[texbirds] RBA - Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - December 28, 2013

From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds@xxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:08:06 -0500 (EST)
. 
* Texas 
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* December 28, 2013
.
To report rare birds, e-mail rgvbirds AT hotmail.com(preferred) or call 
(956)584-2731 option 3.
.
Updates can be seen on the web athttp://rgvbirds.blogspot.com
. 
Capitalized birds marked with a + are Review Species forTexas. Please send 
sightings/photographs to the Texas Bird Review Committee:ecarpeATgmail.com.  
_____________________________________________________________
NOTE: Monday to Wednesday, Resacade la Palma State Park offices closed but the 
park open (NO TRAM, self check-inat the Iron Ranger) and full services 
Thursday-Sunday. 
.
NOTE: The Bayside Drive at Laguna Atascosa is closed toprivate vehicles to 
protect ocelots.  This area is covered by refuge tours.  
.
All other portions of Laguna are OPEN as normal!  Private vehicles can drive to 
OspreyOverlook, and there are 50 miles of hiking and biking trails.  
.
A list of holiday closures is online at 
http://rgvbirds.blogspot.com/2013/12/lrgv-holiday-closures.html.  A list of 
CBCs left in the 2013-14 season isonline at 
http://rgvbirds.blogspot.com/p/lower-rio-grande-valley-christmas-bird.html.  
_____________________________________________________________
American Goldfinch are arriving in the LRGV, andBlack-throated Grays were found 
at several locations.  Lingering Anis are still around.  
.
Our rare bird alert this week includes: 
.
+AMAZON KINGFISHER 
Prairie Falcon
Tropical Parula 
Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler 
Painted Redstart  (Brooks Co.) 
.
This is a general reminder that playing recordings is notallowed in Texas State 
Parks nor in many LRGV birding sites. All State Park andNational Wildlife 
Refuge visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not
disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation. 
.
The Valley from east to west.  
.
Mangrove Warbler, a well-marked subspecies of YellowWarbler that may be 
distinct enough to warrant full species status, can be seenby contacting the 
Sealife Center at (956) 299-1957. 
.
A Surf Scoter was reported at the SPI Coast Guard Jettyon 12/25. 
.
An AMAZON KINGFISHER was found on the RGVBF on 11/9, andwas reported again on 
12/22 and 23 after going unreported for two weeks. TakeUS 77 to TX 100, the 
main route to South Padre Island.  Go east on TX 100 for a short distance 
(lessthan a half a mile) to a visible resaca (oxbow lake) on the right.  Pull 
off and park carefully on this very busyhighway!  There is a less visible 
resacaon the left (north) side of the road, and another less visible resaca on 
thesouth to the west of the âmainâ resaca. The Amazon Kingfisher has been 
seen on all these resacas.  *****ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF THIS INDIVIDUALARE 
DESIRED*****.  There is one previousaccepted record.  Documentation for theTBRC 
is highly desired.  
.
A  Prairie Falcon,a relatively rare winter raptor, returned to a traditional 
territory in WillacyCounty.  To reach the area, head north onUS 77 from 
Sebastian to FM 1018; take FM 1018 east to CR-375 (same as PrimroseCR) Go north 
on 375 and check the utility poles on the east side of CR-375,between FM-1018 
and the first dirt farm road that crosses CR-375 headed north.  
.
Mountain Plover returned to their former winteringlocation in Willacy County on 
Mesquite Road on 11/11.  Take CR 360 to CR 1600; this is just west ofthe 
Prairie Falcon location.  Go east onCR 1600 (Mesquite Road) if it is passable. 
A small number of birds were seen before the recent rains.  CR 1600 is likely 
impassable at this time. 
.
A Wood Thrush was a surprise at Estero Llano Grande StatePark  on 12/23.  
.
Winter Wren have been reported from several locations inthe RBA area.  This is 
a rare species inthe LRGV, and notes or photos are of interest for all reports. 
 The only documented report to date is a birdat Estero Llano Grande State Park. 
 TheEstero CBC on Friday was quite good given the poor weather.  
.
A Brown Pelican continues at Anzalduas County Park inHidalgo County, where the 
species is exceptional.  
.
In Edinburg, a Tropical Parula continues in the UTPAcampus area through last 
week.  AnotherTropical Parula is at the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, with reports 
from 12/27-28.  
. 
An American Woodcock was found at the National ButterflyCenter a week ago. 
.
At Bentsen, a Red-naped Sapsucker was well photographed on12/25.  A Dickcissel 
has been with aflock of House Sparrows near the nature center. 
.
Muscovy Ducks were reported from Salineno during the week.  They have been in 
short supply in this area,where almost all birds are considered to be wild.  
Domestic cross birds are found across theLRGV including some well-flighted 
birds in the Weslaco area and Cameron County.    
.
Out of our area to the north, another Painted Redstartwas found at the 
Falfurrias Rest Area on US 281 on October 19 and continues to December27.  This 
site is in Brooks County. 
.
PARROT REPORT
Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas ofQuinta Mazatlan in 
McAllen, Valley Nature Center in Weslaco in the evening,Calvary Baptist Church 
in Harlingen (1815 N 7th Street). Brownsvilleâs OliveiraPark (Los Ebanos 
Road/El Paso Road across from Pace High School) hasRed-crowned Parrots as well, 
mingling at dusk with escaped Yellow-headed,White-fronted, Lilac-crowned and 
Red-lored Parrots. Red-crowned Parrots andGreen Parakeets are seen in urban 
areas irregularly all over the Valley.
.
Green Parakeets can be seen staging in McAllen near 10thand Dove in the 
evening, sometimes winging a few blocks over to Nolana xMcColl. Watch for a 
couple of Mitred Parakeets that sometimes mingle with them.
.
In Hidalgo, at 5th and Gardenia near the HidalgoPumphouse World Birding Center, 
a few Monk Parakeets have taken up residencebuilding nests on telephone poles, 
keeping company with an escaped Rose-ringedParakeet. These birds have been 
present since winter 2010.  
.
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER INFORMATION - Most sites forWhite-collared Seedeaters 
are in Zapata and Webb counties. Information isprovided as a service to 
visiting birders. Sites to check include the SanYgnacio County Park/Seedeater 
Sanctuary at the foot of Washington Street in SanYgnacio, the Raptor Trail at 
the west end of San Ygnacio, the library pond inZapata, and Laredo's Las Palmas 
Trail, North Central and Father McNaboe Park.Access to La Laja Ranch, also a 
Seedeater site, is by advance reservationsonly. E-mail the owner at 
Edward.herbst AT att.net. This is a fee site.
. 
Updated FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL INFORMATION - FerruginousPygmy-Owls are present 
on the King Ranch (Norias Division only).  Other private ranches are no longer 
availableor do not have accessible pygmy-owls.  Thisowl is very difficult to 
find at any other location at present and has not beenseen or heard at 
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park since the summer of 2010,when the park was 
inundated by the Rio Grande. 
.
Seehttp://rgvbirds.blogspot.com/p/ferruginous-pygmy-owl-sites.html for 
moreinformation. 
.
Directions are provided only for sites not included inthe ABA Birders' Guide to 
the Rio Grande Valley or the Birders' Guide to theTexas Coast. These guides are 
indispensable for visiting birders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Site Closures: 
 
Allen Williams Wildscape, Pharr, open by appointmentONLY; Call or text 
956-460-9864. 
 
Bentsen-RGV State Park, open 7 days until spring; firsttram at 8:30 AM. 
 
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands World Birding Center, buildingand grounds both closed 
on Sundays. 
 
Estero Llano Grande State Park, building/store open 7days. 
 
Frontera Audubon Thicket, Weslaco, closed Sunday morningsand all day Mondays 
except by appointment. 
 
Laguna Atascosa NWR â Bayside Drive closed to privatevehicles to protect 
ocelots. 
 
Los Ebanos Preserve, San Benito, Appointment ONLY;956-241-2494. 
 
Methodist Camp Thicket, Weslaco, group reservations (fee)only. Contact Estero 
LlanoGrande State Park. 
 
Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, closed Sundays and Mondays. 
 
Resaca de la Palma State Park, building/store closed/notrams Monday-Wednesday 
starting June 1, grounds open (self-pay station).  
 
Salineno âfeeding station is open. 
 
Santa Ana NWR- closed to bicycles 
 
Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, closed Sunday mornings andMondays.


Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas

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[texbirds] RBA - Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley - December 28, 2013

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