Brownsville, San Benito, SPI Birding and Beach Sea Turtles

 

Another unique sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico

A field trip to Brownsville University produced another "life" bird for us.  The Fan-tailed Warbler.

We got great looks but no pictures because of the hoards of birders from all over the nation that were standing three deep.  Thanks to Sandie Lohse for this photo.

We drove to San Benito Wetlands and near by was our favorite Burrowing Owl.

At the ponds were Least Grebes,

Least Grebe is a specialty of South Texas

Pair of Eared Grebes

Love the red eyes of the Eared Grebe.

Black Phoebe

Another S. Texas specialty - Ringed Kingfisher, much larger than our Belted Kingfisher

White-eyed Vireo at Laguna Vista drip

Emerald Moth at Birding Center 3/4 inch.

Yellow Wooly Bear 

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

American Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Pintail squabble, hen started it.

Uncommon Greater Scaup on right

Brown Pelican decided to try the fresh water pond for fish at the Birding Center

Pelican expelling water from full pouch

Water gone, any fish?

Yep! chug it down!

Neotropic Cormorants

Leucistic Piping Plover on the tidal flats.

American Oystercatcher

Greater Yellowlegs

Willet in the waves

Roseate Spoonbill coming in to feed

Feeding in the clear water

White Ibis chasing fish

Roosting Cattle Egret starting to get Spring buffy colors

Many birders coming to find the Mangrove "yellow" Warbler

Full rusty cap coming in for this young Mangrove Warbler

Green Heron

We had a surspise visit from Joan Grant from Green Bay and her son Mike from St.Louis.

This Green Kingfisher is what Mike was looking for.

The Arctic Blast reached all the way down into S. Texas with below freezing temps.  The Sea Turtles become stunned and have to be rescued to keep them from drowning.   Over 900 turtles were picked up and a few days later released at the beach.  Large numbers of trucks and volunteers assisted in this effort.

These are Loggerhead Sea Turtles and are quite a handful.

Many take two to carry them to the water.

Turtles were flapping all the way from the truck to the water

Thousands of onlookers came to see the release

A bright spot on a winter's day, Vermilion Flycatcher

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

SPI & Surrounding Areas

 

Another beautiful sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico from Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island.

We drove about 10 miles west of the island on Hwy. 100 to search for the Aplomado Falcons.

What a pleasant surprise to find the pair sitting next to the parking area.

They flew away for a few minutes without a photo but fortunately returned to the Yucca.

What an amazing close-up.  Note leg band.

What a blessing to see them so close.

Turkey Vulture taking off at the South Texas Ecological Center.

We went to Resaca de la Palma State Park for a couple very rare bird species.

We drove over with our Canadian birding friend Randall Robinson,who took this great photo of the Roadside Hawk.

This rare bird is from Southern Mexico - the Gray-collared Becard (a life bird for us)

Blue-headed Vireo

This Altamira Oriole is trying very hard to get the last bit of suet in the basket.

This Inca Dove shows off it's usually hidden colors.

The Blue Metalmark female butterfly is only found in extreme southeast Texas

Back to the Island and with recent high tides and strong winds some jellyfish were close to shore 

Sea Nettle Jellyfish

Some washed up on the beach - Cannonball Jellyfish

Very poisonous Portuguese Man-of-War 

Two foot diameter Moon Jellyfish

Loggerhead Sea Turtles eat jellyfish and are resistant to the poison stings.

A pod of Bottlenose Dolphins feed in the channel.

And playfully interact.

Common Tern that is not very common here....

But the similar Forester's Tern is.

Empty Skate egg case washed up on the beach.

Ghost Shrimp burrow cone (miniture volcano)

Fisherman suction pumping Ghost Shrimp for bait.

Ghost Shrimp - 3 inches long

Brown Pelicans fishing - amazing pouch

Laughing Gull perches on Pelican's head hoping to get leftovers.

Thousands of Mullet school for blocks along the jetty..

Mullet

Mullet down the hatch

Or in the Osprey's talons

American Avocets fishing in the surf

Every tide brings in a varity of shells like this Saw-toothed Pen Shell,

many people walk the beach each day collecting.

Giant Atlantic Cockle

Back at the Birding Center we see many fish like this two foot Snook.

Little Blue Heron with a bad itch

It must be catching - Great Blue Heron

Has to be catching!  Yellow-crowned Night-heron

Possitively catching - Clapper Rail

American Coot - what big feet you have!

Black Skimmer demonstrates it's unique fishing bill.

Skimmer heads out over the waves for a last catch.

Hard to believe we have been here on South Padre Island for two months, and now winter like weather has arrived at least for a couple days.  Temps in the low 40's, wind chill and rain, Good day to do a blog.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann