Last weekend, I made a couple of trips to South Padre Island and Port Mansfield in search of natural subjects for photography. I wasn’t disappointed as I found several large White-tailed Deer and some fall warblers.
Just one of the bucks I came across with a huge rack.
One of those big bucks browsing on vegetation.
Habitat for White-tailed Deer in south Texas must be ideal because so many grow to be big, healthy animals.
Two of those huge bucks from south Texas.
Although these pictures make it seem as if the deer in southern Texas are tame, actually, they are pretty shy. I had to be pretty careful and quiet to get these shots (a long lens also helps).
One final picture of a beautiful buck White-tailed Deer from last weekend.
Fall warblers were also around and stayed still long enough for some fine photos. Nashville Warblers were passing through in numbers.
The small Nashville Warbler can be recognized by yellow underparts, plain wings, and an eyering on a gray face.
Another look at the same Nashville Warbler.
The Tennessee Warbler is rather similar but lacks the eyering on a gray head.
We can tell that this is a Tennessee Warbler and not an Orange-crowned because of the white undertail coverts.
The Northern Parula is a bit easier to recognize due to its broken eyering, two white wing bars, yellow throat and upper breast, and rich yellow lower mandible.
A Northern Parula in winter plumage.
Common Yellowthroats were also around. This is one of the more common warbler species and is usually seen in thick vegetation near the ground.
A Common Yellowthroat.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were also migrating through the area. It’s always nice to see these little feathered dynamos!
A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird getting ready to feed.
As we head into the latter half of Autumn, sparrows, ducks, and other late fall birds should start turning up in the next few weeks.