Boca Chica Beach, 2/2/10

Lately there have been all these reports of great birds at Boca Chica Beach east of Brownsville. People have reported Brown and Masked Boobies, Great Black-backed Gull and Pomarine Jaegers. So I went to have a look for myself as these would all be great year birds. All I got were a bunch of gannets and some messed up gulls. These photos taken from the end of the south jetty show 1st year, 2nd year and adult Nortern Gannets. I tried to turn some of them into boobies but failed.







This heavily streaked adult Ring-billed Gull made me want to turn it into a California but then I noticed the yellow eyes.



These two first cycle American Herring Gulls show moderate and extensive post-juvenile scapular molt. At least that what I figured out from Howell and Dunn's "Gulls of the Americas."





This trio of Eared Grebes were hanging out close to shore.



A big bird went by.



These Sanderlings were in a hurry to get to the party!



This Reddish Egret begged to have its picture taken.