I realize this is technically off topic but I posted a question about
birding in Texas and got some helpful suggestions.  Although it turned out
that I didn't find any of the suggested birds, much less the vaulted Green
Jay, I did find some very interesting birds.  My favorite was the first
bird I found, which wasn't that difficult.  Great Tailed Grackles are
common as houseflies and probably considered a nuisance bird there because
they are so aggressive.  But they are very comical and make a hillarious
call that sounds  like child's kazoo-whistle in that it is three notes that
rapidly ascend in pitch.  They also "growl" by vibrating their wings.
There were also their smaller cousins called "Boat Tailed" Grackles which
look alike but are smaller without the distinctive whistle.

My next favorite was the "Scissor Tailed Fly Catcher".  It was positively
beautiful with a sky blue head and chest with a red rump and a tail that
was easily twice as long as its body.  I also saw Grey Jays, hoards of
Mocking birds, a group of Semipalminated Plovers,  a Western King Bird,
Curved Bill Thrashers, Black Chinned and Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, Turkey
Vultures, Black Vulters and-----a Scrub Jay, an awesomely blue bird that
reminded me of an indigo bunting in color.

I also saw a pair of birds I can't identify or find in my iBird or Audubon
apps.  They were the color of Mourning Doves except for olive colored wings
AND they were the size of turkey vultures.  Both were in a tree on the golf
course and I got a great look at them before they flew off with wing
cadence similar to a heron.  Any ideas?
Les Chambers

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