I generally do not spend a lot of time watching feeders when I am in serious birding mode. For some reason I do not get the same charge out of spotting an unusual bird when I am just sitting and waiting as I do when I am out and working hard to find the birds that are really wild. Somehow it just shouldn’t be as easy as watching a few feeders.

One of the exceptions, however, is my annual trip to Pat and Gail Dewind’s little piece of birding heaven at their winter home in southern Texas. These winter Texans spend much of the year at their Michigan home. Every November, however, they arrive at the same small trailer park about a mile south of Falcon Lake, and just 150 yards or so from the Rio Grande River and Mexico. Once they arrive they quickly set up the feeders for the birds and the lawn chairs for the visiting birders. And both groups quickly start arriving.

Birders from all over the country, and even the world, come to visit the Dewinds.
The couple with the long camera lens was from Germany.

The feeder station view.

If you zoom in using the 600 mm telephoto lens (lower left, above image), this is what you'll see.

The large Altamira Oriole is a common feeder visitor and can often be heard singing, even in February.

The Great Kiskadee is very common and its loud call repeats its name.

White-winged Doves come and go in droves.

Green Jays make their presence known with their loud, raucous calls.

More images this way...