We had made reservations for the night at the El Canelo Ranch because they are one of the few reliable places in southern Texas to see a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. This tiny owl nests next to the inn on the 1400 acre ranch, and is a favorite stopover for birders (and hunters). We got there just before dinner time, and later that evening went out in the dark and saw a pair of Great Horned Owls in the car headlights. The owner cautioned to make sure the door to our guest house was kept closed, or we might get some rattlesnakes wandering into the building.
We got up and out to do some birding before breakfast. There were a good number of Hooded Orioles, a few Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, and some other birds in the area.
Female Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
Male Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
Male Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
Hooded Oriole
Hooded Oriole
I stopped at the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl nesting box just as it emerged.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
After breakfast, Walt and I got some good looks at the owl as it perched in a nearby tree.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
We birded on the ranch most of the morning, and saw quite a few species, including three more life birds: Green Jay, White-tipped Dove, and Pyrrhuloxia, although it wasn't until later in the trip before I was able to photograph this dove species.
Green Jay
Pyrrhuloxia
Bronzed Cowbird
Vermillion Flycatcher
Crested Caracara
Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
Brown-crested Flycatcher
I photographed a small sparrow on the ranch that still needs to be identified. Two knowledgeable Texas birders think that it is a female House Sparrow, but I have never seen a House Sparrow with a small pink bill. The white eye-ring, inner pale tail feathers with darker outer tail feathers, white covert feather tips, and light breast streaking suggest a juvenile Cassin's Sparrow to me based on my sparrow books, but I can't count this species as a life bird without confirmation as to what species it is. If there are any sparrow experts reading this who can help, please e-mail me.
Unidentified sparrow
Unidentified sparrow
Unidentified sparrow
Once we left the ranch gate, it was a three mile drive to Hwy 77, and we birded from the car as we drove out. We got a good look at a perched Crested Caracara, and saw flying Red-tailed and Swainson's Hawks. I also saw my twelfth life bird of the trip: Couch's Kingbird
Couch's Kingbird
Crested Caracara
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk