Bahia Grande (Big Bay)
This is a 22,700 acre tract of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge which is closed to the public.
We were asked to lead two field trips for the Winter Wildlife Expo through the twelve mile tour from highway 48 to highway 100. We saw a total of 84 species of birds and other wildlife.
Cassin's Sparrow singing from the Prickly Pear
Palm Warbler - unusual winter resident
Cactus Wren
Northern Bobwhite covey
Chihauhaun Raven - life bird for many on field trip
American White Pelicans march in step
Crested Caracara pair feeding
American Kestrel
Aplomado Falcon juvenile
White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kite pair
People asked what makes these holes?
Two and a half inch Land Crabs
Herd of exotic Nilgai, these Asian Antelope, weighing up to 700 pounds, were brought to Texas for sport hunting. These escaped the ranches and are reproducing in large numbers. (Estimated numbers 30,000)
Capable of 40 mph gallop
Commonly seen at Laguna Atascosa Refuge
Nine-banded Armadillo
Not often seen, snuffling while excavating for food
Controlled burns for vegetaion management attracts large numbers of raptors.
This Caracara finds a crisp, blackened snake
Our last tour stop was the new South Texas Ecological Center
where we observed a Sharp-shinned Hawk on a European Starling.
Back on South Padre Island we went to the top of the Birding Center to see our last overview of the Laguna Madre and the boardwalk - fond memories of great birding and great friends.
Reddish Egret comes in for a landing
Low tide fish stalking
Reddish Egret comes up close for a last good-bye
Green Heron snacks on minnows
Snowy Egret with his bustles and golden slippers
Two Brown Pelicans in hot pursuit of Osprey with large Mullet
Northern Waterthrush finds a large earthworm
Laughing Gull tries to consume a large Mullet
Still working at it - Black-necked Stilt stalks by
Semipalmated Plover eating earthworm
Large flock of Piping Plovers at low tide with a few Dunlin
Whelk Shell - a new home for hermit crab
Pair of Lesser Scaup soon to be migrating north
We also are thinking about migrating.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann
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