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 available by phone or on the web. 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
None.
Regular but Sought-after Birds
Muscovy Duck
Muscovy were present in small numbers through the summer of 2011 at Salineno and upriver.
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. They are widespread and easily located in summer in more open brushlands.
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.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are difficult to find in summer. There are no recent reports from publicly accessible areas including Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls nested in 2011 at the San Miguelito Ranch (http://www.sanmiguelitoranch.com/)about 10 miles north of Raymondville. 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. San Miguelito Ranch is closed until March 2012.
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, and parks in Harlingen.
Clay-colored Thrush
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. They can also be found at La Laja Ranch (fee, visit by prearrangment only) and in Laredo north of the Community college along the river in the reed beds. Easy access is from Anna St. Be mindful of the Border Patrol and please have a partner when in the area.
Exotics
Yellow-headed Parrot
Yellow-headed Parrots occur in small numbers across the Rio Grande Valley.
Older Reports
Contents
[hide]
