Dean & Linda Stock
Well-known member
DAY 12?March 24?Port Isabel
On a scale of 1-10, today was an 11. We started out at the Visitors? Center, where they had this lovely sand castle in the foyer (Picture 1), as well as good information. Then we went to the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center in South Padre Island, an amazing wildlife refuge. Located right on the Laguna Madre Bay and its mudflats, it is a favorite feeding spot for migrating birds. We thought we had seen most of the shorebirds over the past few days, but we saw so many here we hadn?t seen before.
As we exited the Visitors? Center, we saw black-bellied plovers feeding (Picture 2). They don?t have black bellies now because they have their winter plumage. They were very busy hopping from place to place with a run-stop-run pattern than reminded me of the children?s game Red Light, Green Light.
The high-stepping curlew (Picture 3) was also very active. We looked further out in the water (the shore extends out in a flat plateau for a long way) and saw the king of the bay, a Great Blue Heron (Picture 4). We?ve seen lots of these before, but this one had an ?attitude?; no one came into his territory?he was the Mohammed Ali. He actually walked with a swagger, something we?ve never seen them do before.
The water was full of these mud catfish (Picture 5). We could see them easily, so they must have been the main course for many of these birds.
The snowy egret (Picture 6) was also very actively fishing. I admire their graceful feathers that remind me of a delicate ballerina.
The tri-color heron (Picture 7) played Hide ?n Seek with us, in and out of the grass. He will become more colorful as it gets closer to mating season.
The Great Blue Heron (Picture 8) watched over the ibises. They were out in the water, but he just stood guard.
The Ibis (Picture 9) was practicing his courting dance. However, the ladies weren?t interested.
There was a pretty tricolor heron (Picture 10) feeding in the grass. Is that a bunny in the background?
The reddish egret (Picture 11) is not common. We were surprised to see him sitting on this signpost watching us.
The colors on the mallard (Picture 12) were vivid, and he knew he was handsome!
The blue on the wing feathers of the blue-winged teal irridesced in the sunlight (Picture 13).
Three was too much company as the moor hen (Picture 14 with the orange beak) horned in on the blue-winged teal?s date.
Dean doesn?t agree, but I think this guy with the blue beak (Picture 15) is a ruddy duck. So many of these birds don?t have the right colors yet, but the expert birders tell us that this will change, and the ruddy duck is the only one in my book with a blue beak.
Sitting in the midst of lots of teals, this black-necked stilt stood out (Picture 16)
The laughing gull (Picture 17) didn?t make any sounds. I wanted to hear him make his laughing sound.
We have seen roseate spoonbills before, but these were much pinker, probably because of what they eat (Picture 18). Dean out-waited them, and they did come out from the tall grass eventually.
These two black-bellied whistling ducks (Picture 19) were devoted to each other. We were told that when they fly, they make a whistling sound. Earlier, we had been told that they were really silly-looking because even though they have webbed feet, they can be seen perching in trees.
These cattle egrets (Picture 20) look like they are wearing fluffy tams on their heads. Two of them looked like they were arguing with each other.
The black-necked stilt (Picture 21) had great balance. He stayed on just that one leg for the whole time we watched him. I?d have fallen over in 10 seconds!
Snowy egrets (Picture 22) are one of my favorite birds because they are so delicate looking. It is rare to see one out of the water, and this one posed!
We will definitely come back to Texas next year, just to visit this center again. It was AWESOME!
Miles Traveled: 0
Temperature: High of 81?, with rain in the early morning
Stayed at Long Island Village
On a scale of 1-10, today was an 11. We started out at the Visitors? Center, where they had this lovely sand castle in the foyer (Picture 1), as well as good information. Then we went to the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center in South Padre Island, an amazing wildlife refuge. Located right on the Laguna Madre Bay and its mudflats, it is a favorite feeding spot for migrating birds. We thought we had seen most of the shorebirds over the past few days, but we saw so many here we hadn?t seen before.
As we exited the Visitors? Center, we saw black-bellied plovers feeding (Picture 2). They don?t have black bellies now because they have their winter plumage. They were very busy hopping from place to place with a run-stop-run pattern than reminded me of the children?s game Red Light, Green Light.
The high-stepping curlew (Picture 3) was also very active. We looked further out in the water (the shore extends out in a flat plateau for a long way) and saw the king of the bay, a Great Blue Heron (Picture 4). We?ve seen lots of these before, but this one had an ?attitude?; no one came into his territory?he was the Mohammed Ali. He actually walked with a swagger, something we?ve never seen them do before.
The water was full of these mud catfish (Picture 5). We could see them easily, so they must have been the main course for many of these birds.
The snowy egret (Picture 6) was also very actively fishing. I admire their graceful feathers that remind me of a delicate ballerina.
The tri-color heron (Picture 7) played Hide ?n Seek with us, in and out of the grass. He will become more colorful as it gets closer to mating season.
The Great Blue Heron (Picture 8) watched over the ibises. They were out in the water, but he just stood guard.
The Ibis (Picture 9) was practicing his courting dance. However, the ladies weren?t interested.
There was a pretty tricolor heron (Picture 10) feeding in the grass. Is that a bunny in the background?
The reddish egret (Picture 11) is not common. We were surprised to see him sitting on this signpost watching us.
The colors on the mallard (Picture 12) were vivid, and he knew he was handsome!
The blue on the wing feathers of the blue-winged teal irridesced in the sunlight (Picture 13).
Three was too much company as the moor hen (Picture 14 with the orange beak) horned in on the blue-winged teal?s date.
Dean doesn?t agree, but I think this guy with the blue beak (Picture 15) is a ruddy duck. So many of these birds don?t have the right colors yet, but the expert birders tell us that this will change, and the ruddy duck is the only one in my book with a blue beak.
Sitting in the midst of lots of teals, this black-necked stilt stood out (Picture 16)
The laughing gull (Picture 17) didn?t make any sounds. I wanted to hear him make his laughing sound.
We have seen roseate spoonbills before, but these were much pinker, probably because of what they eat (Picture 18). Dean out-waited them, and they did come out from the tall grass eventually.
These two black-bellied whistling ducks (Picture 19) were devoted to each other. We were told that when they fly, they make a whistling sound. Earlier, we had been told that they were really silly-looking because even though they have webbed feet, they can be seen perching in trees.
These cattle egrets (Picture 20) look like they are wearing fluffy tams on their heads. Two of them looked like they were arguing with each other.
The black-necked stilt (Picture 21) had great balance. He stayed on just that one leg for the whole time we watched him. I?d have fallen over in 10 seconds!
Snowy egrets (Picture 22) are one of my favorite birds because they are so delicate looking. It is rare to see one out of the water, and this one posed!
We will definitely come back to Texas next year, just to visit this center again. It was AWESOME!
Miles Traveled: 0
Temperature: High of 81?, with rain in the early morning
Stayed at Long Island Village
