Estero Llano Grande WBC

Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco is one of eight World Birding Centers in southern Texas, and in just a few years has become a terrific place for birding. Boardwalks cross a variety of wetlands; trails go through grasslands and dry oak woodlands.

This is another brief sampling.

Long-billed Thrasher ...

Black-necked Stilts take flight. Note also the Short-billed Dowitcher ...

Vermilion Flycatcher ...

Great Kiskadees ...

Anhinga ...

In an old trailer park now owned by the state and adjoining the "developed" habitats, we joined a naturalist from another WBC and successfully chased down a juvenile Rose-throated Becard (lifer, but no photos).

We returned to the visitors' center and had our picnic lunch. But instead of leaving, another birder told us where a Common Pauraque could be found sleeping on the ground near a tree trunk. Her directions were precise, but she was concerned that even so we would miss the well camouflaged bird, so she led the way (birders are great that way!). As we looked at the sleeping bird, non-birders passed by and we tried to point out the bird. It took look minutes for them to find it, even though we were only a few feet from the bird. It slept peacefully. We had seen this bird on our first trip to Texas several years ago, but then we had to go looking for it at dusk (past our normal bedtime). It was a treat to see it in mid-day, even though it meant missing the strange sound it makes as it begins its nightime foraging


Good birding!