Birds are a big thing now a days. Join the crowds and bird watch with us.
We saw a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) sitting in a thorny Lotebush in Saleneno Wildlife Preserve. The bright red male stood out against the green leaves, making a great background for this photo. A raised crest and black face mask give birders an easy identifier for this bird. Northern Cardinals live year-round in North America…
We loved watching this Altamira Oriole at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Texas. The male showed bright orange plumage with a black throat and mask. It fed on a cut citrus fruit, which matches its diet of fruit, nectar, and insects. Altamira Orioles are common in the Rio Grande Valley during spring and summer. They often use feeders,…
There’s something almost magical about the first time you see a hummingbird up close. One second the air is still, and the next—a flash of iridescent color hovers effortlessly in front of you, wings beating faster than the eye can follow. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, but they deliver some of the…
A Common Pauraque sat quietly on the ground at Estero Llano Grande, Texas as we made our way through the trails. It blended so well with the leaf litter that we almost walked right past it. This is one of those birds that depends completely on staying still and trusting its camouflage. However, what made…
The Long-billed Thrasher we saw at Laguna Atascosa, stands out with its curved bill, bright orange eye, and bold spotted underparts. This species favors dense thornscrub, where it forages on the ground for insects and berries using its long bill. Its varied song often carries across South Texas brushlands, making it easier to detect than…
The Green Jay is one of the most iconic birds of the Rio Grande Valley. It is instantly recognized by its bold colors. This species shows a bright green back, yellow underparts, and a striking blue and black facial pattern. It thrives in thornscrub habitat, especially in protected areas like Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge….
The Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is a small passerine commonly found in open areas of southern Texas. We found this wonderful male in Los Fresnos in the pastureland. This species prefers pastureland, fence lines, and scattered shrubs where it can perch and scan for insects. Males are bright red with dark brown wings and tail,…
The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a coastal wading bird found along the coast. The bird ranges from Florida along the Gulf Coast, Caribbean, and parts of Central and northern South America. It feeds in shallow saltwater flats, using fast, erratic movements to chase small fish. The white morph is less common than the dark…
The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) glides through shallow water at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Its long pink legs and sharp bill create a striking coastal silhouette. This species prefers calm wetlands, where it feeds on small aquatic insects. The reflective water often doubles its elegant form, creating stunning viewing moments. Birders visiting…
A White Ibis moves across the tidal flats of South Padre Island’s Birding and Nature Center in the morning light. Its long, curved red bill probes through shallow water, expertly locating hidden crustaceans beneath the surface. The blue eye stands out against its white plumage, a striking feature at close range. Morning feeding is common,…
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