February 13 Estero Llano Grande State Park

Birder's Day Off - going birding for fun!

We threw a dart at the map - mentally - to decide the location for today,  celebrating the sunshine's return. Windshield had a light coating of ice when we left the refuge shortly after 7 AM. Driving the backroads to miss rush hour traffic we arrived at ELGSP while temperatures were warming but still chilly.  A 230 acres oasis reclaimed from former agriculture usage, the park is one of the most visited in the Valley.

The deck at the visitor center overlooks Ibis Pond affording close looks at many of the ducks and grebes that frequent the area.

 This Least Grebe was also enjoying the sunshine raising the feathers on his back to bask in the warmth.

He was a feisty little guy, holding his own with the much larger Shovelers while actively feeding.

The Common Gallinule sported bright red bills












contrasting with the drab white of the Coot. 


We saw our first Cinnamon Teal of the year, they were too far away for even an ID photo, although one flyover gave us great looks at the bright blue speculum.

I did get close enough to the Green-winged Teal

 to see just how beautiful he is while

Bottoms up!

clearly demonstrating dabbling duck behavior.

















The most numerous bird of the day, besides Red-winged Blackbird, were Orange-crowned Warbler.

this one in the butterfly garden behind the visitor center actually showed his namesake "orange crown"

This one in the tropical area posed so close I could barely focus.

Maybe we should rename them "Orange Eating Warbler"

This Common Ground-dove played tag with larger White-tipped Dove, tree trunks, and patches of grass before finally allowing few good poses. 

We also had Vermilion Flycatcher, Roseate Spoonbill, White Pelican, White-faced Ibis, Lesser Goldfinch, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Cooper's Hawk, and a bright yellow kingbird - either Tropical or Couch's, but with no vocalization positive for ID. Back in the parking lot, a Blue-grey Gnatcatcher showed up to say good-bye. 

3 miles away is Frontera Audubon Sanctuary, a well preserved and protected 15 acre thicket of thorn scrub and dense Sabal Palm located in the center of Weslaco.

Over a mile of trails loops around several small ponds and multiple feeding stations. Not too many birds, probably due to the time of day, but we did get Buff-bellied Hummer, Black-chinned/Ruby-throated Female, House Wren, Inca Dove, and great Kiskadee. We also picked up the first Ovenbird since Vermont. A great Egret Squawked loudly as it circled a small pond. We could hear the Ringed Kingfisher in the distance, but never picked up a visual. Lots of b'flies since the temp had reached 70. Gulf Frit, Checkered Skipper - not sure if they were Common, Tropical, or White, Queen, Grey Hairstreak, and large Yellow something.

 With fewer birds to view, my attention turned to patterns and plants. The Sabal Palms sport wicked spines along the stems

 and the fans with sun and shadow

at play are abstract works of art.

We had a late lunch at Keno Cafe, a place popular with locals in business since 1933. On the drive home through Rio Hondo, we were delayed by a barge being pushed up the Arroyo Colorado, Harlingen Ship Channel.

The draw bridge works differently from any we seen before, the entire roadbed is raised between the two uprights while the channel traffic passes underneath. We've crossed this bridge many times without experiencing a delay.

Never a dull moment.