[texbirds] Rufous hummingbird in Laguna Vista 3/19
- From: Pat DeWenter <hoocooks4you@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:59:08 -0500
As I was scouting territory for Frontera Audubon's Birdathon coming up on
April 5th, I saw a gorgeous adult male Rufous Hummingbird (thanks to Huck
Hutchens) at the Laguna Vista Nature Center. This is a wonderful spot, and
not well known. It is a small property but a wonderful walking trail and 2
water features with hummingbird feeders and oranges. I expect this will be
a great migration hotspot on days the birds are pushed inland a bit. I
also had 4 Lark Sparrows at the beginning of the trail.
At the Convention Center at South Padre Island I had a male Hooded Oriole
and the Northern Parula previously seen, along with numerous Yellow-rumps
and Orange-crowned Warblers, and a male Common Yellowthroat. The flats
north of the Convention Center and the shoreline at the end of the
boardwalk had lots of gulls, terns, and various shorebirds and
egrets/herons. 8 beautiful Roseate Spoonbills were present on the pond
east of the boardwalk. I got my FOS Sandwich Terns and Dunlin. Also saw
my FOS Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (3 at SPI and 3 along US 281 east of
Progreso). Absent from both SPI and the boat ramp along Hwy. 48 were
plovers, except for 2 American Golden Plovers at the island.
*The highlight of my day however *was a large flock of Black Skimmers
actively feeding right next to the boardwalk near the Convention Center. I
was standing at the end of the boardwalk and there were at least 20 birds
skimming. They skimmed to the south of the boardwalk then flew not more
than 5 feet above my head to skim to the north. They did this quite a few
times and was breathtaking as they were so close to me
The birds didn't seem to mind the spring breakers, nor did I. They don't
frequent the areas that birders do. I was worried as I went this afternoon
instead of this morning.
Pat DeWenter
Weslaco/Hidalgo Co.
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