Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
SE Texas: Aplomado Falcons and More (long version)
An abbreviated version of this article was first published on the Audubon Guides blog, but some innocent snaffus have prevented the article from being published in its entirety. Until that gets ironed out after or during the holidays, I am publishing the full version with more photos here – LMK Just a few weeks ago, [...]
RGV: Birding Estero Llano Grande
Okay, now that I’ve cleared introductions 1 and 2 from my brain, let me tell you a bit about Estero Llano Grande State Park. Estero Llano Grande State Park is one of nine designated World Birding Centers in the Texas state park system, and one of the most convenient and productive place to bird during any [...]
Rio Grande Valley highlight: Crimson-collared Grosbeak
You know you had a good time at a birding festival when you return in a dense fog…when the heels of your shoes are scraped and worn from being dragged away too soon, as if you’re forced to leave a true love before you even learn what side of the bed she sleeps on. That’s [...]
Rio Grande Valley Festival Time!
Today I am up to my ears in gear and garb in preparation for my next trip. I am heading down to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for this week’s Birding and Nature Festival. This will be my second year in attendance, so I’m both primed and excited about the birds (and the birders) [...]
Photo Quiz: Can you name this raptor?
Can you name this raptor? Hint: I was standing down in one of the southernmost areas of Texas near Brownsville during last year’s Rio Grande Valley Birding & Nature Festival. The bird circled above my party’s heads for several minutes. Eventually, it disappeared and a Crested Caracara showed up in the same airspace. I hope [...]
Green Jay: a Caribbean Creamsicle
I never tire of examining the plumage of Green Jays…the blacks and blues, the greens and yellows along with their chartreuse sibling. When I peer at them long enough, I see ocean beaches. I see Caribbean creamsicles, a coral reef with wings. And this makes my eyes melt.
Food
Food. Luscious food. Steaming, heaping piles of food. My high metabolism comes at a cost. So after a full day’s birding, walking, and talking in the hot Texas sun, I need food. And lots of it. On Saturday, after spending the morning at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (where my group racked up about 72 [...]
Buff-bellied Hummingbird at RGV
I have exactly ten seconds to post something before festivities continue, so here is an image of Buff-bellied Hummingbird seen at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. More soon!
