Farewell to South Texas

 

Time is moving on and so are we, time to migrate north with the birds.

This White-tailed Kite is one of the four kite species we see from the Hawk Tower-

(Mississippe, Swallow-tailed (rare) and our famous Hook-billed).

This is the kite that everyone wants to see.  This Hook-billed Kite photo was captured by Ryan Rodriguez, an exceptional birder at the age of 15 with impressive observation and identification skills.

Mississippi Kites on their overnight roost at Bentsen State Park

Mississippi Kites becoming restless as dawn and ensueing weather front approaches.

Mississippi Kite near the hawk tower

One of the thousands of Mississippi Kites migrating in large kettles.

Raptors are not the only birds we see from our lofty perch.  We average 75 species a day including this male Indigo Bunting nestled in the Retama blossoms.

One of the 75 Great Egrets that landed in the Tower Resaca wetlands.

Swainson's Hawks come through in large kettles, they nest in the Western United States and southern Western Canada.  One pair decided to not fly any farther north and are  nesting near the tower.

This Northern Mockingbird sings from the tower railing.

Or from this dead tree five feet from the tower mocking many of the area birds.

This Bronzed Cowbird replaced the Mockingbird

Bronzed Cowbird can be trouble for nesting birds by laying their eggs in other birds nests.

Nuptial displays - Bronzed Cowbird

Common Pauraque luring Ty away from concealed chicks by "floundering" along the ground.

Long-billed Thrasher 

Dead trees aroung the tower attracted Wood Storks.

These Wood Storks are part of the Mexican breeding population that wander north.

Northern Cardinal sings on territory below the tower.

Verdin visits tower daily, often hard to see but this one posses.

Hot Spring weather brings out the reptiles - Six-lined Racerunner

Five foot long Bull Snake

Also called Gopher Snake

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake once again warns Ty of it's prensence

on his  pre-dawn owl survey walk.

Encountered three times in the dark and twice by Ida from the tram.

Ribbon Snake goes for a swim by the main visitor's center

Eyed Click Beetle - almost 2 inches long

Hooded Oriole male attive in our RV Park palm trees

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks dispersing

Looking for nesting sights 

They nest high in the trees sometimes in the sides of the palms

Yellow-crowned Night-herons build a nest high in the tree near the visitor's center at Bentsen

Mom work's hard incubating and Dad takes a nap close by.

We head north on the 28th, going through Arkansas and Missouri to Iowa for a few repairs on the RV at Winnebago Industries in Forest City before heading to Wisconsin.  

Looking at God's creation all along the way.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

Bentsen plus day trip to SPI

 

We have been counting hawks for six weeks with two more to go from

Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Texas.  

Every sunrise is unique and a special gift from God.

Although hawk counting is our main emphasis, we count other bird species too.

We usually have about 80 species.  This Verdin is setting up territory

below the tower.

Warblers are now migrating through South Texas and we saw this Hooded Warbler.

Birders from all over the U.S. are coming to hopefully see this rarity.  The Hook-billed Kite.

So, this is what we watch each day.  Specks in the sky sometimes. 

Here are 37 Broad-winged Hawks forming a kettle in the warmer updrafts.

This Swainson's Hawk is building a nest near the tower.

Coral Bean flowers attract birds and bees

Texas Olive in bloom

Couch's Kingbird calling "Beer"

Couch's Kingbird watching for insects

White-winged Doves increasing in numbers

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher migrating north in great numbers

Ty got a sursprise while doing his early morning owl survey.

A six foot plus Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake

Western Kingbird

Golden-fronted Woodpecker with her long tongue lapping in the hummingbird feeder

This tiny guy has a name longer than he is -

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Giant Mesquite Bug

Brown-crested Flycatcher

The rare dark morph Broad-winged Hawk

Of the thousands of Broad-wings, we have seen only two.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Harrier juvenile - daily visitor

Are you taking my photo again?  How many times do I have to fly by here?

Hawk tower visitor - a real turkey - walked up the whole ramp and flew off the 30 ft platform

Another visitor coming up the ramp.

Ruthven's snake - an uncommon species

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher hawks for a large insect

We drove to South Padre Island for the day with friends to see the great passerine migration

Feeder areas provide stopovers for food, water and rest.

Northern Parula and Nashville Warbler check out the oranges.

Northern Parula

Male Summer Tanager

Tennessee Warbler

Blue Grosbeak

Orchard Oriole

Green Heron greets us at the Birding Center

Look carefully!  This Green Heron is on the nest in the mangroves.

This resident Spotted Sandpiper displaying his Spring spots.

The very special Mangrove Warbler is setting up nesting territory at the Birding Center

Mangrove Warbler singing

Clapper Rail calling mate

There she is!  The call must have worked!

Northern Waterthrush

White Ibis with crab pincher still pinching bill.

He finally got it free by plunging it in the mud.

Rising sun - (note sunspot at about 2 oclock position)

The rising sun is a stark reminder of the Risen Son, our Savior Jesus Christ on this Easter Sunday.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann