Summer ‘25 Birding
From May to September, the great baker in the sky sets the sun to broil over Texas. Minutes feel like hours under the midday heat and only the crazy, stubborn, and required (sometimes, all three) are ever out in it. The birds know this, and aside from our usual residents, head north for cooler temps. I’ve seen a fair share of “where can I see birds over the summer?” posts on FB receive comments like, “not here.”
Our family has stayed bird-curious despite the heat and enjoyed our rationed birds this summer. Trips ranging from our backyard all the way to High Island have provided opportunities to feed our birding hobby, entertain the kids, and grab a few photos. With hummingbirds on our feeders, now is a good time reflect on those adventures.
Roseate Spoonbill
We enjoyed seeing Roseate Spoonbills on multiple occasions. There were several at the Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary on High Island, but this photo was captured at the Houston Zoo in their ‘Birds of the World’ exhibit.
Northern Mockingbird Fledgling
A Northern Mockingbird family took up residence for a few months in our backyard growing their family, and eventually taking off. One of the babies didn’t make it, but we kept the backyard safe from our schnauzers until he learned how to fly.
Northern Mockingbird Mother
This mother mockingbird knows how to motivate her little one. Not the best images of these two, but they were a significant birding experience for us this summer.
Finding time for hobbies as a working parent is hard, so two years into birding and I still rely heavily on my camera to help me ID birds. I’ll try to quickly grab a few photos and get back to spending time with Ruby and kids. 2026 will be my first year using eBird and keeping proper lists. In the meantime, here are a few more photos from this summer…
