The Rio Grande Valley Bird Fesitval was pulled off in great success. Many good birds flooded festival checklists and this year's registration doubled last years. There are already discussions about different field trips next year to adapt to the changing tides of bird distribution in the valley. This is a great thing for future participants! All of the field trips were a blast and it seems like the participants were very enthusiastic about being in the field. This is a treat for any field guide for sure!
Many of the field trips in the valley experienced the photo I am presenting above. Sandhill Cranes winter down in the valley and we were treated with flying groups throughout the course of the week. More often enough you can hear their wattling/gargled calls from above before seeing them, but once you lay your eyes on them there is no mistake. Their elongated necks, labored wingbeats, and long wings give them away. These birds were photographed south of Brownsville, Texas at the Southmost Nature Conservancy Preserve!
Many of the field trips in the valley experienced the photo I am presenting above. Sandhill Cranes winter down in the valley and we were treated with flying groups throughout the course of the week. More often enough you can hear their wattling/gargled calls from above before seeing them, but once you lay your eyes on them there is no mistake. Their elongated necks, labored wingbeats, and long wings give them away. These birds were photographed south of Brownsville, Texas at the Southmost Nature Conservancy Preserve!
Near the coast we encountered Long-billed Curlews in the fields feeding with Gull-billed Terns flying past. These two took off in just enough time for me to grab a few amateur shots. Notice the long, pointed wings, brownish/golden plumage and long, decurved bills. I love it when their feathers above the crop flush out and give them a extra large throat look like it is here.
This particular bird is a common winter resident found in open fields, but can be a tough bugger to locate. Sprague's Pipits breed in the far northern Midwest United States up in the areas of Montana and North Dakota. They have a very distinctive flight that stair-steps it's way into the high sky. They literally fly straight up in a stepping fashion and usually dive down to the ground. American Pipits are also found in the area, but they have many rufous overtones whereas the Sprague's is a very light colored bird. Sprague's has a distinctive breast band of streaks and the rest of the bird ventrally, is white. Also notice the almost entirely light-colored lower mandible. I was able to shoot this photo from a far distance as our field trip of 40 people approached in a line while on the entrance road to Anzalduas County Park.
One of my favorite valley specialties includes this White-tailed Hawk soaring above on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Very distinctive with it's characteristics, this bird roams the open coastal prairies in the USA and inhabits grasslands farther inland as you go into Mexico. Adults have a completely white tail except for the broad subterminal band. Notice the dark flight feathers and remiges contrasting with all white ventral features. Adults also have very thin maroon lines across the chest with a grayish hood!
White-tailed Hawks also have the profile of a Swainson's Hawk which is long-winged. Notice above how the wings taper to a point! When they are resting their wings will be held just past the tail like a Swainson's Hawk! We had about 5-6 White-tailed Hawks in the same group just before ending our field trip. I normally reserve my energy for leading only on such trips, but I couldn't resist shots like these ones above. There were some juveniles as well, but they are not nearly as gorgeous as the older birds. The juvys mainly are dark and will have some white in the chest with a lot of white in the remiges of the wings!
I had such a blast at this year's festival and it seems that new management really has boosted this show into the troposphere, thanks to Marci Fuller and company! Congrats to every one whom worked hard to pull it off and if you haven't been to the show, get there next year! Its only going to get better! Thanks for reading y'all and good birding!
I had such a blast at this year's festival and it seems that new management really has boosted this show into the troposphere, thanks to Marci Fuller and company! Congrats to every one whom worked hard to pull it off and if you haven't been to the show, get there next year! Its only going to get better! Thanks for reading y'all and good birding!
