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.