Monk Parakeets on Gardenia

Just down from the street from Pumphouse in Hidalgo is a colony of Monk Parakeets. The large nest was built on a transformer in a residential neighborhood. Only a few parakeets were visible compared to about 30 parakeets on Friday.  Today a mating pair of Monk Parakeets were refurbishing their part of the nest.  Below this photo of the male arriving is the sequence of the female waiting for her mate, working together and weaving of the materials. 

On to The Hildago Pumphouse

Regulars at the Hildago Pumphouse are Black Phoebes, Kingfishers, and wild Muscovy Ducks. House Finches, Vermillion Flycatchers and Clay-colored Thrushes were the bonus birds but no . Then on Gardenia Street a few blocks away there is  a large nest of Monk Parakeets. There were about 3 dozen Parakeets. 

Black Phoebe

Female Vermilion Flycatcher 

">                                House Finch  

>Muscovy Ducks

                                    Monk Parakeets with a few Blackbirds and a Dove

McAllen Nature Center - Success!

After Frank, Laura's Hooded Oriole came to her feeder,  we saw a flock of warbler including a Yellow-throated Warbler. It was a great way to start the day.  A short road trip  brought us to McAllen Nature Center.  We were early enough to see the Audubon Oriole but not until we waited for 30 minutes and took a walk through the trails.  Finally he appeared out in the open ready to eat and get a drink.  

Above Yellow-throated Warbler and below a female Altimra Oriole.

Audubon Oriole is more yellow with a black head, I did not get a photo of the Hooded Oriole.

 A walk along the road by the irragation ditch ended with views of a Ringed Kingfisher. At a closer look we saw a Belted Kingfish. They were replaced by Egrets, the Great Egret and the much smaller Snowy Egret. 

Small Birds of Prey at Delta Lakes & SPI

White-tailed Kite and American Kestrels at Delta Lakes & Peregrine Falcon at South Padre 

White-tailed Kite

American Kestrel 

This Peregrine is a regular at the SPI Birding Center under the M in Madre on the water tower.  A friendly birder told me where to look for it. I looked up and saw it and then I let him use by Swarovski Binoculars. Gunnar told him he could see God with them.  He looked up at the Falcon and said Oh My God!  

Nashviles, Harris's, White-Eyed Vireos at Santa Ana

     Lovely morning for a walk at Santa Ana. Our goal was to find the Warbler flock  which the Parulas were hanging with.  But that was not to be but we saw a few.  After searching the parking lot trees we came upon four Harris's Hawks on Willow Trail.  The Warblers  were  few along the trail mostly Orange-crowned and Nashvilles and a White-eyed Vireo.   At Willow Lake  Pintails were square dancing or in a  pre-mating ritual.

Warbler Day at Santa Anna

Our road trip was canceled due to cold and rain but Laura and I were ready for the weather so we met at Santa Anna for the bird walk with Mark and Joanie.  Another couple from Michigan joined us.  Reuben refound the Tropical Parula in the parking before we began the walk.  It was an indicator of warblers to come.

 The cloud cover made it hard to photo but the birds did not mind the wet conditions.  We stuck to the Willow Lake trails following a group of warblers.  The day reminds me of the cold and rainy Warbler Day at Frontera last year with Paul. Today's walk brought Common Yellowthroats, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Other birds included Lesser Goldfinch, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Olive Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Bewick Wren, House Wren, and a Northern Beardless Tyrannulent.  The usually birds, hawks, ducks, and woodpeckers were present also. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Widgeons and a Coot

  Shoveler Bookends

Nutria an introduced mammal 

Smaller Gems at South Padre Birding Center

 The Solitary Sandpiper greets visitors to the Center.  It is the most consistent bird there because it is always hunting small crustaceans in the bank adjacent to the boardwalk.

  Usually these Sandpipers are at the shore of ponds where they can't be seen so close up.

Soras and Marsh Wrens are heard but seldom seen in ponds throughout North America. 

Common Gallinules breed in Minnesota and are often confused with the American Coot.