November 27 Friday Black Friday

Today is NOT SHOPPING day for us as we want to avoid the madness that prevails in the US on the day after Thanksgiving. People we lining up very early in the morning (3 or 4 AM) to get the door-crasher specials. Not my game.
We do something far more relaxing and entertaining and enjoy the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a world renown birdwatching park, a few miles south of Alamo, on the Rio Grande River. The have a 50’ observation tower you can climb to watch the birds. Since birds like to sit in the tree tops, being above them is a great idea. There are birds here we don’t see in Ontario, like the Green Jay, and the Great Kiskadee. If you think the Baltimore Oriole is pretty, you should see the Altamira Oriole. Very very pretty and bright orange. We also see a Ladder-back Woodpecker, which is similar to our Downy Woodpecker in Ontario, but lacks the red head color.

After viewing from the tower, we walk down one path and find a photography blind and sit down to watch the birds close up.

 There were several butterflies too.

The Refuge has set up a little water hole, sprinkled with seeds to attract the birds. The Green Jays come in little groups, gobble up some seeds and then take off into the woods. A few minutes later the scenario is repeated. These Jays are similar to our Blue Jays (not the ones with bats and gloves) but a completely different coloring. A Golden Fronted Woodpecker joins in with the Jays. This woodpecker is similar in size and color to the Red-headed Woodpecker but has patches of orange and white on its head. We spot a Black-crested Titmouse that comes in for a few seeds and flies off into the woods.
A Great Kiskadee approaches near but sits in a branch above and off to the side of the water and seems to settle in for a little nap. Then a Altamira Oriole flies in and lands at the water, and is joined by another Great Kiskadee. The Oriole proceeds to have a nice bath and the Kiskadee joins in.

Golden Fronted Woodpecker

 

Green Jay

 Green Jays squabble, showing coloration on tails.

 

 Great Kiskadee in tree.

The Great Kiskadee joins with the Altamira  Oriole at the watering hole.

The Great Kiskadee and the Altamira Oriole enjoy a bath together.

I hope the pictures do these pretty birds justice.

Bev on a trail in the Wildlife Refuge.

The Spanish Moss creates a tunnel through the trees.