Early Black Tern at Progreso Lakes, 3/20/20

After spending most of the day birding in our yard at Progreso Lakes, I was watching the Covid19 coverage on the evening news when I look out the window and saw a small tern with buoyant flight out over the resaca.  To hell with the news.  I grabbed the camera and ran into the back yard and got shots of this very early Black Tern.  They are common on the coast during migration and summer.  But I didn't get one for the yard list last year.

Earlier in the day a Laughing Gull passed by.  They are not a surprise but you don't see a lot of them away from the coast.

An adult Little Blue Heron spent the afternoon across the water.  First for the year.

Back on terra firma, the bird bath was busy.  A pair of Hooded Orioles brightened the yard.

The Long-billed Thrasher came in for a drink.

If European Starlings were rare strays to this continent, we would appreciated them a lot more.

The Great Kiskadee grabbed a fruit off our corky-stemmed passion vine.

Hummer action included Buff-bellied, Ruby-throated and Black-chinned.

A sinister Bronzed Cowbird hung out with the Red-wings.

Other than a few swallows and our first Scissor-tailed Flycatcher for the year, there was little migrant action.  Hoping that tomorrow's weak cold front will drop in a few.

Jones yard, Progreso Lakes, Hidalgo, Texas, US

Mar 20, 2020 7:45 AM - 1:55 PM

Protocol: Stationary

51 species (+1 other taxa)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (fulgens)  200

Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)  4

Plain Chachalaca  7

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  25

Eurasian Collared-Dove  1

Inca Dove  1

White-tipped Dove  1

Mourning Dove  5

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2

Black-chinned Hummingbird  1

Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Northern)  2

American Coot (Red-shielded)  3

Spotted Sandpiper  2

Laughing Gull  1

Neotropic Cormorant  3

Double-crested Cormorant  7

American White Pelican  2

Little Blue Heron  1

Green Heron  3

Turkey Vulture  2

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Ringed Kingfisher  1

Green Kingfisher  2

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Northern)  4

Peregrine Falcon  2

Black Phoebe  1

Great Kiskadee  4

Tropical Kingbird  1

Couch's Kingbird  1

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher  1

Loggerhead Shrike  1

Tree Swallow  10

Barn Swallow (American)  5

Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)  1

Carolina Wren (Northeast Mexico/South Texas)  1

European Starling  20

Long-billed Thrasher  1

Northern Mockingbird  3

House Sparrow  7

Olive Sparrow  1

Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  10

Lincoln's Sparrow  3

Hooded Oriole (cucullatus/sennetti)  1

Altamira Oriole  1

Red-winged Blackbird  40

Bronzed Cowbird (Bronzed)  2

Brown-headed Cowbird  6

Great-tailed Grackle  5

Orange-crowned Warbler  2

Common Yellowthroat  1

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1

Northern Cardinal  4

Back Porch Action at Progreso Lakes, 3/7/20

I was going to get some yard work done today but the birds would not allow it.  First Hooded Oiole of the year made use of our citrus feeding station made from a tether ball pole.  I thought I had heard one a couple of days ago.

The Pyrrhuloxia has become more tame and is daily visiting the bird bath and feeding on grass seeds.  I don't seem him eating the bird seed I throw out.

A Green Jay was attracted to the oranges.

As was the Golden-fronted Woodpecker

And I finally photographed a Long-billed Thrasher in our yard.  I've seen one across the fence in the neighbor's yard a few times.  I'm still waiting on a Curve-billed.

Glad to see the Yellow-throated Warbler after it had been MIA for a few weeks.

The flock of Plain Chachalacas has grown to ten.  This one is enjoying potato tree berries.

Five Lincoln's Sparrows was a one day high.  I think a little migration is occurring.

My little Swamp Sparrow has been a regular most of the winter but was acting odd today.  It was feeding actively and could fly but was having trouble walking.  It may have hit the window but I can't see any damage.  Hope it's OK.

The Olive Sparrow paid a visit.  I later heard it singing for the first time this year.  It is Spring!

Here's today's list.

Jones yard, Progreso Lakes, Hidalgo, Texas, US

Mar 7, 2020 8:30 AM - 3:14 PM

Protocol: Stationary

49 species

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (fulgens)  500

Blue-winged Teal  4

Lesser Scaup  23

Plain Chachalaca  10

Pied-billed Grebe  1

Inca Dove  1

White-tipped Dove  2

Mourning Dove  10

Black-chinned Hummingbird  1

Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Northern)  1

American Coot (Red-shielded)  2

Anhinga  1

Neotropic Cormorant  12

Double-crested Cormorant  17

Snowy Egret  1

Green Heron  1

Black-crowned Night-Heron  5

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  4

Turkey Vulture  10

Osprey (carolinensis)  1

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Northern)  3

American Kestrel  1

Black Phoebe  2

Eastern Phoebe  1

Great Kiskadee  4

Tropical Kingbird  1

Green Jay (Green)  2

Black-crested Titmouse  1

Verdin  1

Tree Swallow  4

House Wren (Northern)  1

Long-billed Thrasher  1

Northern Mockingbird  2

House Sparrow  3

Olive Sparrow  1

Lincoln's Sparrow  5

Swamp Sparrow  1

Hooded Oriole (cucullatus/sennetti)  1

Red-winged Blackbird  12

Brown-headed Cowbird  5

Orange-crowned Warbler  3

Common Yellowthroat  1

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  10

Yellow-throated Warbler  1

Wilson's Warbler  1

Northern Cardinal  7

Pyrrhuloxia  1