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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 Big Bend National Park: FLAME-COLORED TANAGER* --
first report: June 13; last update: June 23
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 and there may be a male in the vicinity as well, but it was never seen well enough to confirm the sighting. Malkolm and Dan Jones refound the bird on June 15 at Boot Springs campsites #3 and #4. This bird was bright yellow, but Malkolm believes the first bird he saw was orange, so there may be two Flame-colored Tanagers present. 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. He also cautioned about bears, as one attacked his gear at campsite 2 while he was birding. Read Mike's report
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.

Big Bend National Park: DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: June 16; last update: June 17
Mark Flippo reported that on June 15 a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER* had been found just below the Pinnacle's Pass in Big Bend National Park. Dan Jones, the discoverer of the bird, wrote that he found it at the cool, shady spot just below the Pinnacles.

Dallas: MASKED DUCK* --
first report: June 14; last update: June 17
On June 14 from 8:00 am to noon a female MASKED DUCK* (breeding plumage) was observed at an unnamed Trinity River restoration project marsh in northwest Kaufman County near Dallas. (Photo) It has continued through the morning of June 17.
Revised instructions: This is private property and is at the present time closed to the public. The foreman on June 17 said that because of liability concerns visitors are not allowed on the property. The managers are working with Ducks Unlimited and hope to have a visitors' center and scheduled visits in 3-4 months.

Updated Lower Rio Grande Valley: SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: June 9; last update: June 22
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 has continued through June 21 and remains extremely cooperative. It has built a nest in a woodpecker cavity in a palm snag, and spends a good deal of time sitting on the nest. It also is eating some anacua fruits in the big tree near the house.
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: MANGROVE CUCKOO* --
first report: June 13; last update: June 18
On June 13 George and Scarlet Colley of the South Padre Island Nature Center observed a MANGROVE CUCKOO* in their yard. It was feeding quite comfortably on the ground and perching about six feet off the ground on a salt cedar stump in their back yard about ten feet from the side of the house they are building in Port Isabel on East Adams. The location is East Adams at Tarnava. The Colleys have not seen it since June 13, but they have heard it calling several times. They are a bit concerned, though, that it was there long enough for a mockingbird to pick up the call.
Directions: Turn right off of the road to the causeway just before you get up on the causeway to South Padre Island. It is about three streets down and two streets behind the museum. The Colleys welcome visitors and can be called at 956-761-7178 or 956-739-2473.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: BROWN JAY* -- first report: June 11
On June 11 BROWN JAYS* were reported at the La Puerta Tract of the USFWS (#74 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail). Two adults and two juveniles were seen over the past few days about 1.5 miles into the tract. La Puerta is located 19.5 miles south on US 83 through Rio Grande City.

New! Lower Rio Grande Valley: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO -- first report: June 22
On the morning of June 21 a singling 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 residental 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. Traffic goes through here at warp speed, so be careful!

Lower Rio Grande Valley: YELLOW-GREEN VIREO --
first report: May 20; last update: June 13
On June 6 at 7:30 am Keith Taylor found a YELLOW-GREEN VIREO singing across a resaca as heard from the Hawk Watch Tower at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. There were also three CLAY-COLORED ROBINS near the old picnic grounds. The vireo has continued at least through June 12.

On May 20 at 9:00 am Chris Butler found a single YELLOW-GREEN VIREO singing by the wetland bridge at Sabal Palm Audubon Center. This is a normal location for this species in the summer. On May 30 both a female and a singing male were found between the Oriole Blind and the intersection with the Vireo Trail.

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. It has continued at least through June 8.

West Texas: SNOWY PLOVER -- first report: June 20
On June 20 Erik Breden found that SNOWY PLOVERS have returned to Shafter Lake near Andrews, TX. He reported, "I found two birds (male and female) along the maintenance road out to an oil well pad part way out into the shallow lake. A pleasant surprise was a WILLET in breeding plumage along the shoreline of the road near the plovers." He also saw a RUDDY TURNSTONE at the lake. It had some color but was not in breeding plumage.

Fort Hood: WHIMBREL -- first report: June 20
On the morning of June 20 Richard Kostecke observed two WHIMBREL at Fort Hood, Coryell Co. He reported that the birds were in a pit near the junction of Elijah and Old Georgetown roads that had been refreshed by some rain. This appears to be a first record for June.

Fort Hood: LEAST GREBE --
first report: June 19; last update: June 20
On June 19 Gil Eckrich observed and photographed a LEAST GREBE on a pond near the western boundary (Hwy 116) of Fort Hood, Coryell Co. The pond is not visible from the road. The grebe continued on June 20. Also, on June 19 Richard Kostecke photographed a WHITE-TAILED HAWK soaring over Cowhouse Creek on Fort Hood's West Range (Coryell Co.).

Fort Worth: LEAST GREBE --
first report: May 25; last update: June 15
On May 25 Martin Reid and Sheridan Coffey observed and photographed a LEAST GREBE at Village Creek Drying Beds in Arlington. The bird was in the northeast quadrant of the beds, two ponds east of the large willow stand in the northern section of the beds. This is a first northeast Texas record. On May 26 it was in pond 45 or 44, and a second LEAST GREBE was discovered in the original location. Both grebes continued at least through 7 pm on May 28, when one was in pond 44 (NE of West Pump Station) and the other in Pond 28. On June 14 there were at a minimum 4 grebes present: one pair in pond 20, a single grebe in pond 15, and one (possibly two) in the big combined pond (ponds 1-6). One grebe was viewed swimming in the area of pond 3 in the morning and again in the area of pond 6 in the afternoon resting and preening on a sand spit with the lingering Eared Grebe.
Directions: VCDB is located in far eastern Fort Worth (and north Arlington) on Green Oaks Blvd. Get to I-30 in Arlington (west of HWY 360 / east of I820). Take the North Cooper Street exit and drive north where it ends at Green Oaks. Turn left (west) on Green Oaks and drive west about 3/4 mile. You will pass the River Legacy Park entrance and the park maintenance facility entrance. VCDB is the 3rd turn to the right and immediately you will see the wrought iron gate. (across the road from the entrance is a large sporting complex and parking lot.) If coming from Denton / Lewisville / points north, take HWY 360 south to HWY 183 west. Exit on HWY 157 / Industrial Blvd in Euless and drive south for about 5 miles to Green Oaks (first light after the large landfill). Turn right on Green Oaks and drive almost 2 miles to VCDB entrance (see other landmarks mentioned above.) Map of VCDB ponds, prepared by Ft. Worth Audubon.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: BLACK PHOEBE -- first report: June 12
A BLACK PHOEBE continues to be seen at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse. On June 12 it was easily seen near the water.

Updated Lower Rio Grande Valley - San Ygnacio: WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER -- last update: June 23
The WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATERS have been seen consistently at the end of the Raptor Trail, best time is in the morning. On June 22 a male was seen at the end of the Raptor trail and to the left of the boat ramp feeding on grass seeds along the river bank. On June 21 both male and female birds were seen. 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, HOOK-BILLED KITE -- last update: May 12
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. A pair of HOOK-BILLED KITES have been reported crossing the river between 9 and 11 am on several days, and a single on April 25. This is a good place for AUDUBON'S ORIOLE as well. Map. Salineno is #80 on the Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail.

Lower Rio Grande Valley: FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS --
last update: May 8
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).

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.