Birding on a Shoestring: Amistad, Cook's Slough, Rincon Del Diablo and More

                                                               Cliff Swallows, View 1

                                                               Cliff Swallows, View 2

                                                                 Cliff Swallows, View 3

Wild Nicotiana

Verdin Nest

Canyon Wren

Strawberry Cactus

04-26-19  Amistad National Recreation Area is a very diverse area that afforded many wonderful opportunities for viewing both plants and wildlife.  Across the Rio Grande River in Mexico, Great Blue Herons were observed nesting on the cliffs.  Turkey and Black Vultures, as well as a Red-tailed Hawk were observed riding the warm air thermals.  Many birds, as well as the beautiful nesting Cliff Swallows in natural habitat, were found nesting here, as well as the Canyon Wren on the face of the cliffs.

Brown-crested Flycatcher 

04-26-19  Rincon Del Diablo is private property that I was permitted entrance to bird with area residents.  Our search began with a Zone-tailed Hawk (observed), as well as this lovely Brown-crested Flycatcher that I have been trying to properly photograph for a few years.  The long-term quest was the Morelet's Seedeater (formerly named the white-collared Seedeater), but we were not successful.

Swan Goose

Black Vulture

04-27-19  Cook's Slough, Uvalde, TX

This natural birding area is home to some of the finest birding in Uvalde County.  With 25 acres of land and two viewing stations, it is a prime resource for many birds and mammals.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Black Vultures and Axis Deer

Black-crested Titmouse

04-27-19  Neal's Lodgings, Concan, Texas

This was a camping area that had a lot of birds in the area.  It had been suggested as a location to possibly observe the rare, Yellow-cheeked Warbler, which we did.  Again, I didn't catch a photo opportunity, but there were other things to photograph.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Tufted Titmouse

peter-peter-pete!

Uniformly pale gray with gray crest, black forehead and buffy-orange flanks, this common bird is often in mixed flocks including chickadees, nuthatches, kinglets, and other forest birds.  Its range has been expanding north over the past half century.  This species comes to feeders frequently during fall and winter and is often found in deciduous forests.

Foraging along foliage and branches, as well as seeking insects within bark folds, it is commonly seen upside down while consuming fruit and seeds from trees. Caterpillars are a favorite summer staple.  During winter, they enjoy seeds, fruit, nuts, and berries.

This species is monogamous and pairs for life, and both sexes contribute to nest building within a nestbox, old woodpecker hole, or natural cavity. Besides the normal lichen, moss, hair, bark and grass, the cup nest will include snakeskin and fur from raccoons, squirrels, and opossums.  Titmice have even stolen dog and human hair on the wing.  The female incubates five to seven eggs for nearly two weeks for one or two broods a year.

                                                                   Tufted Titmouse
                                                             Boomer Lake Park, 2015

There is a very small hybrid zone for the Tufted and Black-crested Titmouse, which stabilizes over time.  Many of these birds nest just a short distance from where they were hatched.  A group of titmice is known as a banditry or dissimulation.

One of five titmouse species in the country, this one does not migrate.  Many will stay within a nest cavity through the winter.

Birding On a Shoestring--Days 11 Through 13

                                                              White-winged Dove

                                                                 Crested Caracara

                                                                        Javalina

                                                                             Ditto

                                                             Red-crowned Parrots

                                                            Yellow-headed Parrot

                                                                  Red-crowned Parrot

                                                           Black-crested Titmouse

                                                                Clay-colored Thrush

                                                                    Great Kiskadee

                                                             Black-crested Titmouse

                                                              Ladder-backed Woodpecker

                                                               White-winged Dove

                                                          Ladder-backed Woodpecker

                                                                  Audubon's Oriole

                                                                  Audubon's Oriole

                                                          Ladder-backed Woodpecker

                                                            Black-crested Titmouse

                                                                          Inca Dove

                                                            Yellow-rumped Warbler

                                                                         Verdin



01-24 through 01-26-17

My third year spot, Laguna Atascosa, never seems to disappoint.  Every time we go there, something new always crops up, like the White-winged Dove, the in-your face, javalina or collared peccary, which is a rodent, AND a decent picture of a Crested Caracara at eye level.  Even though it was an extraordinarily breezy day, both the caracara and I held our ground to make this a shot worth remembering!

A couple of evenings were given to a noted park in Hidalgo County, where the wild parrots roost in eucalyptus trees.  It was my first time around those trees, and I took in the exhilarating scent, as if it was my first time.

The first day of parrot hunting was fruitful, but it took a while to get near them, so it was too late for photos.  We knew where to find them the second time, so these shots were much better.  It was rumored that there were more parrot species there, but I was not able to locate them.  Perhaps another time.

A side trip was taken to another birding venue, as I missed a shot of the Clay-colored Thrush the first time.  However, the second time, I hit my mark, along with additional shots of the Green Jay and Black-crested Titmouse, more endemics of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Another return trip was given to a northern hotspot in Salenino, and this time, the Audubon's Oriole was present.  My timing was not good, but I waited a couple of hours, and the Oriole returned.

An Osprey was in the area as was a possible Sharp-shinned Hawk to make things interesting, and it
is believed that we were in the vicinity of a Plain Chachalaca colony.  They could be heard from quite a distance and a couple were seen.

We missed the White-collared Seedeater, which was reportedly in the area.

We stayed in Starr County for the return visit to Roma and Falcon State Park.  We arrived late afternoon but managed to get our sights on a Verdin, as well as several other birds that you will see
next time.

Days 8-10--More Birding On a Shoestring At the Lower Rio Grande Valley

                                                                 Green Kingfisher

                                                              Blue-winged Teal Pair

                                                           American White Pelicans

                                                           Reddish Egret, White Morph

                                                                  White-tailed Hawk

                                                             Black-crested Titmouse


01-21 through 01-23-17

The weather has been excellent from the start, save for a couple of overcast days, but I
didn't even think about your ice storm, since I was able to leave a day early.

Highlights of this period were the Green Kingfisher and the Gray Hawk, but I must boast
several raptors during the trip that I never would have had in Oklahoma.

On the way back to the hotel was the best bird viewing, including this rare Reddish Egret,
the white morph.  The usual Reddish Egret is difficult enough to find unless you're in
this area, so I took full advantage and waited a few minutes for proper conditions.

This trip also hosted a few parrots, but since we had never been to the area, it was more difficult to get good shots.  I do promise that you'll see a couple of wild parrot species later!

I was also on a mission to get all the doves, and I did that, so there are more of those to come, too.