high island

Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) Transitional male. High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Urban setting in a mowed yard. Secondary coastal woodland dominated by coastal live oak.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja). High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Houston Audubon Society, Smith Oaks, Claybottom Pond. A mixed species rookery along the southern edge of the pond. Gulf Coast and Prairies Vegetational Area at ca. 16 m (52 ft) elevation.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) Houston Audubon Society, Smith Oaks, Claybottom Pond, High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Margin of Claybottom Pond with surrounding coastal woodland dominated by coastal live oak.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola subsp. cynosurae) Sexes similar. Known in the USA as the Black-bellied Plover. High Island Beach, south of High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. On the upper end of Boliver Peninsula along the Gulf of Mexico.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis subsp. autumnalis) Sexes similar. Mom with her 3/4 grown ducklings still very attentive. Shoveler Pond, Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at...

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias subsp. wardi) Sexes similar. Throat fluttering. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Shoveler Pond, coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Shoveler Pond, coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus subsp. mexicanus) Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Shoveler Pond, coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Houston Audubons Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary, Heron Island in Clay Bottom Pond (Rookery). Pond surrounded by coastal woods within the Coastal Marshes and Prairies Vegetational Area at 10.7 m (35 ft) elevation.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Houston Audubons Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary, Heron Island in Clay Bottom Pond (Rookery). Pond surrounded by coastal woods within the Coastal Marshes and Prairies Vegetational Area at 10.7 m (35 ft) elevation.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Shoveler Pond, coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis subsp. texensis) Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis subsp. savanna) This subspecies is known as the Eastern Savannah Sparrow. Photographed on an infructescence of Sour Dock (Rumex crispus) in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA...

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Fishing for catfish. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, Shoveler Pond, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major subsp. major) Male, species sexually dimorphic. The nominate is found in Texas and Louisiana and are restricted to coastal areas. Our Great-tailed grackle is also very common in the coastal areas but ranges every where else in the state as well. However...

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Sexes similar. I was not aware of its crossed bill until I got my lens focused on it. Then I almost forgot to take its picture (lol). Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) with primerose pollen on its bill and head. Female, species sexually dimorphic. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation...

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula subsp. thula) Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus subsp. mexicanus) Sexes similar. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Snow Goose The nominate subspecies also known as the Lesser Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens subsp. caerulescens). This color morph is known as a Blue Goose. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes...

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Lesser Snow Goose or just Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens subsp. caerulescens). Greater snow geese are found along the Atlantic Coast (A. c. subsp. atlanticus), while Lesser Snow Geese are found elsewhere in North America. The Blue Goose (right) is a color morph of the Lesser Snow goose (A. c...

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.