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.
Spring migration is kicking off with shorebirds like Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and American Golden Plover arriving in small to good numbers. Swallow-tailed Kites are starting to show up and songbirds like Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler, various swallows, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are showing up at migrant traps
Starr County
An adult Little Gull was an incredible find on 3/17 at Falcon State Park in western Starr County. The bird was seen at the southmost reaches of the park and was watched foraging along the dam later in the day. Despite much effort, the gull was not refound on 3/18 but conditions were terrible,
A juvenile 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 most recently seen and photographed flying downriver from the boat ramp on 3/11. A Common Black-Hawk was photographed flying downriver from the boat ramp on 3/11 as well! The BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON being seen at Santa Margarita Ranch has been seen at both Salineño and the ranch in recent days. Morelet's Seedeaters have been reported more frequently at Salineno recently, perhaps due to increased birder presence. The most recent report was from 3/11. 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 3/10. Red-billed Pigeons have been relatively regular the last few weeks. A male and two female Rose-throated Becard have been around, seen through 3/11.
Wild seeming Muscovy Ducks and at least two Morelet's Seedeaters have been observed off and on at Fronton over the last few weeks.
Santa Margarita Ranch (restricted access): Several BROWN JAYS, Rose-throated Becards, 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
A ROADSIDE HAWK was found on 11/9 at Bentsen State Park on Roadrunner Trail and was most recently seen on 2/29 near the park entrance. A Rose-throated Becard has been seen off and on this winter often around feeder #4 and the nature center. It was most recently reported on 3/11
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 2/25. A Prairie Falcon has been seen in the same area, most recently on 2/24. Check eBird for details.
A GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER was found at Frontera Audubon on 11/7, continuing through at least 3/11. A CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK was found on 12/10, and continues through at least 3/15. Two individuals were reported from 1/13 to 1/26, and also on 2/16. Frontera is closed Sunday mornings and Mondays.
At least 3 Limpkin continue at Estero Llano Grande State Park through at least 2/29. A Black-headed Grosbeak has been hanging out here since 2/7, continuing through 3/11. It has been seen on the Wader's Trail and at the host's feeding area.
A Rock Wren was found at Anzalduas Park on 2/10 and was most recently reported on 3/6.
A Northern Flicker has been wintering at Delta Lake and was most recently reported on 2/20.
Cameron County
A GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER continues at Hugh Ramsey Park, near Cypress Pond, through at least through 3/10 and probably more recently. A Western Tanager has been seen on and off here through 2/19. A Winter Wren continues here through 2/24.
A Limpkin continues at Kennedy Park in San Benito through 3/4.
A male BLUE BUNTING was photographed on 2/19 and continued through at least 2/25 near the Laguna Atascosa NWR Visitor's Center. A Tropical Parula was found on 10/22 near the Visitor Center, with two being found on 10/23, and at least one continuing through 3/2. (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 de la Palma State Park, on 11/7, and it continues through 3/18. The third ABA record, and first Texas record, of of GRAY-COLLARED BECARD has been present since 11/24 and continues through at least 3/18. A Tropical Parula was found on 11/12 and at least two continue through 3/18. At least two hybrids are in the area as well. A Rose-throated Becard was found on 11/10 and continued in the parking lot, near the water feature, and by the observatory through 2/20. At least two Western Tanagers were seen here on 11/8 and continued through 3/5. 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 2/19. A Bullock's Oriole has been observed near the visitors center, most recently on 2/25.
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 Tropical Parula was at the Laguna Vista Nature Trail on 1/13, continuing through at least 3/2. A Yellow-breasted Chat was photographed there on 2/25 as well, continuing through 3/2. A Western Tanager has been photographed here, most recently on 3/2.
A Brewer's Sparrow continues at Palo Alto Battlefield through 2/24.
A FAN-TAILED WARBLER was found at UTRGV Brownsville on 1/5 and continues through 3/9. The Fan-tailed was refound after an absence on 3/18. See eBird for details on where it has been seen. A rare-in-winter Yellow-breasted Chat was seen here on 2/3 and continued through 2/20. A Lazuli Bunting was photographed by the land bridge at UTRGV on 3/1. A wintering Brown Thrasher continues near Lincoln Park and the southern parking lot at UTRGV, last reported on 3/3. A wintering male Cape May Warbler has been seen sporadically over the last few months, most recently in the oak trees across from the butterfly garden on 3/11.
A Hermit Warbler was found at Buena Vista Cemetery on 12/8 and continues through 3/11.
At least three Iceland Gulls have been seen at the Brownsville Dump in recent weeks. The most recent report is from 3/6. An adult California Gull was photographed at the same location on 2/13 and again on 3/1.
The county's second and valley's third Downy Woodpecker continues at the Valley Land Fund lots on Sheepshead street on South Padre Island, most recently photographed on 3/4.
Willacy County
Two Long-tailed Ducks continue at Laguna Point Recreation Area, through at least 2/22.
The county's first Cassin's Vireo was found at the Raymondville Cemetery on 11/10 and continued through 3/3. It has been in a mixed flock that also contains a Tropical Parula, which was also most recently photographed on 3/3.
Two Audubon's Orioles have been photographed at the County Line Road ponds in western Willacy County, most recently on 2/20. See eBird for details.
***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 Ryan Rodriguez
Nature Ninja Birding Tours
Additional resources for visiting birders may be found at NatureNinjaBirding.com.
