Wednesday, Jan. 7 looked like our best day to get upriver to Salineño and
beyond, so we were up a little earlier, had breakfast “at home” and were
off with a full tank of gas (prices dropped for no apparent reason).
Birding along Salineño Road between US 83 and town was a bit
disappointing—no sparrow flock, no Cactus Wren greeted us. That was offset
with an Audubon’s Oriole at the feeders when we arrived. The yard
regulars, including Green Jays, Great Kiskadees, Golden-fronted and
Ladderback Woodpeckers, Black-crested Titmice and Orange-crowned Warblers,
were joined by a Clay-colored Thrush and Olive Sparrow. Three Zone-tailed
Hawks were circling among the Black and Turkey Vultures. A gray morph
Eastern Screech-Owl drowsed in the box, and a Sandhill Crane called in
flight.
The volunteers have been working hard since mid-October, clearing growth to
open up parts of the site that haven’t been cleared since it was an RV
park, planting native plants, and giving the place a well-needed
overhaul. Hats
off!
The annual trek up the rutted two-track watching and listening for
Morelet’s Seedeaters may have had one zooming across to the island, but no
countable ones were encountered. There was a good smattering of waterfowl
on both sides of the river, and Osprey were fun to watch. We had lunch at
the picnic area between the roadside parking and the DeWind yard viewing
area.
The Dump Road was very quiet. Most of it had been “improved” to give
border operatives better access.
We birded Falcon Lake State Park from stem to stern. The lake is near its
historic low. Birds were sparse. We were not there at an optimal time, so
did not see many species. A covey of Northern Bobwhite scurried along the
perimeter of the bird blind.
The county park produced only a couple mockingbirds and a small flock of
Red-winged Blackbirds.
We dined at the Roma Dairy Queen and headed for Alamo.
Thursday, January 8 was as windy as predicted. We’d planned for that by
going upriver again to the casitas at Rancho Las Lomitas where we could sit
out of the wind on the porch with Anna and watch the feeders she tends so
well. A Greater Roadrunner zipped past as we pulled in to park.
The Gray-headed subspecies of Orange-crowned Warblers were bouncing in
front of us for most of our stay. A pair of Audubon’s Orioles view with
the Green Jays for feeder access. The Scaled Quail were slow to arrive, but
when they did, they strutted admirably as they made their way through the
seed Anna strewed around the area.
We bid adios to Anna and strolled around back where we had close-up views
of a very dapper Black-throated Sparrow who serenaded us enthusiastically.
Lunch was a picnic at the ranch before heading to Edinburg for one more try
for a 2026 look at the Crimson-collared Grosbeak. She was not cooperative.
The regular cast of characters was present. A Summer Tanager, a Ruddy and
a Ring-necked Duck, and a group of 35 Northern Shovelers “phalaroping”
(scrunched together in a tight circle moving counter clockwise to create a
vortex bringing food to the surface) provided entertainment.
We were all tired, so we called it a day a little before 5, gassed up and
went for an early supper at El Dorado.
Edge Wade
Alamo, TX
<1edgewade...>
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