I visited southern Texas during the period of January 6th through the 12th and enjoyed 180 species of birds. The warm weather was a stark contrast to the low temperatures we had been experiencing in northern Virginia with temperature extremes of 42 to 85 degrees.
My travels included Estero Llano Grande State Park, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, the National Butterfly Garden, Anzalduas Park, Santa Ana NWR, Falcon Dam State Park, Salineno, Zapata, Old Port Isabel Road, South Padre Island, Sabal Palm Sanctuary and various other sites in Zapata, Hidalgo and Cameron Counties.
One of my top experiences was a close encounter with a male and female Aplomado Falcon on Old Port Isabel Road who did not flush but allowed me to enjoy their close company for about 20+ minutes.
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- Aplomado Falcon near Brownsville, Texas
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- Aplomado Falcon near Brownsville, Texas
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- Aplomado Falcon near Brownsville, Texas
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- Aplomado Falcon on Old Port Isabel Road, Texas
Another fascinating experience was observing a Bobcat suddenly emerge from the brush adjacent to a water drip at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park and capture a Great Kiskadee that had decided to fly in for a drink. “In a flash” the bobcat emerged and grabbed the flycatcher and then proudly walked off with its next meal.
Bobcat after capturing Great Kiskadee Flycatcher from water drip at Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Tx
White-collared Seedeater in Zapata Park, Texas
White-collared Seedeater @ Zapata Bravo Park, Texas
Green Kingfisher at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Bewick’s Wren at Falcon Lake State Park, Texas
Cassin’s Sparrow in Zapata County, Texas
Cactus Wren in Zapata County, Texas
Clay-colored Sparrow in Zapata County, Texas
Vermillion Flycatcher from Starr County, Texas
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Hidalgo County, Texas
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher thrashing a grasshopper on power line in Hidalgo County, Texas
2nd Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Hidalgo County, Texas
White-tailed Kite in Zapata County, Texas
Pyrrhuloxia in Starr County, Texas
Cassin’s Sparrow in Zapata County, Texas
Sedge Wren from Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Bronzed Cowbirds from Progresso Silos, Texas
Yellow-headed Blackbird with Bronzed Cowbirds & Red-winged Blackbirds at Progresso Silos, Texas
Cooper’s Hawk at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Nashville Warbler eating berry (true position) at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
White-winged Doves from McAllen, Texas
White-tailed Kite from Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Common Ground Dove at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Lesser Goldfinch at the National Butterfly Garden, Texas
Couch’s Kingbird at the National Butterfly Garden, Texas
Clay-colored Thrush at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Altimira Oriole at the National Butterfly Garden, Texas
Some of the thousands of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Progresso Lakes, Texas
Long-billed Thrasher at Progresso Lakes, Texas
Wilson’s Warbler at Progresso Lakes, Texas
Wilson’s Warbler, female at Sabal Palms Sanctuary, Texas
Yellow Warbler (male) at Progresso Lakes, Texas
Least Flycatcher on entry road to Sabal Palms Sanctuary, Texas
Black-throated Gray Warbler at Zapata Library/Park, Texas
Least Grebe at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s) at Zapata Park, Texas