[AGL] snakebird

[fmaverick at austin.rr.com]

Ah, the heron with the pink bill. Fine creature. Thankyou thankyou. 
---- Michael Eisenstadt <mike.eisenstadt at gmail.com> wrote: 

> connie, what a treat! thanx!

> 

> poor me, reduced to passive birding and

> feet no longer up to extended tramping.

> 

> but its fun to compare my own lifelist with

> you all. anhinga sighting was a sweet

> experience and never to be forgotten,

> conveniently perching for me me me

> so neck could be distinguished as not

> being that of common cormorant.

> 

> 50 in one afternoon is no mean feat.

> 

> Mike

> 

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "Connie Clark" <connie_3c at yahoo.com>

> To: "Ghetto List Latest" <ghetto2 at two.pairlist.net>

> Cc: "Ed & Marilyn Guinn" <grebe at majek.com>; "Michael Eisenstadt" 

> <mike.eisenstadt at gmail.com>

> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:24 AM

> Subject: snakebird

> 

> 

> Spring birding report:

> 

> Mary Ann W drove down Saturday night with Terry M and Madeline V to join me 

> in an early Sunday morning, after storm visit to a bird sanctuary on the 

> gulf coast. We were hoping for a lot of woodland spring migrants fresh from 

> their trip across the Gulf from the Yucatan. We did see a lot of gorgeous 

> orange and black orioles and a flock of "indi-dayglow" buntings and various 

> others, but not so many warblers as I had seen just a week ago. 

> Nevertheless, our count for the day was close to 50 identified species. It 

> was a lot of fun for me to have companions to compare notes and to challenge 

> each other.

> 

> Mary Ann got a 'lifer' in the Catbird; we all enjoyed the soft plumed 

> Tri-color Heron, but Terry M was delighted by the Reddish Heron and its' 

> lively pink bill; Madeline's favorite was the dressy Black-bellied Plover. I 

> had been seeking the fish-eating Anhinga again, and Mary Ann managed to spot 

> one with only its' head and neck showing above the water. Then we were all 

> mesmerized by the spectacle of what MA referred to as a 'kettle' of maybe 30 

> white pelicans in a bowl like formation circling very high in the clear blue 

> sky - white wings catching light to glisten. Our nature finale came Sunday 

> afternoon as we were driving to the end of a small inland sanctuary, and a 

> richly coated coyote darted in front of us, pausing only to show mild 

> irritation with our presence.

> 

> Every bird we saw was in its finest spring plummage. There are a couple more 

> weekends of migrants. I'm keeping an eye on the backyard, and will travel 

> down to the coast to continue looking for new favorites. Anybody else see 

> anything?

>