Texas 2003 Hill Country and Rio Grande photos


Click on the small picture to see a larger, more detailed version. I toured Texas from El Paso to the Hill Country and Southern Rio Grande valley. The tour portion of the trip was led by Mark Korducki and organized by Jan Hansen (dba Otus Asio Tours otusasiotours@bellsouth.net). Jan leads a variety of trips, all of which I would recommend.

Jan Hansen organized and Mark Korducki led a trip to the Texas Hill Country and Big Bend National Park areas in April 2004. The 2004 pixtures are now available. Jan Hansen organized and, with Mark Korducki, led a trip to the Texas coast and Southern Rio Grande areas in February 2001. Those pixtures are also available.


Photographs taken during the Otus Asio Tour


[Our leader] Mark Korducki, Chapeno, April 23, 2003.

[Acadian Flycatcher] [Townsend's Solitaire] [Golden-cheeked Warbler] [Rufous-crowned Sparrow]

Acadian Flycatcher, Townsend's Solitaire, Golden-cheeked Warbler, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lost Maples State Natural Area, April 20, 2003.

[Lesser Goldfinch] [Vermillion Flycatcher] [Long-billed Thrasher] [Zone-tailed Hawk]

Lesser Goldfinch, Vermillion Flycatcher, Long-billed Thrasher, and Zone-tailed Hawk. Neal's Lodge, Concan, April 20, 2003.

[Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats] [Mexican free-tailed Bats]

Mexican free-tailed Bats, Concan, April 20, 2003.

[Black-capped Vireo] [Black-capped Vireo] [Black-capped Vireo] [Grey Vireo] [Grey Vireo]

Black-capped and Grey Vireo, Kickapoo State Park, April 21, 2003.

[Green Kingfisher male] [Green Kingfisher female] [Yell-w-throated Warbler]

Green Kingfisher male and female and Yellow-throated Warbler, Neuces River and Neals Lodge, Concan, April 21, 2003.

[Soft-shell Turtle] [Bronzed Cowbird]

Soft-shell Turtle, Laredo Community College and Bronzed Cowbird, St. Ygnacio, April 22, 2003

[Altimira Oriole] [Muscovy Duck] [Brown Jay]

Altimira Oriole, Muscovy Duck female, and Brown Jay. Chapeno, April 22 - 23, 2003.

[Ringed Kingfisher] [Ringed Kingfisher] [Ringed Kingfisher]

Ringed Kingfisher female. Chapeno, April 23, 2003.

[Long-billed Thrasher] [Audubon's Oriole] [White Pelican]

Long-billed Thrasher and Audubon's Oriole, Salineno and American White Pelican, Edinburg Wetlands, April 23, 2003.

[Groove-billed Ani] [Groove-billed Ani] [Fulvous Whistling Duck]

Groove-billed Ani and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, April 24, 2003.

[Clay-colored Robin] [Clay-colored Robin] [White-tailed Kite] [Mississippi Kite]

Clay-colored Robin and White-tailed and Mississippi Kites, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, April 24, 2003.

[Rose-throated Becard] [Rose-throated Becard] [Rose-throated Becard] [Rose-throated Becard] [Rose-throated Becard]

Rose-throated Becard female, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, April 24, 2003.

[Least Grebe] [Least Grebe] [Least Grebe] [Black-bellied Whistling Duck]

Least Grebe and Black-bellied Whistling Duck family, McAllen Sewage Ponds, April 24, 2003.

[Great Kiskadee] [Great Kiskadee] [Gray Hawk] [Plain Chachalaca]

Great Kiskadee at Anzalduas Park, Gray Hawk and Plain Chachalaca at Bentson State Park, April 24, 2003.

[Green Parakeet] [Green Parakeet]

Green Parakeet, San Benito Trailer Park, April 25, 2003.

[Reddish Egret] [Great blue Heron] [Clapper Rail] [Clapper Rail]

Reddish Egret (white phase), Great blue Heron, and Clapper Rail, Boardwalk at Convention Center, South Padre Island, April 25, 2003.

[Snowy Plover] [Wilson's Plover] [Wilson's Plover] [Whimbrel] [Black Skimmer]

Snowy Plover, Wilson's Plover, Whimbrel, and Black Skimmer, various beaches, South Padre Island, April 25, 2003.

[Franklin's Gull] [Franklin's Gull] [Franklin's Gull] [Great-tailed Grackle]

Franklin's Gulls (with Royal and Sandwich Tern) and Great-tailed Grackle, South Padre Island, April 25, 2003.

[Scissor-tailed Flycatcher] [Baltimore Oriole] [Baltimore Oriole] [Clay-colored Sparrow] [Tennessee Warbler] [Tennessee Warbler]

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Tennessee Warbler, South Padre Island, April 25, 2003.

[Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl] [Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl] [Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl] [Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl]

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, El Canelo Ranch, April 26, 2003.

[Golden-fronted Woodpecker] [Golden-fronted Woodpecker] [Crested Caracara] [Crested Caracara]

Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Crested Caracara, El Canelo Ranch, April 26, 2003.

[Great-horned Owl] [White-tailed Hawk] [White-tailed Hawk] [Hooded Oriole] [Hooded Oriole]

Great Horned Owl, El Canelo Ranch; White-tailed Hawk, along highway 77; Hooded Oriole, El Canelo Ranch and along road, April 26, 2003.


Birds seen on the Otus Asio Tour, but photographed after the tour


[Golden-cheeked Warbler] [Golden-cheeked Warbler] [Golden-cheeked Warbler] [Golden-cheeked Warbler]

Golden-cheeked Warbler, Friedrich Wilderness Park, San Antonio, April 27, 2003.

[Eastern Wood Peewee] [Squirrel]

Eastern Wood Peewee, Lost Maples State Natural Area, April 27 and Squirrel, Laguna de Plata, Del Rio, April 28, 2003.

[Painted Bunting] [Painted Bunting] [Painted Bunting] [Indigo Bunting]

Painted and Indigo Bunting, Devil's River State Natural Area, Del Rio, April 29, 2003.

[Yellow-breasted Chat] [Bell's Vireo] [Black-throated Sparrow] [Black-throated Sparrow]

Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo, and Black-throated Sparrow, Devil's River State Natural Area, Del Rio, April 29, 2003.


Preview of the Texas 2004 Hill Country and Big Bend tour


[McDonald Obseratory] McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, May 1, 2003.

[Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail] [Montezuma Quail]

Montezuma Quail (3 pair were seen), Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, April 30 - May 2, 2003.

[White-winged Dove] [Black-headed Grosbeak male] [Black-headed Grosbeak female]

White-winged Dove and Black-headed Grosbeak male and female, Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, April 30 - May 1, 2003 2003.

[Cassin's Kingbird] [Summer Tanager male] [Acorn Woodpecker] [Scott's Oriole]

Cassin's Kingbird, Summer Tanager, Acorn Woodpecker, and Scott's Oriole, Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, May 1 - 2, 2003 2003.

[White-faced Ibis] [Black-necked Stilt]

White-faced Ibis and Black-necked Stilt, Lake Balmorhea, April 18, 2003.


Eric W. Greisen
egreisen@nrao.edu