2024-04-22 Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary

Kentucky Warbler - Geothlypis formosa — *Kentucky Warblers seem to love ground-level foraging. I found these during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout.*

Monday, the birding gods blessed us with a *significant* fallout. Most of us here have seen a *MAJOR* fallout, where birds carpeted the lawns and filled the trees. Monday’s event was not as spectacular, but it was more than sufficient to put smiles on every face attending the island.

I ended the day with over 3300 pictures taken, though this count included the birds at the SPI Convention Centre. I started out by spending the entire morning at Sheepshead, a humble reserve three miles south of the Convention Center and the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center (SPI-BNC). Every morning during this visit to the island, I would swing by Sheepshead after breakfast at Josephine’s, taking its pulse. But this day was special. Even before I parked, it was obvious things were hopping. The 50 (at least) Baltimore Orioles bouncing through the trees and hanging on the oranges placed throughout the property were sufficient evidence. Tennessee Warblers were even more numerous.

I left Sheepshead happy to have met Baltimore Orioles, Black-and-White Warblers, Black-Throated Green Warblers, Great-Tailed Grackles, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Inca Doves, Kentucky Warblers, Least Flycatchers, Nashville Warblers, Northern Parulas, Orchard Orioles, Red-Eyed Vireos, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, Tennessee Warblers, a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, and Yellow Warblers.

Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula — **Baltimore Oriole**
*(Icterus galbula)*

**Description:**
Baltimore Oriole populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species, except perhaps Tennessee Warblers.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:29

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400

**File Name:** BaltimoreOrioleF_Z9X0506_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **Baltimore Oriole**
*(Icterus galbula)*

**Description:**
Baltimore Oriole populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species, except perhaps Tennessee Warblers.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:29

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400

**File Name:** BaltimoreOrioleF_Z9X0506_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-and-White Warbler - Mniotilta varia — **Black-and-White Warbler**
*(Mniotilta varia)*

**Description:**
On all my past visits to South Padre Island, Black-and-White Warblers were the easiest warblers of all to find. Not true for this 2024 spring visit.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:26

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250

**File Name:** BlackWhiteWarbler_Z9X0476_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-Throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens — **Black-Throated Green Warbler**
*(Setophaga virens)*

**Description:**
I enjoyed spending time with Black-Throated Green Warblers almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 9:58

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200

**File Name:** BlackThroatedGreenWarbler_Z9X0175_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great-Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus — **Great-Tailed Grackle**
*(Quiscalus mexicanus)*

**Description:**
This Great-Tailed Grackle had murder in mind for this Baltimore Oriole, and attacked it mercilessly for several minutes. Both birds flew away from the battle, but the oriole took a lot of punishment.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 9:22

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400

**File Name:** Grackle-vs-Oriole_Z9X0015_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great-Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus — **Great-Crested Flycatcher**
*(Myiarchus crinitus)*

**Description:**
Some folks here at Sheepshead on SPI called this bird an Ash-Throated Flycatcher. I saw too much yellow on its belly and too much gray on its throat for that ID to hold up for me. So I called it a Great-Crested Flycatcher. I never heard its call.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:31

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250

**File Name:** GreatCrestedFlycatcher_Z9X0550_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Inca Dove - Columbina inca — **Inca Dove**
*(Columbina inca)*

**Description:**
I met Inca Doves almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:48

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250

**File Name:** IncaDove_Z9X0915_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus — **Least Flycatcher**
*(Empidonax minimus)*

**Description:**
There weren’t very many flycatchers on scene during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout, but Least Flycatchers were among the birds that dropped in.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 11:51

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400

**File Name:** LeastFlycatcher_Z9X1341_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Nashville Warbler - Leiothlypis ruficapilla — **Nashville Warbler**
*(Leiothlypis ruficapilla)*

**Description:**
Nashville Warblers were a pleasant surprise for me to meet in Texas. I usually think of them as a west-coast bird, where I’m from.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:15

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** NashvilleWarbler_Z9X0247_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Northern Parula - Setophaga americana — **Northern Parula**
*(Setophaga americana)*

**Description:**
Northern Parulas sometimes spend winters in south Texas, but this one was most likely on his way further north.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 9:19

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640

**File Name:** NorthernParula_Z9X9897_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius — **Orchard Oriole**
*(Icterus spurius)*

**Description:**
Among the warblers and orioles passing through on their way north, were these Orchard Orioles.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 11:01

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500

**File Name:** OrchardOriole_Z9X1058_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Red-Eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus — **Red-Eyed Vireo**
*(Vireo olivaceus)*

**Description:**
We had been seeing Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos for days on South Padre Island. Today, it was the Red-Eyed Vireo we enjoyed meeting.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:40

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250

**File Name:** RedEyedVireo_Z9X0847_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus — **Rose-Breasted Grosbeak**
*(Pheucticus ludovicianus)*

**Description:**
Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks were among the migrating hoards passing through South Padre Island during my Spring-2024 visit.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 9:15

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** RoseBreastedGrosbeak_Z9X9876_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra — **Summer Tanager**
*(Piranga rubra)*

**Description:**
Summer Tanagers can show quite a variety of plumages, sometimes making for a challenging identification.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 11:40

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320

**File Name:** SummerTanager_Z9X1116_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Tennessee Warbler - Leiothlypis peregrina — **Tennessee Warbler**
*(Leiothlypis peregrina)*

**Description:**
Tennessee Warblers populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:10

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600

**File Name:** TennesseeWarbler_Z9X0234_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Yellow-Billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus — **Yellow-Billed Cuckoo**
*(Coccyzus americanus)*

**Description:**
Yellow-Billed Cuckoos are shy, retiring birds who don’t always show themselves to us easily.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 10:42

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** YellowBilledCuckoo_Z9X0872_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia — **Yellow Warbler**
*(Setophaga petechia)*

**Description:**
Yellow Warblers were among the migrating hoards passing through South Padre Island during my Spring-2024 visit.
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**Date Taken:** 2024:04:22 9:11

**Location:**

Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary
South Padre Island, Texas
United States
9.84 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** YellowWarbler_Z9X9728_SPI-Sheepshead

© 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Baltimore Oriole populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species, except perhaps Tennessee Warblers.

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Baltimore Oriole populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species, except perhaps Tennessee Warblers.

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Baltimore Oriole populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species, except perhaps Tennessee Warblers.

Black-and-White Warbler

Mniotilta varia

On all my past visits to South Padre Island, Black-and-White Warblers were the easiest warblers of all to find. Not true for this 2024 spring visit.

Black-and-White Warbler

Mniotilta varia

On all my past visits to South Padre Island, Black-and-White Warblers were the easiest warblers of all to find. Not true for this 2024 spring visit.

Black-Throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

I enjoyed spending time with Black-Throated Green Warblers almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.

Black-Throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

I enjoyed spending time with Black-Throated Green Warblers almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.

Great-Tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

This Great-Tailed Grackle had murder in mind for this Baltimore Oriole, and attacked it mercilessly for several minutes. Both birds flew away from the battle, but the oriole took a lot of punishment.

Great-Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Some folks here at Sheepshead on SPI called this bird an Ash-Throated Flycatcher. I saw too much yellow on its belly and too much gray on its throat for that ID to hold up for me. So I called it a Great-Crested Flycatcher. I never heard its call.

Great-Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

I met Inca Doves almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

I met Inca Doves almost every one of the eleven of the spring days I spent on SPI in 2024.

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Kentucky Warblers seem to love ground-level foraging. I found these during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout.

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Kentucky Warblers seem to love ground-level foraging. I found these during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout.

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Kentucky Warblers seem to love ground-level foraging. I found these during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout.

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

There weren’t very many flycatchers on scene during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout, but Least Flycatchers were among the birds that dropped in.

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

There weren’t very many flycatchers on scene during Monday’s 2024 spring fallout, but Least Flycatchers were among the birds that dropped in.

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Nashville Warblers were a pleasant surprise for me to meet in Texas. I usually think of them as a west-coast bird, where I’m from.

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Nashville Warblers were a pleasant surprise for me to meet in Texas. I usually think of them as a west-coast bird, where I’m from.

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Northern Parulas sometimes spend winters in south Texas, but this one was most likely on his way further north.

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

Among the warblers and orioles passing through on their way north, were these Orchard Orioles.

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

Among the warblers and orioles passing through on their way north, were these Orchard Orioles.

Red-Eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus

We had been seeing Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos for days on South Padre Island. Today, it was the Red-Eyed Vireo we enjoyed meeting.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks were among the migrating hoards passing through South Padre Island during my Spring-2024 visit.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

Summer Tanagers can show quite a variety of plumages, sometimes making for a challenging identification.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

Summer Tanagers can show quite a variety of plumages, sometimes making for a challenging identification.

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Tennessee Warblers populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species.

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Tennessee Warblers populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species.

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Yellow-Billed Cuckoos are shy, retiring birds who don’t always show themselves to us easily.

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Yellow Warblers were among the migrating hoards passing through South Padre Island during my Spring-2024 visit.

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