Martin Refuge, Texas

The Rio Grande Valley is well known amongst birders and wildlife photographers as a hot spot for a large variety of bird species, some of which are unique to this area. The Martin Refuge provides a secluded experience to photograph the unique fauna of the Rio Grand Valley in a 300 acre facility of thick brush habitat. [martinrefuge.com; John or Audrey Martin 956-381-1264]

Professionally designed photo blinds, amply accommodating several photographers, offer water features and feeders to help attract birds, mammals, reptiles and ‘critters’ into a closer proximity. Some of the blinds are ‘sunken’ giving the photographer an eye-level view of a subject. One blind is Raptor-specific and is a huge draw for Crested Caracaras and Harris Hawks. Blinds may also be chosen for morning or evening lighting preferences and have a variety of perches. The images chosen were obtained in a shoot during May of 2013.

: 2543 Texas Yellow Jacket (Vespula)

: 2511 Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi),

: 2451 Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

: 2452 Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

: 2450 Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

: 2453 Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

: 2465 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

: 2466 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

: 2525 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

: 2512 Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

: 2513 Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

: 2447 Javelina (Tayassu tajacu)

: 2520 Javelina (Tayassu tajacu)

: 2519 Javelina(Tayassu tajacu)

: 2539 Spotted Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma)

: 2540 Spotted Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma)

: 2462 Spotted Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma)

: 2458 Spotted Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma)

: 2594 Cottontail Rabbit

: 2544 Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

: 2537 Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

: 2420 Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)

: 2449 Female Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

: 2448 Female Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

: 2436 Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Bathing

: 2532 Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

: 2479 Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

: 2437 Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Bathing

: 2483 Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus).

: 2421 Male Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

: 2538 Martin Refuge, TX

: 2530 Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis).

: 2440 Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

: 2536 Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

: 2535 Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

: 2444 Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina)

: 2434 White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

: 2441 White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

: 2526 Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina)

: 2527 Female Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

: 2541 Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

: 2442 Female Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

: 2475 Curved-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

: 2424 Long-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma longirostre)

: 2439 Long-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma longirostre)

: 2531 Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)

: 7113 Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)

: 2533 Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

: 2542 Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

: 2476 Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

: 2474 Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

: 2460 Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

: 2463 Greater Road Runner (Geococcyx californianus)

: 2480 Greater Road Runner (Geococcyx californianus)

: 2477 Greater Road Runner (Geococcyx californianus)

: 2514 Greater Road Runner (Geococcyx californianus)

: 2446 Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

: 2545 Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

: 2529 Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

: 2482 Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

: 2436 Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

: 2419 Great Kiskadee (Pitangus suphuratus)

: 2445 Great Kiskadee (Pitangus suphuratus)

: 2438 Male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

: 2461 Male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

: 2459 Male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

: 2481 Male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

: 2468 Adult Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2425 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2470 Adult Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2429 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2484 Caracaras Preening

: 2534 Adult Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2518 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2517 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2516 Adult Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2515 Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2524 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2523 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2521 Black Vulture and Adult Crested Caracara

: 2466 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2469 Crested Caracaras, Adult and Immature

: 2472 Adult Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2471 Crested Caracaras

: 2473 Immature Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2457 Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2456 Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

: 2431 Crested Caracara and Harris’s Hawk Fighting over Food

: 2467 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2485 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2433 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2432 Immature Harris’s Hawk Feeding

: 2422 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2428 Harris’s Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), Immature (L) – Adult (R)

: 2423 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2426 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2430 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2427 Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

: 2454 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

: 2455 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)