Gavin Bieber on his just completed tour of South Texas

South Texas was a blast.  The valley specialties like Plain Chachalaca and White-tipped Dove were all present, and many were in full song or seen busily constructing nests. The rarer species like White-collared Seedeater, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Red-billed Pigeon and Aplomado Falcon all cooperated as well.  Each trip to the coast yielded a few more northward bound migrants.  Crippling views of Summer Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo and Painted Bunting and several warblers definitely added to the overall excitement of the tour and offered fantastic photographic opportunities.  Our lengthy study of a foraging Swainson's Warbler on day 1, and the vagrant male Townsend's Warbler at South Padre Island deserve special mention. We tallied an impressive 238 species this year,  and also spent time identifying a host of butterflies, odonates, reptiles and even a few fish!

Plain Chachalaca

White-tipped Dove

White-collared Seedeater

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Rose-breasted Grosbeak