We’re leaving Texas tomorrow and I decided to hike Cibolo Park one last time. We’ve seen 97 species on this trip and thought it’d be fun to reach 100. After scanning the feeders and the creek, I hiked through some head high thistle. Hearing a faint chip, I stood quietly waiting for some one or something to display itself. A flash of blue made my brain think Indigo Bunting. I slowly raised my binoculars on a distant bird and saw brown primary feathers (wings) and a large silver beak. I knew it was a new bird for this trip, but my feeble brain would not identify what I was seeing. Next, a bird dressed in brown flew into the picture and I assumed that I had a pair. I slowly followed them until I could fire off some decent shots before loosing them again in the brush.
I actually stopped a pair of birders and asked “Indio with brown wings?” and they responded “Blue Grosbeak”! Of course, I know that. #98 for the trip.