Life bird #3 of the trip. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "gccgirl-20"; Wow! We saw many great birds at the King Ranch Norias Division, including Harris’s Hawk.

We are a world away from the cares of city life, yet freeway-close to all that makes Southern Texas the

It had never been missed during previous festivals. Fifteen-acre urban nature reserve. I really wish I could have gotten a good photo of that gorgeous bird, but between my less than adequate camera gear and the amazing camouflage of the bird, it was hopeless. With all the birders coming and going, he never left the bush while I was watching. We found the Pauraque right away, and the nearby Eastern Screech-Owl, who seemed to sit looking out of its nest box all day every day. Need to expand my horizons. Don’t miss them! Birders have to be the friendliest people on earth and making new friends is as good as seeing new birds. White-tailed Kites at Estero Llano Grande. The bird was in a low bush and seemed quite happy to put on a show for us. It is in the middle of the nine parks and nature preserves that make up the World Birding Center in the Rio Grande Valley (more about that in another post). Located in Weslaco, Estero Llano Grande State Park is less than 20 miles from the Mexican border. This year, a couple of Tamaulipas Crow were discovered at South Padre Island a day or so before the festival started. We observed three Tamaulipas Crows at the Brownsville Landfill. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Yes, there are a few geocaches here. Valley Nature Center Bird and butterfly walks, tram tours.

The class was awesome! They are such a delight to see flitting about. Jude and Bernie have been birding for a long time and their hobby has taken them all over the world. Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, TX. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The restrooms are located off the observation deck as are the classrooms. By noon, I was about to drop from the heat. Jude and Bernie’s vests are covered with patches from their birding exploits. We joined forces and spent the afternoon in his air-conditioned car searching the fallow farm fields without success, but we did see raptors and other birds including a gorgeous Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Mottled Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Red-crowned Parrot, Neotropic Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Solitary Sandpiper, Least, Gull-billed, and Black Terns, Groove-billed Ani (spring through fall), Inca, White-winged, and White-tipped Doves, Common Pauraque, Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Great Kiskadee, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Couch’s and Tropical Kingbirds, Black-crested Titmouse, Green Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole. The things we learn about are definitely less scary. Estero Llano Grande is quite a mouthful so many people just call it Estero. Estero Llano Grande has a butterfly garden planted with a multitude of plants to attract a variety of butterfly species. Admission is free for your entire party with the Texas State Parks Pass.

amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; It’s a cool and relaxing place for a picnic or to enjoy a snack after hiking the trails. I have spotted 316 species here, including a White-throated Thrush, the 13th ever in the U.S., and a Blue-throated Hummingbird, a Mexican bird rarely seen in Texas. There are nine bodies of water in the 235-acre park, built partly on reclaimed agricultural land. We have also attended a new moon hike.

I’ll never forget the incredible whiteness of a Whooping Crane I saw flying in a V-shaped flock of Sandhill Cranes in fall 2008. Public Phone. Red-crowned Parrots in Harlingen. Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment. Weslaco, Texas. My boys really enjoy looking out of the telescopes and learning about nature. I drove to Texas in three days and got into Harlingen a full day before the festival began.