Winter Texan roundup

Well, that's it folks. This is the last post about my trip to the Lower Rio Grand Valley of Texas back at the end of February/early March 2015. I want to write about the places visited and the birds seen during my 8 days in the valley. There are so many places to bird down there, that you could be busy for a week visiting different locations. That's why you need to make the most out of your trip, and try to get as many lifers as you can.

• Day Two -- Bensten State Park, Estero Llano Grande SP, county Rd 2221
  
  In the morning, we awoke to be at the levee for the 8:12am showing of the rare Hook-Billed Kite, then we visited the feeding stations.  After we picked up #T4P member at the airport, we went to Estero Llano for some day birding and sun. It was the nicest weather day. Afterwards, we finished off the day with a slow drive up county rd. 2221 for some dry habitat brush birding
                                                                                                                                                               
  

  

  Black Phoebe

  
  Can you name the 4 different species in the picture below?  
  
  
  

  

  4 species ????

  

  Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

  

  #T4P

  

  Alligator

  The four birds are Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egret, White-faced Ibis and a small Blue-winged Teal. Back left of spoonbill. Photo taken at Estero Llano SP.
  
  

  

  Black-chinned Hummingbird

  

  Pyrrhuloxia

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  2 Pyrrhuloxia's

  
  Pyrrhuloxia is a tough-as-nails songbird of baking hot deserts in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. They’re closely related to Northern Cardinals, but they are a crisp gray and red, with a longer, elegant crest and a stubby, parrotlike yellow bill.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Day Three -- Estero Llano Grande SP, Resaca De La Palma SP, South Padre Island Convention Center, Laguna Atascosa NWR 
   

 The first full day of #T4P together, was an early morning awakening to get to Estero Llano early for the Gray-Crowned Yellowthroat, which would sing early and pop up for great views. Check, we saw him!! After that, on the way to South Padre, we made a stop at Resaca De La Palma for #T4P life bird Tropical Parula, check we saw him!!! Then we made it across the causeway over to South Padre for lunch and birding at the Convention Center. This place is a must visit for any birder in south Texas. Plus, you get a little coastal/beach time. To bad the water is still ice cold.

Black-thoated Gray warbler, female

Fulvous Whistling Duck, right

Long-billed Curlew

Clapper Rail

Reddish Egret

Cheryl, Brad and Don

SPI Convention Center, view from boardwalk

 

Black Skimmers

• Day Four -- Anzalduas SP, Hildago Pump house, Progresso grain fields 

After a very long day three, the next morning we tried for Hook-billed Kite again, no luck.  We drove through Anzalduas park, where Mexico is 50 yards across the Rio Grande River. Nothing much but a beautiful flycatcher & hawk. Then we stopped by Hildago Pump house for Lesser Goldfinch. Finally we went back towards the boarder crossing at Progresso to try for some blackbirds.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Bronzed Cowbird

RWBB & YHBB

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Gray Hawk

And with that, the trip was complete. There where some other days where we birded just to get some First of Year(FOYs) birds. Many that could be seen in Ohio, but not until later in the spring.






Next up:  Honoring Red & Louise Gambill's birding impact on the LRGV