An astounding thing happened today. I changed my mind about going out to South Padre Island because of the high wind, and decided to bird the valley. As I was driving west on 281, I began to wonder if Allen Williams (who hosted many wonderful birds in 2005) still allowed birders to visit. I called him, and he said it was quite amazing that I had called, because he had just found what he believed was a White-throated Thrush in his back yard, coming to mulberries. I sped over there, and within about 20 minutes of my arrival I was watching the White-throated Thrush eat mulberries and hackberries!! The robin was seen about half of the time between 4:15 and 7:00 pm on the 18th, and almost all of that time it was feeding.

Also in Allen's yard were a Clay-colored Thrush, a Wilson's Warbler, a Chuck-will's-widow, fly-over Red-crowned Parrots, and the usual valley birds (Olive Sparrow, Kiskadee, Long-billed Thrasher, White-tipped Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Pyrrhuloxia...).

He welcomes birders during daylight hours, requesting a donation of $10 for a week's admission. His address is 750 W. Sam Houston in Pharr, and his phone is 956-460-9864, and he has a lovely array of water features, mulberries, flowering trees, etc.

-- Lynn Barber

Check out Lynn's web site for more information and photos about her sightings and Big Years.