Estero Llano State Park 11/2

The cold front did a number on the butterflies for the Butterfly Festival.  Seemed there was more lookers than butterflies.  It was fine with us since we were with our friends Brian and Jutta.  Birds or Butterflies we'll take what comes. We did see a Lifer, a Hammock Skipper near the park office. 

  











Hammock Skipper

                 

                          











 Texas Crescent

Latviana Skipper

                                           

Queens

Fiery Skipper

                                                                

                        Giant Swallowtails

Larger Birds in SP Birding Center 11/1

Herons and Spoonbills are the more visible birds of South Padre.

 Roseate Spoonbills (females)

Tricolored Heron 

Snowy Egret 

Great Blue Heron

Golden-crowned Night Heron

Jewels of South Padre Birding Center 11/1

It felt good to be back birding in RGV.  The boardwalk did not disappoint us as we looked hard for the most secretive birds.  We found Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Least Bittern and Green Heron.

 Marsh Wren

 Common Yellowthroat (female above, male below)

Least Bittern

Green Heron

Sheepshead Was Hopping 11/1

We checked out South Padre as soon as we could but it was slow. That night the temps dropped the wind howled and then it rained.  Two days later, a fallout  happened to our delight. The star of the day was young male Magnolia Warbler. It was so bright I questioned if it was a Magnolia.  But he kept popping out in front of us, so there was no doubt.

 Magnolia Warbler

Who knew he could spread his tail?

The Black-throated Green stayed visible for quite awhile also.

 Black-throated Green

 The Ovenbird surprised us by location in the tree rather on the ground.

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Redstart

 Displaying tails: male above, female below

 Wood Thrush drinking deep in the shadows.

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)

Long-billed Thrasher

 Summer Tanager

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)

Gray Catbird