Humingbirds and History

We were not very confident that we would attract any hummingbirds to the balcony of our apartment,  but a few days ago we decided to put up a feeder.  To our surprise within an hour a Ruby-throated hummingbird found it.  It is hard to tell how many have fed here (they look the same), but we have seen two at once.

There has been a lot of  traffic to the feeder.  Of course, only one will feed at a time, chasing off any other that might arrive.  Since they are migrating through now, some days have more activity than others.

Ruby-throats have a special place in my memory.   When I was about 9-10 years old (almost 60 years ago), we lived in the farm country of Central New York.  We didn't have feeders but had lots of flowers that attracted them.

One day I found one struggling as it was tangled in a spider web in our front yard.   I was able to pick it out of the web and untangle it, and after a few moments in my hand, it flew off.

I can still remember the feeling of its very rapidly beating heart.  It is one of the most vivid  memories that I have from my childhood. 

More birds of the Rio Grande ("If you build it they will come.")

We stayed in the Rio Grande Valley birding for three more days at Bentsen State Park, Santa Ana NWR, and Estero Llano Grande TX State Park (see 1st day in previous post).  Low clouds and occasional mist did not diminish the birding, but limited the photo opportunities, except on the afternoon of the last day at Estero Llano Grande SP when the sun finally came out.

We took advantage of the bird walks led by park naturalists. At Bentsen SP we got good views of an olive sparrow,  clay colored thrush, and  the four species of dove found there as well as many other interesting birds.

(Download a complete list of birds seen by PDF).

At the Santa Ana NWR, we managed to see all three kingfishers (Belted, Ringed, and Green) in one morning's walk.  We got a good view of a Hook-billed Kite flying overhead, and I was able to get a photo of this buff-bellied hummingbird  (left).

Estero Llano Grande State Park was a real treat on the afternoon of our last day in the Valley. It is a relatively small refuge and was created by a restoration of agricultural land and a trailer park starting about 10 years ago.  Several shallow lakes, trails, and a visitor center with a covered deck were built.  (You can "fly to" to "St of TX Estero Llano Grande State Park" in Google Earth and use the historical imagery "time slider" to see the progress over these years.) 

A variety of ducks were easily photographed from the deck, such as this ring-necked duck.

There were three species of Teal - the Blue-winged (left) and Green-winged Teal in the photo, as well as Cinnamon Teal, also Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, and Black-bellied whistling Duck.

The Tricolored Heron in the photo (left) was one of many wading birds, that provided entertainment for those watching from the deck.

This Long-billed Thrasher was singing loudly from the scrub vegetation behind the center, along with a Curve-billed Thrasher, several doves, and another Buff-bellied hummingbird.

I had to walk the trail to near the other end of the park to see the Common Pauraque in this photo.  It was so well camouflaged in the leaf litter below a bush, that I would not have seen it if another birder had not pointed it out.   These birds, relatives of the Whip-poor-will catch insects at night and sleep in hidden spots like this during the day.  This was one of several new birds here for our life-list. 

Doves and several kinds of sparrows were in the grass and brush along the trail.

With all the other birds one might expect an accipiter, like this Coopers Hawk, which sat on on a concrete standpipe beside the lake not far from the visitor's center.

 In addition to the birds there were many turtles and a few alligators.  This mammal, a nutria (introduced) is prolific in coastal Texas and probably makes good alligator food.

Birds of the Rio Grande

We are spending a few days in the Rio Grande Valley visiting some of the interesting birding sites.  Many of the common, but colorful birds here are not found elsewhere in the US.  The Green jay is a typical example.  Bright green with a blue and black head, it is spectacularly colorful.  Yet here, it is as common as Blue jays elsewhere. 

The Altimira oreole is another spectacular bird that comes to the feeders at the Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge.

Golden fronted woodpeckers are perhaps less common but also were easily photographed at the feeding station.

We always have fun here in the Rio Grande Valley.  The first time we were here we added many species to our "life list".  It is harder to find new ones now, but it is always a pleasure to watch these easy to see and spectacularly colored birds.

The valley has much in common with south Florida, a mild climate, palm trees, citrus groves, and "urban cancer" of strip malls, crowded expressways, and winter home developments.  We are lucky that at least a small percentage of the original floodplain forest was saved many years ago in the National Wildlife Reserves and other sanctuaries.

The Bluebird of Happiness

Some days we have experiences  that inspire a cynical view of the future of Homo sapiens (see previous post).  Other days the sun is shining and interesting birds magically appear in ordinary surroundings.  Last Wednesday was one of the latter.

We had an hour in the late afternoon and went to a nearby park for a walk (Pine Gully Park, Seabrook, TX).  At first we didn't see many birds (perhaps because we were walking into the sun).   Then as we reached the boardwalk over the marsh they began to appear.  The usual egrets, yellow-rumped warblers, etc.

Two special birds also showed up.  The first an eastern bluebird  flew in and perched on a snag in the marsh.   These are not rare birds but we had never before seen one here (about one a year is reported on eBird for this location).

This has been a cool winter of wet gray days.  The sighting of his bluebird did give us the feeling that Spring and cheerier days were here.

A pileated woodpecker also came flying across the marsh with characteristic scalloping trajectory, alternately stroking forward and upward then gliding like a missile with wings folded.    It alighted in the sun on a telephone pole nearby.   Its striking black and white pattern punctuated by the bright red crest against the deep blue sky was a spectacular sight.

When the moment is right, watching even the common Yellow-rumped warblers seems a rare treat.