
On Monday March 23rd, I settled into the Breeze Lake RV Campground in Brownsville Texas expecting to stay for one week to get my refrigerator repaired. One thing led to another and six weeks later I began formalizing my plans to leave Texas. I’ve met some kind people in camp and made new friends. I feel as if I’d been adopted by a new family, such is the warmth of the folks here.
For most of the time during my stay in Brownsville, a shelter at home order has been in place as a measure to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus preventing me from visiting most of the premiere birding destinations I had my heart set on when I left California to visit the deep south of Texas. Rather than whine about my misfortune, I looked around camp for opportunities to gather bird images. One of my friends in camp maintained an array of bird feeders at their campsite, which provided me with ample opportunities to meet the local resident and migratory birds in the area. I found a Purple Martin condo on the grounds which gave me a chance to enjoy these birds I’d only had fleeting glimpses of on my previous encounters.
Another feature in camp that I could exploit was the resaca at the edge of camp. A resaca, for those who’ve not heard the term before, is an oxbow lake left over from when the Rio Grande was a free-flowing river, meandering through this low-lying valley. Before we tamed it with dams to siphon off nearly every drop of surface water before reaching the sea at the Gulf of Mexico, the wild Rio Grande’s ever changing water course left behind curved channels on the low plain leading to the gulf, many of which remain today scattered around the river’s valley, as horseshoe shaped shallow lakes, known locally as resacas.
My first exit plan was to leave Brownsville on May 1st, but after learning several of the premier birding locations I’d looked forward to visiting while here had just opened up for visitors. I felt this opportunity justified extending my stay an additional week. South Padre Island was at the top of my wish-list, so I travelled there on two of my days. The beach at Boca Chica and Resaca de los Palmas were two other locations that opened up. Along the road to Boca Chica Beach I also found the site of the last battle of the Civil War at Palmito Hill, fought 34 days after General Lee surrendered, where Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers and Eastern Meadowlarks sang and danced for my camera.
I’ve not blogged about any of these recent visits, as I felt my time would be better spent collecting images than in spinning yarns. Today is two days before my planned departure from Brownsville, and I’m having service done on the van before I tackle the long road out of Texas. The down-time has provided me a chance to share some thoughts before I begin my next road adventure. I’ve given some thought to how I might share my stories and images since my last posts. It’s been my practice to share stories and images from the days and places I’ve visited, but with the accumulation of so many images, many of which are birds I’d never met before, I believe that sharing my images and stories centered on the birds I’ve met here. Later, I hope to tell stories about the locations I’ve been able to enjoy during these troubled times in south Texas. Look for those stories as part of the “Birding Destinations” series I started several months ago.
The gallery below is a sampling from several bird adventures I’ve had in these past few weeks.

Green Jay(Cyanocorax yncas) |
Description: Having collected many images of Green Jays on my first two visits to Atascosa, these birds were not a priority for my day's shooting, but I couldn't resist capturing this bird's grooming behaviour. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas and was intended to pickup images of a few birds I came up short with on my second visit, but then I started meeting new birds, so I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:15 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: GreenJay_D505901-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
Description: Flight shots of these Purple Martins proved a challenge. Stationary shots were much easier to capture. The camp where I spent April in Brownsville, Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border, Several feeder stations, with tall trees and grassy areas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:26 8:54 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508439Breeze-Lake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Clay-Colored Thrush(Turdus grayi) |
Description: The ID on this bird was tricky for me, and I struggled, but The Clay-Colored Thrush (or Robin) finally came clear to me. I found these birds at a well stocked feeder in camp where I stayed in Brownsville Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:17 16:06 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: ClayColoredThrush_D503358-Breeze-Lake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Waterthrush(Parkesia noveboracensis) |
Description: Most Northern Waterthrushes spend winter in Mexico, Central America and northern South America, but breed in Canada and some northern tier USA locations. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:20 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: NorthernWaterThrush_D501268-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Clay-Colored Thrush(Turdus grayi) |
Description: Resaca de las Palmas in Brownsville, Texas opened to the public a few days before I left Texas on my 2020 expedition. Clay-Colored Thrushes proved rather camera-shy during this visit. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:29 11:32 |
Location:
Resaca de las Palmas |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ClayColoredThrush_D509379-Resaca-de-las-Palmas |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Waterthrush(Parkesia noveboracensis) |
Description: Northern Waterthrushes spend most of their foraging time on the ground. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 15:44 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 |
File Name: NorthernWaterThrush_D502742-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus) |
Description: Hermit thrushes tend to stay near cover, but this bird found the food was better on the lawn. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 13:32 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HermitThrush_D5X6721-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:04 10:33 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D509178-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508368-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:03 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508081-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius) |
Description: I'd seen the Spotted Sandpipers at a distance from camp during my stay, but this bird took the time to forage along the camp's shoreline. The camp where I spent April in Brownsville, Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border, Several feeder stations, with tall trees and grassy areas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:26 8:39 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: SpottedSandpiper_D508372Breeze-Lake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Crowned Parrot(Amazona viridigenalis) |
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:03 19:32 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: RedCrownedParrot_D508985-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Crowned Parrot(Amazona viridigenalis) |
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:03 19:17 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/9.0, 1/100 |
File Name: RedCrownedParrot_D508697-BreezeLake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tropical Kingbird(Tyrannus melancholicus) |
Description: Couch's and Tropical Kingbirds are so similar in appearance, they only distinguished in the field by voice. I was able to hear this bird. Both Kingbirds were present here. The camp where I spent April in Brownsville, Texas has a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake on its border, Several feeder stations, with tall trees and grassy areas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:26 9:10 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: TropicalKingbird_D508577Breeze-Lake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Buff-Bellied Hummingbird(Amazilia yucatanensis) |
Description: The southern Texas coast is one of the few places north of Mexico where the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is a year-round resident. This bird enjoyed the nectar offered in the camp where I spent April in Brownsville. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:25 18:36 |
Location:
Breeze Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BuffBelliedHummingbird_D507706-Breeze-Lake-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:28 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506190-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Plain Chachalaca(Ortalis vetula) |
Description: Chacalacas are brash and bold, and their loud and raucous calls can be heard from great distances. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:54 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PlainChachalaca_D506657-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Tipped Dove(Leptotila verreauxi) |
Description: When first I heard the moaning call of these birds, I was confused about who the singer was. I found them the most numerous dove on the reserve. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:36 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteTippedDove_D505603-Atascosa-NWR-1 |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Bronzed Cowbird(Molothrus aeneus) |
Description: Bronzed Cowbirds are known for their thick-necked appearance, which results from their ability to raise the feathers on their necks. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 10:13 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: BronzedCowbird_D505820-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
Description: This warbler was busy foraging and preparing for the rest of his northbound migration. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 16:00 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D504890-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: I met these nesting Black-Necked Stilts on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 12:17 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackNeckedStilt_D503641-Bahia-Grande-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502326-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-and-White Warbler(Mniotilta varia) |
Description: Black-and-White Warblers forage like no other warblers. While most warblers look for insect prey among the leaves in trees, these birds probed crevices in the bark, like nuthatches. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 10:22 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackWhiteWarbler_D500434-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Chestnut-Sided Warbler(Setophaga pensylvanica) |
Description: Chestnut-Sided Warblers are easiest found here in south Texas. They nest in the upper mid-west and into Canada. They choose deciduous and brushy habitats recovering from fire or logging for raising their young, seldom for more than a few years, before moving on after the vegetation matures. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 10:35 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: ChestnutSidedWarbler_D500503-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Bobwhite(Colinus virginianus) |
Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand and found birds like these quail on the roadside. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 10:54 |
Location:
Highway-48 |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: BobWhite_D501827-PortIsabel-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Ibis(Eudocimus albus) |
Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand, then I scouted the neighborhood and roadsides for birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 9:21 |
Location:
Various Locations |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 440 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WhiteIbis-Juvenile_D500970-PortIsabel-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tricolored Heron(Egretta tricolor) |
Description: Tricolored Herons were a common sight in south Texas. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 16:16 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: TricoloredHeron_D502913-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Reddish Egret(Egretta rufescens) |
Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand and found birds like this egret on the roadside. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 11:08 |
Location:
Highway-48 |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: ReddishEgret_D501974-PortIsabel-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 11:46 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503604-Bahia-Grande-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:35 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D502222-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Meadowlark(Sturnella magna) |
Description: Eastern Meadowlarks are best distinguished from their western cousin by their softer song. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:03 8:38 |
Location:
Palmito Hill |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternMeadowLark_D503092-Palmito-Hill-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:03 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D501128-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher(Tyrannus forficatus) |
Description: Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers are a compelling subject for me. I don’t think I could ever tire of watching and photographing them. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:03 8:24 |
Location:
Palmito Hill |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: ScissorTailedFlycatcher_D503059-Palmito-Hill-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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