Brazos Bend State Park (1 Viewer)

[JeffMoh]

On Sunday had a good morning at Brazos Bend State Park, on the outskirts of Houston. Not the birdiest of days but plenty of good views of White Ibis, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Common Moorhens, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, etc.

The highlight was watching a pair of Least Grebes (unusual birds here) feeding their five chicks.

Strangely, we didn't see a single egret of any type in 2.5 hours of birding the park. That's certainly a first for any of my birding trips near water in southeast Texas.

More details, and photos, on my blog.

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

 

[Dave B Smith]

Jeff,
Sounds like a good day, especially with the Least Grebes. I really liked birding Brazos Bend State Park but my wife wasn't comfortable with so many alligators.

 

[JeffMoh]

Jeff,
Sounds like a good day, especially with the Least Grebes. I really liked birding Brazos Bend State Park but my wife wasn't comfortable with so many alligators.

Hi, Dave.

The alligators are pretty stationery and well-behaved most of the year. They get a bit more active and wander around more in the spring, though.

Jeff

 

[CJC]

Alligators are one reason I like birding from a boardwalk, the gators don't climb too well and if they do get on the boardwalk, there's always a railing to stand on! They don't generally attack but t's a good idea to remember they are wild OMNIVORES.

 

[Richard Klim]

Brings back some memories: Brazos Bend was my US birding baptism - the first site my wife and I visited on our first ever birding trip to the US.

We started by walking the 40 Acre Lake Trail, clockwise. But having almost completed the circuit, we were confronted by a large sleeping alligator blocking the trail on the east shore. Being complete wimps, we quickly abandoned any thoughts of using our tripods for a pole-vault attempt, and agreed that an anticlockwise walk suddenly seemed a very attractive proposition.

Richard

 

[JeffMoh]

Alligators are one reason I like birding from a boardwalk, the gators don't climb too well ...

Funny you should say that. The boardwalk at 40 Acre Lake now has a gate. This is because the biggish gator that tends to hang out there had started going up onto the boardwalk.

Jeff

 

[JeffMoh]

Brings back some memories: Brazos Bend was my US birding baptism - the first site my wife and I visited on our first ever birding trip to the US.

We started by walking the 40 Acre Lake Trail, clockwise. But having almost completed the circuit, we were confronted by a large sleeping alligator blocking the trail on the east shore. Being complete wimps, we quickly abandoned any thoughts of using our tripods for a pole-vault attempt, and agreed that an anticlockwise walk suddenly seemed a very attractive proposition.

Richard

It isn't the best birding site around here but there are usually some birds to see, plus always lots of other things/animals to look at.

Jeff