Sunrise at Estero Llano Grande State Park
A great place to start the day, we are near here for the month.
Visitor's Center at Estero Llano
The signature bird here is the hudreds of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Large flocks descend to the ponds from the surrounding areas.
Coming straight for the camera!
One in a thousand- the Fulvous Whistling Duck.
Green Jay, for many birders, this South Texas bird is their favorite.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker loves the peanut butter.
So does the Ladder-backed Woodpecker
A special find, female Hooded Oriole
Then the male Hooded Oriole showed up.
Clay-colored Thrush, becoming more numerous in the Rio Grande Valley.
South Texas has one endemic Hummer, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Buff-bellied Hummer
A rare treat for the area - Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Common Pauraque - camouflage extraordinaire
A visit to Santa Ana NWR, early morning Bobcat siting along the levee
As he spotted the photographer coming for a close up, he assumed this prone position.
He slid into the long grass to keep watch.
Great Egret surrounded by two White Ibis
White Ibis on lookout!
Least Grebes calling their rapid, buzzy, descending trill.
Hen Ring-necked Duck
Carolina Wrens starting their Spring calls.
Heard throughout the park.
Rare winter bird for South Texas, an immature Dickcissel.
Bronzed Cowbird amidst the Red-winged Blackbirds
Black-tailed Jackrabbit, caught out in the open
Plan B, duck into the short grass
Plan C - Run! Covers 200 yards in 5 seconds!
Red-shouldered Hawk from our RV site.
White-tailed Hawk perched
Takes Flight!
About a mile from the RV Park in Weslaco is a Parrot Roost. We observed and heard the hundreds of parrots leaving in the morning and returning at dusk. We had four species: Red-crowned, Lilac-crowned, Red-lored and Yellow-headed Parrots.
Their deafening, raucous calls are not always appreciated in this residentual area.
A stop at Hidalgo for the resident Monk Parakeets
Are you trying to get my attention? Pishing worked well.
I can show off a little for the camera!
This tropical species is uncommon over most of it's range and considered a rare resident in the Rio Grande Valley. The Hook-billed Kite prefers dense riparian woodlands.
Shown here is a black morph male, this plumage is rarely seen in the United States.
Adult female eating a land snail on upper left, and an adult male right.
Bentsen RGV State Park is one of the best opportunites to find this rare bird.
This dark morph juvenile Kite is calling - loud rattling notes.
Observing 5 individual Kites exhibiting their plumage variations, feeding behavior, and hearing them far exceeded our every expectation to witness this unique bird.
A day worth remembering!
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann
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