Texas: Bobcat in South Texas

Bobcats are one of the most common wild cats in South Texas — you just rarely see them.

They’re perfectly adapted to the brush country: thick, tangled habitat that gives them cover to hunt and move without being spotted. In places like the Rio Grande Valley and coastal plains, they’re basically everywhere there’s enough prey and shelter.

Even though they’re widespread, most people only know they’re around from trail cameras, tracks, or the occasional quick flash of movement in the brush.  

This juvenile bobcat was quietly sitting in the brush besides a watering hole.  And when he heard us, as I got excited to snap photos, he disappeared and none of my friends were able to get a photo of him fast enough.  

Texas: Quails mating dance

The male bobwhite turns into this tiny, frantic showman in spring—calling, puffing up, doing these stiff little half-circles around the female like he’s trying to convince her he’s both harmless and impressive at the same time. It’s not graceful.

Texas: Javelinas!

I was walking on a trail out to La Sal Del Ray and spotted a pig-like thing behind the trees.  I went on ChatGPT and described what I thought I saw - and it informed me it was not dangerous, but also not necessarily friendly either.  It advised me to act big and unafraid and it would probably leave me alone.  I was walking alone on the trail at mid-day so me acting big and unafraid looked somewhat ridiculous.  I think I said aloud, "I'm big and un-afraid!" on repeat.  Anyway, these are the javelinas.  

Texas: Rio Grande Valley Red & White stores

The historical Red & White stores in Starr County fit into a long tradition of small-town general groceries that once anchored rural communities across the U.S. These “Red & White” stores weren’t just one single shop, but part of a cooperative brand used by independently owned grocery stores, often combining groceries, hardware basics, and everyday essentials under one roof.

I spotted one - although its no longer open, it was cool to see this local-type landmark in Starr County, Texas. 

Texas: Spoonbills on South Padre Island

South Padre Island is a beach area at the absolute bottom of South Texas, bordering with Mexico.  It had beautiful flat wide beaches with beautiful water and was reasonably priced place to stay.  And newly opened a Margaritaville hotel, which are my favorite.

There's a spot - called Tortuga Flats Bay Access road, where there is a flat area that is great at sunrise for seeing all sorts of wading birds, including the spoonbills shown below.  I love the pink color of the spoonbills and their funny beaks - and have seen them many times in Florida, but I don't think ever this close before. 

Texas: Black-Throated Green Warbler

The Black-throated Green Warbler may be small, but its bright yellow face and bold black throat make it one of the more striking warblers to spot during migration. These energetic songbirds spend their summers in northern forests before traveling thousands of miles south, stopping in places like South Texas along the way. 

Texas: Laguna La Sal Del Rey

Laguna La Sal Del Rey is a remote salt lake in South Texas.   It’s a shallow, otherworldly basin where salt crusts the ground — bright, flat, and stark against the surrounding brush and ranchland. Historically, it was an important Indigenous salt source, later used by Spanish and Mexican settlers who traveled long distances to harvest and trade the salt. Today, it sits inside a protected wildlife area, with a gravel road leading to a trail thats a short-walk to the lake.  

Texas: Woodpeckers in South Texas

Woodpeckers live in South Texas year-round.  Below are two types - golden-fronted woodpecker (yellow head) and red-bellied woodpecker (red head).  

Texas: Scarlet Tanager

The Scarlet Tanager is one of North America's most striking songbirds, with a brilliant red body set off by black wings and tail. During migration, these birds occasionally pass through South Texas, offering a brief flash of color before continuing their journey between eastern forests and their wintering grounds in South America.

Texas: Black Bellied Whistling Duck family

A family of Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a common sight around ponds and wetlands in South Texas. The fuzzy ducklings stay close to their parents as they paddle through the water, while the adults keep a watchful eye nearby. Their bright pink bills and distinctive whistling calls make them easy to recognize among the region’s waterfowl.

Below is a family at the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center, which was a great spot for clean trails and seeing nice birds.  

Texas: Donkeys on a Ranch

In Santa Clara Ranch, there was a donkey called Pele that the ranch manager was able to get to walk to certain places on command.  Donkeys are smart creatures, and this guy was very clean and wanted to make friends. 

Texas: Female painted buntings

The painted bunting is famous for its brightly colored males, but the females are much more understated. Olive-green from head to tail, they spend much of their time tucked into dense shrubs, where their coloration provides excellent camouflage. If you only saw the female, you'd never guess it belongs to one of the most colorful bird species in North America.

Here she is taking a bath and flapping around in South Texas.