PragerBirds

Today's Bird: The Common Ground Dove

2012-11-18T06:17:00.001-08:00

This whole week, I'm going to be posting birds from a single trip to a single park, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, Texas. I'm extremely grateful to live so close to one of the greatest state parks in the country and one of the best hotspots I could imagine. In addition, I'm thankful for the wonderful folks who work and volunteer there including Huck, John, Kyle, Mary and all the desk workers who swipe my pass. You guys make my Saturdays amazing.

Today's bird is the Common Ground Dove. They live all over the deep, deep south, including the lovely Weslaco, Texas. They're a bunch smaller than a Rock Pigeon or a White-Wing Dove and they spend mot of their time on the ground (duh) foraging for seeds to eat. I don't see them every time I'm out, but when I do, I'm always struck by their beautiful color.

This picture is from Saturday's bird walk--November 17, 2012.

Today's Bird: Sayaca Tanager

2012-11-17T16:19:00.002-08:00

Today's bird is the Sayaca Tanager. The Sayaca Tanager is one of the birds that I only got to see in the lowlands of Bolivia and after that, they disappeared. These little guys get replaced by birds that look and move similarly at different elevations, but this bird is unique to the lowlands. They have the same shape and habits as our our tanagers (here's one from a previous post) but better colors, for sure.

This entrepreneurial little guy had figured out how to slip through the chain link fences of the parrot cages at the Santa Cruz Zoo. He was more than delighted to steal the food from the fancy tropical birds. I took this picture in Santa Cruz on June 22, 2012.

Today's Bird: Cinnamon Flycatcher

2012-11-16T16:34:00.002-08:00

This is a Cinnamon Flycatcher! I liked this bird because the name makes so much sense. South American birds are usually named for what they are (like the Black-Capped Warbling Finch) but even then I still get a bit confused. What is a warbling finch, exactly? Anyway, unlike those, this name is really obvious. The bird is structured like most of the flycatchers I'm used to seeing around back home. And as for the Cinnamon part, the name appears to be a perfect fit.

I took this picture along a dirt road somewhere in Bolivia...probably a couple hours outside Cochabamba on June 28, 2012.

Today's Bird: Spotted Sandpiper

2012-11-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

Today's bird is the Spotted Sandpiper. They're pretty common in marshes and wetlands around here. They're always bobbing their tails and poking around for food in the mud. I know this bird doesn't look like a Spotted anything, but this fellow (or lady, can't tell) is in the fall plumage, which is actually kind of dull looking. You can tell Spotted Sandpipers apart from semi-similar birds by checking out the yellow legs, white notch on the flank and the black and white eyebrow stripe.

They live all over the United States, so check out your local wetland. This one happened to be at Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge on November 5, 2012.

Today's Bird: The American Kestrel

2012-11-11T06:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Hundredth Blog Post! Today's bird is one of my favorite birds ever, the American Kestrel. The Kestrel is a type of Falcon--it's a smaller, sleeker bird of prey. Coming in at only about 9 inches, it's pretty small. I think I like them so much because they're so colorful and they're so intense looking. The nice colors on this one make him particularly attractive--he's a full grown, adult male.

I took this picture at Delta Lake in Edcouch on October 28, 2012.

Today's Bird: Snowy Egret

2012-11-09T15:22:00.002-08:00

Today's bird is the Snowy Egret. Snowy Egrets are everywhere around here. I see them flapping their wings over the expressway all the time. They're in your canals, in the local ponds (hide your kids, hide your wife?)

Anyway, my favorite feature of these waders is the big, yellow feet. It's like they're wearing socks. Nice, fashionable look! I took this picture at Delta Lake in Edcouch, Texas on November 4, 2012.

Today's Bird: Summer Tanager

2012-11-08T19:16:00.001-08:00

Today's bird is the Summer Tanager! Summer tanagers live mostly in the southeastern United States with a little bit of overlap inthe New Mexico and Arizona. During migrations, they often pass through and a few sometimes even spend the winter here in the RGV. I think they're pretty awesome looking: the boys are fire-engine red like this one and the girls are a lovely yellow. You can tell the apart from other birds that may look or move similarly because of the big, thick bill.

I took this picture on October 8, 2012 at the Sheepshead lots on South Padre Island.

Today's Bird: The Red-Capped Cardinal

2012-11-05T19:26:00.001-08:00

Today's Bird is the Red-Capped Cardinal. It's one of the few cardinal species that lives in Peru and Bolivia. I actually found this guy and IDed him myself, which is exciting because I was pretty reliant on my bird guide for most of the trip. I actually beat my trip mates into Bolivia because I'd come from Peru, so I spent a couple of days lingering in Santa Cruz and taking some bird walks outside of town. I spotted this guy at the Bio Center Guembe on June 23, 2012.

Today's Bird: Piping Plover

2012-11-04T17:11:00.001-08:00

Today's bird is an endangered species: the Piping Plover. Scientists estimate that there are about 8,000 Piping Plovers left on Earth. They suffer from a mix of habitat encroachment and from the effects of climate change, which are altering their migration patterns and could potentially destroy even more of the beachfront where they live. You can read more about Piping Plovers and how to help them here.

I took this picture on October 21, 2012 at Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi.

Today's Bird: Green-Winged Teal

2012-11-03T18:02:00.001-07:00

Introducing, back in the RGV for the thousandth winter in a row: The Green-Winged Teal! They're one of the many types of ducks that choose to spend the winter with us. Estero Llano Grande, the park I visit most frequently, is sort of a haven for these guys because they have three or four big ponds that are filled to the perfect depth for migrating and wintering ducks. I really enjoy when they're here. They make for easy bird watching and it's fun to watch them shed their less-exciting summer plumage and move into their "dress clothes" for winter and spring.

I took this picture today (November 3, 2012) on my afternoon bird walk at Estero Lllano Grande.

Today's Bird: Brewer's Blackbird

2012-11-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Lots of people have been asking me what the creepy birds are that congregate in and around Texas grocery store parking lots. There's a variety of birds in those flocks. Most are Great-Tailed Grackles and Bronzed Cowbirds, but every once in awhile you get one of these--a Brewer's Blackbird! They're pretty nondescript birds but they're a welcome change from the squawking birds that creep on you when you're picking up your family groceries. I took this picture near the border checkpoint in Sarita, Texas on October 20, 2012.

Today's Bird: Andean Flamingo!

2012-11-01T18:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I asked my friend Melissa what bird she'd like for her birthday, and she said something pink. Turns out, I can deliver on that. I give you the Andean Flamingo! Happy Birthday, Melissa!

I always thought of Flamingos as swap birds. I figured they wandered around in the Everglades and in zoos and that was about it. It turns out that Flamingos live in high altitudes too! There are three types in Peru and Bolivia and here's one of them. As my bird book notes, its the rarest of the Flamingos--not nearly as common as the James and Chilean, its highland counterparts.

I took this picture somewhere outside La Paz, Bolivia on July 6, 2012.

Today's Bird: The Black Vulture

2012-10-31T16:17:00.001-07:00

In honor of posting something creepy for Halloween, today's bird is the Black Vulture! Black Vultures are pretty common around the United States, hanging out on the sides of roads, picking up carrion to eat and nearly getting hit by cars. You can tell them apart from Turkey Vultures because they have more rounded wing tips, gray heads, and their undersides look different. Turkey Vultures are kind of white under their wings, but Black Vultures are only white on the tips (I call them the Vulture Hand Prints...).

While Vultures are pretty common in the states, they're also common in Peru. I took this picture at the Villa Marshes outside Lima, Peru on June 12, 2012.

Today's Bird: The White-tailed Kite

2012-10-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

Today's bird is the White-Tailed Kite! White-Tailed Kites are a type of bird of prey (check out the angry looking beak and legs). They spend a lot of time "kiting" or hanging out in the sky, the way this one is in the photo. They just sort of hang in the air catching the draft, flapping their wings once in awhile looking for delicious mice to eat.

White-tailed kites are mostly around in the Valley during the winter and spring, so I go through the summer without seeing them and then they're back! Last weekend, I ran into two at Delta Lake in Elsa, but this picture's actually kind of an old one. I took it on the side of the road in Mission, Texas on February 21, 2012.

Today's Bird: The Puna Ground Tyrant

2012-10-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

This little bird doesn't look like much, but they're extremely cool. This is the Puna Ground Tyrant. He's named for the region of the Andes where he lives called the Puna, which is in the high-high mountains (above 3,600 meters!). There aren't a lot of other birds around up there, so he doesn't have much competition for attention...there's a few other members of his Genus who also hang around up high. They're apparently called "tyrants'' because they're pretty nasty to their food, although I never got to see it.

I took this picture in the Puna somewhere outside La Paz on July 7, 2012.

Today's Bird: The Smoke Colored Pewee

2012-10-28T19:25:00.003-07:00

Today's bird is a lovely but simple Peruvian bird: The Smoke-Colored Pewee. The Smoke-Colored Pewee lives in mid-level forests. It's a type of flycatcher so it eats spiders and insects. This one's a bit more sizable than the ones you might be used to if you live on the East coast of the United States. He's much than his American cousin (the Eastern Wood Pewee) but his behavior and overall appearance is fairly similar.

I took this picture outside Aguas Calientes on June 19, 2012.

Today's Bird: The Great Egret

2012-10-23T18:32:00.001-07:00

The Great Egret is a pretty common bird around here. I see them in canals around town, flying over the Expressway while I'm driving, and in the local state park where I bird most often. Even though they're extremely common, they're also extremely beautiful. When they're full sized, the white is really pure and they're just SO BIG.

Sometimes people mistake Great Egrets in flight for cranes. Look out for a bent neck instead of a straight one. Cranes fly with their neck straight out, but Egrets have them curled up.

I took this picture at the South Padre Island Boardwalk World Birding Center on October 8, 2012.

Today's Bird: Ruddy Turnstone

2012-10-22T20:04:00.002-07:00

Today's Bird is the Ruddy Turnstone. They get their name from what they do best--using their little bill to flip over rocks and find the delicious creatures beneath them. They're a staple here on the Gulf Coast, but I was also delighted to see them in Peru! I remember turning to my guide and asking if they were the same Ruddy Turnstones and he looked at me, very disappointed and said, "Oh. You have those too. No point telling you how great they are..."

Their field marks make them pretty easy to identify, so the next time you're out celebrating an oil-spill free Gulf Coast (or so says BP...), look for these fellows. I took this picture on Mustang Island on October 21, 2012.

Today's Bird: The Killdeer

2012-10-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that Killdeers have not become extinct. They're actually the most widespread plover in America. They're extremely common in fields, both man-made and natural. They lay their eggs out in the open on little stick nests. Unfortunately, they don't really understand how the game of soccer works (or baseball, or football), so their nests sometimes get trampled by unsuspecting sportsmen. They also try to draw predators away from their nests by doing a "broken wing dance" and making a sad, sad little noise.

Like I said, can't figure out why they exist. I took this picture in Corpus Christi, Texas in the parking lot of a La Quinta hotel on October 20, 2012.

Today's Bird: Magnificent Frigatebird

2012-10-19T17:40:00.001-07:00

Today's Bird is the Magnificent Frigatebird. The best place to see these birds is out at sea, but I got lucky with this one and happened to be on shore. It makes for a better picture if the camera's not rocking. This is actually my second life-Frigatebird, but my first US sighting. The first one I ever saw was in Mexico while Emma and I were on a cruise. I didn't expect to see any birds other than gulls and was delighted to catch a lifer!

I ran into Frigatebird #2 on South Padre Island on May 26, 2012.

Today's Bird: Ash-Breasted Tit-Tyrant

2012-10-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

With a name like "Ash-Breasted Tit-Tyrant," it must be South American. This little guy lives on the slopes of the Andes in the same type of highland forest that the White-Browed Tit-Spinetail lives in. He's pretty tiny at only about 5 inches, so I was excited to be able to snag a picture. He posed for me near Abra Malaga, Peru on June 16, 2012.

Today's Bird: White-Faced Whistling Duck

2012-10-17T16:40:00.001-07:00

Today's Bird is the White-Faced Whistling Duck. For those of you who live down in South Texas (or follow my blog, or both), you might be familiar with the Black Bellied Whistling Duck. This is his Bolivian cousin! They live in the lowlands, so the two times I saw them on my trip were both in Santa Cruz. I saw some at a nature park outside of town, but I actually took this picture at the zoo. This is another one of those birds that could've left if he'd wanted to, but there really wasn't much incentive to be anywhere else. Nice water, food, and a good atmosphere.

I took this picture on June 22, 2012.

Today's Bird: Yellow Warbler

2012-10-16T18:39:00.004-07:00

Today's Bird is the Yellow Warbler. You can tell a Yellow Warbler apart from other small yellow birds by the streaking on its chest. There's a few other indicators to help tell females apart, but the streaks are the easiest and most obvious on the boys. The Yellow Warbler is a North American bird that's fairly common. They migrate through South Texas and a few will stay the winter, but most will head on down to Central America.

I took this picture at the Warbler Rest Stop on South Padre Island on April 29, 2012.

Today's Bird: the Burrowing Owl

2012-10-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Burrowing Owl is one of the very few owls I've seen. The reason this one's not as hard to spot is that they actually come out and hang around during the day. They live in the Western United States, but I actually saw this one in Bolivia. Oddly enough, the best place to see them is the airport, right near the parking lot. So, if you're ever looking for a Burrowing Owl...head off to the Viru-Viru Airport!

I took this picture on June 24, 2012.

Today's Bird: Wilson's Snipe

2012-10-14T14:03:00.001-07:00

Today's bird is the Wilson's Snipe. Whenever I think about this bird, I remember the scene in "Up" where the old guy sends the cub scout out to look for a Snipe...turns out they're real! They don't come out when you clap though; they're really pretty shy. They have this great streaked camouflage that they use to hide out in dried grasses or reeds just like this one is here. The thing I like best about them is their head-to-bill ratio and the way the two parts connect in sort of a seamless flow.

While this isn't the best picture ever taken of a Wilson's Snipe, it's the best one I've ever taken...I took this at Estero Llano Grande on October 13, 2012.