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: Road Runner!!

The Greater Roadrunner is a common ground-dwelling bird in South Texas brush and desert-edge habitats. It is a member of the cuckoo family and is well adapted to running rather than flying.

Roadrunners are fast, can run short bursts up to roughly 15–20 mph, and they use this speed to hunt insects, lizards, small snakes, and rodents. They are typically solitary or seen in pairs, and they maintain territories year-round. 

Despite their reputation in popular culture, they do not routinely chase prey in extended pursuits; instead they rely on short, efficient runs and quick strikes.

Texas: Painted Bunting

The Painted Bunting in South Texas is a very exciting bird to see.  They’re somewhat common in parts of coastal and southern Texas during breeding season, but they’re not always easy to spot because they tend to stay tucked inside dense shrubs. You’ll usually hear them before you see them—short, musical phrases from deep cover—and then suddenly realize there’s a neon bird sitting quietly in the foliage. They don’t act flashy in behavior, just in color.  This was the best view I had of one when visiting South Texas.

Texas: Tortoise in South Texas

In South Texas brush country, the Texas tortoise is one of those animals you almost walk past before realizing it’s there—slow, domed, and completely unbothered by the pace of everything else. They spend most of their time tucked away or moving between patches of shade, eating grasses and whatever green they can find after rain.