Had a small group down with ASP (American Society of Photographers); we saw over 50 different species. What to add to your list? Give me a shout. See attached list.

Just returned from spending several days down at High Island and visiting the different bird sanctuaries. At Smith Oaks rookery, the egrets have started hatching and are still small (much larger this time last year) probably just hatched this week. Spoonbills have eggs and the herons, cormorants and Anhingas are building nests. Saw many night and tricolored herons there and spoonbills of course. Seemed to be a lot more spoonbills this year than last year. Numerous song birds, but a lot of the migratory ones stopped further north this year. Was able to get up close and personal with an indigo bunting Friday evening at golden hour to get a few pics. Otherwise, most of the normal birds were there. Mainly, we were looking for shorebirds and other water birds. Also dropped by Bolivar Flats and Shoveler Pond (Jocelyn Nungaray Refuge) for some pics and was not disappointed at either spot. Although had hoped to possibly catch a pic of a flamingo, but no luck this trip. A couple images from the trip included.

This is a rap song that I wrote a friend of mine, put the music to it and here are the lyrics so you can follow along. Do you have a good idea for a title? something other than eager rap please comment with it Egret rap Got my binoculars, got my camera,Out in the marsh, yeah I’m ready for the drama.White in the sunlight, what those highlights Egrets in the wild— ready to go. Little white bird with the golden feet,Black legs strutting like it owns the street.Shuffle in the water, stirring up a snack,Quick little hunter, never cutting slack.If you see golden toes dancing in the flow—Don’t move—click—gotcha. Snowy Egret—there it go. Got my binoculars, got my camera,Zoomed in tight, chasing that glamour click, click, shutter—don’t move slow,Egret in the frame I’m ready to go. Big white bird, yeah elegant stance,Yellow bill shining like it’s ready to dance black legs tall, moving smooth and slow,Gliding through the marsh like a quiet pro.Don’t move—click—gotcha. That’s the shot I know—Great Egret in the frame, now you know, let’s go. Now hold up—this ones wild and rare,Reddish Egret throwin feathers in the air.Running through the water, wings out wide,Hunting like it’s got something to prove Dark morph or white—yeah they steal the show—Don’t move—click—gotcha. Reddish Egret—steal the show. White ain’t always what it seems,Look a little closer, read between the lines.Behavior, legs, and the color of the bill—That’s how you ID with skill. Got my binoculars, got my camera,Third Coast birding—yeah we bringing the cameraSnowy, Great, or Reddish in the flow,If you’re watching close… now you know

Update - definitely getting the nest going - just waiting on babies now. Amazing how I used to kill myself trying to get blue heron shots at the local lake and they would all fly away. Now with the nesting have been able to get better close ups and not worry about the fly aways. Rookeries definitely have an advantage. Hope y'all get to enjoy the ones near y'all. This is just cropped and SOOC.

What are your spring migration plans? Have you seen anything new lately?