Texas 16 - one up, one down

17^th March

 

I left Louise for a lie in this morning and was down at Lions Shelley Park in Refugio at dawn. Thankfully it was only 5 minutes from our Motel. I’d driven enough last night from north of Austin. I gave it an hour but I didn’t see much. After breakfast we checked out and returned to the park. There was a bit of a twitch situation! I counted a dozen birders looking for the Flame-coloured Tanager by the bridge. There hadn’t been any sightings so I moved round the track to look for my other target the less desirable Greater Pewee. They were both Texas ticks for me! I’d mentioned this to the group and a young lad came round to help me look for it. Nice touch. We got "on it" simultaneously...

Greater Pewee (Texas 448)

Not great but conclusive in the understory on a very dull morning. I managed another shot later out in the open but conditions were still very dull. Success though!

No sign of the Flame-coloured Tanager however by 12. So it was off to Subway for lunch. On return a chap informed us that one Birder had seen the bird briefly while we were away! There was some scepticism. Who knows...anyway I didn't see it. I did see this though...

A beautiful Barred Owl. What a cracker!! It was actively feeding at one point, even perching on the bridge...

I also sneaked a Hermit Thrush through the dense undergrowth...

Maybe this year Steve?

Tomorrow is the BIG day...hopefully as I try for the BLUE BUNTING at Frontera Audubon in Weslaco and The NORTHERN JACANA/S at my favourite spot Santa Ana NWR on the Rio Grande in Pharr.

Fingers crossed?

Just one more. You've got to love Owls...

Stay tuned...