thebirderspost

Jan. 6:  The very nicest day we’ve had since we got here.  Very calm winds (which is the most important), partly cloudy with sunny breaks and high 19C!  Perfect.  Off to Estero Llano Grande!

And after 4 years we’ve finally seen our 1st White-tailed Kites this trip!  How absolutely beautiful they are – n’est ce pas?  Not very close, but 1 was eating a meal in the 1st shot (and I thought they were worth 2 shots!).  These birds of prey are only 15″ long with nearly a 40″ wingspan!

In juxtoposition, this has to be one of the ugliest birds in NA – Groove-billed Ani.  Nonetheless it is quite rare in this area, so we added it to our list and present it for your comments!!  And with a body length of 13 1/2″, its wingspan is only 17″!

We added the Bronzed Cowbird (another not-so-pretty specimen) which had been seen here regularly, but we’ve missed it.  Actually I still missed it, but Bill saw it and this is the best  photo he managed.

Back along the pond trails, we found a dozing Yellow-crowned Night-Heron with one leg (wink, wink).

On alligator lake we finally got a front view of a male Green Kingfisher showing his lovely russet breast patch.

This White Ibis is so cool with his huge decurved bill!

Along Parauque trail we found the usual suspect – amazing how they’ve taken to staying in the same spot for years!  It is marked by dead branches along the path, preventing people from walking off the trail inadvertently and disturbing them since they are only a few feet away.  Such beautiful feathers!

This teenaged mutant ninja turtle was obviously inspiring awe among his compatriots – see how they look up to him?

It was a wonderful morning!  New birds for our list and so pleasant to be out and about!

After a quick lunch, we headed back among the trees, hoping for some new birds.

The little Buff-bellied Hummingbird was staking his claim on a feeder, but we captured him perched in a tree – just a glint from his irridescent feathers.

Altamire Orioles were also evident, but not Hooded, as we hoped.  So after a stunning morning, the afternoon didn’t yield anything new – but what a gorgeous day to be out and about!

The next day was cloudy, but before the wind picked up, we headed off the the butterfly preserve down the road.

Here Bill got a couple of nice shots of a female Black and White Warbler.

And at last I saw my first Olive Sparrow, though Bill had seen them here before, but not gotten a photo.  It was very dark due to cloudy skies and the tree canopy, but you can see how “olive” it is.

This N. Cardinal has laid down its crest – so funny looking eh?

We ran errands, then on the way home on the road, we saw people out looking at a hawk.  We stopped the car ourselves and Bill took a couple of photos.

Later, after studying the photos, we decided this was a juvenile Zone-tailed Hawk.  This obviously looks like nothing but a silhouette, but we’ve zoomed in on a good computer screen, and along with observations on the road, we can confirm its identification.  We haven’t managed a very good photo yet, but will keep trying!

Jan. 7-10:  Brrrr!  This isn’t what we signed up for when we came down here!  Cloudy, rainy and cold.  Stayed in, did cleaning/laundry and Bill worked.  Also got our hair cut (and Jenny did a good job!).  Apparently this is one of the coldest winters on record in this area!  Ugh!

Jan. 11:  Cloudy this morning, then FINALLY, the sun came out in the afternoon!  So we took the opportunity to at least get out for a walk at Bentsen.  Everyone we saw was smiling – just for the joy of seeing the sun!

Our first sighting was a juvenile Gray Hawk waiting for dinner to show up.

We even found the wise old owl sunning himself in his tree.

At the river you can see how calm the winds were with perfect reflections.

At one of the bird blinds we viewed this Northern Cardinal in a feeder, glowing in the sun.

We talked a few times with another birder (from NY) who was trying to get birds for her 2015 list, including the Red-naped Sapsucker…and she got it!  She told us about another park nearby to try for some new birds, as well as a place for a burrowing owl!

Jan. 11:  So, off to Anzalduas Park.  Not a state nor national park, just a local area for picnics and play sets for kids.  However, we found lots of nice stuff.  It was foggy and 5C when we left, so took awhile for that to burn off.  So Bill didn’t have his camera for many of our sightings, including a lovely flock of Eastern Bluebirds.

Nonetheless, here is a Ringed Kingfisher (twice the size of a Green).

We have Lark Sparrows (one of the prettiest native sparrows, we think) around our trailer all the time.  Finally captured one here!

We then headed off to try for the turrowing ow.   Along the road we got a new Egret for our list – Cattle.  See the bit of tan on the head?  It has black legs and feet (not yellow feet like the clown-like Snowy).

With little idea of where to go, we were very lucky to find the Burrowing Owl!  Can you see it standing among the rocks?

Right in the little town of Granjeno we saw a typical roman catholic graveyard – extremely colorful!

It was lunchtime, so we stopped for lunch then went back to another little park we saw along the way – mainly used by cyclists because it has a wide, paved pathway.

Here is a juvenile Harris’s Hawk – isn’t he a beauty?  You can see when he flies that he has a prominent white rump and those beautiful russet shoulders.  One of the prettiest hawks.

The weather is set to become cloudy, rainy and cold again for a few days, so that’s it for now!

Dec. 26:  Off to Estero Llano Grande again.  It was terribly windy, so we stuck to walking among the trees and checking out the feeders.

The citrus fruits which were planted when there was a campground in the park are still producing.  As everywhere, the grapefruit are ripening – would love to send some to you all – as are many different types of oranges.

There are seeding fruit as well on many trees, but this “fruit/flower” on this sago palm was fascinating.  It’s about a foot across with soft, coral fuzzy polyps underneath which are edible.

Fruit also brings insects.  This “wasp” was huge – about 2″ long…3″ if you count its antennae. The body was irridescent blue with orange wings.  It’s a tarantula hawk wasp and hunts tarantulae and other spiders as food for its larvae.  It has the second most painful sting in the insect world (holy mackerel – what you can find out on google!!).

Of course there are more butterflies around all the time, as migration continues.  This zebra heliconian was one I’ve been wanting to see – about 3″ across!

This lovely, soft blue and brown butterly is a skipper – although I don’t know which one.  Okay – so enough of the insects already!

At the feeding station this damned fat squirrel continues to thwart the humans who try to put feeders where squirrels can’t get to them.  This squirrel took 2 tries before managing to grab onto the wooden bottom of this one then climb the netting.

There weren’t too many birds around, and this Cooper’s Hawk was the reason.  We think it actually tried to get one of the squirrels (not sure), but that definitely halted activity in the area.  Can you see him in the trees?  He’s lookin’ atcha!

Okay, so now we’re back on birds.  Here’s a little female Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

And, Bill finally managed to get pretty good shot of a Black-crested Titmouse.  That was enough of a hot, windy day (high 30C!).

Dec. 27 out for a walk at the butterfly center.  A lovely day, not too hot, sunny w/ clouds.

At last we found a few good looks at an Altamira Oriole.  First we heard it singing, then posing.

At the ball fountain, many birds were drinking and even attempting to bathe.  Here’s a Great Kiskakee having a drink.

This Orange-crowned Warbler was both bathing and drinking!

At the feeding station (which had been cleaned out in about an hour – and there was nothing left), we saw an LBB (little brown bird).  A House Wren may not be much to look at, but boy can he sing!  Often hard to photograph, because they flit about so quickly in the undergrowth.

We walked along the trails but were unable to find much activity – certainly no warblers.  A few White-eyed Vireos and this lovely Long-billed Thrasher who sat for a photo.

We talked for awhile with a pretty woman from S. Dak. who was photographing butterflies, but who had a great interest in birds (and people, since she asked us all about ourselves).  She spotted this butterfly which looks exactly like the leaves it’s on – can you spot it?  Slightly left of centre with a pink head and antennae – also a lirtle “tail”.  I couldn’t find it anywhere on a website or photo – so don’t know what kind it is.

Our little Eastern Screech Owl popped part-way out of his box this time to greet us!

Dec. 29:  Supposed to be a rainy day;, although the morning was just beautiful.  Nonetheless, we had shopping and errands to do. Little did I know it, but it included Bill buying me diamond earrings!  Who knew?

From Dec. 30th to Jan. 3rd we were stuck inside.  The weather was rainy, cloudy and the coolest we’ve had since we arrived.  Between 5 and 12 C (night and day)!

Jan. 4th:  Still pretty cloudy, but we set out for a walk in the afternoon anyway (going stir crazy), next door at Bentsen.  It was still really cloudy, but as we made our way around the sun came out.  First time in many days and everyone we ran into was smiling.  Bill hadn’t taken his camera, so we couldn’t record the female Blaclk-headed Grosbeak we saw.  This is Don’s SK nemesis – so we’ll try to give this one a message to go to Broadview next spring Don!

Jan. 5th:  Off to Edinburg on the coldest day we’ve had (5C), but with light winds we just wore gloves and hats.  The sun actually broke through a few times and finally the cloudes mostly dissipated.  We were rewarded with 5 new species: Tropical Kingbird, Indigo Bunting (f), Blue-headed Vireo, Cave Swallow,  and Verdin.

The male Ladder-backed Woodpecker has a red cap which extends down to his eyes.  He has some little white freckles there at the front. too (a man after my own heart).

We got very close to this busy, adorable  Ruby-crowned Kinglet (whose red crown doesn’t usually stick up except when displaying in the spring (though we’ve seen it in winter when other kinglets are around).

This was one of many really good shots of the Blue-headed Vireo – with a snack!

Here’s one of our favourites (again) – Green Kingfisher.  She’s not in full plumage yet, but will lose the little tan spot at her throat and develop two, full green bars in front by mating time.

This one is for birders only – a Cave Swallow – zooming above the pond.  Barely enough definition to tell it from  “Cliffie”.  It was this one and a few others which confirmed – but really, they are mostly “Cavies” around here.

This lovely Great Egret posed amongst the dead wood.

Can’t resist a beautiful Cinnamon Teal.  This is for Gallie – she came west one year and we had a great day birding with she and Robyn, searching (and finding) these ducks.

Okay this is another one for birders – a Nashville Warbler, but not a great view.  Trust me, it is one!  Also saw a Wilson’s here, but no photo.

This Clurve-billed Thrasher hid amongst the trees, but we saw him.  He has softer marks on his breast compared with the Long-billed.

This is the photo I would have posted on our Xmas blog – Red bird in a green tree (Northern Cardinal – singing)!

To end with – here are our little sweeties, Katrina and Natasha cuddled up together.

We have never done a special Xmas post, so now’s the time!  Hope everyone had a lovely time – we sure did!  Here are some photos taken of our trailer, the kittens, us, Xmas eve dinner, as well as Xmas day breakfast & dinner.

We don’t really have room to store lots of Xmas decorations, so we put a red bow on Lou Ann.  Here you can see the setting we’re in with the truck parked behind the trailer – amongst flowering bushes (the purple one next to the trailer attracts hummingbirds and butterflies).

Here are a few others showing the lovely spot we’re in.  You might notice the palm trees are blowing like crazy.  It’s maybe not quite as nice as you might think out there!

We also managed to get out for a walk Wednesday, though it was terribly windy all day (but mild – with high 20 C).

This little Kestrel is hanging on for dear life to the wire, with his feathers blowing around.  Pretty little fellow isn’t he?

The butterfly place was closed, so we went back to Bentsen.  On each side of the gate, 3′ red cement block walls have been erected in a checkerboard pattern and when it’s sunny, it is a great place for a green spiny lizard to sun itself without being preyed upon.

And here is my Xmas bird photo – red and green!  (Tried to get a cardinal in a green tree, but it didn’t cooperate!)

This is the “piece de resistance” an Eastern Screech Owl in its natural habitat – no wonder they’re so hard to find!

Xmas eve is our time with Brian (my brother who lives in the same condo complex as we do) – so this is our traditional dinner, first shrimp coctail.

Then steak, baked potato (Bill didn’t wait until I put the salad down) but without chocolate mousse.  Instead we drank rum and eggnog.  But no Brian (boo hoo).

Here are some shots inside the trailer:

From the front door, looking down the length of the trailer to the bedroom.

Looking right as you enter, we keep our toaster up in a top cupboard, along with storage in the white basket.

Here is Bill’s computer station as well as our kitchen table.  Good place for Bill to be able to use the TV as a 2nd monitor for his work.

Here’s our bathroom – well, sink and toilet room – with shower across the hall (which contains kitty litter box when not in use).  Toilet is on the right wall where you can’t see it, but across from the toilet paper!

The kitties on the bed.

And the little picture from cousin Karen!

Here I am Xmas morning, preparing 2 different breakfasts.

first fruit…

…then Bill gets bacon and biscuits (he has his with maple syrup), while I have eggs  Benedict – accompanied by champagne.  I only have about 1 1/2′ X 1 1/2′ surface for preparation so stuff everywhere!

It was terribly windy, so we stayed in all day.  Our dinner on Xmas day was roast chicken, stuffing and broccoli with cheese sauce.

We even got Xmas presents (though we bought them for our trailer:  a new vacuum cleaner, a separate set of tools to fit it and a key blank for the Airstream (which we had to order from them).  Both arrived Xmas eve day.  So very exciting don’t you think!?

With eggnog in hand, a toast to all from Lois & Bill!

We had forgotten just how rich was the bird life in Edinburg.  It is an oasis of water, trees and flowers amid suburbia, only half an hour away.  The weather is nicer than it’s been, with a few more sunny breaks, although I admit to loathing getting into a clammy bed at night.  Humidity is not my cuppa.  But this area promotes birds and flowers along with butterflies.

At last I have my photo of the beautiful Black-bellied Whistling Duck.  Some great pink feet eh, to say nothing of that bill!  You oughta hear ‘im whistle!

The spiny soft-shelled turtles were basking on a bank when we came to a viewing platform at this pond.  There was one amongst them which was either albino or some type of aberration, since it was completely pink!  Too bad it slid into the water before Bill could capture it.

We had been told there was a Winter Wren seen near the visitor’s center, but no luck. A school bus full of kids arrived soon after we did and they were busy doing projects all over the place.  We avoided them and I guess the wren with them.

We did finally find a Least Grebe in one of the canals – only 9 1/2 inches long.  It can be a hard one to find here.

There were lots of flowers blooming as well as berries.  Many bushes run the complete gamut:  buds, flowers blooming, fruit forming and ripe fruit.

This very large apple cactus had some good lookin’ fruit on it.  I gather it’s edible (the inside looks like dragon fruit – white with black seeds).

The herons and egrets were too far away to photograph, but this Spotted Sandpiper (which I showed in a Falcon Park blog posting) is much closer.

There was lots of singing as well as calls.  Long-billed Thrashers who are excellent mimics, and White-eyed Vireos seemed to dominate.  Finally got a shot of this fast little flitter, showing its white eye.  The yellow line goes right across its bill to the other side and over the other eye.  We are getting to know this song, since they seem to be everywhere!  Didn’t really expect them to sing in the winter.

In open grassland nearby we found the same things we’d found 4 years ago when we visited – American Pipit.  I included a photo earlier, but this shows its markings a bit better.

Sorry, I can’t resist these little beauties.  Must’ve been a dozen in a flock near the pipit – my beautiful little Inca Doves.  By the way, Sandy was the one who chose them for my header – good choice San!!

Sun. Dec. 14:  Yesterday was a day of work for Bill – and I did laundry/cleaning.  But today we got out to Bentsen for a walk in the morning.  A hot day with highs of 27, but windy.

Not much to be found, but we saw this lovely Great Egret along the canal next to the visitors center.

As we approached the information kiosk and first feeding station, there was a large puddle of water on the road in which 6 or 7 Great-tailed Gralckles (those huge black birds) were indulging in communal bathing.  Can’t resist bathing birds – what a hoot!  Maybe it’ll be a theme this year!

Dec. 15:  Walked Estero Llano Grande in much better weather than last time (rain) – however, quite windy.  Added 6 new species to our list (now at (156).

First exciting bird is a one which is often heard but not seen – Sora.  This little rail lives in all the sloughs up in our neck of the woods, but here was a chance for a quick shot before it hid back in the reeds.

Right in front of it was a White-faced Ibis.  Obviously the white area isn’t very large eh?  Matter of fact, don’t worry if you can’t see it in this winter bird!  Nonetheless, a great bill.

Also seen were White Ibises – and they have lots of white, great pink bills and a small black tip on the end of their wings which is hidden when they land.

Lots of snapping turtles inhabit these ponds and don’t seem to run away too quickly from humans, allowing a few photos.  The bottom 2 were watching a plane fly over (no, not really).

Other pond inhabitants included Snowy Egrets – always lovely in a group (with Green-winged Teal).

Along the pathway there are piles of sticks in one place which denotes the sleeping Common Pauraque.  It took us awhile to find him because they blend so beautifully into the background.  Cool bird!

We found a group of roosting Yellow-crowned Night Herons in the aligator lake (yep – there are indeed aligators in it).  We saw a very large one (about 8 feet) last year, but today just a quick glimpse of part of a body of a smaller one.

We headed to the edge of the property to see if we could find out White-tailed Kites – which Bill photographed so beautifully last time we were here.  Unfortunately, none to be seen (the wind was blowing a gale by that time also!

But we spied a fishing formation of American White Pelicans in the canal.

Then finally spotted some Roseate Spoonbills – but I sure hope we can a shot closer laster on.  The smaller black and white birds are Black-necked Stilts.

We took shelter among the trees to see if we could find any passerines. There were more of those fuscia colored beauganvillia (just for Deen).

This attractive female, Black-and-white Warbler showed up for a photo.

Later, at the feeder and bird-bath, she showed up to bathe.  Unfortunately we didn’t get any really different shots of her bath, like I usually like.

However, we also got this one of an Orange-crowned Warbler, and a little bit of his orange crown is visible when he bathes!

The Buff-bellied Hummingbird also showed up at the feeder.  No Yellow-throated Warbler seen this trip.

From this day on, Bill has been working and the weather has been not that good (very cloudy, sometimes rainy, sometimes cool, sometimes windy).  So that’s it for this posting.

Only 2 more days until Christmas!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Well, we’ve been here a couple of  weeks, but the weather wasn’t very condusive to photography for the 1st one.  Cloudy, rainy, foggy (though some very warm temps – along with cold!).  Nonetheless, we spent a few days setting ourselves up with everything we needed and re-orienting ourselves to the area.

Been out for a few walks in Bentsen State Park (right beside us), but it isn’t quite as active as it will likely get a little later on.  Nonetheless, we’ve seen a few nice things, but not not many photographs.

Dec 8 – Frannie’s BD!  Went to Estero Llano Grande State Park, just 45 min. east of here.  It is a drizzly, cloudy, windy day with temps staying at about 16C.  Not the most pleasant, but at least we can view the pond from a covered porch and walk among the trees for cover.  Found our Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, which are very beautiful, but no camera today (don’t worry – we’ll get ’em!).

The hilite of the day was a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER!!!  This is a LIFER for both of us.  We missed it last time we were here, although it was seen by many.  I had just gotten out my phone w/ Sibley’s app for birds and looked at the picture of it as a reminder.  30 seconds later, there it was in a oak tree, gleaning insects from palm fronds which had fallen from above – it normally loves palm trees for this reason!  Without a camera, I have to put a “cheat” in here just to show how beautiful it is:

This was stolen from Wikipedia.  We also added a few more species, but hope to come back another day when the weather is nicer to take some photos.  It’s no fun trying to protect your valuable camera from the rain, as well as dealing with rain spots on the lens!

Dec. 9:  Walked Bentsen this morning.  We paired up with John (the hawk guy who takes people on birding walks).  We found the 3rd kingfisher we were looking for:  our own, Belted!  So we have a hat-trick of kingfishers w/ Ringed and Green.  It was far, far away, but eagle-eyed John spied it.  We found out from his wife, who volunteers at the visitor center, that when he had his cataracts removed awhile ago, they did lasek surgery as well.  Apparently he can see wonderfully now!

All the rain has encouraged rings of mushrooms to pop up here and there.  I’ve never seen any of those large, lace-topped ones before (about 2″ dia.) – nor these small, crowded ones (like little brown nipples!).

At the Green Jay blind, there was lots of activity.  Here’s a single Plain Chachalaca – big as a chicken!  Usually run in large groups.

Of course, squirrels often share bird feed, but here was another little visitor – cottontail rabbit!

The usual colorful, noisy Great Kiskadees show up everywhere.  We hear them and see them in every park we visit, including our own RV park.

Sometimes we see flocks flying overhead.  We saw 8 Snow Geese fly over the other day (out of camera range), but captured these American White Pelicans.

It is difficult to capture the Black-crested Titmouse.  Here is one, ready to take off.  They flit about in the dense bush, making it very difficult to photograph.  Hopefully we’ll get a better one later, but I love the look of surprise on its face with its huge, black eye.

A Grey Hawk was perched amongst the trees, hoping for some good updrafts.  Not so easy to fly when it’s calm.

Dec. 10: Walked Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.  Lots of good birds today to add to the list (which, by the way, stands at 139).

We crossed over the canal bordering the military road used by the Border Patrol (which we see everywhere, no matter where we go along the Rio Grande River).  These yellow daisies are like the border patrol, blooming everywhere.

We even found a clump of wild bougainvillia – or perhaps they are just escapees?  This fuscia color was Deen’s favourite – I think of her when I see it.

We climbed the hawk tower here and stayed for quite awhile.  There was a family of Harris’ Hawks hunting fairly far away – but they are one of the prettiest hawks we have with dark brown feathers and russett shoulder patches.  Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to find one a bit closer for a photo.

We had a lovely view of a Couch’s Kingbird, almost from above, while atop the tower.  No other significant hawks – just huge numbers of Turkey Vultures over Mexico.

The large pintail lakes were destroyed when it flooded a few years ago, but they are working to get the damage to pumps and systems repaired.  We saw a number of Eastern Phoebes active in the area.

When we walked along the trail bording a still-existing pond, we found a Green Kingfisher in one of the side-channels.  A much closer shot that at Falcon Dam.   You may be able to spot the bit of russett on his breast, just a few feathers visible.

As we exited the forest we found a lovely butterfly on some purple flowers.  The butterflies are continuing their migration and increasing in numbers.

A mile down the road in a different direction is the Butterfly Garden.  It also promotes bird feeding, but grows plants especially designed for butterflies.  With the large migration going on, numbers are increasing.

Having been unlucky searching for the Eastern Screech Owl at Bensen, we were hoping to find one here, since we did last time.  Apparently there are 2, but 1 is less shy than the other.  Obviously the term “wise old owl” applies, since he could obviously read that this box was meant for him!

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker is like the Great Kiskadee, everywhere, loud and noisy.  But they certainly are pretty and added color to the oranges at the feeding station.

This Clay-colored Thrush is the national bird of Costa Rica.  We’ve recently heard from Ron and Joe that Alfredo Scott (our birding guide from many years ago) is having his 50th birthday in February.  We’re sending him a card (via Ron) to add to the celebration!

To end my blog, I can’t resist these photos of a Green Jay taking a bath.  I’ve said before that this is my favourite activity to watch.  We also remember when Alfredo saw his very first Green Jays!

Yesterday it was so hot and muggy that we stayed in all day!  In the evening there were violent thunderstorms – quite the experience in a trailer.  We were watching recorded figure skating on TV with the girls and they seemed to do okay.

Today was also very hot (high 30C) but we went out in the morning, when there was still fog around and the temp was 14.  It got hot quickly though, but not before we had a few new sightings.  This included not only birds, but some other nice things.

Two different types of spider webs, glistening with rain/dew.  I think the bottom one is a trap-door spider.

We also visited the butterfly garden.

Here is a Monarch (almost at its destination in Mexico?)…

..and a lovely yellow one on red flowers.

We finally had a chance to shoot an Orange-crowned Warbler.

Poor little dull bird – it does improve somewhat when spring comes along!

Tuesday we went back to the river.  Along the road on a wire was a hawk with a small white band on its tail, looking very dark.

After photographing it we saw it take off so we could see the second broad white band on the tail.  Checking later, we changed our identification from Common Black Hawk to Harris’ Hawk.  Too bad, since CBH is rarer and we will likely see many Harris’ along our journey.

Dorian (the guy who’s cycling for birds – in a big year) was still there hoping for the Red-billed Pigeon (to come over from Mexico!).  I don’t think he had any luck and finally had to leave.

There was lots of activity on the water, and after the wind picked up a bit, the vultures (Black & Turkey) got up in the air.

There must have been close to 100, but here are a few.

We saw 2 types of kingfishers – Ringed and Green.

Here are 2 photos of the little Green Kingfisher first checking for prey, then checking for predators overhead.  One can never be too careful!

There have been several Osprey fishing here, calling and genertally making a spectacle of themselves.  See the big fish hanging off to the right of this one – it has just come out of the water from its dive.

This Pyrrhuloxia male is so pretty – we see him every summer, even in AZ.

There aren’t alot of flowers blooming now, but these big yellow daisies are prevalent.

Wednesday – when we arrived at the river this man had just caught a good sized large-mouth bass.  We see them jumping all the time – but here’s real proof!

Saturday was a HOT day.

Bill worked all morning while I was cleaning.  Luckily I had a couple of experts checking my fridge-defrosting skills.  When Bill took his nap after lunch I noticed a pair of flycatchers hunting from the wire nearby – Couch’s Kingbirds.  But no Billy to photograph them!

Sunday we went back to the river for awhile before it got too hot.  Fog lay low, especially on the river. A couple of White-eyed Vireos called (identified by song – but by a local birder).  Bill tried for a shot but they flit around in dense bush, making it very difficult for the camera to focus.

However, he was able to capture this Osprey fishing.  It caught a long, silver gar-like fish.

There were a couple of Spotted Sandpipers around – this one was on the same rock as the Green Kingfisher previously (popular spot!).   Speaking of spots unfortunately they don’t have spots in the winter – just when breeding (hence the joy of spring birding!)

A Snowy Egret flew by.  Such great yellow feet!  I suspect I may have seen the elusive Red-billed Pigeon – but was the only one to see it.  It flew by around behind trees quite a distance away.  Wish I could count it, but I can’t!

The large Ringed Kingfisher was around also.  Very big (16″ nose to tail – most of which is bill, with 25″ wingspan) and also very noisy – can’t miss him!

We also stopped at a small lake whicch we heard about from the couple who were there earlier to see ducks.  Added a couple ducks to our report, but nothing unusual.

When we returned to the trailer, there was a Couch’s Kingbird hunting nearby, so this time Bill got a photo!

There is a little sage-colored bush growing right outside the trailer and it has just burst into flower!  I never expected it at this time of year.  Pretty eh?

The girls continue to amuse us.  They are absolutely the cutest things.

Here’s Katrina playing with a couple of toys.

They can be really sweet to each other.

On to Bentsen tomorrow!

Four days’ travel, stopping at Las Cruces, NM, Fort Stockton TX, Uvalde TX and finally Falcon State Park. The RV park in Uvalde was set amongst beautiful large oak trees.  We saw our darling Inca Doves pecking in the road nearby our trailer – the top photo for
this blog.  Excitement mounts!

The terrain has been changing from desert through to mountains with large pines (highest point 8330 ft) and much more greenery and more bird sightings.  Even our windshield has had bug marks – here’s a beautiful yellow butterfly which died (sadly) on our front grill (that’s the top of my face reflected under the Ford sign!).

We visited in Falcon State Park when we stayed in Mission a few years ago, but decided to stay in the park to avoid an hour and a half drive.  It was very cold when we arrived (high only 11 C) and very windy – not very pleasant.  Although the sun was bright and the kitties really enjoyed sitting in the sunshine, looking out the window.  Day 2 took us to Rio Grande City for an oil change for the truck.  It was also cold but not windy so we got the truck washed.

Finally on Wednesday it was a beautiful day and we went birding for the 1st time – SO MUCH FUN!!  36  new species just today!  We even visited the birding area where the Brown Jay is usually seen – however it didn’t  show up last year and hasn’t been seen so far this year.  Nonetheless, here are some bird photos – which pleases us immensely.

I think a Green Jay deserves 3 photos – such beautiful colors.  In the last, he’s tossing a seed in the air.

Even a brown bird can be pretty.  Long-billed Thrasher with dark breast stripes.

Also black is beautiful.  Great-tailed Grackes are as common as dirt.  They gather in huge masses to roost at sunset – sometimes with other black birds.  They have iridescent feathers on their head/neck, reflecting purple and green, with a bright white eye.  They’re about a foot and a half long from beak to tail – BIG!

Two woodpeckers showed up.

This  little Ladder-backed…

…and this Golden-fronted (which is very noisy).

Couldn’t resist these Inca Doves from the blog headding.  When they fly they are very different – showing bright rufous on upper wing-tips as well as under-wings with white outer tail feathers.  Striking how different they look flying – but hard to capture!

Our first orioles also showed up.  First this Altamira.

Then Audubon’s – how lovely!

It rained last night and part of this morning, so we walked around the campground in the afternoon.  Too cloudy for photos, but I found this wonbderful stick insect on the front tire of the truck.

Friday it rained a bit and was hot and muggy – high 29C.  Too hot for walking.  Saturday also hot and windy.  We clipped the girls’ claws and gave them the last of their de-worming pills.  Thank God that is over with!  Here they are in a more restful mode on the bed.

No birding today, so will post this!

Holbrook, AZ is near an outstanding National Park:  Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.  We’ve been here before, but thought it worth another stop.  250 Million years ago in the Triassic, it was a steamy jungle with huge trees near the equator which has since shifted!  Lots of different layes of minerals in the sand.

What looks like boulders here is actuallly pieces of petrified logs!

The bird of the day is:  Common Raven!  Actually the only bird we identified (saw another flit into a bush, but couldn’t find it!  There were pairs (they mate for life) sitting at many of the parking areas, talking to the people (begging).  A sad commentary on the state of man and beast.

The day we returned we actually found a small flock of House Finches at the south entrance Museum grounds, plus 2 Loggerhead Shrikes.  So added 2 more birds – but that was it!  Also walked the crystal path with some close-ups of the petrified logs.  They vary in color from white, to gray, black, purple, pink, deep red/rust, orange, yellow, green – an amazing color palette.

On to TX and hopefully, lots more birds.

November 1st we loaded up the trailer, cats, our gear and off we went.  As far as Milk River, AB (not far) but awoke to 6 inches of snow in the morning.  However the roads were melted, so we left for Great Falls.  Here’s the view out the side view mirror, then again when we stopped a little later.  Sorry I missed the Christmas card shot from our motel.

We camped in GF for the first time – the reason being, we can’t take perishables over the border, so had no supplies.  The temp was just below zero and pretty wet, but all went well.  Then on to Dillon MT where it was still pretty cool, but mostly sunny.  Finally on to our 1st 3-day stop in Brigham UT where we stayed at our usual place – the Golden Spike.  Here we finally got birding for the 1st time in 5 months!  First ducks we saw were Red-breasted Mergansers – one of my favourites because they are so cute.

Only an experienced birder will recognize them, since they were taken “against the light” and can be identified mostly by profile, not their pretty coloring.

Some type of hawk was standing guard – we couldn’t identify it but thought it was effective:   “impassable” (…when flooded).

We also saw a Peregrine Falcon fly by – 1st we’ve seen in a year.  The swamp grasses are turning color and with the sunshine it was a beautiful landscape.

A female Ring-necked Pheasant dodged into the tall grass as we approached.  Later we saw a male and female fly up from the road.

Speaking of the road, all along the road as we drove the auto loop, we saw American Pipits.  Plain little birds, bobbing their tails – here’s one now.

While sitting at one location a Starling landed on our hood, hopped onto the side view mirror and gave us such a good view.  They really are very handsom birds in their winter plumage.

We saw most of the ducks (still missing a few) but love the elegant Canvassback.

Next day we headed for Zion National Park – a beautiful place!  We’ve stayed here before and it snowed – but this year temp’s are in the low 20’s, and it’s sunny and gorgeous!  Being here on Saturday and Sunday makes a big difference regarding the number of people in the park.  It’s packed!  But we still walked and photographed.  Birds were scarce.  We finally saw a Dipper flying along the Virgin River, plus a Great Blue Heron – but that’s it!  Holy Mackerel!  Nonetheless, the colors are still changing here and the rock cliffs are beautiful.

On Sunday we returned to photograph the weeping wall – as well as some of the climbers of which there were lots – great weather plus sheer sandstone walls!  Also happy to report we found Wild Turkeys (but that’s it for birds!).

Also saw lots of mule deer – this buck reacted to 2 others galloping nearby.

Here’s just a few tastes of Sunday:

Now for some scenic shots.

Sometimes in the trailer, we have to spread things out.  Katrina found these frypans on the couch.

Left for Holbrook, AZ Monday morning, the week of  Nov. 13th, Jane’s birthday!

When Bill wrote his tribute to Sasha, I was relieved not to have to write anything myself.  I realized this when we spoke about it and every time we talked about Sasha, I burst into tears.  I think I need to write my own tribute now – hoping for a cartharsis. This little cat wormed his sweet way into my heart in several ways.  The first and something he did his whole life was put his head back as you stroked him (especially while you were sitting on the toilet!), then arched his back to lean into your hand. A very sweet move in my books! After Tyrian died, he did something else he hadn’t done too often when they were both around – look you right in the face when you talked to him.  Bill mentioned how he took cues to his behaviour from Tyrian, so when that guy wasn’t around any more, he had to look to us.   He was very attentive and smarter than we thought!  We always use the expression “you’re smarter than you look” to each other – so we used it for Sasha too! He was a darling who loved to cuddle and be picked up.  He would snuggle right under your neck with front legs extended over your arm. I will miss him always.

Now we have 2 new little girls to help us with our grief – and boy they did.  Natasha and Katrina came into our lives quickly after we returnedd from SK.  Our breeder in Toronto had 2 sister kittens ready for adoption – then there would be none available until November (and we’d be gone).  So we flew out immediately and brought them back – each under the seat in front of us on the plane (they will not ship them!).  We’ve never had 2 kittens at the same time before.  They were 4 months old & cute as buttons (born Feb. 4th)

They are now 9 months old & look like this.

Life is good!