Day 11 of Avi & Heidi’s Crazy Adventure

Here’s an adult Roseate Spoonbill with a cuddly looking juvenile. I have to research if there is a reason why the adults were the “mask”.

Our adventure comes to an end at Houston.  We spent the day driving around the Bolivar Peninsula, birding at Laguna Atascosa (love the Shoveler Loop drive!) and High Island (not ever birdie right now, but lots of mosquitoes).

Piping Plover. I am torn about the ethics of banding birds - you’ll notice this little guy has 5 bands! I often benefit from the data collected by banding birds, but you can’t convince me that there is no trauma involved in catching them to install the bands and then going through life with the bands. 🤷‍♀️

Long-billed Curlew

I refuse to believe these are the same species - head shape is different, hood comes down further on the one on the right, one has two legs….My ai sources all say Laughing Gulls.

Avi found this beautiful American Bittern. They are very hard to spot because their coloration matches perfectly with the reeds and the pattern on their throat mimics also mimics the reeds - it’s nature’s perfect camouflage!

Nature’s perfect uncamouflage - you can’t make up a more fantastical face. Roseate Spoonbill adult in full breeding regalia.

Watched this Little Blue Heron hunting and thought he missed when he lunged into the water…until I looked at his reflection 😅

Red-tailed Hawk