Traveling northeast along the Gulf Coast

 

First stop on our way north was at Corpus Christi for this rare Cattle Tyrant.

We enjoyed this life bird as it was enjoying Oyster Bar dumpster insects.

Scissor-tailed Flycaytchers were arriving in big numbers and we saw them perched along the highway.

First two nights were at Goose Island State Park and this is the centuries old "Big Tree" that has survived several hurricanes.

Things are looking up.  Roseate Spoonbill and Great Blue Heron 

There are feeder stations throughout the campground.  Clay-colored Sparrow takes the plunge.

Carolina Wren visits drip.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Inca Doves courting

Loggerhead Shrike

Gray Catbird

Along the Goose Island pier were a pair of Am. Oystercatchers

American Oystercatcher feeding on oysters

Pipevine Swallowtail laying eggs

Propeller Flower

Marsh Fleabane

Scarlet Indian Paintbrush

Slender Dayflower

Narrow-leaf Blue-eyed Grass

Goose Island Sunrise, we head northeast

We looked forward to revisiting High Island Rookery, it did not disappoint

Great Egret carrying nesting material

Great Egret bowing display over nest with eggs

Great Egret incubating

Great Egret lift-off

Great Egret - bonding display

Roseate Spoonbill colony

Roseate Spoonbill full breeding plumage

Spoonbill landing

Tricolored Heron in nuptial plumage

Snowy Egret squabbles for nesting space

This is my branch!

Purple Gallinule just arrived to the rookery

Majestic colors on full display

Bolivar Flats is a renowned Shorebird migration stop - American Avocet

Willets look so different in their breeding plumage

Long-billed Curlew

One of our target birds - Wilson's Plover

Wilson's Plovers like to blend in on the beach

Snowy Plover

Semipalmated Plover

American Golden Plover

Sunset on 1,000+ Avocets and thousands of other shorebirds

Laughing Gull adult in full Spring plumage

Dolphin pod escorts large ship going down the canal on our third ferry crossing

Dolphins seem to love to play

We made it across Louisiana and into Mississippi, staying at Buccaneer State Park.

We started adding first of the year Eastern birds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 

Brown Thrasher pair

Next stop - Dauphin Island Campground, AL and three weeks of migrant birding.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

Last Days at Rio Grande Valley

 

Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park 5 am bird walk to listen for night birds...

Chuck-will's-widow

Common Pauraque

Full moon setting in the west and..

Sunrise from the Hawk Tower

We guided the Laguna Vista Bird Club around the park with a stop at the Hawk Tower.

Peregrine Falcon

Crested Caracara

Harris's Hawk 

Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk (over 7,000 went over on March 30th )

Swainson's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Rare sighting - Swallow-tailed Kite comes in to rest

Ty went down the tower to get closer look

Time to groom some feathers after a long flight

Total raptor count for the month of March was 58,156

Raptors aren't the only birds we see from the hawk tower.

Greater Roadrunner calling daily high off the ground

Olive Sparrow calling, setting up territory below the hawk tower

White-eyed Vireo 

Verdin  eating blossums from the Retama

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Lark Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Out in the parking lot, an Altamira Oriole is constructing a nest..

Four days later, it's ready for eggs.

Red ribbon adds a touch of color

Hooded Oriole

Curve-billed Thrasher singing

Tom Turkey flies across the canal

Resting from the flight

Getting ready to court the ladies

Back at the RV park, our Owlet has fledged and is free flying

Fiery Skipper feeds on Sky Flowers

Valley Carpenter Bee (Teddy Bear)

Six-lined Racerunner

Gray Hawk

Bronzed Cowbird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - migrating north in big numbers

Took one last trip to Salineño - Osprey fishing over Rio Grande

 

Osprey eating fish surrounded by Red-eared Sliders and Soft-shelled turtles

Ash-throated Flycatcher at Falcon State Park

Male Green Kingfisher

Happy Easter to all.  Good News, the tomb is empty - Jesus lives!

We begin our travels again tomorrow.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann