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High Island 2012

The spring migration season on the Texas Gulf Coast was a downer for birders and photographers alike in 2012. A record drought in Texas took water and food sources away from the birds. Entire localized ecosystems were shut down. Consistent and strong prevailing winds from the south in March and April combined with the drought to push the birds right over the coastline and further inland, away from traditional sighting areas. With one exception, these photos were all taken during several days in a blind at Audobon's Boy Scout Woods Sanctuary on High Island, Texas. Many North American bird enthusiasts would be thrilled with such a gallery of opportunities as those contained herein, but the sightings were very light considering past years on the Upper Texas Coast. Most of these photos were shot with fill-flash assist from the on-camera unit of a Canon T3i with the Canon 100-400 IS Zoom.
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  • male Painted Bunting

    male Painted Bunting

  • Barn Swallow at a motel near the sanctuary.

    Barn Swallow at a motel near the sanctuary.

  • Bay-breasted Warbler.

    Bay-breasted Warbler.

  • Ovenbird.

    Ovenbird.

  • Magnolia Warbler.

    Magnolia Warbler.

  • male Cardinal.

    male Cardinal.

  • Red-eyed Vireo.

    Red-eyed Vireo.

  • male Yellow Warbler. The high number of Yellow Warblers that came to the drip over a two day period (I estimated 40) allowed me to look them all over selectively and concentrate on the males with the best markings. Numerous female and first year Yellow Warblers came to the drip but were not photographed.

    male Yellow Warbler. The high number of Yellow Warblers that came to the drip over a two day period (I estimated 40) allowed me to look them all over selectively and concentrate on the males with the best markings. Numerous female and first year Yellow Warblers came to the drip but were not photographed.

  • male Yellow Warbler. This species would come in waves. After hours of seeing nothing at all one afternoon, three Yellow Warblers came in literally at once, and within seconds two more were at the drip. Dozens trickled in later in the day, even past sunset. A wide angle shot captured all 5 in the water at once but was not display quality, due to limited depth of field.

    male Yellow Warbler. This species would come in waves. After hours of seeing nothing at all one afternoon, three Yellow Warblers came in literally at once, and within seconds two more were at the drip. Dozens trickled in later in the day, even past sunset. A wide angle shot captured all 5 in the water at once but was not display quality, due to limited depth of field.

  • male Northern Parula.

    male Northern Parula.

  • adult female Orchard Oriole.

    adult female Orchard Oriole.

  • male first year Summer Orchard Oriole.

    male first year Summer Orchard Oriole.

  • Painted Bunting.

    Painted Bunting.

  • adult female Hooded Warbler.

    adult female Hooded Warbler.

  • Red-eyed Vireo.

    Red-eyed Vireo.

  • dry female Scarlet Tanager.

    dry female Scarlet Tanager.

  • Chestnut-sided Warbler.

    Chestnut-sided Warbler.

  • Wet feathers on a female Scarlet Tanager will show some colors under the first feather layer which are not normally seen.

    Wet feathers on a female Scarlet Tanager will show some colors under the first feather layer which are not normally seen.

  • Scarlet Tanager.

    Scarlet Tanager.

  • Kingbird, taken at Anahuac NWR's East property.

    Kingbird, taken at Anahuac NWR's East property.

  • male Northern Parula.

    male Northern Parula.

  • male Blackpoll Warbler.

    male Blackpoll Warbler.

  • Brown Thrasher.

    Brown Thrasher.

  • male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

    male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

  • female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

    female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

  • male Cardinal bathing.

    male Cardinal bathing.

  • Caption Contest. All "G" rated ideas welcome..

    Caption Contest. All "G" rated ideas welcome..

  • male Painted Bunting

    male Painted Bunting

  • Catbird.

    Catbird.

  • Yellow Warbler, taken at dusk. This flash photo was underexposed to avoid detail blowouts on the warbler, which darkened the water and surroundings even more that the real conditions.

    Yellow Warbler, taken at dusk. This flash photo was underexposed to avoid detail blowouts on the warbler, which darkened the water and surroundings even more that the real conditions.

  • Red-eyed Vireo.

    Red-eyed Vireo.

  • Black and White Warbler.

    Black and White Warbler.

  • Best guess, with Scott Meyer's help, is a female Scarlet Tanager. Thanks, Scott!

    Best guess, with Scott Meyer's help, is a female Scarlet Tanager. Thanks, Scott!

  • Catbird.

    Catbird.

  • adult breeding female Blackpoll Warbler

    adult breeding female Blackpoll Warbler

  • Catbird.

    Catbird.

  • Veery.

    Veery.

  • Veery.

    Veery.

  • Catbird.

    Catbird.

  • male Cardinal at the drip.

    male Cardinal at the drip.

  • adult male Yellow Warbler.

    adult male Yellow Warbler.

  • Lake Houston Area Nature Club has offered this up as a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a regular High Island sighting in spring migrations. A big thank you to my fellow birders!

    Lake Houston Area Nature Club has offered this up as a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a regular High Island sighting in spring migrations. A big thank you to my fellow birders!

  • Magnolia Warbler.

    Magnolia Warbler.

  • Veery.

    Veery.

  • Yellow Warbler.

    Yellow Warbler.

  • Northern Waterthrush.

    Northern Waterthrush.

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    Kingbird, taken at Anahuac NWR's East property.
    male Northern Parula.
    male Blackpoll Warbler.