Among my favorite birds of the trip was the Reddish Egret. I saw several of them during my stay fishing along the shallow coastline of Port O'Connor. They were very active birds, frequently running through the water, hopping and flying short distances. You can see more of his poses in a section entitled Reddish Egret on this site.
I"m still so delighted to have caught this egret, comically fluffed out and facing into the wind having preened his feathers carefully after a long hunt.
Among the flowers in the overgrown garden at the cottage was this elegant purple beauty.
A tiny pink bloom also among the garden's treasures.
The Godwit, here probing deep in the soft silt along the grassy shores, is distinctive for it's long slightly upturned beak.
A pair of Godwits.
True to their name, this pair of Oystercatchers were wandering in an oysterbed, ready to pluck unsuspecting oysters from their comfortable shells.
Approaching from a distance in my car, I wondered what this strange band of color a good 50 feet or more off shore was. On closer inspection, it was a large group of Avocets. They were all resting in the surf, heads under wings and standing on one foot.
Two sleepy Avocets, peer up just long enough for me to snap a picture. Their long curved beaks are slender and sharp.
The tiniest of the shorebirds I saw, this is a pair of Sanderlings.
Just to be different, this bird has a down curving beak. He is called a Dunlin.
A very common sight along the shore, this is the Willet.
The Willet also enjoys hunting the oysterbeds.
But here he has caught a small crab for dinner. I'm always surprised to watch the birds swallow these crabs whole, shells, claws and all.
It wouldn't be Texas without a Bluebonnet! I was happy they were just starting their spring blooming season.
Coreopsis
A Red Headed Duck
Small member of the duck family, these Pied-billed Grebes are a favorite. Just look at that fluffy cottontail.
I've always loved Kingfishers, so I was excited to see one at Aransas Wildlife Refuge. He was at a far distance and I didn't even realize he had a fish until I saw the picture later.
Although not a shorebird, I thought these two Mockingbirds looked so content sharing neighborly gossip, that I had to stop and take their picture.
Opening beautifully in the early morning light.
White Prickly Poppy. A beautiful dancing flower, their foliage is all tough stems and prickles.
The first to venture down the nature trail that morning, I made this alligator grumpy. He greeted me with a series of loud thrumming noises. You can see his puffed out throat in this picture.
Later, when I returned to the same area, the alligator had calmed down and drifted lazily near shore.
I had never seen this showy wildflower before. Spider Lily.
Near a small pier at Goose Island State Park, this group of white pelicans swam slowly up and down the shore. They were hoping, I think, for scraps from the fishermen coming on and off the pier. I was impressed with their uniquely shaped beaks, wise looks, and crazy hair-dos!
Tri-colored Heron
White Ibis
I pulled over along the drive through Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, having seen this colorful display of newly hatched Black Swallowtails enjoying a huge thistle plant.
