Rarities in the Rio Grande Valley, from West to East:
*Say's Phoebes, Anna's Hummingbirds, 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
Red-billed Pigeon and Muscovy Duck have been sporadic at Salineno this year. Morelet's Seedeaters have very sparse this season but were reported several times this week. They are closely associated with the cane grass right along the river trail and on the island. A Northern Flicker was present on 1/15 and again on 2/5.
Santa Margarita Ranch: Brown Jay, Mottled Owl, Muscovy Duck, Rose-throated Becard, Red-billed Pigeon, and Hook-billed Kite have been present here in recent weeks. 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 2/9.
Two Audubon's Orioles have been at Bentsen State Park from 11/7 through at least 2/8, most commonly near the La Familia Nature Center and Green Jay Blind.A Winter Wren was reported on 12/26.
An Audubon's Oriole and a hybrid Audubon's x Altamira continue at the National Butterfly Center for the third year this season. Bird feeding here is temporarily suspended due to concerns of avian flu.
A female-plumage Crimson-collared Grosbeak was found at Quinta Mazatlan and continues through at least 2/8. (Closed Sundays and Mondays).
Mountain Plovers have been found north of Edinburg this week - check eBird for location details.
Snowy Plovers are at their usual location at Sal Del Rey this winter.
Four Brewers Blackbirds were at Rio Beef Farm on 1/13, with several continuing into the first week of February.
A Rose-throated Becard has been near the nature center from 1/14 to 1/17. A Winter Wren continues through 2/7, near the entrance trail intersection past the bridge.
A Groove-billed Ani was at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco on 12/21, with four reported on 1/16 and 8 reported on 1/17. A Winter Wren is continuing through 2/8.
Cameron County
Over 100 Brewer's Blackbirds were found in La Feria this week. Check eBird for coordinates.
A Tropical Parula was reported at Los Fresnos Nature Park 11/28 through 12/8.
A Tropical Parula was photographed at Mont Meta Cemetery near San Benito on 11/26. Two Groove-billed Anis were here on 1/2.
A Hermit Warbler continues at Buena Vista Cemetery in Brownsville through at least 1/16. A Tropical Parula was here through 12/29.
Two Tropical Parulas continue at Resaca de la Palma State Park through 2/10. Some birders have reported two individuals. A Dusky-capped Flycatcher continues through 2/10.
A Vega Gull was found at the Brownsville Landfill on 2/8 and continued on 2/10. A Glaucous Gull was and Iceland Gull on 2/8. (Closes at 3:45 pm and closed Sundays)
A Tropical Parula was at Laguna Vista Nature Trail on 1/12 to 1/18.
A Tropical Parula was at Laguna Atascosa through 2/8.
Willacy County
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!
---------------------------
Compiled by Tiffany Kersten
Nature Ninja Birding Tours
Additional resources for visiting birders may be found at NatureNinjaBirding.com.
