Estero Llano Grande to Santa Ana

We spent a week at 1015 RV Park in Weslaco, Texas and went everyday to several different birding areas.  We started early and enjoyed the sunrise over the ponds at Estero Llano State Park.  This is one of the best birding areas in South Texas, and we had 70+ species the first day.



On our drive to Weslaco, we encountered an unusual sight, A young male N. Harrier transtioning into it's adult plumage ( ghost bird).  What was so unusual is that he was feeding on a road kill Black-tailed Jack Rabbit.  These birds usually hunt for mice over the marshes and fields.

Coming back to his meal, the Northern Harrier

He still has his juvenile plumage on top and adult plumage below.  Many birders do not see the male harriers in this plumage transition.

Anhinga stretching out

Sleeping Common Pauraque can barely be found on the ground in the leaves

Common Pauraque, alert and showing stiff facial vibresae for catching insects

White-tailed Kite coming in for a landing

White-tailed Kite

Hybrid N. Pintail and Gadwall (calling him a "Pinwall")

White-tipped Dove

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Prikly Pear starting to bloom

Very strange Fox Squirrel with silver coat

McCall's Eastern Screech-Owl

Plain Chachalacas dominate the feeder

Wilson's Snipe were in large numbers at Estero, heading north soon

Yellow-crowned Night-heron 

Our first of the year White Ibis

Topical Kingbird

More Javelinas snuffling up bird seed

Surprise feeder bird at Frontera Audubon - A Guinea Fowl

Red-eared Slider at Valley Nature Center

Large Soft-shelled Turtle sunning

Clay-colored Thrush at Valley Nature Center

Olive Sparrow at Santa Ana

Northern Harrier at Estero Llano

N. Harrier loves coming over the ponds and scaring all the ducks and shorebirds

Hespid Cotton Rat is taking advantage of the bird seed too

Green Kingfisher, smallest of the three Kingfishers found here.

White-faced Ibis with a pair of Blue-winged Tead

Least Grebe

Female Hooded Oriole comes in for some jelly

We spent three days at Estero Llano Grande and had friends join us on two of the days.  What a great place to bird!

Next stop is South Padre Island for a few days and then on to Mission and Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann