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Updated on Sunday, August 29 at 08:59 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Cuckoo Shrike,©Jan Wilczur

28 Aug Old Port Isabel Rd & SPI [Mary Beth Stowe ]
21 Aug Cannon Yellow-green Vireo--YES [Mary Beth Stowe ]
14 Aug Wallace Road VNC Trip [Mary Beth Stowe ]
3 Aug La Sal to Port Mansfield [Mary Beth Stowe ]
28 Jul Quinta Mazatlan/Old Hidalgo Pumphouse [Mary Beth Stowe ]
28 Jul La Sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 Jul Estero Llano Grande Bird Walk [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Jul Davis Mountain & Big Bend Trip List [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Jul Davis Mnts and Big Bend (longish) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
6 Jul Monte Cristo & Edinburg [Mary Beth Stowe ]
28 Jun Progresso Farm Route & Santa Ana [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 Jun Quinta Mazatlan & Old Hidalgo Pumphouse [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Jun Botteri's Back at La Sal (Hidalgo Co.) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
17 Jun Monte Cristo & Edinburg [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 Jun Larids @ Falcon SP [Mary Beth Stowe ]
14 Jun VNC Field Trip to Boca Chica [Mary Beth Stowe ]
9 Jun Anzalduas & NABA [Mary Beth Stowe ]
5 Jun Bentsen Lep & Ode Walk [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 May Laguna Atascosa NWR [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 May Valley Nature Center Pics [Mary Beth Stowe ]
10 May Hudsonian Godwits @ Falcon SP [Mary Beth Stowe ]
3 May Hidalgo County Big Day (long) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
2 May San Diego Audubon Texas Hill Country Trip [Mary Beth Stowe ]
23 Mar (no subject) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 Mar Valley Nature Center Pics [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 Mar Port Isabel Boat Trip & Laguna Atascosa [Mary Beth Stowe ]
8 Mar Falcon SP Roadside Hawk - Yes! [Mary Beth Stowe ]
23 Feb Quinta Mazatlan, then Longoria to La Sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
16 Feb Hugh Ramsey Park to Tiocano Lake (Cameron Co., longish) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
10 Feb Brownsville Dump to Ron Hill Park (long) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
10 Feb Brownsville to Harlingen Take Two [Mary Beth Stowe ]
27 Jan Pictures from Cameron Co. [Mary Beth Stowe ]
25 Jan Cannon Road to Boca Chica (Cameron Co.) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
25 Jan Cannon Road to Boca Chica Take Two [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 Jan Hidalgo Pumphouse to Anacua WMA (very late) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 Jan Pictures from the Week [Mary Beth Stowe ]
12 Jan Falcon SP to Anzalduas [Mary Beth Stowe ]
11 Jan Willacy County [Mary Beth Stowe ]
7 Jan Wheatear Pics [Mary Beth Stowe ]
1 Jan Bare-throated Tiger Heron Pics [Mary Beth Stowe ]
28 Dec CBC Pictures [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Dec Willacy County [Mary Beth Stowe ]
21 Dec Santa Ana CBC Hook-billed Kite [Mary Beth Stowe ]
8 Dec Bentsen State Park [Mary Beth Stowe ]
2 Dec La Sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
1 Dec Estero Llano and Anzalduas [Mary Beth Stowe ]
27 Nov Thanksgiving Big Day - Hidalgo Co. [Mary Beth Stowe ]
23 Nov Anzalduas County Park [Mary Beth Stowe ]
19 Nov La Sal Tracts [Mary Beth Stowe ]
12 Nov Santa Ana NWR (Apparently NO MADU) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
6 Nov Monte Cristo Tracts [Mary Beth Stowe ]
3 Nov Estero Llano Grande [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Oct Monte Cristo & Edinburg Wetlands [Mary Beth Stowe ]
20 Oct Anzalduas & NABA [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 Oct Estero Llano Grande SP [Mary Beth Stowe ]
13 Oct Quinta Mazatlan & Hidalgo Pumphouse [Mary Beth Stowe ]
8 Oct La Sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
6 Oct Santa Ana NWR [Mary Beth Stowe ]
2 Oct Kentucky Warbler @ Frontera [Mary Beth Stowe ]
29 Sep Pics from Monte Cristo & Edinburg [Mary Beth Stowe ]
24 Sep Monte Cristo & Edinburg [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Sep La sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
21 Sep Cameron Co. (long) [Mary Beth Stowe ]
15 Sep Lark Bunting @ Falcon SP [Mary Beth Stowe ]
8 Sep Hook-billed Kite near Bentsen [Mary Beth Stowe ]
4 Sep Santa Ana NWR [Mary Beth Stowe ]
5 Sep Edinburg Wetland Images [Mary Beth Stowe ]
3 Sep Weslaco [Mary Beth Stowe ]
29 Aug Hot Afternoon @ Edinburg [Mary Beth Stowe ]
27 Aug Anzalduas & NABA [Mary Beth Stowe ]
26 Aug Odd Pluvialis and Other Goodies near SPI [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Aug Estero Llano Grande Pics [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Aug La Sal del Rey [Mary Beth Stowe ]
22 Aug La Sal del Rey Take Two [Mary Beth Stowe ]
18 Aug Laguna Atascosa NWR [Mary Beth Stowe ]
16 Aug Fwd: Tanzania Sightings July, August 2009 [MM ]

Subject: Old Port Isabel Rd & SPI
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:27:34 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had a lovely morning birding up Old Port Isabel Road and then over to the  
island this morning; every time I go down SR 511 they've added another lane! 
 :-)  They've actually opened up the access to OPIR now, but I missed it 
and  had to use the "Uie"...  For the record, right now the road is dry and  
passable, but there are some BIIIIIG ruts along the northern half of the 
road;  I'd still recommend high clearance!
 
As per usual I stopped every half mile, and hadn't gone far when a ruckus  
turned out to be two young Aplomado Falcons harassing an adult!  That was a  
show!  Cactus and Bewick's Wrens were near the skeet club, and the pond  
beyond that had both flavors of whistling duck, as well as a Mottled Duck 
family with tiny babies! (Someone mentioned lately that they were surprised at 

 how late some thing are still breeding...) A little further up the road I  
stopped for a field full of Long-billed Curlews when I noticed two more 
Aplomado  Falcons on the power structure closer to the road who posed for 
pictures (one  was definitely banded, but I couldn't tell about the other 
one...)! 
 
Thanks to Pat Heirs, Joyce Davidson, and the crew who came with us the last 
 time I was out here, I discovered that the REASON the "dicey spot" IS the 
"dicey  spot" is because the whole area is one big wetland, and I had just 
been too  focused on staying on the road before to see it!  This time the 
area had  tons of White Ibis along with some egrets and a single Wood Stork, 
who  obligingly spread his wings to prove he wasn't a Jabiru! :-)  A young  
Roseate Spoonbill flew by just before I headed on.  Near the north end both  
Cassin's and Botteri's Sparrows sang, and logged a Belted Kingfisher at the  
canal.
 
Headed over to the island after that, where I first drove onto the bayside  
access and enjoyed Royal and Black Terns among the Laughing Gulls, a single 
 Reddish Egret, and the usual contingent of shorebirds (although lacking in 
 little plovers).  The Convention Center did have a few migrants, best of  
which was a Prairie Warbler, although a Great Crested Flycatcher with what  
looked like a Common Green Darner was entertaining!  The boardwalk was  
again open, so I headed out and added the obligatory Clapper Rail along with a 

waterthrush that I couldn't get an ID on.  Scared up a couple of Least  
Bitterns, and a pair of oystercatchers out in the wetland was a nice addition! 

 
Swinging around the loop added Semipalmated Plover and both species of  
yellowlegs (always nice when they're side by side)! Paid my four bucks at the 

Birding Center and took a look at their butterfly garden, which looked  
promising; it was a little overcast this morning and threatening to rain, so  
just had a few things, the best of which was an Ailanthius Webworm Moth.   
Circling up from the parking lot (guess I was going the wrong way :-/) I ran  
into Tim Bradshaw and Patricia (the "official photographer"), who said he 
had  been seeing a Louisiana Waterthrush, so that probably was what I had as  
well.  We wandered back to the Convention Center where several Least  
Flycatchers had us guessing until they said something, plus an Eastern Wood 
Pewee 

and Eastern Kingbird (Eric spotted a Western which I missed).   Another 
waterthrush showed up at the water feature, but the [lousy] photos proved this 

one to be a Northern.
 
Headed home after that with 85 species for the day.  Pics are posted  here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Old Port Isabel Rd (Cameron  Co.)
Observation date:     8/28/10
Number of species:   51

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      20
Fulvous Whistling-Duck     8
Mottled Duck   4
Northern Bobwhite     3
Pied-billed  Grebe     2
Neotropic Cormorant     3
Least  Bittern     1
Great Egret     5
Snowy  Egret     3
Tricolored Heron     1
White  Ibis     50
Roseate Spoonbill     1
Wood  Stork     1
White-tailed Kite     1
Harris's  Hawk     3
White-tailed Hawk     2
Crested  Caracara     5
Aplomado Falcon      5
Black-bellied Plover     4
Killdeer      3
Black-necked Stilt     2
Solitary Sandpiper   1
Lesser Yellowlegs     1
Long-billed  Curlew     12
Least Sandpiper     1
Rock  Pigeon     3
Eurasian Collared-Dove      3
Mourning Dove     5
White-tipped Dove      1
Belted Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   4
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     2
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     1
Loggerhead Shrike      6
White-eyed Vireo     3
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow     1
Purple Martin     1
Bank  Swallow     2
Barn Swallow     8
Cactus  Wren     2
Bewick's Wren     2
Northern  Mockingbird     2
Curve-billed Thrasher      1
Cassin's Sparrow     1
Botteri's Sparrow   2
Lark Sparrow     4
Blue Grosbeak   1
Dickcissel     3
Red-winged Blackbird   3
Eastern Meadowlark     6
Great-tailed  Grackle     2

Location:     South Padre Is.--WBC/Conv. Center/Laguna Madre  Trail (LTC 
035)
Observation date:     8/28/10
Number of  species:     46

Mallard (Domestic type)      1
Brown Pelican     15
Least Bittern      2
Great Blue Heron     2
Snowy Egret      1
Little Blue Heron     3
Tricolored Heron   4
Reddish Egret     1
Green Heron   1
Osprey     1
Clapper Rail      3
Common Moorhen     3
Black-bellied Plover   4
Semipalmated Plover     3
Killdeer   1
American Oystercatcher     2
Spotted  Sandpiper     1
Greater Yellowlegs      1
Willet     10
Lesser Yellowlegs      2
Long-billed Curlew     2
Ruddy Turnstone   3
Sanderling     9
Least Sandpiper   20
Short-billed Dowitcher     15
Laughing  Gull     100
Least Tern     15
Black  Tern     6
Forster's Tern     1
Royal  Tern     30
Sandwich Tern     1
Eurasian  Collared-Dove     7
Inca Dove     3
Eastern  Wood-Pewee     1
Least Flycatcher      3
Great Crested Flycatcher     1
Eastern Kingbird   1
Barn Swallow     6
Northern  Mockingbird     2
Yellow Warbler      3
Prairie Warbler     1
Louisiana Waterthrush     1
Northern  Waterthrush     1
Dickcissel      4
Red-winged Blackbird     2
Great-tailed Grackle   15
Orchard Oriole     1
Baltimore Oriole   1

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Cannon Yellow-green Vireo--YES
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:16:01 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Much to my delight, Dan Jones' Yellow-green Vireo was still around this  
morning along the first mile of Cannon Road north of US 281 (in the wooded 
area,  of course)!  There were actually two birds song battling, so while I 
wasn't  able to spot either one, they both gave wonderful recording ops!  I 
hadn't  done this loop in awhile; it was quite birdy, with Groove-billed Anis 
being new  for my list there, and as Dan reported, the ton of Tropical 
Kingbirds as per usual! A Least Flycatcher was calling in the woods just before 

Adams  Garden Reservoir; the reservoir itself was rather barren except for 
the odd  Black-bellied Whistling Duck and tons of dragonflies (a Wandering 
Glider  actually sat down for a picture!); the northwest corner had the most 
action with  four Snowy Egrets, four (!) Solitary Sandpipers, and several 
Leasts. Also had single Baird's Sandpiper and a Willet flying by here, plus a 

whistling  White-tailed Kite.  A couple of Olive-sided Flycatchers called 
near the  house where the road dumps out on FM 3067.
 
Heading south on Weaver Road, the sod farms were empty (except for  
grackles), although I had flyover Upland Sandpipers at several stops. Going 
back 

into the woods yielded a couple of Alder Flycatchers calling, plus a  couple 
of singing Yellowthroats that sounded rather strange, leading me to  wonder 
if they might be the Brownsville race.  Heading up Rangerville Road  I took 
a quick peek at Cameron Reservoir but saw nothing of note.  It  actually 
rained pretty good for a couple of minutes, but the best bird flew in  and 
perched on the water tower:  a Peregrine Falcon!
 
Hiked a little in the Ebony Unit, getting only exercise, and the little  
pond there before Jimenez Drive was rather barren as well (except for a Green  
Heron).  Went down Jimenez to finish the loop and was nonplussed that my  
last bird of the day was a flock of Starlings... :-P
 
Pics (mostly odes but one of the falcon) are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
Number of species:     57

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck     4
Northern Bobwhite      5
Snowy Egret     4
Cattle Egret      30
Green Heron     2
Turkey Vulture      2
White-tailed Kite     1
Harris's Hawk      1
Peregrine Falcon     1
American Coot      1
Killdeer     12
Black-necked Stilt      1
Spotted Sandpiper     1
Solitary Sandpiper   4
Willet     1
Upland Sandpiper   5
Least Sandpiper     25
Baird's  Sandpiper     1
Eurasian Collared-Dove      1
White-winged Dove     100
Mourning Dove   75
Common Ground-Dove     20
White-tipped  Dove     2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo      3
Groove-billed Ani     4
Common Nighthawk   1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      12
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     3
Olive-sided  Flycatcher     2
Alder Flycatcher      2
Least Flycatcher     1
Brown-crested Flycatcher   6
Great Kiskadee     10
Tropical  Kingbird     15
Couch's Kingbird      8
White-eyed Vireo     7
Yellow-green Vireo   2
Green Jay     1
Horned Lark   9
Purple Martin     15
Black-crested  Titmouse     5
Carolina Wren     8
Northern  Mockingbird     6
Long-billed Thrasher      1
European Starling     30
Common Yellowthroat   9
Olive Sparrow     12
Northern Cardinal   3
Blue Grosbeak     2
Painted Bunting   3
Dickcissel     5
Red-winged Blackbird   50
Eastern Meadowlark     1
Great-tailed  Grackle     100
Orchard Oriole     2
Lesser  Goldfinch     5
House Sparrow     6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Wallace Road VNC Trip
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:54:09 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Was joined by Pat Heirs, Norma Friedrich, and Madeleine Sandefer (hope I  
got everyone's name right...) this morning for the VNC field trip up Wallace  
Road; we met at my apartment and had Purple Martins, Kiskadees, and even a  
Common Nighthawk fly overhead (I had a Pauraque tuning up before dawn)!   
Heading up Wallace we stopped where the pavement ended, and Pat found us at  
least four Upland Sandpipers in the field!  (The flight calls were easy to  
hear...)  We also had a pair of White-tailed Kites troubling all the  
grackles! A couple of stops north of there we had a flyover Painted Bunting, 
and 

in the roadside vegetation a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers came in  close, 
followed by a migrant Yellow Warbler.  Another field was claimed by  at 
least six Swainson's Hawks (mostly juvies, but we also had an intermediate  
morph adult)!  A Bobwhite actually came out on the road, trying to make  like 
one of the many doves!
 
I started the BBS protocol, but we saw enough activity down the dirt road  
that connects with North Bryan (when it's dry) that we decided to check it 
out,  and found a tree just full of Tawny Emperors!  We also had our only  
Bewick's Wrens along that stretch, as well as a family group of Anis and a  
female Blue Grosbeak.  I decided to see how far I could get (after Dolly it  
wasn't very far in the past), and we managed to add a Cassin's Sparrow 
hanging  out with the Lark Sparrows!  Before long we hit the south end of the  
wetland that's blocking the road on the north end, but were treated to  
Black-necked Stilts, Long-billed Curlews, a single Black-bellied Plover still 
in 

breeding plumage, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and a flock of Wilson's Phalaropes 
that  went whizzing by!  There was also a handlful of Black-bellied  Whistling 
Ducks hanging out there, and a very pale Fulvous made a brief  appearance as 
it followed a Moorhen into the grass, never to be seen  again...  An 
Anhinga also claimed one of the dead trees, and a young  White-tailed Hawk 
entertained us by trying to act like a Reddish Egret...
 
We backtracked a little and found a good dirt road that connected with  
Wallace where we spotted a pair of Western Kingbirds, then headed north and  
over to the north end of Bryan which was surprisingly un-exciting, so we were  
glad we saw what we did on the other side!  But as we made the turn onto  
North Bryan a whole family of Caracaras was chowing down on something, 
shortly  to be joined by one of the most brilliant Turkey Vultures we ever saw!
 
Going back down Wallace we picked up a few things here and there, and tried 
 vainly to spot the singing Dickcissels (they were flying overhead the 
whole  morning).  The wetlands were pretty productive with several waders  
including many Green Herons (the night herons from last week had migrated to 
the 

pond across the street that you can't see into...).  Madeleine spotted the  
White Pelican that was still hanging around, and the Neotrops grunted 
loudly as usual. Baby Tropical Kingbirds were chasing their parents, along with 

a  Bronzed Cowbird!  We never could find the Least Grebe that trumpeted, 
nor  the Solitary Sandpiper that tweeted.
 
It was pretty hot by that time, so we made a quick stop at the actual Monte 
 Cristo Tract parking area, where Norma MAY have gotten a glimpse of the 
Green  Kingfisher, but it was inconclusive.  We called it quits after that and 
 kissed goodbye with 71 species for the day!  Pics are posted here  
(including a couple of cool leps shot at the Ranch earlier in the week):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
  Fulvous  Whistling-Duck                 Dendrocygna bicolor
Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Upland  Sandpiper                       Bartramia longicauda
Solitary  Sandpiper                     Tringa solitaria
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Wilson's  Phalarope                     Phalaropus tricolor
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Groove-billed  Ani                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater

71 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal to Port Mansfield
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:17:30 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Took visiting birders Barb and Diane from Indiana out today; Barb had  
contacted me and said she really really REALLY wanted to see a Painted Bunting, 

so I figured that the La Sal route would be the best bet.  We met at the  
Jack in the Box on Monte Cristo (picking up a twittering Tropical Kingbird 
for  the day) and headed north and over on SR 186 to the refuge area.   Going 
slowly along the road we picked up the regulars quite quickly, including  
Green Jays and Pyrrhuloxias feeding on the road, and even the occasional  
"nyep"ping Orchard Oriole. Right away a Groove-billed Ani called outside Barb's 

side, and she and Diane got a knockout look!  A  Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew 
from a tree and actually landed on the wire--that was  a first!
 
But the best time was had on the "new" trail to the lake off  Brushline:  I 
hadn't been down that trail since they improved it (it's a  terrific, wide 
flat trail now, although even then we almost walked through one  of those 
complicated spider webs...), and had an even bigger surprise when we  arrived 
at the lake to find a brand new overlook!  We had heard several  Painted 
Buntings and as is per usual, we had a hard time spotting them or pishing them 

in, but on the way in Diane spotted a beautiful male feeding on the  trail 
in front of us!  That almost usurped the huge Nilgai that bounded in  front 
of us!
 
We added quite a few things at the lake that we didn't see elsewhere,  
including several Wilson's Phalaropes, a pair of Western Kingbirds, a  
Brown-crested Flycatcher, and a calling Summer Tanager. After that Barb 
admitted 

that Botteri's Sparrow would be a life bird, so we headed up to "the  corner" 
where we heard a distant one but couldn't spot it (my first Upland  
Sandpiper of the season called overhead, however). At that point I decided that 

maybe Sacahuistale Flats would be a better option for that bird, so we  
hitailed it back to the highway via GI Road where we picked up a young  
White-tailed Hawk for the day. Once into the flats area I pulled over where the 

habitat opened up, and voila, a Botteri's decided to sit up and sing  for us 
right next to the road!  We even got scope views!
 
We decided to head on in to Port Mansfield to pad the list with some water  
birds, and on the way I was bemoaning the Suicide Roadrunner I creamed on 
the  way to Big Bend, when doggone if another one didn't dart right out in 
front of  me!!  (He started heading towards the shoulder then turned around 
and ran  right under the car...)  That was heartbreaking...  But at Fred Stone 
 we did indeed pad the list well, the best additions being a couple of 
large  shorebirds that flew right at us and then banked, which at first I 
thought was a  pair of Marbled Godwits, but the lead bird turned out to be a 
slightly smaller Whimbrel! In with the Laughing Gulls were several Gull-billed 

Terns  batting around, but also a strange-looking Sandwich Tern that may 
have been a youngster, based on some of the things I've read, seeing as it had 

a single  yellow blob in the middle of its lower mandible and nowhere else! 
 A young  Caracara watched us the whole time we were there.
 
I put everything away figuring that was the end of the birding as we were  
headed home, but no such luck:  going back by way of FM 490, at one of the  
four-way stops Diane spotted a Common Nighthawk sitting on a horizontal 
fence post! As we got out to look and take pictures, we noticed at least five 

sitting around on posts and wires and wondered if it could have been a 
family group. Further on we passed a wetland on the left that had a nice crowd 

of  Roseate Spoonbills along with a mob of Neotropic Cormorants that took 
off and  circled over in a makeshift "V" formation overhead!
 
Headed on in after that, scaring Barb half to death when I swerved the car  
to avoid yet another Roadrunner...  We started wondering if it had  
something to do with the stuffed roadrunner on my dash...) Nevertheless the 
girls 

were very happy! :-)  Pics are posted here (along with a couple  of bugs at 
the Ranch):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Whimbrel                               Numenius phaeopus
Upland  Sandpiper                       Bartramia longicauda
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Wilson's  Phalarope                     Phalaropus tricolor
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Sandwich  Tern                          Thalasseus sandvicensis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Groove-billed  Ani                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius

75 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Quinta Mazatlan/Old Hidalgo Pumphouse
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:52:11 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Wasn't planning on birding today, but suddenly realized I needed data for  
July for Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, so went to Quinta Mazatlan first as I 
usually do  those two together (and catch the lep show at OHP later... 
;-))  Shoulda gone to OHP first as I wasn't there long before the Big  
Storm hit and had to run for my life ;-), but before I did, was blessed with a 

wonderful view of a juvenile Ringed Kingfisher at the overlook!  (Left the  
camera in the car...)  Dipped on the Black Phoebe, though... :-(  A  pair of 
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks seemed to revel in the downpour in the  
parking lot! The channel was flooding up over the deck, but due to the weather 

I didn't venture behind the Wall to see what it looked like back  there.  It 
was amazing to see the levees doing their job while driving down  there and 
back, though:  the water in the floodway was almost up to the  bridges!  
 
Quinta was very productive; it was so dreary when I got there that a  
Pauraque was still "tuning up"!  Both Green Parakeets and at least one  
Red-crowned Parrot were yelling in the parking lot, and after making the rounds 
was 

greeted by a mom Chachalaca and her baby in the parking lot again!  A  
kingbird was harassing a Yellow-crowned Night Heron on the way out.
 
Came home early and was greeted at the door with a giant millipede trying  
to escape the deluge!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/wed_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/wed) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Quinta Mazatlan WBC (McAllen) (LTC  063)
Observation date:     7/28/10
Number of species:   30

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      1
Plain Chachalaca     7
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron   1
White-winged Dove     30
Mourning Dove   3
Inca Dove     3
White-tipped Dove   1
Green Parakeet     5
Red-crowned  Parrot     1
Common Pauraque     1
Chimney  Swift     2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      4
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     5
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     2
Great Kiskadee      3
Couch's Kingbird     2
White-eyed Vireo   1
Green Jay     3
Purple Martin   1
Carolina Wren     1
Northern  Mockingbird     3
Curve-billed Thrasher      2
European Starling     3
Olive Sparrow      5
Northern Cardinal     2
Dickcissel      2
Great-tailed Grackle     6
Orchard Oriole   1
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow   20

Location:     Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (WBC)  (LTC067)
Observation date:     7/28/10
Number of  species:     17

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck   4
Rock Pigeon     20
White-winged Dove   15
Mourning Dove     1
Inca Dove   2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     1
Ringed  Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      1
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1
Great Kiskadee   4
Purple Martin     2
Cliff Swallow   2
Black-crested Titmouse     1
Northern  Mockingbird     7
Olive Sparrow      1
Great-tailed Grackle     2
House Sparrow   6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:32:17 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Headed up to La Sal today (not to follow up on Dan but because I needed  
data for late July... ;-)) and had a great selection of birds; highlights  
include the Botteri's Sparrows in the "usual spot" north of Brushline (along  
with a singing Black-throated Sparrow), but I also had a bird singing SOUTH 
of  Brushline about 3/10th of a mile east of that intersection!  A Cassin's  
Sparrow was also there, singing kind of a "backwards" song...   At the  end 
of the unmarked road, it looked as though there might have been a colony (or 
 at least a roost) of Great Egrets to the east, which in reality IS that 
little  wetland that housed the gallinules last month.  Had a young Summer 
Tanager  here as well.
 
Swinging around and up the road on the east side of the wetland, like Dan,  
I thought I might have heard the Purple Gallinule, but it was one short 
note and it didn't vocalize again, so I let that one go (lots of water in that 

little  wetland, but hard to see in).  A Vermilion Flycatcher was a 
surprise this time of year along GI Road, and there were TONS of Lark Sparrows 

about!  
 
Going down Rio Beef, a couple of young hawks squealed at one of the stops,  
and they shortly burst out of the vegetation to reveal themselves as  
Cooper's! The marsh was pretty overgrown as well, but there was a Yellowthroat 

singing; did I hear someone say that all breeding Yellowthroats in  the 
Valley are probably of the Brownsville race?  Also had an Ani here, so  seeing 
as I had one right at the start of the route, it was kinda fun to have  "ani 
bookends"!
 
The walk to the lake from SR 187 added Least Sandpiper to the list and a  
ton of bizarre-looking grasshoppers (oh, dear--is that the next area of  
obsession??), plus a Bordered Patch that almost had me thinking it was a Rosita 

Patch, as it only had orange on the hindwing!  I also had a second singing  
Black-throated Sparrow in here.  I cheated and stuck in the Swainson's Hawk 
 as it was sailing along 187 shortly after I wrapped the survey up...
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
 
Bird list:
 
Location:     LRGV NWR Driving Route
Observation  date:     7/27/10
Notes:     A Botteri's doing  a "partial song" was in the "usual spot" 
north of Brushline, and two birds  popped up close to the road.  Another bird 
was singing in a "new" location,  3/10 m. east of the intersection of 
Brushline and the unnamed northbound road that normally hosts the Botteri's. 
This 

bird was south of Brushline, in  the distance.
Number of species:     62

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck     8
Mottled Duck      4
Northern Bobwhite     12
Pied-billed Grebe   3
Great Egret     10
Cattle Egret   30
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture   5
Cooper's Hawk     2
Harris's Hawk   1
Swainson's Hawk     1
White-tailed  Hawk     1
Crested Caracara     5
Common  Moorhen     1
Killdeer     2
Least  Sandpiper     9
Laughing Gull     1
Eurasian  Collared-Dove     3
Mourning Dove      100
Inca Dove     3
Common Ground-Dove      15
White-tipped Dove     3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo   8
Greater Roadrunner     5
Groove-billed  Ani     2
Common Nighthawk      10
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     20
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     12
Vermilion Flycatcher      1
Brown-crested Flycatcher     6
Great Kiskadee   13
Couch's Kingbird     4
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher     15
White-eyed Vireo      2
Green Jay     5
Black-crested Titmouse      8
Verdin     12
Cactus Wren      4
Bewick's Wren     15
Northern Mockingbird   30
Long-billed Thrasher     8
Curve-billed  Thrasher     1
European Starling      3
Common Yellowthroat     1
Olive Sparrow   20
Cassin's Sparrow     5
Botteri's  Sparrow     3
Lark Sparrow      100
Black-throated Sparrow     2
Summer Tanager   2
Northern Cardinal     15
Pyrrhuloxia   9
Blue Grosbeak     6
Painted Bunting   15
Dickcissel     3
Red-winged Blackbird   20
Eastern Meadowlark     5
Great-tailed  Grackle     100
Bronzed Cowbird      30
Brown-headed Cowbird     10
Bullock's Oriole   3
House Sparrow     12

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Estero Llano Grande Bird Walk
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:57:10 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Was joined by Don Cole this morning, and we had a great time poking along  
the boardwalk then up onto the levee to gawk at the flooding, then over to  
Alligator Pond and back.  The White-tailed Kite family put on a show right  
away, and as we made our way around the boardwalk we had both species of  
Whistling Ducks.  In the grasslands a Dickcissel made its raspberry call  
overhead, and up on the levee we had Tropical Kingbirds, Least and Gull-billed 

Terns, a few herons, and a Solitary Sandpiper.  I miraculously spotted one  
of the Pauraques on the way to Alligator Lake, where things were pretty  
quiet.  Lep-wise, White Peacocks were all over the place, and had a  
cooperative Giant Swallowtail in the parking lot. After Don and I parted 
company, I 

made a loop around the Tropical Zone, picking up Ladder-backed  Woodpecker 
and Curve-billed Thrasher for the day.  Since I somehow hit a  button on my 
camera during the butterfly walk there yesterday that turned all my  pictures 
into black-and-white :-P, I returned to the canal where we found  
Band-winged Dragonlet in order to try and recapture an image!
 
Had 47 species for the morning.  Pics are posted here (including the  first 
three from yesterday before everything went monochrome...):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     12
Fulvous  Whistling-Duck     5
Neotropic Cormorant      4
Great Blue Heron     2
Snowy Egret      2
Little Blue Heron     2
Cattle Egret      3
Green Heron     4
White-tailed Kite      3
Common Moorhen     1
American Coot      1
Killdeer     7
Solitary Sandpiper      1
Least Sandpiper     8
Laughing Gull      1
Least Tern     2
Gull-billed Tern      1
White-winged Dove     15
Mourning Dove      12
Inca Dove     2
Common Ground-Dove      10
White-tipped Dove     3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo   1
Common Pauraque     2
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     4
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      12
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1
Great Kiskadee   6
Tropical Kingbird     4
Couch's  Kingbird     4
White-eyed Vireo     2
Purple  Martin     5
Black-crested Titmouse      4
Bewick's Wren     1
Northern Mockingbird   15
Long-billed Thrasher     2
Curve-billed  Thrasher     2
European Starling      30
Olive Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal      3
Dickcissel     2
Red-winged Blackbird      5
Great-tailed Grackle     30
Bronzed Cowbird   4
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Lesser  Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Davis Mountain & Big Bend Trip List
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:29:42 EDT
Here's the bird list to go along with the trip report (HO = Heard  Only):
 
 
Mallard (Mexican  Duck)                 Anas platyrhynchos
Scaled  Quail                           Callipepla squamata
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Montezuma Quail  (HO)                   Cyrtonyx montezumae
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Least  Tern                             Sternula antillarum
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Band-tailed  Pigeon                     Patagioenas fasciata
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Great Horned Owl  (HO)                  Bubo virginianus
Elf Owl  (HO)                           Micrathene whitneyi
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Chimney  Swift                          Chaetura pelagica
White-throated Swift  (HO)              Aeronautes saxatalis
Buff-bellied Hummingbird  (HO)         Amazilia  yucatanensis
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Broad-tailed  Hummingbird               Selasphorus platycercus
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern Flicker  (HO)                  Colaptes auratus
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Say's  Phoebe                           Sayornis saya
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Phainopepla  (HO)                       Phainopepla nitens
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock Wren  (HO)                         Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon Wren  (HO)                       Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed Thrasher  (HO)              Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Western  Bluebird                       Sialia mexicana
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-tailed  Gnatcatcher               Polioptila melanura
Bushtit  (HO)                           Psaltriparus minimus
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed Vireo  (HO)                  Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Gray  Vireo                             Vireo vicinior
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
COLIMA WARBLER  (lifer)                 Vermivora crissalis
Common Yellowthroat  (HO)               Geothlypis trichas
Hepatic Tanager  (HO)                   Piranga flava
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Black-chinned  Sparrow                  Spizella atrogularis
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark  (HO)                Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

108 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Davis Mnts and Big Bend (longish)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:23:32 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Decided to take a trip out to west Texas, following Jerry Cooper's  
itinerary in his ABA Birdfinder guide.  It's a great book, where he lays  out 
specific itineraries to bag target birds within a year (if you care to do it  
that way).  For this trip he lists Colima Warbler, Montezuma Quail, Gray  
Vireo, and Lucifer Hummingbird as the main targets.
 
11 JUL:  I cheated and stopped at Falcon SP for an exercise walk (it  was 
still open at that point), so that really padded the whole trip list with  
Valley specialties and waders.  The highlight for me was a very cooperative  
Yellow-billed Cuckoo!  A Roadrunner that had caught a huge rat and that was  
being bombed by a Mockingbird provided comic relief...
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/mcallen_alpine_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/mcallen_alpine) 
 
12 JUL:  "Day 1" of the official itinerary has you driving from Odessa  
(assuming you flew in there) down SR 17 to Fort Davis, birding Limpia Creek on 

the way.  I think he really meant to have you start birding at Wild Rose  
Pass, because the prescribed "20 miles north of Fort Davis" actually took me  
well away from the creek, but put me in great grassland with Cassin's 
Sparrows, Painted Buntings, and a "cheeerrrrr"-ing Montezuma Quail! Dipped on 

the  Common Black Hawks that frequent the cottonwoods; they were probably  
hiding...  Then you're supposed to bird the Scenic Loop, which includes  David 
Mnts SP, but I spent way too much time at the park, probably, sitting at  
the feeders waiting for the quail (that never showed) and poking along the  
roads, but was rewarded with some great scenery and photo ops, especially 
what was probably a brother/sister Blue Grosbeak pair at the creek crossing! 

Comic relief for the day was provided by a "baby" Lesser Goldfinch chasing 
her  daddy in circles around the thistle feeder!  Stopped as often as I 
could along the scenic loop (picnic areas are the best bet), and had some nice 

things  in the higher elevations, such as Hepatic Tanager, Scrub Jay, and  
White-breasted Nuthatch.  There's a new two-mile trail through the Nature  
Conservancy property, accessed at the Lawrence Wood Picnic Area, but I didn't  
have time to hike the whole thing.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/davis_mnts_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/davis_mnts) 
 
13 JUL:  "Day 2" had you leaving Davis SP (assuming you stayed  
overnight--I stayed in Alpine) and birding your way to Big Bend. Again, I spent 
an 

inordinate amount of time waiting for the pesky little quail ;-) along  with 
several other people, and while he never showed, at least he tantalized us  
with "cheers" from the hillside!  I took off about 9:00 and road-birded SR  
118 down to Study Butte, stopping every ten miles or so to listen, and picked 
up  some nice things at the picnic areas especially, such as Bell's Vireo 
and  Vermilion Flycatcher, along with desert stuff like Black-tailed  
Gnatcatcher. Got a map at Panther Junction where a mom Curve-billed Thrasher 
was 

upset with me, then road-birded Green Gulch, which reminded me a  lot of the 
road going up into Madera Canyon in Arizona.  Highlights along  that road 
included Scott's Orioles, Black-chinned and Rufous-crowned Sparrows,  and 
Mexican Jays. Checked into Chisos Lodge; I was in the cottages, so I  assumed 
that the trail straight up the hill from the road's end was the Laguna  
Meadow Trail, so I did about ten minutes' worth just to check it out, and got a 

Gray Vireo out of it!  Found out later that was actually the fearsome  
Pinnacles Trail... A quick stroll around the paved and flat Window View Trail 

(more my speed) had some outlandish grasshoppers, tons of these  red-rimmed 
black bugs mating, and a few leps.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/dm_bb_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/dm_bb) 
 
14 JUL:  I had long since given up any hope of seeing a Colima Warbler  
because I figured I'd never be able to make that death march, but since "the  
itinerary" called for it, I decided to try it...  Based on the wonderful  
feedback from my Texbirds friends, I decided to go up by way of Laguna Meadow, 

and that was a great choice!  I started pre-dawn (getting an Elf Owl in the 
 parking lot), and took the trail going downhill from the cottages that 
joined up  with main trail shortly.  By hiking in 20-minute increments and 
stopping for five, it turned out to be a great hike (if *I* can do it, ANYBODY 

can do  it--in fact, I was rather gratified to see the number of overweight 
backpackers  making the trek)!  At one of the switchbacks where I rested, I 
pished after  the five minutes was up, and guess what came zooming in!!  And 
WELL below  Laguna Meadow!  This scruffy little Colima Warbler was probably 
a  dispersing juvenile, but what a surprise!  After another set of 
switchbacks I came to a grove of pines (again, below the meadow), and a male 
was 

singing!!  He gave GREAT views!  Since I still had time (my turnaround  
strategy was half my water or 11:30, whichever occurred first) I plodded on up 

the hill and broke into a little open area where you felt like you were on 
top  of the world!  I assumed this was "Laguna Meadow", but according to the  
topo map I had, the REAL "Laguna Meadow" was apparently a wooded area 
further on with grassy undergrowth. I made it as far as the toilet there before 

I had  to turn back.  Unfortunately dipped on the Lucifer up here, but got  
Broad-tailed instead.  Butterflies were more active going down, of course,  
with Chisos Skipperling being the highlight.  Was doing fine until I got to  
that portion at the end where I had to go back uphill, and I thought I was  
either die or throw up... :-P  Did neither, and recovered enough to  
celebrate with a steak dinner at the restaurant and a decadent brownie ice 
cream 

sundae :-), then enjoyed a couple of young Mockers performing this 
dance-like standoff in the parking lot (needed a video to fully appreciate 
it...)! 

 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/colima_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/colima) 
 
15 JUL:  "Day 4" was supposed to be either a "clean-up" day to get any  
missed targets, or you could go to Rio Grande Village if you had accomplished  
that.  Well, I still needed Lucifer Hummingbird, so decided to hike the  
Window Trail as recommended, but when I saw that it, too, was going to be an  
uphill climb in the heat of the day on the way back, I decided to make a loop 
 from the campground up to the lodge and back down the paved road, and 
while I didn't bag the Lucifer (although I DID hear something that sounded like 

one and  got a brief glimpse of a hummer buzzing away, but I wasn't sure), 
had great  looks at Varied Bunting, a Scaled Quail family, and a Gray Vireo 
right next to  the road!  Before I started the hike, the restroom there was 
just FILLED  with moths, and I had a hard time pulling myself away from 
trying to shoot them all! In retrospect I'm thinking I should have gone ahead 

to RGV just to  pad the list, but oh well.  Headed north towards Marathon 
after that, and  made it to Del Rio that night.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/bb_dr_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/bb_dr) 
 
16 JUL:  Cheated again by stopping at Lake Casa Blanca in Laredo for  an 
exercise walk and added a few more waders, but it was pretty quiet  bird-wise. 
 The only picture I took was of a cooperative (and  appropriately-named) 
Laredo Striped Whiptail!  (He's the last picture in  the last gallery...)
 
I'll post the bird list in a separate e-mail.
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Monte Cristo & Edinburg
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 16:50:03 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Birded down Wallace Road and the Monte Cristo Tract this gorgeous morning  
and had a nice selection of birds.  Highlights include two Swainson's Hawks  
(one at each end), a lovely Painted Bunting that came in to pishing, 
Dickcissels  all over the place, and I could have sworn I heard an Upland 
Sandpiper flying over, but I didn't get a good "listen" and figured it might be 
a 

little early  for them.  Early on waders were flying overhead, the highlight 
there being  four Roseate Spoonbills!  The wetland had the usual Neotropic 
Cormorants  and Tropical Kingbird pair, along with a couple of trumpeting 
Least Grebes and  an oversummering White Pelican!  Black-necked Stilts liked 
the flooded  fields, and picked up an Ani towards the north end of the road.
 
At Edinburg Wetlands had a single Lesser Yellowlegs in the south pond (one  
Texbirder asked me about plumages the last time I reported one, so I 
included a few measly pictures) along with several stilts, Killdeer, and 
egrets, 

including  a Great in high breeding color!  There was also a domestic duck 
hanging  there that reminded me of a Philippine Duck with that strong facial  
pattern!  Three Least Terns were flying around calling as well.  The  north 
side had a Green Kingfisher shooting through, but about the only things in  
the lake were more cormorants and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.  The canal 
 had a couple of Green Herons, and a young Orchard Oriole called and then 
zipped  overhead.
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Monte Cristo Tract (LTC 062)
Observation  date:     7/6/10
Number of species:      41

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     2
Mottled  Duck     4
Northern Bobwhite     12
Least  Grebe     3
American White Pelican      1
Neotropic Cormorant     20
Great Egret      2
Snowy Egret     9
Little Blue Heron      2
Green Heron     3
Roseate Spoonbill      4
Swainson's Hawk     2
Crested Caracara      2
Killdeer     2
Black-necked Stilt      10
Rock Pigeon     40
White-winged Dove      8
Mourning Dove     12
Common Ground-Dove   3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Groove-billed  Ani     1
Common Nighthawk      6
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     6
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     5
Great Kiskadee      7
Tropical Kingbird     2
Couch's Kingbird   4
Horned Lark     7
Northern Mockingbird   5
European Starling     1
Olive Sparrow   9
Lark Sparrow     10
Northern Cardinal   3
Blue Grosbeak     2
Painted Bunting   3
Dickcissel     12
Red-winged Blackbird   75
Great-tailed Grackle     100
Bronzed  Cowbird     6
Brown-headed Cowbird      3
House Sparrow     12

Location:     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC  061)
Observation date:     7/6/10
Number of species:   32

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      10
Mallard (Domestic type)     3
Mottled Duck   1
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Neotropic  Cormorant     100
Great Egret     4
Snowy  Egret     10
Green Heron      2
Killdeer     7
Black-necked Stilt      9
Lesser Yellowlegs     1
Least Tern      3
Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
White-winged Dove   6
Mourning Dove     8
Inca Dove   1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     7
Green  Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      3
Brown-crested Flycatcher     1
Great Kiskadee   6
Western Kingbird     2
White-eyed  Vireo     2
Purple Martin      2
Black-crested Titmouse     1
Northern Mockingbird   9
Curve-billed Thrasher     3
European  Starling     2
Northern Cardinal      2
Great-tailed Grackle     12
Orchard Oriole   1
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow   12

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Progresso Farm Route & Santa Ana
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:50:32 EDT
Hi, all!
 
The original plan was to hike Santa Ana, but the heat forecast scared me,  
so decided to do the "Progresso Farm Route" instead.  This normally  
includes the road to the east of the Progresso Sod Farms, then I take the levee 

west, over FM 88, and continue on to FM 493, where I go north and come back on 
 the northern levee.  Only when I got up there I discovered they were doing 
 major work on it!  Had some nice things before I got to that part,  
including both species of nighthawk vocalizing, Black-necked Stilt babies, and 
a 

handful of Lesser Yellowlegs.  A Caracara was nice, too!
 
So after making it over to 88, I decided to go to Santa Ana after all,  
where I did a shortened hike, concentrating mostly on Pintail Lakes before it  
got too terribly unbearable, then the Willow Lake area.  My first Hooded  
Orioles for Santa Ana were in the parking lot, and a very cooperative  
Yellow-billed Cuckoo posed for pictures! Several things were active in Pintail 

Lakes (I headed all the way down to the easternmost lake before coming  back), 
including families of both grebe species (the Least Grebes were chasing  
each other and being quite vocal) and several Least Bitterns flying  around!  
A few Yellow-crowned Night Herons were in the furthest pond (the  one that's 
usually nothing more than a swamp, but it was quite full today),  along 
with a Ringed Kingfisher, which was nice! Picked up a Green Kingfisher on the 

way back, along with a family of Anis.  The normal  woodland birds graced 
the Willow Lakes area, including Clay-colored Thrush,  Beardless Tyrannulet,  
and a couple of young Brown-crested Flycatchers that  were vocalizing 
almost more like Bright-rumped Atillas--that sure had me going  for a minute!  
The resident Red-shouldered Hawk came through at the 11th  hour, and a 
fledgling Blue Grosbeak popped up near the end of the hike along  with Mom!
 
Pics are posted here (the cuckoo is the only bird; the rest are  odes...):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Ebird was horrifically slow, so here's the bird list from Bird Base:
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Yellow-crowned  Night-Heron             Nyctanassa violacea
Least  Bittern                          Ixobrychus exilis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Groove-billed  Ani                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Lesser  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles acutipennis
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Green  Kingfisher                       Chloroceryle americana
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Clay-colored  Thrush                    Turdus grayi
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus

59 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Quinta Mazatlan & Old Hidalgo Pumphouse
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:22:41 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds at Quinta Mazatlan early this morning, where Green  
Parakeets seemed to be all over (and definitely nesting inside the park)! Also 

heard a Red-crowned Parrot, but he seemed to be "off-campus".  Several  birds 
had families, including Curve-billed Thrashers, Starlings, and  Chachalacas. 
 In fact, a Screech Owl peeking out of one hole was spooked by  a young 
Starling flying at him; after briefly glaring at the young  whipper-snapper he 
popped back into his hole completely!
 
Was warming up considerably by the time I got to Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, but 
 there were some nice birds, best of which was a House Finch in the parking 
 lot!  A little later as I walked the dirt track in between the levee and  
the resaca, a whole group popped up, but the light was lousy, so I couldn't 
tell  if I had females or young males on my hand (would be a hoot if they 
had actually  been breeding there)!  That little stretch was very productive, 
with family  (?) groups of Groove-billed Anis and Lesser Goldfinches as 
well, along with a  brilliant Altamira Oriole that DID have a baggy nest back 
there!  Also  raising babies was a pair of Western Kingbirds in the garden 
area; their  not-quite grown youngster posed for pictures!  Picked up the 
requisite Black Phoebe at the overlook, and a gang of Cave Swallows on the wire 

was  actually a first for my list there!  A Black-necked Stilt flying 
overhead  was also new.  
 
Ran into Mike Rickard and Viola while I was poking around looking for leps, 
 and she warned me about a large group of junior high kids coming in for a 
field  trip, so after making a lep-hunting loop around the parking lot and 
down by  the amphitheater I called it quits.
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/thu) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Quinta Mazatlan WBC (McAllen) (LTC  063)
Observation date:     6/24/10
Number of species:   28

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      4
Plain Chachalaca     12
White-winged Dove   30
Mourning Dove     1
Inca Dove   3
White-tipped Dove     3
Green Parakeet   12
Red-crowned Parrot     2
Eastern  Screech-Owl     1
Chimney Swift      3
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     2
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     7
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      2
Brown-crested Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee   2
Couch's Kingbird     1
White-eyed  Vireo     2
Green Jay     1
Black-crested  Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     2
Northern  Mockingbird     3
Curve-billed Thrasher      4
European Starling     12
Olive Sparrow      3
Northern Cardinal     3
Great-tailed Grackle   12
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow   20

Location:     Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (WBC)  (LTC067)
Observation date:     6/24/10
Notes:   The light was terrible, but a couple of the House Finches looked  
like they could have been juveniles, in which case we may have had a family  
group!  One bird was initially in the parking lot, and the group was along  
the dirt track between the levee and the resaca.
Number of species:   30

Black-necked Stilt     1
Rock  Pigeon     7
White-winged Dove      15
Mourning Dove     5
Inca Dove      5
Common Ground-Dove     3
Groove-billed Ani   5
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     2
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     1
Black Phoebe      1
Brown-crested Flycatcher     1
Great Kiskadee   1
Tropical Kingbird     1
Couch's  Kingbird     3
Western Kingbird     3
Cave  Swallow     12
Carolina Wren     2
Northern  Mockingbird     12
European Starling      2
Olive Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal      1
Red-winged Blackbird     1
Great-tailed Grackle   8
Bronzed Cowbird     3
Brown-headed  Cowbird     1
Altamira Oriole     1
House  Finch     5
Lesser Goldfinch     5
House  Sparrow     6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Botteri's Back at La Sal (Hidalgo Co.)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:31:17 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds along the La Sal Del Rey route, and had a wonderful  
morning, the highlight being the returning Botteri's Sparrow in what is 
probably 

about as far northeast as you can get in the county!  I haven't had a  
chance to process my recordings yet, but this time I had my handy dandy little 

pocket recorder with me (thanks again, Javier! :-)), and I think I was able 
to  document the song (a Mockingbird and Bullock's Oriole were trying to 
drown it  out, however... :-P).  I also photographed an Aimophila sparrow deep 
in the  bush near where the bird was singing, but it was so "in there" that 
I'm not sure  what it is (there was also a Cassin's skylarking close by).  
Comments are  welcome.  To get to where this bird is, go north on Brushline 
Road from SR  186 and follow it as far as you can.  Brushline makes a hard 
right after  several miles, and about a half mile after this turn is an 
unmarked dirt road going north; turn left here, and the bird was about 3/10s of 
a 

mile up the road,  in the field to the west.
 
The other thrill was finding not one, not two, but THREE Purple Gallinules  
in the little wetland just east of there!  If you keep going on Brushline,  
it eventually makes a hard left, and before long there will be a rather 
largish  open wetland on the right, and a small, rather overgrown one on the 
left, and it  was this left-hand wetland that had the gallinules (along with 
some trumpeting  Least Grebes and a single Moorhen).  Looks like a grand 
place for a Masked Duck to hide as well! Black-necked Stilts and Killdeer were 

the only other  waterbirds I could find across the street (visibility is 
hindered somewhat by  the vegetation).
 
The third avian highlight was a male Summer Tanager that was singing along  
Rio Beef Road on the way back to the highway; he came right in to pishing 
(flew  within feet of me a couple of times) but was uncooperative for photos 
(got one  lousy one for documentation), still singing periodically.  A few  
Dickcissels still buzzed overhead, and I thought I might have had a pair of  
Orchard Orioles, but they were in terrible light and I really couldn't tell 
(the  chatter sounded faster than I would have expected from a Bullock's).  
Could  find no raptors aside from vultures and loads of caracaras.  
 
And speaking of loads, if anyone had to see a Bordered Patch or they were  
gonna die, I'd send 'em on this route--there were gazillions of 'em!  I  
came across a splat of scat in the middle of Rio Beef where several had been  
feeding and got "splatted" themselves, but it didn't keep their brethren from 
 joining the party!  Other arthropods included a spectacular yellow-spotted 
 orb spider of some kind, and a "jailbird" beetle that I was so focused 
upon with  the camera that I didn't notice until later that he was being 
consumed by this incredible green spider! Boy, he blended right in; no wonder 

that poor  beetle got nabbed!
 
Pics are posted here (any ideas on the ID of the spiders and beetle are  
welcome):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     LRGV NWR Driving Route
Observation  date:     6/22/10
Notes:     Botteri's was  singing in his usual spot, in a field north of 
eastbound Brushline and west of  an unmarked northbound road.
Number of species:      58

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     2
Northern  Bobwhite     12
Least Grebe     3
Cattle  Egret     2
Black Vulture     3
Turkey  Vulture     9
Harris's Hawk     1
Crested  Caracara     12
Purple Gallinule      3
Common Moorhen     1
Killdeer      2
Black-necked Stilt     2
Laughing Gull      2
Eurasian Collared-Dove     3
Mourning Dove   100
Inca Dove     2
Common Ground-Dove   10
White-tipped Dove     3
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo     3
Greater Roadrunner      7
Groove-billed Ani     1
Common Nighthawk   8
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      20
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     12
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     12
Great Kiskadee      6
Couch's Kingbird     4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   8
White-eyed Vireo     2
Green Jay   4
Horned Lark     2
Purple Martin   1
Black-crested Titmouse     7
Verdin   7
Cactus Wren     2
Bewick's Wren   20
Northern Mockingbird     30
Long-billed  Thrasher     2
Curve-billed Thrasher      1
European Starling     4
Olive Sparrow      20
Cassin's Sparrow     2
Botteri's Sparrow   1
Lark Sparrow     6
Summer Tanager   1
Northern Cardinal     20
Pyrrhuloxia   7
Blue Grosbeak     3
Painted Bunting   12
Dickcissel     3
Red-winged Blackbird   20
Eastern Meadowlark     3
Great-tailed  Grackle     6
Bronzed Cowbird      25
Brown-headed Cowbird     3
Hooded Oriole   1
Bullock's Oriole     4
House Sparrow   15

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Monte Cristo & Edinburg
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:25:32 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Surveyed Wallace Road this morning, which was socked in with fog for the  
most part; grackles and redwings dominated the landscape, but also had 
several Dickcissels singing away along with several Common Nighthawks early on, 
a 

couple  of Horned Larks, and many Bobwhite.  Thornscrub species were rather 
sparse  with only a few Olive Sparrows, one titmouse, one Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo, a couple  of White-tipped Doves, and two Long-billed Thrashers.  Had a 
trumpeting  Least Grebe at the wetland, along with a handful of Neotropic 
Cormorants and  Anhingas, but waders and other waterbirds were few; 
songbird-wise, at least the Tropical Kingbird came through! The only raptors 
were a 

pair of Caracaras,  and in the more open thornscrub near the north end had 
Blue Grosbeak and Painted  Bunting.  The only swallow was a flyover Bank 
making his rapid-fire calls  through the fog.
 
The highlight at Edinburg Wetlands was actually a lep:  a brilliant  
Two-barred Flasher along the "Jungle Trail"! There wasn't much birdlife in the 

south pond (except for an adorable baby Killdeer and a couple of stilts,  
along with the ever-present cormorants and whistling ducks, plus a single  
Yellow-crowned Night Heron).  Had a pair each of Couch's Kingbirds and  
Brown-crested Flycatchers along the south side of that pond, and three 
Gull-billed 

Terns were patrolling the area.  On the north side the  Buff-bellied Hummers 
ruled as per usual, but again the north pond was rather  sparse on species 
with only a few egrets, yet the usual tons of  cormorants.  A Green 
Kingfisher eventually showed up at the southeast corner, so that was nice 
seeing as 

it had been awhile since I had seen that  one!  A Tropical Kingbird was 
over by the dragonfly pond as well, and a  Mourning Dove surprised me by 
landing RIGHT next to me on the canal  bridge!  Shockingly, both Starling and 
Purple Martin were new for my  Edinburg Wetlands list...
 
Pics (mostly invertebrates, but with the dove and a cormorant) are posted  
here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/thu) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Monte Cristo Tract (LTC 062)
Observation  date:     6/17/10
Number of species:      36

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     1
Mottled  Duck     2
Northern Bobwhite     8
Least  Grebe     1
Neotropic Cormorant      7
Anhinga     3
Great Egret     2
Green  Heron     1
Crested Caracara     2
Rock  Pigeon     40
White-winged Dove      1
Mourning Dove     20
Common Ground-Dove   4
White-tipped Dove     2
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo     1
Common Nighthawk      6
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     7
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     3
Great Kiskadee      2
Tropical Kingbird     2
Horned Lark      2
Bank Swallow     1
Black-crested Titmouse   1
Northern Mockingbird     12
Long-billed  Thrasher     3
Olive Sparrow     5
Lark  Sparrow     3
Northern Cardinal     5
Blue  Grosbeak     2
Painted Bunting      1
Dickcissel     9
Red-winged Blackbird      100
Great-tailed Grackle     100
Bronzed Cowbird   9
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
House  Sparrow     10

Location:     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC  061)
Observation date:     6/17/10
Number of species:   28

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      10
Neotropic Cormorant     50
Great Egret   2
Snowy Egret     4
Green Heron   3
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron      1
Killdeer     3
Black-necked Stilt      2
Gull-billed Tern     3
Rock Pigeon      2
Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
White-winged Dove   10
Mourning Dove     12
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     6
Green Kingfisher      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     6
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee      5
Tropical Kingbird     1
Couch's Kingbird   2
White-eyed Vireo     2
Purple Martin   1
Northern Mockingbird     10
European  Starling     1
Northern Cardinal      3
Red-winged Blackbird     1
Great-tailed Grackle   12
House Sparrow     10

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Larids @ Falcon SP
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:04:00 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Birded Starr County today, the highlight being several larid species that  
got flagged by eBird!  Laughing Gulls are certainly not unexpected, but by  
the picnic area off shore a bit by an "island" of twigs was a multi-species  
flock consisting of about 20 Laughers (all in basic plumage), ten Forster's 
 Terns, and at least 18 Black Skimmers!  Also flagged (which kind of  
surprised me) was a Caspian Tern, plus a lone Least Tern feeding and calling in 

the same general area.
 
Other than that, had the regulars:  had a pair of calling Lesser  
Nighthawks coming in the entrance road, my first White-tailed Kite for the 
park, a 

stunning Painted Bunting popped up just past the entrance kiosk, and two 
pairs (or a family group?) of Roadrunners was hanging by the butterfly garden, 

seemingly annoyed that I was keeping them from their butterfly breakfast!   
On the way out a raptor had me stumped until Sibley came through with a  
picture-perfect rendition of an intermediate morph juvie Swainson's!
 
Made 15-minute stops at Salineno and Roma, picking up Muscovy Duck at the  
former, but no sign of Huck's Brown Jays. :-(  Had a nice selection of  
swallows at both places.
 
Pics are posted here (and comments/corrections on the invertebrates are  
welcome):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
 
Three bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Falcon SP (Starr Co.)(LTC 084)
Observation  date:     6/15/10
Notes:     There was a small  "island" of bare branches several yards off 
shore from the picnic area, where a  multi-species flock was lounging 
consisting of about 20 Laughing Gulls (all NB), at least 18 Black Skimmers, ten 

Forster's Terns, and a single Caspian.  The  Least Tern was feeding and 
calling nearby.
Number of species:   50

Northern Bobwhite     10
Neotropic  Cormorant     3
Great Egret     2
Snowy  Egret     2
Green Heron     1
Turkey  Vulture     12
White-tailed Kite      1
Swainson's Hawk     1
Crested Caracara      1
Killdeer     3
Laughing Gull      20
Least Tern     1
Caspian Tern      1
Forster's Tern     10
Black Skimmer      18
White-winged Dove     9
Mourning Dove      3
Inca Dove     1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo      1
Greater Roadrunner     4
Lesser Nighthawk   2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      4
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     7
Ash-throated  Flycatcher     1
Brown-crested Flycatcher      4
Great Kiskadee     4
Couch's Kingbird      2
Western Kingbird     1
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   5
White-eyed Vireo     1
Green Jay   2
Purple Martin     1
Black-crested  Titmouse     2
Verdin     3
Cactus  Wren     4
Bewick's Wren     3
Northern  Mockingbird     20
Curve-billed Thrasher      2
Olive Sparrow     9
Cassin's Sparrow      1
Lark Sparrow     2
Black-throated Sparrow   2
Northern Cardinal     6
Pyrrhuloxia   7
Painted Bunting     4
Red-winged  Blackbird     7
Great-tailed Grackle      50
Bronzed Cowbird     2
Brown-headed Cowbird   1
Bullock's Oriole     3

Location:     Salineo (LTC 080)
Observation date:   6/15/10
Number of species:     26

Muscovy  Duck     1
Great Egret     1
Turkey  Vulture     1
Gull-billed Tern      2
White-winged Dove     2
Mourning Dove      1
Common Ground-Dove     1
White-tipped Dove   1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     3
Couch's Kingbird      2
Green Jay     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   5
Purple Martin     1
Bank Swallow   5
Barn Swallow     2
Black-crested  Titmouse     1
Bewick's Wren     1
Northern  Mockingbird     3
Olive Sparrow      1
Northern Cardinal     2
Red-winged Blackbird   2
Great-tailed Grackle     8
Bronzed  Cowbird     2
Brown-headed Cowbird      1
Bullock's Oriole     2

Location:     Roma Bluffs WBC (LTC 077)
Observation  date:     6/15/10
Number of species:      15

Green Heron     1
Killdeer      1
Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
White-winged Dove   10
Mourning Dove     1
Inca Dove   1
Chimney Swift     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     1
Great Kiskadee      1
Couch's Kingbird     2
Cliff Swallow      1
Cave Swallow     7
Northern Mockingbird   2
Great-tailed Grackle     6
House  Sparrow     5

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: VNC Field Trip to Boca Chica
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:56:44 EDT
Hi, all!

Ranger John Yochum, Pat Heirs, Norma Friedrich, and myself  had a blast 
exploring the Boca Chica Tract--at least that was the plan, but we  ended up 
covering a whole lot more territory!  After meeting at the Stripes  at 511 and 
77, we all migrated over to Palo Alto where we decided to spend some  time 
looking for a Cassin’s Sparrow, which we found skylarking, and then found  
another individual closer and in better light by the shelter.  We also  found 
what John ID’d as a Mexican Racer, but it wasn’t illustrated in either  
book, so I never would have guessed that (the closest match was Rough Green  
Snake, but it wasn’t all that green; it was more of a “Lyside Sulphur”  
green). One of the park volunteers was checking out the trails and kicked up a 

couple of Bobwhite for us!

From there we decided to take a quick peek down Old Port Isabel Road to  
see if we could find an Aplomado Falcon, but dipped on that; instead we were  
treated to a young White-tailed Hawk sailing the blue, shortly being joined 
by  Mom/Dad!  At the pond (where there wasn’t much) we turned around and 
headed down Boca Chica, where we finally got Norma’s life Botteri’s 
Sparrow! 

(We  had one singing on OPI, but we couldn’t find it; this one was right by 
the  road…)  Pat took us down the road where Kyle had his Gray-crowned  
Yellowthroat last winter, but I honestly didn’t hold out much hope…  
 
The wind was pretty fierce by then, anyway, so we pretty much stayed in the 
 car and crawled down the road listening until we found something.  Once we 
 got to the flats we did find some interesting birds, including Black 
Terns, both  morphs of Reddish Egret, a Wilson’s Plover with chicks, an 
oh-so-cute Snowy Plover, and a breeding-plumaged White-rumped Sandpiper (I 
called 

Western at  first, but after seeing all those birds at Laguna Atascosa last 
month the Lord said, “Are you sure???” :-))! We got to laughing about the 

"Willet on the  Wire" (sounds like a song)!  The tide was really high at the 
beach, so we  only stuck around long enough to get Royal Tern and Brown 
Pelican, then headed back, picking up a Harris’ Hawk going out, along with a 

small flock of Roseate  Spoonbills!

We went into Brownsville to have lunch, then Pat took us to the  
neighborhood where the Yellow-green Vireo had been breeding the last several 
years, 

but all I heard were Lesser Goldfinches and House Sparrows.  We then  went to 
the UTB campus where they knew of breeding Red-crowned Parrots at the  
footbridge, and sure enough, there was one sticking his head out!  While we  
were watching a pair of Green Parakeets came screeching in, so that was great! 

 We actually added quite a few species to the list in Brownsville,  
including Tropical Kingbird, but dipped on the House Finch… I added a couple 
of 

birds to my day list by dropping the dough off at VNC, but I think  John's 
gonna compare notes and add anything I missed...
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ (http://www.pbase.com/miriam
eaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
6-14-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 6-12-10 to  6-14-10
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Wilson's  Plover                        Charadrius wilsonia
Snowy  Plover                           Charadrius alexandrinus
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
White-rumped  Sandpiper                 Calidris fuscicollis
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Least  Tern                             Sternula antillarum
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Black  Tern                             Chlidonias niger
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Green  Parakeet                         Aratinga holochlora
Red-crowned  Parrot                     Amazona viridigenalis
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
 
68 SPECIES

Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: Anzalduas & NABA
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 15:19:39 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds at Anzalduas this morning (minus the back portion) where  
aside from the expected breeders, things were rather quiet.  Highlights  
include a Hooded Oriole (first for my list there), the Beardless  Tyrannulet, 
singing Clay-colored Thrushes, the Black Phoebe near the dam,  and a pair of 
feral/escaped Yellow-headed Parrots I flushed along the back road  next to 
the levee, along with a Common Nighthawk (also a first for me  there).  
 
Road-birded Old Military Highway for about six miles (the road was too  
muddy to attempt after that point), stopping for awhile at NABA, where despite 

the wind quite a few butterflies were flying, the most interesting being a  
Mexican Bluewing.  A Couch's Kingbird was harassing a Swainson's Hawk above 
 the parking lot, and a Cooper's Hawk shot across the road west of Bentsen 
Palm  Drive.  Dickcissels were all over the place, and had one Blue Grosbeak 
 singing.  Firsts for my list along this route included Green Heron (at the 
 canal along the levee), Common Nighthawk, and Loggerhead Shrike.
 
Only took a couple of Cave Swallow pics today, but the gallery includes  
some Horned Lizards, a Painted Bunting, and a Caracara I found near Puerto 
Rico  on Tuesday.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/wed_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/wed) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Anzalduas County Pk (LTC 068)
Observation  date:     6/9/10
Notes:     The parrots were  undoubtedly escapees/feral; distinctive 
vocalizations confirmed as  well.
Number of species:     36

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck     4
Plain Chachalaca      1
Killdeer     1
Black-necked Stilt      2
Rock Pigeon     4
White-winged Dove      5
Mourning Dove     6
Inca Dove      2
Yellow-headed Parrot     2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo   1
Common Nighthawk     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     12
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      1
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet     1
Black Phoebe   1
Brown-crested Flycatcher     2
Great  Kiskadee     4
Couch's Kingbird      6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     12
Cave Swallow   1
Black-crested Titmouse     3
Clay-colored  Thrush     2
Northern Mockingbird      15
European Starling     3
Common Yellowthroat   2
Olive Sparrow     3
Lark Sparrow   3
Dickcissel     2
Red-winged Blackbird   1
Eastern Meadowlark     1
Great-tailed  Grackle     20
Bronzed Cowbird      4
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Hooded Oriole   1
Altamira Oriole     1
House Sparrow   6

Location:     NABA International Butterfly  Park
Observation date:     6/9/10
Notes:      Includes Old Military Highway
Number of species:      33

Plain Chachalaca     2
Northern Bobwhite   4
Green Heron     1
Cooper's Hawk   1
Swainson's Hawk     1
Killdeer   1
White-winged Dove     12
Mourning Dove   9
White-tipped Dove     1
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo     1
Common Nighthawk      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     3
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     2
Brown-crested Flycatcher      2
Great Kiskadee     5
Couch's Kingbird      5
Loggerhead Shrike     1
White-eyed Vireo   1
Cliff Swallow     3
Cave Swallow   30
Northern Mockingbird     12
Long-billed  Thrasher     2
Common Yellowthroat      2
Olive Sparrow     8
Lark Sparrow      2
Northern Cardinal     2
Blue Grosbeak      1
Dickcissel     9
Red-winged Blackbird      30
Great-tailed Grackle     20
Bronzed Cowbird   7
Altamira Oriole     1
House Sparrow   10

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Bentsen Lep & Ode Walk
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 17:02:33 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Joined Ranger Javier for the "maiden voyage" of a combined butter- and  
dragonfly walk today, along with Mike Rickard, Ginny Musgrave, Ranger Carol, 
and  later one of the volunteers (whose name I didn't catch) and her  
granddaughter.  It got to be wicked out there heat-wise, but the odes were  
reasonably cooperative; in the front garden we had Blue Dasher, Black Setwing, 

Roseate Skimmer, Carmine Skimmer (I think the Abbott book calls them  
Orange-bellied Skimmers--it's not even listed in the Dragons thru Bins book), 
and a 

clubtail-type dragon that my best guess on is Five-striped Leaftail.   Had a 
Blue-ringed Dancer in the central garden, a Blue-faced Dancer at the new  
nature center, and at the boatramp a whole slough of stuff (no pun intended),  
including the Mexican Scarlettail in an unflattering position...   
Interesting leps included a Vine Sphinx that came tearing into the breezeway 
before 

landing under a bush, a White-tipped Black Moth hiding underneath the  palm 
fronds, and several Black Swallowtails, including one that had just emerged 
 in one of their special enclosures; the volunteer's granddaughter had the  
privilege of coaxing it onto her hand and letting it loose!  The avian  
highlight was a Swainson's Hawk soaring overhead which suddenly stooped and  
caught a swallow!  Carol was the only one to see a fish grab a dragonfly  for 
lunch at the resaca!
 
Again, any comments and corrections are welcome!  Pics are posted here  
(along with a couple of earlier pics still in the camera from Edinburg Wetlands 

 and Wallace Road...):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Laguna Atascosa NWR
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 19:56:29 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Despite the wind, had a pretty productive day at the refuge; found Rex's  
mob of White-rumped Sandpipers on the back side of the Bayside Trail, plus 
what  may have been the same three Wilson's Plovers in the road! :-)  It was 
also  fun to see breeding-plumaged Dunlins and Wilson's Phalaropes.  A Common 
 Nighthawk was flying low and "beenting"; actually saw it open its mouth 
wide to  do so!  Flushed a Lesser Nighthawk on the road to Alligator Lake, but 
that  was the most exciting thing on that walk (besides said Alligator).  
Lots of  White Ibis and several spoonbills were about, as well as a couple of 
White-faced  Ibis.  One of the white-pinioned dark morph Reddish Egrets was 
dancing away  along the shores of Laguna Madre.  Despite the wind and 
intermittent cloudiness there were quite a few leps around, mainly tons of 
Texan 

Crescents  and Sickle-winged Skippers back at the headquarters, as well as 
a single  Groove-billed Ani.  Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Laguna Atascosa NWR (LTC 024)
Observation  date:     5/24/10
Number of species:      71

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     20
Mottled  Duck     3
Blue-winged Teal     3
Plain  Chachalaca     2
Northern Bobwhite      10
Great Blue Heron     3
Great Egret      3
Snowy Egret     2
Little Blue Heron      10
Tricolored Heron     4
Reddish Egret      3
Green Heron     3
White Ibis      40
White-faced Ibis     2
Roseate Spoonbill   9
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture   9
Osprey     4
White-tailed Hawk   1
Crested Caracara     8
Black-bellied  Plover     4
Wilson's Plover      8
Killdeer     6
Black-necked Stilt      20
Willet (Eastern)     20
Long-billed Curlew   2
Ruddy Turnstone     1
White-rumped  Sandpiper     30
Pectoral Sandpiper      1
Dunlin     4
Wilson's Phalarope      2
Laughing Gull     30
Least Tern      2
Gull-billed Tern     20
Caspian Tern      3
Black Tern     1
Forster's Tern      4
Royal Tern     5
Mourning Dove      50
Common Ground-Dove     8
White-tipped Dove   5
Greater Roadrunner     3
Groove-billed  Ani     1
Lesser Nighthawk     1
Common  Nighthawk     7
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      20
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     5
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     7
Great Kiskadee      2
Couch's Kingbird     1
White-eyed Vireo   10
Green Jay     4
Horned Lark   5
Cave Swallow     1
Barn Swallow   2
Verdin     3
Bewick's Wren   2
Northern Mockingbird     30
Long-billed  Thrasher     15
Curve-billed Thrasher      1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Olive Sparrow   20
Lark Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal   20
Blue Grosbeak     1
Red-winged  Blackbird     50
Eastern Meadowlark      20
Great-tailed Grackle     50
Bronzed Cowbird   20
Brown-headed Cowbird     3
House  Sparrow     3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Valley Nature Center Pics
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 17:33:25 EDT
Hi, all!  I just put up a collection of shots taken around the Center  this 
weeks; highlights include our rapidly-growing Yellow-crowned Night Heron  
chicks, other fledgling songbirds, and some cool moths at the blacklighting  
station during the first of our three Dragonfly Days events!  (A couple of  
the moths I can't figure out...)  The pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Enjoy!  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Hudsonian Godwits @ Falcon SP
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 19:11:00 EDT
Hi, all!
 
That was definitely the highlight this morning: four Hudsonian Godwits  
wheeling their way east (I think) along the shores of Falcon Reservoir, seen  
from the picnic area directly south of the Rec Building (there's a fork in 
the  road down there; to the left are a bunch of cabins, and to the right is 
the  picnic area).  Unfortunately they're probably long gone by now...
 
Anyway, since the Wind Advisory was mainly for Cameron and Hidalgo  
Counties, I changed plans and headed to Starr this morning, very glad I  did!  
Besides the godwits, other highlights included my first Olive-sided Flycatcher 

for the park, and a pair of whinnying Lesser Nighthawks at the  butterfly 
garden!  Bullock's Orioles were all over the place and reasonably  cooperative 
(my experience has been that they're very skittish and hard to  
photograph), as well as very vocal and visible Bobwhites. Also new for the park 
for 

me were Painted Buntings and a calling Great Crested Flycatcher, which  made 
for a Myiarchus sweep!  A Least Flycatcher and Yellow Warbler were the  only 
other migrants (they were in the primitive camping area).  Also had a  
Least Tern by the water (which eBird flagged, which surprised me).  The  
butterfly garden was very active; I thought for sure I had my life Definite 
Patch, 

but it turned out to be a very dark Theona Checkerspot... :-(
 
A 15 minute sit at Salineno (where the river was VERY high--the knoll I  
usually park on was almost completely under water) didn't yield any of the  
upriver specialties, but did add Gray Hawk, Altamira Oriole, Bank Swallow, and 
 Yellow-billed Cuckoo to the day list.  Roma had some amorous Elada  
Checkerspots and several damsels; again, corrections on my IDs are  welcome!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Falcon SP (Starr Co.)(LTC 084)
Observation  date:     5/10/10
Number of species:      49

Northern Bobwhite     12
Great Egret   5
Snowy Egret     12
Green Heron   1
Turkey Vulture     15
Crested Caracara   4
Killdeer     6
Spotted Sandpiper   1
Hudsonian Godwit     4
Laughing Gull   1
Least Tern     1
White-winged Dove   15
Mourning Dove     2
Common  Ground-Dove     4
Greater Roadrunner      4
Groove-billed Ani     1
Lesser Nighthawk   3
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      6
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     6
Olive-sided  Flycatcher     1
Least Flycatcher      1
Ash-throated Flycatcher     4
Great Crested  Flycatcher     1
Brown-crested Flycatcher      6
Great Kiskadee     8
Couch's Kingbird      7
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher     9
White-eyed Vireo   3
Green Jay     1
Black-crested Titmouse   1
Verdin     3
Cactus Wren      4
Bewick's Wren     2
Northern Mockingbird   12
Long-billed Thrasher     2
Curve-billed  Thrasher     3
Yellow Warbler     1
Olive  Sparrow     12
Cassin's Sparrow     1
Lark  Sparrow     1
Black-throated Sparrow      1
Northern Cardinal     4
Pyrrhuloxia      9
Painted Bunting     3
Red-winged Blackbird   9
Great-tailed Grackle     30
Bronzed  Cowbird     3
Brown-headed Cowbird      2
Bullock's Oriole     7

Location:     Salineo (LTC 080)
Observation date:   5/10/10
Number of species:     23

Plain  Chachalaca     4
Great Egret     1
Turkey  Vulture     1
Gray Hawk     1
Eurasian  Collared-Dove     1
White-winged Dove      4
Inca Dove     1
White-tipped Dove      1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     2
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      1
Great Kiskadee     1
Western Kingbird      1
Bank Swallow     2
Bewick's Wren      1
Northern Mockingbird     1
Olive Sparrow   1
Northern Cardinal     2
Red-winged  Blackbird     5
Great-tailed Grackle      4
Bronzed Cowbird     1
Bullock's Oriole      1
Altamira Oriole     1

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Hidalgo County Big Day (long)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 21:09:14 EDT
Hi, all!

This is about a week late, but this is the first chance  I've had to put 
this together!  On Monday, 30 APR, I did a Big Day around  Hidalgo County, 
starting at Bentsen SP pre-dawn, then hitting Old Military  Highway, Anzalduas 
CP, Quinta Mazatlan, Santa Ana NWR, the Progresso Sod Farms,  Frontera 
Thicket, Estero Llano Grande SP, Edinburg Wetlands, La Sal del Rey. and Wallace 

Road, for a total of 127 species!

The first bird actually turned  out to be a Mockingbird (1) singing outside 
my apartment at 3:30!  While  loading the car Purple Martins (2) were 
gurgling overhead, displacing the usually-first Great-tailed Grackles (3) heard 

at whatever intersection I happen  to hear them at!  At the Bentsen Palm 
Drive exit also happened to add House  Sparrow (4).

At  Bentsen pre-dawn, the Pauraques (5) were ubiquitous of course, but I 
was also  thrilled to hear not only a couple of Chuck-will’s-widows (6), but 
also a brief  song from a Whippoorwill (7)!  The Screech Owl (8) sang quite 
close, and at  the “ten-minute bench” my FOS Brown-crested Flycatcher (9) 
started its dawn  song, followed closely by Couch’s Kingbird (10), and both 
White-winged (11) and  Mourning Doves (12).  Heading towards the resaca the 
Great Horned Owl (13)  was also quite close, and other day-birds like Cardinal 
(14) and Altamira Oriole  (15) started tuning up.  Miracle of miracles, I 
heard a bark, stopped, and  then heard the chuckle of the Elf Owl (16); I 
happened to stop outside his nest  hole and actually saw the little bugger 
leave his tree in the twilight of  dawn!  

Once  settled at the resaca other day birds joined the chorus such as 
Clay-colored  Thrush (17) and Olive Sparrow (18).  A Snowy Egret (19) flew by, 
and the  Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (20) came through giving me an owl sweep!  The 
reeds  across the way were full of Red-winged Blackbirds (21), and before 
long a  Yellowthroat (22) piped up.  As it got lighter the Golden-fronted  
Woodpecker (23) joined in along with White-tipped Dove (24), and a Least 
Bittern (25) cackled across the way. My FOS Yellow-billed Cuckoo (26) sang, and 

soon the old standbys like Kiskadee (27), Green Jay (28), and Ladder-backed 
 Woodpecker (29) joined in.  Did a scan right at sunrise (7:00) and added 
an  Anhinga (30) across the way.  Heading back to the parking lot added  
Brown-headed Cowbird (31), a silent (!) Chachalaca (32, but not for long…), a 

flock of Cattle Egrets (33) overhead, Black-crested Titmouse (34), Gray Hawk  
(35), a distant Beardless Tyrannulet (36), Bronzed Cowbird (37), a flyover 
Great  Egret (38), Great Crested Flycatcher (39), a flyover Dickcissel (40), 
and a Cave  Swallow (41) at the bridge.

Heading  down Military Highway added Killdeer (42) and Eastern Meadowlark 
(43) out the  window, and a brief stop at the terminus of NABA’s Walking 
Trail added  Long-billed Thrasher (44), Common Ground Dove (45), and Eastern 
Wood Pewee  (46).  Continuing on added a Lark Sparrow (47) in a bush.

A pair  of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (48) flew overhead as I entered 
Anzalduas, and  managed to add the Coots (49) in the river that had 
mysteriously disappeared from the resaca at Bentsen! The only migrant I could 
find 

in the trees was  a Yellow Warbler (50), but the mosquitoes were wretched!  
Added Cliff (51)  and Rough-winged Swallows (52) overhead, and slowly 
cruising the road added Inca Dove (53), a pair of Tropical Kingbirds (54), my 
FOS 

Groove-billed Ani (55) that  flopped into a tree, and the resident Starlings 
(56, that interestingly I don’t  recall seeing elsewhere).  Dipped on the 
Black Phoebe, but picked up a  Pied-billed Grebe family (57) on the way out, 
and a flock of Rock Pigeons (58)  approaching the highway.

Stopped by Quinta Mazatlan to bag the requisite Green Parakeets (59) but 
also  added some quality birds on my rounds there:  a young male Bullock’s 
Oriole  (60) was alternately  chattering and singing, and Chimney Swifts (61)  
chattered overhead.  I was surprised to find a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (62)  
still hanging around, but the Blue-headed Vireos (63) were singing.   
Nashville Warblers (64) proved to be the most common migrant of day, but this 
group 

also had a couple of Tennessee Warblers (65).  The Carolina Wren (66)  
finally sang, and picked up the Buff-bellied Hummingbird (67). On the way out 

a small flock of Mississippi Kites (68) flew overhead, and picked up their  
Curve-billed Thrasher (69) in the parking lot.

Next  stop was Santa Ana, where Barn Swallows (70) swooped overhead.  On 
the  trail, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks (71) circled overhead and called, 
and at  Willow Lakes added Moorhen (72), Mottled Duck (73), Gadwall (74), 
Blue-winged Teal (75), some cute Least Grebes (76), a Swainson’s Hawk (77) in 

the distance,  and a group of White-faced Ibis (78) showing their white 
faces!  On the way  out picked up a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (79).

Unfortunately the Progresso Sod Farms had no shorebirds to speak of, but 
managed  to bag Horned Lark (80) right away.  By some miracle I actually 
spotted a Common Nighthawk (81) snoozing on a branch (but then heard one later 

to confirm  it), and beyond the reservoir in a wet spot were Black-necked 
Stilts (82).   An Alder Flycatcher (83) gave its pit note from the ditch, and 
several Lesser  Yellowlegs (84) made their presence known.  Up on the levee 
added a singing  White-eyed Vireo (85—was wondering when that was gonna show 
up) and a gorgeous  Indigo Bunting (86).

Was  going to sit at Frontera’s water feature for a few minutes, but Cindy 
happened  to have the grounds open for some folks from Washington, so she 
shooed me in to find the Green Kingfisher, which I did (87—to the chagrin of 

the guys from  Washington who had knocked themselves out trying to find one 
and never did), but  also added Black-and-white Warbler (88), Least 
Flycatcher (89), Lesser Goldfinch (90), and an Archilochus Hummingbird that 
called 

but was never seen, which I  ultimately called Ruby-throated (91) as one 
showed off nicely at Estero Llano  Grande SP.  Headed over to said park, 
picking up Collared Dove (92) on the way, and stopping at the actual llano 
first, 

adding oodles of Stilt Sandpipers  (93) and Long-billed Dowitchers (94), as 
well as a singing Marsh Wren  (95).  Ran into a carload of Californians who 
told me later that if I had  gone farther I would have added Roseate 
Spoonbill… :-(
 
            In the  park along the boardwalk scared up a Lincoln’s Sparrow 
(96) who wisely hid in  the bush in the heat, and was surprised to hear the 
Sora (97) still hanging  around!  Resting at the gazebo a Gull-billed Tern 
(98) flew by, and over by  Dowitcher Pond had the Least Tern pair (99).  The 
hundredth bird wound up  being a flyover Green Heron on the way out, and 
added a stunning Black-throated  Green Warbler (101) near the entrance.

Fought  sleep all the way up to Edinburg Wetlands but added Laughing Gulls 
(102) heading  to the south pond, where I also added Spotted Sandpiper 
(103), the requisite Neotropic Cormorants (104), and a Great Blue Heron (105). 

In the north  pond I was disappointed to sip on any additional herons, but 
did add a brilliant  Ruddy Duck (106) and his wife, plus a pair of Shovelers 
(107).  Marisa told  me about a waterthrush she had seen that morning, but 
couldn’t pish that one out  (he was smart…)

Heading up to La Sal, finally the Turkey Vultures (108) started flying!   
(It was nearing 90 and I was wondering where they were…)  Heard a Painted  
Bunting (109) along Brushline (had a knockout view later along Wallace Road),  
and a Roadrunner (110) crossed ahead of me.  At one stop had a gorgeous  
Pyrrhuloxia (111) and a curious Bewick’s Wren (112), along with a distant  
Bobwhite (113) doing its covey call (would hear the full-blown song later on  
Wallace).  Another stop added Verdin (114) and a young Caracara (115), and  
along GI Road I looked up to find the Bank Swallows (116) I was hearing  
overhead, only to catch sight of a huge kettle of Broad-winged Hawks (117)! A 

couple of Western Kingbirds (118) played the wires along with the  
ubiquitous Scissortails and Couch’s Kingbirds while a couple of Summer 
Tanagers 

(119) called in the background. Finally picked up Loggerhead Shrike (120) for 

the day, and an Eastern Kingbird (121) showed up as well.  The rain I  
missed recently (was out of town) made some great ponds, and the one along GI  
was hopping with whistling ducks and dowitchers, and also added Avocets (122), 
 plus a pair of Cinnamon Teal (123).  Another pond in the middle of the  
field had three Franklin’s Gulls (124—amazing how those big eye crescents 
make  their eyes bug out).  Heading south on Brushline from 186 added a young  
Harris’ Hawk (125) and finally a stunning White-tailed Hawk (126)!

Headed over to Wallace Road from there, where the only new bird was a 
female Blue Grosbeak (127), but enjoyed more Cattle Egrets and Least Grebes at 

the  wetland.  Headed home at 8:02, the official sunset time (Bippy’s  
thermometer recorded 91 as the high that day…)!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: San Diego Audubon Texas Hill Country Trip
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 21:06:24 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Sorry about any cross-posting that may occur; I'm finally getting out a  
"somewhat" trip report of a two-week excursion to the Hill Country wherein I  
guided two separate groups from San Diego Audubon.  It was great seeing old  
friends and making new ones!  More details are written up in the PBase  
account:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/hill_co_2010_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/hill_co_2010) 
 
Both groups got good looks at the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped  
Vireo (including yours truly--I had only seen a fleeting glimpse up till 
now),  and several lifers beyond that!  Seasoned "leppers" may laugh at the 
fact that I got my life Spicebush Swallowtail at Lost Maples, but that was my 

personal highlight, along with the Polyphemus Moth at the gas station!  Had 
 several cool moths coming into the cabin lights as well, most of which I 
haven't  had time to sort out yet...
 
Bird List (which includes my scouting days as well as the two tours):
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged  Hawk                      Buteo platypterus
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Merlin                                 Falco columbarius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Baird's  Sandpiper                      Calidris bairdii
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Chuck-will's-widow                     Caprimulgus carolinensis
Chimney  Swift                          Chaetura pelagica
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird              Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Green  Kingfisher                       Chloroceryle americana
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Western  Bluebird                       Sialia mexicana
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit                                Psaltriparus minimus
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Black-capped  Vireo                     Vireo atricapilla
Yellow-throated  Vireo                  Vireo flavifrons
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
Red-eyed  Vireo                         Vireo olivaceus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine  Siskin                            Carduelis pinus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Northern  Parula                        Parula americana
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Golden-cheeked  Warbler                 Dendroica chrysoparia
Yellow-throated  Warbler                Dendroica dominica
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Louisiana  Waterthrush                  Seiurus motacilla
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Field  Sparrow                          Spizella pusilla
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Blue  Bunting                           Cyanocompsa parellina
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Yellow-headed  Blackbird                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Bullock's Oriole
  Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

146 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: (no subject)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:00:54 EDT
Hi, all!

Started pre-dawn yesterday at Bentsen, where the Pauraques  were going 
nuts! Actually saw several land in front of me in the gloom and make noises at 

me!  Picked up the requisite Screech and Great Horned Owls,  but no Elf or 
Ferruginous (although I thought I may have heard one in the  distance coming 
out); ran into the Gambills and they had heard just a little  soft sample 
of the Elf; in the meantime I was recording a Clay-colored Thrush  giving a 
pretty good imitation of an Elf Owl (had the rhythm but not the  timbre)!  It 
was already getting light by the time I got to Kingfisher  Overlook and had 
the recorder going in case a Least Bittern decided to sound  off, but 
instead was treated to a concert by a Cardinal hidden right there in the reeds 

that changed his song every so often!
 
            Headed  back out, picking up the usual suspects, then headed 
over to Anzalduas, where I  ran into Joyce Davidson and her crew.  Hiked out 
into the field looking for  Sprague’s Pipits (kicked up three, one of which 
finally sat down for a look),  but the real treat was a Golden Plover that 
was surely American, but had a bold  enough wingstripe and white enough wing 
linings to make me wonder!   Leapfrogging with Joyce later we had Cave and 
Rough-winged Swallows, and she  showed me the Great Horned Owl nest with its 
full-grown, fluffy baby!  I  went on to the back part where I had either a 
very strange-sounding Tyrannulet  or a Nutmeg Mannakin (undoubtedly the 
former)! A female Vermilion Flycatcher showed up in the usual spot (dipped on 

the Black Phoebe this time),  but Joyce had reported that the Hooded Merganser 
was still hanging around, and  sure enough, there he was, sitting on a 
rock!  The crew showed up about  that time and the one gal for whom this would 
have been a life bird hurried over  and got great looks!  Another gal came 
over, and unfortunately the bird  chose that moment to slip off the rock and 
behind one of the islands!  We  enjoyed the other ducks and herons that were 
about until the merganser finally  showed up again and sat on his rock; we 
all went over to where Joyce was closer  to the dam and got stunning views!

I  headed on after that to Santa Ana, where the place was a zoo, but 
thankfully the Chachalaca Trail wasn’t too crowded! Picked up a few new 
things, 

like a  Least Grebe nosing around a Fulvous Whistling Duck who was feeding 
pretty  vigorously!  From there I went to the Progresso Sod Farms where I 
found  Joyce again, and we did indeed find all the Golden Plovers that were  
reported.  I was almost to the levee when Joyce called me back: they had  
found three Pectoral Sandpipers that I had overlooked! We couldn’t find any 

Baird’s, though…

A  pair of White-tailed Kites was up on the levee, and from there I headed 
to  Estero where I looped around Ibis Pond, picking up a close Marsh Wren in 
the  reeds.  Several Lincoln's and a single Swamp Sparrow popped up along 
the  boardwalk.  A lady from Plano named Katherine who was also looking for 
the  King Rail joined me, and we miraculously found it out in the open north 
of the  Pavilion (like they said), but I missed my opportunity for a decent 
shot as I  was trying to call Huck to let him know it was out in the open!  
Headed  back into the Tropical Zone where I dipped on the becard but had a 
nice chat  with Katherine instead.

From  there headed over to Edinburg Wetlands, where I knew I’d pick up the 
Neotrops,  but also had a few new shorebirds in the south pond, such as both 
yellowlegs,  Least Sandpipers, and several Long-billed Dowitchers.  
Green-winged Teal  posed nicely on the bank, and in the north pond was a young 
Roseate Spoonbill, a nice “last bird” of the day! (Couldn’t believe I 
dipped 

on the night  herons…)

Ended up with 90 species for the day, which isn’t bad for having to quit at 
 4:00!  Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List:
 
  Fulvous  Whistling-Duck                 Dendrocygna bicolor
Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Hooded  Merganser                       Lophodytes cucullatus
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Gray  Hawk                              Buteo nitidus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
King  Rail                              Rallus elegans
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Golden-Plover                 Pluvialis dominica
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Pectoral  Sandpiper                     Calidris melanotos
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Eastern  Screech-Owl                    Megascops asio
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Clay-colored  Thrush                    Turdus grayi
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
 
90 SPECIES

Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: Valley Nature Center Pics
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:30:09 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Just posted a few pictures taken at Valley Nature Center during the course  
of this past week, including an Indigo Snake that Raul Jr. found, our 
returning  Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and a skipper with a funky wing.  Pics 
are  posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Port Isabel Boat Trip & Laguna Atascosa
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:48:49 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had a delightful ride on Scarlet's boat (my first time, actually) along  
with Katherine Miller and some other Resaca volunteers and visitors (my  
apologies for forgetting names--I was doing well to remember Rozie the Dolphin 

Dog...), going in search of the Purple Sandpiper.  Unfortunately we dipped  
on that (would have been a life bird for me), but we did get great looks at 
the  male Mangrove Warbler, and a nice consolation prize: an adult Lesser  
Black-backed Gull!  A Common Loon was another Valley first for me, and we  had 
a nice selection of the usual suspects including two pairs of  
Oystercatchers, tons of nest-building Great Blue Herons and Reddish Egrets 
(mostly 

white morphs), calling Clapper Rails, and even a Roseate  Spoonbill!  A cute 
little Snowy Plover showed off as well.  On the way  back two pods of 
Bottle-nosed Dolphins played around the boat, causing a lot of  excitement! :-)
 
After that I headed to Laguna Atascosa (after enjoying a burger in Rolloff  
Park, where I had my only Red-breasted Mergansers of the day), where 
several people were looking for the Blue Bunting but apparently with no luck. I 

strolled around the center area and gardens, and came upon a group of Green 
 Jays, grackles, and a pair of Long-billed Thrashers making a terrible 
fuss, and  decided that they must have been mobbing a snake, as everyone's 
attention was directed down at the ground, not up in a tree! I didn't have time 

to  thoroughly explore the Bayside Trail, but had a nice drive with some 
lingering  ducks and a White-tailed Hawk overhead.  Ran into a group from  
Massachusetts Audubon that was thrilled with a Roadrunner and a Scissor-tailed 

Flycatcher on the entrance road!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List:
 
  American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Redhead                                Aythya americana
Red-breasted  Merganser                 Mergus serrator
Common  Loon                            Gavia immer
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Clapper  Rail                           Rallus longirostris
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
American  Oystercatcher                 Haematopus palliatus
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Snowy  Plover                           Charadrius alexandrinus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Herring  Gull                           Larus argentatus
Lesser Black-backed  Gull               Larus fuscus
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow (Mangrove)  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

85 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Falcon SP Roadside Hawk - Yes!
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:02:44 EST
Hi, all!
 
Decided to bird Starr County today, and got to Falcon SP well before dawn  
in the hopes of hearing some Poorwill--got tons of Pauraque instead!  The  
usual suspects tuned up shortly, and after "dawn" I worked my way backwards 
out  of the park, winding up at the boat ramp and taking a walk around the 
little  loop, picking up Little and Great Blue Herons, both egrets, Laughing 
Gulls, and  Spotted Sandpipers.  The overflow lot had oodles of sparrows, but 
couldn't  pick out anything but Chippies and Savannahs.  A brilliant 
Vermilion  Flycatcher showed off as well.
 
I was wondering if it was a holiday or something, because the parking lot  
was packed already, and it was boat after boat after boat after boat coming 
off  that ramp, and human after human after human heading for the 
"outhouse", and there right on top of his telephone pole was the young Roadside 
Hawk! 

 He  didn't seem bothered by me or anyone else as he swooped down to the 
ground,  evidently in search of something that he apparently missed, then went 
to sit in  a thick-trunked somewhat bare tree right behind the restroom, 
still apparently  eyeing something underneath!
 
Headed to the feeders by Wendy and Ellen's RVs, where a very cooperative  
Cassin's Sparrow came in briefly, along with lots of Redwings!  The blind  
had a pair of Bobwhite, and the usual Pyrrhuloxias owned the park! ;-)   From 
there I poked around Falcon County Park where a Roadrunner did his lonely  
song with a backup of Black-throated Sparrows singing!
 
From there headed down to the boat ramp at Chapeno where a small flock of  
Lark Buntings flew across the road, one male coming into color already, to 
be  shortly followed by a small flock of Lark Sparrows!  One of the property  
owners was mowing his lawn, so I didn't stay long, but in trying to find 
the  connector road between Chapeno and Salineno (which I never found), I 
stumbled upon another Cassin's Sparrow trying to tune up by a little cemetery, 

along with  a flock of Clay-colored Sparrows!  Chachalacas were chorusing on 
the  Mexican side on the way back to the main road.
 
Salieneno was hopping for sure:  the river had lots of Gadwall and  
American Wigeon, and a Ringed Kingfisher finally came by, hovering for a minute 

and then heading down river to hover again.  At the RV, Sandra from New  
Mexico was holding the fort down for Cheryl, and a gentleman from New York  
(whose name I didn't catch--may have been Larry) had set up a peanut butter  
station disguised as a flowering branch in order to do some photography, so  
several of us got to profit from his ingenuity as Golden-fronted Woodpeckers,  
both Altamira and Audubon's Orioles, Long-billed Thrashers, Green Jays, and  
Kiskadees all came in to dine and be photographed (along with the 
ubiquitous Redwings)! The Hooded Orioles were hanging at the far hummer feeder, 
and 

 other moochers included Ladder-backed Woodpecker, titmice, several dove 
species,  and Cardinals.  I was only gonna spend about 15 minutes there but 
wound up  staying a lot longer... ;-)  The leucistic Kiskadee also showed up, 
but  didn't come to the feeders.
 
Made a burger run to Roma before retreating back to Fronton where I lunched 
 and watched the river (and chatted with the nice Border Patrol guy ;-)), 
picking  up Rough-winged Swallow and taping a pair of Cactus Wrens.  Back at 
Roma a  few White Pelicans at the overlook were new for the day, and 
suspected I was hearing a Black Phoebe, but since I'm not quite confident 
enough 

to tell it from  Eastern (unless it's singing) I let that one go.
 
Explored some of the back roads of Starr County after that, picking up  
Chihuahuan Raven for the day and a couple of "junk birds", ending the day with 

86 species.  Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List:
 
  American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Roadside  Hawk                          Buteo magnirostris
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Audubon's  Oriole                       Icterus graduacauda

86 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Quinta Mazatlan, then Longoria to La Sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:58:18 EST
Hi,  all!

Well, dipped on the grosbeak yesterday, but doing three circuits around 
Quinta  Mazatlan sure helped to pad the list for the day, as I wound up with a 
whopping  102 species!  I was wishing I had my recorder (I had lost it 
somewhere), because the Chachalacas were starting to chorus something fierce! 

Had the  usual suspects there, including a large flock of White-winged Doves 
back by the  greenhouse, the resident Carolina Wren singing away, and 
Orange-crowned Warblers  out the yin yang going for the oranges!  Probably the 
best bird of the day also allowed such a brief glimpse (and shot) that I 
wasn’ 

t sure of its identity  until I could process the photos:  what I thought 
was a very bright  Orangecrown turned out to be a very dull Nashville!  Other 
highlights at  Quinta include a snoozing Screech Owl and a couple of 
Long-billed Thrashers casing each other. Bernardo (one of the groundskeepers) 

pointed out a  Yellow-throated and Black-and-white Warbler while we were 
talking, and he was very encouraging regarding the grosbeak, but I feared that 
it 

fell prey to the  young Cooper’s Hawk hanging around…  Maybe the trio of 
birders coming in as  I was leaving had better luck…

From  there decided to pick up where I had left off at the Longoria Unit of 
Las  Palomas, only the trail I usually take was closed due to a hunt.  So I 
went  across the street and hiked that little trail out into the field, 
scaring up a  Roadrunner and what might have been a roosting Great Horned Owl, 
but I didn’t  get a good look.  Next stop was the Santa Monica Wetlands loop 
which I did  backwards since I was coming from the south, and while the 
levee was still  pretty chewed up, it was passable!  Highlights along this 
route included a  pair of lingering Snow Geese over by the hunt club where we 
had the big flocks  during the TOS Meeting, a few Sandhill Cranes (same spot), 
and a pair of Avocets  (same spot—it was a good spot!)  White-tailed Hawks 
were plentiful along  this route as well.

Sacahuistale Flats and Port Mansfield was next, where I added several 
coastal  birds in spite of the wicked, frigid wind (and there were plenty of  
fisher-people out there to boot)!  The white morph Reddish Egret was still  
there, dancing to beat the band, along with lots of Laughing and Ring-billed  
Gulls, Brown Pelicans, and Willets filling up the private dock to the  south. 
 Out in the wetland had a good selection of waders besides the  Reddish: a 
Snowy, a Tricolored, two Little Blues chasing each other, a few White  Ibis, 
and tons of Great Blues scrunched up.  Dowitchers were feeding along  with 
a Greater Yellowlegs as well.  The nature trail across from the marina  had 
a flock of Savannah Sparrows, but the highlight there was a single Cassin’s  
being shy!  Two young Whitetail bucks stared me down; one had just a  
little nubbin for an antler, and the other was missing one entirely!

Took  a short walk at the La Sal Viejas trailhead, not kicking up much but 
a pair of  fussing Bewick’s Wrens, then headed down to Delta Lake Park, 
stopping at “Dan’s Wetland” first where a pair of Peregrines surveyed 
things 

from a distant dead  tree, and the Vermilion Flycatcher came through, as well 
as a Least Grebe and  the only Ruddy Duck of the day.  At the park the 
highlight was a beautiful male Audubon’s Warbler that came in close amongst 
all 

the Myrtles!  White  Pelicans were way out there in the lake, as well as 
several Double-crested  Cormorants, and the little walk to the edge of the 
marsh added Red-shouldered  Hawk and Osprey.  Going up Rio Beef Road a stop at 
that little marsh added  Sora, and what road-birding I could get in before 
the sun set didn’t add much,  but could still hear geese and cranes in the 
distance!

Pics are posted here (along with a couple from Valley Nature Center  taken 
during the week):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 

Bird  List:
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Short-billed  Dowitcher                 Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Eastern  Screech-Owl                    Megascops asio
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler
  Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
"Audubon's" Warbler
  Yellow-throated  Warbler                Dendroica dominica
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
 
102 SPECIES

Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: Hugh Ramsey Park to Tiocano Lake (Cameron Co., longish)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:25:05 EST
Hi,  all!

Had a great time out in the field yesterday; despite the weather, the 
birding  was pretty good!  Started at Hugh Ramsey, and that indeed was pretty 
quiet and cold; no kingfishers, but picked up some unique things such as Bewick 

’s  Wren.  Scared a Harris’ Hawk up on the return loop.  Harlingen Lake  
had the expected Coots and Black-bellied Whistlers, along with some Mottled  
Ducks that were unique for the day.

Found a more direct route to Laguna Atascosa, interestingly picking up a 
young  White-tailed Hawk on the way, and that wound up being the only one!  
Had a  mixed flock of Snow and White-fronted Geese going in on General Brant, 
and the  photo blind had its Green Jay contingent, shortly being joined by 
the grackles  and redwings (surprisingly no Chachalacas this time).  A nice 
Long-billed  Thrasher posed on the way out, and nearly stepped on a 
White-tipped Dove! Took a stroll around Kiskadee Trail in search of the 
buntings, 

but couldn’t kick  them or the other reported rarities up (probably too 
windy); best birds here were a couple of Cedar Waxwings high in the trees and a 

Catbird at the little  overlook that came out to pishing.  I didn’t even 
bother getting out of the  car on the drives; logged Roadrunner and Olive 
Sparrow on the way to Osprey  Overlook, but the funniest thing was following a 
Coyote down the road!  The  wetland by the bridge was birdless, but there was 
a huge wild boar bopping  around in there!

Along the main drive the best find was a large group of Eared Grebes in  
Pelican Lake—I think that was the first time I’d ever seen them here!   
Laguna Madre had lots of birds, but most of them were way out there: Pintail,  
interestingly just one pod of Redheads (that I could ID, anyway), tons of  
shorebirds including Willets, Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers,  
Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, and a few Western Sandpipers (there were 
probably 

lots more than a few, but that’s all I could ID…).  The usual larids were  
around, along with the Ospreys, but fun additions included Bufflehead and  
Red-breasted Mergansers.  There was also a small flock of Snow Geese along  
here next to the White Pelicans, which I think was also a first for me!   
There were tons of Great Blues and several White Ibis, but dipped on Reddish  
Egrets and spoonbills this time.  Coming up the back side were more ducks  and 
shorebirds (a la conditions after Dolly), so got to add Green-winged Teal,  
Shoveler, American Wigeon, Stilt Sandpipers, a single Wilson’s Phalarope  
spinning, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and a flock of feeding Gull-billed  
Terns to the list along here.  Once again dipped on the Aplomado, but got a  
nice White-tailed Kite on the way out.

From there headed up to Adolph Thomae County Park, where the guy let me  in 
for free! :-)  Actually, the best bird was in the neighborhood just  before 
hitting the park:  a big tom Turkey!  I headed down to the boat  ramp first 
and checked out the flock on the “beach”, consisting of Brown  Pelicans, 
Double-crested Cormorants, Caspian Terns, and Laughing Gulls  mostly.  A 
covey of Bobwhite where in the parking lot, and they have a nice  little trail 
back at the entrance where I kicked up another White-tipped Dove  and 
Long-billed Thrasher.   On the way out a cooperative Harris’ Hawk  posed for 
pictures.

Next stop on the LTC map was Mont Meta Cemetery, where I just crawled  
along listening for feeding flocks, and hit the jackpot at one tree:  in  
addition to the ubiquitous Orangecrowns and Myrtles, had a couple of  
Black-and-white Warblers, a nice Black-throated Green, some titmice, and a 
Ruby-crowned 

Kinglet all upset at me!  On the way back to Rio Hondo was a  great little 
wetland just past Lozano (I believe it was) where I added Snowy  Egret, 
Ruddy and Ring-necked Duck, and Neotropic Cormorant to the list.   Picked up 
dinner at the Stripes in Rio Hondo and picnicked at City Hall where a  pair of 
White-winged Doves was on the wires, but that was the extent of the  
birdlife there. I stopped at the little cemetery in Rio Hondo but didn’t 
linger 

as there were some mourners there.  So unfortunately dipped on all  three 
kingfishers yesterday. :-(
 
Last stop of the day was Tiocano Lake, which I hit as the sun was rapidly  
setting; the first time I visited this area two years ago it was dry (either 
 that, or I just never found the place), but this time it was hopping with 
stuff;  I concentrated on the area to the east of the road for obvious 
reasons :-) and  added Black-necked Stilt and Avocet to the list, besides 
enjoying many more  ducks hiding in the marsh.

Headed home after that with 96 species for the day, not bad for such a  
cold and blustery day!  Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List:
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Redhead                                Aythya americana
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Bufflehead                             Bucephala albeola
Red-breasted  Merganser                 Mergus serrator
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Wilson's  Phalarope                     Phalaropus tricolor
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
 
96 SPECIES

Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: Brownsville Dump to Ron Hill Park (long)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:09:14 EST
Hi, all!
 
Gary Davidson joined me on Monday's Marathon, where we started at the  
Brownsville Dump.  It was a beautiful day, and we got great looks at  several 
White-tailed Hawks, Caracaras, Chihuahuan Ravens, and both species of  
vulture, as well as the hordes of gulls (nothing unusual that we could pick 
out). 

We also had the only Cattle Egrets and Black-necked Stilt of the day  here.
 
The boat ramp along Highway 48 was closed, so we wheeled around and checked 
 out the viewing area on the west side, adding both flavors of pelicans and 
 cormorants, plus our only Lesser Scaups and Caspian Tern of the day.   
Heading on up to South Padre we sprung the four bucks for Isla Blanca Park and 

added an immature Gannet at the jetty, along with the only Sanderlings of 
the  day.  Laughing Gulls were getting territorial at that point, too!  
 
We found the beach accesses either closed or flooded, so we braved the mob  
at the Convention Center (an arts and crafts show was going on, we found 
out  later) and enjoyed the boardwalk, which happened to be open from that end 
this  day.  Dipped on the Clapper Rail, but other photo ops abounded with 
closeup  American Wigeons and Pied-billed Grebes, a performing Tricolored 
Heron, a  snoozing Reddish Egret, and a handful of shorebirds.  Several 
Redheads and Red-breasted Mergansers were out in Laguna Madre, and the larid 
mob 

had the  usual suspects, but only one Gull-billed Tern and no Sandwich that 
we could pick  out.  Taking a closer look from the back of the center added 
Black-bellied  Plover, Marbled Godwit, and Dunlin.  The Sheepshead Lot was 
quiet, and a  stroll around the Causeway Loop added Osprey to the list (I was 
getting worried  about that one, too)!
 
Swung by Port Isabel Reservoir where the best birds of the day (for me)  
were hanging out: a pair of Eared Grebes!  We also added Ruddy Duck and  
Shoveler to the day list there.  Rollover Park was entertaining with a mob  of 
Brown Pelicans begging tidbits from a fisherman cleaning his catch!  We  
decided against trying Old Port Isabel Road based on reports from last Friday's 

VNC field trip, so we headed straight for Palo Alto Battlefield after that,  
adding quite a few dry-habitat things like Verdin and Bewick's Wren.
 
Los Ebanos was closed due to what looked like a wedding, but we picked up  
our only Inca Doves in the parking lot!  From there the LTC map (going  
backwards) takes you to Harlingen, where we first stopped at Lon C. Hill Park, 
a 

 place I used to frequent for their butterfly garden.  The bushes looked to 
 be still recovering from the freeze, but we picked up a very cooperative  
Yellow-throated Warbler there!  After that we went searching for the  
portion of the Harlingen WBC I could never find, and suddenly there it was, 
right 

on Taft!  We picked up four new birds on their excellent loop trail  
(Lincoln's Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, and House Wren, plus a Tropical Kingbird 
in 

the parking lot), and checked out the grasslands, where a possible 
Ammodramus sparrow popped up and then dove again. From there we poked around CB 

Woods  Park, picking up an Eastern Phoebe, and then called it a day, adding  
Black-bellied Whistling Duck at Gary's RV Park!  That made 85 species for  
the day.
 
Bird List:
 
  Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Redhead                                Aythya americana
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Bufflehead                             Bucephala albeola
Red-breasted  Merganser                 Mergus serrator
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Northern  Gannet                        Morus bassanus
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Short-billed  Dowitcher                 Limnodromus griseus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Herring  Gull                           Larus argentatus
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Black  Skimmer                          Rynchops niger
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Yellow-throated  Warbler                Dendroica dominica
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

85 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Brownsville to Harlingen Take Two
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:10:34 EST
Forgot to add the link to the pics...
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
The first few are from Frontera and valley Nature Center; the rest are from 
 the Marathon...  Enjoy!  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Pictures from Cameron Co.
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:15:48 EST
Hi, all!
 
Here are the pictures from Monday's excursion, including the dike-loving  
Sprague's Pipit, the Krider's Hawk, and some cooperative Lesser Scaups.   
There's also a mystery skipper for the leppers on te list--it may just be a 
worn  Clouded, but the pattern and glassy forewing spots really threw me.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Cannon Road to Boca Chica (Cameron Co.)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:54:59 EST
Hi, all!
 
This week's Marathon Monday was gobs of fun, starting up Cannon Road (which 
 is really dicey in spots), circling around Adams Reservoir, heading back 
down  Weaver, and then up Rangerville Road to the little pond and then over 
to the  Ebony Unit of the Las Palomas WMA for the first leg.  Highlights 
along this  portion included several Roseate Spoonbills, a beautiful Krider's 
Hawk, a  Sprague's Pipit running along in front of me along the reservoir 
dike, and a  wintering Yellow Warbler near the intersection with FM 3067.  The 
bird of  the day for me, however, was a LeConte's Sparrow along the 
westernmost trail at the WMA, close to where the south end of the trail dumps 
out on 

Pecan Drive (and  I literally paid in blood--the mosquitoes were 
HORRIBLE!!!).
 
After that headed over to Resaca de la Palma where the skeeters were just  
as bad, then headed into Brownsville to check out Resaca Drive and Dean 
Porter  Park, which were the only places I had White Ibis, Moorhen, and Lesser 
Scaup for  the day (plus three very wild-looking Northern Mallards), as well 
as both  Couch's and Tropical Kingbirds.  The Fisheries Station had a pretty 
female  Black-throated Green Warbler along with the only Least Grebes of 
the day, and  the small patch of flowers had several species of butterflies 
vying for nectar,  including an Olive-clouded Skipper.  Headed down Boca Chica 
Boulevard after  that, picking up some nice raptors and coastal stuff, but 
dipped on the Aplomado  and the reported rare gulls and boobies at road's 
end.
 
I'll post pics as soon as I have time to process them!  Bird  List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-25-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-25-10 to  1-25-10

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
  [Krider's Hawk]
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Herring  Gull                           Larus argentatus
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Le Conte's  Sparrow                     Ammodramus leconteii
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

101 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Cannon Road to Boca Chica Take Two
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:06:48 EST
Hi, all!  Apparently the first message didn't go through, so I'm  trying it 
again...
 
   
Hi, all!
 
This week's Marathon Monday was gobs of fun, starting up Cannon Road (which 
 is really dicey in spots), circling around Adams Reservoir, heading back 
down  Weaver, and then up Rangerville Road to the little pond and then over 
to the  Ebony Unit of the Las Palomas WMA for the first leg.  Highlights 
along this  portion included several Roseate Spoonbills, a beautiful Krider's 
Hawk, a  Sprague's Pipit running along in front of me along the reservoir 
dike, and a  wintering Yellow Warbler near the intersection with FM 3067.  The 
bird of  the day for me, however, was a LeConte's Sparrow along the 
westernmost trail at the WMA, close to where the south end of the trail dumps 
out on 

Pecan Drive (and  I literally paid in blood--the mosquitoes were 
HORRIBLE!!!).
 
After that headed over to Resaca de la Palma where the skeeters were just  
as bad, then headed into Brownsville to check out Resaca Drive and Dean 
Porter  Park, which were the only places I had White Ibis, Moorhen, and Lesser 
Scaup for  the day (plus three very wild-looking Northern Mallards), as well 
as both  Couch's and Tropical Kingbirds.  The Fisheries Station had a pretty 
female  Black-throated Green Warbler along with the only Least Grebes of 
the day, and  the small patch of flowers had several species of butterflies 
vying for nectar,  including an Olive-clouded Skipper.  Headed down Boca Chica 
Boulevard after  that, picking up some nice raptors and coastal stuff, but 
dipped on the Aplomado  and the reported rare gulls and boobies at road's 
end.
 
I'll post pics as soon as I have time to process them!  Bird  List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-25-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-25-10 to  1-25-10

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
  [Krider's Hawk]
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Herring  Gull                           Larus argentatus
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Le Conte's  Sparrow                     Ammodramus leconteii
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

101 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Hidalgo Pumphouse to Anacua WMA (very late)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:22:00 EST
Hi, all!
 
I am VERY remiss in getting out a trip report from last Monday (the 18th)  
as I've started a new job and time is tight (it would help if I got home  
earlier, but with only one day to bird you make the most of it ;-)), so here 
it  is.  I basically followed the LTC map backwards from Old Hidalgo 
Pumphouse (where a male House Finch bounced overhead) and wound up at the 
Anacua 

WMA,  chagrined to discover that one can no longer access the levee due to the 
Border  Wall!  (It's been awhile since I've been there...)  A Merlin was 
the  highlight at the McAllen Sewer Ponds, and several White-tailed Hawks 
showed off  along Wallace Road.  A Black-and-white Warbler was at Santa Ana, 
along with a flock of Cedar Waxwings, which are always fun as I don't see them 

often  here!  Two Cinnamon Teals at Estero Llano Grande were nice along 
with several swallows and the usual suspects, but dipped on the becard. I'll 

try to do better on tomorrow's adventure, as I barely remember LAST week!  
:-(
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-24-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-18-10 to  1-18-10

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Merlin                                 Falco columbarius
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

94 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Pictures from the Week
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:58:10 EST
Hi, all!
 
I've just posted some miscellaneous pictures from my lunch hour forays this 
 past week; most were taken at Estero Llano Grande.
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Enjoy!  Love, MB
Subject: Falcon SP to Anzalduas
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:48:19 EST
Hi, all!
 
Made a sweep today from Falcon State Park all the way to Anzalduas Park; it 
 was pretty miserable weather-wise, but the rain quit enough times to get a 
few  walks in.  Ellen, one of the park hosts, had a great setup by her RV  
(birders are welcome), even attracting Orange-crowned Warblers to a  
peanut-butter feeder! The lake was pretty socked in, so didn't get many water 

birds aside from Coots, a couple of Great Blues, and several cormorants of  
both flavors, but had the usual suspects in the landbird department (although  
dipped on Black-throated Sparrow).  Best bird was on the way out:  a  
Green-tailed Towhee that came in to pishing!
 
Skipped Salieno et al as I didn't want to attempt any dirt roads in this  
stuff, but did stop at Roma Bluffs and added a bunch of water birds, 
including  some White Pelicans.  A Buff-bellied Hummer was in the garden.
 
I wanted to try and find this "Chachalaca Trail" at Fort Ringgold, but the  
woods there where they say the trail is supposed to be is tremendous; had 
at  least six Clay-colored Thrushes (all very visible, acting more like 
American  Robins), a flock of Cedar Waxwings, an Audubon's Oriole, and a 
mostly-Bullock's Oriole (I say "mostly" because he looked like he had a bit 
more 

black on the  head than I would expect)!  A Beardless Tyrannulet was at the 
Yturria  Tract, and picked up Ringed Kingfisher and Altamira Oriole at NABA.   
Checked out the Mission Hike & Bike Trail for the first time and had both  
Yellow-throated Warbler and Tropical Kingbird.  Actually got Black Phoebe  
OUTSIDE Anzalduas this time (at the entrance levee), but it was almost 
closing time (and still raining) so couldn't bird as thoroughly as I would have 

liked.  But still ended up with 70 species, which isn't bad when most of  
the birding was from the car!
 
A couple of feeder birds are here (wasn't a great day for  photography):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-12-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-12-10 to  1-12-10

American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Clay-colored  Thrush                    Turdus grayi
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Yellow-throated  Warbler                Dendroica dominica
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Green-tailed  Towhee                    Pipilo chlorurus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii
Audubon's  Oriole                       Icterus graduacauda

70 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Willacy County
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:25:45 EST
Hi, all!
 
Made one last scouting trip to Willacy before the TOS Meeting, and for  
those of you signed up for that trip, I have a request:  if you have walkie  
talkies, PLEASE BRING THEM!  It's mainly road birding (partly on a VERY  busy 
road, I might add), and we'll need to be able to communicate!
 
That said, found a couple of nice little wet spots on some obscure paved  
roads in case we have to abandon Santa Monica Wetlands due to rain, and had  
three Gull-billed Terns as the highlight.  A Merlin just inside the county  
line on FM 88 was very nice, and a couple of irrigation canals had Swamp 
Sparrow  and Green Kingfisher again (a different canal than the one along 
Sacahuistale  Flats), as well as Green and Great Blue Heron, and while getting 
lost on a dirt  road I actually kicked up a Sprague's Pipit!  Fred Stone got a 
few new  birds in after the cold front, including Herring Gull (had a very 
pale youngster  with an all-black bill; thought I had a Lesser Black-backed 
at first but I think  the mantle was too pale--see the pic below).  The 
highlight here was a female Greater Scaup that flew in, bobbed around briefly, 

then took off again,  her long white wingstripe very obvious!  The white 
morph Reddish Egret is  still there, but farther out; hopefully he'll hang 
around for a few more  days!
 
Meager pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_mon) 
 
Bird List (still haven't quite hit 100...)
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-11-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-11-10 to  1-11-10

Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Greater  Scaup                          Aythya marila
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Merlin                                 Falco columbarius
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Wilson's  Snipe                         Gallinago delicata
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Herring  Gull                           Larus argentatus
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Green  Kingfisher                       Chloroceryle americana
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

72 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Wheatear Pics
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 08:19:05 EST
Hi, all!
 
John Yochum and I made a whiz-bang trip up to Beeville yesterday for the  
Wheatear, and as was said previously, we think John the owner has the bird  
trained!  It came right in for killer views!  After that we swung by  Choke 
Canyon and had distant views of the Jacana.  On the way back we cut  over to 
77 via "Hawk Alley" and saw a gorgeous adult Ferruginous Hawk!   Pics of the 
Wheatear (along with some pics from the Bentsen CBC, including a  Greater 
Yellowlegs with a deformed bill) can be seen here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
1-7-10
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 1-6-10 to  1-7-10

Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Bufflehead                             Bucephala albeola
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous  Hawk                       Buteo regalis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Northern  Jacana                        Jacana spinosa
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Northern  Wheatear                      Oenanthe oenanthe
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

64 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Bare-throated Tiger Heron Pics
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:06:17 EST
Hi, all!  It was a VERY Happy New Year for those of us up on the levee  at 
Bentsen today, being treated to a great show by the Bare-throated Tiger 
Heron as he caught lunch! I'm sure there will be lots of pictures posted out 

there today (the light was perfect), but here's my offering:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Not nearly as exciting, but here are some pics of the more cooperative  
birds from yesterday's outing to Willacy County:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: CBC Pictures
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:47:24 EST
Hi, all!
 
Participated in the Brownsville CBC on Saturday and part of the La Sal  
Viejas CBC yesterday; Saturday was pretty miserable weather-wise but had great 

company with Sharon and Lyle Sands as we surveyed the UTB campus, nearby 
golf  course, and other neighborhood areas; the highlight was a pair of House 
Finches  (considered accidental in the Valley, believe it or not) and a nice 
Krider's  Hawk.  On Sunday I personally didn't find anything noteoworthy, 
but  highlights for me included a White Pelican Ballet of about 500 birds, a 
group of  ten Sandhill Cranes "parachuting" down to a field with legs 
dangling, and at lunch a visit by Bill Clark with a stunning female 
White-tailed 

Hawk  he had captured and banded!  The "double-take" of the day was a 
decapitated House Sparrow that some shrike had skewered onto a barbed wire 
fence! 

:-P
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List for Brownsville:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-28-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-26-09 to  12-26-09

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Green  Parakeet                         Aratinga holochlora
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Blue-headed  Vireo                      Vireo solitarius
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Yellow-throated  Warbler                Dendroica dominica
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater

72 SPECIES

Bird List for La Sal Vieja (my section):
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-28-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-27-09 to  12-28-09

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Ross's  Goose                           Chen rossii
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

57 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Willacy County
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:26:37 EST
Hi, all!
 
After joining the crowd at the Tiger Heron Vigil this morning (very good  
for catching up with friends you don't see too often! ;-)) I headed up to  
Willacy County to scout a bit for the TOS meeting.  It was way too  windy to 
bird much, so I was mainly trying to figure out a route that wouldn't  get 
folks stuck in the mud, but had some nice birds despite the wind.   Found a 
decent dirt road southwest of the entrance to La Sal Viejas where I had  a 
Say's Phoebe and a big flock of Sandhill Cranes (the area looks great for  
sparrows).  From Raymondville headed out to Port Mansfield where I had a  
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on the way in along Sacauistale Flats, and in 
addition 

to a few coastal things, a Lark Bunting popped up at the end of the road at 
Fred  Stone Park, and a white morph Reddish Egret fed in the wetlands beyond 
 that.  Heading down FM 1420 had a nice Peregrine Falcon next to me, and I  
thought for sure I had a Ferruginous Hawk at the turnoff to the wildlife 
refuge,  but the pictures didn't rule out a pale young Redtail.  Made the 
"Santa  Monica Wetlands Loop" without kicking up anything of note, but in 
general there were a lot of nice raptors out today. Pics are posted here (and 

don't  laugh at the Starling--he's quite pretty!):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List (one short of half of what we'll need for the TOS trip  ;-)):
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-22-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-22-09 to  12-22-09

Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Say's  Phoebe                           Sayornis saya
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

49 SPECIES
Subject: Santa Ana CBC Hook-billed Kite
From: Mary Beth Stowe <miriameagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:31:00 EST
Hi, all!
 
Someone else will probably post all the details of the count, but the  
highlight of my southern territory within the refuge (which was basically the  
Willow Lakes Loop) was a female Hook-billed Kite, of which horrendous but  
identifiable pictures are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
(It was pea soup that morning, so besides looking through a haze of fog, I  
think there might have been fog on my lens, too... :-( )  Clay from Maine  
met me later at the lakes but unfortunately missed that treasure (but he did 
add  Green Kingfisher and Pintail to our count area, which I missed), but 
we enjoyed  a couple of male Shovelers making chests at each other and 
showing off their  wing colors!
 
John Yochum joined me for the northern portion north of US 281 on some  
pretty dicey roads, but we had some good birds (the sun had come out by then), 

including Grasshopper and Cassin's Sparrow, Peregrine Falcon, and one young 
 White-tailed Hawk.  Had several Redtails (including a very pale bird), but 
 guess the reported Ferrugie is long gone.  I was hoping for Sprague's 
Pipit  on the levee like last year, but not this time... :-(
 
Here's my personal list for the day:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-21-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-19-09 to  12-21-09

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Hook-billed  Kite                       Chondrohierax uncinatus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Eastern  Screech-Owl                    Megascops asio
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

77 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Bentsen State Park
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:58:09 EST
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds at Bentsen this morning, running into the Gambills on the  
way in who reported Ferruginous Pygmy and a couple of Barn Owls in addition 
to  the usual night stuff!  Had a Least Bittern at Kingfisher Overlook 
(which  was flagged by eBird, but I have a funny feeling that as more people 
become  familiar with the "cackle", there will be more winter records), but 
missed the Eared Grebe that was seen yesterday and later this morning by Carol 

and her bird  walk group!  Best birds for me included a Scissor-tailed 
Flycatcher on the  wire walking in, a Groove-billed Ani at the Hawk Tower, and 
added two birds to  my Bentsen park list:  some White-fronted Geese flying 
over unseen, and a  Cooper's Hawk giving its "sapsucker call" at Kiskadee 
Blind. No sign of the becard or CC Grosbeak, but as always it was fun to watch 

the moochers at the  feeders! :-)  Mosquitoes were out in force, too... :-(
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Bentsen-Rio Grande Val. SP WBC (Mission)(LTC  069)
Observation date:     12/8/09
Number of species:   59

Greater White-fronted Goose      3
Gadwall     20
Blue-winged Teal      2
Northern Shoveler     3
Ring-necked Duck   1
Plain Chachalaca     12
Least Grebe   1
Pied-billed Grebe     2
Neotropic  Cormorant     1
Least Bittern     1
Great  Blue Heron     1
Osprey     1
White-tailed  Kite     1
Northern Harrier      2
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Cooper's Hawk      1
Red-shouldered Hawk     2
Gray Hawk      1
Common Moorhen     2
American Coot      20
Long-billed Curlew     1
Mourning Dove   3
Inca Dove     1
White-tipped Dove   8
Groove-billed Ani     1
Ringed  Kingfisher     2
Belted Kingfisher      1
Green Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   15
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     9
Eastern  Phoebe     5
Great Kiskadee     20
Couch's  Kingbird     2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher      1
White-eyed Vireo     1
Green Jay      30
Horned Lark     3
Cave Swallow      4
Black-crested Titmouse     4
Verdin      1
House Wren     20
Marsh Wren      1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   8
Hermit Thrush     2
Northern  Mockingbird     12
Long-billed Thrasher      9
American Pipit     3
Orange-crowned Warbler   15
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     6
Common  Yellowthroat     6
Olive Sparrow      8
Lincoln's Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal   5
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Great-tailed  Grackle     30
Altamira Oriole     6
Lesser  Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 17:21:05 EST
Hi, all!
 
Met Ev and Rose from England again up at La Sal first thing, where we hiked 
 the trail to the lake.  It was an absolutely gorgeous morning after all 
the  storms yesterday, and it took us forever to get to the lake because the 
place  was Sparrow City!  We had scope views of the common stuff like Lark,  
Savannah, and Lincoln's, but also more interesting sparrows such as 
Grasshopper, Vesper, Chipping, Clay-colored, Cassin's, and even Black-throated 

popped  up!  In between sparrows we had flocks of Sandhill Cranes, Snow and  
White-fronted Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, and a single Long-billed Curlew fly  
overhead.  They were pleased to see their first Pyrrhuloxia (which quickly  
became a "junk bird") and Cactus Wren!  The lake itself was pretty birdless  
(except for some Starlings doing a pretty good Eastern Meadowlark), but we 
did  get great looks at a White-tailed Deer waving her flag and a Coyote 
meandering  across the creek!
 
Along the route we enjoyed several raptors, including a curious  
White-tailed Kite, an adult and immature White-tailed Hawk, several Redtails 
and 

Harris', and oodles of Caracaras, including one pair that gave magnificent 
looks 

 in a mesquite!  We had a great flock of activity along the north end of  
Brushline (where it actually runs east and west), with more Vesper Sparrows, 
a  Verdin, a Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and my personal highlight: a small 
flock of  Lark Buntings that landed on the wires, giving their funny little 
whistle!   Nothing much except a Great Blue Heron and some Mottled Ducks were 
in the "Mis  Suenos Ranch" farm pond, but Ev and Rose got another knockout 
view of a full  adult male Vermilion Flycatcher, and we did manage to add 
Brewer's Blackbird at  the Rio Beef Feedyard.  We stopped briefly at the marsh 
along Rio Beef  Road, where a Virginia Rail grunted when I slammed the car 
door!   Unfortunately he didn't show himself...
 
Kissed Ev and Rose goodbye after a delightful morning out, with 64 species  
for the morning.  Pics (along with a couple of skippers from a quick run to 
 Old Hidalgo Pumphouse on Saturday) are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-2-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-2-09 to  12-2-09

Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Virginia  Rail                          Rallus limicola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

64 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Estero Llano and Anzalduas
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 20:42:12 EST
Hi, all!
 
Took visiting birders Evelyn and Rose Ebsworth from England out today, and  
despite the lousy weather (they joked that they consistently bring rain to 
even  the most drought-stricken areas the world over) we were actually able 
to walk  around the park some and see some nice birds!  Even though most 
everything  was new, their real target bird was the Vermilion Flycatcher, and 
we saw plenty  of them throughout the day!  We did go back into the Tropical 
Zone but  dipped on the becard and any Pauraques that might have been back 
there.   John Yochum joined us on the Alligator Lake portion of the excursion 
(couldn't  find the Pauraque back there, either), but highlights from the 
park include an  Altamira Oriole that greeted us as we came in, a brief look 
at the Cinnamon  Teal, a Green Kingfisher that Evelyn happened to spot while 
looking at an  Anhinga :-), a Cooper's Hawk in the headquarters garden just 
waiting to pounce  on something, both Buff-bellied and Black-chinned 
Hummers coming in to the feeders, a hovering White-tailed Kite, and a 
fluffed-up 

Chachalaca hiding very  well in a tree!  Of course the Valley specialties 
were exciting for them as  well!  The biggest challenge was walking with about 
five inches of mud  caked on to the bottom of our shoes! :-D
 
After dining on the deck we decided to swing through Anzalduas County Park  
(I had to come up with places that had paved roads from which to bird), and 
even  though it was still dripping on and off, we had some nice things, 
including the  Western Meadowlark flock, an in-your-face look at a perched 
Osprey, a (finally)  cooperative Green Jay, and the biggest surprise in that 
habitat: an immature  White-tailed Hawk sitting on the Mexican side!  We did 
the Pipit March and  kicked up several birds (cleaning our shoes off in the 
process), one actually  sitting long enough for us all to get looks!  In the 
middle of all that a  Ringed Kingfisher hovered nicely over the river, and a 
Caracara made a  pass.
 
After almost getting stuck in the back portion (I spotted a Scissor-tailed  
Flycatcher flying overhead that the Ebsworths unfortunately missed), we 
made a  quick stop at Hidalgo Pumphouse for the Black Phoebe since we couldn't 
kick up  the pair at Anzalduas.  Dropped Ev and Rose off in Weslaco with 87 
species  for the day, which isn't bad for such lousy weather!  No pics today 
as I  left my camera home...
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
12-1-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 12-1-09 to  12-1-09

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Wilson's  Snipe                         Gallinago delicata
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Green  Kingfisher                       Chloroceryle americana
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

87 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Thanksgiving Big Day - Hidalgo Co.
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:44:30 EST
Hi, all!
 
Had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day out in the field yesterday: the weather  
was perfect fall birding weather, and while many of my regular Big Day spots  
were closed for the holiday, the timing worked out perfectly with the 
earlier sunset time. I've posted the bird list in order of sequence below, but 

here are the highlights:
 
My apartment pre-dawn: a single Snow Goose flying overhead!
 
Bentsen State Park (starting an hour before dawn): "Singing" Screech and  
Great Horned Owls (the latter in a "hoot battle" with one bird at Kingfisher  
Overlook and the other at the island camp), cackling Least Bitterns, the 
only  Anhinga of the day, Sora, a calling Clay-colored Thrush, a group of 
Ring-necked Ducks in the resaca, a singing (!) Olive Sparrow, a distant Ringed 

Kingfisher,  and a Chipping Sparrow on the walk out, in addition to the 
regular goodies we  take for granted in the Valley... ;-)
 
Santa Ana:  Beardless Tyrannulet in the parking lot, Green Kingfisher  at 
the canal, a Pied-billed Grebe bullying a Least at Willow Lakes, and a Mary  
Gustafson sighting ;-), besides all the pretty ducks!
 
Estero Llano SP:  The road to the llano was mud, so I skipped that  part... 
 Bryan (and Huck later) put forth a noble effort to find a bunch of  us the 
becard, but to no avail :-(, but a flyover Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was  
nice, in addition to a pale American Robin.  Other highlights included the  
continuing Vermilion Flycatcher(s), a Peregrine giving a Redtail fits, a  
Tropical Kingbird by Dowitcher Pond, and a nice selection of shorebirds and  
waders (including White-faced Ibis) at Ibis Pond.  Kyle showed me where the  
American Bittern had been hanging out, but we didn't see him, either.
 
La Sal del Rey area:  Delta Lake was open (and free), so I made a  
swing-through, picking up a hybrid Butterbutt, and a Caspian Tern over the 
lake. A 

big flock of Sandhill Cranes was along Brushline Road (south of  186).  A 
hike out to the lake from Brushline added Laughing Gull and Cactus  Wren.  
Other highlights included Vesper Sparrow, Ash-throated Flycatcher,  and 
Brewer's Blackbird (yes, really!)  For my lep friends, had a moth stuck  in a 
spider web that I thought at first was a washed out Digrammia of some kind, but 

I'm not sure (his pic is in the link below).
 
Wallace Road:  White Pelicans were synchro-feeding in the wetland and  
Neotropic Cormorants were making their noises, but added Greater Yellowlegs and 

Avocet here.  Was blessed with a terrific sunset heading down the  road!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
11-27-09
Description: Thanksgiving Big Day
Location:  Texas                                     
Trip Date: 11-26-09
Species Seen: 121

Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
Eastern  Screech-Owl                    Megascops asio
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Least  Bittern                          Ixobrychus exilis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Gray  Hawk                              Buteo nitidus
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Clay-colored  Thrush                    Turdus grayi
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas crecca
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Green  Kingfisher                       Chloroceryle americana
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Wilson's  Snipe                         Gallinago delicata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker               Sphyrapicus varius
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Anzalduas County Park
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:34:20 EST
Hi, all!
 
Birded Anzalduas Park this morning, one of my goals being to hike out into  
the big field and get a recording of the Sprague's Pipit flight call (which 
I  think was procured, but haven't edited the sound files yet...)!  Down by 
 the river where the road swings left had a Beardless Tyrannulet in with a  
feeding flock (along with Black-throated Green and Yellow-throated 
Warblers) which turned into a mobbing flock when one of the Gray Hawks showed 
up! 

Both Green and Belted Kingfishers were calling, and further down the river 
a  Ringed was hovering and making the rounds.  Picked up the Black Phoebe 
pair  near the dam, and a House Finch that I initially heard on the way 
towards the levee access road, but the bird itself was more in the middle of 
the 

park, near  the maintenance area.  On the way to get the finch a birding 
couple pulled  up and asked about the Zone-tailed Hawk, which I had not seen, 
but no sooner  were they out of sight when the thing flew overhead! :-(  I 
ran into them  again in the back area where we found nothing out of the 
ordinary aside from the usual pelicans, cormorants, ducks, and herons. On the 

way out I stopped at  the marsh overlook on the levee where the silly Zonetail 
suddenly showed  up!  Seeing an SUV coming towards me on the levee and 
thinking it was the  same couple, I waved like an idiot and pointed over the 
field, only when we got back on it, it morphed into a TV... :-( Turned out it 

wasn't the visiting  couple but the Gambills, so I felt a little silly 
crying wolf, but fortunately  the one lousy shot I was able to get of the 
initial bird proved I wasn't losing  my mind... ;-)
 
Also had an accipiter that I'm calling a Coop until proven otherwise: it  
was caught in a thermal in the back area and was certainly big enough for a 
Coop  and had rather straight wings and a roundish tail (although it looked 
to me like  it might have been going through molt), but it "felt" chunkier 
than most Coops  I've seen.  Some mediocre pics of that bird are included as 
well.
 
Pics are posted here (you can scroll down through the butterflies to get to 
 the birds...)
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Anzalduas County Pk (LTC 068)
Observation  date:     11/23/09
Number of species:      61

Gadwall     20
American Wigeon      2
Mottled Duck     12
Blue-winged Teal      30
Ring-necked Duck     4
Pied-billed Grebe   2
American White Pelican     9
Neotropic  Cormorant     2
Double-crested Cormorant      10
Great Blue Heron     3
Great Egret      2
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture      4
Osprey     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Gray  Hawk     2
Zone-tailed Hawk     1
Red-tailed  Hawk     1
American Kestrel     2
American  Coot     20
Killdeer     2
Spotted  Sandpiper     2
Greater Yellowlegs      1
Least Sandpiper     1
Rock Pigeon      50
Mourning Dove     3
Inca Dove      1
Ringed Kingfisher     1
Belted Kingfisher   1
Green Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker      1
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     6
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet     1
Black Phoebe      2
Eastern Phoebe     1
Great Kiskadee      7
White-eyed Vireo     2
Green Jay      10
Black-crested Titmouse     4
House Wren   2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     4
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher     3
American Robin      1
Northern Mockingbird     9
Long-billed Thrasher   1
European Starling     7
Sprague's  Pipit     2
Orange-crowned Warbler      8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     2
Black-throated Green  Warbler     1
Yellow-throated Warbler      2
Common Yellowthroat     3
Olive Sparrow   5
Northern Cardinal     3
Eastern  Meadowlark     2
Western Meadowlark      12
Great-tailed Grackle     5
House Finch   1
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow   6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal Tracts
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:07:27 EST
Hi, all!
 
Got out to the La Sal Tracts before dawn this morning, where I had a Great  
Horned Owl sitting on a telephone pole, and as it got lighter, you could 
hear  the crane cacophony coming from the lake (I assume)!  A small flock of  
White-fronted Geese flew over, and later along GI Road had an even smaller 
flock  of Snow Geese.  It was Raptor City with calling White-tailed Hawks, 
several  Redtails (no Krider's), Harris', Caracaras, White-tailed Kite, and a 
single  Red-shouldered Hawk along Rio Beef, among others.  A Cooper's Hawk 
kept  riling up the meadowlark flocks, and at the feedlot was a mob of 
cowbirds and grackles, with at least a couple of Brewer's Blackbirds tucked 
away. 

 The  farm pond near the end of Brushline had a couple of avocets, a 
yellowlegs, a  Neotropic Cormorant, and lots of Least Sandpipers.  A singing 
thrasher  almost had me convinced he was a Brown, as I kept hearing repeated 
phrases, but the culprit finally popped up, proving once again that I'm no good 

at telling  these guys apart by song!  (It was a Curve-billed...)  Had an  
Ash-throated Flycatcher along Rio Beef, but the marsh was rather quiet.   
For a variety of reasons I bailed on hiking to the lake...
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     LRGV NWR Driving Route
Observation  date:     11/19/09
Number of species:      65

Greater White-fronted Goose     30
Snow Goose   12
Northern Bobwhite     4
Neotropic  Cormorant     1
Great Blue Heron     2
Black  Vulture     8
Turkey Vulture      20
White-tailed Kite     1
Northern Harrier   2
Cooper's Hawk     2
Harris's Hawk   4
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
White-tailed  Hawk     4
Red-tailed Hawk     6
Crested  Caracara     7
American Kestrel      4
American Coot     1
Sandhill Crane      100
Killdeer     8
American Avocet      2
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Long-billed Curlew   2
Least Sandpiper     30
Eurasian  Collared-Dove     6
Mourning Dove      200
Common Ground-Dove     6
Great Horned Owl   2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     7
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      8
Eastern Phoebe     15
Ash-throated Flycatcher   1
Great Kiskadee     15
Couch's Kingbird   3
Loggerhead Shrike     5
Green Jay   15
Horned Lark     3
Tree Swallow   2
Black-crested Titmouse     7
Verdin   1
Cactus Wren     1
Bewick's Wren   5
House Wren     30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     2
Hermit  Thrush     2
Northern Mockingbird      30
Long-billed Thrasher     8
Curve-billed Thrasher   6
European Starling     1
Orange-crowned  Warbler     9
Common Yellowthroat      2
Olive Sparrow     7
Lark Sparrow      20
Savannah Sparrow     3
Lincoln's Sparrow   6
Northern Cardinal     4
Pyrrhuloxia   4
Red-winged Blackbird     30
Eastern  Meadowlark     8
Western Meadowlark      50
Brewer's Blackbird     3
Great-tailed Grackle   40
Brown-headed Cowbird     1000
House  Sparrow     12

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Santa Ana NWR (Apparently NO MADU)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:54:47 EST
Hi, all!
 
Once again, I'm terribly behind:  made the trek out to Cattail Lakes  on 
Thursday the 11th along with a handful of other folks.  I still stopped  at my 
first bench along Willow Lakes Trail for five, and was surprised to hear a  
Dickcissel razz overhead; guess they're not done yet!  The new trail (which 
 branches off from Willow Lakes Trail) was fun, as I had never taken it 
before  (the last time I was out to Cattail Lakes was when the auto tour was 
still  open), so I got to see a different part of the refuge.  Chatted with a 
lady  from Port Lavaca part of the way out (didn't get her name), and 
another couple from DC (didn't get their names, either...) had just spotted 
their 

first  Beardless Tyrannulet, so they were very happy!
 
Eventually arrived at the lakes where the gal from PL and another gentleman 
 (Chris from Georgia--DID manage to get HIS name!) were already hunting for 
the  duck(s) in the lake where he had seen them on Sunday.  Had lots of 
Gadwall,  Shovelers, teal of both varieties (I only heard the Green-winged), 
along with  grebes and coots and a Wilson's Snipe we flushed.  We DID find 
four Ruddies, but their cousins were either in hiding or had gone elsewhere. 

Dipped on the Hook-billed Kites as well, but we had nice views of a Harrier 
 making a rather clumsy landing in the reeds, and a Merlin chasing yet 
another Cooper's Hawk! A flock of White-faced Ibis flew over, and at one point 

we  heard distant White-fronted Geese ("Specklebellies" to the lady from PL 
:-)),  which we finally spotted WAAAY up high going into the sun!  We 
happened to  be discussing Vermilion Flycatchers when suddenly a young male 
appeared and gave  us great looks!  A non-avian treat was a huge Indigo Snake 
crossing the  trail!
 
After enjoying a Sora that Chris found, I headed on about 9:30 towards the  
main tour road, and while peeking into the lake managed to add a pair of  
Redheads and American Wigeon to the trip list, and got an energetic Eastern  
Phoebe singing his little heart out on "tape"!  Leps were starting to come  
out about then: had a pretty Mestra sunning at a rest stop, and several  
Sickle-winged Skippers chowing down on some scat.  A little spreadwing  damsel 
landed and gave great looks; my best guess is Rainpool, but it might be a  
Chalky.  Took the Bobcat Trail across to the eastern side of the tour loop;  
this was yet another new trail (actually a gravel road), but was rather 
quiet as  things were warming up.  I eventually made it back to familiar 
territory at the Willow/Pintail Lake Trail, and back in the woods was treated 
to a 

Mimosa  Skipper and a Southern Broken Dash posing.  The lakes had the 
expected waterbirds (no herons, interestingly--the ibis were the only waders I 

ad all  morning), but my first Hermit Thrush for the refuge "thooked" from 
the  understory!  I couldn't believe I also dipped on Chachalaca... :-P
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_wed) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059)
Observation  date:     11/11/09
Number of species:      66

Greater White-fronted Goose     40
Gadwall   50
American Wigeon     2
Mottled Duck   3
Blue-winged Teal     30
Northern  Shoveler     50
Northern Pintail      5
Green-winged Teal     2
Redhead      2
Ruddy Duck     4
Least Grebe      20
Pied-billed Grebe     7
White-faced Ibis   12
Turkey Vulture     1
Northern Harrier   1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-shouldered  Hawk     4
Gray Hawk     2
Merlin   1
Sora     1
Common Moorhen      3
American Coot     100
Killdeer      3
Greater Yellowlegs     2
Long-billed Curlew   3
Least Sandpiper     2
Wilson's Snipe   1
Mourning Dove     2
Common Ground-Dove   3
Belted Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     12
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      8
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet     1
Eastern Phoebe   15
Vermilion Flycatcher     1
Great  Kiskadee     20
Couch's Kingbird      3
White-eyed Vireo     7
Green Jay      9
Cave Swallow     2
Black-crested Titmouse   6
Verdin     1
Cactus Wren      1
Carolina Wren     3
House Wren      20
Marsh Wren     5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet      8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     8
Hermit Thrush   1
Northern Mockingbird     6
Long-billed  Thrasher     8
Curve-billed Thrasher      2
European Starling     1
American Pipit      1
Orange-crowned Warbler     5
Yellow-rumped Warbler  (Myrtle)     5
Common Yellowthroat      12
Olive Sparrow     15
Lincoln's Sparrow   2
Northern Cardinal     7
Indigo Bunting   1
Dickcissel     1
Red-winged Blackbird   100
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Altamira  Oriole     3
House Sparrow     15

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Monte Cristo Tracts
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:26:34 EST
Hi, all!  Made a quick run up Wallace Road this morning and it was  Raptor 
City!  A huge flock of Western Meadowlarks went tearing by, followed  by a 
Cooper's Hawk being chased by a Merlin; that was pretty funny!  A  singing 
Least Flycatcher and a chirping Yellow Warbler were nice  additions.
 
After doing Wallace I snuck a peek at Sapo Lake where there was a mixed  
flock of Gadwall, Pintail, and Lesser Scaup, and afterwards did a little  
exploring and found a road that accessed Edinburg Lake, where there was a 
Ringed 

 Kingfisher, four Canvasbacks, and a Laughing Gull!  This looks like a  
promising place!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
11-6-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 11-6-09 to  11-6-09

Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Canvasback                             Aythya valisineria
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Merlin                                 Falco columbarius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Belted  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Megaceryle torquata
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

71 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Estero Llano Grande
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:17:50 EST
Hi, all!
 
Had a beautiful morning at Estero Llano; the road along the south side of  
the llano was open this time, so did the road and the levee, picking up the  
usual whistling ducks, avocets, stilts, and a few ducks (could have sworn I 
 heard a Wood Duck but couldn't find it).  Up on the levee several Great  
Blue Herons stood sentry in the fields, but the highlight had to be the  
Peregrine sitting up on one of the big pressure pipes!  Coming back out the  
White Pelicans had moved into the llano, along with a pretty Roseate Spoonbill 

(a young bird was in the canal seen from the levee, and didn't look too  
hot...).
 
Got to the park proper about 8:30 and the butterflies were nuts  already!  
Ran into a couple looking for Guava Skipper (and found out later  that Huck 
was able to deliver :-)) and at least two other couples looking for  Yellow 
Angled Sulphurs, but the highlight for me was three different Tropical  
Buckeyes and a Silver-banded Hairstreak over by Fran's RV.  Walking the big  
loop trail, a young male Vermilion Flycatcher was very cooperative over by the 

"gazebo", and a Dickcissel flew over, doing it's funny snort, and had I 
known it was really that rare now I would have tried to "shoot" it, as it gave 

a great  look!  The Savannah and Lincoln's Sparrows were back in the 
grasslands in force, and was able to pish up a couple of pretty Clay-colored as 

well.
 
Green and Belted Kingfishers were hanging out at Alligator Lake, and the  
Screech Owl was hanging out his box (perhaps a different individual than the  
goofy-looking one I saw previously).  Back along the Camino de Aves I  
decided to continue on the maintenance road next to the orchard and check out  
Kiskadee Pond, since I had never seen it, and had a family of Harris' Hawks  
posing!  Passing Ibis Pond on the way back had what looked like a  
Twelve-spotted Skimmer according to the book, but also according to the book, 
they 

aren't supposed to be here!  A Solitary Sandpiper wheeled in just as I  was 
finishing up.
 
Pics for the day are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC  054)
Observation date:     11/3/09
Notes:   Guess there are still a few Dickcissels coming through here!   
(Two calling flyovers, one seen...)
Number of species:      79

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     30
Gadwall   5
Mottled Duck     6
Blue-winged Teal   12
Northern Shoveler     20
Green-winged  Teal     20
Ruddy Duck     15
Least  Grebe     15
Pied-billed Grebe      5
American White Pelican     50
Neotropic Cormorant   7
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Anhinga   2
Great Blue Heron     12
Great Egret   3
Snowy Egret     4
Little Blue Heron   4
Tricolored Heron     1
Cattle Egret   1
Roseate Spoonbill     2
White-tailed  Kite     2
Northern Harrier      1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Cooper's Hawk      2
Harris's Hawk     5
American Kestrel      1
Peregrine Falcon     1
Sora      1
Common Moorhen     12
American Coot      100
Killdeer     12
Black-necked Stilt      20
American Avocet     20
Solitary Sandpiper   1
Lesser Yellowlegs     5
Long-billed  Curlew     1
Least Sandpiper     20
Stilt  Sandpiper     12
Long-billed Dowitcher      30
Mourning Dove     6
Common Ground-Dove   4
Eastern Screech-Owl     1
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     2
Belted Kingfisher      2
Green Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   6
Eastern Phoebe     2
Vermilion  Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee      7
Tropical Kingbird     1
Couch's Kingbird   1
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher     7
Loggerhead  Shrike     2
White-eyed Vireo     4
Horned  Lark     3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow      20
Barn Swallow     30
Carolina Wren      2
House Wren     12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet      2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     4
Northern Mockingbird   15
Long-billed Thrasher     2
Curve-billed  Thrasher     1
American Pipit      3
Orange-crowned Warbler     8
Common Yellowthroat   4
Wilson's Warbler     1
Clay-colored  Sparrow     2
Savannah Sparrow      12
Lincoln's Sparrow     15
Pyrrhuloxia      2
Dickcissel     2
Red-winged Blackbird      1000
Eastern Meadowlark     9
Great-tailed Grackle   50
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Lesser  Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     30

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Monte Cristo & Edinburg Wetlands
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:19:08 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Well, the big rain storm we were supposed to have didn't materialize (at  
least along Wallace Road), but for the first time doing this route, the  
southmost pond you cross was absolutely bone dry!  Thankfully there was  some 
water in the next little wetland which had a nice variety of shorebirds,  but 
also a good number of TVs and caracaras hanging around!  Had my FOS  
American Pipit in the fields along with the Horned Larks and Lark Sparrows, and 
my 

FOS Green-winged Teal (still in eclipse plumage) were hanging with the  
Bluewings in the aforementioned wetland.  The little pull-in at the  trailhead 
(south of the wetland) had a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks and a  fussing 
Long-billed Thrasher.  I rarely see many butterflies along this  road, but 
today they were nuts with Queens everywhere; this one bush also had a  
White-striped Longtail and Gray Hairstreak along with many little  skippers!
 
Over at Edinburg Wetlands I did the south pond first, which had a young  
Spoonbill and both Green and Belted Kingfishers, along with the requisite  
Neotropic Cormorants and shorebirds.  A pair of Ospreys was circling and  
trying to fish; every attempt I saw was unsuccessful... :-( Also had a single 

male Ruddy Duck in the middle of the lake--I don't think I've ever seen  one 
hold his tail up so high!  My first Blue Grosbeak for the park was back  in 
the mesquite as well.
 
The group from the Butterfly Festival was delighting in all the activity in 
 the gardens (I scared an Orange-barred Sulphur their way... :-)), but 
bird-wise had the usual hummers, along with a possible Rufous, but I didn't get 

a good  look at it.  A pair of Wilson's Warblers and gnatcatchers were 
upset with me along the "Jungle Trail", and the north lake had a small group of 

White  Pelicans along with lots of Black-bellied Whistlers (a single 
Fulvous sounded off near the spillway), Shovelers, and teal. The water level 
was 

somewhat  low, so several Stilt Sandpipers were over by the spillway as 
well.  A  reptilian highlight was a family of Soft-shelled Turtles on the bank 
of the  canal, and also kicked up the female Summer Tanager back here, who 
looks as  though she's missing her right eye! :-(
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Monte Cristo Tract (LTC 062)
Observation  date:     10/22/09
Number of species:      55

Mottled Duck     9
Blue-winged Teal   8
Green-winged Teal     5
Northern  Bobwhite     1
Neotropic Cormorant      30
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Great Blue Heron   5
Great Egret     8
Snowy Egret   2
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture   30
White-tailed Kite     4
Sharp-shinned  Hawk     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Harris's  Hawk     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     4
Crested  Caracara     5
American Kestrel      4
American Coot     2
Killdeer      10
Black-necked Stilt     5
American Avocet   1
Spotted Sandpiper     2
Greater  Yellowlegs     1
Least Sandpiper      20
Stilt Sandpiper     2
Long-billed Dowitcher   12
Mourning Dove     30
Common  Ground-Dove     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      2
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     2
Eastern Phoebe   2
Great Kiskadee     7
Couch's Kingbird   7
Green Jay     3
Horned Lark   7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     3
Barn  Swallow     100
Verdin     1
House  Wren     15
Marsh Wren     1
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher      1
Northern Mockingbird     2
Long-billed Thrasher   3
American Pipit     1
Common  Yellowthroat     5
Lark Sparrow      2
Lincoln's Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal   2
Red-winged Blackbird     50
Eastern  Meadowlark     1
Great-tailed Grackle      20
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow      20

Location:     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC  061)
Observation date:     10/22/09
Number of  species:     49

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck   80
Fulvous Whistling-Duck     1
Blue-winged  Teal     60
Northern Shoveler      20
Green-winged Teal     6
Ruddy Duck      1
Least Grebe     5
Pied-billed Grebe      1
American White Pelican     5
Neotropic Cormorant   40
Double-crested Cormorant     8
Great Blue  Heron     7
Snowy Egret     2
Tricolored  Heron     3
Cattle Egret     1
Green  Heron     1
Black-crowned Night-Heron      2
Roseate Spoonbill     1
Turkey Vulture      1
Osprey     3
Common Moorhen      4
American Coot     50
Killdeer      3
Black-necked Stilt     30
Spotted Sandpiper   1
Least Sandpiper     50
Stilt Sandpiper   15
Long-billed Dowitcher     30
Laughing  Gull     1
Rock Pigeon     20
Inca  Dove     1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      5
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     3
Belted  Kingfisher     2
Green Kingfisher      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     3
Great Kiskadee   7
Couch's Kingbird     2
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     2
House  Wren     12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher      4
Northern Mockingbird     6
Curve-billed Thrasher   1
Orange-crowned Warbler     3
Common  Yellowthroat     1
Wilson's Warbler      2
Summer Tanager     1
Blue Grosbeak      1
Great-tailed Grackle     10

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Anzalduas & NABA
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:47:19 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Before heading to Anzalduas I poked down Old Military Highway, with  
highlights including an Osprey, Tropical Kingbird, Red-crowned Parrot, and a 
pair 

of Ringed Kingfishers near Bentsen.  Once at Anzalduas I took Dan's  advice 
and headed over to the dam overlook first to see if per chance the Bald  
Eagle was still hanging around (it wasn't--I rather suspected it was a one-day 
 wonder), but saw that the DC Cormorants have arrived in force!  Also had 
my  FOS American Wigeons, and at least 100 Barn Swallows swarming around.   
Don't know if Dan's sapsucker was in the back section, but MY FOS one bounced 
in  and attached himself to a tree, only to be promptly bullied off by a  
Golden-fronted Woodpecker!  Also had a nice female Vermilion Flycatcher  near 
the grassy area.  Making the rounds in the main part of the park, a  very 
nice Ringed Kingfisher posed at the River, and Rough-winged Swallows had  
replaced the Caves from last month.  Spooked a young Yellow-crowned Night  
Heron closer to the dam, and almost dipped on the Black Phoebe (DID dip on the 

tyrannulet :-( along with Dan's other goodies from yesterday).  On the  way 
out was treated to a tornado of at least 100 Turkey Vultures lifting  off!  
(Yes, I looked for a Zone-tailed... ;-))
 
On the way back to NABA I added a pair of Harris's Hawks along the paved  
levee, and sadly a dead Swainson's Hawk actually up on top of one of the  
telephone poles--not quite sure how that happened unless someone shot him and 
he  just stayed lodged up there somehow.  It had started to cloud over by the 
 time I got to NABA, but the butterflies were still active, the highlights 
for me  being a Malachite, a Nysa Roadside Skipper, and a Melonworm Moth!  
(Also  got to meet Jeff Glassberg, which was pretty neat! :-))  New birds 
there  for the day included three quiet (!) Chachalacas at the feeding station 
and a  whistling Altamira Oriole, plus a single Broad-winged Hawk in the 
parking  lot.  Heading west again on OMH the lines were lined with 
Scissor-tailed  Flycatchers, and the fields filled with Cattle Egrets!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Anzalduas County Pk (LTC 068)
Observation  date:     10/20/09
Number of species:      47

American Wigeon     2
Mottled Duck   2
Blue-winged Teal     10
Neotropic  Cormorant     6
Double-crested Cormorant      30
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret      3
Snowy Egret     1
Cattle Egret      1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     1
Turkey Vulture   100
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
American  Kestrel     3
Common Moorhen     1
American  Coot     1
Killdeer     8
Greater  Yellowlegs     1
Least Sandpiper     1
Rock  Pigeon     1
Mourning Dove     4
Ringed  Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     1
Black Phoebe   1
Eastern Phoebe     1
Vermilion  Flycatcher     1
Great Kiskadee      7
Couch's Kingbird     6
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   2
Loggerhead Shrike     1
White-eyed  Vireo     1
Green Jay     5
Northern  Rough-winged Swallow     50
Barn Swallow      100
House Wren     2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern  Mockingbird     7
Long-billed Thrasher      2
European Starling     9
Common Yellowthroat   1
Olive Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal   1
Red-winged Blackbird     100
Eastern  Meadowlark     3
Great-tailed Grackle      80
Bronzed Cowbird     3

Location:     NABA International Butterfly  Park
Observation date:     10/20/09
Notes:   Survey includes a 3-mile stretch along Old Military  Highway
Number of species:     46

Plain  Chachalaca     3
Great Egret     1
Snowy  Egret     1
Cattle Egret     100
Turkey  Vulture     20
Osprey     1
Cooper's  Hawk     1
Harris's Hawk      2
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Broad-winged Hawk   1
American Kestrel     3
Common Moorhen   1
Killdeer     2
Black-necked Stilt   1
Mourning Dove     12
Red-crowned  Parrot     1
Ringed Kingfisher      2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     3
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     4
Eastern Phoebe     1
Great  Kiskadee     10
Tropical Kingbird      1
Couch's Kingbird     9
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   12
White-eyed Vireo     1
Green Jay   4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     30
Barn  Swallow     100
Black-crested Titmouse      1
House Wren     12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   4
Northern Mockingbird     10
Long-billed  Thrasher     1
European Starling      3
Common Yellowthroat     3
Wilson's Warbler   1
Olive Sparrow     3
Northern Cardinal   2
Indigo Bunting     1
Dickcissel   1
Red-winged Blackbird     200
Eastern  Meadowlark     2
Great-tailed Grackle      100
Brown-headed Cowbird     7
Altamira Oriole   1
House Sparrow     6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Estero Llano Grande SP
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:30:59 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Despite the threat of horrible heat, had a lovely time at the park this  
morning; since I woke up super early I went on over and sat in the dark near 
the  Green Jay Trail listening for night birds (picked up Screech Owl and 
Pauraque) then over to the VC walk in hopes that the King Rail might sound off 

(which it  didn't, but ironically my only BB Whistling Ducks of the day 
were heard  pre-dawn!).  A pair of Red-crowned Parrots woke up on the way back 
to the  car.
 
Wound up coming right back because the road to the llano and the levee was  
closed :-(, but it worked out for the best as I probably would have missed 
a  great warbler flock along the entrance walk otherwise!  Ranger Brian 
(whom  I didn't know was Ranger Brian till later ;-)) came up and we were able 
to sort  out Magnolia, Wilson's, and Redstart!  Unfortunately the male Hooded 
 Warbler popped up after he left...
 
Ran into Huck after that and we checked out Ibis Pond for awhile; mostly  
dowitchers and Stilt Sandpipers, with a token Least and Spotted, plus  
Blue-winged Teal. On the boardwalk added Tricolored Heron and Snowy Egret with 

the sun to my back.  Made my way to the gazebo and still couldn't kick  up a 
rail, but did get a Marsh Wren and Lark Sparrow while sitting, plus a  
Harris' Hawk sitting where the Magpie Jay often used to sit! A big surprise was 

a flock of Collared Doves flying over!
 
Since I couldn't drive to the llano I went ahead and climbed up to the  
levee, picking up some Avocets, Stilts, a spoonbill, and about 60 White  
Pelicans! Another spoonbill flew over on the way to Dowitcher Pond, as well as 
a 

Little Blue Heron.  This was where all the coots and grebes were  hanging 
out, as well as additional wintering ducks.  The Moorhens had  claimed Grebe 
Pond, and Alligator Lake was rather quiet; I might have flushed a  Barn Owl 
going in, but just didn't get a good look.  Heard and Anhinga and  Belted 
Kingfisher there.
 
I didn't do the whole of Camino de Aves for fear of the heat, but at least  
picked up the requisite Ground and Mourning Doves back there, and by that 
time  the pelicans had lifted off and were performing their ballet high in 
the  sky!  From this point on it was really a lep show, as the Milkweed Vine  
along the trail to CDA was crazy with blooms and butters, best of which was 
an  Ornythion Swallowtail!  Ran into Ranger John back near the VC where we 
had  more Ornythions and his Yellow Angled Sulphur from yesterday, and 
eventually were joined by Huck and Brian, adding Osprey, Greater Yellowlegs, 
and 

Red-shouldered Hawk to the bird list, plus a ton of leps that I'll post on 
the  lep listserv! :-)  
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Estero Llano Grande SP WBC (Weslaco)(LTC  054)
Observation date:     10/15/09
Number of  species:     78

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck   2
Gadwall     4
Mottled Duck   5
Blue-winged Teal     30
Northern  Shoveler     12
Plain Chachalaca     3
Least  Grebe     30
Pied-billed Grebe      3
American White Pelican     60
Neotropic Cormorant   8
Anhinga     1
Great Egret      1
Snowy Egret     3
Little Blue Heron      1
Tricolored Heron     2
Roseate Spoonbill   2
Turkey Vulture     1
Osprey   1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Harris's Hawk   3
Red-shouldered Hawk     2
American  Kestrel     1
Common Moorhen     12
American  Coot     70
Killdeer     9
Black-necked  Stilt     3
American Avocet     6
Spotted  Sandpiper     2
Greater Yellowlegs      1
Lesser Yellowlegs     1
Long-billed Curlew   1
Least Sandpiper     8
Stilt Sandpiper   12
Long-billed Dowitcher     20
Eurasian  Collared-Dove     8
White-winged Dove      100
Mourning Dove     2
Inca Dove      2
Common Ground-Dove     3
Red-crowned Parrot   2
Eastern Screech-Owl     3
Common  Pauraque     3
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      4
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Belted  Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      8
Eastern Phoebe     1
Great Kiskadee      9
Couch's Kingbird     4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   2
White-eyed Vireo     1
Green Jay   1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     8
Bank  Swallow     1
Cave Swallow     1
Barn  Swallow     6
Black-crested Titmouse      2
Carolina Wren     2
House Wren      5
Marsh Wren     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher      2
Northern Mockingbird     9
Long-billed Thrasher   2
Curve-billed Thrasher     1
European  Starling     1
Nashville Warbler      1
Magnolia Warbler     1
American Redstart   2
Common Yellowthroat     3
Hooded  Warbler     1
Wilson's Warbler     1
Olive  Sparrow     1
Lark Sparrow     1
Northern  Cardinal     3
Red-winged Blackbird      200
Great-tailed Grackle     50
Bronzed Cowbird   3
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
House  Sparrow     12

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Quinta Mazatlan & Hidalgo Pumphouse
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:25:05 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds at Quinta Mazatlan this morning; highlights include my FOS  
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, two pairs of American Redstarts (unless the same pair 
 followed me all around the complex), and a nice Magnolia Warbler.  My 
first Ringed Kingfisher for the park rattled off in the distance, and a pair of 

 Red-crowned Parrots posed nicely for John Brush and the folks he was 
showing  around!
 
Over at Hidalgo Pumphouse the main show centered around the leps, with my  
first "NABA" Hermit Skipper and what I'm thinking is a Titan Sphinx based on 
 what photos I could get.  Bird-wise I had my first Black-and-white Warbler 
 for the park over by the deck, and while not new, it was nice to see a 
couple of  Anhingas, a Moorhen, a Great Blue Heron, and hear a Green later.  
Guess the  trail behind the Wall isn't open yet...
 
Pics for the day (all leps this time) are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Quinta Mazatlan WBC (McAllen) (LTC  063)
Observation date:     10/13/09
Number of  species:     37

Plain Chachalaca      20
Killdeer     2
White-winged Dove      12
Inca Dove     2
White-tipped Dove      1
Green Parakeet     3
Red-crowned Parrot   2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      3
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Ringed  Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      8
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     2
Great Kiskadee   2
Tropical Kingbird     1
Couch's  Kingbird     3
White-eyed Vireo     2
Green  Jay     2
Black-crested Titmouse      2
Carolina Wren     3
House Wren      1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   3
Northern Mockingbird     7
Curve-billed  Thrasher     2
European Starling      5
Magnolia Warbler     1
American Redstart   4
Wilson's Warbler     2
Olive Sparrow   2
Northern Cardinal     4
Blue Grosbeak   1
Indigo Bunting     4
Dickcissel   2
Red-winged Blackbird     100
Great-tailed  Grackle     40
Bronzed Cowbird     80
Lesser  Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     20

Location:     Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (WBC)  (LTC067)
Observation date:     10/13/09
Number of  species:     30

Anhinga     2
Great Blue  Heron     1
Green Heron     1
Turkey  Vulture     1
Common Moorhen     1
Rock  Pigeon     9
Mourning Dove     10
Inca  Dove     1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      1
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird      2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     2
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     1
Black Phoebe     2
Great  Kiskadee     1
Tropical Kingbird      1
Couch's Kingbird     2
White-eyed Vireo   1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     15
House  Wren     2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher      1
Northern Mockingbird     6
European Starling   1
Black-and-white Warbler     1
Common  Yellowthroat     1
Northern Cardinal      1
Dickcissel     1
Red-winged Blackbird      50
Great-tailed Grackle     4
Altamira Oriole   1
Lesser Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow   6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 17:39:13 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Tim Brush and Javier DeLeon joined me this morning for my route, although  
we ended up doing it in rather an unorthodox way! :-)  We first hiked the  
trail to the lake from SR 186 in hopes of kicking up some Black-throated  
Sparrows, but the breeze (which later turned into a pretty stiff wind) kept 
most of the stuff down (we glimpsed what could have been a Cassin's, but we'll 

never  know...).  It was fun seeing gangs of gulls streaming overhead from 
the  lake, as well as Long-billed Curlews!  (We were having a little debate 
as  to whether they were Laughing or Franklin's, but they turned out to be 
the  former...)  Songbirds were sparse (lots of things were "seep"ing but  
refused to show themselves), but had a good raptor turnout, including several  
Caracaras, a Harrier, and a Red-tailed Hawk back at the trailhead.
 
Tim had to get back home, but he stuck with us long enough to bird a bit of 
 Brushline (and for me to show him where I had been having Botteri's 
Sparrows--my dates on those BTW were 16 JUL 08 and 21 AUG 09). The best shows 

were the  airborne birds, with several Broadies, a Sharpie right overhead, 
Black and  Turkey Vultures, and a "tornado" of about 30 White Pelicans!  
Shrikes were still quite plentiful along the wires, as well as Scissortails. 
Tim 

 pointed out a squealing Harris' Hawk as well.
 
After dropping Tim off at his car, Javier and I went straight to Rio Beef  
(he wanted to "beef up" his Willacy County list... :-P) and stopped at the  
little marsh where we picked up Least Grebe, Sora, Yellowthroat, and Marsh  
Wren.  Zigzagging up GI Road we had a glimpse of a Krider's Hawk zipping  
across the road, and on the way out Javier spotted him on a telephone pole  
(wasn't quick enough with the camera, unfortunately... 
:-( ).  Continuing down GI Road we had lots more Scissortails and Lark  
Sparrows, plus some Cattle Egrets at the beefyard along with a cloud of  
Redwings. A lone male Baltimore Oriole was hiding in a roadside bush; I guess 

they're supposed to be getting pretty scarce by now.  We returned up  
Brushline to check out the farm pond near road's end, which still had the  
spoonbills from last time, but also more Cattle Egrets, a pod of Least 
Sandpipers, 

and a couple of Greater Yellowlegs.  Javier spotted some  Blue-winged Teal 
hiding.  On the way out a Chuck-will's-widow darted out in  front of the car, 
giving that "all brown falcon" impression!
 
Just for kicks and grins we decided to check out the pond on south  
Brushline, although it's not part of my "route" (so it didn't get put in the 
eBird 

account).  It was pretty active, with a Swainson's Hawk, Avocets,  
dowitchers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Snowy Egret, Shovelers, and White-faced Ibis 
being 

new for the day list.
 
Pics are posted here (with some mystery moths from the ranch if any of the  
leppers out there want a challenge...):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     LRGV NWR Driving Route
Observation  date:     10/8/09
Number of species:      61

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     1
Mottled  Duck     2
Blue-winged Teal     5
Northern  Bobwhite     1
Least Grebe     2
American  White Pelican     30
Great Blue Heron      1
Great Egret     1
Cattle Egret      11
Roseate Spoonbill     2
Black Vulture      8
Turkey Vulture     30
Northern Harrier      1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     2
Harris's Hawk      2
Broad-winged Hawk     40
Red-tailed Hawk   2
Red-tailed Hawk (Krider's)     1
Crested  Caracara     8
American Kestrel      9
Sora     1
American Coot      1
Killdeer     3
Greater Yellowlegs      2
Long-billed Curlew     30
Least Sandpiper   14
Laughing Gull     500
Rock Pigeon   1
Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
Mourning  Dove     6
Common Ground-Dove      7
Chuck-will's-widow     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   6
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1
Eastern  Phoebe     2
Great Kiskadee     5
Couch's  Kingbird     10
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher      20
Loggerhead Shrike     12
Green Jay      4
Barn Swallow     40
Black-crested Titmouse   1
Verdin     2
Cactus Wren      4
House Wren     7
Marsh Wren      1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern Mockingbird   4
Long-billed Thrasher     1
Curve-billed  Thrasher     1
European Starling      1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Olive Sparrow   3
Lark Sparrow     20
Northern Cardinal   2
Pyrrhuloxia     3
Dickcissel   1
Red-winged Blackbird     200
Great-tailed  Grackle     1
Brown-headed Cowbird      1
Baltimore Oriole     1

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Santa Ana NWR
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 18:00:39 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds around the refuge this morning, deciding to go "backwards"  
on the recommendation of a couple of friends, and that worked out well 
(getting through the Pintail Lakes area before it got sweltering...)! Nothing 

earth-shattering; had a kingfisher sweep and flushed a nice adult 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron at the southeast lake, and Anhingas were out the yin 

yang!  Had  a very cooperative Great Crested Flycatcher near the River; other 
migrants  included Nashville, Yellow, and Black-and-white Warblers, 
Yellow-breasted Chat, and my first Summer Tanager for the refuge. Also had my 
first 

Myrtle  Warbler of the season along the River.  Interesting non-birds 
included a rather orangeish Lyside Sulphur, a very striking Cellar Melipotes, 
an 

American  Rubyspot, and a female bluet (or other damsel) for those who care 
to take a  crack at it...  Several things seeped and chucked that never came 
out and  therefore have inspired me to study the warbler calls a little 
better...  :-P
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059)
Observation  date:     10/6/09
Number of species:      70

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     40
Mottled  Duck     5
Blue-winged Teal     30
Northern  Shoveler     6
Northern Pintail     3
Plain  Chachalaca     6
Least Grebe      12
Pied-billed Grebe     6
Neotropic Cormorant   2
Double-crested Cormorant     1
Anhinga   10
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret   2
Little Blue Heron     2
Yellow-crowned  Night-Heron     1
Cooper's Hawk      1
Red-shouldered Hawk     2
American Kestrel   1
Sora     1
Common Moorhen      12
American Coot     30
Killdeer      10
Black-necked Stilt     1
White-winged Dove   50
Mourning Dove     4
Inca Dove   1
Common Ground-Dove     3
White-tipped  Dove     2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1
Ringed Kingfisher   2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Green  Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      9
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     6
Least Flycatcher   1
Great Crested Flycatcher     3
Great  Kiskadee     12
Couch's Kingbird      15
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher     1
White-eyed Vireo   8
Green Jay     10
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow     12
Bank Swallow     1
Cave  Swallow     1
Barn Swallow      100
Black-crested Titmouse     6
Carolina Wren   7
House Wren     5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   5
Northern Mockingbird     2
Long-billed  Thrasher     6
European Starling      20
Nashville Warbler     4
Yellow Warbler   1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)      1
Black-and-white Warbler     1
Common Yellowthroat   4
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Summer  Tanager     1
Olive Sparrow     5
Northern  Cardinal     6
Indigo Bunting      4
Dickcissel     2
Red-winged Blackbird      200
Great-tailed Grackle     1
Brown-headed Cowbird   1
Altamira Oriole     2
Lesser Goldfinch   2
House Sparrow     3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Kentucky Warbler @ Frontera
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 16:13:30 EDT
Hi, all!
 
I put that in the subject line as eBird flagged it; I was able to get a  
mediocre but identifiable photo which is in the "Friday's Pics" gallery  
(below).  My sense of direction gets all turned around in there, but it was  
along the trail that runs alongside the cemetery but "this" side of where  
another trail heads left off to the feeding station area.  It was a great  
migrant morning there, with other highlights including a female Summer Tanager, 
a 

brightly peeping Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (who finally showed himself), 
and  several other warblers including a brilliant male Hooded and a female  
Redstart.  A Yellow-throated Warbler was working the palms, and an Ovenbird  
bopped along the trail and flew just before Gloria got to see it! :-(   After 
chatting with her I continued on, flushing a Chuck-will's-widow!  
 
My first Anhinga for the preserve was croaking from the pond, as well as a  
clucking Green Heron.  Heard a Clay-colored Thrush give its querulous call  
early on, and Red-crowned Parrots flew over a couple of times.  The local  
Gray Hawk was pitifully whining, while a pair of Redshoulders yelled more  
emphatically.  One Archilochus hummingbird looked sufficiently long-billed  
and club-winged to make me feel comfortable calling it a Blackchin (along 
with a  paleish crown and wings that were pretty even with the tail tip).   
Afterwards got to meet Cindy, the new director!
 
A quick visit to Valley Nature Center added Eastern Wood Pewee to the  
migrant list; they also had an Ovenbird hanging around the drip. Titmice were 

also very cooperative at that particular feeder, but too quick for my  
camera for the most part... :-P Raul was having fun showing all the school kids 

around! :-)
 
Pics for the day are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Frontera Audubon Ctr (LTC 058)
Observation  date:     10/2/09
Notes:     Photo of Kentucky  Warbler available if needed.
Number of species:      54

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     15
Plain  Chachalaca     15
Anhinga     1
Green  Heron     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     2
Gray  Hawk     1
Killdeer     1
Least  Sandpiper     1
Rock Pigeon      15
White-winged Dove     20
Inca Dove      4
White-tipped Dove     6
Red-crowned Parrot   3
Chuck-will's-widow     1
Chimney Swift   9
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     10
Black-chinned  Hummingbird     1
Belted Kingfisher      1
Green Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   10
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher     1
Least Flycatcher   1
Great Crested Flycatcher     1
Great  Kiskadee     8
Couch's Kingbird      3
White-eyed Vireo     6
Green Jay      2
Barn Swallow     5
Black-crested Titmouse   1
Carolina Wren     3
House Wren   2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     5
Clay-colored  Thrush     1
Northern Mockingbird      8
Long-billed Thrasher     3
Curve-billed Thrasher   2
Yellow Warbler     4
Yellow-throated  Warbler     1
American Redstart      1
Ovenbird     1
Kentucky Warbler      1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Hooded Warbler   1
Wilson's Warbler     3
Summer Tanager   2
Olive Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal   3
Blue Grosbeak     2
Dickcissel   2
Red-winged Blackbird     10
Great-tailed  Grackle     4
Lesser Goldfinch     5

Location:     Valley Nature Ctr. (LTC 057)
Observation  date:     10/2/09
Number of species:      26

Plain Chachalaca     10
Eurasian Collared-Dove   1
White-winged Dove     20
Inca Dove   6
White-tipped Dove     2
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird      2
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     6
Eastern Wood-Pewee   1
Great Crested Flycatcher     1
Great  Kiskadee     6
Couch's Kingbird      3
White-eyed Vireo     3
Green Jay      1
Black-crested Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren   1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     2
Northern  Mockingbird     10
Long-billed Thrasher      2
European Starling     1
Yellow Warbler      1
Ovenbird     1
Wilson's Warbler      3
Great-tailed Grackle     10
Lesser Goldfinch   1
House Sparrow     50

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Pics from Monte Cristo & Edinburg
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:25:25 EDT
Hi, all!  PBase is back up, so here are the pictures from last  Thursday 
(even though the gallery says Monday...).  Highlights included  Wood Storks 
and "Gramps" Cormorant at Edinburg!
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/gallery/new_pics_mon_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/gallery/new_pics_mon) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Monte Cristo & Edinburg
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:23:54 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Managed to avoid the rain this morning and had a delightful time birding  
Wallace Road (the Monte Cristo Tract) and Edinburg Wetlands!  Dickcissels  
were still moving through in good numbers, and at the tract kiosk the Yellow  
Warblers were out the yin yang along with a Wilson's.  Had a good variety  
of raptors including Swainson's, Red-shouldered, White-tailed (both hawk and  
kite), Kestrel, Harris', Caracaras, and a couple of smallish raptors that 
got  away before I could ID them.  The water level at the wetland was lower 
than  I've ever seen it, but it still had a good variety of things, 
highlights including two Wood Storks and a Pectoral Sandpiper. The number of 
Barn 

Swallows was incredible, but there were a few other species represented as  
well.  Out in the fields had a flyover Black-bellied Plover and a couple of  
Horned Larks, as well as good numbers of Lark Sparrows.  Other interesting  
dickies included a couple of Anis, a Warbling Vireo, a Great Crested 
Flycatcher giving its emphatic "Wheek!" and a group of Blue Grosbeaks towards 
the 

north end  of the road.
 
Edinburg's south pond was hopping with stuff: besides the hordes of  
Neotropic Cormorants and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, highlights included  
another pair of Wood Storks (including one juvenile), a Solitary Sandpiper,  
several Stilt Sandpipers, a White-faced Ibis, another goofy-looking young Green 

Heron, and more migrants including a Chat, Eastern Kingbird, and gobs of 
Yellow  Warblers.  If anyone had to see a Buff-bellied Hummer or they were 
gonna die, I'd send them to the butterfly garden: they were all over the place 

along  with tons of Ruby-throated Hummers (at least those I could 
positively ID)! A family of Kiskadees hung out at the Dragonfly Pond along with 
a 

Northern  Waterthrush, and another family (or maybe just a pre-migration 
group) of Couch's Kingbirds gathered along the walkway as well. The north pond 

had a calling  Ringed Kingfisher and several Black-crowned Night Herons in 
addition to the  usual stuff (swallows were all over here as well).  Along 
the canal I  flushed an Osprey (had presumably the same individual soaring 
around on the way  in), and had a cooperative White-eyed Vireo, several 
Baltimore Orioles, and  "Gramps" Cormorant, with so much white on his neck he 
looked like a Great  Cormorant! :-)  No leps, of course, but then again days 
like today are why  I never gave up birding! :-)
 
PBase is down, so no pics posted today; if you can't stand it and simply  
must see them, let me know and I'll e-mail them to you!  (Otherwise I'll  get 
them up as soon as PBase is up and running...)  Two bird lists  follow:
 
Location:     Monte Cristo Tract (LTC 062)
Observation  date:     9/24/09
Number of species:      67

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     2
Mottled  Duck     12
Blue-winged Teal     8
Northern  Bobwhite     2
Least Grebe      12
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Neotropic Cormorant   15
Great Blue Heron     6
Great Egret   15
Snowy Egret     20
Wood Stork   2
Turkey Vulture     1
White-tailed Kite   4
Harris's Hawk     1
Red-shouldered  Hawk     2
Swainson's Hawk      2
White-tailed Hawk     2
Crested Caracara   4
American Kestrel     1
Common Moorhen   1
American Coot     7
Black-bellied  Plover     1
Killdeer     4
Black-necked  Stilt     10
Spotted Sandpiper     3
Greater  Yellowlegs     1
Semipalmated Sandpiper      1
Western Sandpiper     1
Least Sandpiper   7
Pectoral Sandpiper     1
Long-billed  Dowitcher     2
White-winged Dove      2
Mourning Dove     15
Common Ground-Dove   6
White-tipped Dove     1
Groove-billed  Ani     2
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird   2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker     3
Ladder-backed Woodpecker      5
Least Flycatcher     2
Great Crested Flycatcher   1
Great Kiskadee     9
Couch's Kingbird   5
Loggerhead Shrike     1
Warbling Vireo   1
Green Jay     4
Horned Lark   2
Bank Swallow     1
Cliff Swallow   1
Barn Swallow     100
Verdin   1
House Wren     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   4
Northern Mockingbird     2
Long-billed  Thrasher     4
Yellow Warbler     10
Common  Yellowthroat     5
Wilson's Warbler      2
Olive Sparrow     6
Lark Sparrow      20
Northern Cardinal     4
Blue Grosbeak      4
Dickcissel     15
Red-winged Blackbird      20
Great-tailed Grackle     200
Baltimore Oriole   1
Lesser Goldfinch     6

Location:     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC  061)
Observation date:     9/24/09
Number of species:   61

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     100 (at  least)
Mottled Duck     2
Blue-winged Teal   30
Northern Shoveler     7
Least Grebe   6
Pied-billed Grebe     5
Neotropic  Cormorant     100 (at least)
Anhinga      2
Great Blue Heron     7
Great Egret      20
Snowy Egret     30
Little Blue Heron      3
Tricolored Heron     3
Green Heron      2
Black-crowned Night-Heron     8
Yellow-crowned  Night-Heron     1
White-faced Ibis      1
Wood Stork     2
Osprey     1
Harris's  Hawk     1
Common Moorhen     3
American  Coot     12
Killdeer     2
Black-necked  Stilt     15
Solitary Sandpiper      1
Greater Yellowlegs     2
Lesser Yellowlegs   1
Least Sandpiper     5
Stilt Sandpiper   12
Long-billed Dowitcher     6
Laughing  Gull     12
Caspian Tern     2
Rock  Pigeon     3
White-winged Dove      5
Mourning Dove     4
Inca Dove      2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     10
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird     12
Ringed Kingfisher      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     2
Least Flycatcher   1
Great Kiskadee     6
Couch's Kingbird   10
Eastern Kingbird     2
White-eyed  Vireo     2
Bank Swallow     1
Cliff  Swallow     4
Cave Swallow     10
Barn  Swallow     50
House Wren     1
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher     3
Northern Mockingbird      8
Curve-billed Thrasher     3
Yellow Warbler   12
Northern Waterthrush     1
Wilson's  Warbler     1
Yellow-breasted Chat      1
Great-tailed Grackle     7
Baltimore Oriole   5
Lesser Goldfinch     3
House Sparrow   3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:05:46 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Was treated to an absolutely gorgeous sunrise on the way to the La Sal  
Tracts this morning, and wound up with 60 species for the route.  Shrikes  and 
Cactus Wrens were in higher numbers than I've ever had them (probably all  
the young 'uns) but migrants seemed scant; just had a single Yellow and 
Wilson's  Warbler, and a couple of Baltimore Orioles.  The highlight was a 
tinkling Black-throated Sparrow on the hiking trail heading north from SR 186, 

along with  a young Cassin's Sparrow trying to learn its song! :-)  Saw 
absolutely nothing at the lake, but I didn't go walking down to the water's 
edge, 

 either--it was WAAAY out there (and it was sweltering to boot)!  There 
were only two wet spots along the route: one was the farm pond near the end of 

 Brushline on the east side that usually has SOME water in it, and today it 
had  several egrets as well as three spoonbills and several shorebirds!  
The  marsh near the south end of Rio Beef Road had water this time, along with 
Least  Grebes and Soras.  Retreating from north Brushline, I spooked a Barn 
Owl  while stopped to check out a raptor (TV), and a hovering/soaring buteo 
near the  west end of GI Road turned out to be a Krider's Redtail.  
 
Pics (what there are) are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     LRGV NWR Driving Route
Observation  date:     9/22/09
Number of species:      59

Blue-winged Teal     3
Wild Turkey   1
Northern Bobwhite     12
Least Grebe   2
Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret   5
Snowy Egret     1
Cattle Egret   15
Roseate Spoonbill     3
Turkey  Vulture     15
Harris's Hawk      2
White-tailed Hawk     3
Red-tailed Hawk (Krider's)   1
Crested Caracara     5
American  Kestrel     1
Sora     2
American Coot   1
Killdeer     4
Black-necked Stilt   1
American Avocet     1
Semipalmated  Sandpiper     1
Western Sandpiper      12
Least Sandpiper     5
Stilt Sandpiper      2
Eurasian Collared-Dove     2
Mourning Dove   100
Inca Dove     4
Common Ground-Dove   15
Greater Roadrunner     1
Barn Owl   1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      12
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     12
Great Kiskadee   12
Couch's Kingbird     15
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher     15
Loggerhead Shrike      15
White-eyed Vireo     7
Green Jay      10
Bank Swallow     3
Cave Swallow      2
Barn Swallow     80
Verdin      10
Cactus Wren     10
Bewick's Wren      10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     6
Northern Mockingbird   30
Long-billed Thrasher     6
Curve-billed  Thrasher     10
Yellow Warbler      1
Wilson's Warbler     1
Olive Sparrow      3
Cassin's Sparrow     1
Lark Sparrow      20
Black-throated Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal   12
Pyrrhuloxia     8
Eastern Meadowlark   3
Baltimore Oriole     3
Lesser  Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Cameron Co. (long)
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:31:58 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Did kind of a "Big Day" in Cameron County on Friday, meeting Katherine at  
Resaca de las Palmas predawn first thing.  The first puzzle was a prairie  
dog-like bark that I've always associated with Elf Owls, but every time we 
heard  it we also heard Screech Owls trilling in the immediate vicinity, so 
we're  wondering if those were actually young Screeches (and I couldn't find 
any sound  samples on Xeno-Canto).  Pauraques were the only other night birds 
we  picked up, and Katherine pretty much hit on the highlights in her post! 
 On  the way out I did pick up a Summer Tanager "peek-ka-choo"ing in the 
parking  area.
 
A quick stop at the Fisheries added a few freshwater marsh species, but  
unique for the day were a Pied-billed Grebe and a pair of Mississippi Kites  
flying over.  We had gotten Red-shouldered Hawk at Resaca, but a couple  were 
yelling at each other at the Fisheries as well!
 
Headed down Boca Chica Boulevard after that, highlights including a Green  
Heron having a Bad Hair Day on the telephone wires, a young Gray Hawk, a 
calling  Alder Flycatcher, and a Snowy Plover in the flats.  On the beach 
picked up Sanderling and Piping Plover for the day. Swung by the dump and was 

heading into the "wetlands" when a sheriff's deputy very nicely told me that 
no  one was supposed to go back there (which was news to me as I had birded 
that  area several times over the last year and a half), so I got in line 
and for the  first time actually went IN the dump!  Finally was able to get 
some decent  Chihuahuan Raven shots (complete with white neck), but that was 
definitely a  "been there done that" experience...
 
Headed up to SPI after that, where the trees at the Convention Center were  
just dripping with Wilson's Warblers!  Several Yellows were also around, as 
 well as a young Mourning (had a pretty strong eyering), a Black-and-white, 
a  Chat, and several flycatchers; had a definite Least, but some others I 
wasn't  sure about, including a Myiarchus I thought was a Great Crested at 
first, but  the bill didn't show a pale base:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557435_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557435) 
 
Another highlight was a Bell's Vireo that allowed a brief view, and also  
what was probably a Warbling Vireo, but some aspects looked more like a 
Philly to me, including darker lores and wingtips, yellowish (although not 
much) 

on the  throat and under the "wingpits".  Any thoughts?
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557607_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557607) 
 
...and then hit "next" for the rest.
 
An immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron out on the boardwalk was very  
cooperative, but other than that it was the usual fare.  A few female  Pintail 
were back.  Made a quick stop at Sheephead and had what looked like  what 
might have been a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; what do you think?
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557647_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557647) 
 
...then hit "next" for the rest.
 
Headed over to the Port Isabel Reservoir where several peeps fed close to  
the berm; the bill structure looked more Western to me (plus I found out 
later  that Semipals aren't really supposed to get their "winter digs" until 
next  month), but they were definitely TALKING like Semipals, with that warbly 
little  twitter that is supposed to be diagnostic; here's the first of that 
series, and  then you can "next" through them:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557691_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117557691) 
 
Shovelers were back here in numbers as well.  The last stop of the day  was 
Laguna Atascosa, where highlights included a female American Redstart  
showing off at the headquarters, along with a male Blue Metalmark!  Had a  few 
new odes along the Bayside Loop that I hope I ID'd right, plus another  
cooperative flock of Yellow Warblers.  A delightful little moth was in the  
ladies' room, but I couldn't find a match for it...
 
All the pics are posted here (along with some shots from Texan Guest Ranch  
at the beginning):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Bird List:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
9-19-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 9-18-09 to  9-19-09

Black-bellied  Whistling-Duck          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Yellow-crowned  Night-Heron             Nyctanassa violacea
Least  Bittern                          Ixobrychus exilis
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Mississippi  Kite                       Ictinia mississippiensis
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
Gray Hawk
  Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Clapper  Rail                           Rallus longirostris
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Piping  Plover                          Charadrius melodus
Snowy  Plover                           Charadrius alexandrinus
Short-billed  Dowitcher                 Limnodromus griseus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Tringa semipalmata
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Semipalmated  Sandpiper                 Calidris pusilla
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Pectoral  Sandpiper                     Calidris melanotos
Laughing  Gull                          Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Least  Tern                             Sternula antillarum
Gull-billed  Tern                       Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian  Tern                           Hydroprogne caspia
Royal  Tern                             Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich  Tern                          Thalasseus sandvicensis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Groove-billed  Ani                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Eastern  Screech-Owl                    Megascops asio
Pauraque                               Nyctidromus albicollis
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird              Archilochus colubris
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Alder  Flycatcher                       Empidonax alnorum
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Eastern  Kingbird                       Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Bank  Swallow                           Riparia riparia
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Warbling  Vireo                         Vireo gilvus
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
American  Redstart                      Setophaga ruticilla
Mourning  Warbler                       Oporornis philadelphia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Canada  Warbler                         Wilsonia canadensis
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis
Baltimore  Oriole                       Icterus galbula
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius

130 SPECIES


Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Lark Bunting @ Falcon SP
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:32:58 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had a female Lark Bunting in the westernmost picnic area at Falcon State  
Park this morning:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117322374_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/117322374) 
 
...then click "next" for the next shot.  Apparently she's a tad early,  as 
John's excellent checklist has them showing up about a month from now!
 
Other highlights include a cooperative Roadrunner along the entrance road,  
a family of Cactus Wrens, and a flock of 70 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks 
in a  "V" over the lake.  A smaller flock of cormorants "V"-ing overhead 
looked rather short-tailed to me, so I logged them as arriving Double-cresteds. 

  As requested I checked out the butterfly garden as well, and while lots 
of stuff  was in bloom, leps were sparse: had one Vesta Crescent, one Lyside 
Sulphur, one  Pipevine Swallowtail, one Monarch, and a gazillion Ceraunus 
Blues! :-)
 
Headed over to Chapeno which was pretty quiet bird-wise but had several  
odes (those who know them better than I do can tell me if I guessed  
right...). Salieno was a little more active with both Ringed and Green 
Kingfisher 

(had a Belted at Falcon for a kingfisher sweep), an Ani, a couple of  Gray 
Hawks calling, and an osprey sailing upriver.  A Red-shouldered Hawk  flew 
across the road in town.  No other specialties, however...
 
All the pics (plus a few from the Texan Guest Ranch) are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Falcon SP (Starr Co.)(LTC 084)
Observation  date:     9/15/09
Notes:     The Lark Bunting  was a female and gave its diagnostic mellow 
whistle.
Number of species:   52

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck      70
Northern Bobwhite     13
Pied-billed Grebe   2
Neotropic Cormorant     4
Double-crested  Cormorant     40
Great Blue Heron      4
Great Egret     2
Snowy Egret      9
Cattle Egret     7
Turkey Vulture      5
Osprey     1
Harris's Hawk      3
Crested Caracara     4
Killdeer      8
Spotted Sandpiper     2
Least Sandpiper   1
Laughing Gull     2
White-winged Dove   8
Mourning Dove     4
Common Ground-Dove   1
Greater Roadrunner      2
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     2
Belted  Kingfisher     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      4
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     7
Ash-throated  Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee      7
Couch's Kingbird     4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   1
Loggerhead Shrike     1
White-eyed  Vireo     1
Green Jay     2
Barn  Swallow     2
Black-crested Titmouse      1
Verdin     4
Cactus Wren      5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     5
Northern Mockingbird   12
Curve-billed Thrasher     6
Yellow  Warbler     1
Olive Sparrow      15
Black-throated Sparrow     6
Lark Bunting   1
Northern Cardinal     9
Pyrrhuloxia   4
Dickcissel     6
Red-winged Blackbird   12
Great-tailed Grackle     20
Orchard  Oriole     1
Bullock's Oriole      2
Baltimore Oriole     7
House Sparrow      3

Location:     River Roads Driving Route
Observation  date:     9/15/09
Number of species:      39

Plain Chachalaca     1
Great Blue Heron   2
Great Egret     2
Snowy Egret   3
Turkey Vulture     15
Osprey   3
Harris's Hawk     2
Red-shouldered  Hawk     1
Gray Hawk     2
Spotted  Sandpiper     3
Mourning Dove     2
Inca  Dove     4
Common Ground-Dove     1
Greater  Roadrunner     1
Groove-billed Ani      1
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Ringed  Kingfisher     1
Green Kingfisher      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     5
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     2
Brown-crested Flycatcher      1
Great Kiskadee     2
Couch's Kingbird      5
Loggerhead Shrike     1
Cave Swallow      1
Black-crested Titmouse     2
Verdin      3
Cactus Wren     2
Bewick's Wren      2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern Mockingbird   2
Long-billed Thrasher     1
Olive  Sparrow     1
Black-throated Sparrow      1
Northern Cardinal     1
Red-winged Blackbird   3
Great-tailed Grackle     3
Hooded  Oriole     1
House Sparrow     6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Hook-billed Kite near Bentsen
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 16:02:32 EDT
Hi, all!
 
After spending about four hours at Bentsen State Park, I decided to explore 
 some of the surrounding roads, and about 0.8 m west on Old Military 
Highway (west from Bentsen Palm Drive, that is) a female Hook-billed Kite flew 

across  the road!  That was definitely the best bird of the day!
 
Had a nice selection of birds in the park, although nothing out of the  
ordinary.  I was afraid I was gonna actually dip on White-tipped Dove until  a 
pair "sang" near the Kiskadee Trail!  Other highlights included a pair of  
Green Kingfishers at Kingfisher Overlook, many Baltimore Orioles (missed a  
cracking shot of a male because I had forgotten to turn the stupid camera on  
:-P), several Anis, a flock of about a dozen Eastern Kingbirds going 
overhead, and my FOS Black-throated Green Warbler. Several warblers were moving 

through, actually, but none others except a Yellow stopped to let me get a  
look.  El Morrio Banco was dry (evidently they're cleaning out some  
invasive vegetation), so there weren't many water birds this trip except for 
what 

flew over.  Back at the VC, it was kinda fun to pick out Dickcissels  from 
the hordes of House Sparrows taking a dip in the little dragonfly  pond!  On 
the way out I had a white skipper that was so beat up that I had  no clue 
what it was...
 
Pics are posted here (the first few are from Texan Guest Ranch):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Bentsen-Rio Grande Val. SP WBC (Mission)(LTC  069)
Observation date:     9/8/09
Notes:      The Hook-billed Kite was seen just north of the park along 
westbound Old  Military Highway.
Number of species:      54

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     8
Plain  Chachalaca     8
Neotropic Cormorant      11
Anhinga     1
Snowy Egret      3
White-faced Ibis     3
Turkey Vulture      1
Osprey     1
Hook-billed Kite      1
Gray Hawk     3
Killdeer     4
Upland  Sandpiper     1
White-winged Dove      50
Mourning Dove     2
Inca Dove      4
Common Ground-Dove     4
White-tipped Dove   2
Greater Roadrunner     2
Groove-billed  Ani     8
Common Nighthawk     1
Common  Pauraque     2
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      3
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Green  Kingfisher     2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      15
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     12
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet     3
Great Crested Flycatcher   2
Brown-crested Flycatcher     3
Great  Kiskadee     20
Couch's Kingbird      5
Eastern Kingbird     12
White-eyed Vireo   3
Green Jay     15
Bank Swallow   1
Cliff Swallow     2
Cave Swallow   10
Barn Swallow     20
Verdin   5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     12
Northern  Mockingbird     4
Long-billed Thrasher      6
Yellow Warbler     2
Black-throated Green Warbler   1
Olive Sparrow     6
Northern Cardinal   6
Dickcissel     20
Red-winged Blackbird   20
Great-tailed Grackle     12
Orchard  Oriole     8
Altamira Oriole     2
Baltimore  Oriole     15
Lesser Goldfinch     1
House  Sparrow     30

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Santa Ana NWR
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:51:03 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Made the rounds at the refuge this morning, adding a lot of migrants to my  
personal Santa Ana list, starting with a singing Olive-sided Flycatcher on 
the  Willow Trail.  Hit the nightjar jackpot by flushing two separate 
Chucks, a  Pauraque, and a Whippoorwill, only the second I've ever seen in my 
life!   (Thankfully this one landed again after I flushed it, but not long 
enough for a picture, unfortunately: it was noticeably smaller than the Chucks, 

about  nighthawk size, and much grayer, with those obvious scapular bars...) 
 This  latter bird was along the Pintail Lake Trail just before it starts 
paralleling  the Rio Grande.  Willow Lakes had nothing out of the ordinary, 
but along  the swampy area heading towards the old headquarters area on 
Willow Trail, had  two Northern Waterthrushes, also new for my list.
 
Was surprised to see another canopy tower AND walk up, so just to check it  
out I dragged myself up there and met fellow birder/photographer/artist 
Dora  holed up in a corner waiting for birds to land in this berry-laden tree 
right  next to us!  Orioles had been coming through (picked up both Baltimore 
and  Orchard there), but the only visitors while I was there was a family 
of  Chachalacas.  Tripped over to the other tower and down (warning: don't  
attempt those stairs if you're the least bit acrophobic...) and continued on 
to  the River, picking up a couple of Beardless Tyrannulets, Ringed 
Kingfisher, and  Clay-colored Thrush in addition to the aforementioned Whip.
 
Didn't see the Masked Duck at Pintail Lakes (although I glimpsed a couple  
of humans trying for it), but did pick up Green Kingfisher, several 
female-type Painted Buntings, and a Mourning Warbler along a little swampy area 

along the  south side of one of the lakes.  Chats were going through in good 
numbers  (learned their deep "chuck" call note), and saw (and heard) a handful 
of Alder  Flycatchers, their "pit" having a much different timbre than the 
"whit" of the  Least Flycatchers I had been hearing a lot of.  An Eastern 
Kingbird was  along this stretch as well, along with three Anhingas soaring 
around like  long-necked raptors!  The main lake had a family of Black-bellied 
Whistling  Ducks, a pair of Mottleds, several swallows, and a Sora making 
its upward call,  but that was about it.  Had a small feeding flock along 
"Ani Row" (the  section of Pintail Lakes Trail that continues north after the 
cutoff goes west)  consisting of mostly Yellow Warblers but also a Wilson's.  
A Tropical  Kingbird gave its rising twitter in the open area here, and a 
Gray Hawk called  in distance.  On my way back to the VC the Red-shouldered 
Hawk got in his  two cents at the last minute.
 
No pictures worth posting except a nice female Yellow Warbler; anyone  
wanting to see it that badly can e-mail me and I'll send it to them! :-)   Oh, 
and for Tim:  the Lesser Goldfinches were NOT singing! ;-)  Bird  List:
 
Location:     Santa Ana NWR (LTC 059)
Observation  date:     9/4/09
Number of species:      77

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     12
Mottled  Duck     3
Blue-winged Teal     40
Plain  Chachalaca     8
Least Grebe      15
Pied-billed Grebe     7
Neotropic Cormorant   1
Anhinga     3
Great Egret      2
Little Blue Heron     2
Green Heron      1
White Ibis     5
Red-shouldered Hawk   1
Gray Hawk      1
Sora     1
Common Moorhen      6
American Coot     30
Killdeer      5
Black-necked Stilt     2
Lesser Yellowlegs   4
Upland Sandpiper     1
Least Sandpiper   2
White-winged Dove     100
Mourning  Dove     12
Inca Dove     2
Common  Ground-Dove     4
White-tipped Dove      7
Groove-billed Ani     4
Common Pauraque   1
Chuck-will's-widow      2
Whip-poor-will     1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird   2
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird      1
Ringed Kingfisher     1
Green Kingfisher   1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      10
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     12
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet     2
Olive-sided Flycatcher   1
Eastern Wood-Pewee     3
Alder  Flycatcher     3
Least Flycatcher      2
Brown-crested Flycatcher     5
Great Kiskadee   15
Tropical Kingbird     1
Couch's  Kingbird     12
Eastern Kingbird      1
White-eyed Vireo     8
Green Jay      6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     3
Bank Swallow   2
Cave Swallow     20
Barn Swallow   7
Black-crested Titmouse     7
Carolina  Wren     15
Bewick's Wren     1
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher     8
Clay-colored Thrush      1
Northern Mockingbird     1
Long-billed Thrasher   7
Curve-billed Thrasher     1
European  Starling     1
Yellow Warbler     9
Northern  Waterthrush     2
Mourning Warbler      2
Common Yellowthroat     1
Wilson's Warbler   1
Yellow-breasted Chat     8
Olive  Sparrow     20
Northern Cardinal      5
Painted Bunting     3
Dickcissel      3
Red-winged Blackbird     4
Great-tailed Grackle   1
Orchard Oriole     4
Altamira Oriole   4
Baltimore Oriole     8
Lesser  Goldfinch     5

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Edinburg Wetland Images
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 17:59:49 EDT
Hi, all!  Sorry about the cross-posting, but while meandering around  
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands today I had an ode that just wouldn't stay still, and 

when it DID finally land it was belly to me!  My best guess is either Tawny  
Pennant or female Black Setwing; the overall look of the bug in flight was 
that  having a darker thorax and a thin, paler abdomen.  The shot I got is in 
the  gallery below.
 
Nothing out of the ordinary; just had some very cooperative Buff-bellied  
Hummers and Black-bellied Whistling Duck families, in addition to some common 
 leps and odes.  Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Weslaco
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 17:11:01 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Birded Frontera Audubon and Valley Nature Center this morning; highlights  
at Frontera include a beautiful male Canada Warbler (the bird in the gallery 
was  taken at Texan Guest Ranch), Clay-colored Thrush, and a Bell's Vireo 
in the  citrus grove.  There was quite the gathering of Snowy Egrets in the 
back  pond, and a cackling Least Bittern was the first one for me for the  
preserve.  A Belted Kingfisher announced his return, and had both Green  
Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots fly over. Anis were in the parking area, as 

well as a flyover Upland Sandpiper, and had a pair of Great Crested  
Flycatchers showing off near the resaca.  Other migrants included a couple  of 
Eastern Kingbirds, a flyover Dickcissel (new for my list), and a dull bunting  
that I just couldn't get any color out of (the lighting was terrible), but 
given  that it looked plain-breasted and that Indigos aren't supposed to be 
showing up  just yet, I'm assuming Painted at this point.
 
At Valley Nature Center, had a White-eyed Vireo in heavy molt that looked  
like one of those exotic pygmy tyrants! :-)  Picked up a curious  
Yellow-breasted Chat, and after reviewing empid calls, I finally had something 
I felt 

comfortable calling an Alder (a Least was around as well).  What I  thought 
was a distant gnatcatcher at first turned out to be a full-grown "baby"  
Brown-headed Cowbird still being fed by a Lesser Goldfinch!  Had Mourning  
Warblers at both spots, and hummingbirds were out the yin yang at both places 
as  well!
 
What few pics I have are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Frontera Audubon Ctr (LTC 058)
Observation  date:     9/3/09
Number of species:      59

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     10
Plain  Chachalaca     8
Least Grebe     1
Least  Bittern     1
Great Egret     1
Snowy  Egret     12
Green Heron     1
Common  Moorhen     1
Killdeer     1
Upland  Sandpiper     1
White-winged Dove      100
Mourning Dove     1
Inca Dove      1
Common Ground-Dove     1
White-tipped Dove   8
Green Parakeet     3
Red-crowned  Parrot     2
Groove-billed Ani     3
Common  Nighthawk     1
Chimney Swift      10
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     10
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird     1
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned  Hummingbird     4
Belted Kingfisher      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     10
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     1
Great Crested Flycatcher      2
Brown-crested Flycatcher     3
Great Kiskadee   6
Couch's Kingbird     1
Eastern  Kingbird     2
White-eyed Vireo     3
Bell's  Vireo     1
Green Jay     1
Purple  Martin     1
Cliff Swallow     1
Cave  Swallow     1
Barn Swallow      4
Black-crested Titmouse     1
Carolina Wren   10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     4
Clay-colored  Thrush     1
Northern Mockingbird      3
Long-billed Thrasher     6
Curve-billed Thrasher   2
European Starling     1
Black-and-white  Warbler     1
Mourning Warbler     2
Canada  Warbler     1
Olive Sparrow     2
Northern  Cardinal     3
Painted Bunting      1
Dickcissel     1
Great-tailed Grackle      3
Orchard Oriole     2
Hooded Oriole      1
Altamira Oriole     2
Baltimore Oriole      1
Lesser Goldfinch     7

Location:     Valley Nature Ctr. (LTC 057)
Observation  date:     9/3/09
Number of species:      26

Plain Chachalaca     15
Killdeer      1
White-winged Dove     30
Inca Dove      10
White-tipped Dove     7
Chimney Swift      1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird      8
Ruby-throated/Black-chinned Hummingbird      1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     5
Alder Flycatcher   1
Least Flycatcher     1
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     1
Great Kiskadee      4
White-eyed Vireo     3
Black-crested Titmouse   2
Carolina Wren     4
Northern  Mockingbird     3
Curve-billed Thrasher      1
European Starling     9
Mourning Warbler   3
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Great-tailed  Grackle     30
Brown-headed Cowbird      1
Orchard Oriole     1
Lesser Goldfinch      2
House Sparrow     12

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Hot Afternoon @ Edinburg
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:53:57 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had my first Baltimore Oriole of the season at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands  
this afternoon, plus sparring Buff-bellied and Ruby-throated Hummers (of the  
ones I could get a good look at), all with their mouths wide open (they were 
 smarter than I was...)!  Had some nice odes, too; my "mystery ode" is  
probably just another female Roseate Skimmer, but the markings on the thorax  
didn't look very strong.  Pics for the afternoon are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
(The Yellow-breasted Chat was shot in my "yard"...)
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Anzalduas & NABA
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:31:30 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Birded along Old Military Highway this morning before birding Anzalduas;  
highlights along this road include an empid that I think is a Least due to 
the  strong eyering and dark bill, but the tertial edges aren't very bold; 
would  appreciate opinions (the first few empids in the gallery were taken at 
Texan  Guest Ranch; I think it's a Least, too).  Heard several Upland 
Sandpipers  along the course of the road.
 
At Anzalduas had the requisite Beardless Tyrannulet and Black Phoebe, plus  
both stilts and avocets in the River which were new for my list there.   
Also new were three Roseate Spoonbills flying over!  The swallows were  making 
it easy by lining the wires; most were cutie-pie Caves but also had a few  
Barn, Bank, and Roughwings thrown in (there were probably more Cliffs than 
the  one I noticed).  To those who know better than me: do we get many  
dark-throated Caves in the Valley?  The reason I ask is because some of  these 
Petrochelidon swallows I see don't seem so cut and dried!
 
In the back area picked up more deep woodland things like Olive Sparrows,  
Anis, and a couple of White-eyed Vireos, but the highlight was a 
Yellow-breasted  Chat!  The river didn't have much except a couple of Spotted  
Sandpipers. Spooked the Gray Hawk coming out, and both flavors of vultures were 

starting to gather and kettle on the way out.
 
Went back to the NABA Garden and watched the feeders for five, adding  
Orchard and Altamira Orioles to the list and enjoying Ruby-throated Hummers  
battle for feeder rights, as well as a really beat-up Golden-fronted  
Woodpecker. Flushed a covey of Bobwhite near the levee fence, and a young Blue 

Grosbeak was along the Walking Trail, as well as a nice Yellow  Warbler.  
Nothing out of the ordinary in the lep department, but had a Common Mellana 
along 

the Walking Trail and pretty Bordered Patches here and  there, as well as a 
cooperative Gulf Fritilary at the Visitor's Center.
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_thu) 
 
Two bird lists follow:
 
Location:     NABA International Butterfly  Park
Observation date:     8/27/09
Notes:   This includes a 3.2 mile stretch of Old Military Highway.
Number  of species:     40

Plain Chachalaca      1
Northern Bobwhite     12
Great Egret      1
Turkey Vulture     1
Killdeer      3
Upland Sandpiper     5
White-winged Dove   4
Mourning Dove     15
Inca Dove   3
White-tipped Dove     2
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird      5
Golden-fronted Woodpecker     9
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker     6
Alder Flycatcher      1
Least Flycatcher     1
Great Kiskadee      10
Couch's Kingbird     8
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher   1
White-eyed Vireo     2
Green Jay   3
Bank Swallow     4
Cliff Swallow   5
Cave Swallow     4
Barn Swallow   10
Black-crested Titmouse     2
Northern  Mockingbird     6
Long-billed Thrasher      1
Yellow Warbler     3
Olive Sparrow      7
Northern Cardinal     4
Blue Grosbeak      2
Dickcissel     3
Red-winged Blackbird      3
Great-tailed Grackle     20
Bronzed Cowbird   20
Orchard Oriole     2
Altamira Oriole   1
Lesser Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow   15

Location:     Anzalduas County Pk (LTC 068)
Observation  date:     8/27/09
Number of species:      55

Plain Chachalaca     2
Least Grebe   1
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret   4
Snowy Egret     2
Roseate Spoonbill   3
Black Vulture     9
Turkey Vulture   30
Gray Hawk     1
Killdeer      1
Black-necked Stilt     5
American Avocet   2
Spotted Sandpiper     1
Upland  Sandpiper     1
Least Sandpiper      2
Laughing Gull     2
Rock Pigeon      20
White-winged Dove     6
Mourning Dove      4
Inca Dove     2
Common Ground-Dove      1
Groove-billed Ani     3
Golden-fronted Woodpecker   10
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     6
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet     2
Black Phoebe      1
Brown-crested Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee   10
Couch's Kingbird     12
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher     1
White-eyed Vireo      2
Green Jay     3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   6
Bank Swallow     4
Cliff Swallow   1
Cave Swallow     100
Barn Swallow   12
Black-crested Titmouse     3
Verdin   2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern  Mockingbird     15
Long-billed Thrasher      1
European Starling     5
Yellow Warbler      3
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Olive Sparrow   1
Northern Cardinal     1
Dickcissel   1
Red-winged Blackbird     1
Great-tailed  Grackle     30
Bronzed Cowbird     3
Orchard  Oriole     1
Bullock's Oriole     1
Lesser  Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow     3

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Odd Pluvialis and Other Goodies near SPI
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:49:38 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had a nice morning along Old Port Isabel Road (still in good shape) and  
South Padre Island yesterday, and also checked out the Port Isabel "reservoir" 
 (hardly any water, but great for shorebirds--thanks, Rex!).  While there I 
 had an odd-looking Pluvialis plover still in alternate plumage; the bulk 
and  white undertail coverts sure reminded me of Black-bellied, but the cap 
and the  rest of the head pattern looked way too dark to me for BB.  The pics 
aren't  the greatest, but feedback would be appreciated (click on the link 
below and  then just scroll forward for the rest):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/116541182_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/116541182) 
 
While at South Padre (I was VERY happy to see that the full boardwalk loop  
is now open) I had a peep with a much bigger Sanderling that I first wrote 
off  as a Western due to the longer, droopy bill, but as I look at the 
pictures and  read the literature, I'm wondering now if it's actually a female 
Semipal; the  "jizz" just didn't look right for Western to me, plus it 
appeared to have a stronger face pattern. Again, here's the first shot, and you 

can just  scroll forward (there are a few individual Sanderlings in the 
stream,  too):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/116541164_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/116541164) 
 
Just before those peep shots is a bird that took me totally by surprise: I  
kept hearing an unfamiliar call note, and just shot the little LBJ that 
popped  up and fled, not really knowing what it was until I started processing 
the  pictures, and it looks to be a juvenile Seaside Sparrow (until told  
otherwise)!  That was a nice addition!
 
Other highlights of the morning include several Botteri's Sparrows still  
singing along Old Port Isabel Road, tons of Piping Plovers out on the beach  
behind the Convention Center, and a point blank Wilson's Plover along the  
boardwalk!  The full gallery is posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Three bird lists follow:
 
Location:     Old Port Isabel Rd (Cameron  Co.)
Observation date:     8/25/09
Number of species:   30
(The little pond near the south end was totally dry.)

Northern  Bobwhite     4
Harris's Hawk      2
White-tailed Hawk     4
Crested Caracara   1
Black-bellied Plover     7
Killdeer   3
Black-necked Stilt     1
Greater  Yellowlegs     3
Long-billed Curlew      10
Laughing Gull     4
Forster's Tern      1
Rock Pigeon     3
Mourning Dove      3
Common Ground-Dove     2
Common Nighthawk   3
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      3
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1
Great Kiskadee   2
Tropical Kingbird     1
White-eyed  Vireo     1
Barn Swallow     12
Verdin   1
Cactus Wren     8
Bewick's Wren   5
Northern Mockingbird     5
Curve-billed  Thrasher     3
Olive Sparrow     4
Cassin's  Sparrow     1
Botteri's Sparrow      7
Eastern Meadowlark     6
 
Location:     South Padre I.- WBC/Conv Ctr./Laguna Madre  Trail (LTC 035)
Observation date:     8/25/09
Number of  species:     53

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck   1
Mallard (Domestic type)     1
Mottled  Duck     8
Brown Pelican     12
Neotropic  Cormorant     1
Least Bittern     1
Great  Blue Heron     6
Great Egret     6
Snowy  Egret     12
Little Blue Heron      4
Tricolored Heron     15
Reddish Egret      3
Cattle Egret     1
Green Heron      4
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     3
White Ibis   12
Roseate Spoonbill     12
Osprey   1
Common Moorhen     12
Snowy Plover   1
Wilson's Plover     2
Semipalmated  Plover     12
Piping Plover      15
Killdeer     6
Black-necked Stilt      8
Spotted Sandpiper     5
Greater Yellowlegs   2
Willet     15
Lesser Yellowlegs   1
Long-billed Curlew     1
Marbled  Godwit     2
Ruddy Turnstone      12
Sanderling     20
Semipalmated Sandpiper   4
Western Sandpiper     20
Least  Sandpiper     15
Short-billed Dowitcher      12
Laughing Gull     50
Least Tern      7
Gull-billed Tern     1
Black Tern      30
Royal Tern     12
Sandwich Tern      3
Common Nighthawk     5
Eastern Kingbird   3
Barn Swallow     6
Northern  Mockingbird     4
Yellow Warbler     5
Seaside Sparrow   1
Dickcissel      2
Red-winged Blackbird     2
Great-tailed Grackle   30
Orchard Oriole     2

Location:   Port Isabel Reservoir
Observation date:      8/25/09
Number of species:     15

Reddish Egret     1
Roseate Spoonbill   1
Black-bellied Plover      15
Possible American Golden Plover   1
Snowy Plover     4
Semipalmated Plover      1
Piping Plover     1
Black-necked Stilt      15
Long-billed Curlew     1
Sanderling      10
Semipalmated Sandpiper     2
Western Sandpiper   20
Wilson's Phalarope     1
Laughing  Gull     50
Black Skimmer     2
Mourning  Dove     2

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Estero Llano Grande Pics
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:24:32 EDT
Nothing earth-shattering, but a young White-faced Ibis provided some good  
photo ops, along with some common leps (Ranger John and I couldn't relocated 
the  Falcate Metalmark).
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/inbox) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: La Sal del Rey
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:14:59 EDT
Hi, all!

Got there pre-dawn yesterday, although I’m still out to  lunch regarding 
nighthawk flight levels: from what I could tell, all the  nighthawks I was 
seeing were Common (and that’s what was calling), but they were  all 
low-flying! (I did have a single nighthawk later that I felt comfortable 
calling 

Lesser...)  The big shock throughout the entire drive  was the lack of 
blackbirds; I didn’t see any until I was driving back to Brushline along SR 
108, 

and even then it was just a handful of grackles!   But probably the biggest 
surprise were three (unless the same bird followed me  for a mile and a half) 
Beardless Tyrannulets!  That certainly was a first  way up there!
 
Other than that it was pretty much the usual; had some nice raptors  
including a very cooperative young White-tailed Hawk, a couple of Redtails, and 
a 

couple of Harris’, along with the usual Caracaras.  I was pleasantly  
surprised to pick up the Botteri’s Sparrow at that one corner where I had 
them 

once before (he was doing a partial song), and I was very gratified when an  
Alder Flycatcher made his ID easy by singing a little "fee-BE-oh!" for me!   
In the yard of the house at the end of the first little dead end was a 
covey of  Bobwhite, which was neat because you rarely actually SEE them along 
this  stretch!  The western wetland along “Ranch Road” was completely dry, 
and  the little farm pond along the eastern side was almost so, but had a few  
representative herons, a Stilt, and a few peeps; pulling out the scope I 
could  definitely make out Least, and the slightly bigger, whiter ones looked  
dinky-billed enough (along with that little warbly call note) that I felt  
comfortable calling them Semipals.  The sun was just right, however, for  
shooting some curious Olive Sparrows, titmice, and gnatcatchers!  Another  
first for the route was Purple Martin—in spades!  Upland Sandpipers called  
periodically overhead, as did a couple of Long-billed Curlews, and I was 
shocked  that I hadn't had them on that route before now!

There was no water whatsoever along GI Road (and no blackbirds, either;  
the only icterids around were Orchard Orioles and a couple of meadowlarks), 
and  the marsh along Rio Beef Road was dry as well (it was from this point 
north a mile and a half that I had the tyrannulets), but there was just enough 

water on  the western side to pick up a Spotted Sandpiper.  On the way out 
I decided  to finally check out the south stretch of Brushline Road, and 
found that pond everyone’s raving about—wow! That’s where I hit the 
jackpot, 

with Stilts,  Avocets, Stilt Sandpipers, Wilson’s Phalaropes, Long-billed 
Dowitchers, more  peeps (mostly Least and Western this time but an analysis 
of the photos did turn  up one Semipal), Mottled Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, a 
handful of Least Grebes, and  a single Pectoral Sand!  In a little puddle 
across the street were both  ibis and both yellowlegs for good comparison, and 
somewhere unseen a Fulvous  Whistling Duck was wheezing.  I’m sorry I didn’
t check this out earlier, as  it would have made a great part of the La Sal 
del Rey Easy Birder Route!
 
I have having problems with eBird yesterday, so here's the BirdBase  list:
 
Data of: Mary Beth  Stowe                                         Date: 
8-21-09
Limitations: One Sighting per Species; From 8-21-09 to  8-21-09
 
  Fulvous  Whistling-Duck                 Dendrocygna bicolor
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Harris's  Hawk                          Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed  Hawk                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Upland  Sandpiper                      Bartramia longicauda
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularius
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Semipalmated  Sandpiper                 Calidris pusilla
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Pectoral  Sandpiper                     Calidris melanotos
Stilt  Sandpiper                        Calidris himantopus
Wilson's  Phalarope                     Phalaropus tricolor
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Groove-billed  Ani                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Lesser  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles acutipennis
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Alder  Flycatcher                       Empidonax alnorum
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Bank  Swallow                           Riparia riparia
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius
 
79 SPECIES

Mary Beth Stowe
McAllen,  TX
www.miriameaglemon.com
Subject: La Sal del Rey Take Two
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:15:55 EDT
Forgot to include the link to the pics:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_fri) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Laguna Atascosa NWR
From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:41:46 EDT
Hi, all!  Went to Laguna Atascosa this morning; highlights include a  
couple of singing Botteri's Sparrows about a half mile past The Sign on General 

Brant Road, hordes of Purple Martins and Cave Swallows, and three Ospreys 
that  got flagged by eBird! ;-)  Other raptors included point-blank looks at a 
 Harris's Hawk and a nice immature White-tailed, as well as White-tailed  
Kites.  A family of Groove-billed Anis was along Buena Vista  Road.  Had the 
usual suspects along Laguna Madre (the seasonal wetlands  were dry); the 
highlight for me along here was a calling Clapper Rail in the  vegetation 
off-shore.  Had a couple of Wilson's Plovers as well as other  shorebirds and 
herons.  Jip started acting up so I had to cut the drive  short; back at the 
Visitor's Center the yungun's were putting on a cute show at  the feeders!  A 
BIG thunderstorm brewed along the Bayside Trail, and by the  time I got back 
to the VC it was thundering real good--woo hoo!  Even drove  through some 
rain on the way home!
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/new_pics_tues) 
 
Bird List:
 
Location:     Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LTC  024)
Observation date:     8/18/09
Number of species:   67

Plain Chachalaca     20
Northern  Bobwhite     1
Great Blue Heron     4
Great  Egret     15
Snowy Egret     6
Little Blue  Heron     1
Tricolored Heron     3
Reddish  Egret     2
White Ibis     5
Turkey  Vulture     6
Osprey     3
White-tailed  Kite     3
Harris's Hawk     1
White-tailed  Hawk     2
Crested Caracara     3
Clapper  Rail     1
Black-bellied Plover      4
Wilson's Plover     3
Semipalmated Plover   1
Killdeer     1
Black-necked Stilt   5
American Avocet     5
Greater  Yellowlegs     1
Willet     15
Long-billed  Curlew     8
Ruddy Turnstone     1
Western  Sandpiper     4
Least Sandpiper      10
Laughing Gull     30
Gull-billed Tern      7
Caspian Tern     4
Royal Tern      1
Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
White-winged Dove   1
Mourning Dove     50
Common  Ground-Dove     4
White-tipped Dove      7
Greater Roadrunner     5
Groove-billed Ani   4
Common Nighthawk     1
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird     1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker      5
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     4
Brown-crested  Flycatcher     2
Great Kiskadee      1
Couch's Kingbird     3
White-eyed Vireo   12
Green Jay     10
Purple Martin   40
Cave Swallow     20
Barn Swallow   12
Verdin     7
Cactus Wren      4
Carolina Wren     2
Bewick's Wren      6
Northern Mockingbird     20
Long-billed Thrasher   12
Curve-billed Thrasher     4
Olive  Sparrow     20
Botteri's Sparrow     2
Lark  Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal      6
Eastern Meadowlark     6
Great-tailed Grackle   30
Altamira Oriole     1
House Sparrow   6

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
Subject: Fwd: Tanzania Sightings July, August 2009
From: MM <oscarboy AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:52:26 -0700
For the record, these are the significant sightings during a week long
safari in Northern Tanzania in July/August of 2009


Trip Date: 7-29-09 to 8-5-09                                Species Seen:
100

 Date: 8-16-09

Description: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Forest, Lake Manyara, Manyara District,
etc.

Location: Tanzania (United Republic of)





  Ostrich

  Cattle Egret

  Gray Heron

  Woolly-necked Stork

  Hamerkop

  Saddle-billed Stork

  Marabou Stork

F Spur-winged Goose

F Knob-billed Duck

  African Fish-Eagle

F Lappet-faced Vulture

  Gabar Goshawk

  Shikra

F Ovampo Sparrowhawk

F African Hawk-Eagle

  Long-crested Eagle

  Martial Eagle

F Pygmy Falcon

  Helmeted Guineafowl

F Hildebrandt's Francolin

F Red-necked Spurfowl

  Yellow-necked Spurfowl

F Water Thick-knee

F Double-banded Courser

F Collared Pratincole

  Common Sandpiper

F Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

F Black-faced Sandgrouse

F African Green-Pigeon

  Tambourine Dove

F African Orange-bellied Parrot

F Yellow-collared Lovebird

  Yellow-collared Lovebird

F Schalow's Turaco

F Purple-crested Turaco

F Bare-faced Go-away-bird

  Klaas' Cuckoo

F Yellowbill

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

F Freckled Nightjar

  African Palm-Swift

F Striped Kingfisher

F Southern Ground-Hornbill

F Von der Decken's Hornbill

F White-eared Barbet

F Spot-flanked Barbet

F D'Arnaud's Barbet

F Brown-backed Honeybird

F Pallid Honeyguide

F White-tailed Lark

F Fawn-colored Lark

F Red-capped Lark

F Athi Short-toed Lark

F Yellow-bellied Greenbul

F Rueppell's Robin-Chat

F Collared Palm-Thrush

  White-browed Scrub-Robin

F Schalow's Wheatear

F Capped Wheatear

  Common Cliff-Chat

F African Bare-eyed Thrush

  Buff-bellied Warbler

F Banded Parisoma

F Trilling Cisticola

F Hunter's Cisticola

F Stout Cisticola

  Stout Cisticola

F Pectoral-patch Cisticola

F Black-headed Apalis

F Southern Black-Flycatcher

  Tawny-flanked Prinia

F Silverbird

F Arrow-marked Babbler

F Northern Pied-Babbler

  Scarlet-chested Sunbird

F Taita Fiscal

F Long-tailed Fiscal

F Mbulu White-eye

F Magpie Shrike

F Rosy-patched Bushshrike

  Brubru

F African Golden-Oriole

F Ashy Starling

F Hildebrandt's Starling                .

F Fischer's Starling

F Swahili Sparrow

F Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

F Gray-headed Social-Weaver

F Rufous-tailed Weaver

F Black-necked Weaver

F Vitelline Masked-Weaver

F Chestnut Weaver

F Red-headed Quelea

F Black-winged Bishop

F Black Bishop

  Yellow-bellied Waxbill

F Blue-capped Cordonbleu

F Cut-throat

F Black-and-white Mannikin

F Brimstone Canary
  Thick-billed Seedeater