Just returned from spending several days down at High Island and visiting the different bird sanctuaries. At Smith Oaks rookery, the egrets have started hatching and are still small (much larger this time last year) probably just hatched this week. Spoonbills have eggs and the herons, cormorants and Anhingas are building nests. Saw many night and tricolored herons there and spoonbills of course. Seemed to be a lot more spoonbills this year than last year. Numerous song birds, but a lot of the migratory ones stopped further north this year. Was able to get up close and personal with an indigo bunting Friday evening at golden hour to get a few pics. Otherwise, most of the normal birds were there. Mainly, we were looking for shorebirds and other water birds. Also dropped by Bolivar Flats and Shoveler Pond (Jocelyn Nungaray Refuge) for some pics and was not disappointed at either spot. Although had hoped to possibly catch a pic of a flamingo, but no luck this trip. A couple images from the trip included.

Update - definitely getting the nest going - just waiting on babies now. Amazing how I used to kill myself trying to get blue heron shots at the local lake and they would all fly away. Now with the nesting have been able to get better close ups and not worry about the fly aways. Rookeries definitely have an advantage. Hope y'all get to enjoy the ones near y'all. This is just cropped and SOOC.

What are your spring migration plans? Have you seen anything new lately?

Although I'm not down on the coast - I do get my share of great blue herons visiting in my backyard - we currently have around 6 nests (last count from last year) and they are currently starting again this year. Normally I can never get close enough to get a good shot before they fly away at our neighboring lake. Nesting is a whole new world of photo opportunities.

When courting females, male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds perform a display called (starts with a P) _____________________ Display.