Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Lower Rio Grande Birding

I had the pleasure to travel to McAllen, Texas to join Bill Schmoker who led a photo trip organized by the Partnership for International Birding Tour Company. I certainly accomplished my goal of enjoying the excellent birding opportunities offered along the Rio Grande Valley and practicing and learning photo and digiscoping. We documented 174 species during the week and did so at a leisurely pace that suited our shutter speed perfectly. Bill Schmoker was able to expertly construct and implement an agenda to accommodate our needs. Check out some of these shots.. most were shot from my Leica D-Lux 4 camera on a Swarovski HD spotting scope.

Our group of 5.... Nancy, Wendy, Bob, Bill and me


Below is an overlook ofthe Laguna Atascosa Natinal Wildlife Preserve.Near the shore is a digiscoped Great Blue Heron


Above is a shot looking out onto open space on South Padre Island. To the right of the tree is a digiscoped White Tailed Kite.


Right a Least Bittern






Above a Golden Fronted Woodpecker

Left a Great Kiskadee











Altamira Oriole


Green Jay
















Black Chinned Hummingbird






Black -bellied Whistling Ducks

Black Necked Stilt

My favorites a Tri Colored Heron and a Green Heron













Black Skimmers and Laughing Gulls








Couch's Kingbird


More on a future post!