Friday, April 25, 2025

Last Morning of the Birding Tour

 

Our guide John Coons and Len looking for one last bird in our last birding spot at Lake Charlotte.
We plan to stay in Houston for a few days, visiting friends.


Last-Day Photos

A Caracara.

Swallows.

A Painted Bunting.

Dragon flies near the water.

Black-Necked Stilt.

White-faced Ibis


We saw cows everywhere.

Wrapping up the birds

 


Yesterday we birded in sight of one of the world's largest oil refineries. That's Texas! More details about the trip later. Photo © 2025 mae sander.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Birds eating and nesting

A Yellow-Billed Cuckoo gets his caterpillar.

A Reddish Egret catches a fish

Two Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks eat mulberries.

A Roseate Spoonbill digs in the mud.

At the rookery, Smith Nature Reserve, High Island, Texas




A Cattle Egret.


Photos © 2025 mae sander

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Birding

Three owlets at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Mamma Barn Owl was away from the nest.

More Birds At the NWR


Green Heron on a wire
 
Crested Caracara on a sign

Roseate Spoonbills far across the ponds.

Sora Rail hiding in the reeds.

Early Morning Birders


Rookery at Smith Reserve


Favorite Bird Yesterday

Scissors Tail Flycatcher on a barb wire fence (Len’s photo)


Photos © 2025 mae sander

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Birding in Texas

A Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. A new species — or “lifer” — for us.

 

Five of the participants on our birding tour this morning. There are seven of us plus our guide.


One of the many, many warblers we saw today. Unlike most dedicated birders,
I’m not really fond of seeing warblers. I like big birds…

… and we did see one wonderful big bird: this Swallow-Tail Kite. (Len’s photo.)

Dinner in Jasper, Texas




Photos © 2025 mae sander.

Saturday, April 19, 2025

We Made it to Houston!

“Simone Biles: Taste of Gold” in the Houston Airport this afternoon.
 
“Greetings from Houston” a mural by Daniel Anguilu and Frank Nathen, 2020.

A bird! Our plan: A birding tour in the Houston area this week.




At the gate in Detroit this morning. The flight went smoothly, I’m happy to say.

Blog post shared with Sami’s murals. Photos © 2025 mae sander.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Spring In Michigan

A bluebird in the Arboretum (Len’s photo)

A Ride through the Countryside

Near Manchester, Michigan


One day this week, when the sun was shining a bit, we decided to take a ride west of Ann Arbor, along a number of roads that we often travel. This is farming country, with many barns and silos, and fields that are just beginning to be planted. Grass and field crops are newly green. All these photos were taken through the car windows as we were driving: in some images (like the one above) you cans see reflections from inside the car.











Spring in Our Own Garden




… and a cup of coffee



Photos © 2025 mae sander.