Yesterday’s Kiskadee is certainly one of the 3 birds that most clearly typifies the Rio Grande Valley. The Green Jay is one of the others. It is not that Green Jays, or Kiskadees, are rare…they are among the most common birds of the Valley…you see them everywhere…and for just that reason, along with their splendiferous “knock your eyeballs back” plumage, they stand out in the memories of most Valley visitors, birders and non-birders alike. Sure, as a birder, I treasure the Green Kingfisher more than the Green Jay…but it is the sound and the sight of Green Jays at a feeder that tells me for sure I am back in the Valley. These images are from Salineno TX, about 200 yards from the Rio Grande River.

Digiscoped with the Canon SD4000IS behind the 15-56x Vario Eyepiece on the ZEISS DiaScope 65FL spotting scope. Equivalent focal lengths (fields of view) of about 3000 and 1000mm. 1/100 @ ISO 320 and 1/250th at ISO 250. Programmed Auto.

Processed for Blackpoint, Clarity, Vibrance, and Sharpen in Lightroom. Auto color temperature.