Birding, Early 2010

These photos are compiled from two afternoons of bird and butterfly watching at the Bentsen Palm State Park near Mission, TX and the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, TX.

Although there were no birds at the nest, this is the nest of a pair of Altamira Orioles.

Empty nests for unidentified birds.

Ball Moss is common on many trees in the sub-tropical environment of the Rio Grande Valley.

Cardinal on a feeder at the Bentsen Palm State Park.

Green Jay

Mesquite

Shape of ancient Mesquite tree.

Curves and arches in a Mesquite grove.

A tiny bird that I couldn't indentify.

Vicki at the first bird blind at Bentsen Palm State Park.

Path to the "Waterfall" at the Valley Nature Center.  The Waterfall is a trickle of water cascading down an imitation rock feature.  Even though it's a faux waterfall, it does draw a large variety of birds to the park.

Although it looked a little ragged, this was a beautiflu butterfly.  I saw only one of this species and can't find it in my butterfly book.  If you know what it is, send me a note.

This doesn't look exactly like the Phaon Crescent in my book, but it's the nearest thing I could find.

Another view.

Final view.

Queen butterfly at the Valley Nature Center.

An alternate view of a Queen Butterfly.  They look very similar to a Monarch.

A Red Squirrel peeks from a birdhouse overlooking the Valley Nature Center.