January 2009

January 1 While the dogs chased each other all over God's creation at Dixieland Park, I watched the birds: Greater White-fronted Goose 1, Lesser Scaup 500, Pied-billed Grebe 5, American White Pelican 2, Neotropic Cormorant 5, Double-crested Cormorant 13, Great Blue Heron 2, Great Egret 1, Snowy Egret 3, Black-crowned Night-Heron 3, Osprey 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, American Coot 20,Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Long-billed Curlew 3, Laughing Gull 8, Rock Pigeon 43, White-winged Dove 40 (they're usually gone for the winter!), Mourning Dove 15, Ringed Kingfisher 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 5, Vermilion Flycatcher 2,Great Kiskadee 7, Couch's Kingbird 1, Loggerhead Shrike 2, Tree Swallow 48, House Wren 2, Northern Mockingbird 3, European Starling 6, Orange-crowned Warbler 9, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 28, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1 (the Western yellow-throated version of the Eastern Myrtle race), Red-winged Blackbird 3, Eastern Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle 22. All of this was in the civilized portion of the park, closely mowed with few trees. In fact, they took out what little brush was along the road since I was here last!

I couldn't resist seeing what was at Tiocano Lake then. So in just another half-hour there were Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 800, Fulvous Whistling-Duck 2, Mottled Duck 4, Blue-winged Teal 2, Cinnamon Teal 2, Northern Shoveler 22, Green-winged Teal 52, American White Pelican 6, Neotropic Cormorant 2, Double-crested Cormorant 23, Great Blue Heron 6, Great Egret 4, Snowy Egret 27, Little Blue Heron 1, Tricolored Heron 2, Cattle Egret 3, White Ibis 1, White-faced Ibis 28, Roseate Spoonbill 18, Turkey Vulture 3, White-tailed Kite 1, American Kestrel 3, Sora 1, Common Moorhen 8, American Coot 50, Killdeer 2, Black-necked Stilt 46, American Avocet 28, Lesser Yellowlegs 10, Least Sandpiper 3, Stilt Sandpiper 10, Long-billed Dowitcher 80, Rock Pigeon 5, Eurasian Collared-Dove 78 (I don't think I've ever seen this species in Harlingen!), Mourning Dove 8, Belted Kingfisher 1, Marsh Wren 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Northern Mockingbird 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8, Common Yellowthroat 3, Red-winged Blackbird 10, Eastern Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle 77, House Sparrow 2. That was 66 species in an hour without leaving Harlingen!

Harlingen City Lake for five minutes: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 200, Mottled Duck 2, Double-crested Cormorant 15, Snowy Egret 2, Turkey Vulture 2, Common Moorhen 1, American Coot 50, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Long-billed Curlew 1, Laughing Gull 50, Rock Pigeon 30, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Couch's Kingbird 2, Northern Mockingbird X, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X, Great-tailed Grackle X, House Sparrow X, and then...

Pendelton Park for twenty minutes: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 50, Cattle Egret 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Long-billed Curlew 9, Rock Pigeon 61, Mourning Dove 14, Inca Dove 6, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 5, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Couch's Kingbird 1, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Northern Mockingbird 3, European Starling 3, Great-tailed Grackle 6, House Sparrow 3.

We got home to find the CurveBilled Thrasher in the yard

January 2 Estero Dennis Vollmer from Grand Rapids Ohio (very near home!) showed up today to see the Tropical Parula for his lifelist, and he sure did. The DeWenters joined us, too: Black-throated Magpie-Jay, (he came within 10 feet, loudly screaming, as if begging to be fed!), Black-bellied Whistling-Duck X, Mottled Duck X, Blue-winged Teal X, Cinnamon Teal X, Northern Shoveler X, Green-winged Teal X, Plain Chachalaca X, Least Grebe X, Pied-billed Grebe X, American White Pelican X,Neotropic Cormorant X, Double-crested Cormorant X,Anhinga X, Great Blue Heron X, Great Egret X, Snowy Egret X, Little Blue Heron X, Tricolored Heron X, White Ibis 8, White-faced Ibis 30, Turkey Vulture X, White-tailed Kite X, Northern Harrier X, Sharp-shinned Hawk X, Cooper's Hawk X, Harris's Hawk X, Peregrine Falcon X, Sora X, Common Moorhen X, American Coot X, Lesser Yellowlegs X, Least Sandpiper X, Stilt Sandpiper X, Long-billed Dowitcher X, White-winged Dove X, Mourning Dove X, Inca Dove X, Common Ground-Dove X, White-tipped Dove X, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird X, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker X, Vermilion Flycatcher X, Great Kiskadee X, Couch's Kingbird X, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo X, Blue-headed Vireo X,Black-crested Titmouse X, Carolina Wren X, House Wren X, Ruby-crowned Kinglet X, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X, Northern Mockingbird X, Long-billed Thrasher 1, European Starling X, Cedar Waxwing 2, Orange-crowned Warbler X, Nashville Warbler 2, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 2, Northern Cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird X, Great-tailed Grackle X, House Sparrow X

The Butterfly Walk was next and it was glorious with a White Scrub-Hairstreak and a Blomfild's Beauty, shown up at Benton Basham's feeding trough! Amazing day. Other butterflies include Black Swallowtail, Great Southern White, Southern Dogface, Cloudless/ Large Orange Sulphurs, Little Yellow, White Scrub-Hairstreak, Dusky-Blue Groundstreak, American Snout, Gulf Fritillary, Zebra, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, White Peacock, Malachite, Mexican Bluewing, Common Mestra, Blomfild's Beauty, Tropical Leafwing, Carolina Satyr, Monarch, Soldier, Queen, White-Striped/Brown Longtails, Two-Barred Flasher, Funereal Duskywing, Sickle-Winged/ White/Tropical Checkered-/ Fiery Skippers, Common Mellana

January 3 Mike Rickard, Mary Beth and I were a team, doing area 10a near Penitas on the Bentsen Christmas Bird Count: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 28, Snowy Egret 2, Cattle Egret 14, Turkey Vulture 8, Osprey 1, White-tailed Kite 1, Northern Harrier 3, Cooper's Hawk 2, White-tailed Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 8, Crested Caracara 1, American Kestrel 19,Killdeer 10, Rock Pigeon 429, Eurasian Collared-Dove 15, Mourning Dove 250, Inca Dove 6, Common Ground-Dove 8, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 12, Eastern Phoebe 2, Vermilion Flycatcher 2, Great Kiskadee 5, Couch's Kingbird 7, Loggerhead Shrike 11, White-eyed Vireo 1, Green Jay 2, Horned Lark 1, Verdin 4, Bewick's Wren 1, House Wren 6, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Northern Mockingbird 35, Long-billed Thrasher 2, Curve-billed Thrasher 3, European Starling 52, American Pipit 25, Sprague's Pipit 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 10, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8, Olive Sparrow 1, Vesper Sparrow 3, Lark Sparrow 24, Savannah Sparrow 34, Lincoln's Sparrow 4, White-crowned Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 4, Pyrrhuloxia 8, Red-winged Blackbird 206, Eastern Meadowlark 5, Western Meadowlark 58, Great-tailed Grackle 200, Lesser Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 62.

Josh laughingly told us at our assignment that he searched to give us an area devoid of butterflies so we wouldn't be distracted. We found them anyway! Here's Mary Beth's post from Tex-Butterfly:

"Hi, all!

"We were supposed to be birding today but with myself, John Yochum, and Mike Rickard on the team we couldn't help but look for leps! :-) The best one within our territory (which was a large area of "country roads" with mostly thorn scrub, ag fields, and some disjointed woodland north of La Joya) was a Silver-banded Hairstreak out in the middle of noplace! We also had a fly-by White Angled Sulphur in a little patch of habitat in the middle of rural sprawl... In the same general area Mike spotted what was probably a Band-celled Sister floating by!

"After we finished up and headed back to the park to compile the bird list, Mike showed us where along "the wall" he often got good stuff at Retama Village, and in addition to more Silver-bandeds, he found a Ruddy Hairstreak!
We also had a couple of mystery moths that I'm only guessing at as I couldn't find exact matches (I also posted them to Bugguide), Pics for the day are posted here: (http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) Lep List (and Mike probably saw others): [Black Swallowtail seen by John], Checkered White 2, [Great Southern White seen by Mike], Southern Dogface 2, White Angled Sulphur 1, Cloudless Sulphur 1, Large Orange Sulphur 1, Lyside Sulphur 2, Little Yellow 2, Sleepy Orange 1, Silver-banded Hairstreak 4, Gray Hairstreak 1, Mallow Scrub Hairstreak 4, Dusky-blue Groundstreak 2, Fatal Metalmark 1, American Snout 5, Gulf Fritillary 1, American Lady 1, White Peacock 1, [Band-celled Sister seen by Mike], [Tropical Leafwing spotted by the guys], Monarch 1, Queen 5, Long-tailed Skipper 1, Brown Longtail 8, [Sickle-winged Skipper seen by John], White Checkered Skipper 1, Tropical Checkered Skipper 1, Laviana White Skipper 3, Clouded Skipper 1, Fiery Skipper 2, Eufala Skipper 2 Mary Beth Stowe, McAllen, TX"

January 4 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was wonderful today, with the temperature still near 85 degrees. Barbara, a park host from CT, Chris, a volunteer duck counter from MA, and his girlfriend from NY were my extremely polite companions, and our list: Greater White-fronted Goose 7, Snow Goose 600, Ross's Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mottled Duck 6, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Redhead 2, Ring-necked Duck 8, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican 2, Neotropic Cormorant ,Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron 3, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture 6, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk 2, Harris's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon 3, Sora 1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Sandhill Crane 200, Black-bellied Plover 25, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet 3, Lesser Yellowlegs 6, Long-billed Curlew, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern 5, Caspian Tern 20, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove 4, Greater Roadrunner 6, Groove-billed Ani 8, Belted Kingfisher 4, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike 3, White-eyed Vireo, Verdin 1, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-and-white Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal 5, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle 60..

January 11 Choke Canyon State Park south of San Antonio to see the first North American record of PINE FLYCATCHER. If approved by the ABA, this would be Benton's EIGHT-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTY-NINTH lifer! There were a lucky thirteen of us there when we arrived. John Kendall of Indiana was there and took great photos of the bird. We stayed two hours and then drove on home. Other birds there were great as well:

Snow Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Harris's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, White-tailed Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Greater Roadrunner 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Carolina Chickadee, Verdin, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Long-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Audubon's Oriole

January 15 At Washington-on-the-Bravos State Park: It was wonderful to see all the Ohio birds again! Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 3, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit 3, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

At our hotel at Camp Allen: Rock Pigeon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher 1, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, House Sparrow.

January 17 Estero Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 1, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, 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, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill 9, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Cooper's Hawk, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Caspian Tern 1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove 1, Red-crowned Parrot 2, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher 3, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Tree Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird 250, House Sparrow.

January 20 Estero Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, 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, Tricolored Heron, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani 2 (beautiful near the Becard in a red bougainvillae in full bloom), Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1 (long luscious views!), White-eyed Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 1, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-and-white Warbler 1, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird 2, Great-tailed Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

January 21 Estero SIXTY people showed up for the morning bird walk! All sixty of us set out to see the Becard, AND WE ALL DID! The Becard looked down on his audience in wonderment at his largest crowd yet. BlackThroated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 1, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant 2, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Anhinga 4, Great Blue Heron 16, Great Egret 2, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron 1, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 20, White-tailed Kite 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1,Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-winged Dove 1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani 2, Common Pauraque 2, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 2, Green Kingfisher 3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher 2, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird (singing), Couch's Kingbird (singing), Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay 3, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 1 (singing in the top of a tree!), Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

January 22 Estero Just from the deck through Lakeview: BlackThroated Magpie-Jay, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca 15, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Cooper's Hawk 1, Harris's Hawk 1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani 3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush 1, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Pine Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Bunting 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

January 23 Estero Just from the deck through Lakeview, the Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, 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, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Cooper's Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt,American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs,Least Sandpiper, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 40, Barn Owl 1, Common Pauraque 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 1, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 2, Pine Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

January 24 Estero 74 people showed up for our morning Bird Walk!!! Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Greater White-fronted Goose 300, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, White-faced Ibis 3, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 2, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 1, Groove-billed Ani 1, Common Pauraque 2, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe 1, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo , Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Bunting 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow.

January 25 Harlingen The dogs loved Dixieland Park this morning, and so did I: Just the undeveloped section, from the road only, with three dogs. Number of species: 50 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe 1, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron 2, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Black Vulture 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Osprey, White-tailed Kite 4, Harris's Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Kestrel 1, Merlin 1, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Ringed Kingfisher 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe 2, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird 1, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange Crowned and Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark 3, Western Meadowlark 12, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

January 26 Enroute to Altamira Ranch we stopped at Salineno in Starr County. It was great just watching birds coming in an out of the area's feeders: Gadwall 2, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Black and Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, Crested Caracara, Eurasian Collared-, White-winged, Mourning, Common Ground-, and White-tipped Dove, Ringed Kingfisher, Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Olive and Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbird, Altamira Oriole, Audubon's Oriole 1, House Sparrow.

January 27 Altamira Ranch, ZapataCo TX We woke up to a great breakfast the ranch hands prepared us, and soon the birds started arriving! It was wonderful! Especially when SCALED QUAIL started coming in, close and in numbers!!! Fantastic. Mary had enlisted us to survey the ranch's wildlife and so we did: Sleepy Orange, Dainty Yellow, Red Admiral, American Snout, Southern Dogface, Black Swallowtail, Variegated Meadowhawk, Big Bluet, Eastern Pondhawk, Common Green Darner, Great Plains Skink,Texas Banded Skink, Hispid Cotton Rats, a beautiful Chinchilla-like Great Plains Wood Rat, Striped Bark Scorpions (many!),Texas Spiny Lizard,Ramburs Forktail, Gadwall, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Scaled Quail 17 (SEVENTEEN!), American White Pelican, Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Osprey, Harris's Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Coot, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull 1, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Greater Roadrunner 2, Common Pauraque, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Cactus Wren, Bewick's Wren (singing!), House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed and Curve-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrows, Black-throated Sparrows 2, White-crowned Sparrows, Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbird, Altamira Oriole, House Sparrow.

Enroute back, we stopped at Falcon State Park for just a few minutes: Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Greater Roadrunner 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow, and then for a few minutes at Roma Bluffs WBC: Double-crested Cormorant 1, Snowy Egret 1, Altamira Oriole, but best was a RED-BORDERED PIXIE out front on the the purple verbena.

January 30 Estero Breakfast with the Birds attracted lots of birders-- or was it actually the fantastic birdsthemselves? Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe 16, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga 6, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron 1, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 70, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

The Butterfly Walk was great too with Rick and May Snider, and Mike and Ginny Rickard joining us. Ten people, but we had to rush to a half-hour early ending. Mazan's Scallopwing was the highlight, but we also had Giant White, Great Southern White, Sleepy Orange, Sourthern Dogface, Dainty Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Dusky-Blue Groundstreak, Reakirt's Blue, Red-Bordered Metalmark, American Snout, White Peacock, Malachite, Mexican Bluewing, Common Mestra, Carolina Satyr, Monarch, Queen, Brown Longtail, Potrillo Skipper, Mazan's Scallopwing, Horace's Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, White and Tropical Checkered-Skippers, Laviana White-Skipper, Clouded Skipper, Southern Skipperling, Fiery Skipper, Julia's Skipper, and after Red Admiral, and Painted Lady.

January 31 Estero Three birdwalks today to accomodate all the birders. We got the Becard right off at the start of the day, the Magpie-Jay soon after, and on the 1:30 walk, the BLUE BUNTING appeared for wonderful viewing in a pink-flowering tree! Gorgeous! Then it flew to a Live Oak, where I got my first photos of a Blue Bunting ever. Not so great but my first! Then a Bobcat sauntered right onto the road with us-- I think we surprised him more than he surprised us!

Black-Throated Magpie-Jay, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 1, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron 15, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron 1, Tricolored Heron, White-faced Ibis 5, Roseate Spoonbill 10, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 2, Harris's Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, Virginia Rail 1 (my first in the park), Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Common Pauraque 2 (one by the Becard one at Alligator Lake), Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher 2, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo 1, Green Jay,Tree Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush 4, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow , Lincoln's Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow .