Cid Scamparini
Those are Black-crowned Night-Herons — specifically juvenile Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax). You can tell by their:
• Streaky brown plumage with white spots
• Long legs and upright posture
• Stout, slightly curved bill
Juveniles look quite different from the sleek black-and-white adults, which is why they can be tricky to ID.
Why at your pool at 7:30 AM in Houston? Totally makes sense — night-herons are crepuscular/nocturnal feeders, so dawn is prime hunting time.
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