Photo Gallery
Rarity Hunt at Santa Ana & Estero Llano Grande (26 DEC 11)
Dunlin are rare in Hidalgo County in winter, but there were at least five at Cattail Lakes this day!
The target bird was this female Mountain Bluebird, also at Cattail Lakes.
Bobcat Trail
Another rarity was this Green-tailed Towhee along the Bobcat
Trail
Green-winged Teal off the deck at Estero Llano
Chachalaca coming in to the feeder
Field Sparrow on the rocky stuff back in the Tropical Zone.
Roosting Barn Owl, also in the Tropical Zone
Yellow-throated Warbler
A young male Yellowthroat back off the deck
American Coot
Black-crested Titmouse checking out the bottom of the feeder tray!
Spoonbill Trail
Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (23 DEC 11)
Anhinga with prize
Loggerhead Shrike at the bottom end of the Walking Trail (love how he has one "hand" on the wire...)
Pat Heirs and myself outside the Pumphouse
Tip o' Texas CBC (Port Isabel section, 17 DEC 11)
Although not unexpected in the winter at Laguna Atascosa, this female Pyrrhuloxia in residential Port Isabel was a nice find!
Red-breasted Mergansers (above and below)
Not the best shot, but two Merlins were also nice in the residential area!
Falcon SP & Salineño (4 DEC 11)
Eared Grebe at the boat ramp, Falcon SP
White-crowned Sparrow at the photo blind; immatures have brown head stripes.
Adults have black and white head stripes (same spot).
Spotted Towhee, a rarity in the Valley (same spot).
These are the first Brown Jays to show up at Salineño in several years!
Another rarity this time of year was this Western Kingbird!
Several species have "irrupted" over the Valley this winter, including these Eastern Bluebirds at the River!
Three species of orioles show up at Cheryl's feeders: Altamira is the most expected...
Hooded Orioles usually leave in the winter, but one almost always hangs around here!
Audubon's Oriole is the main target here, though!
The ubiquitous Green Jay.