Port Aransas Charlie's Pasture 2017-08-11

This morning I birded the Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture North with preserve manager Colleen Simpson. Before Colleen arrived I walked the short Pioneer Trail and was impressed by how many Silver-leaf Sunflower plants have grown up in the recently burned areas since last time I was here back in May. They were full of Red-winged Blackbirds. Here's my eBird list from that trail:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38592023

And a short stationary eBird list from the pavilion:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38586348

Colleen and I walked the main boardwalk trail starting at the pavilion all the way out to the small loop with the observation tower on Salt Island. On the way there we saw a few Snowy Plovers, including on adult and chick running across the mud flats. This was the first time I've ever seen a chick! It was fun to watch but too distant and moving too fast for photos.

From the observation tower we were impressed by sheer numbers of mostly wading birds in the pond to the south and mudflats to the southwest. Hundreds of birds included most herons and egrets encountered here, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, and over 500 Black Terns.

Here's our eBird list:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38592017

And attached are a few iNaturalist observations.

Posted on August 11, 2017 08:52 PM by mikaelb