Texas: Day 3. Another day, another life bird

Today we spent the entire day (yes 7am-7pm) waiting for the Muscovy Ducks to show themselves on the Rio Grande at Salineno. They never did. Neither did Hook-billed Kite. RED-BILLED PIGEONS showed well providing me with a new species. The sky was overcast all day which made photography difficult. We did have some highlights...3 ZONE-TAILED HAWKS joined the vultures soaring above. A COMMON BLACK HAWK sat partially obstructed in a tree upstream frustrating some birders. Below are some of the birds present.



GREAT KISKADEE sounds filled the air most of the day. There were several at a feeder nearby fighting over the peanut butter tray.



AUDUBON'S ORIOLE is a specialty of Salineno. This male was at the feeder eating oranges.



This CURVE-BILLED THRASHER was new for this trip. Love that orange eye!



One of the most common birds in the valley is GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER.



LEAF-CUTTER ANTS created a nice diversion while we waited (and waited...and waited).

On a side note...we watched many large bales of marijuana trafficked across the border on boats and witnessed (quite close) a boat of illegal immigrants come ashore as 2 vehicles raced into the parking lot to pick them up and drive off in haste.