March 2009

March 5 I was free to take off for South Padre Island, where a Black-Headed Siskin had been sighted. Many people were looking for it, and I spent most of my time waiting for it, but we never did re-locate it. Instead, we saw: Gadwall, Mottled Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret,Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk 1, Sora 1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo 1, Marsh Wren, Gray Catbird 1, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing 3, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

March 6 Estero We had FORTY-NINE show up for the walk (51 showed up on our last walk Wednesday when I was out of the office!) but unfortunately the Rose-Throated Becard and the Blue Bunting were no-shows. I was also SO HAPPY to see fellow Buckeye Tom Bartlett from Tiffin Ohio on the tour! He does the Big Sit atop a ladder at Crane Creek, and was on the Birds Record Committee. The list for the day, for Lakeview only, except for the FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS that settled into the lagoon right by the deck at closing time!!!

BlackThroated MagpieJay, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 25, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Inca Dove, White-tipped Dove, Barn Owl 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe 1, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Green Jay, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher 1, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula 1, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

The Butterfly Walk (my thirteenth at Estero) incorporated Dragonflies into the mix, as Jennifer requested. We are, after all, hosting Dragonfly Days. We have a tough time having enough time to see all the butterflies! Nevertheless: Pipevine and Giant Swallowtails, Great Southern White, ORANGE SULPHUR, Southern Dogface, WHITE ANGLED-SULPHUR, Cloudless, Large Orange, and Lyside Sulphurs, Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak, Dusky Blue-Groundstreak, Reakirt's Blue, American Snout, Malachite, BAND-CELLED SISTER, Mexican Bluewing, Tropical Leafwing, Hermes Satyr, Queen, Long-Tailed Skipper, Dorantes and Brown Longtails, TWO-BARRED FLASHER, Brown-Banded Skipper, Mournful Duskywing, White and Tropical Checkered-Skippers, Fiery and Eufala Skippers. Dragonflies were a bit remote since I haven't really had time to explore them since I left Bentsen three months ago: Familiar Bluet, Rambur's Forktail, Common Green Darner, Band-Winged Dragonlet, Spot-Tailed and Thornbush Dashers, Roseate Skimmers (many!), Wandering Glider and Red Saddlebags.

March 7 Add eight elementary school students in our Kids Nature Club and the fact we were going to Bentsen State Park. A beautiful day, except that we kept the kids away from rarity alley so we wouldn't disturb the birders. They loved the Javelina and the Leafcutter Ants, the Tram, the Hawktower, the Green Jay Bird Blind and the Brasil Tree: Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret , Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Ringed Kingfisher 3, Belted Kingfisher 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler , Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow. Best for me was a RUTHVEN'S WHIPSNAKE at Green Jay Blind!

For lunch I went to Valley Nature Center to see their nesting Night-Herons. In a fast half-hour walk : Fox Squirrel, Zebra Longwings (lots!), Brown Longtail, White Checkered-Skipper, Littl Yellow ,Reakirt's Blue, Dusky Blue-Groundstreak, Plain Chachalaca, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, White-tipped Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, White-eyed Vireo 1, Black-crested Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird , Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

March 8 Estero we found an Inca Dove on her nest, a Red-Eared Slider laying eggs, and Red-Crowned Parrots landed directly in front of us, exploring a hole inva snag as a possible nest site. Black-Throated Gray/Northern Parula/Yellow-Throated Warblers all within five feet of each other in the same tree:

Black-throated Magpie-jay, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 25, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Cooper's Hawk 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 8, Barn Owl 1 ,Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3, Eastern Phoebe 1,Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird 1, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula 1, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, Lark Sparrow 1, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal , Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

March 10 Walked the dogs at Dixieland Park. They are a joy to watch but they really don't help the birding: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Plain Chachalaca, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Barn Owl 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow 2 my first of the year-- Spring!, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow , Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 1, House Sparrow. South Padre Island.We walked the entire jetty, seeing many sea turtles and dolphins! Mottled Duck, Brown Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, ,Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Osprey, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull , Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Great Kiskadee, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler , Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

March 12 Estero Huck and I took a group of six back though to see the Becard and Magpie-Jay, successfully. The rainy day only let us bird from the deck (astericked from the deck): Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, *Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, *Fulvous Whistling-Duck 24, *Blue-winged Teal, *Cinnamon Teal 3, *Northern Shoveler, *Plain Chachalaca, *Least Grebe, *Pied-billed Grebe, *American White Pelican, *Double-crested Cormorant, *Great Egret, *Snowy Egret, *Little Blue Heron, *White-faced Ibis, *Turkey Vulture, *White-tailed Kite, *Northern Harrier 1, *Cooper's Hawk, *Harris's Hawk, *Sora, *Common Moorhen, *American Coot, *Killdeer, *Black-necked Stilt, *American Avocet, *Spotted Sandpiper, *Solitary Sandpiper, *Lesser Yellowlegs, *Least Sandpiper, *Stilt Sandpiper, *Long-billed Dowitcher, *Rock Pigeon, *Mourning Dove, *Inca Dove, *Common Ground-Dove, *White-tipped Dove, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, *Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, *Ringed Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, *Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird 1, Couch's Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1, Rose-throated Becard 1, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, *Purple Martin, *Tree Swallow, *Barn Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, *European Starling, *Orange-crowned Warbler, *Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, *Red-winged Blackbird, *Great-tailed Grackle, *Lesser Goldfinch, *House Sparrow.

March 13 Estero Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 28, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron 4, Green Heron 4, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, White-faced Ibis 2, Roseate Spoonbill 1, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 2, Northern Harrier 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Cooper's Hawk 1, Crested Caracara 1, American Kestrel 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer 2, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe 1, Wilson's Phalarope 1 just off the deck coming in suddenly and then twirling, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 2, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 2, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Ringed Kingfisher 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Green Kingfisher 3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay 2, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 1, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, meadowlark sp., Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow. That makes for a nice Friday, but temperature dropped from 88 degrees to 50! No butterfly walk today- cancelled!

March 14 It was my day off, a cold (well, 50's) wet, rainy day so I walked the dogs at Rangerville Park across the street. It has paved sidewalks (so the dogs wouldn't be muddy) and I still got to see birds on the practically all-grass lawn making it very non-birdy: Long-billed Curlew 19, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird , European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark 16, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow. At Jennifer's going-away party at Valley Nature Center couldn't help but notice 38 Red-Crowned Parrots and a couple Yellow-Crowned Night-Herons at their nest while I was there, looking with Mary for the Fox Sparrow unsuccessfully.

March 15 Estero Small-group Bird Walks of 11, 11 and 8, with 92 species of birds today at Estero: Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 3, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret 2, Green Heron 2, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, White-faced Ibis 2, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, American Golden Plover 6, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Curlew 1, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe 1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 75 (settled down into the park!), Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Ringed Kingfisher 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Sedge Wren 1, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Cedar Waxwing 4, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow. And of course a Bobcat.

March 17 Estero Just from the deck through Lakeview. Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Harris's Hawk 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 9, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler , Nashville Warbler 1, Northern Parula 1, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow , Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 1 (rarely in the park!), House Sparrow.

March 18 Dixieland Park with the dogs this morning (those little cuties): Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck 2, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron 2, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-faced Ibis 6, White-tailed Kite 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, American Coot, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 1, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow.

And then I went by myself to Hugh Ramsey Park here in Harlingen, just because it was my day off. 3 Gulf Coast Ribbon Snakes and a Hispid Cotton Rat plus a Turkey Vulture 1, Cooper's Hawk 1, Mourning Dove 4, Inca Dove 2, Common Ground-Dove 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 4, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Great Kiskadee 3, Couch's Kingbird 1, White-eyed Vireo 4, Black-crested Titmouse 2, Bewick's Wren 2, House Wren 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Northern Mockingbird 2, Long-billed Thrasher 2, Curve-billed Thrasher 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 1, Olive Sparrow 4, Grasshopper Sparrow 1 (been awhile since I've seen one), Lincoln's Sparrow 7, Northern Cardinal 1, House Sparrow 5.

March 19 Dixieland Park with the dogs running circles and chasing each other and yet, and yet we found: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret , Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 2, American Coot, Laughing Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Great Kiskadee, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher 3, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow, Le Conte's Sparrow 1, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark 3, Great-tailed Grackle.

Tiocano Lake: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 1200,Blue-winged Teal 14, Northern Shoveler 6, Green-winged Teal 10, American White Pelican 24, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 4, Snowy Egret 10, Tricolored Heron 1, White-faced Ibis 3, Turkey Vulture 1, Killdeer 2, Black-necked Stilt 9, American Avocet 29, Least Sandpiper 50, Stilt Sandpiper 70, Long-billed Dowitcher 62, Rock Pigeon 11, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 4, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle 8.

March 20 Estero I started the day with a bird walk with just under 50 people: black-throated magpie-jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 16, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 juvenile, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite,Swainson's Hawk 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe 1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 20, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 2, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 2, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow,Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren,Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 ,Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Black-and-white Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 1, Lesser Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow.

We finished just in time for the Butterfly Walk: Pipevine and Giant Swallowtails, Great Southern Whites, Orange, White Angled-, Cloudless, Large Orange and Lyside Sulphurs, Southern Dogface, Mexican Bluewing, Tropical Leafwing, Hermes Satyr, Queen, Brown Longtail, Potrillo Skipper, Mazan's Scallopwing, White and Tropical Checkered-Skippers, Laviana White-Skipper, Southern Skipperling, Southern Broken-Dash, Brazilian Skipper, Bordered Patch, Celia's Roadside-Skipper.

March 21 Dixieland Park in Harlingen with the dog, just in uncivilized section from the road: 4 Jackrabbits , Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier 1, American Coot, Spotted Sandpipe, Laughing Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle. Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, where again unfortunately I didn’t find the reported spotted towhee: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 100, Mottled Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 109, Northern Shoveler 27, Green-winged Teal 8, Redhead 1, Neotropic Cormorant 10, Double-crested Cormorant 92, Great Egret 30, Snowy Egret 18, Little Blue Heron 3, Tricolored Heron 1, Cattle Egret 19, Black-crowned Night-Heron 9, Roseate Spoonbill 1, Osprey 1, Swainson's Hawk 10, Common Moorhen 10, American Coot 26, Killdeer 1, Black-necked Stilt 24, Greater Yellowlegs 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 15, Least Sandpiper 49, Laughing Gull 4, Rock Pigeon 5, Inca Dove 5, Common Ground-Dove 13, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 3, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Great Kiskadee 2, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow 1, Northern Mockingbird 10, Curve-billed Thrasher 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1, Wilson's Warbler 1, Lincoln's Sparrow 2, Lesser Goldfinch 6, at the very late time of 3pm.

March 22 Estero A huge Bullsnake crossed our path at one point on the bird walk, and we had lots of Diamondback Water Snakes. Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 52, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican 53, Neotropic Cormorant 1, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Anhinga 3, Great Blue Heron 13, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron 3, Tricolored Heron 3, Green Heron 3, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill 2, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, Harris's Hawk 1, Swainson's Hawk 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, American Golden Plover 30, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper 1, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 70, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 1, Chimney Swift 1 (my personal first-of-the-season), Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren 1, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush 1, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 2, Curve-billed Thrasher 2, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Cedar Waxwing 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula 1, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Pine Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird 1, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager 1, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch 2 (feeding a foot off the ground on red Tropical Sage), House Sparrow

March 25 Estero First up were the Bird Walks. The first had 28 to Lakeview, the second 20 to Alligator Lake. A couple from Fort Wayne that I had birded with at Crane Creek boardwalk were there. Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 2, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron 6, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron 5, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill 1, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 (unusual in the park), White-winged Dove 3, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 14, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Brown-Crested Flycatcher 3, Couch's Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 1 (unusual in the park itself), House Sparrow.

March 27 Estero Just in the short time from the boardwalk to Lakeview I had over 70 species: Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern 1, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe 1, Caspian Tern 3, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1, White-winged Dove 1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 6, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow 1, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren , Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler, Olive Sparrow 1, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird , Great-tailed Grackle, Orchard Oriole 1, House Sparrow.

Soon it was time for the Butterfly Walk! We had great fun and found several butterflies new for our butterfly walks since my arrival at Estero: Pipevine, Black and Giant Swallowtails, CHECKERED WHITE, Great Southern White, Orange, Cloudless, Large Orange and Lyside Sulphurs, WHITE ANGLED-SULPHUR, Sleepy Orange, Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak, Clytie Ministreak, CYNA BLUES (over a DOZEN on a short (6-8") silver-leaved, purple-flowered beds in the parking lot), Reakirt's Blue, American Snout, Bordered and CRIMSON PATCH, Texan, Pearl and Pale-Banded Crescents, Mexican Bluewings, Tropical Leafwings, Tawny Emperor, Hermes Satyr, Queen, Monarch, Brown Longtail, Mazan's Scallopwing, White and Tropical Checkered-Skippers, Laviana and Turk's Cap White-Skippers, and Southern Skipperling.

March 28 Estero Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret , Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron 1, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove 3, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 6, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird , Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 1, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow

March 29 Casual birdwatching today with Dave, hoping to find an extremely-early Botteri's before he has to leave for Canada. Old Port Isabel Road: Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Northern Harrier, Harris's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Laughing Gull, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Belted Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird , Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, White-eyed Vireo, Horned Lark 2, Cactus Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow , Cassin's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark , Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird. We tried Palo Alto Battlefield for the Botteri's Sparrow, too. Many Nilgai but no Botteri's: Great Egret, White Ibis, White-tailed Kite 1, Swainson's Hawk 1, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Cassin's Sparrow , Clay-colored Sparrow 2, Lark Sparrow 1, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle. Back at home I took the dogs fo a walk at Dixieland Park, uncivilized section only from the road only. It was already hot: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Northern Shoveler 2, Lesser Scaup 100, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow , Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.