I visited southern Texas, flying into and departing from Brownsville, from February 14 to the 21st. The trip was enjoyable for both the wildlife observed and the wonderful hospitality and support I received from almost every location I visited or stayed. During my visit I visited the following sites: Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Falcon State Park, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Santa Ana NWR, Bahia Grande NWR (part of Laguna Atascosa), Salineno Feeding Station and roads in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. Photographs of some of the birds and other wildlife photographed are as follows:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck in Brownsville, Texas
Mottled Duck from southern Texas
Cinnamon Teal @ Estero Llanno State Park, Texas
Plain Chachalaca @ Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas
Least Grebe @ Sabel Palm Sanctuary, Texas
Least Grebe @ Santa Ana NWR, Texas
Anhinga in Brownsville, Texas
Neotropical Cormorant, Brownsville, Texas
Reddish Egret @ Padre Island, Texas
Reddish Egrets foraging @ Bahia Grande, Texas
Immature White Ibis in southern Texas
White-faced Ibis @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
White-faced Ibis @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Roseate Spoonbill in southern Texas
Northern Harrier @ Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas
White-tailed Kite in southern Texas
White-tailed Kite in southern Texas
White-tailed Hawk in southern Texas
White-tailed Hawk in southern Texas (juvenile)
Red-tailed Hawk from southern Texas
Western Red-tailed Hawk- intermediate morph from southern Texas
Harris’s Hawk in southern Texas
Harris’s Hawk in southern Texas (juv.)
Harris’s Hawk (juv.) in southern Texas
Ferruginous Hawk from southern Texas
Ferruginous Hawk from southern Texas
Ferruginous Hawk from southern Texas
Sandhill Crane in southern Texas
Sandhill Cranes in Hidalgo County, Texas
Long-billed Curlew in southern Texas
Long-billed Curlew in southern Texas
Flock of Long-billed Curlew in southern Texas
Inca Dove @ Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
White-tipped Dove in southern Texas
Common Ground-Dove at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Great Horned Owl on nest at Sabel Palm Sanctuary, Texas
One of three Common Pauraque at Estero Llano State Park, Texas
One of three Common Pauraque at Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Buff-bellied Hummingbird @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Ringed Kingfisher from Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Golden-fronted Woodpecker @ Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (female) in southern Texas
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (male) @ southern Texas
Crested Caracara in southern Texas
Crested Caracara in southern Texas
Crested Caracara in southern Texas
Crested Caracara putting on show in Hidalgo County, Texas
Great Kiskadee in southern Texas
Tropical Kingbird in southern Texas
Couch’s Kingbird in southern Texas
Couch’s Kingbird in southern Texas
Brown-crested Flycatcher in southern Texas
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Vermillion Flycatcher @ Santa Ana NWR, Texas
Vermillion Flycatcher in southern Texas
Green Jay in southern Texas
Green Jay in southern Texas
Chihuahuan Raven in southern Texas
Cave Swallow @ Santa Ana NWR, Texas
Cave Swallow at Santa Ana NWR, Texas
Black-crested Titmouse in southern Texas
Verdin in southern Texas
Cactus Wren in southern Texas
Clay-colored Thrush @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
White-throated Thrush at Estero Llano State Park, Texas
White-throated Thrush @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Long-billed Thrasher in southern Texas
Long-billed Thrasher in southern Texas
Curved-billed Thrasher in southern Texas
Curve-billed Thrasher in southern Texas
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat in Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat at Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Olive Sparrow in southern Texas
Olive Sparrow in southern Texas
Olive Sparrow in southern Texas
Lark Bunting in southern Texas
Lark Buntings in Hidalgo County, Texas
I found the below female Blue Bunting at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park. My observation was just beyond the entry dike on the right side.
Blue Bunting (female) at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Blue Bunting (female) at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Blue Bunting (female) at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Hooded Oriole (female) in southern Texas
Hooded Oriole (female) in southern Texas
Immature Hooded Oriole at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Immature male Hooded Oriole in Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park, Texas
Immature Hooded Oriole at Bentsen- Rio Grande State Park Texas
Altamira Oriole in southern Texas
Altamira Oriole in southern Texas
Altamira Oriole, 1st year, southern Texas
Audubon’s Oriole in southern Texas
Lesser Goldfinch in southern Texas
There were also many non-birding moments which as always enhance the overall experience.
Alligator with young on South Padre Island, Texas
Alligator with young in southern Texas
Texas Soft-shelled Turtle @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Red Saddlebags- Tramea onusta from southern Texas
Variegated Meadowhawk- Sympetrum corruptum- immature male from southern Texas
Roseate Skimmer (female)- Orthemis ferruginea @ Estero Llano State Park, Texas
Roseate Skimmer (female)- Orthemis ferruginea @ Estero Llana State Park, Texas
Nysa Roadside-Skipper in Hidalgo County, Texas on February 19, 2015
Phaon Crescent in Hidalgo County, Texas on February 19, 2015