Birding today in Big Bend NP was not particularly good.  Maybe the 97 degree temps had the birds laying low. 

 We added 3 species to the 2025 list including this Wilson's Warbler...

... And this unexpected female Mountain Bluebird.

And, finally a Mexican Jay.

I suspect if Trumpy finds out about this bird he'll want to rename it to 'American Jay.'

The Audubon's sub-species of the Yellow-rumped Warbler tends to be much more colorful than its eastern counterparts referred to as the Myrtle sub-species.

This Roadrunner certainly looks out of place on grass.

We saw several mammals today including coyote, jackrabbits, desert cottontails, mule deer and the diminutive Carmen Mountain Whitetail deer.  We also saw about a dozen javelina including this one that vogued for pictures.

If you ever want to see what life is like west of the Pecos, you'll probably have to cross this bridge.

I think we encountered more Black-tailed Jackrabbits than people today.  Which was okay with us.  (Note for my good buddy Judson... not a bird.)

We couldn't find Pecos Bill but we did find Judge Roy Bean's place in Langtry, TX.  The story of Roy Bean and the British actress Lillie Langtry is one of the classic tales of the west.  

Meanwhile, we added 8 more species to the 2025 count today including Scaled Quail.

Although not new for 2025, I finally got a look at a male Lark Bunting, albeit a scraggly one.

Tomorrow, we make our first ever visit to Big Bend National Park and the Chisos Mountains.

We spent most of the day at Lost Maples Natural Area north of Uvalde, TX with two primary targets... the endangered Black-capped Vireo and the very rare Golden-cheeked Warbler.  The Texas hill country is about the only place one will find these two species in the U.S.

The morning began with overcast skies and a very slight hint of drizzle with a wind that made 64 degrees feel more like 54 at best.   We found the Golden-cheeked Warblers first.

And, finally the Black-capped Vireos after a 3 mile stroll.

The ended in 100 degree weather near Kickapoo Caverns State Park where we picked up a Canyon Towhee and Blue Grosbeak to tally 13 new species for 2025 on the day.  Hutton's Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo were also highlights today. The YTD count now stands at 318.  

After our first big, beautiful flight across the Gulf of America, we arrived in Corpus Christi to start our 10 day excursion across Texas.

Right now, there may be one American Flamingo in Texas.  If so, this is it. This stray is hanging out with the rest of the shore birds in Port Aransas.

Another South American stray that has taken up residence behind a seafood restaurant in downtown Corpus Christi is this Cattle Tyrant.  After getting this bird last year, it was nice get it again with an even better picture this time around.

Pointing to the bird in the picture below, a fellow asked me, "Do you know what that bird is?"    I replied, "Sure.  It's a Little Blue Heron."  He said, "I know.  But what is it?"  To which I replied, "It's a Little Blue Heron.  As in the opposite of Great Blue Heron."  That seemed to make things click for him.

This Snowy Egret seemed to be lamenting, "I just washed my feathers and I can't do a thing with them!"  It had just finished taking a bath on a windy afternoon.

Hummers have been plentiful including this Ruby-throated Hummer.

After a couple of days in the Corpus area, we spent this afternoon at Kickapoo State Park west of Uvalde, TX.  It was 99 degrees when we arrived.  That is a far cry from minus 33 in Minnesota in February.

The total bird count for the trip after two full days stands at 123 with 30 new species observed for 2025.  I have picked up one life bird... an Aplomado Falcon.  These falcons are rare in the U.S. and we only got a brief glimpse of it sitting on power lines as we drove by.  It disappeared before we could turn around and come back for a better look.  Easy come, easy go.

We'll spend tomorrow in the Texas hill country before heading further west toward the Big Bend area and the Texas mountains.  I'm hoping for something other than tacos and tortilla chips west of the Pecos.

We made a quick trip to Miami this week to take Henry to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden.  Two Egyptian Geese photo-bombed this idyllic scene from the garden.

We added one bird to the 2025 list while at the garden as this Orange-winged Amazon appeared to be preparing a nest in a dead palm tree cavity.

A quick stop at Coral Reef Park near Kendall, FL to let Henry stretch his legs yielded another opportunity to observe the Blue and Yellow Macaws that frequent this park.  These macaws are about 3 feet long from the top of their heads to the tip of their tail feathers.

Back in Key West, this Short-tailed Hawk nailed one of the Eurasian Collared Doves that likes to bombard our parked cars with droppings.

This Shiny Cowbird (Lifer #544) surprised us as we were laying sod for a dog run along the side of the house.

This week we gear up for the first of our three big spring birding trips.  We head to Texas on Friday with a target list of 171 species.  With the YTD species total at 274, we should take a big leap toward our goal of 500 next week.

Meanwhile, the man cubs are waiting for Da-da to set up the pool for the season while they enjoy the sprinkler water mat on a hot April afternoon.

Some said that it could not be done.
Some said they even knew it.
We tried.  We tried.  We gave our all.
Turns out, we could not do it.

That was the theme last Wednesday evening as we watched in vain for the Yellow-crested Caracara at Oleta River near Miami.  This South American stray has been hanging around this park for about a year.  This was our fourth attempt to see it and once again, we whiffed.

So, the next morning it was off to Pine Woods Park at daybreak in search of Scaly-breasted Munias and Spot-breasted Orioles.  The munias were not to be found but, just as I was turning around to head back to the car, two orioles flew in to give me life bird #543.

They seemed to be in nest-building mode as one was carrying either a piece of string, wire or the longest pine needle I've ever seen.

I also picked up a Painted Bunting to ease the pain of not seeing the munias.

Upon arriving in Key West on Thursday, we unloaded the car beneath the thunderous maneuvers of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.  Apparently, our street provides them with their flight path as they were doing fly-overs at about 100 feet above the house.   Crank up the volume and watch the video to get a small sense of what these sounded like.  Six going over the house at the same time was quite the spectacle.

The Angels were in town for the air show this past weekend.  Thankfully, they only do this every other year.  The daily jet traffic from the nearby naval station is more than enough, let alone having these guys go zooming by as many as six at a time.

Today, Henry and I went back to the Key West Botanical Garden in search of one more new species for the year to get us to 10 for the month of March.  We got two.  A Black-throated Green Warbler (top) and a Prairie Warbler (bottom).

I arrived at Lake Woodruff NWR just before dawn this morning hoping for a Barred Owl.   Got it.  But, unfortunately no photos.

While keeping a watchful eye for gators on the trail, I observed 39 other species including this Limpkin.  Florida is pretty much the only place you can see a Limpkin in the U.S.

There was no shortage of photo opportunities for Green Heron.

Got another decent look at a Pileated Woodpecker.  But, still not the shot I'm looking for.

The warblers are starting to show up including this colorful Northern Parula.

Tomorrow, we head to the Miami area with a few target species on tap before completing the trip back to Key West on Thursday.

We made it out of the Keys today heading for the Daytona Beach/Orlando area to complete some chores this week.  The road from the Keys to mainland Florida has been closed intermittently over the past few days because of wildfires.   More than 4,000 acres have burned along US 1 the past few days.

It's been mostly yardwork and housework during March.  Henry has been busting his hump, helping his Grandma by mowing the artificial turf and watering the concrete pavers.  Very helpful, indeed.

O.G. is getting ready for his 1st birthday next week.  He understands that once he turns one, he has to start earning his keep too.  No more lounging around in bed all day.

Birding in Key West has been pitiful in March.  Just pitiful.  Henry and I recently managed to add a Northern Parula Warbler to the 2025 species list before getting mauled by mosquitos at the Key West Botanical Garden.

Today, we stopped at Green Cay near Boca Raton in search of a Least Bittern.  We heard one in the thick aquatic vegetation.  Later, this one briefly became visible among the reeds.

We added four more 2025 species on the day including Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Swallow-tailed Kite and Purple Martin.   This Yellow-crowned Night Heron was snoozing just off the boardwalk.

The swamp is just one enormous all-you-can-eat salad bar for the Purple Gallinules.

The birds should begin arriving in Key West next week.  So, we hope add to YTD total of 266 before month end.   We're now three weeks away from what should be a big-time week of birding across Texas.

February is coming to an end and the YTD species count stands at 260.   Some quick birding around Miami last weekend yielded several exotic species including the impressive Blue and Yellow Macaws.

And the comical Common Myna, which is becoming easier and easier to spot from Miami to Key West.  

Saturday was a rare day where I got to engage in three hobbies in the same day.  After the early morning birding, we stopped by the South Florida political button show and added a few buttons to my collection including these pins which are now the oldest in my collection, dating to the 1892 election.  Two gold stars if you can name them.

And, after an interesting lunch at Captain Charlies we spent a couple of hours doing some shelling at MacArthur Beach.   Interesting because it's a small place and it was overrun with hoity-toity old folks who all thought they should have a table upon request.  And, because a girl of about 11 or 12 was using the restaurant windows and door to vogue as if it was she who invented the self-absorbed pastime.  And, of course, the parents sat clueless at their table inside the restaurant unaware of the performance.

Finally, these Sanderlings appear to be waiting for their migratory buddies to begin showing up in March.  After picking up 180 species in January and 80 in February, we'll see if we can make it to 25 in March ahead of what should be big numbers in April (Texas), May (Arizona), and June (California).