Charged by a 'runner...TEXAS (11 April)

Well after a morning with the cardinals on the Tacubaya Ranch in the blind we were looking for some other action and so just for a laugh tried putting on a brief burst of tape of Greater Roadrunner, to which one of these very odd cuckoos answered in less than half a second and then appeared to charge at our blind, which was a little bit of a shock, but not so much so that I did not raise my camera and capture the awesome bird as it was puffed up in full territorial mode! They are a personal favorite of mine and I was so glad to see one again. There can be fewer American birds with such character!

More from the ranch to come...

Out on the Ranch...TEXAS (11 April)

Birding our way back from South Padre Island in south Texas to High Island on the Upper Texas Coast we opted to check in at a "photography ranch" in cowboy country (Tacubaya Ranch), where special blinds have been set up for keen photographers like us. Our most faithful subjects that morning were the ever-present Northern Cardinal, an under appreciated North American gem that is often undervalued due to its abundance in the east, and its cousin the impossible to spell, Pyrrhuloxia that made for nice comparisons of these relatives.

There was plenty more to come though, from down on the ranch...

More white than red...TEXAS (10 April)

Well after a thoroughly enjoyable weekend at South Padre we had to head north once again for an extended journey back to High Island on the Upper Texas Coast. However, there was time for an early morning walk around the fantastic boardwalk where I was captivated by this white morph Reddish Egret (identifiable from the similar-sized Great Egret by its prominent pink bill base for one thing), that did the whole, classic Reddish Egret thing of "dancing" in the bay to target any hapless fish in its presence. A comical bird if ever there was one. A great end to the weekend that saw me realize wholeheartedly why South Padre is one of THE classic south Texas birding sites. Even though it was quiet for trans-Gulf migrants (courtesy of the strong southerly winds) the waterbirds around the boardwalk were just enthralling, and incredibly tame (that is supposedly normal for this venue) making this place a really fun site to visit with my Canon in toe..

Next up we headed north to the middle of nowhere in Encino Texas to check out a ranch for bird photography..posts to follow soon.

"Mexican" Fish Hawks..TEXAS (9 April)

The finale to another fantastic time at South Padre was watching two Ospreys (or Fish Hawks) lingering in mid-air overhead hanging invitingly in the wind making for yet another incredible photo opportunity. I especially liked one of the photos where he is looking right down at me shooting him above. He definitely gave me the impression that I know what it must feel like to be a fish in its sights! The Ospreys of Loch Garten, which is a famous Scottish spot to go and find them, will never seem quite the same again. I have seen this bird on five continents but it is hard to envisage seeing them any better than I saw them today. Another phenomenal viewing at the Tip 'O Texas Birding Weekend here in South Padre, that has been very enjoyable to be part of....The day ended with a male Yellow-headed Blackbird teasing me to photograph him while perched invitingly on the fence behind the South Padre Birding Center, only for me to realize as I lurched to run and get my camera, that I had left it back at the house. Hope it's there tomorrow!

One more morning of this to go, before we head to a working ranch somewhere to dodge cattle and cowboys, and photograph more stunning south Texas birds.

Non-warblers on the Warbler Walk! TEXAS (9 April)

Our attempts today to lead a "Warbler Walk" at South Padre with Michael Retter were thwarted somewhat by the distinct lack of many warblers, although a nice camera-shy male Blackpoll Warbler was a new arrival (and my first this year) that was hanging around with the continuing Northern Parulas around the convention center. Luckily though South Padre is never dull and we tucked into the waterbirds instead, which as ever there were incredibly confiding: Sora showed off in one area, Mottled Duck nonchalantly sat around in another, and American Golden Plover walked by a loafing Black-bellied (Grey) Plover to give nice side-by-side comparisons of these similar shorebirds. All in all a bad day at South Padre was a damn fine day anyway, and I am not finished yet.

Heading out on the boardwalk now for more late afternoon action...

Bittern by the South Padre Bug...TEXAS (8 April)

Today I learnt firsthand the joys of birding South Padre, tame birds is an understatement. This fantastic Least Bittern obviously thought I was just not there as it crept around within 2 feet of me on the boardwalk, gasping and shooting down at it. And its not just bitterns, Reddish Egrets, shorebirds and warblers seem to behave in atypical fashion at South Padre abandoning normal protocol and making for amazing photo opportunities.

Looking forward to more of this tomorrow!

Welcome to South Padre!...TEXAS (7 April)

South Padre has been well-established on the south Texas birding circuit for many years. Today I got to find out why...and this was a quiet day! Movements in the bottle brush brought us up close and personal with a spanking male Northern Parula flitting around between two Tennessee Warblers at just a few feet away. A fantastic intro that has left me full of anticipation for a wonderful weekend "birding the border". Also there was a showy Orchard Oriole that tried to outperform the warblers on show almost constantly.