Carolina, Winter, House and Marsh Wrens

The Carolina Wren sang a good bye to me as I left the trails at Santa Ana.  I was hoping for the Winter Wren again but did not see it the last two times there. Both Wrens are very striking and I was please to see them.  The House Wren was seen at NABA.
Edited - On February 14, we found  the Marsh Wren at the Birding Center on SPI.

 Carolina Wren 

Winter Wren (below)

 House Wren (below)

 His tail was down and he ready to fly.

A real bonus - a Marsh Wren at SPI on Valentine's Day! 

Santa Ana - Best of Today

An Olive Sparrow, Sora, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vereo and Verdin was the best we could do on a cloudy Sunday morning.  We were in search of the Beccard as were many others.  Birding started at the Tower area, then to Willow. 

Olive Sparrow

Sora hiding in the reeds.

                 Common Yellowthroat 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Verdin 

Least Grebe

Great Horned Owl in the Palm Tree (Estero Llando)

Yesterday my Alamo neighbors said they saw the Great Horned Owl at Estero. 

Since we procrastinated on the Long-eared Owl at Edinburg, we set out to find it.

Yes!!! It was windy at times.  Compare these with the last photo with a break from the breeze.

Yesterday a hawk was raising a ruckus when he noticed the owl in his park.

Common Yellowthroat at Willow (Santa Ana)

             This Warbler has been one of my favorite birds for as long as I remember.      

It is very common throughout the United States and seen in low bushes and marshy lands.  I remember seeing the first one at Geneva Lake. The Texas Common Yellowthroat is a sub species and it keeps migrant Yellowthroats out of their territory. 

Painted Bunting a Wow Bird at NBC

 This is the most colorful bird I have ever seen in this country.

We in the North think Indigo Buntings are striking but this is unbelievable.

                     This is a Lifer for me since I only saw the female which is a nondescript bird.

The Bunting spent some time out in the open but low lighting was a problem.

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Female Painted Bunting from 2016 at Frontera being very secretive.

White-eyed Vireo - Butterfly Center

A White-eyed Vireo tried to avoid my camera.  First by looking like a Kinglet and then being very active moving through the bushes.  I feel lucky to find get any photos of this Vireo because its hard time getting them in binoculars.

Blue Bunting at Last - Quinta Maztalan

        The elusive immature Blue Bunting finally came out in the open to the amphitheater feeders. 

For weeks he stayed hidden and birders only saw glimpses of him deep in the bush.  A few weeks ago he came out to the stream and was sited by a more, but not to us. The  fourth time was not quite the charm, because it was a very low light morning before the rain.  Happy but not ecstatic. 

The Bunting is getting more colorful by day with turquoise showing on the crown of his head. 

Snowy Heron, Night Herons at Estero Llando

   Late afternoon is not very birdy but there is always Herons somewhere at Estero Llando. 

Black-crowned Night Heron

Golden-crowned Night Heron

An Osprey at South Padre

South Padre Island Birding Center is home to Ospreys. To our delight an Osprey was hunting overhead while we were on the back boardwalk.  It was definitely close to lunch time since we also observed the Kingfisher hunting a bit earlier.  We were also ready to share a meal at SP Brewery. (in sequential order)