Sheepshead South Padre Island, 4/19/26

As a birder I always have an eye on the weather forecast.  And for the past several days a late cold front with rain has been forecast to hit the Lower Rio Grande Valley on Saturday night during the height of spring migration.  I got up Sunday morning and it was cold and rainy and I was expecting a major bird fallout at South Padre Island.  

As I drove out to SPI not much was happening.  No migrants along the roadside.  And the only report on Whatsapp was the refinding of yesterday's Prairie Warbler at Sheepshead.  A stop at the ecotourism center in Laguna Vista yielded absolutely nothing except some fly over Franklin's Gulls.  A brief stop at the base of the cuaseway on SPI was also surprisingly quiet.  But other birders were thinking the same as I because 15-20 car were parked along the muddy streetside at the Valley Land Fund's Sheephead habitat lot.  I wedged my jeep into a vacant slot and headed to the south side.  Not much happening except this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on an orange.

Most of the birders were on the north side and I soon saw the friendly faces of Tammy and Lizzy.  They were all agrin and pointed out the Prairie Warbler over our heads.  It dropped down for a decent shot.  With the dark wet conditions, photography was a challenge.  I bumped the ISO up to 1600 and even 3200 sometimes.

And then there was David Sarkozi who I have known for close to thirty years.  The "father of Texbirds" was leading a prefestival tour for the Corpus Cristi birding festival.  We discussed the waterthrush at the water feature and concurred it was a Northern Waterthrush.

My first Swainson's Thrush for 2026.

Several Eastern Wood-Pewees.  For some reason the eBird filter limit was only two.  Doesn't seem early to me.  Look at that long primary projection.

Back on the south side of the street, birders were happy to see this Yellow-throated Vireo.

There were at least three Summer Tanagers.

The rain picked up and I jumped back in the jeep for some lunch.  I was oriented so I could have an open window without rain entering.  A couple of wet Black-throated Green Warblers popped in.

I had to put down my sandwich and hop outside when I glimpsed a Blue-winged Warbler.  It seemed birds were landing with this latest shower.  I coudn't get a shot of the Blue-wing but dug out this Kentucky Warbler.

And here's the newly split Eastern Warbling Vireo.  I guess we just assume this is Eastern because of our location.  They pretty much look the same.  I guess the songs are supposed to be different.  I have seen what I guess is Western on its breeding gounds in the Davis Mountains.  This split will be a thorn in the sides of records committes across the country.

Rain increased so I left and headed up to the Convention Center.  Little did I know what would be in store.  Stay tuned!

South Padre Is.--Valley Land Fund lots (LTC 036), Cameron, Texas, US

Apr 19, 2026 10:56 AM - 11:55 AM

Protocol: Traveling

0.112 mile(s)

26 species

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1

Eastern Wood-Pewee  3

Acadian Flycatcher  1

White-eyed Vireo  1

Yellow-throated Vireo  1

Blue-headed Vireo  1

Eastern Warbling Vireo  1

Red-eyed Vireo  1

Gray Catbird  1

Swainson's Thrush  3

Baltimore Oriole  3

Red-winged Blackbird  15

Great-tailed Grackle  10

Northern Waterthrush  1

Blue-winged Warbler  1

Black-and-white Warbler  3

Tennessee Warbler  1

Kentucky Warbler  1

Common Yellowthroat  1

Hooded Warbler  3

Prairie Warbler  1

Black-throated Green Warbler  2

Summer Tanager  3

Indigo Bunting  3