The Birds Of Santa Ana NWR

And yes,I must start off with one of my new favorite birds,the Green jay,and why not two together?

After slowly walking the pathway and climbing the tower,I found I was seeing plenty of bird action but unable to get a clear shot through the thick underbrush,plus,they were always on the move.

I did get this shot below from the top of the high viewing platform.It was about 100 yards out and looking down.

Finally I came across a sign that said “Photo Blind,”so I followed the path to a small building with windows covered in burlap drapes and a nice bench to sit at by the window.And hey!I had it all to myself.

Well I spent an enjoyable 45 minutes there,with a couple of short term visitors,one from a local newspaper doing interviews.

At first I thought that I would see nothing when I first arrived at this blind,but was pleasantly surprised to look up and see my first green jays looking down at the feeding station out front by the pond.Then more birds,soon a steady stream of visitors came.This little guy below.I need my bird books,help!

 

And of course another favorite,the cardinal.I wish we had these in our backyard back home in summer,like they do in the eastern part of the continent.

And I need a more positive identification on this thrasher,as he seems smaller than the curve billed thrashers I see in Arizona.Maybe its not a thrasher,help again.

Here’s another angle below.

Then along came the Altamira Oriole,only seen down in this area and further south into Mexico.

They are trying to attract these here to the NWR.This species of oriole has both the male and female looking the same.They also don’t migrate.

My enjoying stay in the blind came to an abrupt end when some old guy(about my age) came stumbling out of the woods in front of the blind,scattering all the birds,looks at me inside peering out at him and exclaims…..What is this? In wonderment…I answered back sarcastically….It was a photo blind until a minute ago,and left..I guess I was a little rude but he could at least stay on the nicely marked paths.

My walk continued around the lake where I watch several types of duck frolicking,unable again to identify a couple of very colorful ones seen below.Even a couple with a bird book were having trouble.

 

He has orange feet and a bit of a spoonbill.Kathy,this one is for you…Identification please.

finally a couple more random shots finishing with another green jay photo.

I cant get over what a striking colored bird this is.2 weeks ago I didn’t even know they existed.Its also the official bird of the city of McAllen Texas.

My walk through the NWR this past Saturday will probably be my last bird outing for this trip.There are dozens more birding spots in this valley.I would recommend to any serious birder RV’er,that they spend some time in one of the parks in this valley.

I have one serious birder friend who spends his winters in Yuma,birding…….He doesn’t know what he’s missing.Do you hear me Murray?

And one last thing.I found the general lack of any crowds to be great as I found myself alone on the pathways most of the time.An enjoyable experience.

I’m hoping in the next couple of days,that I will hear that my axle’s have arrived and I can get back on the road for Oaxaca and my trailer home,probably full of ants and mice by now.Time is running out before I have to be home in BC,and I still have over 5000 miles of travel ahead of me.