Memories of Bahia Grande - Texas

American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus — One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.

The road from Brownsville to Port Isabel and South Padre Island (TX-48) crosses a low, flat plane called Bahia Grande. I traveled this road many times during my stay in Brownsville. South Padre Island was often the destination I pursued. But Laguna Atascosa was also an attractive alternative.

The water level varies substantially across this plain. Sometimes gulls, terns, waders, and shorebirds are attracted to these shallow waters and muddy shores. Occasionally, I curbed my urge to reach my predetermined destination and took the time to visit with the birds on Bahia Grande. The story in pictures shown below, tells of several of these visits.

Black-Necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus — **Black-Necked Stilt**
*(Himantopus mexicanus)*

**Description:**
I met these nesting Black-Necked Stilts on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2020:05:06 12:17

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Port Isabel, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500

**File Name:** BlackNeckedStilt_D503641-Bahia-Grande-TX

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Pin It — **Black-Necked Stilt**
*(Himantopus mexicanus)*

**Description:**
I met these nesting Black-Necked Stilts on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2020:05:06 12:17

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Port Isabel, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500

**File Name:** BlackNeckedStilt_D503641-Bahia-Grande-TX

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Great Egret - Ardea alba — **Great Egret**
*(Ardea alba)*

**Description:**
I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2020:05:06 11:44

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Port Isabel, Texas
United States
0.00 ft below sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000

**File Name:** GreatEgret_D503565-Bahia-Grande-TX

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Black-Bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola — **Black-Bellied Plover**
*(Pluvialis squatarola)*

**Description:**
Black-Bellied Plovers in basic plumage spend winters in south Texas. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:02:11 8:33

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Brownsville, Texas
United States
19.69 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** BlackBelliedPlover_D5X1591-BahiaGrande

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja — **Roseate Spoonbill**
*(Platalea ajaja)*

**Description:**
Sometimes you get lucky and find spoonbills foraging in the wetlands of Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:02:11 8:53

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Port Isabel, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** RoseateSpoonbill_D5X1620-BahiaGrande

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Willet - Tringa semipalmata — **Willet**
*(Tringa semipalmata)*

**Description:**
I met these Eastern Willets on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, who unlike their Western cousins, will nest in this region. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2020:05:06 11:04

**Location:**

Bahia Grande
Port Isabel, Texas
United States
0.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000

**File Name:** EasternWillet_D503499-Bahia-Grande-TX

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

Tweet

Click map markers to reveal further information

Black-Necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

I met these nesting Black-Necked Stilts on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Black-Bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Black-Bellied Plovers in basic plumage spend winters in south Texas. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.

Black-Bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Sometimes you get lucky and find spoonbills foraging in the wetlands of Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds.

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

Willet

Tringa semipalmata

I met these Eastern Willets on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas, who unlike their Western cousins, will nest in this region. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes.