is hard to spot and is a new one for me!


Sora

So it is true what Kenn Kaufman said: "Any day can be a special day, and you just have to get outside and see what the birds are doing."

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