Frontera Audubon, 4/9-10/16

I spent the past two mornings at Frontera Audubon in Weslaco trying to see some of the new incoming migrants.  This morning there were at least three Worm-eating Warblers and I finally got one to cooperate a bit.

They love searching through old dead leaf tangles and spend a lot of time engaged in acrobatics.  I bet they eat more spiders than worms.

I missed the Blue-winged Warbler yesterday but had a brief encounter today.

I flushed several nightjars.  I think the heavy black striping on the crown makes this an Eastern Whip-poor-will.  I also saw a couple of Chuck-will's-widows based on rusty color and large size.

As far as the wintering rarities go, I heard the Crimson-collared Grosbeak calling "see-ooo" right over my head but I could not see it.  It then flew past me to the neighbor's property to the south where it called several more times.  The Blue Bunting was much more friendly.

The female Black-headed Grosbeak is still putting in an occasional appearance at the feeding stations.  I would think she should be leaving soon.

Common Gallinule is not common at Frontera so it was nice to see a pair today.  Hope they stay.

I found this Buff-bellied Hummingbird in a spot of sunshine off the trail and it stretched its wings and tail.  I hoped that it would do it again.  And it did!

Here are my lists for the past two days.

Apr 10, 2016 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
49 species

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 8
Plain Chachalaca 12
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Common Gallinule 2
Laughing Gull 1
Inca Dove 2
White-tipped Dove 8
White-winged Dove 3
Chuck-will's-widow 2
Eastern Whip-poor-will 1
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
Buff-bellied Hummingbird 2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 5
Red-crowned Parrot 2
Green Parakeet 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Brown-crested Flycatcher 2
Great Kiskadee 4
Couch's Kingbird 4
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Green Jay 1
Barn Swallow 1
Black-crested Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 3
Clay-colored Thrush 4
Long-billed Thrasher 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
Worm-eating Warbler 3
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Olive Sparrow 3
Lark Sparrow 2
Crimson-collared Grosbeak 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Blue Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Great-tailed Grackle 3
House Sparrow 1

Apr 9, 2016 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
45 species

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 14
Plain Chachalaca 10
Great Egret 1
White Ibis 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Swainson's Hawk 1
Inca Dove 2
White-tipped Dove 8
White-winged Dove 3
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 6
Buff-bellied Hummingbird 2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 3
Red-crowned Parrot 2
Green Parakeet 2
Brown-crested Flycatcher 1
Great Kiskadee 1
White-eyed Vireo 4
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Green Jay 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Purple Martin 2
Barn Swallow 3
Cliff Swallow 3
Cave Swallow 1
Black-crested Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 3
Swainson's Thrush 1
Clay-colored Thrush 3
Long-billed Thrasher 3
Northern Mockingbird 4
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Kentucky Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Hooded Warbler 2
Olive Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Bunting 1
Great-tailed Grackle 3
House Sparrow 1