Frenchtown Road

Date of visit:  11/18/2014

An Acorn Woodpecker was spotted in Port Bolivar.  I haven't seen any of those this year, so even though there was only one sighting on one day, I thought I might get lucky.  I read American Oystercatchers could be found on Frenchtown Road.  I've never seen one of those.  Since this site is on the way to Port Bolivar, it was my chosen destination for a weekend day trip.

On the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail Map, the directions for this site end with a ferry ride.  I live much closer to Galveston than Bolivar, so my trip began with the ferry ride.  From the boat, I saw gulls, pelicans, cormorants, and dolphins.  It used to be I was lucky to see one or two dolphins every once in a while.  Lately, I've seen dolphins every time.  On this trip, there were two different groups of four or five hanging out near the landings on each side.

Once on the Bolivar side, I parked and walked out onto the jetty for a closer look at the birds and the dolphins, which swam very close.

No, don't get up.  I just want a quick photograph and then I'll be on my way.  No need to wake your friends.  

The Snowy Egret was fishing beside the loading ramp.

There weren't huge numbers of birds on Frenchtown Road, but I did find one or two individuals of at least ten different species.  This is one of those sites that can be birded without ever leaving the car.  I took the photo of the sleeping Least Sandpipers through an open window.

"What's with all the sleeping birds?  Wake up.  I want a photo."

I must have actually spoken out loud this time because they opened their eyes.  Oops.  They don't look too concerned, though.            

The Mottled Duck was a bit more wary.  He didn't fly away, but he swam toward the vegetation to obscure my view.

Yes!  I located and photographed an American Oystercatcher!  He's a lifer.

I checked every dead oak tree I could find in Port Bolivar and paid special attention to the ones near the restaurant where the woodpecker was seen.  No luck.  I'll be keeping my eyes open whenever I'm in the area - just in case.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday.

UTC060
Afternoon
50's, breezy, partly cloudy
Species identified (17):  Laughing Gull, Brown Pelican, Rock Pigeon, Double-Crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great-Tailed Grackle, Red-Winged Blackbird, Mottled Duck, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Forster's Tern, Reddish Egret, Loggerhead Shrike