Photo ABCs

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

A Yellow-billed Cuckoo, photographed at Santa Clara Ranch in May, 2019.

Black Vulture

A Black Vulture lands on a perch at Santa Clara Ranch in southern Texas.

Photographed in May, 2019.

Lark Sparrow

I don't know of any sparrow more handsome than the Lark Sparrow.

Here is one photographed at Santa Clara Ranch in southern Texas, in May, 2019.

White-tipped Dove

The White-tipped Dove is found throughout much of Mexico. In the United States it is only found in southernmost Texas. It gets its name from its tail, which is tipped in white, most visible during flight.

These were photographed on Santa Clara Ranch in May, 2019.

Northern Bobwhite

The Northern Bobwhite is a handsome quail found mostly in the eastern half of the United States and Mexico. It is named after its song, which sounds like Bob White!

These photos were taken at Santa Clara Ranch, near McAllen, Texas, in May, 2019.

A female Northern Bobwhite.

 

Harris's Hawk

While in south Texas last year I also spent a day at another ranch which caters to bird photographers, the Santa Clara Ranch, hosted by superb photographer Hector Astorga.

This ranch has numerous photo blinds, many with water features, all set up to have optimal light either in the early morning or the late afternoon.

One of the blinds is next to an area designed to attract raptors. And it certainly did attract them! During our time in that blind there was a constant stream of avian visitors, mostly Crested Caracaras, Harris's Hawks, and Black Vultures. Here is a handsome Harris's Hawk.

Did you know? The range of the Harris's Hawk includes scattered regions of South and Central America and much of Mexico. In the United States it is exclusively found in the states which border Mexico, though it is uncommon in California. I have seen them in Jacumba (east of San Diego), about 100 yards from the border fence.

 

 

Purple Martin

A Purple Martin, photographed near McAllen, Texas, in May, 2019. This bird is either a female or immature male.

Did you know? Purple Martins in Arizona and other far western states nest mostly in natural cavities, like this one in a saguaro. In the eastern United States, they nest exclusively in nest boxes. These birds in Texas were nesting in man-made nest boxes.

Carolina Wren

A Carolina Wren, photographed at Quinta Mazatlán, a botanical garden in McAllen, Texas, in May, 2019.

Plain Chachalaca

The Plain Chachalaca is found through much of Eastern Mexico and parts of Central America. In the United States it is only found in southernmost Texas. Here are two pictures taken at Quinta Mazatlán, a botanical garden in McAllen, Texas, where they are quite tame. Photographed in May, 2019.

White-winged Dove

A White-winged Dove, photographed at Quinta Mazatlán, a botanical garden in McAllen, Texas, in May, 2019.