Today was mostly sunny & cool with moderate breeze. I spent about 3 hours this morning at LaFitte's ansd elswhere on Galveston.
LaFitte's Cove was quite quiet. The woods had the usual resident birds including the Brown Thrasher. The male Downy Woodpecker was seen, but not the female Ladder-backed. Winter birds were Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flicker was heard and seen flying away. Several Sandhill Cranes were heard also. Raptors were Sharp-shinned Hawk and Northern Harrier. This very pale female American Robin was the most unusual bird in the woods.
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| American Robin - female |
The ponds were also quiet except for many Green-winged Teal. There were also Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal and 3 each of Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup. This is an increase of 1 each from last week. There were scarcely any shorebirds..about 12 yellowlegs and 2 peeps only! No dowitchers or willets were seen.
The resident Loggerhead Shrike posed on one of the signs by the gazebo.
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| Loggerhead Shrike |
Elsewhere on Galveston Island today, Settegast Road had a flock of 6-7 Harris's Sparrows. Mostly they were 1st winter birds with the white throats like this one on a fence post.
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| Harris's Sparrow - 1st winter |
This adult on the ground has a black throat and blacker face.
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| Harris's Sparrow - adult non-breeding |
The flock enjoyed eating weed seeds.
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| Harris's Sparrow |
A moment later he craned his neck up to look down on the weed.
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| Harris's Sparrow |
Eight Mile and Sportsman's Road had usual birds. The docks had just 2 American Oystercatchers when I was there. The most unusual bird for me was a Spotted Sandpiper. I can't recall seeing one so late, but the checklist shows that they are here in small numbers in the winter.
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