Tequisquiapan Farmland

I was out in search of feeding Grackles and Cowbirds this afternoon. Apart from a mixed flock of 10,000 Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds, it was fairly unsuccessful under the scorching hot sun.

I did come across the 6 of the 'Farmland 7' raptors: American Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Crested Caracara, Peregrine, Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture. Only Northern Harrier was missing.

I spent the morning doing a bit of garden birding, and caught nice views of Cactus Jack, a Mexican classic...

The supporting cast in the garden consisted of Violet-crowned and Broad-billed Hummingbirds, House Finches, Abeille's and Hooded Orioles and some House Sparrows.

The farmland held plenty of 'New World' Sparrows. Vesper (below), Lark and Clay-coloured in big flocks and a single Grasshopper Sparrow.

Loggerhead Shrikes (below) seem to be everywhere at the moment, I even had one in the garden this morning. Some posed quite nicely in the farmland scrub. Lots of Curve-billed Thrashers and 3 Eastern Meadowlarks as well.

I flushed a Brown Hare. It stopped briefly after sprinting across the fields..

In the evening, it was back to the plaza to count the roosting Grackles and Cowbirds. Whilst watching I had 4 Swallows migrating North, and good views of Great Egrets coming into roost.