Rarities in the Rio Grande Valley, from West to East:
Here is a short list of rarities seen over the past week.
Weekly Sunday / Monday blog updates will commence on Nov 10 or 11. Tomorrow begins the first day of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, so we are expecting a lot more birds to turn up!
Starr County
A Reddish Egret was reported at Falcon State Park on 11/2. A Black Skimmer was present at the same park from 11/1 to 11/5.
Morelet's Seedeaters have been reported at Salineno recently. They are closely associated with the cane grass right along the river trail and on the island.
Santa Margarita Ranch: Brown Jay, Mottled Owl, Muscovy Duck, Rose-throated Becard and Hook-billed Kite have been present here. Site admission is through pre-arranged guided access only.
Hidalgo County
An immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in the parking lot at Bentsen State Park on 11/5.
A young male Rose-throated Becard was photographed on 10/28 on the Chachalaca Trail at Santa Ana NWR. It was reported again on 11/3.
A Palm Warbler was reported at Estero State Park on 10/31. A female Painted Bunting was found in the same park, in the Tropical Zone, on 11/5.
Cameron County
A Hermit Warbler continues at Buena Vista Cemetery in Brownsville through at least 11/1.
A Tropical Parula was found at UTRGV Brownsville on 10/31.
A Tropical Parula was found on the Laguna Vista Nature Trail on 11/1.
A female Black-throated Blue Warbler and a Swainson's Warbler were found at the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center on 10/30, with the Black-throated Blue reported through 11/1.
A Cape May Warbler was reported on 11/1 at the Valley Land Fund lots on Sheepshead Street, continuing through at least 11/5.
A Townsend's Warbler was found at the South Padre Island Convention Center on 11/5.
Willacy County
No rarities to report, likely due to lack of birder presence.
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 Tiffany Kersten
Nature Ninja Birding Tours
Additional resources for visiting birders may be found at NatureNinjaBirding.com.
