Santa Clara Ranch

Santa Clara Ranch 02/25-26 /2021

For my 63rd birthday, I treated myself to the bird blinds of The Santa Clara Ranch. The 100 year winter storm had just passed. The burst pipes in the attic were repaired. COVID restrictions were starting to wear thin. I needed a break, so I headed down to McAllen, Texas, near the border with Mexico. It was late February, early for migration, but I had the place to myself. The Ranch, set up exclusivelsy for bird photography, was booked solid through the entire birding season this year (2021) and much of next. My guide, Hector Astorga, an award winning photographer, treated me to a special couple of days.

The end result, some of the best photographs I have ever taken.
You be the judge.

A rare sight, a Northern Cardinal and a Pyrrhuloxia on the same limb.

Audubon's Oriole

Black-crested titmouse

Black-throated sparrow (mated pair)

Crested Cara Cara

Curve-billed Thrasher

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (lifer)

greater roadrunner


Typically the male roadrunner, as part of the mating ritual, will bring a lizard or some other morsel to the female. The winter storm had killed off many lizards so this male settled on a small stick. I doubt the female was impressed.