Birding on a Shoestring--The Secrets of Zapata County

                                                                   Crested Caracara

                                                                  Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                               Common Ground Dove

                                                                     Olive Sparrow

                                                                  Northern Bobwhite

                                                                    Pyrrhuloxia

                                                          Northern Bobwhite, Female

                                                              Black-throated Sparrow

                                                              Common Ground Dove

                                                                 Crested Caracara

                                                               Adult Crested Caracara

                                                                     Egyptian Geese


01-27-17

Crossing into Zapata county from Starr county gives one an entirely different type of
topography.  It is more sandy with scrub, so it appeals to different kinds of birds.  It
is almost like we went from one country to another.

Here we have more southwestern types of birds, like the Pyrrhuloxia, a cardinal-like bird,
which is easy to distinguish if you know what to look for.  This bird has a light colored
parrot type of bill, good for cracking harder seed and nuts.  Sparrows and quail also favor this
area, and the Groove-billed had been around before, but unfortunately not on this day.

We also found Egyptian Geese and a Black Vulture colony in San Marcos, TX, which is one
of those rare favored areas for the Golden-cheeked Warbler in the summer.