Birds of the Rio Grande Valley

Harlingen, TX.         High: 86.       Low: 67

Altamira oriole

The Rio Grande Valley area is THE place to be for avid birders. Sparky is not an avid birder. (You could have fooled me! exclaims Eldo.) She doesn't have a pair of binoculars, and she doesn't have a fancy camera with fancy lenses. She uses a Nikon Coolpix 900 for all these photos. Well, let's just say, she is beginning to get more interested in birds,  just because they are so beautiful down here in the Rio Grande Valley area...specifically near Harlingen, TX. It's a migratory route for birds and ducks in the spring and in the fall.

juvenile indigo bunting?

Great kiskadee

There are multiple birding areas, multiple wildlife refuge areas, all within a half hour or about an hour of travel from the RV park where we are staying in Harlingen. (Sunshine RV Park in Harlingen). 

Sparky's favorite is the closest park--the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. Most of the photos from today's heavily laden photo post are from this park.

Tufted titmouse

The Altamira oriole is here all over the park. Sparky would love to see some other species of orioles, but so far this is the only one she has seen. Now if she were an avid birder, she would rattle off a bunch of other ones that are in the area, because people have said they are here! Sparky has seen three species of hummingbirds, but sure there are more.....the rufous....

The ruby throated....

And this one....

She has seen the brown thrasher, which has a gorgeous chest of striking black and white feathering....

Ruby throated hummingbird

Sparky is thinking she needs a bird book of good photos...any recommendations? (And she said she was not an avid birder...haha) Well, once she gets the vest jacket with a bazillion pockets, a big fanny pack, a great set of binoculars, a camera with a humongous lens and a bucket hat, THEN she will be an avid birder....Can you picture it? 

We'll leave you with yet another Altamira oriole photo....There are many more birds waiting to be discovered...Sparky hopes to find some more...      Bye for now.....

Altamira oriole