King Ranch to Hill Country, Texas

Our last day on the hawk tower at Bentsen State Park was shrouded in fog.  Here the sun is burning through the clouds.

We have spent 9 months in South Texas but haven't taken on a southern accent yet.  We did see 335 species of birds and started our year list with 315.  It's been a great "winter" that feels a lot like summer.

Crimson Patch Butterfly

Our last evening brought an amazing sight, over 8,000 Mississippi Kites dropping into
the RV Park and State Park.  Truely specatacular!! 

Mississippi Kite coming in for a close up shot

We had the opportunity to go with the Spring Chirp Festival from the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco on a van trip to the King Ranch about 70 miles north of the valley.

We birded at the gate until our guide arrived to open the gate.

Our star bird was found in the fog of the early morning - Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Many wild flowers were blooming - Wild Iris

We looked for the Bailey's Ball Moss in the large oak trees to find another Texas specialty bird.

The Tropical Parula only nests in the Bailey's Ball Moss

This is a working ranch and water is available for the cattle, but the birds also take
advantage of the water.  Lesser Goldfinch

Common Ground Dove

Blackburnian Warbler

Our Spring Chirp group looking for the Northern Beardless Tyrannulet - Success!

The other stars of the King Ranch - Texas Longhorns

When we left the Rio Grande Valley, we headed north to the Hill Country north of San Antonio and west of Austin.  We spent two nights at Lost Maples State Park.









They have a great bird blind to watch a large variety of birds, adding to our year list.

Summer Tanager

Blue Grosbeak

Pine Siskins

Yellow-throated Warbler

Canyon Wren

Of course, the main bird you come to the Hill Country for is the Golden-cheeked Warbler

Scarlet Leather Bloom

Antelope Horn - in the Milkweed family

What a cute little mouse face - wish we could find it's name.

Ty walked to the top of the Natural Area and took this great photo from the overlook at Lost Maples State Park.

The next morning, we drove to the Kerr Management Area west of Kerrville to find
this specialty bird of Central Texas - The Black-capped Vireo

Our stops at Big Bend National Park and Gudelope Mountain National Park will be in the next blog.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann