29. January 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

We have had some very exciting birding over the last few weeks. While sighting only a couple of “rare” birds(white GBH and a lesser black-backed gull) we have seen our usual suspects doing cool things. Early this week we were drifting down on a whooper that was feeding close to shore when a Merlin flew in right at us and landed 10 feet away from the boat in a black mangrove bush. It stayed only 30 seconds or so when it realized what was going on and flew abot 30 yards down to the next mangrove. Everyone on the boat was able to get a great look at this small raptor.

Our tides were very low last weekend and we were unable to make our usual route through the back bays and I had just turned the Skimmer south for the return to Fulton Harbor when I looked up and spied a mature White-tailed Hawk kiting  about 100 feet high 30 yards away. I stopped the boat and watched the bird through the incredible new Nikon Monarch X  8.5X45 binos when he folded his wings and dove to about 30 feet and stopped again. It was a beautiful display of flight and I heard the crowed gasp. About 30 secnds later he made his final attack on his prey behind the cane about the same time his mate arrived and kited above him. I am sure some clients got great photos of these birds and will hopefully share them with us.

We did finally get a look at an Aplomado Falcon on the mainland last week. These birds were re-introduced on Matagorda Island some years back where we see them fairly regularly but I have never seen one along our Intra-coastal water way route until now.

The whoopers are still having a tough time finding blue crabs but we are getting great looks as they have been feeding on razor clams along the edge of the Intra-coastal Water Way. We have also been seeing the Lobstick “Scarbaby” in his territory along the edge of Sundown Bay. This bird was bitten by a snake as a juvinile and we indentify him by the long scar on the back of his neck.

The birding is great and the seafood is delicious and the weather is even better so come on down and see us!

Good birding!

Capt. Tommy

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9. January 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

It happened again on Tuesday! I saw something I have never seen. Whooper are very territorial and typically a pair with a juvenile will not tolerate other adult birds  around the family. When we saw three birds in the distance when we entered the refuge I began my bit about sub adults and how when you see more than two adults hanging out they were sure to be sub adults. As we got closer I noticed the juvenile with the group and much to my surprise they were a family and a sub adult bird prowling the shoreline. We watch awhile and the male bird with a red and silver band found a dead fish on the beach.

He picked at the fish for a bit when the sub adult came over to see if he could get in on the action. The banded bird would drop the fish and rush him and the sub adult  would back off. This went on a few times and the banded bird lost interest in the fish and moved away so the sub adult ran over and picked up the fish. Well that got the banded bird all worked up and he started chasing the fish grabber. When the banded bird would ease up the sub adult would start to eat the fish and the banded bird would rush him again. They moved about a hundred yards down the beach while the whooper mom and chick looked on. Finally the sub adult gave up and so did the banded bird and they both moved back toward the family and all four birds worked their way down the beach. VERY STRANGE!

We are still getting great looks at the white Great Blue Heron in Carlos Bay and picking up 40 to 50 species on each trip. Our weather finally broke and we have had a couple of glorious days.

Good birding!

Capt Tommy

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