2007 Tour Narrative
We began our tour on a delightfully cool, crisp day in the Corpus Christi area. Our first outing was a boat trip to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge aboard “The Skimmer” with Capt. Tommy Moore. As expected, we were treated to spectacular views of Whooping Cranes as well as ten White-tailed Hawks tending a recently burned area of marsh. Among the back bays and oyster bars we found Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, American Oystercatcher, Long-billed Curlew, and Horned Lark. We continued on to Port Aransas where Northern Gannets were feeding offshore and the Birding Center was full of waterfowl including several Cinnamon Teal. We ended the day at Packery Channel Park where the elusive Le Conte’s Sparrow gave at least some of us good views and the late afternoon light was spectacular on a nice assortment of waterfowl, shorebirds, terns, and herons.
The next day at Tule Lake where we had a fine study of 17 species of shorebirds including Snowy Plover, and excellent looks at both Marsh and Sedge Wrens. As we headed south, we encountered a large flock of Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese, many Sandhill Cranes, and an assortment of waterfowl and raptors. We also had revealing studies of both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks. At El Canelo Ranch we found our first Valley specialties such as Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, and Long-billed Thrasher, along with Vermilion Flycatcher and a roosting Great Horned Owl. We also found an astonishing TEN Barn Owls roosting in a grove of salt cedars.
We began our exploration of the Rio Grande Valley at the classic setting of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. As we stepped out of the vans, we were instantly greeted by Great Kiskadee, Couch’s Kingbird, and the loud chorus of Plain Chachalacas. Before long, we found an assortment of songbirds including White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We also had amazingly good views of two Olive Sparrows feeding at the roadside. At Pintail Lake, we found a pond full of ducks and grebes including seven fluffy little Least Grebes. In the afternoon, we visited Anzalduas County Park where we found a small warbler flock including Orange-crowned, Black-throated Green, Pine, and Black-and-white. But the real highlight at Anzalduas was the pair of cooperative Sprague’s Pipits that allowed prolonged scope views. In the evening, we made a short night birding excursion to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park where we found Barn Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Common Pauraque.
The next day, we visited the Brownsville area, starting at Resaca Boulevard where we found Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Anhinga, a pair of White-fronted Parrots, and a Yellow Warbler, and continued on to Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, a remnant of the palm forest that used to cover much of the Lower Valley. The feeders there were very active with many Plain Chachalacas, White-tipped Doves, Green Jays, Black-crested Titmice, and several Olive Sparrows. Along the trails and photo blind by the resaca we found a wonderful assortment of birds. The photo blind afforded particularly close views of Least and Pied-billed Grebes, Great Kiskadee, Ringed Kingfisher, and lots of waterfowl. The small wintering flock of Groove-billed Anis proved elusive but at least a few of us got to see them. Before dinner, we made a short visit to a suburban McAllen neighborhood where we found Red-crowned Parrot and Buff-bellied Hummingbird.
One one day we visited Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park where at the visitor’s center a Rufous Hummingbird was visiting feeders and the abundant native plantings. The feeding station in the park rewarded our patience when a Clay-colored Robin finally came in to feed. We found many other interesting birds during our walk through Bentsen including a soaring Gray Hawk, a large flock of Cave Swallows over the resaca, two Black-throated Gray Warblers with a mixed songbird flock, and an Eastern Screech-Owl peering at us from its roost hole. In the afternoon we made a brief visit Salineno where we found large flocks of waterfowl, a Black Phoebe, and a distant Red-billed Pigeon.
We began day 6 at the Zapata Public Library to look for White-collared Seedeater that had been seen there recently. Although the seedeaters didn’t cooperate this time, we did see Cactus Wren, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Pine Warbler to make up for it. We returned to Salineno where we had an enjoyable visit with Pat and Gale Dewind at their feeding station. Aside from the Dewinds, highlights included Verdin, Bewick’s Wren, Clay-colored Robin, and Altimira, Audubon’s, and Hooded Orioles. Later, at Chapeno we watched countless waterfowl flying over and had superb views of a Bobcat which snuck out on a line of rocks, seemingly stalking a Neotropic Cormorant. We ended the day back in Zapata at the library where we finally saw a distant White-collared Seedeater.
Our last day began back at Salineno where we enjoyed spectacular weather and lots of bird activity. The excitement began almost immediately after arriving at the riverside, when a pair of Muscovy Ducks flew by and shortly thereafter, a Green Kingfisher made an appearance. We were also delighted to see a pair of Red-billed Pigeons basking in beautiful light on the island. Up at the feeders, there was lost of activity including another visit by a Clay-colored Robin and close views of a perched Red-billed Pigeon, the first one the Dewinds had ever seen in their yard! Along the entrance road, we found a good amount of activity including Verdin, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Lark, White-crowned, Cassin’s, and Black-throated Sparrows. As we headed back east, a roadside Roadrunner broke the monotony of the drive. In the afternoon, we visited the yard of Marci and Terry Fuller in San Benito where we saw a Buff-bellied and three Black-chinned Hummingbirds and were treated to fresh fruit and cool drinks. We ended the day at the Harlingen Convention Center where we eventually found two Tropical Kingbirds and a flock of Green Parakeets along with a perched Merlin.
Michael O’Brien
Updated: March 2007