Statewide (Houston Audubon Society) RBA
March 28, 2008
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:52:03 -0400
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From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds@AOL.COM>
Subject: RBA Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley extra update/correction March 28,
2008
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Hi, I forgot to include info on where the Tamaulipas Crows were seen, so I am
sending this update. White-throated Robin (White-throated Thrush of the IOC)
and Fork-tailed Flycatcher continue through today. Thanks for reports on these
rarities.
Jennifer tells me I've gotten too wordy on the RBA so I'll have to cut back on
the taped version next week.
-- Mary (city state and full name at end of message)
RBA
* Texas
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* March 28, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
+ (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us)
.
Our rare bird alert includes recent reports of…
.
+Masked Duck
Muscovy Duck
Hook-billed Kite
Groove-billed Ani
+Dusky-capped Flycatcher
+Fork-tailed Flycatcher
+Tamaulipas Crow
+White-throated Robin
Tropical Parula
Mangrove Warbler
White-collared Seedeater
.
hotline: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding
Hotline number: (956) 584-2731
to report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or (956) 584-2731 option 3
compilers: Mary Gustafson (Rio Grande Joint Venture) and Jennifer Owen
(Estero Llano Grande State Park).
.
- Transcript
.
Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline sponsored by
Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the World Birding
Center. This hotline is normally updated Thursdays by 5 PM. Please send
observations to Texbirds or to the hotline email address. Thank you to those
who sent reports!
.
A White-throated Robin was located at the private residence of Allen Williams in
Pharr on March 18 and continued through at least the 28th. This is a TBRC
Review Species. Other recent sightings at this site include Red-crowned
Parrots and Green Parakeets (early morning), Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Clay-colored Robins, Clay-colored Sparrow, many warblers including a female
Black-throated Blue, Nashville, Yellow-throated, Wilson’s, and a
Black-throated Green. This site is at 750 W. Sam Houston in Pharr, to reach
this site exit US 83 at Jackson Avenue (NOT Jackson STREET) in McAllen and go
east on Jackson Avenue, which becomes West Sam Houston. You will pass a
Lowe’s hardware store, continue 0.5 miles to #750 on the left. The
Skinner-Silva Funeral Home is just beyond the residence. Park by the wooden
fence at the front of the property, and use the fee station and sign in book
under the car port. There is a fee for access to this site. The White-throated
Robin has been seen initially near the mulberry behind the house on the east
side of the property, near the bubbling pond. Recent sightings are from the
area immediately behind the house and in the front yard.
.
A Fork-tailed Flycatcher is at the Southmost Preserve of The Nature Conservancy,
a closed preserve east of Brownsville. Initially found March 16 it remained
through at least March 28. A field trip is scheduled for Saturday March 29
meeting at 9:30 AM. Field trips will continue to be scheduled if the bird
remains, watch Texbirds for information. This is a TBRC Review Species.
Other birds seen at this site by scheduled field trips on March 22 include Black
Phoebe, Sora, Least Bittern, a variety of waterfowl, Groove-billed Ani, Green
Kingfisher, and many other birds. For access information, email
live4birdsATaol.com or call 956-432-4528 after 7 and before 10 PM.
.
Tamaulipas Crow has been reported twice in the last 10 days, once crossing TX
511 south of TX 4 and once at the Brownsville landfill where it was located by
call by a local birder. This is a TBRC review species.
.
Migrants this week included both a Chuck-will’s-widow at Allen Williams yard
(home of the White-throated Robin) and a Whip-poor-will near Palmview. An influx
of Hooded Orioles occurred with several at various RGV locations from
Brownsville to Falcon. Raptors are continuing to migrate with numbers of
Turkey Vultures and Swainson’s and Broad-winged Hawk. American
Golden-Plovers and Upland Sandpiper stopped at sod farms near Weslaco during the
week. One sod farm is just west of TX 88 on US 281. White Ibis have been
migrating north in the thousands near the coast, and a few Acadian Flycatchers
appeared.
.
Masked Ducks continue on the King Ranch to the north of our area through March
22. Access to the ranch is by prior arrangement, call 361-592-8055 for
information. These birds have been seen on the half-day tour of the Santa
Gertrudis division. They are moving around more lately and have reportedly
been harder to find recently. This is a TBRC Review Bird.
.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are nesting at the San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles
north of Raymondville. These birds are reportedly very visible near their nest
site at the ranch. There is a fee to access this site. Prior arrangements
are required, contact Leticia Tijerina, at 956-369-3118 or buny55ATaol.com.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are also present on the King Ranch and El Canelo (both
fee sites).
.
Aplomado Falcons are often found on Old Port Isabel Road, Route 100 near Laguna
Vista and on the road to Boca Chica, and also near Buena Vista Road and FM
106. Botteri’s Sparrow are on territory in the coastal prairie in areas
dominated by bunch grasses on Old Port Isabel Road and Rt 4. Mangrove Warblers
continue and are setting up territories. This well-marked subspecies or
unrecognized species is present year-round. For more information on seeing the
Mangrove (Yellow) Warblers contact the South Padre Island Nature Center at
(956) 299-0629.
.
At Sabal Palm Grove a MacGillivray’s Warbler that wintered at this site
continued through Saturday March 22, near the new blind. This site is good for
Tropical Kingbird.
.
A Summer Tanager is wintering at Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, and a
Clay-colored Robin recently appeared. Martin Hagne reports that Buff-bellied
Hummingbird is now easy to see at the feeders. Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in
Weslaco continues to host a single Groove-billed Ani between the parking lot and
the visitor center. A Louisiana Waterthrush and a Barn Owl appeared over the
weekend. Gray Hawk and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet were seen on Sunday,
after occasional reports all winter.
.
At Estero Llano Grande State Park, the first Gull-billed Tern has returned,
Green Kingfishers are on Alligator Lake. American Avocets and other shorebirds
are present, and several species of herons and egrets. Clay-colored
Sparrows have been near the gazebo. Dowitcher Pond is now flooded, providing
even more wetland habitat. Red-crowned Parrots are seen occasionally early and
late in the day.
.
Hook-billed Kite was seen from the Tower at Santa Ana NWR on March 21, and a
Mississippi Kite was seen as well. Birds present near the Tower include
Clay-colored Robin and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet.
.
Clay-colored Robins have been easy to see at the suet feeders at Quinta Mazatlan
WBC in McAllen, with at least 7 present March 9.
.
At Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Pauraque are present and often found at
dawn or dusk on the park roads. Elf Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Barn Owl,
Eastern Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl are all present in the park, with Elf
Owl calling near the entrance gate several evenings. Northern
Beardless-Tyrannulet are at Paixtle Circle, the resaca area, and the Hawk
Tower. Hook-billed Kites continue to be reported from the Hawk Tower several
days last week. The Hawk Watch is conducted every morning in March (weather
permitting). There is water in the resaca under the Hawk Tower and it
continues to have a lot of birds.
.
Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets can be seen or heard in many valley
cities, especially early and late in the day. In McAllen, Green Parakeets
stage on 10th Street between Violet and Dove. Recently Red-crowned Parrots
have been in Weslaco near Valley Nature Center, at Texas and 5th, and 11th and
Indiana. In Harlingen, try Pendleton Park at the intersection of Grimes and
Morgan. Fort Brown in Brownsville has both species, and they have been on Cowan
Terrace recently as well north of Rt. 4 near the airport. Allen Williams yard
in Pharr has both species in the early morning.
.
Green-tailed Towhees continue at the feeders at Falcon State Park early in the
morning. Clay-colored, White-crowned, and Black-throated Sparrow are present at
the feeders near the rec center. Red-billed Pigeons have been seen in Falcon
Heights near Falcon State Park last week, and also at Falcon State Park.
.
Nearby at Falcon County Park, Red-billed Pigeons have been found perched in the
park during the day. This site is also good for Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and
still has Lark Buntings.
.
At Salineno the last day for the feeding station is CLOSED for the season,
thanks to Cheryl for her hard work there! Both Hook-billed Kite and Common
Black-Hawk have been reported off and on all winter but we’ve had no reports
for a few weeks. Zone-tailed Hawk is often seen over the river in the morning
and evening. Watch for Red-billed Pigeons in flight or perched high on the
islands early or late in the day. Muscovy Ducks are seen most often in the
late afternoon or early morning with smaller numbers (2-5 birds) reported
recently. Your odds can be improved by walking downstream to look for them
near the river island. This is a good place for Audubon’s Oriole.
.
Upriver and out of our area, White-collared Seedeaters can be found with
patience at the San Ygnacio Seedeater Park at the foot of Washington Street and
at the Zapata County Park in Zapata off 9th Street.
.
There are no recent reports from Chapeno. There is a public boat ramp at
Chapeno, but access to the river below the feeding station at Chapeno is by
prior arrangement only, contact the owner at 956-237-2033 or fax him after hours
at 956-765-6089. Brown Jay is a TBRC Review Species.
.
The Wikibird guide is back up, check out
http://wikibird.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Valley_birding_guide . Thanks to Tim
Whitehouse for this great service!
.
Please report sightings to rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (Replace AT with @) or (956)
584-2731 option 3. Thanks to everyone who reported their sightings to Texbirds
or the compilers.
.
Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas