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: Rufous-crowned Sparrow

A large, stocky sparrow that is uncommon on arid rocky hillsides or canyons with patches of grass and sparse shrubs.  It is usually solitary unless mated and will not flock.  Much more common in southwestern states like Arizona, it is becoming much less common in Oklahoma.  Its most likely observation spot is either at Black Mesa, Black Mesa State Park, or the Wichita Mountain NWR in the Sunset picnic area in western and southwestern Oklahoma, respectively.

Known for the dark lateral throat striping, the red rear eyeline, pale malars, and split rufous crown with plain gray breast and ground dwelling behavior, it appears to resemble a towhee phylogenically.  It also has a husky descending chatter that seems like it is more mumbled than clear.

                                                           Rufous-crowned Sparrow
                                                          Santa Rita Lodge, AZ 2018

With isolated populations and from twelve common subspecies up to another six more possible,  its populations are often very isolated from one another.

They are insectivores during the spring and summer, then rely on seeds for the winter.

Nests are often predated upon by snakes and a number of mammals, to which the sparrow has adopted a few defense mechanisms.  It uses the drooping wing like the Killdeer, falling from a bush, and the "rodent" run voicing a drawn out alarm call, where all three habits take predators away from the nest.

Its breeding area is a sparsely vegetated scrubland.  The males are very territorial and guard their breeding grounds throughout the year.  When a nest site has been chosen, they will usually rely upon it for many years.  A single brooder, but a clutch replacer when necessary, this species is a victim of the Brown-headed Cowbird.

Rodenticides are also a problem for this species, namely warfarin, since they spend so much of their time on or near the ground.