Rich on the Road

"Clean Hair" was again the decider (surely I'm not the only husband who's fishing plans have been foiled by the "I've got clean hair" argument) and so Catherine and I returned to High Island for another nearly full day of birding.  We took the ferry from Galveston and headed back up the coast.

Catherine Feeding Laughing Gulls on the Bolivar Ferry

  We stopped briefly at Tuna Road in Rollover Pass where I did snap a couple of pictures of pictures of birds we actually saw -- though, we aren't 100 % sure on our identifications.  Shore birds are not my strength. 

Clapper Rail (We Think)

The birding was better at both Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks but I had to be back to work today so we left about mid-afternoon and, predictably, migrants flocked in a couple hours after we set out for home -- at least,  that's what I'm reading on Texbirds today.

Semipalmated Plover (We Think - Hey, This birding deal is tough sometimes)

We did have more fascinating conversations with a trio of the guides from www.TropicalBirding.com.  The company has set up shop across from the Boy Scout Woods sanctuary and is offering free guided tours of the two sanctuaries in High Island and Bolivar Flats (great spot for shore birds).  One was from South Africa and another named Benji is from Minnesota (my home state) and often guides in Kenya near where Catherine and I have traveled on short term mission trips for church.  I had a chance to use a little of the Swahili I learned a few years ago (it's pretty rusty) and we had a good time talking about mutual places and situations we've encountered.

The birding guides will be doing more of the same next spring and we will be there to take advantage.  Maybe, next year we'll time it right.

Rich