BIRDING THE ISLAND:
The wonderful
birding opportunities that you will experience on South
Padre will bring you many good memories for years to come.
We have several key areas to bird and each area is unique.
The first area is just as you arrive on the island . As
you cross the causeway there is a mangrove tidal flat
just to your right . Here you can observe the belted kingfisher,
oyster catcher, egrets, herons, plovers and terns. The
next stop is the convention center , north on the island
where you will find the warbler rest stop and the nature
birding trail. This area will bring you different birds
depending on the time of year. This web page will keep
you informed on what is being seen where and when on the
island.
THE CONVENTION CENTER:
As you
arrive at the convention center , view the warbler rest
stop gardens as there is always something to see in these
areas, especially during spring and fall migration. The
water tower may have a peregerine or osprey on it . As
you approach the nature trail you can go two different
areas on the walk itself. The freshwater pond will allow
you to view the pied bill grebe , moorhen, least bittern,
nightcrown herons, soras, etc. and the bay stretch will
provide you with shore birds and a clapper rail watch
that is unrivaled.
RAIL WATCH:
The
nature birding trail at the convention center can provide
you hours of clapper rail watching. The first signage
area on the side that takes you out on the bay is the
where you can see the clappers and also on the shoreline
as well. If you have any trouble finding them just give
us a call and we will be sure you won't leave with out
one or more of these wonderful rails.
WOODED LOTS:
During migration the wooded lots
on the island offer a variety of migrants. If you are
planning a trip to the island during migration give us
a call for the list of possibles. We have had the black-throated
blue, cape-may , mourning .and so many more and the we
get some rare visitors as wel such as this year the green
violet-ear hummingbird.
THE BEACH & JETTIES: To
get to the jetties you go south on the island to Isla
Blanca Park . Once in the park you can access the jetties
and beach and always be on the lookout for the pelagics.
More than once we have seen the Masked Booby at the jetties
and magnificent frigate birds.
SHORE BIRDS ON THE BAY: We
have a three hour boat trip on the bay for upclose shore
birds and are always happy to get that special bird or
close up look at the bird or birds you may need or want
to see. Come and witness the wonderful virtual bird sanctuary
by water. And you can bring your scope on the boat!
SPECIAL BIRDING NEEDS: For
any of your birding needs while on S. Padre Is. we are
here to provide any information we can to help make your
stay a great birding experience. Call us anytime at
Colley's Fins to Feathers
George and Scarlet Colley
PO Box 2611
S. Padre Island, TX 78597
Cell Phone: (956) 299-0629
Email: fin2feather@aol.com
or
email us at info@fin2feather.com.
