Photo Gallery
South Padre Island (3 MAY11)
Female Red-breasted Merganser
Clapper Rail family
The ubiquitous larid flock includes Common, Black, Royal, and Sandwich Terns, plus Laughing and Franklin's Gulls, as well as Black Skimmers!
Breeding-plumaged Black Tern
After scrutinizing the literature, we came to the conclusion that this was an Acadian Flycatcher based on the head shape, primary projection, and relatively bright green coloration.
Least Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
More Phillies (above and below--it was my best-ever look, so I got a little carried away...)
This fluffy individual was at the Sheepshead Lots!
Red-eyed Vireos being cute
Red-eyed Vireo being normal
Gray Catbird
Female Tennessee Warbler (above and below)
She had a major claim over this orange!
Chestnut-sided Warbler
This guy almost hopped up on my foot!
(See what I mean??)
Magnolia Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart male (above and below)
Female American Redstart
This may actually be a young male based on the black on the face.
Northern Waterthrush (above and below)
There was much debate over the ID of this bird, as the "jizz" felt more like Northern Waterthrush to me, but the unstreaked throat made us consider Louisiana. My initial gut reaction turned out to be correct, as Mary Gustafson confirmed that 1) Northerns can sometimes have unstreaked throats, and 2) Louisianas should have passed through by now!
Common Yellowthroat
Female Painted Bunting (taking a breather below)
Indigo Buntings (female left, pair right)
"The Mad Bunting"
Lark Sparrow
Hordes of Baltimore Orioles came through! Females...
Male
Oriole lineup at the end of Atol Road!
Most of them are Baltimores (L-R: male, immature female, adult female)
A few are Orchard Orioles
...but the star of the show was the vagrant Black-vented Oriole (flying up at right)!
Some discussion was made as to whether this was the same bird that spent several months at Bentsen State Park!
Orchard Oriole
A baby Great-tailed Grackle hides where the migrants hang out!