Sunday, October 04, 2009

Back to Brazos

.
We spent Sunday lunchtime at Brazos Bend State Park, hoping for a repeat of our excellent sightings there two weeks earlie
r. However, this time the weather was dull and drizzly, and there was much less to see.


The Least Grebes didn't put in an appearance at Creekfield Lake. Instead we had to make do with close-up views of Common Moorhens ...


and young Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.



Not all the birds were so obliging, though. A pair of Wood Ducks, my first of 2009, wouldn't allow close-ups.


The situation was similar at Elm Lake, where several pairs of Wood Ducks kept their distance while young Common Moorhens were happy to feed just feet away.



As always at Elm Lake, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were everywhere. Very sociable birds, most of them were grazing in groups or resting together in dead trees.



Occasionally, a less sociable one perched in a tree of its own.


Our bird list at the two lakes: Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teals, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Common Moorhens, Anhingas, Great Egrets, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, American Crows.

1 comment:

Kevin Poling said...

Hi, Jeff. Nice blog.

I believe that the two photos of the solitary juvenile are actually of a Purple Gallinule rather than Common Moorhen.

Regards,
Kevin Poling