Hidalgo County Monthly Update - February

Someone asked me what the worst thing was about doing a Big January (see http://marybirds.blogspot.com/2016/02/big-hidalgo-county-january-2016.html).  "A dull February" was my flippant response.  How untrue that statement was!  I saw 16 17!**new species in February, and eBirded two exotics (added to my eBird total whether I like it or not).  223 total species (-2) = 221 countable birds so far, and a whopping 203 species (plus those two exotics) in February in Hidalgo Co. 

**How could I FORGET the FIELD SPARROW?  It only took a gazillion trips to find it at Estero Llano Grande State Park!  Same day as the Grasshopper and Cassin's Sparrows. 

1. American Robin - Turdus migratorius  - Frontera
2. Blue Bunting - Cyanocompsa parellina - Frontera
3. Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina - Frontera (took me a while!)
4. Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris - Frontera
5. White-throated Thrush - Turdus assimilis - Estero
6. Audubon's Oriole - Icterus graduacauda - Bentsen
7. White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis - Quinta Mazatlan
8. Mountain Plover - Charadrius montanus - found them!  Up by McCook.  http://marybirds.blogspot.com/2016/02/mountain-plovers-hidalgo-county-texas.html
9. Snowy Plover - Charadrius nivosus - La Sal del Rey
10. Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor - La Sal del Rey
11. Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus - La Sal del Rey
12. Lilac-crowned Parrot - Amazona finschi - Exotic, Weslaco flock (not countable)
13. Yellow-headed Parrot - Amazona oratrix - Exotic, Weslaco flock (not countable)
14. Purple Martin - Progne subis - Estero (one day before they were at my house)
15. Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis - Santa Ana
16. Groove-billed Ani - Crotophaga sulcirostris - Santa Ana (thanks Ed!)
17. Grasshopper Sparrow - Ammodramus savannarum - Seven Mile Rd.
18. Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla
19. Clay-colored Sparrow - Spizella pallida - Seven Mile Rd.