A Last Birding Trip on the Coast, Stopping at High Island, Texas, Part 1: Great Egrets

This year we are concentrating on our daughters wedding in August so we are cutting short our time on the coast and heading back to Wyoming. However we had to stop at High Island, Texas for a day of watching the birds on the rookery. There the nesting is really being dominated by the great egrets.

Usually we catch the height of the rosette spoonbill and great egret nesting but this year the double crested cormorants have taken over the top of the trees. Its the first time we have seen them so close and their eggs have already hatched. If you look close you can see two chicks being fed from their mothers gullet.

The rosettes are also present but the rookery isas I said, now dominated by great egrets. One can see them gathering branches for the nest, displaying to attract a female, cuddling, sitting on eggs, and feeding their young. The rest of this post is composed of images of this activity. Enjoy

If you ever are near here in early to mid April this is a must see. Clear skies