BIRD SECTIONS

KATY AND SURROUNDS (Top of Page)

Most of the photos in this section have been photographed in our back yard in Katy, TX. Other surrounding area locations are from the Houston area including Bison Drive (bd), Saddlebrook Drive (sd), Cypress Lakes GC (cl), Greatwood GC (g), Sterling GC (s), and Newman’s Castle (nc) in Bellville, TX.

BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK (Top of Page)

Spent the day with bird expert Mark Hollanders, who was visiting us for a few days. He is the inspiration for my love of photographing birds. We saw over 42 different species during our visit. Although there are only 17 birds shown in this section, it means that I have captured better versions of the other birds seen here, at other locations, most notably the High Island Nature Reserve, and the Paul D. Rushing Park in Katy.

HIGH ISLAND and SURFSIDE (Top of Page)

Periodically Christine and I take day trips to the Gulf of Mexico coastline. We often visit Surfside Beach for lunch at our favorite restaurant, followed by a stroll along the beach, capturing the sea loving birds. On one occasion (March 10th), thanks to a recommendation from Mark Hollanders we took the Bolivar ferry in Galveston, and visited the Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary in High Island to witness the migratory birds. This was quite a spectacle.

UNITED KINGDOM (Top of Page)

During our annual trip to the UK to visit family and friends, I was able to capture 26 different species of birds. Our first stop was to visit Tom in Odiham, Hampshire. Here we went on a walk along the Odiham-Basingstoke canal. We then spent some time in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, with Robert and his family. The Airbnb where we stayed had a large garden overlooking the River Avon. After Malmesbury, we visited our friends, Trevor and Penny Smith in Gloucestershire. Here Andy and Trevor went for a walk along the Stroudwater Navigation canal nearby their house in Cashes Green. We also went for a walk along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, near the village of Saul. Our final trip was to Sussex with Joanne and John. We had a nice Airbnb underneath the downs in Newtimber. Over the course of a long weekend we had day trips to Hove seafront, Brighton, finishing up at The Devils Dyke.

ALASKA CRUISE (Top of Page)

From May 9th to May 22nd 2025, Andy and Christine embarked on an Alaskan cruise from Vancouver, through the Inside Passage, ultimately to Anchorage. We travelled over 2000 nautical miles. We generally had good weather, and encountered all sorts of flora, fauna, geological and geomorphological features. During the cruise, I was able to capture 23 different species of birds.
CRUISE ROUTE
- Vancouver
- Ketchikan
- Sitka
- Juneau
- Skagway (White Pass)
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Hubbard Glacier
- Valdez
- Seward
- Anchorage

PAUL D. RUSHING STATE PARK (Top of Page)

Andy spent a morning visiting the Paul D.Rushing park, located about 10 miles North of Katy, TX. The park comprises lakes, hedgerows, and a boardwalk to navigate through the lakes. In a couple of hours, Andy photographed 15 different bird species, although some of them he had already seen at Brazos Bend State Park, and High Island.

DUCKS AND GEESE (Top of Page)

HUMMINGBIRDS (Top of Page)

BALD EAGLES (Top of Page)