thegoderic
Member
I'm in the US on business and have taken the opportunity to spend a weekend in the RGV, one of my favourite places to go birding.
The day started with a visit to Estereo Llano Grande a State Park with a number of habitats and a truly fantastic birding location. 60+ species, the highlights of which were, a Paraque so close to the trail that you could have reached out and touched it, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted and Solitary Sands side by side for perfect comparison, a fly-by from an American Bittern less than 50 feet away, White-tailed Hawk and Blue-headed Vireo. The guide for the morning bird walk, Huck is exceptional. He picks things quickly and calls them accurately and offers great identification tips.
Next to Sabal Palm Grove where the feeder area offers the chance to take photos at point blank range - Olive Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Long-billed Thrasjher to name a few.
Finally to South Padre Island where the boardwalk provided some great photo opportunities, the best of which was a Great Blue eating a huge Red Mullet. Not sure how he managed it, but it went down a treat.
Edinburg, Bentsen Rio Grande and Santa Ana tomorrow to round the weekend off.
The day started with a visit to Estereo Llano Grande a State Park with a number of habitats and a truly fantastic birding location. 60+ species, the highlights of which were, a Paraque so close to the trail that you could have reached out and touched it, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted and Solitary Sands side by side for perfect comparison, a fly-by from an American Bittern less than 50 feet away, White-tailed Hawk and Blue-headed Vireo. The guide for the morning bird walk, Huck is exceptional. He picks things quickly and calls them accurately and offers great identification tips.
Next to Sabal Palm Grove where the feeder area offers the chance to take photos at point blank range - Olive Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Long-billed Thrasjher to name a few.
Finally to South Padre Island where the boardwalk provided some great photo opportunities, the best of which was a Great Blue eating a huge Red Mullet. Not sure how he managed it, but it went down a treat.
Edinburg, Bentsen Rio Grande and Santa Ana tomorrow to round the weekend off.
