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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 Trip -- September 6
Eric Carpenter has planned pelagic birding trips aboard the Osprey. The trips leave from the southern tip of South Padre. The next trip will be on September 6. More Information.

Updated Texas: LESSER FRIGATEBIRD --
first report: Aug 19; last update: Sept 6
On Aug 19 Martin Reid photographed a female frigatebird with a pink bill at the Quintana Jetty, which has now been confirmed as an adult female LESSER FRIGATEBIRD. Photos and notes of frigatebird. (updated on Aug 27). Martin reported: "The bird was in a loose aggregation of 12 - 15 frigatebirds that were working the mouth of the jetty, harassing the many feeding terns there. I first saw the bird from the tip of the Quintana Jetty at about 11:15am, and it was present for at least 90 minutes, mostly a bit distant but occasionally coming quite close - as were other frigates. I looked for it again in the afternoon, but there were only 7 frigates there - none of them the target bird. I think that there is a quite decent chance that this bird is working that section of the coast, and may regularly visit the jetties mouth area - I got the impression that there was a steady turnover of birds, as new individuals arrived, spent an hour or so there, then drifted off parallel to the coast. The pink bill is quite visible even at a distance." Martin believes this would be the 5th or 6th NA record. (Archived report of earlier Texas Lesser/Great Frigatebird sighting) Mark Batosik has also photographed this bird. (Photo). He reported that it seems to be quite solitary and very often does not follow other frigatebirds. Finding it is a matter of being in the right spot at the right time as it moves around a lot along the shore. Note that the bird is half-blind, having lost her right eye.

The bird was present at the Quintana Jetty at 5:50pm on Sept. 5. (Detailed Notes and Viewing Tips by Ron Weeks)

West Texas: WOOD SANDPIPER* -- first report: Aug 30
On Aug 29 while searching for the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Martin Reid and Sheridan Coffey observed a WOOD SANDPIPER* from the dam at Lake Balmorhea in west Texas. They first heard the bird flying at some distance and eventually it flew at eyelevel within 30 yards of them. They got very good and solid looks at the bird and the critical field marks were seen well. The bird vocalized about six times. Unfortunately the bird kept flying south. It did not seem to gain altitude so there is hope that it may have been just going to another feeding area south of the lake. The bird was not found on the morning on Aug 30.

West Texas: FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: Aug 28; last update: Sept 3
On Aug 28 Cecilia Riley and others found a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* near the town of Balmorhea in west Texas. She reported that it was seen and photographed at about 3:30pm on the highway between Balmorhea and Balmorhea State Park. It was probably 1 mile south of Balmorhea or 3 miles north of the State Park. This is an adult bird which is unmistakable with very long tail. (Photo - updated on 9/3). The bird was with several kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Several pictures were taken before the bird was lost as it flew up a fence line to the west. The bird was refound late on Aug 28 in the same location: on a fence line on the north (left) side of the highway between the town of Balmorhea and the state park. The fence line it was on was west of the Reeves 321 road intersection. There were no sightings on Aug 29. On Aug 30 it was found in the late morning 200 yards past County Road 321. Look for a windmill in a field on the southside of the highway. The bird was seen northward across the highway from the windmill in a field. It was perching fairly low to the ground in some shrubs. A number of Scissortails were in the area also.

Coastal Bend: LESSER FRIGATEBIRD* -- first report: Aug 19; last update: Sept 3
On Aug 19 Martin Reid photographed a female frigatebird with a pink bill at the Quintana Jetty, which has now been confirmed as an adult female LESSER FRIGATEBIRD*. Photos and notes of frigatebird. (updated on Aug 27). Martin reported: "The bird was in a loose aggregation of 12 - 15 frigatebirds that were working the mouth of the jetty, harassing the many feeding terns there. I first saw the bird from the tip of the Quintana Jetty at about 11:15am, and it was present for at least 90 minutes, mostly a bit distant but occasionally coming quite close - as were other frigates. I looked for it again in the afternoon, but there were only 7 frigates there - none of them the target bird. I think that there is a quite decent chance that this bird is working that section of the coast, and may regularly visit the jetties mouth area - I got the impression that there was a steady turnover of birds, as new individuals arrived, spent an hour or so there, then drifted off parallel to the coast. The pink bill is quite visible even at a distance." Martin believes this would be the 5th or 6th NA record.

Mark Batosik has also photographed this bird. (Photo). He reported that it seems to be quite solitary and very often does not follow other frigatebirds. Finding it is a matter of being in the right spot at the right time as it moves around a lot along the shore. Note that the bird is half-blind, having lost her right eye.

Galveston: RUFF* -- first report: Aug 31; last update: Sept 3
On Aug 31 Havar Hveding observed and photographed a RUFF* on Galveston Island. He reported that it was hanging out in a wet pasture in the west side of 8 Mile Rd, exactly 1 mile north of Stewart Rd (revised directions by Mike Austin). It was feeding and showing well from the road from 10am to noon. Mike Austin refound the bird in the late afternoon and watched it till the evening. He believes it is a female (Reeve) in basic (winter) plumage. He advises anyone wishing to see the bird to go soon, as the water in the pasture will not last long. Be aware that afternoon holiday traffic leaving Galveston on Sept 1 will be very heavy. The bird continued in the same area at least through 6:35pm  on Sept 1. (Photos). It was not found on Sept 2, and the water near the road was drying up rapidly.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: RUFF* --
first report: Aug 24; last update: Aug 25
At around 8 am on Aug 24 a female RUFF* (Reeve) was found in the southwest corner of Hwy 490 and 1425 near Raymondville by birders who were searching for the Jabiru. It was not found on Aug 25.

Panhandle: SABINE'S GULL --
first report: Sept 1; last update: Sept 2
On Sept 1 Brian Gibbons reported that he found a juvenile SABINE'S GULL at Rita Blanca Lake near Dalhart in the panhandle. The bird was walking on the sandy beach at the north end of the lake. (Photos). Lake Rita Blanca City Park is #49 on the Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail.

ZONE-TAILED HAWK -- first report: Aug 30
On Aug 29 at about 1:15pm Kevin Motto and a friend observed and photographed a ZONE-TAILED HAWK on their home from the Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch. The hawk was seen on the road directly behind the Calallen Football Stadium, between the Hazel Bazemore park gate and Northwest Blvd. They were on Hazel Bazemore Pkwy (County Road 69). The hawk landed on a fence post, and after a short period flew off again.

Also on Aug 30 Ed Fair reported that just before noon a ZONE-TAILED HAWK was circling and calling in Austin, just south of Lake Austin, halfway between Commons Ford Ranch and Emma Long Parks. The bird was molting and was alone.

Upper Texas Coast: LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL -- first report: Aug 30
On Aug 29 Mike Austin found a 3rd summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Follets Island. Follets Island is across San Luis Pass to the southwest of Galveston Island in southern Brazoria County (at 29°03' N, 95°10' W).

Upper Texas Coast: PRAIRIE WARBLER -- first report: Aug 30
On Aug 29 Mike Austin found an immature male PRIAIRE WARBLER at Dos Vacas Muertas, a Houston Audubon sanctuary on Galveston Island.

Austin: LEAST GREBE --
first report: July 9; last update: Sept 4
On July 5 Vincent O'Brien found a LEAST GREBE with 3 juveniles in Austin on a small pond on the southwest side of the Triangle Apartment complex and shopping center, at 4600 Guadalupe, Austin. The birds have continued at least through August 23 with various numbers counted (generally 10 birds) and multiple broods. On Aug 18 a new nest was found which can be easily viewed from the walkway. On Sept 1, seven birds were counted, including four young,  and the new breeding pair still tending the nest.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: RED-BILLED PIGEON, MUSCOVY DUCK  -- last update: Aug 26
Watch for RED-BILLED PIGEONS and MUSCOVY DUCKS early or late in the day at Salineno. Your odds can be improved by walking downstream to look for them near the river island. No Muscovies were found on Aug. 24, but a single juvenile Muscovy was seen flying upriver at 9:00am on Aug 25. Map. Salineno is #80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS --
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS ;may be seen 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).

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
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.