Rarities in the Rio Grande Valley, from West to East:
*Say's Phoebes, Dusky-capped Flycatchers, and Green-tailed Towhees have been in many places in the RGV this year, and will not be listed below. Check eBird for details on locations of these species.
Starr County
A CRANE HAWK was photographed at the boat launch at Salineno Birding Center on 1/29, first in flight and then found soon after perched in a tree upriver. It was seen again on 2/2 and then from a boat between Salineno and Santa Margarita on 2/9. Morelet's Seedeaters have been reported more frequently at Salineno recently, perhaps due to increased birder presence. The most recent report was from 2/18. They are closely associated with the cane grass right along the river trail and on the island. A Song Sparrow was seen at Salineno on 11/30 and continues through at least 2/18. Red-billed Pigeons have been relatively regular the last few weeks. A male and female Rose-throated Becard have been around, seen through 2/16. A Limpkin has been hanging out foraging in the river through 2/18. A BARE-THROATED TIGER HERON was seen flying past the bluffs at Salineno on 2/8.
A Morelet's Seedeater was reported on 2/4 in the cane along the river at Roma Bluffs World Birding Center. Two wild type Muscovy Ducks were reported from here as well on 2/17.
Santa Margarita Ranch (restricted access): Several BROWN JAYS, a BARE-THROATED TIGER HERON and a MOTTLED OWL (as well as some lesser rarities) have been present here. Below is a full list of local and visiting birders and professional guides leading trips to the ranch. Those guiding will provide further information via email on accessibility, fees, group sizes (sometimes up to 20), and other relevant information. Trip fees are set individually by the guides and are currently $140 on weekdays and $160 weekends.
Daytime Trips:
Monday - Wednesday: Cameron Cox (kumlieni@gmail.com) & Ryan Rodriguez (Cameron is handling bookings for both)
Thursday - Sunday: Simon Kiacz (simonkiacz@gmail.com) & Zach Johnson (santamargaritatxranch@gmail.com)
Nighttime Trips:
Simon Kiacz & Zach Johnson (mottledowlsmr@gmail.com)
Hidalgo County
An adult ROADSIDE HAWK was found on 11/9 at Bentsen State Park on Roadrunner Trail and was seen again briefly on 11/29, 12/28 and 1/25 and 1/26, the last two times, near the picnic area. Though there have not been reports in recent weeks, Hook-billed Kites have been sporadically seen this fall and winter, mostly distantly from the hawk watch.
An adult Audubon's Oriole, as well as a young Audubon's x Altamira hybrid continue at the National Butterfly Center this season. They are often in the vicinity of the feeding station.
Mountain Plovers are being seen in a field near McCook, with a high count of 59 on 2/10. Check eBird for details.
At Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, a Tropical Parula continues through at least 2/12.
A late Groove-billed Ani was at Santa Ana on 2/9, in the Pintail Lakes area.
A GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER was found at Frontera Audubon on 11/7, continuing through at least 2/16. A CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK was found on 12/10, and continues through at least 2/16. Two individuals were reported from 1/13 to 1/26, and also on 2/16. Frontera is closed Sunday mornings and Mondays.
A Limpkin continues at Estero Llano Grande State Park through at least 2/15. A CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK was photographed at the main feeding station here on 2/15. A Black-headed Grosbeak has been hanging out here since 2/7, continuing through 2/18. It has been seen on the Wader's Trail and at the host's feeding area.
Two Rock Wrens have been photographed near Mercedes along the Anacuitas drainage ditch (eBird hotspot) and continued through 2/12. At least two rare-in-winter Groove-billed Anis have been seen as recently as 2/2 in the same location. See eBird for more details.
A possible Cackling Goose has been hanging out with the Snow and Ross's Geese at Delta Lake. A Northern Flicker has been wintering there as well, with the most recent report on 2/2.
Cameron County
A GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER continues at Hugh Ramsey Park, near Cypress Pond, through at least 2/18. A Western Tanager has been seen on and off here through 2/14. A rare-in-winter Hooded Warbler has been seen here through 2/9, often in the same area as the Golden-crowned Warbler. A Winter Wren continues here through 2/18.
A Limpkin continues at Kennedy Park in San Benito through 2/17.
A Tropical Parula was found on 10/22 at Laguna Atascosa, near the Visitor Center, with two being found on 10/23, and at least one continuing through 2/3. (There's also a Northern x Tropical Parula hybrid in the area.)
A juvenile ROADSIDE HAWK was found near the resaca along the tram route, at Resaca SP, on 11/7, and it continues through 2/18. The third ABA record, and first Texas record, of of GRAY-COLLARED BECARD has been present since 11/24 and continues through at least 2/16. A Tropical Parula was found on 11/12 and at least two continue through 2/18. At least one hybrid is in the area as well. A Rose-throated Becard was found on 11/10 and continues in the parking lot and near the water feature through 2/14. At least two Western Tanagers were seen here on 11/8 and continue through 2/16. Multiple Dusky-capped Flycatchers have been reported since 11/26 and at least one continues through at least 2/18. There has also been a late Brown-crested Flycatcher in the area. A Western Flycatcher was reported on 11/24 and again on 12/9, continuing through at least 2/15. A Hammond's Flycatcher was here on 1/20, continuing through 2/18. A Cassin's Vireo has been reported here, most recently on 2/11.
A second juvenile ROADSIDE HAWK was found south of Resaca de la Palma SP on 1/13 and was most recently seen along Military Hwy on 2/14. Check eBird for more precise details on this bird.
A female Painted Bunting was found at the Laguna Vista Nature Trail at Blind 3 on 12/19 and continues through 2/2. A Tropical Parula was at the same location on 1/13, continuing through 2/3.
A Brewer's Sparrow continues at Palo Alto Battlefield through 2/18.
A FAN-TAILED WARBLER was found at UTRGV Brownsville on 1/5 and continues through 2/17. See eBird for details on where it has been seen. A Townsend's Warbler was photographed here on 1/28 and again on 2/6. An apparently overwintering adult male Cape May Warbler continued here through 1/29. A rare-in-winter Yellow-breasted Chat was seen here on 2/3 and continued through 2/18.
A Hermit Warbler was found at Buena Vista Cemetery on 12/8 and continues through 2/18.
At least three Iceland Gulls have been seen at the Brownsville Dump in recent weeks. The most recent report is from 2/15. An adult California Gull was photographed at the same location on 2/13.
Willacy County
Two Long-tailed Ducks continue at Laguna Point Recreation Area, through at least 2/4.
A Cassin's Vireo continues at the Raymondville Cemetery through 1/25. A Tropical Parula has also been spending the winter here and was last reported on 1/25.
Two Parasitic Jaegers were seen from the jetty on South Padre Island in Willacy County.
***EXTRALIMITAL: Cattle Tyrant is continuing in downtown Corpus Christi. Check eBird for current updates.
A note on playback: Playback is strictly prohibited in ALL State Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many if not all private nature parks. In addition to being potentially harmful to birds when used extensively, it is also disruptive towards other birders. Thank you for not using playback!
Good Birding!
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Compiled by Evan Farese
, Nature Ninja Birding Tours
Additional resources for visiting birders may be found at NatureNinjaBirding.com.
