Memories of Boca Chica Beach

Read the blog

32 Photos

Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis — **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.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:04:24 10:26

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
6.56 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1069-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Pin It — **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.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:04:24 10:26

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
6.56 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** SandwichTern-TernFlock_D5X1069-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres — **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.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:04:24 10:30

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
6.56 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** RuddyTurnstone_D5X1126-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Sanderling - Calidris alba — **Sanderling**
*(Calidris alba)*

**Description:**
Sanderlings are always entertaining to watch as they perform their run-and-stop foraging on sandy beaches. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 10:16

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** Sanderling_D5X6911-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Snowy Egret - Egretta thula — **Snowy Egret**
*(Egretta thula)*

**Description:**
Snowy and White-Morph Reddish Egrets have a similar appearance, unless seen side-by-side. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 9:28

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** SnowyEgret-WhiteMorph-Juvenile_D5X5654-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor — **Tricolored Heron**
*(Egretta tricolor)*

**Description:**
Down the hatch! This bird caught a small fry snack. Tricolored Herons joined the other wader species at the river mouth where the fishing was productive. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 9:33

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** TricoloredHeron_D5X5817-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Double-Crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus — **Double-Crested Cormorant**
*(Phalacrocorax auritus)*

**Description:**
I watched as this cormorant caught a fish and then had to defend his prize from pirates. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 10:02

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** DoubleCrestedCormorant_D5X6511-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia — **Caspian Tern**
*(Hydroprogne caspia)*

**Description:**
Caspian Terns exploited the waters of the estuary during my visit. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 10:14

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** CaspianTern_D5X6897-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis — **Brown Pelican**
*(Pelecanus occidentalis)*

**Description:**
Brown Pelicans patrolled the coast and occasionally stopped at the river mouth to forage. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 9:58

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** BrownPelican_D5X6446-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana — **American Avocet**
*(Recurvirostra americana)*

**Description:**
Avocets far outnumbered all other shorebirds on the river mouth. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 10:30

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** AmericanAvocet_D5X7146-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Ring-Billed Gull - Larus delawarensis — **Ring-Billed Gull**
*(Larus delawarensis)*

**Description:**
Gulls like this first year Ring-Billed, sometimes perch atop foraging pelicans, hoping to snag an escaped fish from the larger bird’s crop. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:30 8:34

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** RingBilledGull_D5X6384-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri — **Forster's Tern**
*(Sterna forsteri)*

**Description:**
Forster’s Terns are buoyant flyers when foraging, and can be a challenge to capture their images as they prepare a plunge dive. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:30 8:22

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** ForstersTern_D5X6156-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia — **Bonaparte's Gull**
*(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)*

**Description:**
The Bonaparte's Gulls I met here on the river mouth seemed to be juveniles. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:30 8:21

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** BonapartesGull_D5X6076-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos — **American White Pelican**
*(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)*

**Description:**
White Pelicans foraged alongside the Brown Pelicans and the Avocets here on the river mouth. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:30 8:10

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** AmericanWhitePelican_D5X5895-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla — **Laughing Gull**
*(Leucophaeus atricilla)*

**Description:**
Laughing and Ring-Billed Gulls were the only members of their clan I saw at the river mouth this day. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:03:27 9:50

**Location:**

Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
United States
9.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** LaughingGull_D5X6162-BocaChicaBeach

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Click map markers to reveal further information

Sandwich Tern

Thalasseus sandvicensis

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.

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

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.

Sanderling

Calidris alba

Sanderlings are always entertaining to watch as they perform their run-and-stop foraging on sandy beaches. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Snowy and White-Morph Reddish Egrets have a similar appearance, unless seen side-by-side. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Down the hatch! This bird caught a small fry snack. Tricolored Herons joined the other wader species at the river mouth where the fishing was productive. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Tricolored Herons joined the other wader species at the river mouth where the fishing was productive. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

I found Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings working the shores along the entire length of the beach at Boca Chica. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

I watched as this cormorant caught a fish and then had to defend his prize from pirates. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Caspian Terns exploited the waters of the estuary during my visit. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Double-Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelicans patrolled the coast and occasionally stopped at the river mouth to forage. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Avocets far outnumbered all other shorebirds on the river mouth. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Gulls like this first year Ring-Billed, sometimes perch atop foraging pelicans, hoping to snag an escaped fish from the larger bird’s crop. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Ring-Billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

Forster’s Terns are buoyant flyers when foraging, and can be a challenge to capture their images as they prepare a plunge dive. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelicans forage by plunge diving, sometimes from great height, and sometimes from only a few feet. Occasionally they will dip in a manner similar to White Pelicans. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

The Bonaparte's Gulls I met here on the river mouth seemed to be juveniles. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

White Pelicans foraged alongside the Brown Pelicans and the Avocets here on the river mouth. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Frantic foragers. Avocets were the most numerous birds on the river mouth. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Avocets were the most numerous birds on the river mouth. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Snowy Egrets joined the crew of shorebirds, pelicans and gulls at the mouth of the Rio Grande. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing and Ring-Billed Gulls were the only members of their clan I saw at the river mouth this day. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

I enjoyed watching immature and adult Forster’s Terns making nearby splash-dives. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high.