

Of all my experiences in south Texas, no other destination produced as many great birding memories as did South Padre Island. There are three locations on the island that should not be neglected. Just one mile north from the Queen Isabella Causeway is a humble sanctuary informally called “Sheepshead”, so named for the little street where it resides. A short drive three more miles to the north will bring you to the other two destinations that no right-minded birder will want to miss. Both sites are next-door neighbors. One is the SPI Birding and Nature Center, and the other is the SPI Convention Centre.
I visited South Padre Island twice during my first stay in Brownsville in 2020. I returned to south Texas in 2021, intent on milking the last drop of birding out of South Padre I could manage. I visited here perhaps a dozen times during the spring, and I experienced some of the most memorable “fallout” events, with thousands of birds carpeting the lawns, recuperating from the exhaustion that comes with a long journey, and seeking solace and nourishment or perching unabashedly in nearly every bush, shrub, or tree, all the while thrilling every birder in attendance.
There are four basic zones for birders to explore at the South Padre Island Convention Centre.
- First there are the grounds around the main building, which has lawns and trees where warblers and other interesting passerines can be found. This section wraps 360° around the Convention Centre’s building, but the best birding is usually on the southern perimeter. Winter birding is worthwhile here, but during migration it can be amazing.
- The second zone is the boardwalk that penetrates the Black Mangroves and leads east to the sheltered waterway called Laguna Madre. South Padre Island acts as a barrier from the pounding waves of the Gulf of Mexico. The mangroves offer more potential bird encounters and the shallow waters at the end of the boardwalk hold the promise of gulls, herons, egrets, ducks and terns. During the height of spring migration, sharp-eyed birders might be rewarded by meetings with warblers, vireos, flycatchers and cuckoos.
- One arm of the boardwalk leads past the third zone worth exploring, where you can find a shallow pond frequented by rails, waders, waterfowl, and shorebirds.
- To the north of the Convention Centre is an expansive sandy flat where shorebirds, terns, and gulls often loaf. It can sometimes prove rewarding to investigate here.
Next to the Convention Centre is the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. I found the no-cost birding at the Convention Centre so rewarding, I first believed there was no good reason to spend money ($8/day) to see the same birds. I was mistaken. There are differences that should make the SPIB&NC in indispensable destination in its own right:
- The boardwalk here does not connect with the one at the Convention Centre, and provides access to a wider variety of microhabitats, and with species not often seen, or seen so intimately, than from those next door.
- The wetlands shared by both properties is supplied with fresh water by a waste treatment plant, which creates a perfect nursery for spawning fish. The fish are sought after by some of the most spectacular egrets and herons one could hope to meet.
- If alligators are of interest, this facility provides a wealth of specimens to observe.
- Like the Convention Centre, the trees and grassy zones near the parking areas and the main building can provide encounters with a variety of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and cuckoos. White Ibis and Mottled Ducks regularly patrol the lawns, and hummingbird feeders attract migrant and resident hummers.
Sheepshead Preserve, or South Padre Island Bird Sanctuary.
I first became acquainted with this location during the earliest phases of the Covid pandemic in the spring of 2020. I was at once charmed by the informal nature of the operation and quietly put a double sawbuck into their donation box. The morning I first visited, this place was not overrun with either birds or people, but there were volunteers filling feeders and placing orange hemispheres on the trees for the orioles and others to enjoy. Wearing a mask, as most of us were during these times, put a damper on our ability to deliver a friendly smile, so when a volunteer walked past, I spoke up “You can’t see it, but I’m smiling!” She laughed and responded, “I know, I can see it in your eyes!” How could I not smile? The place emulates all things beautiful and peaceful. It is an oasis amid the crush of over-development. With so many alterations to the natural habitat to accommodate humanity and their desire for vacation destinations, it’s lovely to see a little foresight at work in preserving a small piece of what once was.
When spring migration is at its peak, this small piece of habitat can come alive with the bustle of tired and hungry birds and birders looking to meet them. Even in the off-season, and only winter visitors forage in the low grass or shrubbery, there may lurk some surprises for the careful observer.
There are other locations on South Padre where interesting encounters are possible. Certainly the beaches and jetties might host gulls, terns or shorebirds. I’ve never driven on the beaches, but those who have, sometimes report worthwhile encounters. Keeping an eye in the sky might reward you with a wayward booby or frigatebird.
If your spring visit to south Texas must be limited to one stop, South Padre Island would not disappoint.

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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 10:01 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BaltimoreOriole_D500347-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:12 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: BlackBelliedWhistlingDuck_D501579-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:20 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackChinnedHummingbird_D509798-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:21 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D501832-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Chestnut-Sided Warbler(Setophaga pensylvanica) |
Description: Chestnut-Sided Warblers are easiest found here in south Texas. They nest in the upper mid-west and into Canada. They choose deciduous and brushy habitats recovering from fire or logging for raising their young, seldom for more than a few years, before moving on after the vegetation matures. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 10:43 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: ChestnutSidedWarbler_D500515-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:11 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D502161-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:41 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/5000 |
File Name: GreatBlueHeron_D509677-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:37 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: HoodedOriole_D502230-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:43 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D501650-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 7:51 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D501723-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502340-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:56 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: OrchardOriole_D502250-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:23 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: Ovenbird_D502198-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 14:51 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: RubyThroatedHummingbird_D502677-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 7:52 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D509470-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:26 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedSandpiper_D509601-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:28 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D500975-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:49 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D502056-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:08 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400 |
File Name: WhiteIbis_D509765-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:27 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackpollWarbler_D502494-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:26 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackpollWarbler_D502463-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:42 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: StiltSandpiper_D501385-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:24 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: CommonNighthawk_D509575-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:29 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackburnianWarbler_D509876-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 9:51 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: RoseateSpoonbill_D5X0249SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 10:44 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SnowyEgret_D5X0340SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 12:48 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: ReddishEgret_D5X0889-SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 12:12 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreenHeron_D5X0727SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Ibis(Eudocimus albus) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 13:10 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: WhiteIbis_D5X1002SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 12:14 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: ClapperRail_D5X0771SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 13:59 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1289SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 12:15 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ClapperRail_D5X0834SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 9:32 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D5X9968SouthPadre-WBC |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:50 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastBittern_D5X7357-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 14:46 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/125 |
File Name: GrayCatbird_D5X7153-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 13:25 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: SpottedSandpiper_D5X3445-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 11:16 |
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: IndigoBunting_D5X2314-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 12:55 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BrownPelican_D5X2856-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:16 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D501213-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck(Dendrocygna autumnalis) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 12:07 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackBelliedWhistlingDuck_D5X2544-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 13:40 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D5X3613-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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


Tricolored Heron(Egretta tricolor) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:32 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: TricoloredHeron_D501952-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:33 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/640 |
File Name: SwainsonsThrush_D509960-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:57 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: StiltSandpiper_D501493-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:45 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: SpottedSandpiper_D501715-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:18 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D500892-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 7:52 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D509451-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:15 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: RoseBreastedGrosbeak_D501187-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:41 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400 |
File Name: RoyalTern_D509667-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:00 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: RoseBreastedGrosbeak_D501121-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:23 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: Ovenbird_D502202-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Waterthrush(Parkesia noveboracensis) |
Description: Northern Waterthrushes spend most of their foraging time on the ground. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 15:44 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 |
File Name: NorthernWaterThrush_D502732-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:25 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: MottledDuck_D509598-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mottled Duck(Anas fulvigula) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:59 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: MottledDuck_D502292-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502334-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:28 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502592-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:35 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D500001-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:04 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastSandpiper_D501523-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:24 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: GrayCatbird_D500921-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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


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


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 Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:24 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: CommonNighthawk_D509576-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:31 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D500995-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:27 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D501287-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:26 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackpollWarbler_D502434-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:44 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackNeckedStilt_D501691-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 12:23 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleGallinule_D5X9650SPI_ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 11:46 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: PurpleGallinule_D5X9469SPI_ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 17:05 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X3050_SPI-NatureCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 12:37 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2738-SouthPadreIsland |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:30 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D5X8920-SPI_ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:30 13:27 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D5X4303_SPI-CenventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 15:37 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: WesternTanager_D5X8516-SPI_ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea) |
Description: 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. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 14:37 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ScarletTanager_D5X9994SPI_ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


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. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 15:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
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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