Birds and Nature

This little rarish warbler was found a few days ago at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands/World Birding Center. I looked for it briefly after a lecture at that facility but was tired from my trip so chose to go take a nap. Though it continued to rain in this area all morning it slowed around noon and I tried again. It took a bit as I had to keep going inside to warm up as it continued sprinkling with unusually cold temps of low 40's and a frequent wind. It was working trees in a mixed flock with 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, an Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Nashville Warbler. Timing is everything, as I took photos of the parula it started to rain not just sprinkle and got these pics before I got my camera (and me) too wet. SeEtta

This Tropical Parula is a hard core singer--it sings from morning, less in afternoon but some again at evening. It has apparently been here almost 3 weeks. I found records of one last year that stayed also but no other reports on ebird. This is only one of many neat birds I am seeing at Neals Lodges (more in next posts). SeEtta

I came to Neals Lodges in Concan because it is a great birding hotspot but I was surprised to find out there was a Tropical Parula here. I refound the bird both yesterday and today, not difficult to locate it's raspy song but it is difficult to find it when it is 80-100 feet in the top of one of the many tall trees. I was able to follow it today when it flew into a shorter tree so I could get some reasonable photos. More photos to follow. SeEtta

These warblers were pretty challenging to photograph as, in addition to the bright gray overcast sky, they are in almost constant motion and often engaged in chasing each other away from some juicy morsel. The mixed flock in which this Tropical Parula was foraging included at least 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 1-2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 or more Ruby-crowned Kinglets and the Black-throated Gray Warbler in the less than complete pic below (have to look close as pic not good enough quality to enlarge much). SeEtta

I was delighted to see and photograph this apparently overwintering Tropical Parula today. It has been reported for several days foraging in a mixed flock of warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets traveling in the former rv park area of Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX and that is where I photographed it. I believe this is a male Tropical Parula but I haven't seen that many so I hope someone will correct me if I am in error. A few more pics in next post. SeEtta