![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.larryditto.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Western-Tanager_51U7883.jpg\" "\\"Western")
<\/a>My favorite photo of the day was this tack sharp\u00a0Western Tanager male who flew right at me as I was ripping off a blast of digital captures from my Canon 1D Mark IV.\u00a0 The camera is amazing in its ability to focus quickly and anticipate the advance of birds in flight.\u00a0\u00a0The shot was done\u00a0at 1\/4000 second at ISO 800 with the Canon 500 mm lens, 1.4X teleconverter, Feisol carbon fiber tripod and Wimberley head.<\/p>\n Cerulean Warblers are one of the rarest birds to make a spring visit to South Padre Island.\u00a0 The photo above was a lucky shot at the Convention Center where some of the walls are painted funky colors like pink, yellow and ocean blue.\u00a0 You have to admit, the wild color gives this photo an artistic look.\u00a0 I really like the pose.<\/p>\n It is almost impossible to get an American Redstart to hold still, even for\u00a0a second.\u00a0 When I can get one in the viewfinder, I just lock focus and shoot a blast or 4-5 captures, hoping one will include a good pose.<\/p>\n Painted Buntings\u00a0 seem to be a favorite among the birders and photographers.\u00a0 This one held still for several photos.<\/p>\n * If you want to\u00a0photograph painted buntings,\u00a0call or email me\u00a0soon.\u00a0 They are fairly common in south Texas during the summer.\u00a0 I’ll put you on one or two or three at one of the local photo-ranches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many thanks to all the great volunteers who put out bird seed and oranges to help sustain the thousands of hungry birds during their South Padre Island layover.<\/p>\n By Sunday, the wind had shifted back to the southeast and most of the migrants were on their way again.\u00a0 If we get one more front before May 10, I hope to be back at the island for\u00a0the final fallout of the season.<\/p>\n Let me know if you enjoyed this\u00a0little trip\u00a0the island.\u00a0 It was incredible!<\/p>\n Larry<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two good cold fronts have hit South Padre Island in April; the first had little affect on the numbers of spring migrant birds stopping to refuel and rest until the wind returned to the south.\u00a0 Then, a blast of cold air hit us last Thursday just as peak numbers of birds were crossing the gulf … Continue reading Padre Island Fallout<\/span> <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>