South Padre Island

 

"We have liftoff"

Our arriving at South Padre Island (SPI) couldn't have been better timing.

SpaceX Star Ship launched the next morning at sunrise.

Isla Blanca RV Park is located across the Brownsville Channel from Boca Chica.

The Rocket launch pad is 5 miles from the thousands of people who came to experience the sight and very loud earth shaking roar with lots of cheering.

This contrail is from the booster as it seperated from the rocket.

Bright flash as booster exploded.

Looking north from the RV Park beach

Tortuga Flats at low tide - American Oystercatchers

Dunlin

Short-billed Dowitcher

Piping Plover

The majority of Piping Plovers in the world winter here in South Texas

Semipalmated Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Marbled Godwit

Bay Bean grows on coastal beaches and dunes

Black Saddlebags Dragonfly

White Ibis

White Ibis Juvenile

Juvenile White Ibis in his favorite spot by the Birding Center

Green Heron with "catch of the day"

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret bracing the wind

Snowy Egret snatches a Giant Darner Dragonfly out of the air.

American Wigeon Drake

More ducks are arriving every day for winter stay like us.

Ameerican Coot

Pair of Common Gallinules

The Franklin's Gulls sport their pinkish bellies among the Laughing Gulls.

Caspian Tern

Caspian Juvenile still food begging

Royal Tern

Black Skimmer

Resting Black Skimmer

Brown Pelican

Running for take off, Brown Pelican on the channel

Juvevile Brown Pelican checking the jetty between the people fishing hoping for handout.

This one got a little too close snagging a hook in his neck

Took a ride north to the National Seashore which is a 100 mile stretch of barrier island.

No we didn't drive that far - no road.   On our ten mile jaunt, enjoyed the sand dunes, wild flowers and...

Close up views of Peregrine Falcons, one of 5 individuals.

Note the pink throat area as part of ongoing research programs.

This bird was very vocal either about Ty sneaking up on him or a passing helecopter

Cristo de Los Pescadores Statue

Memorial to lost Shrimp Fishermen on the jetty at Isla Blanca Park

We are thankful every day to see God's creation all around us.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

Estero Llano Part 2

 

Roseate Spoonbill returns to new pond after four days and 6 inches of rain.

Tricolored Heron catches a Talapia

Black-crowned Night-heron

Two Little Blue Herons

Little Blue Heron stretches

White-faced Ibis

White Ibis & White-faced Ibis probe the wet ground.

Black-necked Stilt

American Avocet in winter plumage

Diamond-backed Watersnake

7 foot long Indigo Snake

Alligator sunning at Alligator Lake

Softshell Turtle

Long-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrasher

White-winged & White-tipped Doves

Tiny Inca Dove checks out the birdbath.

Olive Sparrow shaking off water 

Buff-bellied Hummingbird sticks out tongue

Plain Chachalaca

Green Jay sports "Bling"

Trying hard to blend in - Common Pauraque

A little easier to see but still the most difficult to point out to visitors

Black Phoebe 

Javelina crosses the trail

American Snout

Queeen Butterfly on Blue Mist

Afriacanized Bees outgrow their owl nesting box

Tiny Green Kingfisher watches for minnows

Peregrine Falcon 

Red-shouldered Hawk

White-tailed Kite on territory

Red-tailed Hawk on tower above our RV  Park

On our way to South Padre Island we stopped at  La Feria Nature Center

American Coot and Least Grebe

There were many wading birds there - Roseate Spoonbill & Great Egret

Roseate Spoonbill does a close flyby

Invasive species - the Nutria (beaver size)

Brought to the US in the 1930's from South America.

Tropical Kingbird

Dewy Spiderweb

Several Vermilion Flycatchers were bug hunting in the area.

We are now on South Padre Island for three months.

Feeling blessed to still be able to travel.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann