[texbirds] RBA Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley March 14, 2013
- From: "John Yochum" <John.Yochum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <birdcntr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:36:16 -0500
.
* Texas
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* March 14, 2013
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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 at http://rgvbirds.blogspot.com
.
Capitalized birds marked with a + are Review Species for Texas. Please
send sightings/photographs to the Texas Bird Review Committee:
ecarpeATgmail.com.
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Our rare bird alert this week includes:
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+ BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (no recent reports)
Sooty Tern
Prairie Falcon
Flammulated Owl
Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
+ CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK
.
This is a general reminder that playing recordings is not allowed in
Texas State Parks nor in many LRGV birding sites. All State Park and
National Wildlife Refuge visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not
disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation.
.
Mallards of the northern subspecies are present this winter, an unusual
event - Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Wood Duck and Hooded Mergansers are
in above normal numbers across the valley as well. Zone-tailed Hawks
are in Weslaco as well as the more traditional sites of
Anzalduas/Hidalgo/Bentsen and Salineno/Falcon.
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USFWS volunteers are feeding birds daily at the Lower Rio Grande Valley
National Wildlife Refuge Kepler Tract (adjacent to Salineno) through the
end of March. Volunteers will be on site to greet visitors on Mondays
and Thursdays from 8am to noon. **Donations are greatly appreciated**
and can be dropped off at the Roma Bluffs World Birding Center or at the
feeding station on Mondays and Thursdays. Any questions please feel free
to call Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge at 956-784-7500
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The Valley from east to west.
.
A stunning Flammulated Owl was found and photographed at South Padre
Island near the Convention Center on 1/8! The bird has recently been
refound on a daily basis in the thickets at the Convention Center. It
can be very difficult to locate in the dense brush. This is only the
second winter record for Texas of this highly migratory owl.
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This would seem self-evident, but please be careful not to trample the
plants at the Convention Center gardens. Every bit of habitat at the
convention center has been planted by volunteers for the benefit of
wildlife including migratory birds.
.
March 5 a Sooty Tern was photographed roosting with terns and skimmers
at the SPI Boardwalks. This species is a rare nesting species in the
Laguna Madre, and this record is incredibly early.
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An immature +BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE may continue near the south jetty at
SPI, at least one mid-February report placing it at the Boca Chica jetty
on the opposite side of the channel.
.
Mangrove Warbler, a well-marked subspecies of Yellow Warbler that may be
distinct enough to warrant full species status, can be seen by
contacting the Sealife Center at (956) 299-1957.
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A female-plumaged +CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK was photographed at Sabal
Palm Sanctuary on 2/12 and returned daily through today. It is being
seen in the area of the water feature and feeding station at the
Headquarters, feeding on potato trees. Some reports include song, which
would indicate a young male.
.
Almost 100 migrating American Golden-Plovers were reported from the
Weaver Sod Farms (if headed south from Expy 77 at Harlingen on
Rangerville Road, turn right onto Jiminez Road, then onto Weaver), with
a single Baird's Sandpiper at the closed Las Palomas WMA Ebony Unit
pond, visible from the north end of Jiminez Road (March 11). A single
Baird's Sandpiper and a few American Golden-Plovers were seen at the
Progreso Sod Farm March 14.
.
March 14 brought reports of a Black-throated Gray Warbler at Edinburg
Scenic Wetlands WBC, and also at Frontera Audubon in Weslaco, the latter
last seen in the company of a Gray Catbird. A Black-throated Gray
Warbler was last reported March 1 from Anzalduas County Park in Mission,
and Feb 22 from Resaca de la Palma SP and WBC at Brownsville.
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Hooded Mergansers continue at Santa Ana NWR. A Glossy Ibis was
photographed in early January and continues to be reported; some reports
show one or two birds that appear to be Glossy x White-faced Ibis
hybrids (no reports this week). One potential hybrid looks like a
Glossy Ibis with a red eye, and the other looks more like a White-faced
Ibis with a red face but pale lines on the facial skin.
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A Prairie Falcon was photographed at the National Butterfly Center in
Mission Thursday, March 14.
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A Red-naped Sapsucker continues at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
in the Acacia Loop or boat ramp area. Please continue to report this
continuing rarity. The bird shows some hybrid characters and may be a
backcross or third generation hybrid between Red-naped and the even
rarer in Texas Red-breasted Sapsucker. A Red-naped Sapsucker would have
more black feathering separating the red throat and the pale line above
it, with the black pinched in the middle. This bird has virtually no
black line. Bentsen is also announcing the continuance of the
Black-headed Grosbreak as well as the return of Elf Owls to the Park.
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A few Red-billed Pigeon reports continue from Salineno.
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PARROT REPORT
Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas of Quinta Mazatlan
in McAllen, Valley Nature Center in Weslaco in the evening, Calvary
Baptist Church in Harlingen (1815 N 7th Street). Brownsville's Oliveira
Park (Los Ebanos Road/El Paso Road across from Pace High School)has
Red-crowned Parrots as well, mingling at dusk with escaped
Yellow-headed, White-fronted, Lilac-crowned and Red-lored Parrots.
Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets are seen in urban areas
irregularly all over the Valley.
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Green Parakeets can be seen staging in McAllen near 10th and Dove in the
evening, sometimes winging a few blocks over to Nolana x McColl. Watch
for a couple of Mitred Parakeets that sometimes mingle with them.
.
In Hidalgo, at 5th and Gardenia near the Hidalgo Pumphouse World Birding
Center, a few Monk Parakeets have taken up residence building nests on
telephone poles, keeping company with an escaped Rose-ringed Parakeet.
These birds are present since winter 2010. In Harlingen, Monk Parakeets
have constructed a roost nest on the cell tower northwest of 106 and Ed
Carey. These birds were discovered in December 2012.
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WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER INFORMATION - Most sites for White-collared
Seedeaters are in Zapata and Webb counties. Information is provided as a
service to visiting birders. Sites to check include the San Ygnacio
County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary at the foot of Washington Street in San
Ygnacio, the Raptor Trail at the west end of San Ygnacio, the libray
pond in Zapata, and Laredo's Las Palmas Trail, North Central and Father
McNaboe Park. Access to La Laja Ranch, also a Seedeater site, is by
advance reservations only. E-mail the owner at Edward.herbst AT att.net.
This is a fee site.
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FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL INFORMATION - Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are present
at El Canelo, San Miguelito Ranch and King Ranch (Norias Division only).
San Miguelito reopened March 1. This owl is very difficult to
find at any other location at present and have not been seen or heard
at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park since the summer of 2010, when
the park was inundated by the Rio Grande.
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See http://rgvbirds.blogspot.com/p/ferruginous-pygmy-owl-sites.html for
more information.
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Directions are provided only for sites not included in the ABA Birders'
Guide to the Rio Grande Valley or the Birders' Guide to the Texas Coast.
These guides are indispensable for visiting birders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Site Closures:
Allen Williams Wildscape, Pharr, open by appointment ONLY; Call or text
956-460-9864.
Bentsen-RGV State Park, building/store closed/no trams on Monday, but
the grounds are open (self-pay station).
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands World Birding Center, building and grounds both
closed on Sundays.
**Estero Llano Grande State Park, building/store open 7 days a week! **
Frontera Audubon Thicket, Weslaco, closed Sunday mornings and all day
Mondays except by appointment.
Los Ebanos Preserve, San Benito, Appointment ONLY; 956-241-2494.
Methodist Camp Thicket, Weslaco, group reservations (fee) only. Contact
Estero Llano Grande State Park.
Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, closed Sundays and Mondays.
Resaca de la Palma State Park, building/store closed/no trams Mondays &
Tuesdays, grounds open (self-pay station).
SALINENO - FEEDING STATION CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, see temporary
feeding station on the FWS Kepler tract (information above).
San Miguelito Ranch - reopened March 1! Closes for the season in May.
Letty at 956-369-3118 or Buny55ATaol.com
Santa Ana NWR- closed to bicycles
Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, closed Sunday mornings and Mondays.
John Yochum
Park Ranger IV
Estero Llano Grande State Park
Weslaco TX
956-565-3919
Bird Walks: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30am
Butterfly/Dragonfly Walks: Fridays 1:30pm
Tram Tours: Wednesdays and Sundays 2pm-4pm, or call to arrange your own
time
New Moon Starwatch: April 10 (every new moon) 8-10pm
Full Moon Night Hike: March 27 (every full moon) 8-10pm
School Field Trips: Filling quickly, call now to confirm: 565-3919
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