View allAll Photos Tagged Weslaco,
Vermilion flycatcher photographed at Estero Llano Grande State Park bird sanctuary near Weslaco, Texas. ©2016 John M. Hudson
While there were beautiful Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Mottled and Blue-winged Teal about, this simple little lady caught my attention.
The Green-winged Teal is the smallest North American dabbling duck.
This was the first time I had ever seen a Parrot in the wild before. I have seen wild Lovebirds and Parakeets but never a true Parrot. I searched for this Parrot unsuccessfully in San Diego, so it was really cool to finally see one in Texas. I saw them nesting in palm trees as well during my trip, which was neat to see.
This particular parrot was all alone (which is unusual). He was eating in this tree in the parking lot of Estero Llano Grande State Park. It was a real surprise to find him there! He was as tame as ever and very beautiful. This is one of the few Parrots that the American Birding Association deems as countable. The birds in South Texas are feral or descendants of natural vagrants from Mexico. The other name for this bird is Red-crowned Amazon.
Unfortunately, this endemic Mexican Parrot is endangered and numbers are continuing to decline. There are only 1500 birds left in the wild in Mexico. The main reason they are declining is due to habitat loss and because they are being trapped and sold illegally to the US and within Mexico itself. Around 78,500 birds are captured and traded each year in Mexico.
We must do all we can to help end the cruel and illegal Parrot trade, where many Parrots die during transport, are sold in markets in tiny cages and whole wild bird populations are decimated.
Parrots are extremely social animals that live in flocks and fly long distances. Therefore, to be alone in a cage is very stressful for such an intelligent bird where they can no longer fly, groom and interact.
The industry is poorly regulated in Mexico and there is little enforcement for criminal activity. The best way to fight this problem is awareness, education, proper enforcement and jail time for poachers. Also, if you must have a parrot do not buy one but adopt a rescue bird instead.
A Great Kiskadee grabs a snack from Ibis Pond at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. As to the title, I have water and power in my part of Clear Lake City after two days without. Sure hope it sticks.
Northern Shoveler arriving in South Texas, perhaps to help clear the snow from the freak winter storm descending on the area this week. Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas.
Tropical Kingbird about to alight on a high branch above Ibis Pond at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.
At less than four feet away, I could not locate the Common Pauraque until I lowered myself to ground level. Even then, if I shifted my gaze it disappeared again into the leaf clutter at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.
Just a Plain chacalaca looking for seeds on the grounds of Estero Llano Grande State Park near Weslaco, Texas.
From one end of a log to the other, a Great Kiskadee staged repeated sorties in search of insects on Ibis Pond at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas.
It's corn kernels or nothing for the Green Jays at the feed trough at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.
Estero Llano Grande State Park in South Texas - 1/2022
Currently the Houston temperature is over 100F. This image was made on a chilly (upper 30's I think) January morning in Weslaco, Texas
Last January we watched pied-billed and least grebes diving in this water. The water level is obviously a lot lower this January.
Grebe Marsh at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. 1/2018
(Second of two) This Common Mestra, Mestra amymone, was perched in one of the flowering shrubs in front of the Nature Center.
Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, Texas. November 11, 2016.
A very well camouflaged, ground-dwelling bird.
From "All about birds":
"A widespread nightjar throughout the American tropics, the Common Pauraque reaches the United States only in very southern Texas.
Medium-sized to large nocturnal bird.
Large-headed with a tiny bill. Tiny feet (rarely seen).
Very well camouflaged, colored in browns, black, and gray.
In flight, long, rounded wings with light bar near tip.
Long, rounded tail." (tail cut off in my picture).
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Pauraque/id
Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. 1/2017
Estero Llano Grande overflowed with whistling ducks during my January visit. I hoped to find cinnamon teal and pintails, but the large number of whistling ducks appeared to have crowded them out. When you have whistling ducks, I guess you photograph whistling ducks. I thought this group arranged themselves nicely. Estero Llano Grande State Park in South Texas - 1/2022.
Phaloesia saucia
These moths are pretty as caterpillars but even better as adults. It is a day flying moth so I have only managed some terrible lucky extremely cropped shots of the adults as they flew by.
Green Jays, cardinals, titmice, woodpeckers, and this Great Kiskadee, among other locals, jostled for position at a feeding station at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.
The crystal ball says I will have a successful spider presentation tonight. The nearby Texas State Park that participated in Arachtober on Facebook last year asked if I could give a presentation this year. I have done a few creatures of the night presentations with a partner before. This will be my first on my own with only arachnids. I normally include moths and other nocturnal insects and my partner covers nocturnal mammals, birds, etc. A few years ago, I joined the Texas Master Naturalists and they asked if I could do a presentation for our meeting. Doing it with a friend meant I only had to do 30 minutes. It still took so much more preparation than I realized, but it was fun to work on and present. I had no idea I would like doing these. I am not an expert and can't get much into the science, but talking about spiders is fun. Tonight will be my fifth similar presentation with a big upgrade in the number of spiders. Afterwards, we will go look for spiders in the garden.
Having 15 years worth of Arachtober posts to draw from really helps. I start out with the common species in our area and then move on to some of the more interesting spiders.
I shot this photo on a drizzly day with zxgirl when she came down for birding a few years ago. We got to hang out for a couple days. I tried a little birding and we got plenty of macro time in too.