February 2010

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

February 2010

amazon kingfisher

Feb 1 Las Palmas Trail & Zacate Creek We arrived in Laredo at 1pm after a 3.5 hour drive from Harlingen and waited until 6pm when the bird finally appeared! This was the first US record of an Amazon Kingfisher, or should I say probably will be the first US record of an Amazon Kingfisher if it is accepted by the Texas Bird Record Committee. We did NOT explore the trails as we did not want to miss the Kingfisher. Number of species: 34 Gadwall, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Osprey 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Black Phoebe 1, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin 6, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Altamira Oriole, Audubon's Oriole 1, House Finch 5 Victor Park Before we left for Laredo, we walked our three dogs on a very foggy morning in Harlingen in a very recreational park. 16 species: Neotropic Cormorant 8, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 1, Snowy Egret 6, Roseate Spoonbill 4, White-tailed Hawk 1, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Rock Pigeon 61, Mourning Dove 4, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 5, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Tropical Kingbird 2, Loggerhead Shrike 2, Great-tailed Grackle 68

hooded merganser

Feb 2 Dixieland Park while walking 3 dogs, civilized section only Number of species: 30 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 12, Ring-necked Duck 5, Lesser Scaup 80, Hooded Merganser 1, Ruddy Duck 1, Pied-billed Grebe 2, Neotropic Cormorant 10, Double-crested Cormorant 8, Great Blue Heron 1, Snowy Egret 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, American Coot 13, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Forster's Tern 2, Mourning Dove 52, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2, Tropical Kingbird 1, Tree Swallow 50, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 8, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 5, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Red-winged Blackbird 55,, Eastern Meadowlark 2, Great-tailed Grackle 50, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, Lesser Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow

crimson-collared grosbeak

Feb 4 Quinta Mazatlan WBC (McAllen) (LTC 063) I rushed over at lunch when I heard! 27 species: Plain Chachalaca, Cooper's Hawk 1, White-winged Dove 2, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, White-tipped Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1, Great Kiskadee, White-eyed Vireo 1, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush 2, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher 1, Curve-billed Thrasher 1, Orange-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Olive Sparrow 2, Crimson-collared Grosbeak 1, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow. In contrast to Frontera's female last year, this male was very easy to find, very cooperative, and very easy to view! People were chatting loudly and pointing with fingers and cameras, and still he fed in view, albeit with rapid continual movement.

A KRIDER'S HAWK appeared near the Brownsville dump!

Chihuahuan Raven

Feb 5 Southmost Nature Preserve 31 species (usually more, but it was unusually muddy while at the same time the resacas were almost dry!): Blue-winged Teal, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove 1, Ringed Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch. Since we spent so little time at Southmost we also went to Route 48's Fishing Landing 28 species: Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey 1, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull 2, Herring Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Skimmer, Belted Kingfisher Old Port Isabel Rd (Cameron Co.) 34 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Northern Shoveler, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Turkey Vulture, Harris's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara 3, American Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon 2, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Curlew, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahuan Raven 3, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cassin's Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird, Brown-headed Cowbird

roadrunner

Feb 7 Hugh Ramsey Park 29 species: Turkey Vulture 1, Harris's Hawk 3, Mourning Dove 8, Inca Dove 3, Common Ground-Dove 4, White-tipped Dove 2, Greater Roadrunner 1, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 3, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 16, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1, Great Kiskadee 3, Couch's Kingbird 1, White-eyed Vireo 1, Green Jay 2, Black-crested Titmouse 1, Bewick's Wren 1, House Wren 1, Northern Mockingbird 6, Long-billed Thrasher 1, Curve-billed Thrasher 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 9, Olive Sparrow 2, Lincoln's Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Hooded Oriole 1, Altamira Oriole 6, House Sparrow 10

Feb 10 La Sal del Rey, LRGV NWR (LTC 005)53 species: hundreds of Snow Goose, Gadwall, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, White-tailed Kite 1, Harris's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, American Coot, Sandhill Crane 150, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Barn Owl 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Kiskadee, Couch's Kingbird, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, White-eyed Vireo, Green Jay, Verdin 3, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, many Brewer's Blackbird, at the Rio Beef yards, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow Hidalgo Co, driving around 64 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture 3, Turkey Vulture 25, Osprey 4, White-tailed Kite 1, Northern Harrier 3, Cooper's Hawk 2, Harris's Hawk 8, Red-shouldered Hawk 2, White-tailed Hawk 20, Red-tailed Hawk 11, American Kestrel 18, Merlin 1, American Coot, Killdeer, Long-billed Curlew, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Green Jay, Tree Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat, Olive Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow Willacy Co, driving around 25 species: Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite 1, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Harris's Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Sprague's Pipit 22, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Feb 11 Dixieland Park civilized side while walking 3 dogs 23 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 44, Lesser Scaup 50, Pied-billed Grebe 4, Neotropic Cormorant 6, Double-crested Cormorant 4, Osprey 1, American Coot 20, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Long-billed Curlew 2, Forster's Tern 4, Rock Pigeon 2, Mourning Dove 3, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Tropical Kingbird 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Northern Mockingbird 1, American Pipit 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 8, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 27, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Great-tailed Grackle 50, Brown-headed Cowbird 10, House Sparrow 6

Feb 12 Valley Nature Center school group of 120 second graders. 16 species: Plain Chachalaca 4, Turkey Vulture 1, Rock Pigeon 2, Inca Dove 6, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 4, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 8, Great Kiskadee 5, White-eyed Vireo 1, House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Northern Mockingbird 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 6, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, House Sparrow 75

Feb 13 Anzalduas County Pk (LTC 068)56 species: Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser 1, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey 1, Cooper's Hawk 1, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Least Sandpiper, Caspian Tern 1, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Great Horned Owl on her nest 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Green Kingfisher 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Black Phoebe 2, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Loggerhead Shrike, Green Jay, Tree Swallow 1, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Rock Wren 1, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, House Sparrow Frontera Audubon Ctr (LTC 058) quick walk at lunch, 19 species: Anhinga 1, Turkey Vulture 6, Inca Dove 2, White-tipped Dove 5, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 5, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2, Great Kiskadee 2, House Wren 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, Northern Mockingbird , Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal, Great-tailed Grackle, Altamira Oriole 1, House Sparrow

Feb 14 Estero Llano Grande SP Morning Bird Walk led by Pat DeWenter, backwards loop plus Lakeview 79 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 70, Gadwall 10, Mottled Duck 4, Cinnamon Teal 2, Northern Shoveler 79, Ring-necked Duck 10, Ruddy Duck 4, Plain Chachalaca 10, Least Grebe 9, Pied-billed Grebe 5, American White Pelican 43, Neotropic Cormorant 27, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Anhinga 3, Great Blue Heron 34, Great Egret 3, Snowy Egret 6, Tricolored Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Osprey 1, Northern Harrier 2, Harris's Hawk 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Sora 1, Common Moorhen 10, American Coot 62, Killdeer 14, Black-necked Stilt 19, American Avocet 5, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Stilt Sandpiper 25, Long-billed Dowitcher 78, Mourning Dove 3, Inca Dove 6, Common Ground-Dove 1, White-tipped Dove 2, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 4, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 2, Green Kingfisher 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 33, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Brown-crested Flycatcher 1, Great Kiskadee 10, Couch's Kingbird 3, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird 8, White-eyed Vireo 2, Blue-headed Vireo 2, Green Jay 6, Purple Martin 1, Tree Swallow 5, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1, Bank Swallow 1, Cave Swallow 6, Black-crested Titmouse 2, House Wren 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, Clay-colored Thrush 1, Northern Mockingbird 17, Long-billed Thrasher 1, Curve-billed Thrasher 3, European Starling 5, Orange-crowned Warbler 22, Nashville Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 5, Common Yellowthroat 8, Wilson's Warbler 1, Savannah Sparrow 19, Grasshopper Sparrow 3, Lincoln's Sparrow 3, Northern Cardinal 1, Red-winged Blackbird 157, Great-tailed Grackle 20, Lesser Goldfinch 11, House Sparrow 10

Feb 15 Rangerville Park while walking 3 dogs Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 10, Turkey Vulture 1, Killdeer 23, Long-billed Curlew 6, Mourning Dove 7, Red-crowned Parrot 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2, European Starling 33, Western Meadowlark 17, Great-tailed Grackle 4, Lesser Goldfinch 8 Dixieland Park walking 3 dogs on civilized side only 26 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 26, Lesser Scaup 10, Pied-billed Grebe 4, American White Pelican 2, Neotropic Cormorant 2, Double-crested Cormorant 5, Great Egret 1, Osprey 1, American Coot 20, Killdeer 8, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Forster's Tern 4, Rock Pigeon 32, Mourning Dove 50, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2, Vermilion Flycatcher 3, Tree Swallow 60, Cave Swallow 3, Northern Mockingbird 3, European Starling 75, American Pipit 15, Orange-crowned Warbler 8, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 17, Red-winged Blackbird 30, Western Meadowlark 20, Great-tailed Grackle 20

Feb 16 Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 31 species, while in search of the missing Aztec Thrush: Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Anhinga, Gray Hawk 1, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Mourning Dove, White-tipped Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Kiskadee, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird, Green Jay, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, House Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, Black-headed Grosbeak 1, Indigo Bunting 20, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Altamira Oriole 6, Altamira x Audubon's Oriole (hybrid) 1, American Goldfinch 15, House Sparrow

Red-lored Parrots were unexpectedly abundant!

Many gulls were riding the pelicans, waiting to steal at any opportunity.

This Reddish Egret seemed especially wild-haired.

The pink of a juvenile Ring-Billed Gull-- like it. Too bad they're only here in winter.

This has the bill of a Great Black-Backed Gull, but is the size of a Lesser.

We each took tons of photos of this poor crab, startled by so many cameras.

Feb 17 Boca Chica Beach (LTC 043) 43 species: Eared Grebe 10, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Reddish Egret 2, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, White-tailed Kite 1, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk 1, Harris's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, White-tailed Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Merlin 2, Aplomado Falcon 2, Peregrine Falcon 1, Killdeer, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Long-billed Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone 1, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Horned Lark 4, American Pipit, Eastern Meadowlark Parrot Spot (48/Honeydale/Ebanos/Central) plus great views of EIGHT RED-LORED PARROTS, plus a PAIR of WHITE-FRONTED PARROTS! 33 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Muscovy Duck (Domestic type), Lesser Scaup, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, White Ibis 1, Rock Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Green Parakeet, Red-crowned Parrot, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Yellow-throated Warbler 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

Feb 21 Estero Llano Grande SP The first Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake in a long time showed up today at Alligator Lake, it's been so cold. The warm day also brought out a Great Purple Hairstreak laying eggs on mistletoe at the east end of the levee. A Gulf Fritillary, a Red Admiral, a Pipevine Swallowtail, a Hermes Satyr, White Checkered-Skippers, a Cloudless Sulphur-- I couldn't ignore them even when I wasn't looking for butterflies. 88 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 115, Gadwall 2, Mottled Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 18, Cinnamon Teal 7, Northern Shoveler 126, Green-winged Teal 10, Ring-necked Duck 8, Ruddy Duck 12, Plain Chachalaca 2, Least Grebe 14, Pied-billed Grebe 4, American White Pelican 5, Neotropic Cormorant 15, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Anhinga 1, Great Blue Heron 20, Great Egret 2, Snowy Egret 6, Tricolored Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 10, White-tailed Kite 3, Northern Harrier 3, Cooper's Hawk 1, Harris's Hawk 5, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Sora 1, Common Moorhen 15, American Coot 108, Killdeer 10, Black-necked Stilt 62, American Avocet 50, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Stilt Sandpiper 10, Long-billed Dowitcher 160, Mourning Dove 14, Inca Dove 4, Common Ground-Dove 15, White-tipped Dove 6, Red-crowned Parrot 2, Eastern Screech-Owl 1, Common Pauraque 7, Buff-bellied Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird 2, Green Kingfisher 2, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 28, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3, Eastern Phoebe 2, Vermilion Flycatcher 2, Great Kiskadee 19, Tropical Kingbird 2, Couch's Kingbird 2, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird 13, White-eyed Vireo 3, Blue-headed Vireo 2, Green Jay 3, Purple Martin 8, Tree Swallow 6, Black-crested Titmouse 4, Carolina Wren 1, Bewick's Wren 1, House Wren 3, Sedge Wren 1, Marsh Wren 4, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7, Northern Mockingbird 16, Long-billed Thrasher 2, European Starling 2, American Pipit 12, Orange-crowned Warbler 18, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 16, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1, Common Yellowthroat 6, Olive Sparrow 3, Savannah Sparrow 12, Grasshopper Sparrow 3, Le Conte's Sparrow 1, Lincoln's Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 5, Pyrrhuloxia 2, Red-winged Blackbird 200, Eastern Meadowlark 4, Great-tailed Grackle 20, Lesser Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow 20

Feb 25 South Padre Island WBC (LTC 035)61 species on a VERY windy day in the 40's!: Gadwall, American Wigeon 4, Mallard (Domestic type) 2, Mottled Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 4, Northern Pintail 8, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Roseate Spoonbill 4, Osprey 2, Northern Harrier 2, Peregrine Falcon 1, Clapper Rail 1, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Sandhill Crane 40, Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Tropical/Couch's Kingbird, House Wren, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow 48 Fishing Landing 50 species: Brown Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret 4, Black-crowned Night-Heron 10, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 150, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher 4, Black-necked Stilt , American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit 140, Ruddy Turnstone 4, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Tree Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle. A brief stop at Old Port Isabel Rd adds Harris's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Cassin's Sparrow 1, Eastern Meadowlark

Feb 26 Dixieland Park with 3 dogs on new road being carved out. 29 species: Mottled Duck 2, Lesser Scaup 10, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 1, Green Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 1, White-tailed Kite 2, Northern Harrier 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Crested Caracara 1, American Coot 20, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Laughing Gull 1, Caspian Tern 3, Forster's Tern 21, Mourning Dove 4, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2, Eastern Phoebe 1, Great Kiskadee 1, White-eyed Vireo 2, Tree Swallow 50, Cactus Wren 1, Bewick's Wren 2, Northern Mockingbird 5, American Pipit 50, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1, Savannah Sparrow 66, Red-winged Blackbird 50

Feb 27 Dixieland Park with 3 dogs civilized section only. 34 species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 52, Lesser Scaup 20, Pied-billed Grebe 1, American White Pelican 7, Neotropic Cormorant 5, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Osprey 1, White-tailed Kite 2, American Coot 20, Killdeer 1, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Caspian Tern 3, Forster's Tern 1, Mourning Dove 58, Golden-fronted Woodpecker 4, Eastern Phoebe 2, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Great Kiskadee 1, Tropical Kingbird 1, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Purple Martin 1, Tree Swallow 50, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 2, American Pipit 12, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1, Savannah Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbird 50, Eastern Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle 20, Bronzed Cowbird 4, House Sparrow 5

Feb 28 Estero My first Barn Swallow of the season!