Brushline to Edinburg

Pretty much nothing along Brushline Road. My guess is this is a Western Meadowlark, could be an Eastern though. I left the photo below uncropped because it captures the barren field environment (...and mostly because when I blew the photo up the bird appears to have a damaged eye).

We swung by the Edinburg Wetlands on the way home. By then it was 90F. No special birds, but the butterflies were out in high numbers (and Gunnar with only a 200-500mm lens).

Vesta Crescent

Then on the way out there were a pair of Curve-billed Thrashers on the fence to wave goodbye to us.

The best for last - Gunnar

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

I was in my recliner, drinking late morning coffee, but still half asleep. Suddenly Lorna said, "I just saw legs fly by, I think it was Whistling Ducks!"  Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are clown birds - gawky and upright with a long neck, pink bill, and long pink legs. Not your typical urban backyard birds. 

And just the legs? Whistling Ducks in the backyard? Yeah, right. We are in second floor apartment above Keith and Audrey, the owners of the Wesmor Apartments and the Alamo Inn. We have balconies front and back, with the back balcony overlooking their private yard. It is a long way from any water and definitely not waterfowl habitat - except for a little tub of water for the goose to play in. By then Lorna was out the door grabbing her camera as she went by. Over her shoulder confirming her Black-bellied Whistling Ducks ... I.D.'d by only a glimpse of their duckie legs visible below the eaves on a fly by. Well done, I say. 

So I grabbed a camera and followed her out. There they were, two ducks sitting on the yard-light pole and one on the line. After she got a few shots she ran out to the front balcony we share with Anders and Joyce to tell them. As I got a couple of photos they joined us to watch the ducks fly down to eat the birdseed Keith puts out for the doves. 

 They were getting their fill until the "watch goose" realized they were there and he advanced with a show of bluster and much honking. The ducks flew off the feeder and settled down on the ground away from the goose to evaluate the situation.

The cat was stalking them, but he seemed hesitate to take on birds of that size. After it became obvious there was no more cracked corn in their immediate future the ducks flew up on the roof above our heads. As far as I know they may still be up there.

Reporting your Slow News Of the Day - Gunnar

Estero Llano Blue Friday

The Tricolor Heron is in breeding plumage now and has blue, white and rose-tinted feathers. While it is colorful, for me it lacks the grace of most herons and egrets - neck and head just a little out of scale.

The White-eyed Vireo photo was taken at "the drip" at Paraque Hall.

From the song Mexican Blue by Jolie Holland:

You're like a saint's song to me
I'll try to sing it pure and easily
You're like a Mexican blue
So bright and clear and pale in the afternoon
In the afternoon

The Mexican Bluewing Myscelia ethusa is a 2 1/2" to 3" butterfly.  I took the photograph at the same drip location as the Vireo. In the afternoon. While I missed the official Butteryfly Walk and a couple of dozen tiny Hairstreaks and Grass Skippers - which I probably like more than the Bluewing. Big blue bugs are easier to photograph though.

Bright and clear and pale in the afternoon - Gunnar


P.S. A Falcate Skipper, Spathilepia clonius and a Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, taken at Edinburg wetlands yesterday. I like the contrast.

Falcate Skipper

Sunny, almost 90F, and windy in open areas. Not a potentially birdie day, so we went Edinburg Wetlands this morning where it is sheltered and often has a lot of butterflies. (And we had to take our bottles and cans to the recycling center anyway.)

First, the token flashy bird picture:


























Then, some colorful butterflies, and a tiny one. I'm not even going to bother labeling because...........

...because we got a big one today. So let's cut the crap and go to the chase. 

The following is a Falcate Skipper Spathilepia clonius. (falcate - curved like a sickle; hooked)

"Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico. A rare stray to South Texas." 

Pictures from a set of a dozen or more I took this morning today at Edinburg Wetlands. 😄

Butterflies R Us - Gunnar 

Chihuahuan Raven

The photographs were taken on the Old Port Isabel Road near the north entrance. This may not be a "life bird", but it is certainly the first time I have taken photos of one. (Lorna's are better.)

We had coffee with Lorna's sister Anita and John on South Padre then went to The Birding Center. The birds are starting to migrate north and the tide was high so there were not huge numbers. Where a couple of weeks ago there were 10,000 Redhed Ducks, now there are none. But the weather was perfect (except for wind) and we bumped into a number of past acquaintances to talk to. 

And send in the clowns:  Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

- Gunnar

Hildago Pumphouse to NBC

It was raining as we headed to McAllen, but then we were invited via cellphone to join friends at the Old Hildago Pumphouse. No rain down there. 

We saw some birds that I didn't get photos of - primarily Catbirds and a Western Tanager. I would have loved the Tanager as I have never taken a picture of one, at least a male. The Black Phoebes were there, but at some distance, as they tend to be. 

We decided to stop by the National Butterfly Center on the way home. First we checked on the Monk Parakeets on Violet, and the Burrowing Owl up on the levee on the way over there. I was struggling with the lighting then, but eventually I got a little better handle on it. We visited for while with a Border Guard up on the levee. As we were parked right up the road from the RESTRICTED AREA sign he could have obviously hassled us, but they rarely seem to. There has been Owls nesting there for at least four years. He was interested in the Owls, even seems to have taken some ownership of them, I suspect because he recognizes that people value the birds. Lorna encouraged him to pick up one the bird I.D. folders at H.E.B.  It can't hurt to have a one more body on our side.

Overall I am pleased with the photo of the Black Phoebe on the giant pump intake pipe, the Clay-colored Thrush (nee Clay-colored Robin), and the Anhinga with pink throat pouch.

Your mileage may vary - Gunnar

Rufous vs Allen's?

Usually when you see a bird you cannot I.D. you just go to the species family section in a guide book or cellphone app and pick out the picture that looks like your bird. Sometimes not. A photo really helps. Sometimes.

Gunnar to Rick Snider: 

"Is this an immature male Rufous Hummingbird ... or female?" (versus an Allen's?)

Rick:

"To identify as a Rufous you have to have a clear spread-tail shot to see if there is a narrowing of the tip of R2 which the Allen's doesn't have. Often males have more rufous on their top tail feather, R1, females less. Spots in the throat are variable. Only adult males can be be identified as Rufous, rather than Allen's, if they have a substantially rufous back."

Gunnar: 

"I did get a rather poor photo of the Allen's at Justin LeClaire's backyard earlier in the week. Couldn't prove it by me, but Justin and the Delesantros did I.D. it."

Rick: 

"Yes, green in the center of the back of an adult male means Allen's in almost all cases. A small number of green backed males, percentage not well established at 2% in California, are green backed Rufous in which case they have to measure the width of R5 in the hand to prove it is an Allen's and not a green backed Rufous. In Justin's case with two green backed males one was banded and R5 measured to remove all doubt. The second male was not captured and measured so you have to go with the fact that 98% (or whatever) of the green backed ones are Allen's and call it an Allen's.

 Slightly less confused - Gunnar

Blue Buntings and Blue-headed Vireos

This year the pathways of the Quinta Mazatlan Estate are filled with hopeful birders from around the country hoping to get a look (or even a photograph!) of a Blue Bunting. This first year male Bunting (an adult would be fully blue) is a single rare stray from central Mexico which has drifted up across the border and set up camp at Quinta.

While I certainly enjoy seeing a rare bird, a beautiful bird, I saw and photographed one a couple of years ago and this one a few times this year. It really is wonderful to see the excitement of other the birders who have made a special trip to see it - or try to explain to non-birders what the hell all the excitement is about.   

I keep coming back hoping to get The Shot. So far, only okay photos. Here is today's "okay" shot.

Here are some more birds that happened in my line of fire. A sad one, look at the broken leg on the banded Curve-billed Thrasher.  Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Rufous Hummingbird (possible Allen's?). Blue-headed Vireo.

While the rest of the world was all a-twitter about a Blue Bunting, I was more excited about getting a photograph of a Blue-headed Vireo. It is only the second decent photo I have taken of the bird, the other was one I took in my Minnesota backyard last year. 

Day cut short. 90F and very humid - Gunnar

Allen's Hummingbird

My picture is an I.D. photo at best. This bird was originally spotted in the backyard of a professional biologist in Edinburg, Texas. A number of knowledge folks have verified the identification as an Allen's Hummingbird. This morning we waited quite a while for it. Why all the above B.S.?  This bird is a West Coast bird that should not be here, and it is very difficult to separate the identification from the much more common Rufus Hummingbird. And I think it may be my first, or possibly second, "life bird" this season in the Valley. Not that I am counting.

And a some other things we saw in a Trailer Park on the banks of the Arroyo Colorado. I think the Golden-fronted Woodpecker is nice. And the Moscovy Duck if it wasn't feral. The grooming Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is okay, in a peaceful feeling Oriental way.

And damn, a larger than life-sized Labrador named Karl. That is really tough to beat in closing. - Gunnar