Yesterday I made a butterfly run out to the Yturria Brush tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR. The high temperature for tomorrow is forecast to be 108F so I wanted to check it out before everything gets fried. Turns out I was too late. Vegetation was already crispy and there were few butterflies so I switched to birds who were singing their heads off.
As I approached the brushy monte about a half mile north of the new parking area on Vanderpool Road I heard the squeaky call of a Groove-billed Ani. I whistled an imitation of its call and one promply flew in to check me out.
Then it was joined by a second who tried to offer the first a small grasshoppper and then they proceeded to copulate. My oh my!
Well that was unexpected. Other passerines were calling so I responded with my best imitation of a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. I was hoping for Varied bunting but all I got were the common Painted Buntings. Here's a strangly colored young male.
Adult and young White-eyed Vireos came in to investigate.
As did a migrant American Redstart.
The major find for the day were several Plain Chachalacas. It was a first for me on the refuge and only the second eBird record, the first being from 1999.
After tomorrow's excruciating heat it supposted to cool off a bit and maybe even rain. Might be a good time to head to SPI for late migrants.
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