Memories of South Padre Island

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77 Photos

Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula — **Baltimore Oriole**
*(Icterus galbula)*

**Description:**
I met a lot of Baltimore Orioles in south Texas as they migrated north. They aren’t known here in nesting times. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 10:01

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** BaltimoreOriole_D500347-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **Baltimore Oriole**
*(Icterus galbula)*

**Description:**
I met a lot of Baltimore Orioles in south Texas as they migrated north. They aren’t known here in nesting times. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 10:01

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** BaltimoreOriole_D500347-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis — **Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck**
*(Dendrocygna autumnalis)*

**Description:**
Most Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks were rather tame and approachable on the island. Head shots were easier to capture than whole-body portraits. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 17:12

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600

**File Name:** BlackBelliedWhistlingDuck_D501579-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-Chinned Hummingbird - Archilochus alexandri — **Black-Chinned Hummingbird**
*(Archilochus alexandri)*

**Description:**
Black-Chinned and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds were migrating through southern Texas during my visit. The Ruby-Throats all would move north and east, but a few of the Black-Chins would remain to raise families. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 9:20

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** BlackChinnedHummingbird_D509798-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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

**Description:**
Caspian Terns nest in San Diego and I have met them there. It was nice to find them in Texas as well. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 9:21

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500

**File Name:** CaspianTern_D501832-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Chestnut-Sided Warbler - Setophaga pensylvanica — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 10:43

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000

**File Name:** ChestnutSidedWarbler_D500515-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 10:11

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** EasternWoodPewee_D502161-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias — **Great Blue Heron**
*(Ardea herodias)*

**Description:**
This Great Blue Heron was probably digesting fish caught in the nearby water shallows. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 8:41

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/5000

**File Name:** GreatBlueHeron_D509677-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Hooded Oriole - Icterus cucullatus — **Hooded Oriole**
*(Icterus cucullatus)*

**Description:**
Hooded Orioles have a slightly decurved bill, and to a lesser extent so do Orchard Orioles. This bird could belong to the latter species. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 10:37

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** HoodedOriole_D502230-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes — **Lesser Yellowlegs**
*(Tringa flavipes)*

**Description:**
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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 17:43

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000

**File Name:** LesserYellowlegs_D501650-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Magnolia Warbler - Setophaga magnolia — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 7:51

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250

**File Name:** MagnoliaWarbler_D501723-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius — **Orchard Oriole**
*(Icterus spurius)*

**Description:**
With their burnt orange plumage, the male Orchard Oriole is hard to mistake for its other oriole cousins. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 10:56

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000

**File Name:** OrchardOriole_D502250-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla — **Ovenbird**
*(Seiurus aurocapilla)*

**Description:**
Like the Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbirds 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 10:23

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** Ovenbird_D502198-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris — **Ruby-Throated Hummingbird**
*(Archilochus colubris)*

**Description:**
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds pass through south Texas, but move north, as far as New England to breed. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 14:51

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600

**File Name:** RubyThroatedHummingbird_D502677-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea — **Scarlet Tanager**
*(Piranga olivacea)*

**Description:**
Perhaps the most brilliant bird I met on my 2020 Texas tour was this Scarlet Tanager. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 7:52

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800

**File Name:** ScarletTanager_D509470-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla — **Semipalmated Sandpiper**
*(Calidris pusilla)*

**Description:**
I’m more familiar with the Western and Least Sandpipers on the west coast. This was my first encounter with the Semipalmated Sandpiper. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 8:26

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** SemiPalmatedSandpiper_D509601-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra — **Summer Tanager**
*(Piranga rubra)*

**Description:**
First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their mom’s feather patterns. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 15:28

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** SummerTanager_D500975-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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White Ibis - Eudocimus albus — **American White Ibis**
*(Eudocimus albus)*

**Description:**
Many of the White Ibis I met in south Texas were blotchy white and brown birds, like this one. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 9:08

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400

**File Name:** WhiteIbis_D509765-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Blackpoll Warbler - Setophaga striata — **Blackpoll Warbler**
*(Setophaga striata)*

**Description:**
Until my 2020 Texas expedition, I’d only met the Blackpoll Warbler once near Denali in Alaska in 2005. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 11:27

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** BlackpollWarbler_D502494-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus — **Stilt Sandpiper**
*(Calidris himantopus)*

**Description:**
Until I visited South Padre, I’d only met the Stilt Sandpiper at a distance in South San Diego Bay. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 16:42

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000

**File Name:** StiltSandpiper_D501385-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor — **Common Nighthawk**
*(Chordeiles minor)*

**Description:**
The Common Nighthawk migrates farther than most North American birds. They winter in South America as far south as Argentina, but breed in most of North America, including most of Canada. The Convention Centre 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 8:24

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000

**File Name:** CommonNighthawk_D509575-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Blackburnian Warbler - Setophaga fusca — **Blackburnian Warbler**
*(Setophaga fusca)*

**Description:**
This female or immature male, winters in northern South America and passes through Texas on their way north in the spring. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 9:29

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** BlackburnianWarbler_D509876-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja — **Roseate Spoonbill**
*(Platalea ajaja)*

**Description:**
Spoonbills provide a splash of bright color to the birds frequenting the mangrove-lined laguna shallows. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 9:51

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** RoseateSpoonbill_D5X0249SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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

**Description:**
Mature Snowy Egrets are supposed to have black bills. This bird did not get the memo. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 10:44

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** SnowyEgret_D5X0340SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens — **Reddish Egret**
*(Egretta rufescens)*

**Description:**
Reddish Egrets fared well in the mangrove lined shallows of Laguna Madre. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 12:48

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** ReddishEgret_D5X0889-SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Green Heron - Butorides virescens — **Green Heron**
*(Butorides virescens)*

**Description:**
Green Herons provided me with unusually clear views while they captured their dinner or rested between meals. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 12:12

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** GreenHeron_D5X0727SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Clapper Rail - Rallus crepitans — **Clapper Rail**
*(Rallus crepitans)*

**Description:**
Normally a secretive species, this rail blessed us with an open view. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 12:14

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500

**File Name:** ClapperRail_D5X0771SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus — **Great Kiskadee**
*(Pitangus sulphuratus)*

**Description:**
I heard kiskadees from the dense mangroves throughout the marsh, but only near the visitor center did they allow me to see them clearly. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 13:59

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** GreatKiskadee_D5X1289SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger — **Black Skimmer**
*(Rynchops niger)*

**Description:**
Skimmers danced over the shallows for me during my vigil to the laguna, sometimes providing head on views, showing how razor-thin their bills are. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:08 9:32

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** BlackSkimmer_D5X9968SouthPadre-WBC

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis — **Least Bittern**
*(Ixobrychus exilis)*

**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 at the SPI Convention Center.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:01 15:50

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** LeastBittern_D5X7357-SouthPadreIsland-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:01 13:32

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** HermitThrush_D5X6721-SouthPadreIsland-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis — **Gray Catbird**
*(Dumetella carolinensis)*

**Description:**
Catbirds spend winters here and usually spend summers further north. My Monday visit to South Padre Island lasted all day. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:02:01 14:46

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/125

**File Name:** GrayCatbird_D5X7153-SouthPadreIsland-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius — **Spotted Sandpiper**
*(Actitis macularius)*

**Description:**
The shallow margins of the Black Mangroves near the Convention Center gave shorebirds rich foraging opportunities. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:19 13:25

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500

**File Name:** SpottedSandpiper_D5X3445-SouthPadreIsland

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea — **Indigo Bunting**
*(Passerina cyanea)*

**Description:**
Prior to going to the Convention Center, I visited the Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary and met birds, including this winter male bunting foraging on tall grass seeds. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:19 11:16

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
13.12 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** IndigoBunting_D5X2314-SouthPadreIsland

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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

**Description:**
The fish this bird caught was so big it was difficult for it to take to the air. Pelicans foraged in the shallow waters in the shipping channel near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:19 12:55

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** BrownPelican_D5X2856-SouthPadreIsland

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia — **Yellow Warbler**
*(Setophaga petechia)*

**Description:**
Most Yellow Warblers winter in northern South America and north to southern Mexico and breed across most of North America, even to the high Arctic. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 16:16

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600

**File Name:** YellowWarbler_D501213-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 16:16

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000

**File Name:** TricoloredHeron_D502913-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus — **Swainson's Thrush**
*(Catharus ustulatus)*

**Description:**
Catharus thrushes, such as Hermet and Swainson’s Thrushes are difficult to distinguish. I reached out to the Texas birding community for help on this bird. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 9:33

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/640

**File Name:** SwainsonsThrush_D509960-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus — **Rose-Breasted Grosbeak**
*(Pheucticus ludovicianus)*

**Description:**
Until my 2020 Texas expedition, I’d only met a couple of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. Texas was more generous to me. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 16:15

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** RoseBreastedGrosbeak_D501187-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus — **Royal Tern**
*(Thalasseus maximus)*

**Description:**
In San Diego, I’ve followed biologists studying Royal Tern and other nesting species. Finding these birds in Texas was a treat. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 8:41

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400

**File Name:** RoyalTern_D509667-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:05:02 15:44

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/320

**File Name:** NorthernWaterThrush_D502732-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Mottled Duck - Anas fulvigula — **Mottled Duck**
*(Anas fulvigula)*

**Description:**
Mottled Ducks are common along the gulf coast of the USA and Mexico. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 8:25

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000

**File Name:** MottledDuck_D509598-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii — **Lincoln's Sparrow**
*(Melospiza lincolnii)*

**Description:**
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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 9:35

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400

**File Name:** LincolnsSparrow_D500001-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla — **Least Sandpiper**
*(Calidris minutilla)*

**Description:**
Some Least Sandpipers winter on the Gulf Coast, but others migrate through south Texas from as far as northern South 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 17:04

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000

**File Name:** LeastSandpiper_D501523-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 16:27

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250

**File Name:** EasternKingbird_D501287-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-Necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus — **Black-Necked Stilt**
*(Himantopus mexicanus)*

**Description:**
Another bird as common here as in San Diego, were these Black-Necked Stilts. 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:04:30 17:44

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000

**File Name:** BlackNeckedStilt_D501691-South-Padre

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica — **Purple Gallinule**
*(Porphyrio martinica)*

**Description:**
This was my first meeting with this species, and it came as a surprise to me. I wasn’t counting on this meeting. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:04:20 12:23

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** PurpleGallinule_D5X9650SPI_ConventionCtr

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata — **Common Gallinule**
*(Gallinula galeata)*

**Description:**
Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:04:27 17:05

**Location:**

South Padre Island WBC
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** CommonGallinule_D5X3050_SPI-NatureCtr

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana — **Western Tanager**
*(Piranga ludoviciana)*

**Description:**
When this bird leaves SPI, it will head northwest, and not northeast. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:04:18 15:37

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
13.12 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250

**File Name:** WesternTanager_D5X8516-SPI_ConventionCtr

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Flame-Colored Tanager - Piranga bidentata — **Flame-Colored Tanager**
*(Piranga bidentata)*

**Description:**
I met this rare bird a day earlier, but my session with the camera was better this day. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:05:05 15:19

**Location:**

Convention Center
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500

**File Name:** FlameColoredTanager_D5X6557_SPI-ConventionCtr

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

I met a lot of Baltimore Orioles in south Texas as they migrated north. They aren’t known here in nesting times. 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.

Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Most Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks were rather tame and approachable on the island. Head shots were easier to capture than whole-body portraits. 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.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Black-Chinned and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds were migrating through southern Texas during my visit. The Ruby-Throats all would move north and east, but a few of the Black-Chins would remain to raise families. 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.

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Caspian Terns nest in San Diego and I have met them there. It was nice to find them in Texas as well. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

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.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virens

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.

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

This Great Blue Heron was probably digesting fish caught in the nearby water shallows. 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.

Hooded Oriole

Icterus cucullatus

Hooded Orioles have a slightly decurved bill, and to a lesser extent so do Orchard Orioles. This bird could belong to the latter species. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

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.

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

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.

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

With their burnt orange plumage, the male Orchard Oriole is hard to mistake for its other oriole cousins. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

Like the Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbirds 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.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds pass through south Texas, but move north, as far as New England to breed. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Perhaps the most brilliant bird I met on my 2020 Texas tour was this Scarlet Tanager. 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.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

I’m more familiar with the Western and Least Sandpipers on the west coast. This was my first encounter with the Semipalmated Sandpiper. 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.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their mom’s feather patterns. 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.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

I must have missed the bright red male Summer Tanagers when they migrated through south Texas. Most of my encounters were with females, like this bird, or first year males. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Many of the White Ibis I met in south Texas were blotchy white and brown birds, like this one. 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.

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Until my 2020 Texas expedition, I’d only met the Blackpoll Warbler once near Denali in Alaska in 2005. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Until I visited South Padre, I’d only met the Stilt Sandpiper at a distance in South San Diego Bay. 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.

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

The Common Nighthawk migrates farther than most North American birds. They winter in South America as far south as Argentina, but breed in most of North America, including most of Canada. The Convention Centre 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.

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

This female or immature male, winters in northern South America and passes through Texas on their way north in the spring. 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.

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Spoonbills provide a splash of bright color to the birds frequenting the mangrove-lined laguna shallows. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Mature Snowy Egrets are supposed to have black bills. This bird did not get the memo. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Reddish Egret

Egretta rufescens

Reddish Egrets fared well in the mangrove lined shallows of Laguna Madre. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

Green Herons provided me with unusually clear views while they captured their dinner or rested between meals. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

White Ibis were another species I met at the Nature Center I did not see well at the Convention Centre. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Clapper Rail

Rallus crepitans

Normally a secretive species, this rail blessed us with an open view. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

I heard kiskadees from the dense mangroves throughout the marsh, but only near the visitor center did they allow me to see them clearly. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Clapper Rail

Rallus crepitans

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

Skimmers danced over the shallows for me during my vigil to the laguna, sometimes providing head on views, showing how razor-thin their bills are. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door.

Least Bittern

Ixobrychus exilis

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 at the SPI Convention Center.

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

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.

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

Catbirds spend winters here and usually spend summers further north. My Monday visit to South Padre Island lasted all day. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center.

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

The shallow margins of the Black Mangroves near the Convention Center gave shorebirds rich foraging opportunities. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint.

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

Prior to going to the Convention Center, I visited the Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary and met birds, including this winter male bunting foraging on tall grass seeds. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

The fish this bird caught was so big it was difficult for it to take to the air. Pelicans foraged in the shallow waters in the shipping channel near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint.

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Most Yellow Warblers winter in northern South America and north to southern Mexico and breed across most of North America, even to the high Arctic. 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.

Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Mid-day loafing birds at the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint.

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

There were many of these tern-like birds near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint.

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

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.

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Making a big splash! 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.

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus thrushes, such as Hermet and Swainson’s Thrushes are difficult to distinguish. I reached out to the Texas birding community for help on this bird. 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.

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Most Spotted Sandpipers spend winters in Mexico, Central America and South America and breed in the northern USA and to the Arctic regions of Canada. 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.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their adult mom’s feather patterns. 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.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Until my 2020 Texas expedition, I’d only met a couple of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. Texas was more generous to me. 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.

Royal Tern

Thalasseus maximus

In San Diego, I’ve followed biologists studying Royal Tern and other nesting species. Finding these birds in Texas was a treat. 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.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

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.

Mottled Duck

Anas fulvigula

Mottled Ducks are common along the gulf coast of the USA and Mexico. 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.

Mottled Duck

Anas fulvigula

The olive drab bill on this bird suggest it is an adult female. Mottled Ducks look quite like American Black Ducks, but these birds prefer the Gulf Coast, while the Black Duck stays close to the Atlantic seaboard. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds.

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

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.

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Some Least Sandpipers winter on the Gulf Coast, but others migrate through south Texas from as far as northern South 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.

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

Gray Catbirds were the most common bird I met during my visit to the island. 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.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virens

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

The Common Nighthawk migrates farther than most North American birds. They winter in South America as far south as Argentina, but breed in most of North America, including most of Canada. 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.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virens

The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. 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.

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

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.

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-Necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Another bird as common here as in San Diego, were these Black-Necked Stilts. 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.

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

This was my first meeting with this species, and it came as a surprise to me. I wasn’t counting on this meeting. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me.

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center.

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

The wetlands near the Convention Center provided ideal habitat for these gallinules. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

This day provided me with brilliant looks at the Scarlet Tanagers. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

As I waited for the Blackpoll Warbler to appear, this Scarlet Tanager dared me to take its picture. Spring visits to South Padre Island can produce unexpected results. Sometimes there are lulls in the migration, and other times there are spikes.

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

When this bird leaves SPI, it will head northwest, and not northeast. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Scarlet Tanagers are one of the more striking birds to pass through here in spring. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me.

Flame-Colored Tanager

Piranga bidentata

I met this rare bird a day earlier, but my session with the camera was better this day. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds.