Report from Texas: Rio Grande Valley

Our trip through the Lower Rio Grande Valley allowed us ample time to watch the local bird species every day. It was fun getting to know Valley specialties like Green Jay and Great Kiskadee, as well as rarer species like the only Brown Jays in the country.

We had an incredible week for owls. At the King Ranch we searched the oak groves for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, a species listed as threatened by the state of Texas in 2023. Soon after arriving to the area we planned to search, our ranch guide spotted one of these minute birds of prey sitting still within the protection of thorns.

Along the banks of the lower Rio Grande River we had access to a private ranch that proved once again to be a favorite spot on the tour. On a night of owling here, we were able to track down the only known Mottled Owl north of the Mexican border. 

A bird we thought was a perfect match for the landscape was the Common Pauraque. With some help we were able to find one on the leaf-littered forest floor at Estero Llano Grande State Park. 

The coast was filled with shorebirds, gulls, and waders. One scenario we all agreed as a highlight was seeing both light and dark morph Reddish Egrets. On South Padre Island, we had one right outside our van window, pointing directly into the howling winds.

In Corpus Christi we successfully found the long-staying Cattle Tyrant, a bird that people have traveled all over the country to see…even with its provisional status. Our boat trip near Aransas National Wildlife refuge was a wonderful ride, getting us up close to single, paired up, and family groups of Whooping Cranes. It was great watching adults teach their young how to hunt blue crab in the extensive tidal pools.