[texbirds] RBA - November 7 2013

From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds@xxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 14:20:46 -0500 (EST)
. 
* Texas 
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* November 7, 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. 
_____________________________________________________________
UPDATE: Estero Llano Grande State Park buildings open 7days a week.   
_____________________________________________________________
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. 
_____________________________________________________________
Black-throated Grays were widely reported this week,along with a lingering 
Common Nighthawk or two. Lingering Groove-billed Ani were reported from Sabal 
Palm, Estero, and Santa Ana this week.   
.
Our rare bird alert this week includes: 
.
Common Loon 
Hook-billed Kite 
Bald Eagle 
Prairie Falcon
Tropical Parula 
Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler 
Painted Redstart 
+GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER
Lazuli Bunting 
.
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  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.
.
A +GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER was photographed October 12 atthe Frontera Audubon 
Thicket in Weslaco. It was relocated almost daily through November 4.  Reports 
span the northern portion of thethicket from the stream to the dead-end trail 
to the north and back to thecemetery fence.  Remember Frontera isclosed Sunday 
AM and Monday. They will be opening late some evenings, checktheir Facebook 
page for information.  Photographs including publishable images arehighly 
desired; please send to the TBRC for inclusion in the record â only 
threephotos have surfaced to date!  Thisindividual is a real skulker. 
.
A Painted Redstart was a fantastic find on October 13 onthe University of Texas 
â Pan American campus in Edinburg.  It has been seen through November 7 at 
least.   The campus is northwest of the intersectionof Sugar and University.  
The PaintedRedstart was initially near the Chapel but most reports have been 
from the areaof the Science Building.  Park at metersONLY Monday-Friday, they 
can be found in the lot east of Sugar, and the mainentrance on University. A 
Tropical Parula was photographed on October 13 nearthe Chapel and relocated 
infrequently through this week.    
.
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 November7.  This 
site is in Brooks County. 
.
Out of our area to the west, an adult Bald Eagle was atthe Santa Margarita 
Bluffs on November 4 and continued through November 7.  This is a private fee 
site.  Reddish Egret was also reported.  Salineno has a late Painted Bunting 
and afly-over Common Loon.   
.
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. 
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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 appointment ONLY;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 7 days.
 
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).  Building/store closed/no 
trams Monday &Tuesday in May. 
 
Salineno âfeeding station closed for the summer. 
 
Santa Ana NWR- closed to bicycles 
 
Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, closed Sunday mornings andMondays.


Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas

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[texbirds] RBA - November 7 2013

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