Saying Goodbye to South Padre Island

 

We will miss the beach and all the sea birds, and especially our time volunteering at the Birding and Nature Center on South Padre Island.  

It has been a blessing to see the creatures that God has put in this habitat.  We have also had the chance to visit and bird with lots of friends, many from Wisconsin.

Yellow-crowned Night-heron 

Peregrine Falcon high on the water tower next to the Birding Center

American Coot has unique red spot on beak shield

Green Heron stealth mode

A cold windy day at San Benito Wetlands
Green Kingfisher

American Oystercatcher lands nearby

Oystercatcher keeps an eye on passing Osprey

Yellow-throated Warbler nails a fly

Great Egret has a nice catch

Reddish Egret does his fishing dance, shading the water to draw the fish close

Hermit Crab has selected a True Tulip shell - perfect fit

Dolphins escort oil tanker up the Brownville ship canal

Dolphin pod a common site along SPI

Forester's Tern dives in the waves

A rare treat - Purple Sandpiper feeding along the breakwater with Ruddy Turnstones

Birders came from all over to find this rare winter visitor

A few days later, another rare visitor stopped giving three birders a look
Black-legged Kittiwake

Laughing Gulls coming into Spring plumage

Green Jay at Laguna Atascosa NWR

Surprise!  What are you doing behind the bird blind?
White-tailed (fork horned) Buck

Seven foot long Indigo Snake at Prairie Trail - Laguna Atascosa

Closeup photo shows wood tick on snake's neck

Black Skimmer working the waves

Unique bills longer lower mandible skims the surface and snaps shut with fish contact

High surf hits the jetty but doesn't deter the people fishing in spite of losing equipment.
Cold fronts seemed to arrive every week in January - also bringing in unusual birds

Loggerhead Shrike captures Katydid

Roseate Spoonbill delicately preens his feathers,  Black-bellied Whistling Duck looks on

Snowy Egret has unusual bill color, typically all black

900 pound "Big Padre" takes a slow walk

Count the gators at the rescue pen.  All lining up for some sun,

Last day at the Birding Center, finally got a look at the Clapper Rail

Black Skimmers fly through the sunset to roost.
And our next roosting site is Weslaco, about 60 miles west.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann