Cameron County Texas Mar 27, 28 and 29.

The species are getting fewer now so this blog is stretched over the last 3 days.    Our species list is at 169 to date over 2 weeks.  There is a group from Quebec with a guide which has seen 200 in a week.  I feel so inadequate.  If only Dian would get out of bed earlier. : > )

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.  I could spend hours trying to photograph these beauties.

Yellow-throated Vireo

Tennessee Warbler

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Birding centre security.  He keeps everyone on the boardwalk.

Cattle Egret in the morning sun.

The big gulp.

I hope I can fly after eating this.

Looking west from S. Padre to mainland

Texas Toem Pole

Due to popular demand I changed this hawk to a White-tailed Hawk from Harlans.  Thanks for the input guys.

Cattle Egrets at Padre Birding Center

Pair of Yellow-crowned Night Herons at SPI (South Padre Island) Birding Center

Our first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at SPI Convention Center

Common Pauraque.  Look close-it is there.  Sitting on a nest.  The area around this nest is fenced off and it was pointed out to us by a guide at Resaca de la Palma State Park.

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South Padre Island Birding Mar 25-26 204

As expected the migrant fallout continued last night.  Birds were literally dropping out of the skies.  Birders were also becoming more abundant.  We met a group from Quebec and many local Texans and neighboring states.  We have only met one western couple from Washington.  This area is reminiscent of Point Pelee for bird activity except all the birding is spread out over a bigger territory (the county of Cameron).

This little area (about 1/2 a city block) is in the centre of town.  It yielded Worm Eating Warbler, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hooded Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo and more.

This Kentucky Warbler looked exhausted as it gleaned a lawn.  It drew a good crowd.

Saw this action starting to develop as we drove.  Hopped out of the car and started snapping.

First year Orchard Oriole.

I never thought we would ever see a Worm-eating Warbler.  It only showed itself for a few seconds.  Good thing the camera was ready.

We have seen many Snowy Egrets but this is the first photo opportunity

White-eyed Vireo female

I have posted the Pied-billed  Grebe previously but I had to post this one. 

Black-necked Stilt

Yellow-throated Warbler

Marbeled Godwit with seafood

Caspian Tern

Wilson's Plover with one eye on the sky

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

This is the best shot I have of a Clapper Rail so far.

Winds, cloudy skies and rain to go away tomorrow.  Temperatures in the high 80's this weekend.  

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South Padre Mar 23 2014

We stayed close to home today.  The local birding center and convention centre are quite close and provided a great assortment of birds to entertain us.  We were going to go beach combing this afternoon but the sky got cloudy and the wind came up.  We need to slow down anyway.  Some of these species I have posted before but these are better shots.

Tri-colored Heron

Sora

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have just returned here.

Roseate Spoonbills

Pied-billed Grebe

Little Blue Heron

Great Egret with fish

Clapper Rail calling

Clapper Rail

Queen Butterfly

Queen Butterfly caterpillar

Monarch Butterfly

Brown pelican

Cloudy skies, rain and wind brought in a fallout last night.  This Yellow-throated Vireo was a new migrant.

Horned Lark.

Female Hooded Warbler 

Male Hooded Warbler

Orchard Oriole

Inca Dove

Northern Parula in an odd position

Louisiana Waterthrush.  A very skittish bird.

 We are going to get rain again tonight so can't wait to see what blows in tomorrow morning.  It must be quite the trip across the Gulf of Mexico for these tiny birds.  When they get here they are eating frantically; some right at our feet.

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