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RARITIES



Here we will have some pictures of "rare birds".
That does not necessarily mean they are going extinct,
but that they are rare here in our neck of the woods.
Some may have links to their own pages with additional images.
Some may have identification features called out or discussed.

If you see something rare, better get a picture, or else
(and maybe even still) certain "experts" will tell you what you
really saw (so they often think). If you say "Woodcock",
they say Snipe. It's how they are. Character defect I suppose.
At least with some of the new digital cameras it is easier for the
average person to stand a fightin' chance to get some kind of shot!
The key marks must show so as to claim an irrefutable identification.
Then they'll argue about them pixels till the cow jumps over the moon.
:):):)




White-eared Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird, July 21, 07, near Utopia
second hill country, first Uvalde Co. record



White-eared Hummingbird
same female White-eared Hummingbird





Hudsonian Godwit
The first Hudsonian Godwit ever found in Uvalde County,
May 5, 2006, with a Wilson's Phalarope



Hudsonian Godwit
rump and tail shot






Hudsonian Godwit
same, May 5, 2006, Uvalde Fish Hatchery



Rufous-capped Warbler
Rufous-capped Warbler


Rufous-capped Warbler
Rufous-capped Warbler


(Click here to see more Rufous-capped Warbler photos)


Audubon's Oriole
Audubon's Oriole, March 1, '06, near Utopia
note green back (Scott's is black or streaked with black)



American Woodcock
American Woodcock at Utopia Park on 12/27/05
I prefer "Timberdoodle", the hunters' name ...



American Woodcock
Same Woodcock at UP - which was a one hour wonder,
but there're probably more of them around....




Hammond's Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher north of Utopia in Bandera Co., Dec. 25. 2005
Note compact size and shape, gray head and throat contrast with
green back very short bill (reversed from distal most feathering
would only reach front of eye), long primary extension, etc..



Hammond's Flycatcher
Same Hammond's Flycatcher - Note ratio of bill width to length.
Twice as long as wide (narrow) eliminates other short billed species.
Also note extensive dark lower madible eliminating Western and Traill's
complexes and others.



Hammond's Flycatcher
Same Hammond's Flycatcher - Note yellow in lower belly, narrowness of bill,
and broken eyering above with slight teardrop effect behind. Classic Hammond's.



Hammond's Flycatcher
Last one - Hammond's Flycatcher - view from slightly below so
depth of bill actually less than apparent here, since this is
looking across part of the bottom. The whiteness of throat is
strictly photographic artifact, as it was gray barely lighter than the
rest of the head. Note many photos on this site suffer from that
due to an old tired metering system. Any highlight is overexposed.
True colors in shaded picture above.



White-tipped Dove
White-tipped Dove
(First Uvalde Co. photo record, and one of the furthest north ever,
about 2 mi. west of Utopia June 7 to Aug. 29, 2005)







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