Clayton
Maxwell, who earlier in the year had come down to write an article about the
Valley for Texas Highways, wanted to
bring her family down to experience some birding, and initially suggested going
to the same places I had taken her and her photographer Kenny (Santa Ana and
Quinta Mazatlan – when the famous Mexican Violetear showed up), but I gave her
a choice: if they were interested in
chasing a rare bird again, we had the Golden-crowned Warbler at Frontera
Audubon, and a number of goodies at South Padre Island, including a Masked
Booby and the Valley’s second White-crowned Pigeon! She and her hubby Scott talked it over and
chose Frontera (as it was closer, and they had gotten in late the night
before), so we took off around 7:30 with Clayton at the helm, and Scott in
charge of eight-year-old Harry and 13-year-old Carly in the back seat!
We
checked in with Chris and headed into the woods, and almost immediately I heard
the distinctive rattle of the warbler (I had played the call for them and
showed them a picture on the way there)!
It was very close, but being skulky, and I wish someone had been able to
take a video of us sneaking up on the thing, because out of the corner of my
eye I saw Harry right by my side, and Big Sister Carly hanging onto his shirt
to keep him from running ahead of me! J I got enough of a glimpse to see the head
pattern, and Harry saw him dart across the path, so that was good enough for
him! Birding buddy Brad showed up about
the same time and refound the bird, but again I only got a glimpse of the
yellow underparts this time before it shot away. But it at least allowed a little bit of a
recording at the “Kingfisher Resaca” while a Buff-bellied Hummingbird came in
for point-blank views!
Carly (with the bins) looks at me while Brad looks for the vagrant warbler...
We
continued on, where lots of birds were calling but very little was showing;
Scott saw a Kiskadee based on his description while a Beardless Tyrannulet
called nearby. Carolina Wrens were
singing all over, a bird Harry recognized from his home in Austin! Some Red-crowned Parrots called really far
away, and a Green Kingfisher gave its ticking call (very similar to the
warbler, in fact), but never showed itself.
Heading onto the boardwalk and wanting to be able to show the kids something through the scope, we finally
settled on a male Roseate Skimmer that was planted on a stem below its mate! We heard lots of White-tipped Doves, and the
kids were quick to recognize the “coke-bottle bird” as we went along!
Roseate Skimmer
Scott on the boardwalk
Figuring
that maybe things would be easier to see at the feeders, we headed that
direction when I spotted a group of White-winged Doves up on a dead tree, so we
got the scope on them so the gang could ooh and ahh at their eyes! J White-eyed Vireos sang all over, and Scott
got a glimpse of one high in a tree. We
then sat for five at the feeders, enjoying a Green Jay coming in and a
Cottontail hogging the area underneath the feeder. Heading out, Clayton was a very good teacher as
she asked the kids what five birds they could remember seeing (Harry mentioned
the warbler right off the bat J) and what bird
says, “Quick, get the beer, chick!”
(Answer below… J) Sensing
that the kids needed a change of scenery we headed back to the parking area, suggesting
we go to the deck at Estero Llano Grande, where we could chill on the covered
deck and see the birds through the scope; that sounded good all around!
Harry checks out the White-winged Dove (below) through the scope!
Even
at the lot at the park a Mockingbird at the top of a tree through the scope was
a hit! The various plumages of
Red-winged Blackbirds even brought some excitement, as did the Chachalacas
running around the feeders! Both adult
and “adolescent” Little Blue Herons showed well, plenty of Black-bellied
Whistling Ducks abounded, and while looking at the latter they even spotted a Least
Grebe on their own! They enjoyed the
purple speculum of the Mottled Duck and the striking pattern of the three
Black-necked Stilts that came wheeling in and then landed for scope views, and
even the subtle pattern of the eclipse-plumaged Blue-winged Teal was a winner!
Ready to roll at Estero!
Northern Mockingbird
Immature Little Blue Heron (above and below)
Chachalaca
Red-winged Blackbirds (above and below)
The
kids talked Mom into getting ice cream (hard to pass up at Estero J), we sang “Happy
Birthday” to Scott, then called it a day, with 45 species for the morning, the
last bird being a Curve-billed Thrasher that darted across the road just before
getting back to the Inn!
Bird list:
Black-bellied
Whistling-Duck
Blue-winged
Teal Mottled Duck
Plain Chachalaca
Least Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Common Ground-Dove
White-tipped Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
White-faced Ibis
Green Kingfisher
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Red-crowned Parrot
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Kiskadee
Tropical Kingbird
Couch's Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo (the “beer/chick” bird)
Green Jay
Black-crested Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Clay-colored Thrush
Curve-billed Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Golden-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Dickcissel
House Sparrow
45 SPECIES
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