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.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge/Laguna Atascosa in Texas

                                                            Blue-winged Teal Pair

                                                               Male Green-winged Teal

                                                               Male Blue-winged Teal

                                                                       Least Grebe

                                                                    Pied-billed Grebe
                                                           Breeding Plumage, Foreground

                                                                   Greater Yellowlegs

                                                                    American Wigeon

                                                                      Crested Caracara

                                                                   Greater Roadrunner

                                                                    White-tipped Dove

                                                            Golden-fronted Woodpecker

                                                                       Olive Sparrow


02-18/02-20-16

Photos were taken at Jones Lake and Heron Flats in Aransas NWR and Laguna Atascosa just
prior to darkness.

Jones Lake was observed over two days, where the both teals, the Least Grebe, and American
Wigeon were found.

The real gems were located at Laguna Atascosa, which was worth the drive via a seven-mile detour over very rough terrain.  The birds photographed were the Crested Caracara, Greater Roadrunner, White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, Golden-crowned Woodpecker,  Gray Catbirds and the very regional Olive Sparrow.  The Aplomondo Falcon was seen attempting to apprehend a Gray Catbird, as was the Long-billed Thrasher.  Darkness
nearly enveloped us, and I ran out of time trying to get a decent shot of the Long-billed Thrasher.  Perhaps next time will yield additional results.