Wednesday 30 January 2013

Birding with Gary - Santa Ana

Established in 1943 for the protection of migratory birds, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge happens to be positioned along an east-west and north-south juncture of two major migratory routes for many species of birds. It is also at the northern-most point for many species whose range extends south into Central and South America. The refuge is right in the middle of all this biological diversity, which is what makes this 2,088 acre parcel the ‘jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System.’ Though small in size, Santa Ana offers visitors an opportunity to see birds, butterflies and many other species not found anywhere else in the United States beyond deep South Texas. 

Situated along the most southern stretch of the Rio Grande, the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is home to resident species like green jays, chachalacas and great kiskadees, making it one of the top birding destinations in the world. The refuge is important habitat for birds from the Central and Mississippi flyways that funnel through on their way to and from Central and South America. Other bird species, like the groove-billed ani, reach the northern limit of their range in South Texas and do not go much further north than deep South Texas.

Hundreds of thousands of migrating raptors fly over the refuge in spring and fall, including broadwing hawks, northern harriers and peregrine falcons. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge’s rarest raptors, the hook-billed kite and gray hawk, are seen occasionally. Spring warblers are abundant with more than 35 species seen, including golden-winged warbler, magnolia warbler, northern and tropical parula, American redstart, palm warbler and yellow-breasted chat.

Zebra longwings, Julias, and Mexican bluewings are but a few of the more than 300 butterfly species found on the refuge. Peak diversity falls between October and December with a single October day known to produce a tremendous 65 documented species! The butterflies of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge are mainly tropical, with many species occurring only as occasional migrants or transients from Mexico.

At an ecological crossroad, Santa Ana is strategically located where subtropical climate, gulf coast, great plains and Chihuahuan desert meet. Here, next to the Rio Grande, you will find Sabal palms growing alongside prickly pear cactus, habitat for the ocelot and jaguarundi, two endangered cat species known to still prowl the deep forest. Lucky visitors might see coyote and bobcat. Look for fresh diggings left by nine-banded armadillos. Lizards, snakes and the Texas tortoise bask in summertime heat and days close with Mexican free-tailed bats wheeling across star-studded skies.

- from the US Fish and Wildlife Service website.

Cleverly named Green Parakeets


Long billed Thrasher

Female Ladder-backed Woodpecker

One of the trails at Santa Anna

Great Kiskadee

Monk or Quaker Parakeet on the edge of one of their iconic [huge] stick nests


Texas Indigo Snake?
The Rio Grande - that's Mexico on the right

Distant male American Kestrel

An unknown collective noun of stilts

Lifer! - Solitary Sandpiper [although i may have seen one in Venezuela in 1989....]
Stilt among Cinnamon Teal

White-faced Ibis
to be completed...........

South Padre Island


Redhead - very important wintering area in the lagoons created by South Padre Island for this beautiful spp

American Wigeon
Reddish Egret
Tri-coloured Heron
Reddish Egret
Great Blue Heron

Snowy Plover

Piping Plover
Sly and shy standing stilts
Clapper Rail in close up
Clapper Rail
Half time drinks - some Texas beer and a 'Texan Man sized portion' of fish n chips
Gary, myself, Paul and Lou. 

Bad driving - it took a while to dig it out.....

A Flotilla of Brown Pelicans
The family minus Tom - probably reading in a vehicle on South Padre Island

Lifer missed - Flammulated Owl

Lifer gained - Tropical Kingbird

We finally tracked down our Nakuspian comrades; Gary and Marie and Paul and Marie, or they tracked us down and we arranged a day's excursion east to south Padre Island.

Estero Llano Grande

The following day we visited another reserve in the valley thanks to a recommendation from Ed. Estero Llano Grande!

From their website;
At the geographic center of the World Birding Center network, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lake, woodlands and thorn forest. Even beginning birders and nature lovers will enjoy exploring this 230 plus-acre refuge, which is convenient to all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer.


The Land
Water is the magic ingredient for attracting wildlife, and Estero Llano Grande State Park offers something special as the largest wetlands environment in the World Birding Center network. A shallow lake, fringed with marsh cane, is actually part of the Arroyo Colorado. Classic Rio Grande woodlands add variety to a park that already boasts a well-deserved birding reputation. As part of extensive restoration plans, a former agricultural field has been transformed into wetlands, with an island just right for a secure nesting site.

Eastern Fox Squirrel
Main wetland at Estero Grande








From my point of view the park had a great variety of habitats and many of the Rio Grande specials can be seen quite easily. Half a days birding, even in winter, can generate about 70 species. We had a great morning wandering about and even the kids enjoyed some very close views of some species including our first views of an interesting bird; Alligator.