BIRDIEST FESTIVAL IN AMERICA...

This past week, during April 20-25th Corpus Christi and the adjacent areas of birding hotspots has hosted the annual BIRDIEST FESTIVAL IN AMERICA! Trust me when I say a lot of birders from all over the country round up here [and some from foreign countries] to take tours of South Texas and go birding!! I, of course, try to steer clear of the busy times during this...trying to avoid the big crowds and bus-loads of people.   My main reason is [I've been on birding tours many times] it turns into a "gab session" of what birds they've seen, where, and not paying attention to birds at all!!!  But, Sunday, after a week of yard work, I left home to take a day-trip to San Patricio County...a specific private pond that is known for a large rookery. Last year I drove there during the hatching time of year to get pics of the 'chicks'. This year, I was hoping to get there for the breeding plumage showcase! When I arrived, the trees were speckled with white, nests, pink, and active with flight here and there. I saw what I went for...the beautiful egrets and their plumage of...

Egrets were named for these special breeding season plumes, from the French word “aigrette” (pron: ay-grette). It was these gossamer feathers that nearly caused the Great Egret's demise. At the turn of the 20th century, egrets were hunted ruthlessly for their plumes, which were used to decorate women's hats.

As Ginny suggested in her comment last week, I must add that BOTH female and male have the lime green lores AND the feathers which they grow this time each year and molt in the Fall...The plumage is entirely white. During the breeding season, both males and females grow long lacy, delicate and flowing plumes called...("aigrettes").

I took way too many photos; it took me most of the morning on the computer to resize them for my blogs. I have DOZENS to share of the beauty nature creates with the breeding season on my bird blog. After I reluctantly left the area I then drove to Calallen back in MY county and stopped at a park there. Buses, people, photographers galore. I talked with a gentleman from California who came here just for the festival! Guess where his wife was? Behind the wheel of their SUV, sleeping!! lol I then walked some and took photos of course. And one area, I was skimming the larger lake with my camera lens and spotted a couple of birders out on an observation deck. I had to smile. I thought "How cute!" To see an older couple out together, enjoying what they both like to do together!! Then, I stopped..."Hey, Anni!? You're white haired and the older generation too" "Suck it up!"

The last two images, the flowering palo verde tree, there IS a bird in the photo...can you spot it? Then, I zoomed in between the branches and caught it to show you it's a Red Winged Black Bird...