Rio Grande Valley birds, butterflies, dragonflies through the eyes of an ex-Buckeye

December 2009
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Dec 1 Estero  Rainy day with a high in the 50's, normal route except straight beside dowitcher pond instead of boardwalk-- this means lakeview was excluded.  Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    50, Gadwall    20, American Wigeon    2, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail    2, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck    2, Lesser Scaup    2, Ruddy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant    1, Anhinga    4, Great Blue Heron    1, Great Egret    1, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron    1, Tricolored Heron    1, Black-crowned Night-Heron    1, Black Vulture 2 (seldom seen at Estero!), Turkey Vulture    6, White-tailed Kite    3, Cooper's Hawk    1, Harris's Hawk    3, Peregrine Falcon 3, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher    1, Wilson's Snipe    3, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove    1, Common Ground-Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird    1, Ringed Kingfisher    1, Belted Kingfisher    1, Green Kingfisher    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher    3, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Green Jay    2, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Marsh Wren    1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher    1, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow 1, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Altamira Oriole 1, House Sparrow 

Dec 2 Estero Llano Grande SP Night Hike:  3 baby raccoons, 1 scorpion, in spite of being very cold (for Texas!), Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Killdeer, Barn Owl 1, Great Horned Owl    1, Common Pauraques Rangerville Park, Harlingen TX  with 3 dogs  Rock Pigeon    22, Mourning Dove    20, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    3, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    1, Bewick's Wren    1, Northern Mockingbird    4, European Starling    2, Great-tailed Grackle    1, House Sparrow    5

bank swallow

Dec 5 LaFeria Nature Center Grand opening of park; Number of species:    34, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Least Grebe    1, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Roseate Spoonbill    1, Turkey Vulture    1, Osprey    1, White-tailed Kite    1, Red-tailed Hawk    1, American Kestrel    1, Peregrine Falcon 1, American Coot , Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Mourning Dove, Eastern Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike    1, Tree Swallow , Bank Swallow (very late), Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark    2, Great-tailed Grackle Estero Llano Grande SP route unusual: up boardwalk to gazebo into lakeview, Number of species:    61, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant,  Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk 3, Crested Caracara, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpipe, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove    2, Red-crowned Parrot    41, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo    1, Green Jay    2, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren    1, House Wren, Marsh Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler    1, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

white-tailed hawks

Dec 6 Rangerville Park, Harlingen TX Long-billed Curlew    5, Stilt Sandpiper    1, Long-billed Dowitcher 22 Hwy 48 (Brownsville- So. Padre I.)(LTC 039) Number of species:    58, American Wigeon    75, Mottled Duck    2, Blue-winged Teal    14, Northern Shoveler    30, Pied-billed Grebe    5, American White Pelican    198, Brown Pelican    12, Neotropic Cormorant    10, Double-crested Cormorant    3, Great Blue Heron    11, Great Egret    44, Snowy Egret    12, Little Blue Heron    6, Tricolored Heron    3, Reddish Egret    5, Black-crowned Night-Heron    50, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    160 ,White Ibis    6, Roseate Spoonbill    1, Black Vulture    1, Turkey Vulture    1, Osprey    7, Northern Harrier    4, Harris's Hawk    9, White-tailed Hawk    6, Red-tailed Hawk    4, American Kestrel    4, Black-bellied Plover    9, Snowy Plover    7, Black-necked Stilt    4, American Avocet    5, Spotted Sandpiper    3, Greater Yellowlegs    7, Willet    6, Lesser Yellowlegs    11, Long-billed Curlew    4, Ruddy Turnstone    1, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull    1000, Ring-billed Gull    3, Herring Gull    1, Gull-billed Tern    3, Forster's Tern    5, Belted Kingfisher    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    1, Loggerhead Shrike    2, Chihuahuan Raven    5, Carolina Wren    1, House Wren    1, Marsh Wren    1, Northern Mockingbird    7, American Pipit, Red-winged Blackbird    100, Eastern Meadowlark    6, Great-tailed Grackle    50  Hwy 4 (Brownsville to Boca Chica) Number of species:    42, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill    X, Turkey Vulture    1, White-tailed Kite    4, Northern Harrier    2, Cooper's Hawk    1, Harris's Hawk    6, White-tailed Hawk    4, Red-tailed Hawk    2, Crested Caracara    1, American Kestrel    2, Merlin    1, Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull    3, Herring Gull    1, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Rock Pigeon    66, Mourning Dove    20, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    1, Couch's Kingbird    14, Loggerhead Shrike    2, Chihuahuan Raven 1, Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit, Eastern Meadowlark    3, Great-tailed Grackle

Dec 7 walking the dogs at Rangerville Park, Harlingen TX  Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    5, White-tailed Kite    1, American Kestrel    3, Stilt Sandpiper    1, Long-billed Dowitcher    4, Rock Pigeon    77, Mourning Dove    73, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    7, Vermilion Flycatcher    1, Northern Mockingbird    4, European Starling    10, Red-winged Blackbird    50, Great-tailed Grackle    28 Dixieland Park Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    100, Ring-necked Duck    4, Lesser Scaup    300, Double-crested Cormorant    10, Great Blue Heron    1, Snowy Egret    1, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    2, Osprey    1, Cooper's Hawk    1, Red-tailed Hawk    1, American Kestrel    1, American Coot    30, Killdeer    9, Spotted Sandpiper    1, Stilt Sandpiper    6, Long-billed Dowitcher    22, Laughing Gull    2, Forster's Tern    2, Rock Pigeon    60, Mourning Dove    61, Belted Kingfisher    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    1, Eastern Phoebe    1, Vermilion Flycatcher    3, Great Kiskadee    2, Tropical Kingbird    3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird    3, American Pipit    20, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Red-winged Blackbird    30, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow    5

Dec 8 Estero Llano Grande SP Number of species:    68, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, 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, White Ibis, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Harris's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Red-crowned Parrot 6, Barn Owl 1, Eastern Screech-Owl    1, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird    1, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe    1, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Loggerhead Shrike    1, White-eyed Vireo    1, Black-crested Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Altamira Oriole 1, House Sparrow.  2 Guava Skippers  (Phocides polybius) –at the start of the
 entrance brick sidewalk ,  1 Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus
proteus), 19 Brown Longtails  (Urbanus procne), 1 Two-
barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator azul) –halfway
down the brick sidewalk, 1 White-patched Skipper 
(Chiomara georgina), 4 Sickle-winged Skippers  (Eantis
tamenund), 90 White Checkered-Skipper  (Pyrgus albescens), 
 2 Tropical Checkered-Skipper  (Pyrgus oileus), 23 Laviana
White-Skipper  (Heliopetes laviana),  2 Southern
Skipperling  (Copaeodes minima), 1 Brazilian
Skipper  (Calpodes ethlius),  1 Ocola Skipper 
(Panoquina ocola),  2 Fawn-spotted Skipper  (Cymaenes
trebius),  7 Eufala Skippers (Lerodea eufala), 67 Clouded
Skipper  (Lerema accius), 9 Fiery Skipper  (Hylephila
phyleus),  1 Whirlabout  (Polites vibex),  3 Pipevine
Swallowtail  (Battus philenor), 62 Lyside Sulphur  
(Kricogonia lyside), 9 Dainty Sulphurs (Nathalis iole) –
all in the parking lot, 29 Little Yellow  (Pyrisitia
lisa), 2 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) –a male
and a female, 2 Southern Dogface  (Zerene cesonia),  7
Cloudless Sulphur   (Phoebis sennae), 18 Large Orange
Sulphur   (Phoebis agarithe), 1 Orange-barred
Sulphur (Phoebis philea)—in the parking lot, 1
Checkered White (Pontia protodice), 1 Mallow Scrub-
Hairstreak  (Strymon istapa),  3 Ceraunus Blue  (Hemiargus
ceraunus),  9 American Snout  (Libytheana carinenta) –only
nine! , 4 Monarch  (Danaus plexippus)  , 84 Queen  (Danaus
gilippus),  5 Soldier  (Danaus eresimus) –all at the kiosk
on the brick sidewalk, 6 Gulf Fritillary  (Agraulis
vanillae),  1 Variegated Fritillary (Eupteoieta claudia), 
4 Mexican Bluewings (Myscelia ethusa)—on Green Jay trail,
of course, 38 White Peacock  (Anartia jatrophae), 2 Phaon
Crescent   (Phyciodes phaon)

Dec 9 Estero Llano Grande SP from the deck only for an hour.  Number of species: 47, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    6, Gadwall    2, Mottled Duck    4, Blue-winged Teal    6, Cinnamon Teal 2, Northern Shoveler    88, Northern Pintail    2, Green-winged Teal    26, Ring-necked Duck    15, Ruddy Duck    16, Plain Chachalaca    2, Least Grebe    6, Pied-billed Grebe    1, American White Pelican    13, Neotropic Cormorant    12, Double-crested Cormorant    1, Anhinga    1, Great Egret    1,Snowy Egret    1, Little Blue Heron    1, Tricolored Heron    1, Turkey Vulture    1, White-tailed Kite    2, Northern Harrier    1, Red-tailed Hawk    2, Common Moorhen    1, American Coot    52, Black-necked Stilt    4,Spotted Sandpiper    1,Least Sandpiper    15, Stilt Sandpiper    3, Long-billed Dowitcher    84, Wilson's Snipe    1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird    1, Belted Kingfisher    1, Eastern Phoebe    1, Vermilion Flycatcher    2, Great Kiskadee    1, Tropical Kingbird    2, Loggerhead Shrike    1, Black-crested Titmouse    1, House Wren    1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    1, Common Yellowthroat    4, Wilson's Warbler 1, Red-winged Blackbird    1, House Sparrow    31.  Lakeview only: Number of species:    28, , Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    10, Turkey Vulture    5, Sharp-shinned Hawk    1, Cooper's Hawk    1, Rock Pigeon    2, Inca Dove    11, Eastern Screech-Owl    1, Common Pauraque    2, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird    3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    5, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    2, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 1 (seen and heard), Eastern Phoebe    1, Great Kiskadee    8, Tropical Kingbird    4, Couch's Kingbird    2, Blue-headed Vireo    1, Tree Swallow    6, Black-crested Titmouse    2, Carolina Wren    1, House Wren    1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet    4, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    6, European Starling    5, Orange-crowned Warbler    8, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Red-winged Blackbird    1, House Sparrow    10 Llano Grande Lake Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    265, Northern Shoveler    25, Great Egret    1, Snowy Egret    1, Roseate Spoonbill    8, Harris's Hawk    1, American Coot    2, American Avocet    10

Dec 11 Rangerville/Jiminez Gadwall    2, Northern Shoveler    6, Least Grebe    3, Pied-billed Grebe    4, Neotropic Cormorant    36, Double-crested Cormorant    3, Great Blue Heron    1, Great Egret    2, Snowy Egret    15, Cattle Egret    6, Green Heron    1, Black-crowned Night-Heron    29, American Coot    50, Ringed Kingfisher on a wire 1

Dec 12 Rangerville/Chinaberry Rds Ringed Kingfisher, on a telephone wire 1 Estero Llano Grande SP with Girl Scout troupe: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon , Mottled Duck    2, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal    5, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail    2, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, 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, White Ibis 6, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe    3, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Eastern Screech-Owl    1, Common Pauraque    3, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher    1, Belted Kingfisher    1, Green Kingfisher    3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Northern Mockingbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Dec 13 Dixieland Park, extreme fog with 3 dogs: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, American Coot , Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew    3, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Tree Swallow , Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow Rangerville Park, Harlingen TX in dense fog with 3 dogs, Killdeer, Long-billed Curlew    8, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit, Great-tailed Grackle

Dec 14 Estero Llano Grande SP Sparrow Workshop; Fran pointed out the Becard: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Redhead    1, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup 1, Ruddy Duck, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk    2, Sora    1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Eastern Phoebe    1, Vermilion Flycatcher    3, Tropical Kingbird    2, Rose-throated Becard 1, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina and House Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird , American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow La Sal del Rey, LRGV NWR (LTC 005) Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Harris's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk , Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Sandhill Crane    4, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, House Wren, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Cassin's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow 3, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark FM88/RamseyerRd  WOOD DUCK 1Mottled Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Peregrine Falcon    1 

Dec 16 Estero Llano Grande State Park  In the POURING RAIN, Lakeview and Alligator Lake. Many White Pelicans crowded Alligator Lake, first I've seen them there in such numbers!Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon , Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal    2, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, 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, Green Heron , Black-crowned Night-Heron    3, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill    1, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk    1, Cooper's Hawk    1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Caspian Tern    1, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Common Pauraque    7, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher    1,Belted Kingfisher    1, Green Kingfisher    3, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

black skimmer

black skimmers

Dec 18 Estero  From the deck only, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, American Wigeon , Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture    2, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Hawk    1, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin    1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Sandhill Crane    2, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Caspian Tern    1, Black Skimmer    7, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher    1, Green Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe , Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Dec 19 Santa Ana CBC north section Bryan needed me at the Park, so didn't start until 1.  Rode with Mary Beth-- sightings from car only until 4pm. Mottled Duck    8, Blue-winged Teal    12, Cinnamon Teal    1, Northern Shoveler    6, Pied-billed Grebe    3, Neotropic Cormorant    1, Great Blue Heron    5, Great Egret    5, Turkey Vulture    2, White-tailed Kite    6, Northern Harrier    4, White-tailed Hawk    1, Red-tailed Hawk    7, American Kestrel    7, Peregrine Falcon    1, Long-billed Curlew    1, Mourning Dove    5, Common Ground-Dove    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    2, Eastern Phoebe    2, Loggerhead Shrike    2, Horned Lark    1, House Wren    3, American Pipit    1, Orange-crowned Warbler    10, Common Yellowthroat    10, Cassin's Sparrow    1, Savannah Sparrow    50, Grasshopper Sparrow    1, Lincoln's Sparrow    20, Red-winged Blackbird    2150, Western Meadowlark    7, Great-tailed Grackle    6  Estero Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine Falcon    1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Common Pauraque    5, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird    1, Green Kingfisher    2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    2, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet    1, Eastern Phoebe    2, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler    1, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Dec 21 Dixieland Park  while walking 3 dogs.  developed area only.  construction goingon in undeveloped section.  Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    75, Lesser Scaup    450, Ruddy Duck    2, Pied-billed Grebe    2, American White Pelican    9, Neotropic Cormorant    23, Double-crested Cormorant    2, Great Blue Heron    3, Great Egret    5, Snowy Egret    12, Tricolored Heron    1, Green Heron    4, Turkey Vulture    4, Osprey    1, American Kestrel    1, American Coot    20, Spotted Sandpiper    3, Laughing Gull    5, Forster's Tern    4, Rock Pigeon    64, Mourning Dove    29, Ringed Kingfisher    1, Belted Kingfisher    1, Green Kingfisher    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    2, Vermilion Flycatcher    6, Tropical Kingbird    4, House Wren    2, Northern Mockingbird    2, European Starling    9, American Pipit    13, Orange-crowned Warbler    2, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)    26, Yellow-throated Warbler    1, Savannah Sparrow    3, Red-winged Blackbird    10, Great-tailed Grackle    40, Bronzed Cowbird    22, House Sparrow    2  Harlingen Thicket   While walking three dogs-- saw no birds at all except for the Parakeets (only heard the rest...) Green Parakeet    8, Northern Mockingbird    3, Savannah Sparrow    2

A leucistic Northern Shoveler

Dec 23 Bentsen   Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga, Bare-thrOaTed Tiger-Heron a first US record, first ABA record,, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk    1, Gray Hawk    1, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    1, Eastern Phoebe , Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Lesser Goldfinch  Estero A leucistic Northern Shoveler showed up!

Dec 25 Estero Gadwall, Mottled Duck    2, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal    1, Northern Shoveler (second day of a leucistic one), Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican 90, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron    1, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis 1, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite    3, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Cooper's Hawk    1, Harris's Hawk    1, Red-shouldered Hawk    1, Red-tailed Hawk 3, American Kestrel    1, Sora    1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe    1, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove    3, Common Pauraque    7, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher    1, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet    1, Eastern Phoebe    1, Vermilion Flycatcher    1,Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Tree Swallow, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler    1, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler    1, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow

yellow-throated warbler
Savannah Sparrow
No, he isn't picking his nose!

GreenParakeets

Green Parakeets

Dec 26 Downtown Brownsville CBC #9   Brownsville Christmas Bird Count, Section 9 (a triangle where 802 is the northern boundary, the Rio Grande the southern, 48 the eastern): Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    645, Gadwall    15, American Wigeon    10, Mottled Duck    8, Northern Shoveler    3, Ring-necked Duck    5, Lesser Scaup    33, Least Grebe    3, Pied-billed Grebe    2, American White Pelican    80, Neotropic Cormorant    29, Double-crested Cormorant    10, Great Blue Heron    6, Great Egret    6, Snowy Egret    9, Tricolored Heron    1, Cattle Egret    17, Black-crowned Night-Heron    1, White Ibis    28, Osprey    1, Northern Harrier    1, Sharp-shinned Hawk    1, Cooper's Hawk    2, Red-shouldered Hawk    3, Red-tailed Hawk    2, American Kestrel    2, Merlin    1, Common Moorhen    30, American Coot    29, Black-necked Stilt    12, Laughing Gull    177, Rock Pigeon    480, White-winged Dove    40,Mourning Dove    90, Inca Dove    6, Green Parakeet 174, Red-crowned Parrot 134, Buff-bellied Hummingbird    1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker    24, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    1, Eastern Phoebe    1, Great Kiskadee    13, Tropical Kingbird    4, Loggerhead Shrike    2, Green Jay    2, Carolina Wren    5, Northern Mockingbird    52, European Starling    116, Orange-crowned Warbler    8, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)    1, Yellow-throated Warbler    5,  Savannah Sparrow    60,Grasshopper Sparrow    2, Northern Cardinal    1, Western Meadowlark    60, Great-tailed Grackle    3533, Altamira Oriole    2, Lesser Goldfinch    3, House Sparrow    90

Dec 28 Dixieland Park Lesser Scaup    400, Pied-billed Grebe    4, Neotropic Cormorant    20, Double-crested Cormorant    15, Great Blue Heron    1, Turkey Vulture    3, Osprey    1, Northern Harrier    1, Red-tailed Hawk    1, Laughing Gull    4, Forster's Tern    3, Rock Pigeon    63, Eastern Phoebe    1, Tropical Kingbird    1, Loggerhead Shrike    1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Audubon's Warbler 1,

Sprague's Pipit

Dec 29 Estero Llano Grande SP Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Northern Shoveler, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mourning Dove, Short-eared Owl 2 (my first for Texas), Eastern Phoebe , Tropical/Couch's Kingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Sprague's Pipit 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, meadowlark sp., Great-tailed Grackle

Dec 30 Estero Llano Grande SP To Lakeview and back: American Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal 1, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper    1, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe    1, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove    9, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker    1, Eastern Phoebe , Vermilion Flycatcher    1, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard 1, Blue-headed Vireo, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Dec 31 Dixieland Park with 3 dogs, civilized section only: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Lesser Scaup    400, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican    9, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Kestrel    1, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper    1, Laughing Gull , Forster's Tern    5, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher    1, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird    1, Tree Swallow    2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

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