
My first visit to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was on April 20th, 2020 after I left Corpus Christi and headed for the southern tip of Texas. The full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic had not affected my travel plans up to that time, but during my drive south, stay-at-home measures were implemented and services were suspended for many businesses and park facilities. For various reasons it seemed like a good idea to find a place in Brownsville to settle in until the dust from the virus outbreak settled. Before getting to Brownsville, I passed by the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, a few miles to the north, and spent the afternoon exploring this renown birding destination.
After settling in to my base camp at the Breeze Lake RV Campground in Brownsville, I learned most of the legendary birding destinations in the region had shut down their operations. After a few weeks of keeping a low profile, I started investigating places available for me to meet birds. I learned that Laguna Atascosa remained open for daytime hour visits, so I made a second trip to the reserve to spend a day with the birds. After reviewing the images I collected on day two, I decided I needed to capture some of its subjects in a better light, so a few days later I returned for a third session. The more time I spent on the reserve, the more obvious it became that I was merely scratching the surface of the gifts this reserve could offer.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley sits in a narrow section of the hour glass shaped pattern of routes used by birds as they migrate between the southern and northern hemispheres of the New World. Birds migrating from Central and South America destined for their breeding grounds in North America, are funneled into places like South Padre Island, a few miles to the south of this refuge. Once the exhausted northbound birds recover some of their strength, they resume their northern movement. Most will pass through Atascosa, only 22 miles from South Padre. There have been 410 bird species recorded on the reserve. The gallery below does not do justice to what there is to see here. I tapped only some of the low hanging fruit, so to speak. During my visits, many of the trails through the reserve were barricaded and unavailable for my exploration. Perhaps when I next visit this place (yes, I plan to return to south Texas), I’ll be able to wander over some of these trails. Who knows what I may find there.

White-Tipped Dove(Leptotila verreauxi) |
Description: When first I heard the moaning call of these birds, I was confused about who the singer was. I found them the most numerous dove on the reserve. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 10:37 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: WhiteTippedDove_D504436-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: All the Red-Winged Blackbirds I met in the reserve were male. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:34 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: RedwingBlackbird_D505562-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis) |
Description: During my visit to the reserve, cardinals were noticably engaged in breeding behaviours. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 8:11 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: NorthernCardinal_D503841-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura) |
Description: Mourning Doves were few at the reserve while I visited. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:22 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: MourningDove_D506044-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mexican Ground Squirrel(Ictidomys mexicanus) |
Description: This squirrel came out from its hiding place inside the pipe once the threatening roadrunner departed. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 12:34 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: MexicanGroundSquirrel_D506300-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Green Jay(Cyanocorax yncas) |
Description: Green Jays, until this meeting, had teased me with distant and poorly lit images. This group at Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast was more cooperative. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 15:18 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 340 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreenJay_D506928-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Green Jay(Cyanocorax yncas) |
Description: Green Jays were the most numerous bird at the Visitor Center. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 15:23 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: GreenJay_D504768-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue Grosbeak(Passerina caerulea) |
Description: Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:04 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlueGrosbeak_D505874-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla) |
Description: This was my first meeting with the American Redstart. If you study the images you may see a tick attached to the bird's neck. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 16:16 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: AmericanRedstart_D505083-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 12:12 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 310 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D506216-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ash-Throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens) |
Description: Ash-Throated Flycatchers are familiar near my home in southern California. It was fun to meet them in Texas too. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 10:47 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AshThoatedFlyCatcher_D505865-Atascosa-NWR-1 |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue Grosbeak(Passerina caerulea) |
Description: Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:04 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlueGrosbeak_D505874-Atascosa-NWR-1 |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meetings with birds like these terns. I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:15 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D506692-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:47 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506878-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Harris's Hawk(Parabuteo unicinctus) |
Description: This immature hawk kept calling (wheezing) to the adults not far away. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 15:35 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: HarrisHawk_D507031-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meets with birds like these Killdeer. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:50 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: Killdeer_D506558-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura) |
Description: Mourning Doves were few at the reserve while I visited. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:22 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: MourningDove_D506044-Atascosa-NWR-1 |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos) |
Description: Northern Mockingbirds sound similar to Brown Thrashers, but repeat phrases in three's, and Brown Thrashers repeat in two's. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:39 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: NorthernMockingbird_D506474-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher(Tyrannus forficatus) |
Description: At Atascosa, the Scissor-Tailied Flycatchers I met allowed me closer encounters than my previous meetings. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 15:38 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: ScissorTailedFlycatcher_D507110-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tricolored Heron(Egretta tricolor) |
Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meets with birds like these herons. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:21 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: TricoloredHeron_D506362-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
Description: I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:16 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D507274-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Eyed Vireo(Vireo griseus) |
Description: I met this species in many of the Texas locations I visited, but here at Atascosa were some of my best encounters. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 11:44 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: WhiteEyedVireo_D506157-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Ibis(Eudocimus albus) |
Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meetings with birds like this ibis. Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:18 |
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: WhiteIbis_D506312-LagunaAtascosa |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Plain Chachalaca(Ortalis vetula) |
Description: When I left California for Texas, this was a bird I was hoping to meet and photograph. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 9:57 |
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: PlainChachalaca_D504194-Atascosa-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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