

My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day, good things can occur here. In the few short hours I spent at the Convention Centre, I met the American Redstart, Black-and-White Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Dark-Eyed Junco, Least Bittern, Mottled Duck, Northern Parula, Pectoral Sandpiper, Scarlet Tanager, Worm-Eating Warbler, Yellow Warbler.
While I have your attention, I’d like to mention the 25th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic. My friend Luciano Guerra invited me to join his “Big Sit” team this Sunday. This is an honor I do not take lightly. When he’s not photographing and writing articles for his hometown newspaper in Mission, Texas (called the Progress Times), he devotes his energies to many worthy causes such as fundraising for scholarships. These days, he spends most of his time at The National Butterfly Center, as director of their “Educational Outreach” program, which is how I met him.
I left my base camp in Port Isabel Saturday morning and headed west. There was enough time in the day for a side trip, and I wanted to explore the beach at Boca Chica to find Sandwich Terns. They weren’t there on March 27th, when I last visited there, but a month had passed since then, and the birds were being seen for a couple of weeks in the region.
I reached the beach at 9:30am and rode out on my bike. I found a mixed flock of Royal and Sandwich Terns a short distance south from the beach access road, but I wanted to check out the Rio Grande River Mouth to see if there might be better photo-ops, and I peddled on for three more miles. When I reached the river mouth, there was very little of the bird activity I saw a month earlier. It made sense though; many of the players were by now immersed in the business of nesting. I rode back to the location I’d seen the mixed flock. The birds were still loafing near the gulf shore along a narrow strip of the beach, in a location where vehicle traffic and bipedal waders played. I managed a few long distance shots before oncoming traffic kicked up the flock and they flew away into the gulf. I’d hoped to get better images, but some things you just can’t control <sigh>. I rode north past the beach access road for several miles, hoping to meet another flock, but the tide was high and I realized there was little hope of spending quality time with these birds this day. I turned back and resumed my journey to Mission (Texas) and the National Butterfly Center. (I’ll tell you that story in my next episode.)

American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla) |
Description: The Redstarts here continued their attack on tiny insects, with males on the ground and the females in the trees. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:52 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: AmericanRedstart_D5X0694SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-and-White Warbler(Mniotilta varia) |
Description: The Black-and-White Warblers continued their “nuthatch-like” foraging on the trees. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:51 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: BlackAndWhiteWarbler_D5X0873SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Green Warbler(Setophaga virens) |
Description: Some of the Black-Troated Green Warblers stayed behind to fatten up before moving on. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:29 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: BlackThroatedGreenWarbler_D5X0997SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
Description: This Oregon Dark-Eyed Junco wouldn’t get much notice out west, but here in Texas it was a celebrity. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:41 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: DarkEyedJunco_D5X0672SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Least Bittern(Ixobrychus exilis) |
Description: Least Bitterns are usually secretive and stealthy, but these nesting on the marsh seemed to be show-offs. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:11 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X0813SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mottled Duck(Anas fulvigula) |
Description: Mother Duck was giving a tour of the grounds to her offspring. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:17 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MottledDuck_D5X0910SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mottled Duck(Anas fulvigula) |
Description: Mother Duck was giving a tour of the grounds to her offspring. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:23 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: MottledDuck_D5X0954SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mottled Duck(Anas fulvigula) |
Description: Mother Duck was giving a tour of the grounds to her offspring. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:23 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: MottledDuck_D5X0973SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Parula(Setophaga americana) |
Description: This Northern Parula was especially cooperative for the camera. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:54 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: NorthernParula_D5X0740SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Parula(Setophaga americana) |
Description: This Northern Parula was especially cooperative for the camera. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:58 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernParula_D5X0756SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Parula(Setophaga americana) |
Description: This Northern Parula was especially cooperative for the camera. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:58 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernParula_D5X0765SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Pectoral Sandpiper(Calidris melanotos) |
Description: Pectoral Sandpipers exploited the lawns for foraging here, but no other shorebirds showed any interest. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:41 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PectoralSandpiper_D5X1022SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Pectoral Sandpiper(Calidris melanotos) |
Description: Pectoral Sandpipers exploited the lawns for foraging here, but no other shorebirds showed any interest. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:42 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: PectoralSandpiper_D5X1035SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea) |
Description: This Scarlet Tanager lagged behind at the Convention Centre, even though most of his pals had left. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:43 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D5X0832SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Worm-Eating Warbler(Helmitheros vermivorum) |
Description: This bird would not come into clear view for me. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 12:21 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WormEatingWarbler_D5X0932SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
Description: This bird gave me the best views of its species here on South Padre Island. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 9:28 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6000 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D5X0658SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
Description: This bird gave me the best views of its species here on South Padre Island. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:58 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D5X0878SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
Description: This bird gave me the best views of its species here on South Padre Island. My stay at the Convention Centre was relatively brief this Thursday. There was a lull in the migration, but even on a slow day good things can occur here. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:22 11:58 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D5X0889SPI_ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Royal Tern(Thalasseus maximus) |
Description: Royal Terns seem to flock with Sandwich Terns in Texas. On the West Coast their flock-mates are usually Elegant Terns. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RoyalTern-TernFlock_D5X1057-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Royal Tern(Thalasseus maximus) |
Description: Royal Terns seem to flock with Sandwich Terns in Texas. On the West Coast their flock-mates are usually Elegant Terns. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RoyalTern-TernFlock_D5X1058-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ruddy Turnstone(Arenaria interpres) |
Description: It seems every visit I’ve made to this beach, I meet Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:30 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyTurnstone_D5X1126-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sanderling(Calidris alba) |
Description: It seems every visit I’ve made to this beach, I meet Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:28 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Sanderling_D5X1097-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandwich Tern(Thalasseus sandvicensis) |
Description: I wasn’t able to approach this mixed flock as closely as I’d have liked and had to settle for these distant images. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:25 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1052-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandwich Tern(Thalasseus sandvicensis) |
Description: I wasn’t able to approach this mixed flock as closely as I’d have liked and had to settle for these distant images. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1069-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandwich Tern(Thalasseus sandvicensis) |
Description: I wasn’t able to approach this mixed flock as closely as I’d have liked and had to settle for these distant images. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1076-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandwich Tern(Thalasseus sandvicensis) |
Description: I wasn’t able to approach this mixed flock as closely as I’d have liked and had to settle for these distant images. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1086-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandwich Tern(Thalasseus sandvicensis) |
Description: I wasn’t able to approach this mixed flock as closely as I’d have liked and had to settle for these distant images. A quick Saturday morning tour of Boca Chica Beach to look for Sandwich Terns yielded my first meetings with this species, plus a few others. I hope to do a better job of capturing their images if (or when) I meet them again. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:24 10:26 |
Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1088-BocaChicaBeach |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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