San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

We got to San Bernard after lunch.

San Bernard has a wonderful long auto loop and some very interesting looking trails.  I definitely want to come back in spring or fall when the weather is cooler to explore.


Lighting was harsh and I didn't take a lot of photos. However, I do want to share a couple.  This was only the second time I had seen purple gallinules and there were TWO!  It was interesting to watch them climb up to the top of this vegetation and then disappear into it only to climb back up again.  They were far enough away that no lens would be "big enough."  But I wanted a photo because I think they are SO beautiful with their beautiful shiny blue plumage and that bright red beak and the blue forehead!

Even with it being mid-day in the heat we saw 16 species!  And, of course, the alligators!

Summer birding

We have gotten off on a short trip. House sitter in place to care for Gambler. We left Tuesday and spent the night in Columbus to be able to get to the Atwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge early. We drove down Prairie Chicken lane but decided today it would be better named Bunny Rabbit Alley because we saw cottontails and jack rabbits everywhere.

Then we drove south to San Bernard NWR and from there to Brazoria NWR. My favorite birds of the day were the beautiful purple gallinule and the least bittern.

My next blog post will have photos of some of the birds we're seeing.

Here is my bird list for Wednesday:

Atwater Prairie Chicken NWR

Black bellied whistling duck

Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Crested caracara

Mourning doves
Northern bobwhite

Dickcissel

Northern Mockingbird
Northern Cardinal

Great blue heron
Cattle egret
Snowy egret
White ibis

Red Wing blackbird

Killdeer

Non bird species
Cottontail
Jack rabbit

San Bernard NWR

Dickcissel

Black necked stilt

Common gallinule (moorhen)
Purple gallinule (pair)
Coot

White ibis

Great egret
Little blue heron

Red wing  blackbird


Laughing gull

Black bellied whistling duck

Neotropic cormorant

Turkey vulture

Purple Martin

Great tailed Grackle

Brazoria NWR

Scissor tail flycatcher
Mockingbird
Dickcissel

American avocet
Stilt
Willet

White ibis
Roseate spoonbill

Least bittern
Great blue heron
Snowy egret
Great egret
Juvenile little blue heron
Juvenile black crowned night heron
Juvenile yellow crowned night heron


Redwing blackbird
Laughing gull

Mourning dove

Crested caracara

Mottled duck
Black bellied whistling duck
Black bellied whistling duck w/chicks
Fulvous whistling duck
Fulvous whistling duck w/chicks

Coot
Common gallinule with chicks

Meadowlark

Nighthawk

Tern (Foresters???)

Great tail grackle

Non bird species

Alligator