The Texas Rare Bird Alert reports primarily on Texas Review species. An email message service for the Texas Rare Bird Alert reports is available. See the TX RBA Email Service page for more information and to subscribe.

For more reports of Texas sightings, please refer to the Texbirds archives.

To report a Texas rare bird sighting, please email staff@narba.org

*Texas Review Species - please send reports to Mark Lockwood, Texas Bird Records.

New! Coastal Bend: JABIRU* -- first report: June 30
On June 30 Brush Freeman reported that he had learned about a JABIRU* that was photographed on private property (date not specified) in San Patricio Co, south of Odem. It was not present on June 29 and has apparently moved somewhere else on the coast. He suggests checking Hynes Bay WMA near Austell and the Indianola area or the Guadalupe Delta WMA.

Coastal Bend: BROWN NODDY* -- first report: June 27
On June 27 Jon McIntyre reported that he has seen 3 different BROWN NODDYs (TX Review Species) in Nueces Co. over the past 3 days. He posted: "The first has been near Horace Caldwell fishing pier in Port Aransas....I saw the bird on 25th and 26th at the end of the pier. I have not checked on the bird today. I had 2 Brown Noddys yesterday aboard the "Gulf Eagle" fishing boat out of Port Aransas. The first was perched on an oil rig about 30 miles south of Port Aransas and the other was also perched on another oil rig just offshore of Bob Hall fishing Pier in Corpus Christi." On June 27 he checked the Horace Caldwell pier and did not find the Noddy.

Coastal Bend: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO --
first report: June 16; last update: June 17
On the morning of June 16 a YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was found in Port O'Connor. Brush Freeman has recorded the bird but not photographed it yet. He said it was was hard to see as it was in dense Arizona ash trees which were being whipped by south winds. Please contact Brush for further details/location. On June 17 Brush found the bird about 4 blocks west from its initial location.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO --
first report: June 16; last update: June 24
On the morning of June 16 Dan Jones found a singing YELLOW-GREEN VIREO at Santa Ana NWR. It was in the big ash trees on the north side of Pintail Lake. On June 24 it was in the woodland near the NW corner of Pintail Lake. To find the Pintail Lake spot, head south along the paved tour road from the visitors' center and take the first trail to your left. Walk a few hundred yards, until you see the Pintail Lake area on your left. OR, head east along the canal/levee from the tour road, just south of the visitors' center. Note that the Brownsville Yellow-green Vireo will probably be easier to find.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO --
first report: May 27; last update: June 21
A YELLOW-GREEN VIREO has returned to a Brownsville neighborhood for the sixth year. From Boca Chica Blvd. (Rte 4) between Billy Mitchell Blvd. and Clubhouse Rd. take E. Cowan Terrace north to Heather Lane. The bird's territory is centered on this intersection. Please, be considerate when birding in residential neighborhoods. With Sabal Palm closed for the summer this may be the only site with accessible Yellow-green Vireo. Latest sighting: June 15.

Updated TX Panhandle: BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD --
first report: June 20; last update: June 29
On June 20 Barrett Pierce reported that he has been seeing a BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Timbercreek Canyon, Randall Co. The adult male has been visiting a private residence. It was first observed on June 13 and has continued at least through June 25. Timbercreek Canyon is a gated community.

Updated Austin: LEAST GREBE --
first report: May 29; last update: June 30
On May 29 Vincent O'Brien discovered that the LEAST GREBES had returned for the second year to the Triangle Pond at 4600 Guadalupe in Austin. He found two breeding grebes - one on the nest and another was out diving. The grebes have continued at least through June 29, with five chicks currently present. (Photos).

Lower Rio Grande Valley: WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER --
The Las Palmas Trail in Laredo has been a reliable location for WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATERS throughout May.
Las Palmas Trail Directions: The trail begins just east of International Bridge II; parking is available just southeast of Water Street underneath the bridge. The trail extends for approximately half a mile along the Rio Grande ending at Zacate Creek. Be advised to use great caution on the trail, as the amount of border traffic has increased in the area. In general, the bird sanctuary at San Ygnacio is a traditional site for this species. The upper part of the Raptor Trail is at the North end of Trevino Street and is the original sighting of the White-collared Seedeater sometime in the 1920s. The entrance is on Uribe Ave. one block to the north and parallel to Washington. San Ygnacio is #87 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail. Parking and pedestrian entry to the sanctuary at south end of Washington St. Another site for White-collared Seedeaters is at Zapata near the pond at the south end of 9th Street.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: RED-BILLED PIGEON, MUSCOVY DUCK --
There have been no recent reports for Salineno, but presumable RED-BILLED PIGEONS and MUSCOVY DUCKS are still present. (Map). Salineno is #80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail. These two species were also reported recently near San Ygnacio.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS --
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS may be seen at the San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville. There is a fee to access this site. Prior arrangements are required - contact Leticia Tijerina, at 956-369-3118. (Photos). They are also present on the King Ranch and often at El Canelo (both fee sites), although there are no recent reports. In addition, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls may be heard at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the pre-dawn hours. Please remember that the use of tapes is not allowed at Bentsen and many other sites.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: APLOMADO FALCON --
Recommended places to look for APLOMADO FALCONS include Old Port Isabel Road and Laguna Atascosa NWR. At Laguna Atascosa both approach roads (from Harlingen/Rio Hondo and South Padre Island) and the refuge itself should be searched. The 15-mile Bayside Loop has been particularly productive. Beware the approach roads! They are full of potholes. Old Port Isabel Road is in even poorer condition.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: HOOK-BILLED KITE --
There are irregular reports from near Acacia Loop at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park with the most recent report on June 7 (male -Photo) and from Anzalduas County Park (#68 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail).

Lower Rio Grande Valley: MANGROVE (YELLOW) WARBLER --
MANGROVE WARBLERS, a well-marked subspecies or unrecognized species, are present year-round. For more information on seeing them, contact Scarlet Colley (telephone: 956-299-1957) at the South Padre Island Nature Center.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: RED-CROWNED PARROTS, GREEN PARAKEETS --
RED-CROWNED PARROTS are wandering more widely to feed and roost and are not always easy to find in the summer, as their locations are more unpredictable. They are most often seen in flight. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the area of the Valley Nature Center, and GREEN PARAKEETS are staging before going to roost in McAllen on North 10th street between Violet and Dove at about 7:15pm. Both Green Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots have been seen in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park), Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and Brownsville. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen at Estero Llano Grande State Park. Both species are also seen at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen. Mornings betweeen 8-9:30am have been particularly productive at Quinta Mazatlan.