Smith Oaks Sanctuary Babies: June 2017

I loved my visit to High Island, Bolivar Peninsula, and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge last year for the spring migration. This year, I didn't have the same flexibility in my schedule in April to make that trip. And frankly, the songbirds were my least favorite part anyway since I have such difficulty shooting them due to their small size and tendency to be seen in heavily shaded areas. So I decided to return in June this year when I was more likely to see shorebird babies, and had more available time.

First stop this year, as last year, was the Smith Oaks Audubon Sanctuary.  As much as I love having the UT Southwestern Medical Center rookery here in Dallas, the rookery at Smith Oaks offers better sight lines and has birds that we don't get up here, like Roseate Spoonbills.

Between the pink color and their fuzzy plumage, these two were adorable.

Once they get this big, are they still babies or are they juveniles?  Whatever they're called at this age, they apparently still beg for food.

How can I put this tactfully?  Young Snowy Egrets just aren't as cute as their spoonbill counterparts.  In fact, this one looked downright angry.  "MOM... ARE YOU SLEEPING?  I'M HUNGRY!"

"BLECCHH!!  WHAT EVEN WAS THAT?!?  YOU CALL THAT FOOD?!?  IT TASTED LIKE SOMETHING YOU THREW UP..."

"WAIT A MINUTE... WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!?!  AM I NOT LOVABLE ENOUGH TO BE AN ONLY CHILD?!?"

"MMPPH... MMMPPH... OPEN UP, MOM!  I KNOW YOU HAVE FOOD IN THERE!"

Meanwhile, Dad makes his escape.

These Common Gallinule babies looked very young -- heads still bald and dark skin around their eyes.  But they knew how to eat!

I saw babies that weren't birds, too.  Like four little armadillos rooting around in the undergrowth.  The heavily shaded undergrowth, unfortunately, which contributed to most of my shots not being all that sharp.  They didn't show their faces very often, either.

I don't normally take or share "butt shots," looking at them more often as lost opportunities.  But armadillos have such cute little tushes.

Related Posts:

• Smith Oaks Sanctuary Wading Birds: June 2017
• Smith Oaks Sanctuary Miscellany: June 2017
• Smith Oaks Rookery: April 2016 
• Smith Oaks Sanctuary: April 2016