Rich on the Road

Full day of birding.  Once again we missed "the fallout."  Happens every year.  We're a day late or a day early.  This year about two days late, I think.

Sabine Woods and High Island are up the coast from Galveston.  High Island, in particular, is famous with birders around the world.  It's not really an island.  Just a high spot on the Gulf Coast with lots of woods.  Birds migrating from South America -- especially if they've been fighting a stiff north wind -- will sometimes arrive by the thousands and fill the trees -- too exhausted to fly further north.  Then, they linger for a few days, feeding on berries or insects or whatever they feed on before heading north again.  Over the weekend and into Monday there were dozens of warbler species being reported at the High Island bird sanctuaries -- flocks of orioles and grossbeaks and tanagers and other beautiful migrants.  By the time we got there today -- well there were a few beauties around and we always love to walk the woods, but it was pretty slow.

One cool thing to report is that this year a group called Bird America has set up shop across from the Boy Scout Woods sanctuary at High Island and is offering complimentary bird guides.  We spent time with a Brit named Sam Woods (perfectly suited name for a guide here) and another from Minnesota named Benji.  Both provided great insight and helped us spot birds we would have otherwise missed.

We added two species to the life list -- a grey-cheeked thrush and a black tern.  We also spotted something really rare at Smith Oaks sanctuary.  Benji's best guess is that it was some sort of mutant, female Northern Oriole.  Very odd and beautiful looking -- yellow body with white wings.  He snapped a few shots through his scope.  Should spark discussion among the avid birders if it hangs around Smith Oaks. 

A Bird We Didn't See Today  (courtesy www.tropicalBirding.Com)

Here's the web address for Sam and Benji's company:

www.tropicalbirding.com

They offer guided trips all over the world.  We've found that hiring a guide is the way to go.  You learn so much and you see so much more -- especially when you're in unfamiliar territory. 

Another Bird We Didn't See Today (courtesy: www.tropicalbirding.com)

We birded until early evening (migrants usually come in between 4-6pm) then took the Bolivar Ferry across to Galveston (always an adventure) and found our usual cheap (but clean) Best Western Motel on the seawall with its $60/night manager's special (roughly $100/night cheaper than the Holiday Inn just down the street) where we have showered and are in for the night.

Not sure what we're doing tomorrow.  But, then that's what I like about these getaways.  We'll do what strikes our fancy tomorrow.  We've brought the fishing rods but... well, we'll see.

Rich