Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Hispid Cotton Rat
Sigmadon hispidus
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
23 April 2009
A drabber bird, at a further inland location than this rail: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185231
Wilson's Plover
Charadrius wilsonia
male
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 May 2010
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
11 May 2010
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularia
basic (winter) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Basic (winter) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Unless you are a true student of shorebirds, I realize that separating Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers from photos is a challenge at best. This is complicated by the fact that the terms "long-billed" or short-billed" mean very little. In general, female shorebirds have longer bills than males. Thus, a female Short-billed Dowitcher may have a bill that is longer than a male Long-billed Dowitcher. Confused yet? I'm just getting started. There are three races of Short-billed Dowitchers, all of which may turn up in much of the U.S., including Texas. All three races have subtle plumage differences. Generally, at least on the Gulf coast, Short-billed Dowitchers turn up in salt water while Long-billeds prefer fresh water, but this is not a hard and fast rule. The call notes of the two species are different and may be recognized with practice. I will post several records of Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers here for the record, but I understand if folks do not feel they can "agree" with the sighting. All these records were confirmed by vocal and other reliable field characters.
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
breeding (alternate) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 May 2010
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
10 May 2010
spring migrant
Sandwich Tern
Sterna sandvicensis
pair in copulation
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 May 2010
Sanderling
Calidris alba
alternate (breeding) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
10 May 2010
Some Sanderlings remain on the wintering grounds in Texas long enough to acquire full breeding plumage before they migrate north.
two shots posted from same place and time
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
10 May 2010
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
basic (winter) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
pair in copulation
with Sandwich Tern looking on
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 May 2010
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
adult
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Redhead
Aythya americana
female (left) and male (right)
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
2nd shot shows a small flock on the water at this same place and time. This is one of the most common wintering ducks on the lower Texas Gulf coast.
Reddish Egret
Egretta rufescens
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
female - swimming
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Basic (winter) plumage
South Padre Island,
Cameron Co., Texas
12 December 2010
