High Island, Texas 2016, Part 2

It’s not unusual to see a tricolored heron, (which was also called the Louisiana heron), they are often seen wading and feeding as we bird along the Coastal Bend. What is unusual is to see a whole flock and we both spotted the flock gliding in for a landing as evening approached. They alit on an empty flooded tree, next to the Rookery as there simply wasn’t room in the nursery.

Still they didn’t settle and one or two would take off and then land, or try to land. However they were apparently intimidated by the great egrets, double crested cormorants, and perhaps the rosette spoonbills which are all much larger birds.

Meanwhile the raucous noisy of the Rookery continued unabated. It was a constant calliope of different sounds as the busy business of nesting continued. The birds descended/evolved, from dinosaurs and it probably was about what it was like when herds of dinosaurs gathered together to make nests, and raise their young.

Anyone who loves dinosaurs should see and hear what is going on here, after all the dinosaurs are still with us, it’s just that we call them birds. There are other rookeries in other states, the one on Avery Island comes to mind, but none allow you to be as close as the one here.

The Rookery is part of the birding woods called the Smiths Oak Woods, and as we walked the other paths we spotted a flock of Cedar Waxwings, feeding on a Mulberry Tree. Such trees are great places to spot warblers but none were feeding as we watched.

We also walked the paths of the Boy Scout Woods, another great place to spot warblers, but we have never caught it when this area was as good as the warblers and Buntings on Grand Isle, Louisiana. Unfortunately we aren’t going there this spring as we need to reach Wyoming in early May.

So we have refreshed our minds with the images of the Rookery and are ready to leave Texas. Now we are waiting in Livingston for a break in the weather as we head north to Rapid City.  Oh and a reminder to everyone keep on looking up for the birds beautiful spring breeding colors! Perhaps you will spot a male painted bunting. Clear skies