[texbirds] Rio Grande Valley pictures part 3

to be followed by part 2 and part 1

The highlight of my trip were the red-billed pigeons singing away in Zapata
County park on both trips there. As I mentioned before it had been about 45
years since I last heard such a chorus
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336812

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336809

Bullock's Orioles were common in the park and road next door leading to the
state park
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336733

This pyrrhuloxia acted very strange. It was singing on the wire and flew up
into the lighting fixture and did not come out. The light was off so was
not attracting bugs so a really odd nesting site?
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336697

The park had a couple of painted buntings counter singing. Both were first
year males without any hint of color but very territorial. Oddly, the
singing birds in the state park were fully plumaged males in what to my eye
was better habitat.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336695

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336692

A pair of nesting ash-throated flycatchers were nesting in the park and
were very happy to pose for pictures while waiting for bugs to crawl around
as baby food.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336654

Needless to say, lots of pictures taken
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336650

A single cottontop walked out onto the road in Falcon State Park. I had
been hearing its song which seems more like a grackle and then caught on
when it gave its call note which is not that far off a california quail. No
answering calls.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336806

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336807

Bronzed cowbirds are abundant in both parks and cannot be good for the
birds.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336732

Common ground doves are hard to photograph as they are very good at keeping
their distance. Very shy for little birds so a pair in Falcon were a
surprising exception
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336725

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336721

Curve-billed thrashers were out in the open
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336715

And nest building
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336714

Estero Llano Grande had the usual water birds around the deck on my last
day including this yellow-crowned night heron
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336738

Spotted sandpipers were common
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336736

Many least grebes which did not appear to be nesting yet
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336734

And feeder hogs
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336603

Port Mansfield had lots of deer. Really lots of deer. And water.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336605

good looks at them
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336607

And even better but it would take lots of pictures to do the whole deer.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/143336609

Lots more pictures at
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/part_3

-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx

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