South Padre Island!
Last week I participated in the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival based out of Harlingen, TX. Birding down here can always be fun, especially for newer birders. There were about 400 participants in total with many new faces. Nikon Sport Optics was the lead sponsor this year at the festival. Nikon realizes the importance of key festivals such as this for education and getting birders to come together.
I had the privilege of co-leading two field trips during the week. One of them was out to South Padre Island for the day. The convention center on the island usually is a very popular spot due to the vegetation that exists (attracting migrants). The boardwalk is being developed and what was once going to be completely mowed over will now host a beautiful marsh that is a key stopover point for migratory and wintering birds.
Mike Bergin of 10,000 birds blog shared some special insight into the birds of RGV. Check it out!
Brown Pelicans (shown above) are residents in the area and can be seen side to side with American White Pelicans during the winter time. Quite a sight for these robust creatures!
You may have read my posts about terns before, but I have learned that constant viewing of medium-sized terns is the only way you will get used to them. Above we have a winter adult Forster's Tern. Notice the dark patch behind the ear. This is the only medium-sized tern in Texas this time of year with this attribute. It can be common on the coast! Common Terns usually do not winter on South Padre Island—but should you see one, look for the darker carpal bar on the wrist of the wing, plumper body, and extensive black in the primaries.
Probably one of the more common terns to expect on the lower Texas coast in the winter is the Sandwich Tern. Larger and more robust than the Forster's, Sandwich Terns are most likely to be confused with Royal Terns this time of year down here. Royals have a thicker, bright orange bill and are definitely bigger. The Sandwich Tern pictured above shows lots of black in the wing tip, flat forehead, and a long, thin black bill. Sometimes you may even get a look at the yellow tip of the bill.
Terns are always fun to watch—they have as much personality as (or more than!) any other birds. The Gulf Coast of Texas in the winter is a great spot to be. Make sure to pay special attention to the conservation needs to this area. If you would like to play a role in protecting these special beaches, please visit the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory web site.
All photos were taken by Mike Freiberg with Nikon Equipment on South Padre Island!
1 comments:
Sweet photos.I know you know that the conventions center is so good because of a small number of birders from the Valley seeing a need and filling it with habitat. Thanks to those fine people are in order. It has enriched many a birding trip to the island.
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