Today was an overcast day and while it was 18 degrees it was windy and when we were on the ridge it was chilly. We did not have an early start. We all went to bed early last night and slept 8 hours or more. Maybe it was a bit of exhaustion. When we arrived at Santa Ana NWR, we stood and watched at the observation window for the Altamira Oriole eating from the half orange slice and the Green Jay along with the Great Kiskadee, so it was a lovely welcome.
There were tons of Red-winged Blackbirds. We asked about any bird specialties showing up at the park and we were told the best spots to go. We walked Chachalaca Trail and saw a Bobcat come out and walk a bit of the trail and then go onto another trail. The Bobcat was strolling. We asked the local park birder volunteer about what to do when one meets up with a Bobcat. Never make eye contact with the animal and move slowly back. Barbr got a photo of it.
We ended up at a lake which was brimming with waterfowl: Least and Pied-bill Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Pintail, Mottled, Green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal and Gadwall.
We then had to rush back to make it for the twelve noon tram ride tour with the park volunteer guides. We ended up having lunch on the tram, so we munched our way through the ride. The tram was an engine so it was loud and the volunteer guide used a speaker while his wife drove the tram. We stopped at an ancient cemetery which belonged to the owners of the park land which were farmers over a 150 years ago.
The tram tour also included a stop at the Rio Grande. The river was probably about 30 feet wide and then there was Mexico. On the Mexican side there were lots of cows and there was a farm there. One could see the information paths taken into the US from the shore, which one can ford across.
We took a look at Mexico and the Rio Grande and here are some photos of the border visit.
Toward the end of the tour and to get back to the visitor centre we had to travel on the elevated levee and it was so windy up there and it got kind of cool. Note that I did not say cold, just cool, nothing like winter... The guide also explained how much height was added to the levee after the 2010 tropical depression which brought in so much rain. The land was flooded up to 15 feet height and if the levee was breached, the whole area as far as Alamo would have been flooded.
The almost two hour tram tour ended and we heard that a Rose-breasted Becard was seen around the observation tower area, so we set off to look for it. We found a bird hide and there were Olive Sparrows there which was really nice. This is probably the bird of the day for me. Barbr's bird of the day was the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Colleen's bird of the day was the Green Jay. We did not get the Becard and the park ranger was with us looking for it also.
We stayed at Santa Ana until closing time at 4 pm. This was too early to quit birding so we headed home but went up and down the farm roads along the way. We picked up Roseate Spoonbills, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared Dove, Meadowlarks, Kestrel and a Merlin. The fields had some mystery crop we could not recognize and then other we did such as huge fields as far as the eye could see of shallots and cabbage. Colleen said she could smell the cabbage along that field. But this one mystery crop was about 10 foot high long leaf and very thick foliage. If we had seen a farmer we would have stopped and asked exactly what this was.
We then stopped at the local Mexican restaurant and ordered Mexican food to go. Barbr had liver. So we dined well with out splash tonight. So another good day birding for us. Santa Ana is a hot place to bird during migration. We have all done this. But in February it still has interesting birds coming across and is a pretty green place even in winter.
Right now each of us is working away on photos for my blog.
There were tons of Red-winged Blackbirds. We asked about any bird specialties showing up at the park and we were told the best spots to go. We walked Chachalaca Trail and saw a Bobcat come out and walk a bit of the trail and then go onto another trail. The Bobcat was strolling. We asked the local park birder volunteer about what to do when one meets up with a Bobcat. Never make eye contact with the animal and move slowly back. Barbr got a photo of it.
We ended up at a lake which was brimming with waterfowl: Least and Pied-bill Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Pintail, Mottled, Green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal and Gadwall.
We then had to rush back to make it for the twelve noon tram ride tour with the park volunteer guides. We ended up having lunch on the tram, so we munched our way through the ride. The tram was an engine so it was loud and the volunteer guide used a speaker while his wife drove the tram. We stopped at an ancient cemetery which belonged to the owners of the park land which were farmers over a 150 years ago.
The tram tour also included a stop at the Rio Grande. The river was probably about 30 feet wide and then there was Mexico. On the Mexican side there were lots of cows and there was a farm there. One could see the information paths taken into the US from the shore, which one can ford across.
We took a look at Mexico and the Rio Grande and here are some photos of the border visit.
Toward the end of the tour and to get back to the visitor centre we had to travel on the elevated levee and it was so windy up there and it got kind of cool. Note that I did not say cold, just cool, nothing like winter... The guide also explained how much height was added to the levee after the 2010 tropical depression which brought in so much rain. The land was flooded up to 15 feet height and if the levee was breached, the whole area as far as Alamo would have been flooded.
The almost two hour tram tour ended and we heard that a Rose-breasted Becard was seen around the observation tower area, so we set off to look for it. We found a bird hide and there were Olive Sparrows there which was really nice. This is probably the bird of the day for me. Barbr's bird of the day was the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Colleen's bird of the day was the Green Jay. We did not get the Becard and the park ranger was with us looking for it also.
We stayed at Santa Ana until closing time at 4 pm. This was too early to quit birding so we headed home but went up and down the farm roads along the way. We picked up Roseate Spoonbills, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared Dove, Meadowlarks, Kestrel and a Merlin. The fields had some mystery crop we could not recognize and then other we did such as huge fields as far as the eye could see of shallots and cabbage. Colleen said she could smell the cabbage along that field. But this one mystery crop was about 10 foot high long leaf and very thick foliage. If we had seen a farmer we would have stopped and asked exactly what this was.
We then stopped at the local Mexican restaurant and ordered Mexican food to go. Barbr had liver. So we dined well with out splash tonight. So another good day birding for us. Santa Ana is a hot place to bird during migration. We have all done this. But in February it still has interesting birds coming across and is a pretty green place even in winter.
Right now each of us is working away on photos for my blog.
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