How to find an 8 gram birdie in a 15 acre thicket

White Ibis in a Frontera Audubon pond

Today was fun, beginning with a re-visit to the 15 acre Frontera Audubon where I hoped to find 'alleged' Groove-billed Ani and the Tropical Parula (warbler). I treked one of the nature walk trails 'between Nature Placards A and E', because the Parula was said to have been seen the previous few days. So up and down the lovely, tree-canopied trails I meandered, forlornly expecting to see nothing significant with wings. Then after 10 or 15 minutes I would sit one of several plastic chairs arranged in front of a area between A and E that where there were lots of bird feeders. There I would find winged entertainment; fat waddling White-tipped Doves, a few Carolina Wrens, Plain Chachalacas and marauding squirrels.

An Ovenbird skipped into the underbrush and kept me entertained for a while.

The Ovenbird

Nice view of Ovenbird's racing headgear

A group of four women and their male birding guide arrived and sat in the other chairs, chatting amiably. I didn't speak, but rudely listened to the birding bits they spoke of (you never know if you'll hear useful advice, right?). There we sat until a glint of movement from the canopy of trees wreathed over me... what the...? 

My sad and sorry back lit, fuzzy shot

Above my head, straight up, fluttered a tiny mite - with wings. What the... there was no doubt.  Leaping out of the chair I squeaked my best stage whisper,

'Tropical Parula!'

Quickly everyone was up, their eyes glued to the little warbler. The group's guide started calling the bird's ID, "Yellow ventral surface that runs all the way to the legs, No eye rings..." and so forth. The bird darted over us and into another tree while I desperately tried to keep my camera on it for a decent photo, but that wasn't happening. Here is my 'best' shot, if it can be called such.

I'm thinking SOME little birdies hold still

To the left here, is the shot as it exists in my noggin, for my happier, inner self. Yes. If only, right?

However, no use crying over very-nearly-almost spilt milk. The bird was present only for 60 seconds or so and the way it darted about - well, that's my excuse and I'll have to live with it for now. The bird had also been a lifer for one of the other ladies and we congratulated ourselves and shared a high five.

As the morning turned into afternoon, I decided to head out. I had all my things with me because I was checking into the Casa Santa Ana Bed & Breakfast for the remainder of the week. That's the B&B that was so welcoming when I wanted to view the White-throated Thrush. I don't know if I'll be actually there much of the time, but I'm hoping perhaps the thrush will return for a new round of photos.

Loved my room at the B&B. My favorite thing about it was - wait for it... wait for it... the bathroom! The giant shower stall had a shower you step down into, it was cool, and the sink was beautiful Mexican tile sink. Wish I could have a sink like that.

As I often do, traveling by myself, I had two beds to sprawl around on.

And a cute little sitting area. Really like the B&B.

 This afternoon I really took it easy, having lunch at a great little Chinese Buffet I discovered. Will be eating there more than once this trip, that's for sure. Day's end, another lifer, that's um... *takes off shoes to count on toes....* seven lifer species for my Texas Spring.

[Update: Visiting my friend Judy in Napa, CA, I entered the guest bath to see this beautiful plate with a memorable pattern hanging on the wall. Ah...it was like a trip back to the heart of Texas - or maybe Mexico?]

Frontera Audubon and the Roma Bluffs

 A bit of the Frontera Audubon grounds
as lovely a goof-off spot as one can imagine

not my photo

I passed the first half of today birding again, at the Frontera Audubon Center. I was looking for Groove-billed Ani which would have been a lifer for me, but instead as I strolled along the soft trails, I heard loud wheezy whistl-ee calls overhead. I looked up to see a large flock composed of birds of the one shown here... a Fulvous Whistling Duck.

I knew they weren't Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, because there were no big black and white wing patches or black bellies. YAY! Yes, they are a Lifer for me, so that's one so far for today.

There were other fun birds too.

Nice Black-throated GreenWarboer, not showing
the black throat as it's a female or a juvenile male

Blue-headed Vireo - the head is slate blue and it has those nice 'spectacles'

And I walked across this long wooden bridge/walkway several times. Such a pretty bridge.

A quarter of the way across the bridge, I was rewarded with an I-don't-see-this-species-every-year sight: a Solitary Sandpiper.

Solitary, & noisy little creature

The same huge pond also had some Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

A lovely pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Oh, and let us not forget this uncomfortably weird little Mexican Hairstreak, a type of tiny butterfly.


 Eewwww. By the way, that little flutterby is barely an inch in size.

Before leaving Frontera Audubon, I added three birds I saw: the Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo and the Solitary Sandpiper (whoo hoooo!). I forgot to add the Fulvous-whistling duckies.

Who doesn't love marking a B3 - Big Birdie Board! 

I gave up trying to find the Groove-billed Ani around noon. I headed up-valley to see a spot I have never visited before but heard about this week: the Roma Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. Took a couple of hours to get over there. When I arrived at the town of Roma, I wasn't at all sure where the heck the Birding Center might be located.

Nice, but not a birding center that I can tell...

The buildings in the town of Roma are registered National Historical Landmarks

Aha, now we're talking!

The Visitor Center was quite small and had a cheery & welcoming lady working there. She answered questions and was helpful getting me relatively oriented with what-the-heck this particular 'world birding center' was exactly. She escorted me out back to see the gardens of the v. interesting historic building.

Grand old grounds with delightful cobbled paving

I think the garden dates back to the late 19th century

Not sure the purpose of this artful stonework is, but it's pretty

The back area had several bird feeders, and even a couple of water features and tons, I mean tons of House Sparrows. Ooooo if I had a net... I wasn't feeling like I was going to see much and then I spotted a species I have seen before but never before so close or approachable.

Audubon's Oriole

Wow... I was flabberghasted. Normally when I see Audubons they are flying away or quite distant yet here was one at a feeder, as if it didn't realize what a teaser of a heart-breaker it is.

These are the first ever photos of the species for me. Am v. happy!

There were other birds, American Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrows and such, not rare but enjoyable.

Colorful Cardinal

Orange-crowned Warbler

Northern Mockingbird scolding me

Inside the Barquito Oyster Bar - see the 10 gal hat?
That's so you know this is TEXAS!

When the mockingbird tells you off, it's time to move along. Got back to my rental car and began an iPhone hunt for a lunch spot. A tap at the car window, and I looked up to see the lady from the Visitor Center. She asked if I'd care to accompany her to lunch. Yay, a nice person to have lunch with! We caravaned our cars, and we ended up at a Roma restaurant named, Barquito Oyster Bar.

My first choice for chow on the interesting menu was Oysters - because, you know, when in Roma... My second menu pick was local Texas quail, alas, both had run out. So my new friend Lisa and I had salads along with a marvelous chat.

Lisa is living la vida dolce, traveling around the U. S. of A., working here and there and enjoying life. She is currently working a short time at the Roma Bluffs Visitor Center, and she has a stint coming up at the National Park that holds my heart, Yellowstone National Park - the oldest and the BEST, baby! Told Lisa about my dreams of traveling around the country and as a person doing so first hand, she offered encouragement. Really, hearing about her adventures made me want even more of my own.

Totally enjoyed lunching with Lisa. We exchanged email addresses so maybe someday I can meet up with her on the road.

I've decided one of these days I will be brave and invite a likely friendly stranger to lunch in an impromptu manner. How courageous was Lisa to ask a stranger ('moi') to lunch? I mean, not like I bite or anything, but it does take gumption to put one's self on the line and utter those simple words, "Would you like to go grab a bite?"

After the meal, Lisa again caravaned with me, to show me the local of the actual 'bluffs' and then drove off. Thanks again Lisa, it was a pleasure to meet you!

Entrance to the Bluffs

Just a little further past the stone doorway

TADA - the spacious and pretty overlook

The Roma Bluffs are cliffs overhanging the Rio Grande River, and across on the other shore you can see El Mexico, as far as the eye can see.

View of  El Rio Bravo (The Mexican side of the river) and the Rio Grande (the US side) 

One of the international bridges that links Texas with Mexico

The river was sadly, totally free of Red-billed Pigeons and/or Masked Ducks...

The river held no birds other than a few coots, but that's OK, I got my lifer Fulvous Whistling Duck this morning and better than that, a new friend, so I'm happy. I think I'll call it a day.

Two Birds with One very-nearly-almost-a Stone

Little pond with reeds where THE thrush has shown itself

I was up early today, seated on the back patio at Casa Santa Ana Bed & Breakfast in Hidalgo, Texas. I wasn't as much concentrating on the vast numbers of birds at the feeders, as I was feeling grateful for the extraordinary kindness of B&B owners who let oddballs such as myself onto their property, allowing them to bird. I mean, such unabashed kindness made me a bit teary with gratitude. But enough sentimentality on the wonder that is birding. I was at the Casa on the off chance the White-throated Thrush seen over the past few days would once again appear. While awaiting the 'guest star bird' there were other species to watch getting in their morning meal at the feeders.

Beautiful male Altamira Oriole is more colorful than the orange it enjoys for breakfast.

This girlie Golden-fronted Woodpecker enjoys a little OJ too

Noisy Kiskadees also wanted a free breakfast 

While waiting and watching there were several inn guests and outside visitors such as myself. One of the B&B owners told me how the Thrush skulked in from shrubbery to the north, then taking a quick drink at patio's reedy little pond.

There was a fair amount of action overhead as well as near the ground. A couple of juvenile Gray Hawks soared overhead.

Juvie Gray Hawk has to work for its morning meal

It was fun relaxing while watching the birds, wondering how the very beat-up looking squirrel at the feeders had managed to escape whatever had taken two big chunks from its hide. A good deal of my gray matter was focused on the delightful fact that the weather was nice... not hot at all, after all, this is Texas! Then, I noticed something - a bird, running along behind the wire fencing. Holy mother-of-feathered critters... that can't be the...

It could... it WOULD!

Considering I'd been seated in my spot, for over an hour, waiting for precisely what was just outside the fence-line, I was speechless for at least half a minute while I stared at the Thrush, looking into the yard as though hoping to be invited in. L-I-F-E-R! I finally snapped into reality and fired off  ten Canon shots, only a few of which would ultimately prove to be focused or contamination-free enough to be of any value.

The best shot of White-throated Thrush showing the
white eye ring and best of all, the clean, white throat 

I was snapping shots like crazy and the rub was, the only ones left on the patio was myself and the B&B's owner. I called out to him as to where the bird was... the bird wasn't where it had ever been spotted before so he was a little dubious. Also, sadly, he'd suffered a recent bout of shingles in his eyes and his vision's fine tuning was temporarily on the wack. Oy, was I glad to have taken photos for my proof of the bird in its new locale. 

The final salvageable shot

The White-throated Thrush had soon moved to the far left, disappearing. I was over-excited - no surprises there - and thrilled for my luck. I decided I will have to stay at this wonderful little B&B later this week and maybe see the bird again and get better shots. After the bird disappeared an ensemble of birders showed up, and with little modesty I showed off my photos. Yeah, sometimes I'm one of those "Too bad you missed it!" birders you want to strangle with their binocular straps. After a half hour or so, I was feeling too antsy to sit still, so I decided to try for another lifer. I was off southeast, to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. I visited the refuge on my two previous visits to south Texas and back then, I'd been greeted at the entrance by tame-ish coyotes. This time there was no coyote to greet me but as at least a half dozen roadrunners were there to say howdy, I was happy.


These days I keep a pedometer on one ankle, continuously, even *sigh* when showering. So I parked, paid my fees and walked.

A Plain Chachalaca that trotted along the Gazebo railing

Being a Saturday, the refuge trails were jam-packed with families, chock full of rambunctious, noisy kiddies, who race about being adorable, scaring the crap out of the less socialized wildlife. I imagine most the visitors were not aware there was a rara ava nearby.

Discovered a duckweed filled tank, chock full of cryptic froggies. 

Cute little Gray Catbird wearing a teeny beret

How did I visit Texas so many times, yet never saw
these brilliant Mexican Ground Squirrels before?

Wha... no. I'm not a Grosbeak.

There were lots of birders about and I spoke with many of them. The general consensus was the female grosbeak was purposefully disguised itself in the manner of an alien predator and was suspected of being capable of cloaking itself in the manner of a Romulan warbird.

Huh? Just eating some seed here.

Yes, there were sullen and disappointed birders roaming the refuge. Nevertheless, the advantage of so many birders around means if target fowl is seen, the others can be called over for a peak for themselves.




The Visitor Center also had advice on the location of the Grosbeak, which seemed to be flying around in the 'potato trees' between the Center and the nearby Refuge Headquarters.

Earlier in the week I'd been shown what a Potato Trees looks like. Do you know potatoes don't grow on trees? Uh... of course you do.

Potato Tree not harboring any rare Grosbeak

OK, I had my eye on the numerous potato trees on the property. I chatted with a fellow lady birder and we had both concluded, it would be advantageous to stay put until all the families with their noisy offspring went home, which was happily about the time of day the WILDLY noisy Great-tailed Grackles - a loud and boisterous species which hogs up the bird feeders - had gone to roost for the night. So, post-kiddies, we individually roamed the grounds.          
                                                                                               

Lots of the peculiar Pyrruloxias hunted bugs and such on some lawns behind the refuge headquarters. The funny little birds looked like what would happen if Parrakeets (double-R, get the gag???) were to breed with Northern Cardinals.

Now really, Pyrruloxias (pie-rue-LOCKS-ee-ya) are a lovely dove gray with some reddish bits to their feathering and bills. Like their cousins, Northern Cardinals, Pyrruloxias are brilliant and beautiful songsters.


Being Saturday, I could perve-ishly entertain meself watching birds have their Saturday night bath.

OY! Perve Lady, I'm BATHING Here!

There were some, content just to drink the bathwater.

Truthfully, I had an awful feeling - as per usual - my chances of seeing the Grosbeak ranged from zilch to zip. So I continued roaming around the many trails near the headquarters, and every time I passed through the parking lot, it was emptier and emptier, until I was one of only a very few left. Still, no bird. Then, while headed back to the refuge HQ, something shot across the trail and into a Potato tree. I lumbered over for a peek. OM...!

There sat a little bird with a distinct black head and greenish body,
gulping down a mouthful of flowers

Why am I always so stunned when I find the very thing I'm looking for? Dropping my binoculars I took dozens of shots of my newest Lifer, all the while feeling guilty about my good fortune. Yes, I have very annoying anxiety issues and quirks. When I was certain I had some reasonable shots, I trotted off to find the other birding lady. I spotted her at the parking lot and after she answered my shreiks of 'OY!' I lead her back to where the little Crimson-collared Grosbeak continued to stuff its face.

The little female showed her colors much better at this angle

I thought the bird adorable with all the chow stuck to her substantial bill

We watched the little female bird for quite a bit, and tried viewing her from different angles, but the first remained the best. Eventually I went off, locating a couple of other birders I'd spoken to earlier in the afternoon. 

Wow - another two 'lifer' day. I counted my blessings and headed off to drive the Lakeside Auto Trail. Saw kingbirds, an Osprey and quite a few waterfowl, too far off to identify. At the end of the drive - only a couple of miles - there was a lakeside gazebo. There I spotted a busy little fellow, digging diligently. LOVE seeing armadillos. They are so cool and prehistoric looking. 

At day's end I now have five lifers racked up for this Texas trip, and that's not too shabby.

Sunset on the lakeside Gazebo.

Sit Ubu, Sit!

Good Boy!