Groove-billed Anis, unusual looking southern Texas specialty
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8eg_lpA1sYebv4mubuYv8Ip3iiI5Or_QeBW22fiLyiYzM2Q1NcQIUUG_BPG65yC_qdwCTnAu8KD7DyXzbDAV25hGRvb4DkGCFWHPDs7BvfG_oysoJ7d8_5Fl8EZQ2rSb_g1MNX5Omw/s400/GBAni-a1-SantaAnaNWR%252CTX.jpg)
I spotted this ani at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge as it was drinking water at the edge of North Lake. I came around a corner and it was only 10 feet in front of me but it quickly flew into the thick vegetation. After vocalizing it flew up into a tree where I got the top 2 pics. I saw my first Groove-billed Anis in Costa some years ago but an experience that is still clear in my memory. As I was wandering alone around the town of Monteverde so it was my own discovery not just a bird pointed out to me by a guide. I heard a second ani vocalize in the vegetation near the tree and the first ani flew in there providing me with the above photo. Unfortunately the thick vegetation made getting a focused photo not possible but it was too neat to get 2 anis together to not include this pic. The next day I returned to Santa Ana which was having Family Days with a number of activities including the opportunity to kayak on North Lake which I took advantage of. As I r