A Little Blue South Padre Birding Center

After a nice lunch at South Padre Brewery, we did a quick second walk on the boards.  Gunnar went there the day before while I stayed back to visit with Anita.  The birding did not disappoint me as it was my first there this year. 

Belted Kingfisher over South Padre Birding Center

           Not much to say other than I just said that I hadn't seen the Kingfisher yet. I'm a novice at flying birds so I used my regular settings.  The Belted Kingfisher was kiting and hunting for his dinner.  In my neighborhood it is very difficult to get close enough as they always fly ahead of me.  

Buff-belly Hummingbirds at Alamo Inn

Hummingbird feeders are on both decks of our second story apartment. So do two of our neighbors so there are 6 feeders to guard from the other Hummingbirds. There are Black-chinned and Buff-belly Hummingbirds but mostly Buff-bellies.  We spent the last three days watching these birds.  Since there was a heavy cloud cover with rain, it was difficult to take decent photos.  But it lightened up enough to take these photos between tending the laundry. I was surprised that he was sticking out his tongue repeatedly. May it was me or the weather he was commenting on. 

                               Here are the rainy weather photos of our Hummingbirds.                          The first one is a Black-chin Hummingbird and the feeder and the rest are Buff-bellies.

Winter Wren at Santa Ana

It was delightful to watch the Winter Wren being quite active searching, probing and hunting for food in the shallow water.  It would hide in the reeds often.    I am not sure if this is a Lifer, but it was a first photo, I'm sure. 

That's All Folks!

Green Kingfisher and Phoebe at Santa Ana

Looking the opposite direction from the far blind is a concrete dam and some incidental water.  As I was about to leave I saw a white flash which was a Green Kingfisher that was quite close.  Of course my movement caused it to fly farther away from me, but I chose to stay.  My patience paid off with a Winter Wren, Eastern Phoebe and Yellowthroat.

 The Kingfisher mostly said hidden from my camera.

Common Yellowthroat was a bonus siting but not to clear.

  

More photos of the Winter Wren to come.

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