Great Egret

The Great Egret is so graceful moving through the water. I love that I caught the reflection in the water. I have many opportunities to photograph this bird around the Valley. It is a common water bird here in South Texs.

Date: Mar 09
Location: Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville, Texas
Behavior: Egret was gliding through the water then darting its beak into the water to retrieve small fish or frogs.

Diamondbacked Water Snake

While birding at the fabulous Inn at Chachalaca Bend we came upon this snake resting in branches that hung over the water. I knew it wasn't a Rattlesnake so I felt pretty safe standing there taking pictures. I looked him up and discovered it is not venomous but is one of the most aggressive snakes in Texas! Yikes!


click to enlarge to better see the snakes' large lump/dinner on this picture.

Date: February 2009
Location: Bed and Breakfast in Bayview Texas - Inn at Chachalaca Bend. Visit them online at http://www.chachalaca.com/bird.html
Behavior: The snake had just eaten something really large and was very still -using all its energy to digest it instead of biting me!!!

Vermillion Flycatcher

While birding with my 2 sisters in Weslaco we came across this young Vermillion Flycatcher. I believe he is young because of the white patches. Normally they are all red and black. Very nice addition to my life list. Thank you Alice for noticing him while other sis, Sara and I were looking in the oposite direction!


Shown here are my sisters, Sara Lacy on the left and Alice Myers on the right. Great gals to bird with.

Date: February 2010
Location: Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, Texas
Behavior: Very very windy day and we noticed him hanging for dear life on a small tree near the resaca. I have also spotted him at Choke Canyon State Park and in Harlingen, Texas at McKelvey Park.

Greenjay - Only in South Texas!

This bird is a favorite of mine. Noisy, bossy, and beautiful! I love to take lunch to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and share tidbits with these very entertaining birds. I have had 3 occasions where I caught seen Greenjays in my backyard at my feeders. I may never move!

Pine Warbler - In South Texas?

I was surprised to discover this was a Pine Warbler. I had it identified by one of the birding tour guilds from Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. How could I argue with him!?! They don't even show up as migrating through South Texas in my birding book. I saw these everywhere in the Valley during February.

Date: February 2011
Location: Ranch in Star County but photographed in Harlingen as well.
Behavior: Not near as feisty as other Warblers. He seemed much more laid back giving me plenty of time to take pictures.

Cougar at Laguna Atascosa

Friends from Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge sent me this picture of a Cougar. Cougars are one of 5 wild cats here in South Texas. This picture was taken at night from a motion-sensor camera. I have such a camera and plan to set it up in my yard facing the birding station. I know we have had raccoons, armadillos and possumns. Who knows I may have a cat toobut not as big as this Cougar!

Date: March 2011
Location: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Behavior: Appears to be looking for food at night which would be typical. Also note: An adult Cougar is between three and four feet long with a tail of two and half to three feet. Its height at the shoulder is between 25-30 inches and it can weigh anywhere from 70-170 pounds. These cats are solitary, except during breeding. Young, usually two to three cubs, can be born almost any time of the year. Females usually breed every two to three years.

Build it and they will come!

I left a small tub of water outside and when I went to throw it away a couple of weeks later I found it was occupied.

Yellow-rumped Warbler aka Butter Butts - I didn't make this up!

We see this little warbler all over South Texas in late winter. I usually see and hear groups of yellow-rumped warblers but this one was all alone.

Date: March 2011
Location: Ranch west of Raymondville, Texas
Behavior: He was going from tree to tree skirting the lake and calling the whole time.

Buckeye Butterfly

Date: March 2011
Location: Ranch west of Raymondville, Texas
Behavior: It was during the heat of the day so this butterfly was moving very fast through the meadow. I was told the best time to photograph butterflies is in the morning.

Lesser Goldfinches The "Swingset" Birds

We first saw these beautiful birds in my front yard in 2009. Female was taking a bath in the overwatered flowerbed while the male sat in the tree. He made a sound that could be heard for blocks away that sounds just like a distant swing squealing under the weight of a child. That is how we know what to listen for while birding.



Here is a male. He stays high in the trees unless he finds a sunflower seedhead worthy of hanging around for lunch.




This female made herself at home on my new "old" screen window birdfeeder. She stayed eating for 3 days but I never spotted the mail dropping in for food.

I bought a sock you hang with niger seed that supposedly finches are crazy about. Haven't seen either one since.

Date: February 2011
Location: My backyard
Behavior: She was very hungry which made her less intimidated by other birds at feeder but male was very shy and never came to feeder while I was watching. He was not far away though because I could hear his "swingset" call.