2021-03-06 High Island Rookery

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30 Photos

Black-and-White Warbler - Mniotilta varia — **Black-and-White Warbler**
*(Mniotilta varia)*

**Description:**
After my morning at the rookery, I walked some of the sanctuary trails and found this warbler. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 10:15

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
49.21 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** BlackandWhiteWarbler_D5X9384-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **Black-and-White Warbler**
*(Mniotilta varia)*

**Description:**
After my morning at the rookery, I walked some of the sanctuary trails and found this warbler. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 10:15

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
49.21 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** BlackandWhiteWarbler_D5X9384-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus — **Black Vulture**
*(Coragyps atratus)*

**Description:**
These Black Vultures enjoyed roosting with the Turkey Vultures cousins in the tall trees here. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 10:19

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
49.21 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** BlackVulture_D5X9399-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata — **Common Gallinule**
*(Gallinula galeata)*

**Description:**
Gallinules, coots and grebes were present on the rookery pond’s waters. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 16:26

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** CommonGallinule_D5X9538-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway — **Crested Caracara**
*(Caracara cheriway)*

**Description:**
A late afternoon flyover by this caracara caught me off guard. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 17:38

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** CrestedCaracara_D5X0426-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Double-Crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus — **Double-Crested Cormorant**
*(Phalacrocorax auritus)*

**Description:**
Most of the cormorants in the rookery were Neotropic, but a few were Double-Crested. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 17:16

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** DoubleCrestedCormorant_D5X0011-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Eastern Gray Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis — **Eastern Gray Squirrel**
*(Sciurus carolinensis)*

**Description:**
It seems birds weren’t the only creatures thriving in these woods. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 17:41

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** EasternGraySquirrel_D5X0494-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great Egret - Ardea alba — **Great Egret**
*(Ardea alba)*

**Description:**
My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nesting and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 8:28

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** GreatEgret_D5X8367-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus — **Neotropic Cormorant**
*(Phalacrocorax brasilianus)*

**Description:**
The grunting calls of Neotropic Cormorants were the loudest sounds on the rookery pond. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 8:53

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** NeotropicCormorant_D5X8739-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja — **Roseate Spoonbill**
*(Platalea ajaja)*

**Description:**
Capturing spoonbills in flight was my mission while visiting the rookery. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:06 17:19

**Location:**

Smith Oaks
High Island, Texas
United States
32.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** RoseateSpoonbill_D5X0078-HighIsland_SmithOaks

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

Black-and-White Warbler

Mniotilta varia

After my morning at the rookery, I walked some of the sanctuary trails and found this warbler. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

These Black Vultures enjoyed roosting with the Turkey Vultures cousins in the tall trees here. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Gallinules, coots and grebes were present on the rookery pond’s waters. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Crested Caracara

Caracara cheriway

A late afternoon flyover by this caracara caught me off guard. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

Most of the cormorants in the rookery were Neotropic, but a few were Double-Crested. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

It seems birds weren’t the only creatures thriving in these woods. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nesting and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Essential to nest building is gathering sticks for construction. My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nesting and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Ardea alba

My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nest building and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Passing the baton! My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nest building and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

The grunting calls of Neotropic Cormorants were the loudest sounds on the rookery pond. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Essential to nest building is gathering sticks for construction. The grunting calls of Neotropic Cormorants were the loudest sounds on the rookery pond. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Capturing spoonbills in flight was my mission while visiting the rookery. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Essential to nest building is gathering sticks for construction. Capturing spoonbills in flight was my mission while visiting the rookery. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon.