Migration continues to be good at South Padre Island as well as at Resaca de la Palma State Park in north Brownsville. The more birds there are, the better your chances of getting good shots. While I didn’t get stellar photos of Rose-breasted grosbeak, Couch’s Kingbird, Nashville Warbler, and Gray Catbird, I did get nice shots of some other species. A flowering Bottlebrush tree has been visited by several species and has worked as an excellent spot for getting photos of small birds.
The tiny Northern Parula looks nice no matter what time of the year you see it.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are very common migrants in South Texas. However, their hyperactive nature makes them tough to capture on camera.
The tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a sprite of a bird.
A Rufous Hummingbird ruffles its feathers.
Insect photography has also been good as of late with several beautiful butterflies taking center stage.
This beautiful insect is not a Monarch but is given the regal name of “Queen”.
Had some nice looks at the Border Patch.
The Orange Julia is an exquisite long-wing species also found in many tropical countries.
The marshy parts of the island are typically good for waterbirds and other animals. One of those animals is the American Alligator.
There is a healthy population of American Alligators on the Texas coast.
Ospreys are always hunting in the marsh. I was pleased to get close looks at the individual pictured below.
Osprey.
Despite its fearsome appearance, the Osprey only goes after fish. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks don’t need to worry about them but they do need to be very careful around alligators!
A Black-bellied Whistling Duck takes a bath in the marsh.
Several shorebirds use the wetlands of South Padre Island, including the magnificent Long-billed Curlew. This big shorebird breeds in prairie habitats but winters in estuaries.
A wonderful Long-billed Curlew.
Sometimes, you even see something that looks like a bird but turns out to be an insect. With their fluttering wings, hovering flight, and long proboscis, hummingbird moths look more like hummingbirds than moths!
With cold weather already happening up north, most of our wintering birds should arrive in South Texas within the next couple of weeks.