Getting out of Iowa for a couple days, Ashley and I flew to south Texas for a quick birding trip.
In all, it was productive ordeal with nearly 200 species tallied. There is no way that I can post all the photos from the trip... but I thought I'd mention some of the highlights.
The first highlight of the trip was the continuing NORTHERN WHEATEAR near Beeville. This bird represents the 2nd state record for Texas:
The next highlight was finding RED-BILLED PIGEONS north of Zapata. Here is a picture of 4 of the 8:
Salineno and Falcon State Park had the usual suspects including this PYRRHULOXIA:
... and this AUDUBON'S ORIOLE:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB00xAyU44n06y4zliax01IpvleF7NpWQA5ZME-06VxNysOQRjstoS1AidIYqt-s-FFjBH9SqJ5O_9Eluzytt3nQcchFlPay5u-Am5N8J10KUCslYR1An1y6ihfV0sswg1fmn4IObEl-F/s400/AUOR+(15).jpg)
... and this CURVE-BILLED THRASHER:
Spending a morning up on the hawk platform at Santa Anna NWR, we were able to see several great birds. Perhaps my biggest highlight was a female HOOK-BILLED KITE. Another great find was a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Other raptors we saw throughout the trip included:
Gray Hawk:
Swainson's Hawk:
Zone-tailed Hawk:
White-tailed Hawk:
Also from the hawk platform:
Anhinga:
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (including a flock of 6):
Bronzed Cowbird:
Couch's Kingbird:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPcSG6vTW3IdPsGfb4U8D6KGBsBKQzAk3qDdzdavi8UumOhzL-683JYB-Yn5eizR2fVf5Ii-pXxdfSyM6tPaqXdzIAuYwV6xMQJuXxVZVc9635MyaRwUOtCyZDbZulc5ckj8TAT72A_Ah/s400/COKI+(9).jpg)
Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco was another productive location. Highlights included:
Least Grebe:
Mottled Duck:![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8j9wvC9Fp4Dtpak2y7bQ3vCzSmpTJZQQNkTKxndDWIh0YSghOoK4SlFN3Q56SSIA-PGsPjAUaVC69n2irgPemQmmi3z7DvlsVAd7bZoB_r8NBUGvqeOK8bcKZ9pn8bEokbEmZBfZ-b9U/s400/MODU.jpg)
A Buff-bellied Hummingbird on its nest:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObqBl4DUD4_1y2yg7MzBcnKzct8zm-qGonioLuKo0FUZQpjVZmggZtR8k-jSD8Zx6XGIkNW20vsZsMTc8KPSR3Bmge7Act3y3-yg28EZcQrSC8HbCAQc7g9wIxhF6oUkTv9jWuTFYJKOz/s400/BBEH+(1).jpg)
This winter has seemingly been pretty good for CLAY-COLORED THRUSHES. We first found 2 in Roma and then another 2 in Estero Llano Grande SP. I don't know why I can never get a decent shot of these guys:
Let's play a game called "can you spot the pauraque?":
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lIgt6MdbmiFM0uJSVnvOBnsdCk8Li2x4E7IdnptputBGxi68s_cgTbFVhIh_RAxAR5sEVuJfE6b9-UANRGEuOQ2OYuQRbrX_Ar6lkuZwHzGQhzM8laxl31ML2_2_P52TWuXNwMalcxCf/s400/COPA+(1).jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHPUcABtIo25-VLjDMF1ZctjF3-uzbmyh5IcDN8AqIhtLbHFSLDV1c79flD2vyC3O4mqRZjCaDQJErqTRl_B8JvJU5w8Wq-qTAV_8totBtJ63Qhir5YCtn4bqr3zbSUCes9AQPDkDBSQK/s400/COPA+(3).jpg)
This Common Pauraque was easier to see:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15_CPmlWGcLpmFfS_c9HkAt7P2flL8WCopAGUB9HpG-Z8RYb7L0nUkL5WGtG5mQ0wWn2h0Hp1HjNwz3hLJUa9kEJH70qoXwKJcwp2MnynsIP0g-9x8GR1cdKdgWlwJ_d9eqoVLDdLHabg/s400/COPA.jpg)
Just north of Estero Llando Grande SP, we found a flock of about 50 RED-CROWNED PARROTS:
Of course, when you're in south Texas, you can't forget the PLAIN CHACHALACAS:
I will admit, I had fun with the SPRAGUE'S PIPITS this trip. Of course, the reliable spot is at Anzalduas County Park. We had at least 4 there including this one:
But a surprise came on Padre Island where we found this one walking along a paved road! Oh, and thanks to the biker who permanently flushed this thing:
Speaking of Padre Island, there was some decent activity (if you managed to escape the crowds). For example, we found a couple of WILSON'S PLOVERS:
Royal Terns:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tKQwP09EF0AzQXdGYc0IhSYKTuY97Qlj3rvLw_UUPNMfFL9K9YFTgdGuSSXinbmIpS2n6l-xiSEZPxP5GmTG91zZ-3vMul7E9DUQ1J0yMdLPrUylgbtvlDCnLHVFnFZxJPJyV7NOkFWS/s400/ROTE+(20).jpg)
The ubiquitous LAUGHING GULL:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjvThTxFTmCTuXUg9Tx5V-kDRon9jls1Epi1WUNrckZ9J4wi1adlUVn30-hIm9ztGZeY0M9BYv7Y7WwxtFGF7nUNbcW_GIUAPCfgq0w5IJyuZuYEBYgtkKSwxAGopmeCLGdejB5EUmn-j/s400/DSC_8083.jpg)
Ring-billed Gull:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XeOB5ClnfyyJFTKUpyZHOQMKkYZ_3F234Uji80mxODZ9_Av4hl1kOrdTAxlaZJpSljqNJ1dMQUtb_bdz9aapwJYplDM8DUg7M5TtL7jGiUuKJEQfmH5PUDh1qwWshe0Tch7c2QEin_Jn/s400/DSC_8078.jpg)
Of course, where ever I go, I get hunted down by LONG-BILLED CURLEWS:
Speaking of terns though, we enjoyed the variety down in south Texas. We ended up with 5 species: Forster's, Royal, Caspian, Sandwich, and a couple of GULL-BILLED TERNS:
Lastly, in Friedrich Wilderness Park, in the suburbs of San Antonio, we found this GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWpqj7KrarCqfLxfwQT8fNQGqMgRFhyQYJ5gIBiJQuMwulKwwgF8jQk2Gh5FE3H3Q6nq7ExL3_s6xEr3NKwbHQ_TDwe3p6QQCmmsRG475YDHrmrcFKjAlWGoHINqpklCPQk6wKWofojda/s400/GCWA.jpg)