Ruby-Crowned Kinglet at Quinta Mazatlan

Slow birding this morning with the Blue Bunting not showing.  The Rudy-crown was best bird but Peggy Rudman did see the immature male Blue Bunting later today. 

                                                                                                                                                        

            Curve-billed Thrasher

         Bathing in the Sun

Black-throated Sparrow a Lifer and A Road Runner

Monica from the Edinburgh Wetland lead a small tour group to Rancho Lomitas.  It was a cool but beautiful morning north of Rio City.  The participants learned about native plants and their medicinal uses from the owner Benito Treveno.  One of my highlights was seeing the Black-throated Sparrow and the Road Runner.  Benito's gate keeper and bird whisperer made it easy to see since he kept meal worms handy and feeders filled.  Another treat was finding out that Monica and Javi are engaged.

 The meal worm is almost in his mouth, then swallowed. 

 Benito and his efficient hedge trimmer.

Orange-crowned Warbler and Olive Sparrow  

Quinta Mazatlan and Roselawn Cemetery

Quinta Mazatlan was hopping with birds today so we spent 2 1/2 hours there this morning with Paul and Carolee .  Peggy showed up too so it was a delightful morning.  We also checked out Roselawn Cemetery in the heart of Old McAllen.  Here are the non warbler specialties of the RGV.  We will be back at these two great birding places often. 

Green Heron 

Green Heron and Kiskadees

 Clay-colored Thrush

 Cedar Waxwing (MN too)

                                                                                              Inca Dove

Long-bill Thrasher

Warblers at Quinta Mazatlan

The sun came out even though it was 36 degrees this morning we headed to find the Blue Bunting.  The Bunting did not show up but we saw many wonderful warblers. Kinglets and Gnatcathers are not Warblers but they are small and eat insects.

  

Black-throated green

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-throated Warbler

 Black-throated Gray Warbler

Monk Parakeets and Green Parrots

           Monk Parakeets hang out near the Hildago Pumphouse even on New Year's Day.  They seemed to only want to keep warm.  We also saw a Black Phoebe, Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Green and Ringed Kingfisher,  Less Goldfinches and Snow Geese flying.
  

Back on the road again in search of the Green Parrots of the McAllen area and found them south of Edinburgh hanging out at one of the Malls.  Their ruckus gave them away.  The flock of about 200 were trying to stay warm before roosting for the night.

       

WARBLERS!!!

Warblers, small lovely singing migrating birds that are often colorful. We wait all year for this.  Lost my color yellow to cataracts and Gunnar's vision is minimal, so the water feature that Gunnar built last summer and fine tuned this year makes viewing possible.

                                                     LOVE THEM.          (May 2017)

Black-throated Green, Yellow-rump,  Magnolia, Nashville,  Bay-breasted,  Blackpoll Warbler

Magnolia Warblers

On May 24 the Magnolia Warblers visited our yard .  It was very cloudy drippy morning but they found insects in our scraggly fir next to our back deck.  They ignored the cameras and kept on picking and eating. Later in the afternoon the Warblers came to the water feature so we could be up close again.  Lucky for us and for them.