#PortAransasTX

Common Tern near the jetty after a successful catch of a small prey fish.

Common Tern scanning the waves for its next bite.

Sandwich Tern on the hunt with its yellow tipped beak.

Sandwich Tern right above the wave tops as they strike the jetty.

A few Terns from the other day at the South Jetty in #PortAransasTX. Terns were working the waves which were striking the rocks and picking off small prey fish. #Birds #Nature. Common Tern and Sandwich Tern.

Just a couple Whooping Cranes out for a stroll on some sand flats in #PortAransasTx. #Birds

With their reflections in the water, it appeared there were more Avocets in the group. With their upturned beaks they are always striking to see.

A cute hodgepodge of American Avocets the other day in #PortAransasTx. Many of the #Birds were taking a snooze break.

Clapper Rails are usually shy, so it was a nice treat for this one to spend time in the open at the Birding Center in #PortAransasTx. #Birds

Doing a landing at Turnbull Birding Center.

Reddish Egret starting up its dance to try and catch some small prey fish.

Reddish Egret looking all pretty the other day in #PortAransasTx. #Birds it flew in and then began hunting for small fish.

Top view of this Least Bittern among the reeds st Turnbull Birding Center.

Top view of this Least Bittern among the reeds st Turnbull Birding Center.

Top view of this Least Bittern among the reeds st Turnbull Birding Center.

I heard this Least Bittern before I saw it. It was close and I had to shoot pics of it straight down from the main deck at Turnbull Birding Center. #Birds #Nature #PortAransasTx

Momma Mottled Duck checking to make sure her young one is doing ok below her.

Stoic Momma Mottled Duck taking the direct sun to make sure her young one is doing ok below her.

After her duckling moved a bit to lay more in the shade, Momma Mottled Duck stands to take the direct sun and make sure her young one is doing ok below her.

Momma Mottled Duck providing shade for her duckling on a warm and sunny day at Turnbull Birding Center. #PortAransasTx #Birds #Nature

This banded young Aplomado Falcon was perched on a pole beside a major traffic area.

This banded young Aplomado Falcon was perched on a pole beside a major traffic area.

This banded young Aplomado Falcon was perched on a pole beside a major traffic area.

Yesterday one of the fledgling Aplomado Falcons had flown to a power pole along 361 and was calling to its parent for some attention or food. #Birds #Nature #PortAransasTx

Yesterday on my way to #PortAransasTx I noticed some activity on one of the Aplomado Falcon nesting platforms. Parent was tearing off pieces of meat from a prey item and feeding to 2 nestlings. Hand held at long distance #Birds #Nature.

Cormorant getting ready to dive hunting for a fish to eat.

Mottled Duck in flight.

Most often seen walking along the edge of water, this Willet landed on a small tree and was being extra vocal.

Sandwich Tern flying away after a successful catch.

A few today pics at Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTx. Neotropic Cormorant, Mottled Duck, Willet and Sandwich Tern. #Birds #Nature

Neotropic Cormorant riding low in the water prior to swimming underwater to catch fish.

A large group of Cattle Egrets did a flyover of the large pond at Turnbull. Here are just a few of the whitish egrets with their orange beaks and orange touches on their heads.

Wilson’s Plover working the sand flats. Love seeing them and that large beak.

A few random #birds from the other day at Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTx. Neotropic Cormorant, Cattle Egrets and Wilson’s Plover. #Nature

This large Caspian Tern, with a reddish beak, was scanning the water searching for some prey.

This large Caspian Tern, with a reddish beak, was scanning the water searching for some prey.

This large Caspian Tern, with a reddish beak, was scanning the water searching for some prey.

This large Caspian Tern, with a reddish beak, was scanning the water searching for some prey.

Caspian Tern, our largest Tern, was hunting with a number of other Tern species at Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTX the other day, diving into the water to catch their prey. #Birds #Nature.

Least Tern on the hunt, scanning for small fish prey near the surface of the water.

Least Tern on the hunt, scanning for small fish prey near the surface of the water.

Least Tern on the hunt, scanning for small fish prey near the surface of the water.

There were a handful of Least Terns on the hunt at Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTX. Unique looking with their yellow beaks, white forehead and small size. #Birds #Nature.

A straight on perspective of this female Magnificent Frigatebird shows the wide wingspan of this bird in relation to its body.

The view of this female Magnificent Frigatebird shows off her pointed and angular wings that help her soar endlessly without landing.

The profile view of this female Magnificent Frigatebird shows her pointed and angular wings that help her soar as she passes by for a drink.

The view of this female Magnificent Frigatebird shows off her pointed and angular wings that help her soar endlessly without landing.

Another series of pics of a Magnificent Frigatebird from my visit to Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTX a few days ago. The long pointed and angular wings allow it to soar endlessly. #Birds #Nature.

This female Magnificent Frigatebird was soaring over the main pond for most of the time I visited. The large wingspan allows this species to soar endlessly without landing on water. They are Sea Pirates and often steal prey from other birds.

This female Magnificent Frigatebird was soaring over the main pond for most of the time I visited. The large wingspan allows this species to soar endlessly without landing on water. They are Sea Pirates and often steal prey from other birds.

This female Magnificent Frigatebird was soaring over the main pond for most of the time I visited. The large wingspan allows this species to soar endlessly without landing on water. They are Sea Pirates and often steal prey from other birds.

This female Magnificent Frigatebird was soaring over the main pond for most of the time I visited. The large wingspan allows this species to soar endlessly without landing on water. They are Sea Pirates and often steal prey from other birds.

Don’t see this species very often, but it’s always enjoyable to get the opportunity for pics. At Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTx the other day, 3 Magnificent Frigatebirds soared over the main pond for awhile. #Birds #Nature.

Yellow Warbler bouncing around in a tree hunting for insects.

White-eyed Vireo working its way from high in the tree down to the water.

Tennessee Warbler on the edge of a tree stump with water getting ready for a quick bath.

This yellow and gray Northern Parula with its white wingbars and white eye arcs was getting ready for a bath.

A few birds from last week’s visit to #PortAransasTx. Yellow Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler and Northern Parula were visitors to Turnbull Birding Center. #Birds #Nature

Long distance pic showing the main water area at Turnbull with the pinkish orange colored American Flamingo feeding.

Closer view of the Flamingo preening its feathers.

Visited #PortAransasTx this past week and was able to catch this rare American Flamingo again. It was busy eating and grooming at Turnbull Birding Center. #Birds #Nature

This wading bird with its decurved bill, yellow green legs, heavy underside barring is feeding in shallow waters.

This wading bird with its decurved bill, yellow green legs, heavy underside barring is feeding in shallow waters.

This wading bird with its decurved bill, yellow green legs, heavy underside barring is feeding in shallow waters.

This wading bird with its decurved bill, yellow green legs, heavy underside barring is feeding in shallow waters.

As a long distance traveler, the Stilt Sandpiper breeds in the arctic and then spends the fall and winter in Central and South America and the Caribbean. We see them in our area for a time as they migrate thru. #Birds #Nature #PortAransasTx

This warbler with a bright yellow throat and breast and with white and black and gray coloration on the rest of its body was hunting for insects.

This warbler with a bright yellow throat and breast and with white and black and gray coloration on the rest of its body was hunting for insects.

This warbler with a bright yellow throat and breast and with white and black and gray coloration on the rest of its body was hunting for insects.

This warbler with a bright yellow throat and breast and with white and black and gray coloration on the rest of its body was hunting for insects.

With migration, it’s always interesting to see what bird species you don’t regularly see pass through your area heading to their nesting grounds. Got to see this Yellow-throated Warbler the other day. #Birds #Nature #PortAransasTx

Snipe with extra long beak is walking along the water’s edge with its striped head and camouflaged coloration.

These birds are usually hidden amidst the grasses near the water, but this Wilson’s Snipe gave brief looks out in the open yesterday. #Birds #Nature #PortAransasTx

Male Cinnamon Teal preening and showing off its unique colors: Cinnamon Red, pale Blue and white on the wings with reddish eyes. Its reflection can be seen in the water in front of the Teal.

It was an overcast day in #PortAransasTx today, but it was nice to see 2 male Cinnamon Teals from the boardwalk. #Birds #Nature

Northern Shoveler flying left to right. Drab brownish color with white wing stripe. Large beak and orange legs.

This dinosaur bullet was flying over the water at Turnbull Birding Center in #PortAransasTx the other day. Northern Shoveler female showing off that extreme beak and bright orange legs. #Birds #Nature

Gull flying left to right over the large water area. Whitish gull with black wing tips, orange bill with black stripe.

Got out to Turnbull Birding Center yesterday in #PortAransasTx on a chilly and overcast morning. Lots of birds out. Ring-billed Gull. #Birds #Nature