Rio Grande Valley recent sightings
From WikiBird
This contains information about current rare bird sightings that don't regularly occur in the Valley or are extremely rare, as well as sought-after species that are harder to find for visiting birders. For other species look in one of the other lists such as the Specialties list, for the species account. For good places to find a species, or directions to sites named here, go to the Birding Hotspots page. For discussion about the sighting see the TEXBIRDS mailing list. See the archive for previous sightings in this area.
Email Updates
To received an email when this page is changed with new sightings go to your preferences and selected the email responses you want and save your changes. Your email must be authenticated for this to work. A request for confirmation is sent by using the button in preferences to send the confirmation email and after receiving the email clicking on the link to confirm. Sometimes there may be an old confirmation email pending and you may need to try again. Then add the desired page to your watchlist by clicking on the watch link. If you set a watch for encompassing regions that "includes" pages for subregions you won't be notified for changes to the subregions unless you also add those pages to your watchlist.
Contents |
Rare Bird Alert
The Lower Rio Grande Valley Rare Bird Alert is back up, you can reach this service at (956) 584-2731. For an online transcript, go to http://www.birdingonthe.net/hotmail.html. This hotline is updated on Thursdays.
Rare Birds
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
A Bare-throated Tiger-Heron was found by Rick Nirschl and Rick Snider on December 21 (see photos at [1]http://www.marybirds.blogspot.com). It has been reported on many days flying over the levee just south of the Bentsen-RGV State Park HQ at dawn and dusk.
Allen's Hummingbird
An adult male Allen's Hummingbird has returned to Bentsen-RGV State Park where it has spent the last two winters. It is seen at a feeder on the north side of the westernmost office building.
Rose-throated Becard
Rose-throated Becard was found at Bentsen-RGV State Park and photographed by Larry Therrien on October 28. The same - or a different - Becard (an immature male) was found on November 14 by the boat ramp as part of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. It was seen daily for nearly a week, and then seen intermittently into early December.
Another Rose-throated Becard (an immature male) was found at Estero Llano Grande on November 15 and has been seen regularly in the Tropical zone through early December.
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat
Two different Gray-crowned Yellowthroats were found on the Brownsville CBC on December 26. One is on private property. The other is off Boca Chica Rd. Directions are as follows. "The Gray-crowned Yellowthroat was along Yolanda Del Rio road off of Boca Chica. Heading down the road it was on the right hand side about 300 yards after the corner and in an area that has an open slot on each side of it. If you go looking you will understand. This road is very slick and muddy and ends at a private residence, so please be courtious and do not block the road if you look for this bird. This bird was larger and larger billed than any of the Common Yellowthroats that day with an obvious thin broken eye ring and a bi-colored bill. It would sit out in clear view for a few moments before going in to the brush and it was in no hurry."
Crimson-collared Grosbeak
A female Crimson-collared Grosbeak was found on December 5 and photographed December 12 at Bentsen-RGV State Park. There are no other sightings.
Regular but Sought-after Birds
Muscovy Duck
Muscovy were present in small numbers through the summer of 2009 at Salineno and upriver.
Hook-billed Kite
Winter 2009-2010 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Hook-billed Kites. They are reported about every week from Bentsen RGV State Park. Occasional birds are reported from Anzalduas County Park. The real hotspot seems to be Santa Ana NWR where at least 5 individuals are present. A pair is often seen near the Tree Tower, Pintail and Willow Lakes area of late. The female is in primary molt. Also present are a single male with molting in the inner secondaries, a black morph, and at least one juvenal.
Red-crowned Parrot
Green Parakeet
Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets can be seen or heard in many valley cities, especially early and late in the day. In McAllen, both species have been seen or heard at Quinta Mazatlan WBC, and Green Parakeets stage on 10th Street between Violet and Dove. In Weslaco try Oklahoma and 11th street, a few blocks west of Frontera Audubon Sanctuary. Both species were difficult to find in Weslaco last week, but that may be an anomaly. In Harlingen, Pendleton Park at the intersection of Grimes and Morgan is a good place to watch Red-crowned Parrots in the evening. Fort Brown in Brownsville has both Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets. Green Parakeets fly over the Alamo Walmart parking lot (just off 83 at Alamo Road) at dusk.
Groove-billed Ani
Groove-billed Anis are rare in winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. A few continue fall 2009 at the usual sites, with reports from Resaca de la Palma, San Benito, and Laguna Atascosa. A single bird is at Bentsen-RGV State Park near the boat ramp, and three are reported from Falcon State Park.
Red-billed Pigeon
Red-billed Pigeons are seen from Salineno, Roma, and other sites upriver. They become rare to absent most winters. They are often seen flying along the river or perched up high early in the morning and late in the evening. Winter 2009-2010 is not shaping up to be a good year for them.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are best seen on the King Ranch or Bentsen State Park, where they are more often heard. The owls are quite vocal in late March and early April, and was seen in several spots in Bentsen State Park in April and May 2007. Check with park staff for information. The use of tapes is not allowed in Bentsen State Park and many other RGV Sites.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls nested in 2009 at the San Miguelito Ranch (http://www.sanmiguelitoranch.com/)about 10 miles north of Raymondville. They are not yet present this year. They are also present at El Canelo and on the Norias Tract of the King Ranch (http://www.king-ranch.com/nature_tours.html)nearby.
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Tyrannulets nest in summer at Bentsen State Park, [2] Anzalduas County Park], and Santa Ana NWR. In winter, they are often found flocks, and are readily detected by their call, a single mournful whistle. In summer, they are often alone, and sing a series of mournful whistles.
Tropical Kingbird
Tropical Kingbirds are now regular in the RGV. In winter, they are most often found from Weslaco east to the coast, and they are still outnumbered by Couch's Kingbirds in most locations most winters. They are regular in winter in Weslaco, Alamo, Progresso Lakes, and Brownsville. Listen for their distinctive pipping calls as compared to Couch's Kingbird. Tropicals have a longer bill and more notched tail on average than Couch's. In summer, they nest primarily in urban areas, including Mission, McAllen, Alamo, Pharr, Weslaco, and Brownsville. Look for Tropicals in cities and near waterways. Try Quinta Mazatlan and Estero Llano Grande State Park also, and parks in Harlingen.
Clay-colored Robin
Regularly seen at Frontera Audubon Center, Salineno feeders (winter), Bentsen State Park, Santa Ana NWR, Quinta Mazatlan and other RGV sites. Regular at Salineno and easily seen there in winter. Can be present in numbers, and often at feeders (especially peanut butter mixes) and water features.
Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler
Mangrove Warbler is a well-marked subspecies (or unrecognized species) is present year-round in mangroves around the Laguna Madre. For more information on seeing the Mangrove (Yellow) Warblers contact the South Padre Island Nature Center at (956) 299-0629. To see Scarlet Colley's videos of the Mangrove Yellow Warblers, follow this link http://www.youtube.com/results?feature=moby&search_query=scargeo+mangrove+warbler&search_type=&aq=f .
White-collared Seedeater
Seedeaters are best looked for at the Zapata park on 9th Street or the San Ygnacio Seedeater reserve at the foot of Washington Street. A White-collared Seedeater was seen at Salineno in November 2009.
Exotics
Yellow-headed Parrot
Yellow-headed Parrots occur in small numbers across the Rio Grande Valley.
Olive-throated Parakeet
A single Olive-throated (also known as Aztec) Parakeet is in the large Green Parakeet roost on 10th Street near Dove in McAllen. It is likely of captive origin.
Older Reports
Contents
[hide]
