Thanksgiving at Daingerfield State Park

November 25-27, 2009
We decided to spend this Thanksgiving in the woods, camping at Daingerfield State Park (Texas). We took the canoe since there is a very nice lake there. We fished a little with worms, but mostly fought the wind. No fish, but the birding was better. Days were sunny and mild (mid 60’s); the nights were cold (mid 30’s).

Broadwing Hawks
Turkey Vultures
American Robin
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Northern Junco
Carolina Wren (h)
Carolina Chickadee
Nuthatch sp.
Tufted Titmouse
American Coots
Great Blue Heron
Great Egrets
Double Crested Cormorants
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Northern “Yellow Shafted” Flicker
Golden Crowned Kinglet
Yellow Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Black and White Warbler
Blue Headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Pine Warbler
Eastern Phoebe (h)
White Throated Sparrow
American Crow

Photo by Bill Ravenscroft

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival 2009

Again this year Kingbirdfeeders.com ventured to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival (RGV) in Harlingen, Texas. RGV is a grand event (no pun intended). This year marks its sixteenth year. Having attended last year as a vendor, I was convinced that it would be a good deal to repeat. Birders and experts come from all over the United States and Canada--some even from other parts of the globe. There are several species of birds particular to the Valley--Green and Red Crowned Parrots, Green Jays, Buff Bellied Hummingbirds, Great Kiskadees to name a few. If you want to see these, a host of opportunity is afforded you.


The trip down can be great for birding, too. The highway between Kingsville and Harlingen often is populated with hawks. It is not uncommon to see Crested Caracaras, Harris’ Hawks, Red Tails, Ferruginous Hawks, and American Kestrels.

When in need of a break from the wonderful birding, RGV offers a great trade show where all kinds of vendors offer equipment, feeders, plants, art, reading material, and information about the area and its refuges, parks, and birding centers. Organizations which support and promote conservation of birding habitats have booths at RGV, too.

When the day is done, there is always good food. One evening we closed up for the night and took the drive to South Padre Island. There we dined on the deck of Amberjack’s. The view of the bay and the cool of the evening made for a grand experience. The Oysters Rockefeller were delicious.

For five days, we talked and shared our stories, provided some good products, enjoyed hearing from where people came, marveled at some who migrate to the Valley every year for the winter. And then it was homeward bound. We had a great time; we’re looking forward to next year.

Kinglets

Finally, they've arrived in our neck of the woods. Kinglets are birds with high activity: they just do not stand still. Their constnt movement makes it difficult to near impossible to get a decent photograph, and they tend to flick their wings often. You catch as catch can. Kinglets are active foragers. Arthropods, small insects, and the eggs of spiders are gleaned from the banches and leaves of trees and shrubs. Kinglets forage from tree top to the ground. They will sometimes catch prey acting a bit like flycatchers.

Ruby Crowned Kinglets are more prevalent than Golden Crowns in our area. The red erectile top-knot is often not visible. A male Ruby Crown will generally not display unless it is in dispute with another male. It is a sign of aggression.

In migration, kinglets will flock with other species such as chickadees and wood warblers.

One final bit of trivia, these birds which do no stand still are also quite small. Interestingly, it would take three ot five of them just to make one ounce. That is truly remarkable.

Regardless, kinglets are a sure sign of fall. I'll still grab my binoculars in an effort to find...and see if the bird is a Ruby or a Golden.

Photos by Bill Ravenscroft