While at the Birding Center in Port Aransas, TX, this afternoon, I came across this Northern Shoveler.  It was a sunny, warm day (about 72 degrees), and he was sitting up on some reeds basking in the sunshine.

I like how orange his feet are, and that you can see his little toenails!  Okay, so I’m pretty easily amused.

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I’m so glad I’m a day late posting, because I get to share a first-time sighting with you.  Actually I saw this bird yesterday, but couldn’t get a picture; I went back today and was able to get a couple not-great shots, but okay shots.  A Great Kiskadee:

He is about 10″ long, and eats most anything — bugs, small rodents, fish, fruit.  They aren’t usually quite this far north so his presence at Paradise Pond (Mustang Island, close to Corpus Christis, TX) was even noted in the local newspaper.  I feel pretty lucky to have had a good look at him.  It’s pretty chilly this week, and I’m afraid he’s going to pack his bags and head farther south!

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–Sue

This is one of my favorite shore birds to see on my walks on the Gulf of Mexico.  This is a Black Skimmer.  It is the only bird where the lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw.  It uses that lower jaw to skim along the water for food.  His out-of-proportion beak always makes me smile.  The gulls in the background are Laughing Gulls, and we see them by the hundreds.  The Black Skimmers are much more scarce around here.

Be sure to check out other birds on the Ecobirder’s web site (click on the button below).  And if you enjoy taking bird photos, consider posting a picture and linking to the Ecobirder’s Tuesday Tweets post.  It’s a fun way to share bird pictures!

–Sue