31. December 2010 by Capt. Tommy.

We have been seeing 20 to 40 Whoopers each trip with at least one pair up close.

We have been seeing a male long-tailed duck from the tour boat “Skimmer” out of Fulton Harbor, Fulton TX. This bird has consistently been at the north east end of Sundown Bay on the Intra Coastal Waterway with a raft of Buffleheads . Bron Rorex first sighted this duck on the Christmas Bird Count Tuesday December 21.

 I also picked up a Parasitic Jaeger two weeks ago while crossing Mesquite Bay. He flew right across the bow. It is really cool to see something so different from what we see every day! Unfortunately it was a one time deal.

Come see us! The birding is great!

877-TX BIRDS (877 892 4737)

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14. July 2010 by Capt. Tommy.

I have had my really cool job for 7 years now and I still get to see things I have never seen. The other night on our sunset cruise we had run over to the rookery at Dead Man Island to check on the baby Brown Pelicans. We then headed over to San Jose Island along Long Reef and I spotted what I thought was a Magnificent Frigate Bird on the Long Reef marker. When we got closer I realized it was an Osprey! We don’t get many Ospreys that stay here for the summer so that was pretty cool in itself but just then a Frigate Bird came barreling in.

When the Osprey took off the Frigate Bird stayed on him as if the Osprey had a fish. Now the Frigate has a 7 ft wingspan and when they pursue another bird to steal their catch it is pretty impressive. I looks like their wings are in two sections. When a smaller more maneuverable bird makes evasive moves the Frigate Bird will bring the inside section of his wings in close to his body leaving the very thin outside section out giving him the advantage.

The Frigate stayed on the Osprey for about 100 yards and then two more Frigates came in and helped the first one chase off the Osprey. Just another day on Aransas Bay. . .

Come see us!

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25. June 2010 by Capt. Tommy.

Sorry I’ve been extremely scarce lately.

The good news is we are seeing Magnificent Frigate Birds on all of our Dolphin trips.  Thes birds are very impressive with their 7 ft wingspans. They feed by attacking other birds and taking their food.  They lurk above the shrimp boats and when a gull gets a ribbon fish it’s on!

Photo by Tommy Moore. All rights reserved.There are baby terns and baby pelicans on Deadman Island and big numbers of spoonbills at Paul’s Motte.

Our Dolphin trips are at 9AM and our Sunset trips are at 7:30PM I will do private birding trips on my skiff too!

Come see us!

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30. October 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

Happy Fall Y’all!

Sorry I’ve been MIA for the summer. I have been working on some outside projects but it’s now time to get back to birding!

We made a trip up to the Refuge Wednesday aboard the Skimmer. Spencer and Janet Youngblood  hosted a group for the 1st trip of the year. We only saw two cranes on the wing about a mile out but we should get some more birds in the next few days with these fronts. I was surprised that we didn’t see any ducks as there had been some redheads coming and going along the eastern shore of The Peninsula for a few days preceding the trip.  My favorite shorebird flat at Dunham Bay  produced Semi-palmated and Piping Plovers as well as  Dunlin, Sanderling, and American Avocets. Also present on the flat were Caspian, Royal , and Forster’s Terns, Laughing, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Further north we also picked up Long Billed Curlews, White Ibis, TV’s, as wel as all of the usual herons and egrets, Northen Harriers and a far off White-tailed Hawk. The tide was very high and the south wind was howling so we made our way back toward Fulton along the protected San Jose shoreline where we picked up three large groups of Roseate Spoonbills.

We officially start our season Saturday November 14th so come on down and do some birding with “Skimmer style”.

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16. April 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

Greetings!

We went out to the Second Chain Rookery last Saturday and were treated to spoonbill galore! Some were nesting with the GHBs. There is lots of nesting material being move both onto and around the island. It is hilarious watching these birds steal material from each others nest.

Skimmers, Caspian, Forsters, Royal, Gull Billed, Sandwich, and Least Terns are all courting with fishes in their bills. The Reddish Egrets are in full breeding plumage with their beautiful purple lorses and Pink and purple bills.  Also on the rookery were Crested Cara Cara, Great and Boat-tailed Grackles, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ruddy Turnstones, Laughing and Herring Gulls, White Ibis, Willets, Blackbellied Plover,  oh and yes the white GBH in full sight! What a treat!!!!!!

Y’all call Leslie at 877 TX BIRDS and lets go birding. Remember that we can take groups of 4 on our 22 ft skiff for $350 for a half day.

Happy Birding

Capt. Tommy

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15. April 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

Well I’ve been derelict in my blogging duty but here I am!

I took a group of Kids out to Matagorda Island and stopped at Cape Carlos Dugout  where there are Reddish Egrets and GBHs nesting. The Oystercatcher family nesting at the south end of the island hatched their chicks last week. When we pulled up the adults were there but no chicks. I scanned the edge of the vegetation but could not find any chicks. I began to watch the adult female open an oyster on the reef about 20 feet from their nest. When she got the meat out she walks toward the nest and 2 chicks came a’running!

She fed each chick a half of the oyster and then flew up and chased a Laughing Gull away who was interested in the Chicks meal. I then started watching the male open 6-8 oysters in about 5 minutes. Then he walks over to the chicks and yaks up one oyter at a time. He caught each oyster in the tip of his bill to feed the chicks. He reminded me of a Pez machine. The Chicks are really cool, they look like little dinosaurs. They have really thick legs. They are about 6-7 inches tall at 1 week old.

We are still seeing whoopers way out in the marsh and the rookeries are on fire!  I will blog the rookery report shortly.

Happy Birding!

Capt. Tommy

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