Bentsen is a Rockin' 1/6/11

The Black-vented Oriole found at Bentsen State Park south of Mission a couple of weeks ago has been a lot more cooperative as of late. It has taken up residence in the RV resort just north of the park and has a particular fondness for a bright red Mexican coral bean. This morning I finally got some great looks but the light wasn't very good for photography.





Earlier in the week an unidentified Empidonax was found on the CBC at Bentsen. Turns out it's a Gray Flycatcher. I went looking for it after viewing the oriole and eventually found it between the bathrooms and Green jay blind. I got pretty good looks at it including its unique downward tail wag.



The pale color, short primary extension and long narrow bill are all good field marks.



A pair of Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets were very vocal.



Other good birds included Ringed Kingfisher, Gray Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet and a pair of Clay-colored Thrushes.



This Vermillion Flycather has a real attitude! Actually he was coughing up a bug.



Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 200
Plain Chachalaca 32
Neotropic Cormorant 40
Anhinga 2
Great Egret 7
Tricolored Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Gray Hawk 1
White-tailed Hawk 2
Caspian Tern 1
Mourning Dove 1
Inca Dove 12
Groove-billed Ani 1
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
Ringed Kingfisher 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 3
Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 2
Gray Flycatcher 1
Black Phoebe 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Vermilion Flycatcher 3
Great Kiskadee 6
White-eyed Vireo 2
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Green Jay 10
Black-crested Titmouse 1
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Clay-colored Thrush 2
Northern Mockingbird 5
Long-billed Thrasher 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 15
Common Yellowthroat 5
Lincoln's Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Bronzed Cowbird 1
Black-vented Oriole 1
Altamira Oriole 4
American Goldfinch 5