2007/02/05
Only Birders
Nancy and Dennis picked us up and we headed for Salineno, a popular birding spot about 15 minutes south of the park. There are two birding locations in Salineno — a park by the river and the Dewind Tract. Pat and Gale Dewind drive their motor home south each winter and stay on a piece of land that they purchased many years ago. They have set up a number of bird feeding stations and invite birders to pull up a lawn chair (that they provide) and enjoy the show. And what a show it was ---- especially for us novice birders. Brown Jays, Altamira Orioles, Hooded Orioles, Audubo'sn Orioles, Green Jays, Great Kiskadees, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Olive Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, House Sparrows, Bewick's Wren and more. I think we sat and watched the birds for a couple of hours before we headed down to the river to see what was down there. The highlight there was a Red-Shouldered Hawk.
Next stop on the birding tour was Roma Bluffs. This birding center is in the town of Roma and overlooks the Rio Grande River. It was pretty quiet there with only a few ducks, a Couch's Kingbird and a couple of egrets following a pig around.
On the way back to the park we stopped at a community RV park to look for sparrows — White-crowned sparrows and lark sparrows were spotted — both new birds for Ed and myself.
It was great going with experienced birders as they were able to identify a lot of the birds for us.
An Altamira Oriole
Audubon's Oriole
Hooded Oriole on the front of the feeder and an Audubon's on the back
Juvenile Brown Jay --- definitely not as colourful as it's relatives the Blue Jay and Green Jay but much large by approximately 5 inches
Is this a double headed cow? We were impressed with thickness of the horns.
Couch's Kingbird
Egrets following or is it chasing a pig?
White-crowned Sparrow
Orange-crowned warbler
When we arrived at the park we saw this gas well drilling rig.
When we left the drilling rig looked like this. I guess they were finished drilling the well and were moving the equipment elsewhere.
Next stop on the birding tour was Roma Bluffs. This birding center is in the town of Roma and overlooks the Rio Grande River. It was pretty quiet there with only a few ducks, a Couch's Kingbird and a couple of egrets following a pig around.
On the way back to the park we stopped at a community RV park to look for sparrows — White-crowned sparrows and lark sparrows were spotted — both new birds for Ed and myself.
It was great going with experienced birders as they were able to identify a lot of the birds for us.
An Altamira Oriole
Audubon's Oriole
Hooded Oriole on the front of the feeder and an Audubon's on the back
Juvenile Brown Jay --- definitely not as colourful as it's relatives the Blue Jay and Green Jay but much large by approximately 5 inches
Is this a double headed cow? We were impressed with thickness of the horns.
Couch's Kingbird
Egrets following or is it chasing a pig?
White-crowned Sparrow
Orange-crowned warbler
When we arrived at the park we saw this gas well drilling rig.
When we left the drilling rig looked like this. I guess they were finished drilling the well and were moving the equipment elsewhere.
