Western Tanager in Corpus Christi 12/28

Female Western Tanager at Pollywog Ponds in Corpus Christi today. I also had a American Woodcock and 2 Green Kingfishers.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird in Port O'Connor on 12/23.

Eastern Kingbird 12/21

Today I had a Eastern Kingbird in Live Oak Park in Ingelside. Extremely rare in the winter in the United States.

Guadalupe River Delta CBC

Four others and I birded the Guadalupe River Delta CBC today. The day began with thousands of geese and sandhill cranes. Warblers were in good numbers as usual, we had 7 species including 5 Palms, Yellow-Throated, Northern Waterthrush, and a Black&White Warbler. Some other birds of interest included 2 Indigo Buntings, 1 Groove-Billed Ani, a Green Heron, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Sprague's Pipits, and 3 Great Kiskadees. All together, our group had 91 species.

Lesser Black-Backed Gull

He's back! The Lesser Black-Backed Gull that spent all last winter between markers 50-60 on the beach was there today at marker 53.

Common Tern on 12/13

A very late Common Tern on the beach in Port Aransas on Dec. 13, 2010.

RGV- 12/2/2010 Greater Pewee etc.

Started the day off at Roselawn Cemetary in McAllen looking for the Greater Pewee. I found the bird within 20 mintues of my arrival. #460 for the year in Texas.

Then spent a couple hours at Estero Llano Grande State Park. I had a male Tropical Parula, a heard-only Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Pine Warbler, and a Eastern Screech-Owl.

Rufous-Backed Robin

Rufous-Backed Robin at Laguna Atascosa NWR 11/27/2010.

Video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czAbltpHtfM

Pictures 11/26/2010

Broad-Billed Hummingbird (Live Oak county)

Winter Wren- Pollywog Ponds (Nueces county)

Altamira Oriole Bathing

Laguna Atascosa NWR 11/23.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6twCr6sTEQ

Rare Birds in the Coastal Bend!

The last two days have had a couple GREAT birds in the Corpus Christi area. On November 10th, I had an adult SABINE'S GULL on the Padre Island National Seashore. On November 11th, I had a 1st winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL near the Port Aransas jetty. (see photo). Also, there are a few Wood Storks still hanging around. Palm Warbler and Northern Waterthrush at the Port Aransas Birding Center.

Port Aransas to Sandia 11/5/2010

Lots of unusual birds again in the coastal bend today. I had my first ever Nueces county American Bittern and Wood Ducks today. Other good birds included 2 Golden-Crowned Kinglets at Pollywog Ponds, a Yellow-Headed Blackbird on CR360 in Sandia, a Least Bittern called at the birding center, multiple Virginia Rails calling at the birding center, and about 25 Wood Storks at the Wright Ranch Pond. American Bittern makes #452 for the year in Texas.

Northern Birds Invade Port Aransas

The last two days have had exceptional birds for the Port Aransas area. Up to 7 Brown Creepers, 10 Golden-Crowned Kinglets, and a Red-Breasted Nuthatch have been here. Along with these rarities, hundreds of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Black-Throated Green Warblers, Palm Warblers, Pine Warbler, and a few others have been seen. There are still a few Common Terns on the jetty as well.