Monday, December 10, 2012

Estero Llano Grande State Park

Rose-throated Becard, Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Cory and I really enjoyed Estero Llano Grande State Park.  We made three separate trips to this location and got some of my favorite birds of the trip.  Cory got the rarest bird of the trip here, a female Rose-throated Becard.  Alas, I missed it because I was at Santa Ana looking for Hook-billed Kites at first light.  When Cory called I rushed over, but could not relocate the bird.
Common Pauraque, Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Alligator Lake was great for Common Pauraque, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Green Kingfisher, waterfowl, and Least Grebe.  There was also an Eastern Screech-Owl with its head out of a nest box, and a Long-billed Thrasher here.
Curve-billed Thrasher, Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Walking in the "Tropical Area" turned up a lot of great birds early in the morning including Buff-bellied and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Wilson's, Yellow-rumped, Pine, and Orange-crowned Warblers, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Inca and White-tipped Dove, Clay-colored Thrush, Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Green Jay, Altimira Oriole, Plain (boom) Chachalaca, and Curve-billed Thrasher.  This is where the becard hangs out when it is seen.
Neotropic Cormorant, Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Along the other trails in the park we saw lots of waterfowl and herons, Vermillion Flycatcher, and sparrows among other species.

5 comments:

  1. How did you find the paraque??? -m

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  2. Are you the lady who, while in the tropical area, was wondering which trail led back to the Visitor Center (where you could inquire about the old nest on the power line)?

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  3. Robert WL - I doubt these two ladies were lost, Cory has an iPhone.

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  4. The pauraques can be pretty tough to spot, but the volunteers and staff at Estero Llano are very helpful, the will give you lots of great tips on where to see all the birds, and point you in the direction of the pauraques.

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