Rarities in the Rio Grande Valley, from West to East:
*Say's Phoebes, Anna's Hummingbirds, Palm Warblers and Eastern Bluebirds are unusually plentiful this season and, though rare for the area, will not be listed below. Check eBird for recent sightings of these species.
Starr County
A male Rose-throated Becard was seen at Salineno on 12/29 along the river trail and continued through 1/18. Red-billed Pigeon and Muscovy Duck have been sporadic here this year. Morelet's Seedeaters have been reported periodically throughout the fall and are closely associated with the cane grass right along the river trail and on the island. A Song Sparrow was located on 1/1 continues through 1/18. A Northern Flicker was present on 1/15.
Santa Margarita Ranch: Brown Jay, Mottled Owl, Muscovy Duck, Rose-throated Becard, Red-billed Pigeon, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, and Hook-billed Kite have been present here in recent weeks. Some lesser rarities such as Song Sparrow and Winter Wren have been present here as well. Site admission is through pre-arranged guided access only.
Below is a list of guides offering tours to Santa Margarita Ranch, in alphabetical order by last name. Visiting birders should be aware that there is a Facebook page that excludes some guides and does not include all tour options available to visiting birders. Contact those below for full access to your visitation options.
Cameron Cox: kumleini@gmail.com
Jesse Huth: jesse@pibird.com
Zach Johnson / Simon Kiacz: simonkiacz@gmail.com
Ryan Rodriguez: ryvicrodriguez23@gmail.com
Hidalgo County
Two Green-tailed Towhees were present at the Yturria Brush Tract of Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, with at least one continuing through 1/16.
An Audubon's Oriole has been at Bentsen State Park from 11/7 through at least 1/25, most commonly near the La Familia Nature Center but also seen from Green Jay Blind. Bird feeding south of the levee is currently suspended due to aggressive javelina activity.
An Audubon's Oriole and a hybrid Audubon's x Altamira continue at the National Butterfly Center for the third year this season. A Winter Wren has been spending the winter here as well, most recently reported on 1/22. Bird feeding happens daily at 8:30 and 1:30.
A Spotted Towhee was present at Quinta Mazatlan on 1/1, continuing through 1/15. A Wood Duck has been present there most of the winter, most recently reported on 1/24.
A Prairie Falcon and Mountain Plovers have been found northwest of Edinburg - check eBird for location details.
An American Woodcock was at Santa Ana on 1/17. A Rose-throated Becard has been near the nature center from 1/14 to 1/17. A Winter Wren continues through 1/17.
Groove-billed Anis have been present at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco since 12/21. The most recent ani reports are from 1/24. A Winter Wren was here on 12/21 through 1/25. An overwintering Louisiana Waterthrush continues through 1/19.
A Lazuli Bunting was photographed at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands on 1/25.
Cameron County
A Tropical Parula was reported at Los Fresnos Nature Park 11/28 through 1/22.
A Hermit Warbler continues at Buena Vista Cemetery in Brownsville through at least 1/22. A Tropical Parula was here through 12/29.
A Kelp Gull was photographed at the Brownsville Landfill on 1/25. A Gray Gull was present on 1/3 and continued through 1/6. Only negative reports since then. A Glaucous Gull was here on 1/16. An Iceland Gull was seen here on 1/25.
***Brownsville Landfill info***:
Open 7 am - 3:45 pm. Closed Sundays.
High-vis safety vests are REQUIRED. They have a few on hand but if a ton of people show up they will run out quick, so please bring your own and wear it while outside of your car.
Stop in at the office and sign in. Everyone should follow directions on where to drive and park - roughly up the road/hill to the right to where the active trash is being moved, and park out of the way by the yellow birding benches (yes they put up benches for us).
They said they are OK with people walking down to the impoundments from there. Walk straight south from where you parked to the edge of the hill facing all of the impoundments, and there should be a crappy 2-track "road" going down the hill diagonally to the left. Just always stay out of the way of passing vehicles. This access gives us incredibly close views of loafing gulls, so please be mindful of how you act and where you go there.
If it's super windy or wet from recent rain, they will turn you away at the gate. Staff are super friendly and happy to let birders in, so please continue to be respectful and thank them if you go!
A Painted Bunting was found on the Laguna Vista Nature Trail on 12/21 and continues through 1/15. A Tropical Parula was here on 1/12 to 1/20. A Groove-billed Ani was here on 12/29 and up to four have been reported through 1/24.
A Tropical Parula was at Laguna Atascosa through 12/29. A Black-headed Grosbeak has been here, most recently reported on 1/20. A Western Tanager was photographed here most recently on 1/21.
A Groove-billed Ani has been lingering at the South Padre Island Convention Center, most recently reported on 1/20.
Both Surf Scoters and Black Scoters have been reported from South Padre Island within the past week. See eBird for specific locations. A Common Goldeneye was seen in the Laguna Madre from West Sheepshead Street on 1/25.
A Grace's Warbler has been present near Oliveira Park in Brownsville on 12/29 and has continued through 1/21. It is typically located in the tamarisk trees along the bike path near the northeast corner of the park. Monk Parakeets have been reported off and on from this location in the past month.
Grace's Warbler at Oliviera Park in Brownsville. Photo by Michelle Cano.
Willacy County
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls have occasionally been heard along TX-186. Please refrain from using playback if trying for these birds.
Full, up-to-date county eBird Rare Bird Alert Reports:
Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy
A note on playback: Playback is strictly prohibited in ALL State Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many if not all municipal and 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.
