A few pictures--blog is below.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Harris's Hawk

G

Gray Hawk

Lincoln's Sparrow

Anhinga (female)

Common Pauraque

Merlin

Olive Sparrow

Weslaco, Texas—D Day+30—January 31, 2019—This the last day of the first month of our Texas Big Year.  As of dark we have recorded 177 species, and I have the added species of Swainson’s Hawk seen near Willis, Texas that Deb missed.  Included in that 177 species were four very unusual species of Texas— first, Purple Finch are recorded in some years but they are not a regular.  The second is the Fork-tailed Flycatcher seen near Willis, Texas.  The third is Rufous-backed Robin in Uvalde County,  and finally, today we found the forth, Golden-crowned Warbler at Frontera Audubon Center.  In addition, we were able to add White-winged Scoter, Ferruginous Hawk, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Rusty Blackbird while not unusual are not always east to locate.  So I think our quest is off to a good start.

Since my last blog we have been hard at work getting the Wildlife Viewing Blind I oversaw construction of at Garey Park in Georgetown for the dedication that took place last Saturday, January 26.  This was the culmination of over a year of work on my part from raising $10,000 to build the blind and the actual construction itself.  The culmination of this effort was the completion of the large water feature associated with the blind.  That was not completed until Thursday before the dedication.  After the dedication we hosted my daughter LaMar and her in laws for a fried okra dinner Saturday night.

On Monday we headed to Choke Canyon SP for the night.  We only spent one night there and did add several species before heading to Weslaco where we are currently staying.  While here we had  spent time at Estero Llano Grande SP, Frontera Audubon, Anzalduas County Park, and The National Butterfly Gardens.  Since leaving home on Monday we have added 50 species here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.  Tomorrow we will head first to Santa Ana NWR, then on to Bentsen.