Rio Grande Valley recent sightings

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Bird Guides

Rio Grande Valley Guide

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.

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Contents 1 Rare Bird Alert 2 Rare Birds 2.1 Masked Duck 3 Regular but Sought-after Birds 3.1 Muscovy Duck 3.2 Hook-billed Kite 3.3 Red-crowned Parrot 3.4 Green Parakeet 3.5 Groove-billed Ani 3.6 Red-billed Pigeon 3.7 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 3.8 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 3.9 Tropical Kingbird 3.10 Clay-colored Robin 3.11 Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler 3.12 White-collared Seedeater 4 Exotics 4.1 Yellow-headed Parrot 4.2 Black-throated Magpie-Jay 4.3 Orange-breasted Bunting 5 Older Reports

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

Masked Duck

Two Masked Duck continue at Alligator Pond at Laguna Atascosa NWR through May 30. The area was closed in early June, and we have no additional sightings at this time.

Regular but Sought-after Birds

Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Ducks were present in good numbers over winter 2007-2008, and remained in to spring and summer. Muscovy are in good numbers at Salineno, and are seen most often early and late in the day at the boat ramp.

Hook-billed Kite

Winter 2008-2009, reports have come from Salineno, Bentsen RGV State Park, Anzalduas County Park and nearby La Lomita Mission, and Resaca de la Palma State Park near Brownsville. March - sightings from Bentsen have been nearly daily; and birds are reported from Anzalduas. May - reports include a male at Bentsen.

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. In March, a few birds turned up in odd places (e.g. suburban Palmview) indicating possible returning birds. By mid-to late April, they are more widely distributed in a variety of habitats from gardens to thickets to woodlands. BY May, they seem to be everywhere in more open or early successional habitats. 2008/2009 was a good winter for Groove-billed Ani in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Red-billed Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeons are seen regularly from Salineno, Roma, and other sites upriver. They are often seen flying along the river or perched up high early in the morning and late in the evening. They are often seen from the boat ramp at Salineno in the early morning.

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 2008 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, [1] 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.

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. **Fall 2008 through December -- the Seedeater Sanctuary is flooded from the rising Rio Grande. Look for the White-collared Seedeaters in Zapata or Laredo until access is restored. ** A female-plumaged White-collared Seedeater was seen twice at Salineno in late December/early January.

Exotics

Yellow-headed Parrot

Yellow-headed Parrots occur in small numbers across the Rio Grande Valley.

Black-throated Magpie-Jay

A Black-throated Magpie-Jay summered at Estero Llano Grande State Park from July 2008 to May 2009. It has not been seen recently. The Magpie-Jay is a huge long-tailed and crested Jay from west Mexico. This is an escaped cage bird and is *not* a wild bird.

Orange-breasted Bunting

An Orange-breasted Bunting has been seen intermittently at Bentsen State Park through Jan. 18. The Orange-breasted Bunting is a gorgeous finch from west Mexico. This is an escaped cage bird and is *not* a wild bird.

Older Reports

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