2022 - Beginning a new bird list

 

We ended 2021 with 491 species of birds. in 15 states.  We are excited for what God has planned for us this year.  We are at South Padre island for two more weeks then heading west to Weslaco and Mission Texas until Spring migration draws us northward with the birds.

Little Blue Heron comes in for an awkward landing

Black-necked Stilts - not a centipede

Young Green Heron stares us down

Bat Falcon - first confirmed sighting in the U.S.
Found at Santa Ana NWR - our first trip there we saw it through the scope about a mile away.
This trip he sat right at the park entrance.

Small Bat Falcon, Kestrel size, 

We stopped at Estero Llano SP to get this nice pair of
Fulvous Whistling Ducks

Then it was on to University of Texas Brownsville for another look at the 
Social Flycatcher.

American Kestrel at the church parking lot.

Giant Swallowtail at Laguna Atascosa NWR

Black-crested Titmouse

Black Vulture

Crested Caracara

Caracara feeding on a carcas

White-tailed Deer browsing

Regal Buck

Isla Blanca Jetty - fishermen's favorite spot

Puffer Fish

Red Rock Crab or Sally Lightfoot Crab

Spotted Sandpiper

American Wigeon 

White Morph Reddish Egret deep bathing

Shaking all the water off

Tricolored Heron in back, Little Blue Heron up front

Blue-winged Teal

Purple Sage at Laguna Vista Trails

Lincoln's Sparrow visits bird blind

Olive Sparrow - one of the South Texas specialties

Osprey makes a large catch

Yellow-crowned Night-heron snatches a crab

Ruddy Turnstone

Pair of White-tailed Kites at San Benito Wetlands

Burrowling Owl at curb catch basin

Young Bull Nilgai - large exotic antilope one of 15,000 free in South Texas

Viperina - beach pea-like blossoms

Least Bittern doesn't want to be seen

We took a ride to Bocha Chica and the huge SpaceX facility.
In the distance is South Padre Island.
Only five mile apart but a 41 mile drive to get there.

Sunset over Laguna Madre from the Birding Center reminds us that our time here is ending soon.

Looking forwaard to the next adventure!

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann