August 5 Bentsen Today was a busy but fun day the highlights being a visit by Martin Reid from San Antonio, and a lizard expert. He couldn't find a single Six-Lined Racerunner at all, and found lots of Laredo and Texas Spotted Whiptails, which is exactly my experience. These are parthenogenic lizards (ie all are female clones, exactly alike, that have no males and no need for males to reproduce). He is so specialized in his studies, that he didn't care at all about the Blue or Texas Spiny Lizards at the park, including this Texas Spiny just outside my office window.   

August 22 First stop was Hugh Ramsey Park here in Harlingen. Sunny morning at the start, rumbling thunder and sprinkling by the end: Plain Chachalaca 1, Harris's Hawk 2, Swainson's Hawk 2, Killdeer 1, Laughing Gull 1, White-winged Dove 53, Mourning Dove 9, Inca Dove 16, Common Ground-Dove 2, White-tipped Dove 2, Common Nighthawk 2, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 5, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 15, Great Kiskadee 6, Couch's Kingbird 3, Green Jay 5, Purple Martin 5, Verdin 3, Bewick's Wren 2, Northern Mockingbird 7, Long-billed Thrasher 2, Curve-billed Thrasher 16, Olive Sparrow 12, Northern Cardinal 1, Pyrrhuloxia 1, Red-winged Blackbird 130, Great-tailed Grackles 5, Lesser Goldfinch 7, House Sparrow 25.

I had time for another stop, Harlingen's Pendleton Park: Mottled Duck 1, Laughing Gull 20, Rock Pigeon 28, Mourning Dove 4, Inca Dove 2, Chimney Swift 4, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 3, Great Kiskadee 1, Couch's Kingbird 2, Purple Martin 12, Northern Mockingbird 3, European Starling 26, Yellow Warblers 2, Great-tailed Grackle 38, Bronzed Cowbird 350 (maybe more!), House Sparrow 13.

Still time for Harlingen's City Lake, but I could've skipped it: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 66, Laughing Gull 42.

August 28 Bentsen State Park It was only 7:20am when I arrived at work, so I checked out the nearby Mission pond on Shary Road near Denny's and Home Depot: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2, Green Heron 1, Harris's Hawk 1, Rock Pigeon 1, White-winged Dove 3, Mourning Dove 3, Inca Dove 3, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Chimney Swift 18, Ringed Kingfisher 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1, Great Kiskadee 1, Couch's Kingbird 1, Purple Martin 8, Barn Swallow 20, Cactus Wren 3, Northern Mockingbird 2, Curve-billed Thrasher 2, European Starling 5, Great-tailed Grackle 9, Lesser Goldfinch 3, House Sparrow 30.

The day at Bentsen started right with Jose bringing in a snake I have never seen before-- a BLACK-STRIPED SNAKE! "...Its small size and calm temperament mean that it is unlikely to bite a human being—in whom its saliva has produced severe local inflammations but no lasting effects. Bryce C. Brown (1939), who as a young man allowed a black-striped snake to bite him on the hand as an experiment, reported that the sharp initial pain was similar to a bee sting but lasted much longer. Withn an hour the discomfort had reached his elbow and his slightly swollen hand had grown temporarily numb, a condition that remained for several days, though Brown eventually recovered and went on to pursue a successful career in herpetology at Baylor University …THREATENED. PROTECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS…known in the United Statees only from Cameron , Hidalgo and Willacy counties…Today, because elimination of the Rio Grande Valley ’s native thorn woodland by agricultural and residential clearing has devastated much of the area’s wildlife, black-striped snakes are seldom encountered…"

Today's Dragonfly Walk was amazing, with 10 people from Edinburg's World Birding Center as our guest, as well as two others from the area. All 15 of us fit in the van as we explored and found great bugs: "The first sighting may also have been the best. As the group gathered outside the visitor center, a pair of Ringed Forceptails, in the wheel, flew in and perched on a large Crucita clump, and stayed there for quite a while!...9 damselfly species, 20 dragons, for 29 odonates total. The list: Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni) - probably 2-3 males around, the bridge, Amelia's Threadtail (N. amelia) - two pairs ovipositing, and 2+ other, males, on canal, Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - 1 male, the only damsel on the pond;, also canal, Dusky Dancer (A. translata) - at least 4 males on the canal, Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) pair of these ovipositing on the canal, Familiar Bluet (E. civile) - at least 2 pairs ovipositing, a few other males, on canal, Neotropical Bluet (E. novahispaniae) - 1 pair ovipositing, plus other males, canal, Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - a few around the boat ramp, Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) - 1 pair plus 4 other, males at boat ramp, Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 1 male patrolling over garden pond, Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) - 1 male perched near bridge, Ringed Forceptail (Phyllocycla breviphylla) - pair in the wheel by, visitor center, Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) - 2-3 males on the, canal, Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - several at boat ramp, 1 on, canal, Four-spotted Pennant (B. gravida) - a few at boat ramp, 1 on canal, Tawny Pennant (B. herbida) - 1 male near boat ramp, Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) - 1 male at the pond, 1-2 more near boat ramp, Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) - males at all 3 sites, Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - 1 male, 1 ovipositing, female at boat ramp, Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 1 male on canal, Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) - 1 male at boat ramp, Thornbush Dasher (M. hagenii) - 1 male on garden pond, another at boat, ramp, Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - male and female on pond, others, at boat ramp, Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - 1 male at the garden pond, Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - lots, all over, Spot-winged Glider (P. hymenea) - ditto, Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - 1 male on canal, 1 female in grass nearby, Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - tandem pair at boat ramp, Red Saddlebags (T. onusta) - a few scattered all over."--Josh on TexOdes. I also liked the LONG-JAWED ORBWEAVER and the ShortWinged Katydid (Dichopetala).

Bentsen State Park Sightings for the month of Aug 2008 last update 8/24 1:00pm **area specialties

Mexican Duck—John 8/24

Mottled Duck—John 8/24

 **Plain Chachalaca—John 8/4

Northern Bobwhite—John 8/4

Least Grebe—John 8/4

Pied-Billed Grebe—John 8/4

Anhinga—John 8/4

 Great Blue Heron—John 8/4

Great Egret—John 8/4

Little Blue Heron—Birdwalk 8/10

Green Heron—John 8/4

10 Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron—Birdwalk 8/10

Turkey Vulture—John 8/4

Cooper’s Hawk—Birdwalk 8/10

**Gray Hawk—John 8/4

**Crested Caracara—Anon 8/4

 American Coot—John 8/4

SANDHILL CRANE—Anon 8/9

Killdeer—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

UPLAND SANDPIPER—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

White-Winged Dove—John 8/4

20 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE—Jose/Tom/John  8/7

Mourning Dove—John 8/4

Inca Dove—John 8/4

Common Ground-Dove—John 8/4

**White-Tipped Dove—John 8/4

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo—John 8/4

Greater Roadrunner—John 8/4

**Groove-Billed Ani—John 8/4

Eastern Screech-Owl—John 8/4

Lesser Nighthawk—John 8/4

Common Nighthawk—John 8/24

30 **Common Pauraque—Night Hike 8/1

**Buff-Bellied Hummingbird—John 8/4

Black-Chinned Hummingbird—John 8/4

**Ringed Kingfisher—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

**Golden-Fronted Woodpecker—John 8/4

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker—John 8/4

**Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet—Jerry/John 8/3

Brown-Crested Flycatcher—John 8/4

**Great Kiskadee—John 8/4

**Couch’s Kingbird—John 8/4

40 Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher—John 8/4

White-Eyed Vireo—John 8/4

**Green Jay—John 8/4

Bank Swallow—John 8/4

Cliff Swallow—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Cave Swallow—John 8/4

Barn Swallow—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Black-Crested Titmouse—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Verdin—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER —Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

50 **Clay-Colored Robin—John 8/4

Northern Mockingbird—John 8/4

**Long-Billed Thrasher—John 8/4

Curve-Billed Thrasher—Jerry/John 8/4

**Olive Sparrow—John 8/4

Lark Sparrow—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Northern Cardinal—John 8/4

Blue Grosbeak—John 8/4

PAINTED BUNTING—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Dickcissel—John 8/4

60 Red-Winged Blackbird—John 8/4

Great-Tailed Grackle—John 8/4

Bronzed Cowbird—John 8/4

Orchard Oriole—John 8/4

Hooded Oriole—John 8/4

 **Altamira Oriole—John 8/4

Lesser Goldfinch—John 8/4

House Sparrow—John 8/4

Reptiles/Amphibians

Blue Spiny Lizard—Jerry/John 8/4

Cane Toad—John 8/4

Gulf Coast Toad—Night Hike 8/1

Laredo Spotted Whiptail—Cordes 8/5

Mediterranean Gecko—Jose 8/13

PATCH-NOSED SNAKE—Josh 8/12

Rio Grande Chirping Frog—Jennifer 8/4

SOUTH TEXAS BLIND SNAKE—Jose  Night Hike 8/22

Texas Spiny Lizard—John 8/4

Texas Spotted Whiptail—John 8/4

Texas Tortoise—John 8/4

Butterflies  

Pipevine Swallowtail—John 8/4

Giant Swallowtail—John 8/4

Ornythian Swallowtail—8/22 Josh

BROAD-BANDED SWALLOWTAIL—8/22 Josh

Great Southern White—John 8/4

Giant White—Martin Reid 8/6

WHITE ANGLED-SULPHUR—John 8/4

YELLOW-ANGLED SULPHUR—TOM PENDLETON  8/13

Cloudless Sulphur—John 8/4

10 Large Orange Sulphur—John 8/4

Lyside Sulphur—John 8/4

Southern Dogface—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Little Yellow—John 8/4

Gray Hairstreak—John 8/4

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak—John 8/4

Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak—Butterfly Walk 8//13

WHITE SCRUB-HAIRSTREAK—Mary Beth 8/13

CLENCH’S GREENSTREAK—Mike Rickard 8/21

Clytie Ministreak—John 8/4

20 MARINE BLUE—Butterfly Walk 8/20

CASSIUS BLUE—Josh Rose 8/14

Western Pygmy-Blue—John 8/4

Ceraunus Blue—John 8/4

Reakirt’s Blue—John 8/4

Fatal Metalmark—Butterfly Walk 8//13

American Snout—John 8/4

Gulf Fritillary—John 8/4

ZEBRA HELICONIAN—John 8/3

VARIEGATED FRITILLARY—Butterfly Walk 8/13

30 Mexican Fritillary—John 8/3

Bordered Patch—John 8/4

Crimson Patch—John 8/12

2 ROSITA PATCHES--Mike Rickard 8/6

Vesta Crescemt--—Butterfly Walk 8/6

Phaon Crescent—John 8/4

White Peacock—John 8/4

MALACHITE—Butterfly Walk 8/13

Common Mestra—John 8/4

MEXICAN BLUEWING—Jesus Franco 8/20

40 GRAY CRACKER—Charlie Gifford  8/9

RUDDY DAGGERWING—Tom Pendleton 8/12

Tropical Leafwing—John 8/4

Hackberry Emperor—John 8/4

Empress Leilia—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Tawny Emperor—John 8/4

Silver Emperor—John 8/4

Queen—John 8/4

Soldier—John 8/4

Brown Longtail—Butterfly Walk 8/13

50 Zilpa Longtail—Mary Beth Stowe 8/21

Sickle-Winged Skipper—Butterfly Walk 8/13

Brown-Banded Skipper—John 8/4

White-Patched Skipper—Martin Reid 8/6

Sickle-Winged Skipper—Martin Reid 8/5

White Checkered-Skipper—John 8/4

Laviana White-Skipper—John 8/4

Turk’s Cap White-Skipper—John 8/4

Fawn-Spotted Skipper—Butterfly Walk 8//13

NYSA ROADSIDE-SKIPPER—Martin Reid 8/6

60 Celia’s Roadside-Skipper—John 8/4

Eufala Skipper—John 8/4

Clouded Skipper—John 8/4

Southern Skipperling—John 8/4

Fiery Skipper—John 8/4

Mammals

Bat—Perseid Party 8/12

Collared Peccary—John 8/4

Eastern Cottontail—John 8/4

Mexican Ground Squirrel—John 8/4

Nine-Banded Armadillo—Perseid Party 8/12

Northern Raccoon—Perseid Party 8/12

Dragonflies

Blue-Ringed Dancer—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

 Five-Striped Leaftail—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Ringed Forceptail—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Four-Spotted Pennant—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Tawny Pennant—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Black Setwing—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Eastern Pondhawk—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Roseate Skimmer—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Blue Dasher—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Wandering Glider—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Black Saddlebags—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Red Saddlebags—Dragonfly Walk 8/7

Other Insects/Invertebrates

Ant Lion—John 8/4

Beaded Lacewing
                                    (Lomamyia sp.)—Perseid Party 8/12

Black-bordered
                                    Lemon, Thioptera nigrofimbria? Perseid Party 8/12

Black Witch—John 8/4

Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta)—Perseid Party 8/12

Chloraspilates bicolor—Perseid Party 8/12

Chlorochlamys phylinaria—Dauphins/Josh 8/14

Conchylodes salamisalis—Josh 8/20

Cicada Gigas—John 8/4

Cuckoo Wasp—John 8/3

Desert Termites—John 8/4

Ello Sphinx (E. ello)—Perseid Party 8/12

False Potato Beetle—Josh 8/13

Harvester Ants—John 8/4

Mexican Unicorn Mantis (Phyllovates chlorophaea)—Perseid Party 8/12

Obscure Sphinx (Erynnyis obscura—Perseid Party 8/12

OWL MOTH—Josh 8/20

Southern Pink Moth (Pyrausta inornatalis)—Josh 8/20 (pink Crambid moth)

Satellite Sphinx (Eumorpha satellita)—Josh 8/20

SAUCY BEAUTY—Martin Reid 8/7

Snail—John 8/7

Spragueia guttata - Spotted Spragueia—Josh 8/14

Tarantula Hawk—John 8/7

Tortoise Beetles & Larvae—John 8/7

Vine Sphinx—John 8/4

White-tipped Black
                                    Moth(Melanchroia chephise)

Zale lunata moth?—Perseid Party 8/12