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 are indicated with CAPITAL LETTERS and an asterisk - please send reports to Mark Lockwood, Texas Bird Records.
Summer Pelagics: A trip organized by the World Birding Center and Eric Carpenter is scheduled for September 11. Departure point: Osprey Fishing Boat Docks on South Padre Island. Details at TexasPelagics.com
SITE CLOSURES DUE TO FLOODING: Aug 19 Update: The Rio Grande flood is ending, and sites are starting to open. Anzalduas County Park, Santa Ana NWR, and Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park are still closed. Falcon State Park is now open. Please contact the sites for information before attempting to visit.
TEXAS REVIEW SPECIES
Mission: SHORT-TAILED HAWK* -- first report: Aug 7
On Aug 7 at about 9am Mary Gustafson had brief views of an adult SHORT-TAILED HAWK* (dark morph) at Chihuahua Woods Preserve east of Mission. The bird was just flying over and fairly low in the sky, so she had a hard time seeing it above the mesquites. She reported that there's no evidence that the bird was doing anything other than passing over the property. (Photos by Mary Gustafson). (Directions to the preserve).
Notes about Preserve: (by Mary Gustafson) Current conditions at the preserve are very birdy but also hot, sunny & dry; carry water. Mosquitoes are not bad, and the tunas (prickly pear fruit) are ripe in places and the birds are feasting on them. Trails are in EXCELLENT condition thanks to the hard work of Paul Bryant and other TNC volunteers. The trails are mowed and the signage is great! If you decide to visit the preserve and know the way, note that the exits to both La Homa/Bentsen Palm and Inspiration Roads are closed off the Expressway, and the signage notifying you of this is inadequate. Directions on the link listed above work.
UPPER AND CENTRAL TX COAST - Non-Review Species
Port Aransas: Masked Booby -- first report: Aug 11
On Aug 11 Jon McIntyre found a Masked Booby at the Port Aransas Jetty.
Rockport: Tropical Kingbird -- first report: Apr 22: last update: Aug 17
On Apr 21 Barry Lyon and Victor Emanuel found a nesting pair of Tropical Kingbirds in the Rockport H-E-B parking lot. The nest is located in an oak tree on Aisle B. It is best seen from the south side of the aisle. A gray light post is next to the tree.
Latest Reports: July 25: 9am, three Tropical Kingbirds at the H-E-B near where the nest was previously reported by Victor Emanuel (on Business 35/Rath Street about 1 mile from the Sooty Tern.) They were in the tops of the live oaks above parking aisle B above the grocery cart return near the H-E-B gas station. Two kingbirds gave Tropical call but third one was silent. All three were at the top of the same tree. An hour or so later the birds were not relocated. (John Berner & Steve Gross). Aug 17: Jon McIntyre refound a pair of the Tropical Kingbirds. They were near the Value Bank on Bus. 35, perched on wires. One bird was calling.
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY - Non-Review Species
Brownsville: Yellow-green Vireo -- first report: June 26; last update: Aug 23
On the morning of June 26 a group of birders led by Katherine Miller found a Yellow-green Vireo at Resaca de la Palma SP in Brownsville. The bird was located in the southern area of the park, where the resaca flows underneath Hunter's Lane.
Latest Reports: July 2: Katherine heard it singing at the same location. Aug 10: present (Katherine Miller). Aug 22: negative report (Katherine Miller).
Cameron County: Yellow-green Vireo -- first report: Aug 4: last update: Aug 25
On Aug 4 Dan Jones found a Yellow-green Vireo on Cannon Road, Cameron County. (Photo by Dan Jones). On Aug 15 he heard a Yellow-green Vireo singing and saw it briefly on Cannon Rd. The spot was by the seventh power line pole north of where the open field ends and the wooded area begins. As he walked south of the spot, a second vireo was singing near the 4th pole. He was not able to see it and could not tell if it was a Yellow-green or Red-eyed.
Latest Reports: Aug 21: am, two birds heard singing, on the first mile of Cannon Road north of US 281 in the wooded area. At least one was a YGVI (Mary Beth Stowe). Aug 22: 10:15-11am, one bird was seen and heard. It was growing its tail with only short stubby tail showing (multiple observers). Aug 25: 10am, heard for about 15 minutes around the 5th pole heading north up Cannon Rd. It was about 30 yards in to the brush and sitting 3/4 up in the trees (Kyle O'Haver).
Lower Rio Grande Valley: White-collared Seedeater --
In general, Salineno (#80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail) is one of the more reliable locations for this species. Seedeaters can also be found at the San Ygnacio County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary. The park is at the foot of Washington St. in San Ygnacio. Park at the top of the hill and walk down. San Ygnacio is #87 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail. The Las Palmas Trail in Laredo can have seedeaters. 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. Zapata: White-collared Seedeaters come in to drink at the county park pond next to the library (south end of 9th Street and Laredo).
Latest Reports: July 4: morning, sightings of a male and three females at end of Raptor Trail in San Ygnacio. (Joel Ruiz). July 5: 9:50am, male at end of Raptor Trail in San Ygnacio. (Joel Ruiz). Best time in general is 9-11am. On July 4-5 the Raptor Trail was underwater; therefore, use the gravel road to the Boat Ramp. The entrance is at the north end of the Bridge on US 83 and turn towards the river. Contact Joel Ruiz, 956-763-1320, for exact directions and help in finding the birds. July 8: Las Palmas Trail and Zacate Creek are not accessible due to recent flooding. Raul Delgado saw a male WCSE trying to find a dry branch along the river in Laredo.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: Red-billed Pigeon, Muscovy Duck --
Salineno (#80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail. Map) is a traditional site for Red-billed Pigeons and Muscovy Ducks. Highest probability for sightings occurs early and late in the day from the boat ramp.
Latest Reports: July 5: 7:40-9:40am, pair of Muscovy Ducks in flight and 3 more by downstream island. Two Red-billed Pigeons at the upstream island. (Mary Gustafson).
Lower Rio Grande Valley: Hook-billed Kite --
There are irregular reports from near Acacia Loop at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley SP-WBC in Mission and from Anzalduas County Park (#68 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail). Santa Ana NWR is a traditional good location for sightings. Chihuahua Woods Preserve in the summer of 2010 had the first known successful nest of Hook-billed Kite in Texas since 2002.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl --
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are sometimes heard (mainly winter and early spring) at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley SP-WBC in the pre-dawn hours. Remember, the use of tapes is not allowed at Bentsen or many LRGV sites. Always ask before using tapes. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are at San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville, easiest seen February through May. There is a fee to access this site, and 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.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: Red-crowned Parrots, Green Parakeets --
In general, Red-crowned Parrots are most often seen in flight. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas of Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, and Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. Green Parakeets are often seen in north Edinburg, particularly in the fields around the Edinburg North High School. Both Green Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots have been seen recently in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park or 7th and Rio Hondo at dusk), Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and Brownsville.
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. [Note: all Aplomado Falcons in TX are considered to be introductions and are therefore not countable under ABA rules.]
TEXAS INTERIOR - Non-Review Species
Lubbock County: Black-capped Vireo -- first report: Aug 28
On Aug 27 Cameron Carver found and photographed a Black-capped Vireo in the town of Ransom Canyon (just east of the town of Lubbock). The sighting was at Ransom Lake.
Hill Country: MacGillivray's Warbler -- first report: Aug 26
On Aug 26 a MacGillivray's Warbler was present at Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary in Cibolo, Comal County. Susan Schaezler reported that MacGillivray's Warblers typically stay there for 2-3 days. See the sanctuary website for directions.
El Paso: Varied Bunting -- first report: Aug 1; last update: Aug 21
On Aug 21 a Varied Bunting was seen and photographed during the monthly birding tour at Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site. One had also been seen on Aug 1 in the self-guided area of the park.
New! Junction: Buff-breasted Sandpiper -- first report: Aug 30
On Aug 30, 8:15-8:45am, Rhandy Helton observed a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Junction Wastewater Facility. The sighting was in the furthest pond from the entrance to the facility. Rhandy reported that the pond had a lot of floating sludge and the shorebirds were loving it. After lunch he went back with Ann Lemon and relocated the bird. Photographs of this probable county record were obtained.
Junction: Green Kingfisher -- last update: Aug 22
Green Kingfishers are being seen in Junction. On Aug 21 three individuals were seen with a possible fourth. They were fishing at the T where the North Llano River, meets the South Llano River (Rhandy Helton, Cody Conway, Kelley Sampeck). (Photo by Cody Conway, 8/21).
Updated Junction: Zone-tailed Hawk -- first report: July 26; last update: Aug 30
On July 24 a Zone-tailed Hawk was found off of County Road 140 in Junction TX, and seen a second time an hour later in downtown Junction, flying over Main St. near the Legends Inn. (Photos by Cody Conway). (Cody Conway, Rhandy Helton, Drew Dickert, and Kelley Sampeck). Cody reported: "This is on the very EAST edge of the range, and we suspect there are at least two in the area, one male and one female. They have been seen 3 times in a row in the same location by Rhandy Helton."
Latest Reports: Aug 17: am, Walter Buck WMA (Rhandy Helton). Aug 21: At the Junction Tennis Courts, and then again at the Junction Waste Water Treatment Plant (Rhandy Helton, Cody Conway, Kelley Sampeck). Aug 30: 9:15am, soaring over H377 between town and the state park (Rhandy Helton).
