Fall 2011 images from Texas:

Updated: Thursday December 29, 2011

Enjoy the birds and photos below...I certainly did while I was taking them!

• December 28th - Weslaco Christmas Count, Weslaco, TX
  
  
• December 27th - Frontera Audubon, Weslaco, TX
  
  
• December 20th - La Sal Vieja Christmas Count, Raymondville, TX
  
  
• December 14th - Santa Ana NWR Christmas Count, Alamo, TX
  
  
• December 8th - Falcon State Park, TX
  
  
• December 8th - Salineno, TX
  
  
• November 18th - Blue Bunting, Casa Santa Ana B&B, McAllen, TX
  
  
• November 18th - Butterflies, Casa Santa Ana B&B, McAllen, TX
  
  
• November 11th - Parrots at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, Harlingen, TX
  
  
• October 14th - A Truly "Scary" Bug!, Harlingen, TX
  
  
• August 29th - "Black Witch" Moth, Harlingen, TX
  
  

• Red-shouldered Hawk #4 - Red-shouldered Hawks were common throughout the day...this one sat still long enough for a photograph
  
  
• Sprague's Pipit #6 - the highlight of the day (for me) was a pair of Sprague's Pipits on one of the levees...mousey little birds that scuttle through the grass and are difficult to photograph...
  
  
• Sprague's Pipit #5 - ...still scuttling...
  
  
• Sprague's Pipit #11 - ...and, finally, a quick dash across an open stretch...
  
  

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird #27 - a first year male...comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• Green Kingfisher #13 - a male hunting over one of the ponds
  
  
• Green Kingfisher #14 - a male hunting over one of the ponds
  
  
• Great Kiskadee #30 - coming into the Nature Center water feature
  
  
• Orange-crowned Warbler #36 - coming into the Nature Center water feature
  
  
• Black-throated Green Warbler #31 - taking a bath in the Nature Center water feature
  
  
• Wilson's Warbler #42 - taking a bath in the Nature Center water feature
  
  
• Carolina Wren #15 - checking out the nooks and crannies along the Nature Center water feature
  
  

• Spider Web #1 - the morning began with heavy fog and a dew-laden spider's web...
  
  
• White-tailed Hawk #9 - ...birds, like this juvenile White-tailed Hawk, were sitting around...
  
  
• Loggerhead Shrike #10 - ...and even a usually shy Loggerhead Shrike preferred to sit for a few photos...
  
  
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker #5 - ...while this Ladder-backed Woodpecker worked the lower portions of a tree (to stay away from the wet leaves above?)...
  
  
• Verdin #5 - ...but the star of the day was this Verdin, which fearlessly fed along the roadside...
  
  
• Verdin #9 - ...sometimes coming within a few feet...
  
  
• Verdin #1 - ...before flying to the next patch of weeds
  
  

• Long-billed Curlew #11 - this bird came to a puddle at the edge of a field to drink and bathe...
  
  
• Rock Pigeon #3 - ...as did this Pigeon...take a closer look at the subtle beauty of its plumage
  
  
• White-tailed Hawk #4 - the star of the day was this White-tailed Hawk resting on the ground...
  
  
• White-tailed Hawk #3 - ...a quick stretch of the wing and...
  
  
• White-tailed Hawk #6 - ...time to go home...
  
  
• White-tailed Hawk #5 - ...see ya' later!
  
  

• Rose-Bellied Lizard #3 - soaking up some morning sun
  
  
• Sleepy Orange #7 - pretending to be a leaf on this branch
  
  
• American Snout #7 - the "snout" is formed by elongated mouthparts
  
  
• Nine-banded Armadillo #18 - Why did the Armadillo cross the road?...
  
  
• Nine-banded Armadillo #19 - ...to sniff the fresh mud on my boots...talk about a "close encounter"!
  
  

• Birds
  
  
  • Pyrrhuloxia #9 - a female coming into the feeders at the photo blind
    
    
  • Inca Dove #19 - coming into the feeders at the photo blind
    
    
• Leps and Odes (more plentiful than birds)
  
  
  • Common Checkered-Skipper #5 - in the butterfly garden near the photo blind
    
    
  • Phaon Crescent #1 - in the butterfly garden near the photo blind...comments on the ID are welcome
    
    
  • Funereal Duskywing #1 - this individual is missing a diagnostic tan spot in the forewing, so it could be a Mournful Duskywing...comments on the ID are welcome
    
    
  • Funereal Duskywing #2 - a second individual missing a diagnostic tan spot in the forewing, so it could be a Mournful Duskywing...comments on the ID are welcome
    
    
  • Painted Lady #5 - wings open in the butterfly garden near the photo blind
    
    
  • Painted Lady #7 - wings folded in the butterfly garden near the photo blind
    
    
  • Fiery Skipper #7 - a small, energetic butterfly...comments on the ID are welcome
    
    
  • Variegated Meadowhawk #4 - enjoying the warm afternoon sun...comments on the ID are welcome
    
    

• Common Ground-Dove #9 - a male with bright rosy plumage
  
  
• Brown Jay #9 - the stars of the show...here an adult...
  
  
• Brown Jay #13 - ...here an immature...
  
  
• Brown Jay #16 - ...and here both together...
  
  
• Altamira Oriole #37 - Altamiras are the boldest of the three "RGV" Orioles
  
  
• Altamira Oriole #38 - this bird looks unhappy with the food selection
  
  
• Altamira Oriole #40 - this immature bird lacks the crisp markings of the adults
  
  
• Audubon's Oriole #10 - the subtle colors provide excellent concealment in the greenery
  
  
• Audubon's Oriole #12 - I love that peanut butter!
  
  
• Hooded Oriole #15 - a switch hitter...here coming to an orange feeder...
  
  
• Hooded Oriole #16 - ...and here coming to a Hummingbird feeder...waiting for the Bees to finish?
  
  
• Long-billed Thrasher #26 - why do Thrashers always look angry?
  
  

• Blue Bunting #8 - a back view showing the subtle variations in color...
  
  
• Blue Bunting #12 - ...and now a front view
  
  
• Blue Bunting #17 - Hey! You with the camera...
  
  
• Blue Bunting #20 - ...here's a cute pose for you
  
  

• Common Checkered-Skipper #3 - a small, common, black-and-white butterfly - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• Common Checkered-Skipper #4 - a small, common, black-and-white butterfly - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• Phaon? Crescent #1 - a more colorful small, common butterfly - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• Fiery Skipper #3 - a colorful small butterfly - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• American Snout #3 - a strange-looking butterfly...the "snout" is formed by modified mouthparts
  
  
• American Snout #4 - a strange-looking butterfly...the "snout" is formed by modified mouthparts
  
  
• Laviana White-Skipper #5 - another black-and-white butterfly - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  
• Roseate Skimmer #7 - one of several "silent assassins" patrolling the butterfly garden - comments on the ID are welcome
  
  

• Green Parakeet #19 - a bird lands on the power lines near the Wal-Mart
  
  
• Green Parakeet #15 - a pair of birds on the power lines near the Wal-Mart
  
  
• Red-crowned Parrot #11 - a bird on the power lines in a residential neighborhood
  
  
• Red-crowned Parrot #16 - a pair bonds by mutual preening (allopreening) on the power lines in a residential neighborhood
  
  
• Red-lored Parrot #2 - one of a pair of escaped birds on the power lines in a residential neighborhood
  
  

• Coreid Bug #3 - a large (almost 2 inches!) relative of the Assassin Bug
  
  

• Black Witch #3 - in late summer, my entryway alcove attracts these large, dark moths