It’s hard to stay away from South Padre Island during migration because the site attracts such a wide variety of waterbirds and passerine migrants. The birds come and go from one day to the next so it’s worth it to keep going back to this hotspot. Although I didn’t find any rarities on my latest visit to South Padre, I still had good looks at lots of birds including my first American Bittern of the fall.
An American Bittern stretches its neck to take a peek above the marsh.
Other birds were out in the open including beautiful species like Roseate Spoonbill.
A juvenile spoonbill feeds in the wetlands of South Padre Island.
The Mottled Duck is another bird of these wetlands.
The Snowy Egret is the most common heron species in the marsh. This one is taking a quick bath.
Willets are found in the marsh all year long.
Warblers are still passing through the area and as always, the best way to get good pictures of them is waiting with camera at the ready next to a small water source.
Black and white Warblers are common migrants. This one found a large caterpillar to feed on.
The Northern Waterthrush is another common migrant from the boreal zone. True to its name, it’s rarely found away from water.
A pretty Prairie Warbler at the water drip.
Next to visit the drip was a smart little Wilson’s Warbler.
This female Yellow Warbler blends in with the flowering Goldenrod.
As for the mystery animal, it’s not a bird.
Mystery animal.
Yes, this is the eye of a mammal but which one? From the grayish fur, it could be any number of mammals but the color of the eye and white around it shows that we have a very close look at a Black-tailed Jackrabbit.