Evil clowns to the left of me, horrific jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle of haunt season! Technically, Halloween is around 67 days away, but here at Intrigued the spook comes early. We hold our annual Haunted Trail event the last weekend of September which translates to “where the hell did the year go already!!”. We pretty much work on this event 352 days a year taking off only 2 days for the event itself and 5 days to tear it all down and get it back into storage..capping it off with 2 days of badly needed rest before the 50 mile ultra race a few days later. That doesn’t even count all the work Linda does to prepare and put on the party itself (house decor, food, drinks etc.) and the invaluable Haunt Squad who must have something mentally wrong with them as they keep signing up to help out every year (must be the free beer … and root beer ha!). Guessing needless to say, but I am nose down trying to get ready knowing full well I’ll still be putting the finishing touches on the trail as the guests start arriving. Apologies for being out of pocket lately, especially on reading all your great posts – will probably let Brad handle the posts once he and Jan returns from assignment. To hold you over until then, going with a featured feathered friend that also has its nose down.
Hit the jump to read more about this uniquely billed creature.
In my last post on the Piping Plover we were hanging out on the Bolivar Flats. This area is located just off the Ferry from Galveston Island and a MUST birding hotspot if you are in the area. Bolivar Flats is also the location of the Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary. It is a bit unclear to me which part is actually the sanctuary as there is a fenced off area starting at the dunes which goes quite a ways back from the water. That area explicitly has signage indicating that is the bird sanctuary. There appears to be no way to walk in that part as there are no paths to be seen nor any indication where that might be allowed.
From the dunes to the water is open area. You can drive out on the beach here until you come to a line of posts where you can park and explore the rest of the shores as it follows the Gulf. Note, at low tide, you can technically get around the posts and I have seen several vehicles way out on the flats likely fishing the accessible waters. With that said, two years ago I saw a vehicle out there only to look back as I was leaving and noticed the car was standing in water up to its door thanks to the tide coming in. Passed a tow truck heading out there as I was leaving.
Special note, if you want to “park” on the sand you are required to have a pass. This can be purchased at local places or request via mail – $10 per vehicle/year with early bird pricing in Jan/Feb at $5. Their mail option only takes checks which is rather annoying. We switched up our snowbird plans this year and went to Arizona in January and then went back to Texas for the month of April. Have to say, the Flats were hopping at this later time with thousands (and thousands) of shorebirds massed for the migration including all the Plover varieties – one of my best birding experiences ever!
Now that you are a bit more informed about the Bolivar Flats area, time to mention that these shots were not taken at the official Bolivar Flats area. A bit of a bait and switch, but the flats are more widely known and gets more press than the nearby areas. Theses shots of the Long-Billed Curlew were taken while visiting the Bolivar North Jetty.
Also called the Galveston North Jetty, this very long jetty was initiated back in 1874 to protect the Ports of Galveston, Texas City and the various ports in Houston. The work was not completed until 24 years later. This jetty is about 1.5 miles from the Bolivar Ferry Landing. Turn right once you come to 17th Street. Your destination will be at the end of that road – look for the small bait shop that marks the start of the jetty. Going to put it out there, this is not the “prettiest” place to bird – at least on the shore side. There is a lot of trash and port-a-potties you should pray you never have to use.
This jetty is LONG – it might must be the longest one I have ever been on and I have yet to make it to the end. I thought this was a pretty good drone video of the area – it starts with a view of the Bolivar Flats – Bolivar Peninsula Tourism and Visitor Center (link here). Do not be deceived by the flat concrete start of jetty. If you plan to walk beyond that short section, you need to wear shoes with a firm grip. Like all of these protective barriers, it is made up of large slabs of granite that can become slick with the water spray and vegetation. There are also significant gaps between the slabs. I fell on the South Padre Island Jetty and my knee still remembers the pain (sacrificed the body to save The Beast). Being as we visit in January (and now April), there hasn’t been a lot of congestion either here or on the flats – maybe one or two fishermen on the Jetty and a few more including a birder or two on the flats. You choose how far you want to go out…just be confident in our own survival skills as you head out further and further into the Gulf.
The good news is there are PLENTY of birding targets closer to the shore. Last two times we have been to the Jetty there have been American Avocets in the multiple thousands. Reminded me of the Snow Geese flocks we’ve photographed in the past. In the midst of this horde are shorebirds of every species mingling with Gulls, Clapper Rails, Peeps, Black-Bellied Plovers, Pelicans, Willets and Spoonbills to name just a few. As you can tell, the Long-Billed Curlews are present as well.
For some reason I’ve struggled to keep the Long-Billed Curlews and the Marbled Godwits distinguished (link here). Both are similar in size (larger than peeps, smaller than say a Goose or Spoonbill). They are adorned in similar earth tones and their noses would put Cyrano de Bergerac at ease. There is one very glaring distinction that shouldn’t trip me up, but..it does. The Long-Billed bill curves down, where the Marbled Godwit’s has an upward bend to it. To get over my bill dyslexia I use a saying in the field – “The upward bill points to the gods”. There are several options in the Godwit family, but really only two to distinguish with the down-turned bill – the Whimbrel (significantly shorter bill) and the Bristle-Thighed Curlew (if you’re feet are not touching Alaskan soil, don’t worry about it).
A little background on this shorebird before I let you go. Their non-breeding region encompasses the southern coastline of the US and a large swath through Central America. When they get frisky, they head up to the interior of the northwest and small jaunts into Canada. According to Cornell’s website, this shorebird’s genus name, Numenius means “of the new moon” in reference to the curve of the bill. Wait, I already checked the Limosa name for the Godwits doesn’t stand for old moon rather the much more obvious characteristic of it being Muddy – yeah, I frowned at that as well – sticking with my pointing to the heavens reference.
The “things that go bump in the night” are calling me back to the lab. Take care everyone and again, apologies for delayed responses as I look back in fondness at those times when sleep was abundant.
Here is a preview of just one of the props that is currently under construction.
Wildlife Intrigued 
The bird is especially beautiful in flight. Great pics. I love the prop.
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One of those situations where it looks less out of place in the air than it does walking around with that snoz. Prop is coming along. Got the feet done, all the foam hardcoated and a start of the black base paint before we had to take off for Colorado. Fingers crossed I can get all the remaining tasks done in time.
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I hope you’re getting some new birds during your time in CO.
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So far one lifer and a number of new counts for this year’s Average Year, so no complaints. Plus a couple of high altitude trail runs which beat the crap out of me trying to suck in as much oxygen I could get in this thin air. Hoping it will help when I get back down to Illinois elevation ha.
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Great on the birds. The altitude might help a little, but it takes eight weeks to acclimate.
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Hoping I can accelerate that down to a week by completing depleting myself every day…never slept so good in my life ha!
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The sleep will help, also.
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Also good for getting some of my strains and dings hopefully healed up before the race – been dragging them along all year.
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Sweet pics. These birds’ bills are pretty amazing. So does that “under construction” creature fit through your doorways or do you knock a wall out to move it?
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Thanks Jerry. Sooooo, funny story, one that Brad got to witness in person. I measured the height of the double door to get it out of the basement. Constructed it to the maximum height it could be and still get it out the door (minus the head when detaches). Went to get it out first the first sanding and doh! There is at least a 1 inch lip on the door frame. @#%!%#!%!R!#@!!!! I did have a fallback contingency which involved cutting the legs and arms off and creating attachment points. That worked to get it out of the door … barely..and now it will be easier to store – win win! For the record, Linda put her foot down at the wall removal option.
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What incredible bills!
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Definitely! They probably get laughed at by the other bully shorebirds, but they are unique in their own special way. Appreciate you dropping in Luisella.
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Noticeably longer bill than our Euro version, guess the mud over there must be deeper 🤣🙄.
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Good point, although I pretty sure your bogs are pretty deep over there. Maybe you have good bird Rhinoplasty over there!
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That area of the Gulf coast is spectacular for bird migration. Sorry to hear about your fall on the jetty. Pain is never a good thing.
Wonderful photographs of the Long-billed Curlew. Love the flight shots.
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Thank you Wally. I will admit they gave me a lot of chances to get something decent in the tin. That fall made me instantly aware of how much I used to take the footing on those jetties for granted. First thing I thought as falling was to save The Beast, then the oh crap, I need those knees for my runs. Both survived so no harm, no foul. After a while all things hurt during the ultras hehehe. Appreciate the drop in Wally.
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This is one of my favorite birds. You even managed to capture the Long-billed Curlews in flight.
The moments and photos are incredibly beautiful!
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Thank you Kaya, glad you enjoyed the post. I was really happy with how the shots turned out, one of those situations where everything seemed to work well, lighting, timing etc. Thanks for coming by, have a great rest of your week.
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Your flight shots are extremely nice – well done!
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Thank you for the kind words! Every once in a while I get something decent in the tin. Thanks for dropping in – have a great rest of your week.
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That bill almost looks to long for its little body. 🙂 that is quite the prop, scary in the daylight.
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I’d say it is definitely on the long side for that body – amazing how they can keep their aerodynamics in the air with those huge snozs! The prop is coming along, running out of time and still a good list of things to get done…adding in our unexpected trip out to Colorado and now the pressure is on to get it down before the party…wish me luck ha. With all the traveling and haunting, so far behind on reading your blog – my apologies.
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The descriptions of your bird sightings in Texas make my mouth water, as always! I particularly love your flight photos of the curlew, well done!
Have fun preparing your Haunted Trail!
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I’ll keep pushing the Texas posts until you find your way down there ha! You will be happy to know we are currently sitting in Colorado. Linda has to shoot the Teacup Agility Dog Nationals out here this weekend. Hoping to get a little birding in while we are out here. After the show we have to make a marathon run back home so we can get back to the haunt prep as soon as possible.
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Welcome to Colorado! Have fun with the agility event and the birding! I hope you will see some birds from your wish list.
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Thanks Tanja – so far so good (dismissing the recent issue we had with the local Dominoes manager). Did the rounds at Red Rocks today and where we’ve been staying these last two nights (Bear Creek Park). Definitely added to my current list this year and even added a lifer! Now we move on to the agility/photography part of the trip north of Denver. Oh, and got a couple of trail runs in which tore me up, can someone turn up the oxygen content in the air up here hehehe.
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Even when my feet were touching Alaskan soil, I still didn’t see any curlews. And apparently, if you are touching Alaskan soil, none of your comments or likes make it through from the great frozen north.
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Good to know the northern lights prevent any digital bits getting out! Too bad on the Curlews – they actually have their own version up there and was hoping you would be able to tin it. Glad you made it back safely — take care on your current assignment.
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Beautiful photos of these colorful birds, especially the ones in flight. I have chickened-out (quailed) at the 25% complete mark on the jetty – as you say, not for the faint-hearted or the less-than-nimble-footed.
Glad to hear even a veteran birder such as yourself was confused by the signage (and lack thereof) at the Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary, I thought my lack of understanding was simply a lack of familiarity with presumed coded Audubon lingo. Ah well. The cool thing about the whole area is that it is so big – I can wander up and down the beach repeatedly, seeing new birds and behaviors each time. Fun!
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Thank you Sam! I wouldn’t refer to it as chickening out, rather Linda’s term, you “adulted”. The signage there is absolutely confusing on the flats – nothing on your part, that’s for sure. I love walking the flats there and even circling around the bend towards the jetty. This year was our first time there in April so there were lots of fencing up to keep people away from all the nesting Plovers that were there – definitely one of my best birding experiences to date – birds EVERYWHERE and was able to check off every Plover species while I was there. Bummed we only had one day to spend there – next time we make it down there we’ll be allocating more time in that area as a whole. I will say High Island was a bit of a bust on the migration front, but did have a good time at the Rookery.
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I really liked your photos of them in flight. They have such an impossibly long bill! They have dive bombed me in the sagebrush flats of eastern Washington state when I got too close to their well-camouflaged nests. I’d hate to get skewered by one of those bills! 😀
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Thanks SoyBend! Dive bombed !?! any chance you were standing next to my brother Ron ha. Those snouts would definitely leave a mark if they hit ya square. Appreciate you dropping in and have a great rest of the week.
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