Monday, January 30, 2023

Texas - Davis Mountains to South Padre Island

Our first stop in Texas was Davis Mountains State Park.  Since the Park was booked with families, we went into the Primitive Camp area and found much more wildlife and quiet than the park.

On the rocky slopes we saw a herd of Aoudad grazing and resting.

The Aoudad rams were buting heads and it could be heard far below.

Phainopepla female, the only Silky Flycatcher in the U.S.

Canyon Towhee

We then drove 800 miles south to Laredo and stayed at Lake Casa Blanca State Park.

Spotted Sandpiper

Greater Roadrunner at our campsite

Coming close for a head shot.

Rare bird in the desert - Prairie Warbler

Stopped at Zapata city park and found a Wood Duck in the small pond

Rio Grande at Salineño Wildlife Preserve at dawn.

Green Jay

Black Crested Titmouse

Altamira Oriole

Olive Sparrow

We spent four nights at Falcon State Park.  
Double Crested & Neotropic Cormorants on the lake.

Black-throated Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

White-eyed Vireo

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 

Bewick's Wren

We had to go to South Padre Island to add over 30 species of birds hard to find elsewhere.
Roseate Spoonbills

Roseate Spoonbill flies out to feed

Piping Plover

Brown Pelican

Long-billed Curlew blends in

Mottled Duck

Black Skimmer feeding along the waves of the ocean

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are greeters at the Birding Center

Black-bellied Whistling Duck gets a drink

White Ibis

Windy day ruffles a few feathers of this Reddish Egret

Tricolored Heron

Common Gallinule

Wind catches the Northern Pintail's feathers

American Kestrel

Cattle Egret stalks along the road for insects

Red Flag warning, beware of waves and currents

Roadrunner soaking up the sunshine on a cold morning



White-tailed Hawk, one of 15 soaring over plowed field

Nilgai Blue Bull at Laguna Atascosa

These exotic antelope from Pakistan are thriving well in Southeast Texas.

We are now in Weslaco for a month then to Mission and Bentsen State Park for Hawk Count.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann









 

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