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The American Birding Association recommends that birders use a standard FRS (Family Radio Service) channel. This kind of common communication is often essential when trying to re-find a roving rarity. The ABA recommends channel 11 subcode 22 for birding communications. Many of the modern FRS radios have built-in GPS and can transmit location information to other capable receivers. For more information, see Using Radios for Birding by Paul Baicich on the Bird Watcher's Digest web site.

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

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

Pelagic Birding Trips -- July 19, September 6
Eric Carpenter is planning two pelagic birding trips aboard the Osprey. The trips leave from the southern tip of South Padre. The July 19 trip as of June 22 is FULL, but there are still spaces available for the September trip. More Information.

Updated Austin: GREEN VIOLET-EAR* --
first report: July 16; last update: July 17
A confirmed GREEN VIOLET-EAR* has been visiting a feeder at the home of Jane Tillman in the NW Hills of Austin since July 15. It was present beginning at 12:30 pm on July 15 and off and on in the morning of July 16. (Photos). If you would like to see it, please contact Jane Tillman, telephone 512-794-0058 (please call between 9 am and 8 pm). During the day appears to offer the best chance of viewing the bird.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: BROWN BOOBY* -- first report: July 16
On the afternoon of July 15 Craig McIntyre and his wife observed an immature BROWN BOOBY* on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore. He reported that they observed the bird several times over a 3-4 hour period between 3 and 4 1/2 miles south of the visitor center. If anyone is interested in viewing a photo, please email Craig McIntyre.

Big Bend National Park: FLAME-COLORED TANAGER* --
first report: June 13; last update: July 7
In the early morning hours of June 12 a FLAME-COLORED TANAGER* was seen and photographed in the vicinity of the Boot Spring campsites in Big Bend National Park by Canadian birders Malkolm Boothroyd, Wendy Boothroyd, and Ken Madsen. (Photo) Malkolm, a high school sophomore, found the bird. He is doing a Big Year by bicycle, accompanied by his parents. (Read about their "Bird Year" on their website). The bird was calling actively in the early morning. They believed there was also a second bird present. Malkolm and Dan Jones refound one bird on June 15 at Boot Springs campsites #3 and #4. On June 21 Mike Austin refound the bird photographed by Malkolm at the same location and confirmed it to be a first spring male (based on the orange around the base of the bill and its enthusiastic singing). He believes it is roosting near campsites 3 and 4, and then roams for the rest of the day. He saw and heard it for about 10 minutes beginning at 7 am. Read Mike's report. On June 28 one Flame-colored Tanager (probable female) was found in the same area.
Cautions: It is very dry and hot at this time with highs in low 100s in Big Bend. Dehydration is a real concern for hikers making the 10+ mike round-trip hike to Boot Spring.

Over the weekend of July 5-6 Bob Rasa and Richard Redmond believe they refound the pair by campsite #4, and they also heard a probable second pair along the Pinnacle Trail.

Big Bend National Park: DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: June 16; last update: July 7
Mark Flippo reported that on June 15 a pair of DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS* had been found just below the Pinnacle's Pass in Big Bend National Park. Dan Jones, the discoverer of the birds, wrote that he found them at the cool, shady spot just below the Pinnacles. On June 28 Mark Lockwood observed them in the same location. He also discovered a pair of DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS in the main drainage below (south of) the BC3 campsite. This pair was present at the same location last year. On July 5-6 Bob Rasa and Richard Redmond refound one of the flycatchers on Pinnacle Trail. That also had the FLAMMULATED OWL in the same area.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: June 9; last update: July 10
On the morning of June 9 John Brush confirmed a female SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER* at Quinta Mazatlan WBC in McAllen. He had suspected that one was present the previous week. Dan Jones saw the bird later in the morning engaged in nesting behavior. Location and Behavior Details; Photos The flycatcher continued through July 5. It built a nest in a woodpecker cavity in a palm snag, and spent a good deal of time sitting on the nest. On July 10 it was reported that there had not been any sightings for the past few days. It is believed that any eggs it laid would have been unfertilized.
Location: Quinta Mazatlan is on Sunset Drive, off S. 10th Street in southern McAllen. It is very close to the airport and La Plaza Mall. After parking and walking in along the driveway, look and listen for the bird around where the driveway splits at the "front lawn" or in the vicinity. Other noteworthy birds at Quinta Mazatlan in the last month have been Green Parakeet and Red-crowned Parrot, although both are "hit or miss", especially the latter. Normal hours for Quinta Mazatlan are Tuesday-Saturday 8 to 5.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO -- last update: July 10
The Cowan Terrace YELLOW-GREEN VIREO is back for his fifth summer. The site is a residential neighborhood in Brownsville; please be considerate when birding residential areas, and avoid slamming car doors or blocking traffic. 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. It is nesting behind the second last house on Heather Lane (west end). Take the grassy laneway from West Cowan Terrace, which is the first such access south of Heather Lane. The last report was on June 8.

Other sightings of YELLOW-GREEN VIREO include Sabal Palm Audubon Center, where some are banded as part of a research project, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (sightings on June 6 and June 12). On June 21 singing YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was found in the citrus grove property directly south and adjacent to the Texan Guest Ranch (which is private property), located on North Ware Road, north of Auburn Ave. in McAllen. On the morning of June 22 the bird was singing on the east side of Ware, in a residential yard south of the south entrance to TGR. The closest public parking (without having to park on the shoulder) is the El Tigre gas station on the corner of Ware and Auburn. Be especially careful of fast-moving traffic in the area.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD --
first report: July 5; last update: July 11
On July 5 Steve Gross reported that he had observed a BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in the hummingbird garden near the observation deck at San Ygnacio on July 3. San Ygnacio is #87 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail. Parking and pedestrian entry to the sanctuary at south end of Washington St.

A belated report was received of a BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD which was observed at Santa Ana NWR on June 28. The bird was seen at 9 am from the bench on Pintail Lake Trail, just east of the road.

Edwards Plateau: BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD -- first report: July 12
A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD has been coming to a feeder at the park hosts' campsite at Lockhart State Park on Hwy 20 southeast of Lockhart. The park hosts, Pam and Mike Gooley, told Byron Stone the bird has been a regular at their feeder since they arrived in late April. They believe a pair raised young nearby.

Houston: SWALLOW-TAILED KITE -- first report: July 7
On July 7 Fred Collins observed three SWLLOW-TAILED KITES over the RV park just east of Mueschke Rd. on FM 2920, about 7 miles west of Tomball in northwest Harris Co. Fred reported: "One bird was clearly a full feathered juvenile with full, but short, swallow-tail. Another bird was in tail molt and hence the tail was shorter, especially on one side but clearly longer tailed than the juvenile. A third bird, though seen only briefly seemed very long-tailed. They were all soaring in close association over some pecan and shade trees, occasionally rising quite high then coming down closer to tree-top level. They eventually all drifted off to the west. In a few minutes, the juvenile was seen soaring just east of Kleb Woods Nature Preserve . It eventually drifted back to the east and was lost from view about 1:30 pm. I have had several reported sighting of this species from local residents at regular intervals since April but this was my first sighting for the area. The group seemed to be a family group with a single fledgling. I suspect these birds bred somewhere nearby along Spring Creek which is less than two miles from the area."

Austin: LEAST GREBE --
first report: July 9; last update: July 10
On July 5 Vincent O'Brien found a LEAST GREBE with 4 juveniles in Austin on a small pond on the southwest side of the Triangle Apartment complex and shopping center, at 4600 Guadalupe, Austin. The group was observed again on the morning of July 9 for about 30 minutes, and has continued through July 10.

Kingsville: LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD --
first report: July 5; last update: July 7
On July 5 Kathy Alvarez observed both a male and a female LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD at her feeder in Kingsville. (Photo) They continued through July 7.

Lower Rio Grande Valley - San Ygnacio: WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER -- last update: July 14
The WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATERS have been seen consistently at the end of the Raptor Trail; best time is in the morning. On July 14 a female was observed at 10 am. On July 13 a male was seen in the morning, and both male and female were there at about 7 pm. Normally they are not seen that late in the day. The Raptor Trail is 1/2 mile to the end and 1/2 mile back. The first half of the trail is not very birdy; but the second half is. 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.

Lower Rio Grande Valley - Salineno: RED-BILLED PIGEON, MUSCOVY DUCK
Watch for RED-BILLED PIGEONS and MUSCOVY DUCKS early or late in the day. Your odds can be improved by walking downstream to look for them near the river island. Both species were very easy to spot on May 9-10. Map. Salineno is #80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS --
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS are nesting at the San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville. These birds are reportedly very visible near their nest site at the ranch. There is a fee to access this site. Prior arrangements are required, contact Leticia Tijerina, at 956-369-3118. They are also present on the King Ranch and El Canelo (both fee sites). Over the week of July 3-10, they have also been found at Sanata Ana NWR and Mission.

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 the South Padre Island Nature Center at (956) 299-0629.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: RED-CROWNED PARROTS, GREEN PARAKEETS
Both species can be seen or heard in many valley cities, especially early and late in the day. In McAllen, Green Parakeets stage on 10th Street between Violet and Dove. Recently Red-crowned Parrots have been in Weslaco near Valley Nature Center, at Texas and 5th, and 11th and Indiana. In Harlingen, try Pendleton Park at the intersection of Grimes and Morgan. Fort Brown in Brownsville has both species, and they have been on Cowan Terrace recently as well north of Rt. 4 near the airport. Frontera Audubon Sanctuary and Valley Nature Center in Weslaco are good places for both species.