The Coast!

After seeing a couple rare birds reported that I need to add to my life list I headed for the coast and that is way out of my 5 mile radius. 

                                        walkway to get to the Jetty and North Beach

Huntington Beach State Park.  I totally forget to get a shot of the entrance sign and couldn't find one online either... It was thundering and a shower of rain had just stopped upon my arrival.  I left home about 6:30 am and it's 129 mile drive.  So it was about 9:30 once I entered the park, found a spot in the parking lot, used the restroom and readied my small pack for the walk down to the Jetty.  It is a 1.5 miles hike one way down the beach to the Jetty...

Finally I got to the Jetty the thunder drew closer but I got lucky and the rain never came...the wind did pick up and it was pretty breezy!  Happy about that it made it feel much cooler. 

At the infinity point the jetty turns left and that is my destination...so altogether the walk is about 2 1/2 miles to get there.  And this is the there Im referring to...this cove and the surrounding area is shore bird nesting area 

This little spit of sand is the perfect spot for terns, since they have small webbed feet they don't really go swimming, they dive, and take off right back to flight.  They do stand in shallow water.

A black tern had been reported and I had hopes of seeing it...I checked this large mixed flock...no black.  But I had royal, sandwich, least, common, and lots of confusing juveniles! 

Mostly royal terns here with Black Skimmers and a few others mixed in...

royal terns on the wing

Least Tern

Juvenile least tern

I listed only 1 common, since this is the only adult I found, I think that one standing behind is an immature but Im not sure so the adult Common Tern  is center front...

And one of my favorite terns the Sandwich Tern

The Black was seen the next day there is only one and he just was not with the majority the day I visited...so I guess a second visit?   Lots of Semipalmated Plover walked down the beach..and they were hanging in the nesting area that is fenced off. 

And another target bird for me, and a LIFER this plover has eluded me over and over, but not this time!

The Wilson's Plover!  And not just one but quite a few of them and the bonus---->

with CHICKS...

Adorable!

This cove has a rounded shape...so I keep going around the curve and found some Ruddy Turnstone picking through the beach "goodies".  

over a small rise to this shallow pool...lots of small shell here. 

And I still don't know what this immature tern will be when he grows up!  What's your best guess...It is a medium sized tern.  This time of year is very challenging to ID gulls, terns, sparrows, and heck nearly all the new arrivals don't look quite like they should yet! 

I'm going to split this post it's way too long, stay tuned for part II. 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Pass TX

Of course I will get behind on blogging as I have most of the time a dead computer...It stays charged long enough for me to upload the zillion photos then it goes dead. I have been in Texas since Wednesday and I'm still at the very same place...because at first it was so awesome then the weekend hit, so I stayed put leaving here on Sunday.  Here is Sea Rim State Park.   on the Gulf coast.   Here is my camp they said sorry the campground is full..but the beach is open!

So I said hell yeah!  Why would I ever want to leave....And to boot there are soooo many birds here.

black bellied plover

Right outside the door of my van I see this!! And then the tide pools are full of terns, stilts, and long billed dowitchers. 

black necked stilt

I have to sort through these terns and see what is there....

there is so much to see and do right here..

I  have met some nice people and enjoyed some good chats while I've been hiking around the park looking at the birds...

dunlin getting their black belly patch

here is another shot taken right outside my van door...the Ruddy Turnstone.

the staff here are so nice...the beach is considered primitive, so no amenities, but this to me is an emenity...

Another right in front of me lifer the Snowy Plover.

One nature trail is the Gambusia...its all a boardwalk thru the marsh...its awesome and depending on the time of day you walk it you will see all sorts from coots, blue winged teal to Black bellied whistling ducks! Another lifer.

it's just gorgeous here...

and finally I see the American Avocet in breeding plumage! 

Least tern...

Least Sandpiper

Nearby is Sabine Woods I found this migrating Orchard Oriole

Sabine woodlot

The best part is I don't have to do anything except wait to see a great sunset.

Second day was perfect too...but I'll have to save that post for next.

ebird List here

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Pea Island

We drove on Monday, did the Beach on Tuesday, and the Hatteras Lighthouse and Pea Island Refuge on Wednesday.  I told you about the light house.  Pea Island has the potential to be a good birding area but we hit it at just the wrong time,  the hottest part of the day...AND  if you're going there leave your pet some where cause they don't allow dogs on the trails.  So we had to cut it very short as Casey was with us....I left ALL the windows open  in the van and put my battery fan on for Casey...he was fine when we returned but we did a very fast look around... so that translates to us not seeing much of nothing!! They do get Black Necked Stilts but we saw none in our fast walk around. 

Not many birds were out in the open a few Least terns, lots of Red Winged Blackbirds, and a few Egrets..

 fritillary and brown pelican 

This cute snapping turtle poked his head up to have a good look at us..

Eastern Towhee and Eastern Meadowlark were around...

The trail has this cool living arch over it  in several spots...

and there is quite an accumulation of sand dunes along the road

Thursday we broke camp and this was our last day of touring the Outer Banks we had a couple more stops in mind before heading to cooler climes for the duration of the weekend. 

more on next post...

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.