Observations by amerla

4:10pm and 40F, cloudy although not as windy as other areas of Port Aransas on the same day, making this area feel much warmer. The habitat was largely marshy, with dense areas of small water plants and reeds creating upraised areas in the shallow water. A wooden dock crossed the water on the very edge, issolating a smaller area that was mostly very moist mud with no standing water with water grasses stretching back behind that area. A group of 5 Blue-winged Teals were in the marshy area on one of the upraised areas with small water plants. The males had a white strip running on their faces right above their beaks and they had a patch of bright blue feathers on their wings. They were foraging in the aquatic plants. When they ate I noticed that they made a loud splashing noise with their peaks that could be heard ten feet away on the little observation dock. I'm not sure why they would make so much noise while eating, it seems like it would attract predators.

Made observation on Country Road 412 a few miles before the May Feedlot. Observation made at 3PM with a low wind when it was 40F outside and sunny. Country Road 412 is framed on the left by a series of low standing trees and shrubs as opposed to the more arid conditions that were seen farther down the road where there was less water. A group of about ten Red Wing Blackbirds were perched in several of these trees. They were identified based on the fact that the birds were entirely black except for a patch of bright red on their upper wing. They all remained in a fairly tight group, which may serve as a defense mechanism against predators in the area.

The weather was overcast and extremely windy, it was also cold outside. A group of Northern Shovelers were spotted in one of the ponds closest to the main road. They were identified through binoculars on their beak shape, as well as the copper colored spot in the middle of their otherwise white breast. The group was mixed with males and females, however some of the males had red heads instead of green so it could have been two separate duck species that were grouped together. Three of the ducks were running across the water, in what appeared to be chasing each other. This could have been behavior that the males exhibit to show dominance over the mixed group.

It was cool (in the 70's) and extremely cloudy, a large storm came through about thirty minutes after making this observation. The habitat was dense grasses along Wilbarger Creek, which in the area I was in appeared to be at most 4 feet deep. Beyond the grasses and reeds there was areas that were dense with trees, although they were not close to the water's edge. I identified this as a cooter based on the curvy circles that stacked inside of each other on its shell. It was found in some of the dense reeds in the shallow part of the creek, probably foraging for food in the reeds. Maybe on some of the smaller fish we found (although I'm not sure if this species eats fish).

At 2:00pm is was approximately 65°, there was no wind and it was very sunny. I was walking along the sidewalk in a residential area along a fairly busy road, thick blackberry bushes without any leaves on them surrounded the road. A Western Scrub Jay flew from the pines on the other side of the road and into the blackberry bushes. It quickly made its way to the center of the bush where it then perched. It didn't appear to be foraging for food so maybe it was using the thorny blackberry bushes as protection against a predator? I identified the bird as as Western Scrub Jay because of the bright blue feathers on the back of the head and the bird's wings, as well as the pale gray and white patches on the bird's stomach and on its throat.

At 7:00 it was 63°F with no wind and no clouds, the sun was setting. I identified the Red Tailed Hawk based on the mostly brown feathers on its torso and head, as well as its large size. The hawk was also perched at the top of a telephone pole along NW 9th street, and I know that the top of poles is a common place to see these kind of hawks. It was probably using the high vantage point to look for prey in the grassy field with low laying trees on the other side of the road.

At 5PM saw a Western Gray Squirrel run up a pine tree in a heavily wooded area. It was sunny outside with little to no wind and approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
I identified the squirrel based on its light gray coloring and its large bushy tail in comparison to the size of its body.
It was probably running up the tree because it heard a group of people approaching, by the time I could look at it it was already at least twenty feet up the tree. Either that or it was exhibiting some type of foraging behavior and was trying to get at the pine cones at the higher portion of the pine tree it was in. I couldn't discern which because of how fast it ran up the tree and how far it was above the tree.

Saw a Black-tailed Deer in a residential area with thick tree cover, mostly pines, at 5pm. It was sunny with no wind and approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The deer was entirely brown on its torso and head. A large black spot covered a majority of the deer's tail, no white was visible, which is how I differentiated it from a Mule deer.Also black tailed deer are more commonly found in wooded areas, such as this one, than Mule deer.
The deer was moving along the edge of the back yards, grazing on bushes that were used as fencing. It seemed small in comparison to an adult deer, so it seems likely that it was a juvenile. I am surprised that there weren't other deer around, since most of the time I see deer they are traveling in groups unless the deer is male. Perhaps this is a juvenile male?

At 4:30 PM, light wind, 50F and sunny. Three miles down the "River Trail" I turned right off the trail just before a fork in the road after spotting two large white birds with my binoculars on the other side of the Colorado River. By the time I reached the bank to get a better look they were gone, they probably heard a group of people coming and few away. Most likely the two birds were Great Egrets based on their apparent large size and their white coloring. They were also located in the shallow portion of a bank of the Colorado, with low laying vegetation surrounding them. This seems like the sort of place that the Great Egret would feed. I wonder why there were two of them, could it be that this is the time of year that this species mates?

9:30 am, 60F on a clear day with little to no wind.
I identified a single Mallard Duck in the area based on the emerald green plumage on its head and its brown color body. It was in an area protected by buildings that were built over the water. The water was deep enough for small boats, probably 20 feet deep. All of the other species in the aquatic area by the buildings that overhung on the water were American Coots and Grackles. Unlike the Coots the Mallard Duck did not perch on the foundations of the buildings for shelter, it swam in open water and appeared to be indifferent to the Coots. It also did not cluster in groups with the Coots. There were no other ducks in the area.

Time: 9:30 am
Sky was clear with little to no wind. The temperature was 60F.
I identified an American Coot, based on its segmented looking feet and its black coloration. It was perched on the metal beams of the foundation of the builds that overhung the water with a group of approximately 40 other birds. The Coot was mostly interacting with its own species, since the only other species in the area was a Mallard Duck, which was not seen in this area of the river at the time. The Coots tended to cluster in groups, even when swimming in the water. Also if one coot swam towards one of the decks that overhung the water, other birds would follow the lead bird. This is probably reinforced by the fact that people tend to feed the water fowl from the decks.