Learning some Texas Birds

I followed Birdie out of Hill Country,

And south about 100 miles to Choke Canyon State Park.

Where the weather was fair, and kayaking was easy.

That and many trails for birding and hiking made this park a perfect choice. There were critters to meet, like the bunnies, aka owl bait,

Armadillos,

White-tailed deer,

Big Al, and all the little Als.

Haven't seen the Javalina, and there were other critters too. But none so plentiful and diverse as the birdlife.

Birdie was by far the best guide as I learned several new to me Texas birds, but we also went on a Ranger-led tour.

This is a Ladder-backed woodpecker that was hanging around the campsite.

Birdie did a fantastic job hearing and then locating this Great Horned Owl.

Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, male and female

Vermilion Flycatcher

Green Jay

A tree full of Green Jays

Crested Caracara, also called a Mexican Buzzard.

Great Kiskadee

Greater Roadrunner

Hawk Alley lived up to its name.

Harris's Hawk

White-tailed hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Harrier

Red-shouldered Hawk

Birdie says this is a Krider's Red-tailed hawk...new one to me.

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me..." It's not all raptors here...His eye is on a lot of different kinds of sparrows. I don't know which kind this is, perhaps a Savannah Sparrow. Birdie says so, so it must be so.

And then there are the shore and water birds, like these Least Sandpipers.

And the Great Blue Heron

Tri-colored heron

My favorites are the White Pelicans

In flight

Greater Yellowlegs

I wasn't able to photograph everything, and we certainly haven't seen them all, but we are wearing ourselves out trying.

And there's always tomorrow...