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Egretta rufescens
A medium to large heron of shallow salt water, the Reddish Egret comes in a dark and a white form. Dark phase all dark gray with a reddish neck. It is a very active forager, often seen running, jumping, and spinning in its pursuit of fish. This was our first encounter on the beach and it was intently fishing. Another Reddish Egret (white morph) flew into its territory. After chasing the intruder, (pic 1- start pursuit ,2 the white morph didn't leave,3 chased him out of the area,4,5 returned to water), if huffed back and returned to fishing.
We parked at the end of Rettilon Road (108) on the beach and began hiking along the beach toward Houston Audubon Society, Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. It is a unique area combining salt marsh, mud flats and beach, each habitat quite different from the other. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), there are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairs of Reddish Egrets in the United States - and most of these are in Texas. They are classified as "threatened" in Texas and receive special protection.
Approximately 140,000 shorebirds, representing 37 species use Bolivar Flats for both feeding and roosting. The area also serves as a year- round roost for gulls and terns; a feeding area for herons and egrets, a wintering site for the American White Pelican, and a wintering site for several species of waterfowl. The federally endangered species brown pelican and peregrine falcon are other important species using the flats for roosting and feeding. The adjacent salt marsh hosts clapper rails, seaside sparrow, and sharp-tailed sparrow. Black Skimmers and Least terns attempt to nest on the flats every year, but usually are not successful because of vehicular traffic. The huge bird population is largely supported by Bolivar Flats' rich, benthic infauna. Polychaet worms are the most abundant benthic animals. Shorebird use is highest in the winter and in early spring. Dunlin, Western Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher, and American Avocet are the most abundant winter shorebirds. Willets and Wilson's Plovers nest at the site. Willets, Black-bellied Plovers, and Sanderlings occur all year. The area is also one of the most important wintering sites for the threatened Piping Plover.
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