World-class birding

South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley in particular is well known for the vast number of bird species spotted here. There are well over 600 bird species that make Texas home or at least pass through during migration. The Rio Grande Valley host about 550 of these. Other reptiles such as lizards, snakes and turtles make it their home as well. There are over 200 species of butterflies in the valley and lots of wildflowers. Nature is on full display. This is just an awesome area to explore.

There at least a dozen well known locations to observe wildlife in this area. We didn't go to them all but we did go to a few throughout the month of February. We enjoyed our walks through the birding locations and we met some wonderful people. Birders are very willing to share their expertise in naming bird species and pointing out where to find them. Without their help we wouldn't have seen many species of birds.

I took literally thousands of photographs this month. Even a few 'keepers'! I won't share them all but here are some highlights.....

Arroyo Colorado, Harlingen

Lots of turtles in their ponds

Some of these turtles live in a very 'green' pond.

Thistle-type plant in full bloom.

Lantana. Butterflies love these.

Monarch butterflies are common in this area.

Looks like a Monarch but it's a Queen butterfly

Javelina. They like to hand around the bird feeders looking for dropped seeds.

Feeders are a great place to watch birds. Many areas have blinds set up near them.

Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, Alamo

Not a bird watching platform. Many birding areas are very close to the Mexican border. You see these observation towers frequently. Looking for illegal entry into the US.

Chachalaca. These guys are about the size of a chicken.

A nice walk through the park, but be careful. A couple we talked to the next day saw a poisonous Coral Snake on these trails a few days earlier! 

Cute little lizards.

Lots of these pretty Green Jays.

World Birding Center, South Padre Island

Tidal plains. Lots of birds out there. Too far for the camera lens though.

Nice boardwalks and observation decks.

Mottled duck

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Pigeon

Green Heron

Common Gallinule

Great Blue Heron

Caspian Tern

Little Blue Heron or perhaps a Tri-colored Heron

Teal

Ibis

More of these pretty Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

American Coot

Red-eared Slider turtle

Roseate Spoonbill

Alligator

More of the Roseate Spoonbill

I believe this is a Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Bentsen - Rio Grande State Park

Altimira Oriole

Green Jay on the right, Great Kiskadee on the left.

A pair of Great Kiskadees

Green Jay

Cardinal

Yellow-fronted woodpecker

Altimira Oriole feeding

Orange-crowned Warbler

Bath time!

Female Cardinal on the left shares the feeder with an Oriole

Javelina cleaning up after the birds

Chachalaca

Harris's Hawk

Green Kingfisher

Oliveiro Park, Brownsville

So we were told to stop at Oliveiro Park at sunset to see the Parrots come in to roost. Sure enough as the sun went down the parrots started to come in two by two, then dozens at a time. What a noise! They sat on the wires and in a couple of trees until almost on signal they all took off and re-landed in the Eucalyptus trees in the park. There were dozens of people watching. Some had binoculars, some had spotting scopes, others had multi-thousand dollar telephoto lenses and their cameras. It was quite the spectacle and a new experience for us.

A pair of Red-crowned Parrots.......

........and a bunch of their friends

It was very difficult photography. The light was fading fast. My camera gear is not very high-end for this sort of thing.

I did get a couple of good shots though. A very pretty bird.

Estero Llano State Park, Weslaco

Cute little lizards. They are well camouflaged.

Lots of turtles.

Yellow-crowned Heron

They were very patient and seemd to like getting their picture taken.

Until they got bored and had to stretch!

An Anhinga landing.

Anhinga drying it's wings

Pelicans

Lots of wading birds and ducks.

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Green Winged Teal

Green-winged in rear and Blue-winged Teal in front. Both quite hungry apparently.

Curved-billed Thrasher.....I think.

Not sure what species.....but he was cute!

Can you spot the Common Pauraque?

They are soooo hard to spot. They are very calm and they love to have their picture taken.

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker.

Green Jay

Black-crested Titmouse

Just taking off!

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Grosbeak maybe?

He's kind of shy, but this is a Curved-bill Ani. Part of the Cuckoo family. The size of a crow.

What a month of bird-watching we had. Nice walks, nice folks that we met, and lots of fun catching glimpses of birds we had never seen before. I think I see a new telephoto lens in my future!

.....and that was Our View From Here!