Estero Llano Grande at Weslaco TX

 

For February we are staying at 1015 RV Park which is one mile north of Estero Llano Grande State Park which is one of our favorite birding spots of the Rio Grande Valley.

We were greeted by this Eastern Screech Owl which is the McCall's race and could soon be seperated into it's own species.

Common Pauraque hidden in the branches by the tree trunk

Common Pauraque - how about a close up view showing the vibrissae (whiskers for collecting insects)?

Clay-colored Thrush 

Curve-billed Thrasher

Northern Shoveler pair

White-tipped Dove -South Texas specialty

Here's the lineup - Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

You go first!

Hundreds of Whistling Ducks fly in daily

Looking for their place on the log

This is my log - get off.

Least Grebe gets a big catch

Another Valley specialty - Least Grebe

White-tailed Kite - insect hunting

Altamira Oriole loves the citrus

Altamira are the largest of North American orioles

Blue-winged Teal are joined by a Cinnamon Teal

Olive Sparrow

Wintering Wilson's Snipe blends into the reeds

Buff-bellied Hummingbird - My! What a long tongue you have!

Buff-bellied sits nearby guarding the feeder

Buff-bellied's wings make loud noise when zipping by

White-winged Dove has beautiful blue facial skin

Black-crested Titmouse

Red-tailed Hawk 

Red-tailed Hawk - stalls before landing

Allen's Hummingbird 

Bronzed Cowbirds

Carolina Wren

Long-billed Thrasher

Note the large strange looking duck right of center - Hybrid Pintail/Gadwall

A trip back to Santa Ana NRW for the extremely rare Bat Falcon
Note Dragonfly in right talon.

Bat Falcon watches for more dragonflies.
This bird is the first confirmed siting in North America.

Hey!  What are all these photographers here for?

Great Kiskadees offer a splash of color....

As well as calling out their name - Kis-ka-dee!

❤️ Love & 🙏 Prayers
Ty & Ida Baumann