wendynewnham@hotmail.com

Participants: Wendy Newnham, Chris Wilkinson, Trevor Wilkinson

Introduction & Logistics

This report describes a birding trip undertaken by three friends who wanted to see the maximum species of birds in the shortest space of time. We only had nine days but were able to maximise this time by visiting three key areas on the south coast of Texas. The first the area is known as High Island which lies about 60 miles SW of Houston & incorporates the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks Sanctuary, Sabine woods & the Bolivar Peninsula. The second area visited was the Edwards Plateau which lies about a four hour car journey WSW of Houston past San Antonio. Here we birded the area around Neal’s lodges in Concan, the Lost Maples & the Garner State Park as well as the Frio Bat Cave. The final area visited was the Rio Grande valley, the border area with Mexico between Laredo & Brownsville. We visited the San Ignacio Bird Sanctuary, Falcon & Bentsen State Parks, the area around McAllen & the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. The return journey to Houston took us via Lake Texana & finally to the Brazos Bend State Park. All in all we saw a total of 268 species during our nine days and I have to say were quite well satisfied with our efforts.

Itinerary

Saturday 23rd April       Flew UK to Houston, collected our hire car & drove about 40 miles north of the outskirts to the WG Jones State Forest where we spent several hours wandering along the tracks looking for our target bird - the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Successful, we drove back through Houston & about 60 miles east to the small town of Winnie.

Night at Best Western Gulf Coast Inn - Winnie.
463181-10 East Winnie, Texas. Tel/Fax: (409) 296-9292
US$66 double +tax (queen size bed) room.

Sunday 24th                  Drove south to the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge very early in the morning for the pre-booked official ‘Rail Walk’. After a rather exhausting but extremely successful slog through the long grass we managed to see at least six of our target species - Yellow Rail - plus several other rails. We struggled out of the field, thanked the organiser (a volunteer) & moved on to a small wooded area nearby called The Willows.  After an hour or so wandering around in this delightful & productive area we drove the short distance to the Shoveler Pond where we found a viewing platform erected on the edge of the track overlooking an area of reeds and water. In fact we saw very few birds but interesting nevertheless. Returned to Winnie for lunch & a short rest then drove back past the turning to Anahuac & on to the Boy Scout Woods Sanctuary which is situated in the area known as High Island about a half a mile from the coast. The sanctuary was surprisingly small but with absolutely excellent habitat, tall open trees many of them fruiting and with a well-managed under-storey which allowed extensive views for good distances. There were quite a number of enthusiastic American birders here who tended to be very helpful, friendly & well informed.

Second night at Best Western - Winnie

Monday 25th                Drove to the western end of the Bolivar Peninsula stopping several times along the beach front to identify various waders & gulls. Parked at the western end of the peninsula and spent some time in the car park (along with a large flock of Skimmers) scoping across Galverston Bay. Drove back to Boy Scout Woods for a quick recce & then after lunch & a rest, drove east through the most hideous oil refinery town of Port Arthur close to the Lousiana border & on to Sabine Woods. This is an excellent sanctuary with substantial areas of mature trees, however the rain, worsened & started really lashing down as we arrived. After sitting in the car for 40 minutes wasting time, we donned our wet weather gear & stepped out into the deluge and into the woods where we spent several soggy hours struggling to identify some of the specialties. We had to make the most of this excellent area as we knew we would have no time to return in more clement conditions.

Third night at Best Western - Winnie

Tuesday 26th                Checked out of the motel & drove to Boy Scout Woods where we birded for an hour or so, then on to the Smith Oaks Sanctuary nearby where we also spent several hours wandering along the paths several of which lead to a lake where there was a substantial sized egretry. Drove back north through the Anahuac NWR stopping at several wet fields to identify waders & then back onto highway 10 where we set off west, passing through Houston & on towards San Antonio. After several hours and one or two gas station & roadside birding stops we arrived at Neal’s Lodges at Concan at around dusk. We checked in and were given one of the newly-built cabins (No. 73) with two twin double bedrooms both ensuite, separated by a large room which served as the kitchen/living area. The aromatic timber lined walls & a charming open fire-place gave the cabin a pleasant atmosphere & double doors which lead out onto a patio, lawn & secondary growth scrub were very practical for late-night & early morning birding. The restaurant had already closed so we bought some basic supplies at the shop and cooked a simple meal in the cabin. Neal’s was the best accommodation of the trip.

Night in Concan at Neal’s Lodges.
PO 3 Concan Texas        Tel: (830) 232-6118
www.nealslodges.com - nealslod@hctc.net
US$ 120.00 for cabin per night.

Wednesday 27th           In the early morning drove just across the river, parked on the verge & walked to cabin 61 where bird feeders & viewing chairs had been set up. After a very interesting half an hour at the feeders we set off up a track & then a path which lead up the hillside to try for Black-capped Vireo– without success. Drove north to the Lost Maples State Park & en route saw our first Greater Roadrunner  - running alongside the road looking just like the cartoon character! Spent several pleasant hours in the park walking the Maple Trail looking for Golden-cheeked Warbler & Black-capped Vireo. Had the warbler almost straight away but although we heard the Vireo calling, were unable to tape it out. During our attempts, discovered a huge Porcupine sleeping in a tree just off the path. A quick detour into the Garner State Park on the return journey was a waste of time as we saw very few birds & no good habitat..

In the early evening, drove out to the Frio Bat Cave (US$10.00 pp – payable to the tour guide) close by & spent an hour or so watching the astonishing spectacle of 20 million bats exiting the cave. Were also able to watch various raptors taking bats out of the sky at close proximity as well as skunks grabbing bats as they knocked into each other and fell near the cave entrance. After dusk, stayed on for a short in the lower fields, watching Armadillos at close range & listening for owls and nightjars.

Second night at Neals Lodges.

Thursday 28th               After packing up, spent an hour at Neal’s at another feeder (along the track behind the shop) & then set off south on highway 83. After several hours & several roadside stops, reached the Rio Grande at Laredo a rather scruffy border town. Continued on south along highway 83 following the Rio Grande River, stopping at the San Ignacio Bird Sanctuary.  Ran into the curator, a very pleasant chap who was able to identify the call of the White-collared Seedeater the specialty of the sanctuary & having successfully ticked of this species we moved on. Stopped at several rest stops where we had our first view of a Pyrroloxia. Finally reached Zapata in the late evening.

Night at Falcon Motor Hotel in Zapata.
US$ 40.00 basic double room

Friday 29th                   Drove to the Falcon State Park in the early morning & into the RV area where we found Scaled Quail (a tip off from two women we had met the previous day) a surprise addition to the trip list. Then drove across to the El Rio RV Park near Salineno where we twitched the Brown Jay with the help of three rather seedy residents. Headed off to the Birders Colony at Chapeno but finding it deserted & burnt out we headed back onto the highway & on to McAllen where we gave the sewerage ponds a quick recce before heading off to check into the motel. In the late afternoon, drove to the Bentsen State Park & stayed on well into the evening waiting (successfully) for a pair of staked out Elf Owls to exit their hole. Spent the last hour wandering back in the dark accompanied by nightjars whirling around overhead.

Night at Days Inn, McAllen
US$70.00 double (queen size bed) room.

Saturday 30th                Early morning visit to the McAllen Sewage ponds where we almost got locked in (saturday), then on to the Allen Williams Gardens at Pharr close by to twitch Blue Mockingbird (on information gleaned from the Texas Bird Alert website). Drove on to the Frontera Audobon Centre at Weslaco near McAllen to twitch Elegant Trogon & Crimson-collared Grosbeak (TBA again). This large suburban garden is an amazing bird haven and we spent several exciting hours here successfully ticking off several new species as well as the target birds. Drove on to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge spending a relatively short time in the heat of midday before driving on to the Brownsville Airport to search for the Tamaulipas Crow -without success. Finally, set off north on highway 77 towards Kingsville and after several hours driving and one or two roadside stops arrived there in the early evening.

Night at the Best Western Hotel - Kingsville.
US$70.00 double (queen size bed) room.

Sunday 1st May            Drove north, stopping many times alongside the highway to identify perching raptors in the early morning light, to the consternation of couple of state troopers in a border patrol car. Continued on, diverting off the highway past Lake Texana & then on to the Brazos Bend State Park where we spent several hours amongst the Sunday visitors ticking off a few final birds for the trip. Hurriedly changed into our travelling clothes in the car park, packed our equipment away & headed north at high speed towards Houston, turning onto the amazing ring road system around the city & arriving at the airport just in time for our 6.45pm flight back to the UK.

Birds Species for the Trip

Pied-billed Grebe     Podilymbus podiceps
Singles seen at Bolivar flats, Anahuac, McAllen Sewage Works & up to seven at Bentsen & Santa Ana.

Least Grebe          Tachybaptus dominicus
Up to 20 at Bentsen & one the next day at Santa Ana.

American White Pelican     Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Flyovers at High Island, a flock at Bolivar Flats & at least 50 along the Rio Grande.

Brown Pelican       Pelecanus occidentalis
A good-sized flock at Bolivar Flats but common all along the coast.

Double-crested Cormorant      Phalacrocorax auritus
Several at Bolivar Flats and also at Bentsen.

Neotropic Cormorant         Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Several nests in the Egretry at Smith Oaks. Fairly common in small numbers at Anahuac, along the Rio Grande at San Ignacio & Santa Ana.

Anhinga     Anhinga anhinga
Singles seen perched or flying on three days and three seen roosting at Bentsen.

American Bittern     Botaurus lentiginosus
At least three seen at Anahuac.

Least Bittern        Ixobrychus exilis
Up to 10 at Anahuac.

Great Blue Heron     Ardea herodias
Seen in small numbers in & near lakes, swamps and wet areas.

Great Egret     Ardea alba
Fairly common, seen almost every day in small numbers.

Snowy Egret         Egretta thula
Fairly common in reasonable numbers with at least 100 seen in large flocks from the car near Kingsville.

Reddish Egret      Egretta rufescens
Four seen in Galverston Bay near the end of the Bolivar Peninsula.

Tricolored Heron     Egretta tricolor
Fairly common in small numbers in appropriate habitat.

Little Blue Heron     Egretta cearulea
Fairly common in one’s & two’s in ponds and marshes.

Cattle Egret          Bubulcus ibis
Common in every field where there were cattle.

Green Heron        Butorides virescens
Fairly common in small numbers with up to four at Bentsen.

Black-crowned Night Heron     Nycticorax nycticorax
Singles & pairs seen on four days.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron     Nyctanassa violacea
A pair at Anahuac & singles seen at McAllen & Brazos Bend.

White Ibis     Eudocimus albus
Seen in small numbers on at least five days.

White-faced Ibis     Plegadis chihi
Singles and small groups on several days.

Glossy Ibis      Plegadis falcinellus
Seen in small numbers at Anahuac & at least 80 seen in a flock from Highway 59 near Victoria.

Roseate Spoonbill     Ajaia ajaja
Seen in small numbers with up to 10 at Bolivar Flats. Nesting pairs at the Smith Oaks Egretry.

Greater White-fronted Goose           Anser albifrons
A large flock of dark geese flying over us at High Island was most likely this species.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck     Dendrocygna autumnalis
Seen in pairs & small numbers in many lakes and wet areas & over 100 seen near Kingsville.

Fulvous Whistling Duck     Dedrocygna bicolor
Small numbers seen at Anahuac also up to 10 at McAllen.

Mexican Mallard     Anas platyrhynchos diazi
Up to 15 seen at Santa Ana.

Mottled Duck       Anas fulvigula
Several seen in the High Island area on three days.

Northern Shoveler     Anas clypeata
Two birds at Anahuac was the only sighting.

Blue-winged Teal     Anas discor
Pairs & small groups seen at Anahuac, the Willows & up to eight at McAllen.

Red-breasted Merganser     Mergus serrator
A pair in Galverston Bay was the only sighting.

Turkey Vulture   Cathartes aura
Seen in good numbers every day of the trip.

Black Vulture      Coragyps atratus
Seen in good numbers every day.

Hen (Northern) Harrier     Circus cyaneus
Pairs seen at Anahuac & Bolivar.

Hook-billed Kite     Chondrohierax uncinatus
A glimpse of a bird at El Rio RV Park was almost certainly this species.

White-tailed Kite     Elanus leucurus
Single sightings on four days.

Mississippi Kite     Ictinia mississippiensis
At least four on route to the Edwards Plateau, up to three the next day at Lost Maples & a pair at Brazos Bend.

Cooper's Hawk     Accipter cooperii
Singles on four days over wooded areas.

Harris's Hawk     Parabuteo unicinctus
Common in the Rio Grande Valley with up to eight seen on three days.

Zone-tailed Hawk     Buteo albonotatus
A single bird at Lost Maples was the only sighting.

Red-shouldered Hawk     Buteo lineatus
A pair at Brazos Bend was the only sighting.

Broad-winged Hawk     Buteo platypterus
A single at WG Jones was the only sighting.

Swainson's Hawk     Buteo swainsoni
Fairly common & widespread with up to five seen on most days.

White-tailed Hawk     Buteo albicaudatus
A single perched bird seen from highway 59 near Victoria was the only bird definitely identified.

Red-tailed Hawk     Buteo jamaicensis
Fairly common & widespread with up to six seen each day.

Osprey        Pandion haliaetus
A perched bird on the south side of the Rio Grande (in Mexico) & another at Brazos Bend.

Crested (Northern) Caracara           Caracara cheriway
Up to five birds seen on most days with 10+ along Highway 59.

Peregrine Falcon     Falco peregrinus
Single birds seen on three days.

Plain Chachalaca      Ortalis vetula
Around 10 seen at Bentsen and a total of around 50 at Santa Ana & a dozen at the Frontera.

Northern Bobwhite     Colinus virginianus
A covey of nine near Salineno and a single bird at McAllen were the only birds for the trip.

Scaled Quail     Callipepla squamata
Gen from a couple of American birders gave us a pair in the RV section of the Falcon S P and another on a road nearby.

Purple Gallinule     Porphyrula martinica
Singles & pairs in various wet areas on four days.

Common Moorhen     Gallinula chloropus
Common small numbers in the same wet areas as the Gallinule

American Coot     Fulica Americana
Less common but again singles & pairs on four days

Clapper Rail         Rallus longirostris
A single bird seen at close range on the Bolivar Peninsula.

King Rail     Rallus elegans
A single bird seen really close on the roadside near the Shoveler pond.

Yellow Rail    Coturnicops noveboracensis
Up to six seen on the early morning organised ‘Rail Walk’ at Anahuac.

Black Rail     Laterallus jamaicensis
A single bird seen by other participants in the ‘Rail Walk’ was an unfortunate dip.

Virginia Rail     Rallus limicola
A single seen in flight (Chris only) on the ‘Rail Walk’ was the only sighting of the trip.

Sora     Porzana Carolina
Two seen at the Willows.

Grey (Black-bellied) Plover     Pluvialis squatarola
Small numbers seen at Bolivar & Anahuac.

American Golden Plover     Pluvialis dominica
Several seen in a field at Anahuac.

Piping Plover       Charadrius melodus
Up to three on the beach at Bolivar.

Semipalmated Plover          Charadrius semipalmatus
Singles and small flocks at Bolivar and Anahuac.                                  

Wilson's Plover     Charadrius wilsonia
Three seen on the beach at Bolivar.

Killdeer     Charadrius vociferous
Up to six seen on most days of the trip.

American Oystercatcher     Haematopus palliates
A single bird in Galverston Bay was the only sighting.

Black-necked Stilt     Himantopus mexicanus
Small numbers seen at Anahuac, Galverston Bay, & up to 20 seen at Santa Ana & McAllen.

Greater Yellowlegs     Tringa melanoleuca
Small numbers in wet areas & cultivated fields at Anahuac, Santa Ana & McAllen.

Lesser Yellowlegs     Tringa flavipes
Small numbers in same areas as Greater.

Solitary Sandpiper     Tringa solitaria
Singles & up to two seen on three days.

Willet    Catoptrophrous semipalmatus
Common at Anahuac & on the Bolivar Peninsular.

Spotted Sandpiper     Actitis macularia
Up to four seen on streams, river edges & ponds on the Edwards Plateau & along the Rio Grande.

Upland Sandpiper     Bartramia longicauda
Six in the open grass verges of the Brownsville airport

Whimbrel     Numenius phaeopus
Several large flocks seen overhead in the High Island area. Also good numbers feeding in ploughed fields in the same area.

Hudsonian Godwit     Limosa haemastica
Three birds found in a muddy pond at Anahuac was an exciting find.

Ruddy Turnstone     Arenaria interpres
Small numbers at Anahuac & on the beach on the Bolivar Peninsula.

Red Knot     Calidris canutus
A single bird at Bolivar was the only sighting.

Sanderling     Calidris alba
Up to 100 seen on the beach at Bolivar.

Dunlin   Calidris alpina
Good numbers in ploughed wet fields at Anahuac & at Bolivar.

Pectoral Sandpiper     Calidris melanotos
Two to three birds seen at Anahuac, Santa Ana & McAllen.

White-rumped Sandpiper     Calidris fuscicollis
A single at Anahuac & up to 10 at Santa Ana.

Baird's Sandpiper     Calidris bairdii
Two birds in a wet field at Anahuac & two in a pond on Highway 77 near Kingsville.

Semipalmated Sandpiper     Calidris pusilla
Small numbers seen in wet fields at Anahuac, on the beach at Bolivar & at McAllen.

Least Sandpiper     Calidris minutilla
Seen in good numbers in wet fields at Anahuac, also up to 100 At McAllen & over 40 the next day.

Stilt Sandpiper     Calidris himantopus
Up to 12 at McAllen & 10 the next day.

Long-billed Dowitcher     Limnodromus scolopaceus
Flocks of up to 400 seen in wet fields at Anahuac on several days & up to 20 at McAllen.

Short-billed Dowitcher      Limnodromus griseus
Up to 10 in pond at Santa Ana were finally identified as this species when the call was heard.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper     Tryngites subruficollis
A single bird in a wet field at Anahuac was the only sighting.

Wilson's Phalarope     Phalaropus tricolor
Seen in good numbers in wet fields at Anahuac on two days. Also up to 40 at Santa Ana.

Laughing Gull     Larus atricilla
The most common gull, seen on most days in good numbers.

Franklins Gull     Larus pipixsan
A flock of over 100 from Highway 10 as well as huge flocks of over 1000 seen from Highway 59 near Victoria migrating north.

Ring-billed Gull      Larus delawarensis
20+ at the end of the Bolivar Peninsular.

American Herring Gull     Larus smithsonianus
Up to five along the beach at Bolivar.

Caspian Tern     Sterna caspia
Two on the beach at Bolivar was the only sighting.

Royal Tern     Sterna maxima
Good numbers along the beach at Bolivar.

Sandwich Tern     terna sandvicensis
Good numbers along the beach at Bolivar.

Forster's Tern     Sterna forsteri
Up to three at Anahuac and good numbers along the beach at Bolivar.

Least Tern     Sterna antillarum
Small numbers seen from the beach at Bolivar.

Gull-billed Tern     Sterna nilotica
Several seen at Anahuac and at Bolivar.

Black Tern     Chlidonias niger
Four birds seen from the beach at Bolivar.

Black Skimmer     Rynchops niger
Up to 100 seen resting in the car park at the end of the Bolivar Peninsular.

Mourning Dove     Zenaida macroura
Fairly common, small numbers seen every day.

White-winged Dove     Zenaida asiatica
Seen in small numbers on the Edwards plateau & in the Rio Grande area.

White-tipped Dove     Leptotila verreauxi
Small numbers each day in the Rio Grande area.

Inca Dove     Columbina inca
Fairly common, seen in small numbers each day.

Common Ground Dove    Columbina passerina
Up to three seen each day in the Rio Grande area.

Red-billed Pigeon     Columba flavirostris
Two birds seen at El Rio RV Park, (one in Mexico).

Ringed Turtle Dove     Streptopelia rosoria
Seen in small numbers in the High Island area and on the Edwards Plateau.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo          Coccyzus americanus
Two in the High Island area on two days, two also on the Edwards Plateau & up to five in the Rio Grande area.

Greater Roadrunner           Geococcyx californianus
Two seen en route to Lost Maples reserve on the Edwards Plateau & up to 10 seen at Falcon & Bentsen.

Eastern Screech Owl     Otus asio
One heard near the Frio Bat Cave on the Edwards Plateau and another at Bentsen.

Great Horned Owl     Bubo virginianus
A large tufted owl seen sitting on wires in twilight on highway 59 near Kingsville was surely this species (Wendy only).

Elf Owl     Micrathene whitneyi
A pair staked out in Bentsen ventured out of their hole at dusk giving fleeting but extremely adequate views.

Common Paraque     Nyctidromus albicollis
Several seen & others heard at Bentsen & two seen on broad daylight roosting at the Allen Williams Garden.

Common Nighthawk     Chordeiles minor
Two seen flying at dusk in the High Island area & up to five seen flying in the late afternoon from a roadside stop in the Rio Grande Valley.

Lesser Nighthawk     Chordeiles acutipennis
Singles seen at the Frio Bat Cave & the next day at Neals Lodge

Chuck-wills-widow     Caprimulgus carolinensis
One at Frio, another heard on a highway stop near Zapata and another also seen sitting in a tree at Frontera.

Common Poorwill     Phalaennoptilus nuttallii
Two over a field near the Frio Bat Cave.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird    Amazilia yucatanensis
Several in the Allen Williams Garden, several also at Frontera & at Santa Ana.

Black-chinned Hummingbird           Archilochus alexandri
Common on the feeders at Neals Lodge and at the roadside café there.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird            Archilochus colubris
A single bird at Boy Scout Woods & one on the feeder also at the roadside café at Concan.

Ringed Kingfisher     Ceryle torquata
At least four along the Rio Grande at the El Rio RV Park.

Green Kingfisher     Chloroceryle Americana
Two birds at Bentsen was the only sighting.

Elegant Trogon     Trogon elegans
The splendid male at Frontera was located (we had been alerted by an email from the Texas Bird Alert).

Red-headed Woodpecker     Melanerpes erythrocephalus
At least five birds at the WG Jones Reserve.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker     Melanerpes aurifrons
Common on the Edwards Plateau and along the Rio Grande with up to 10 seen on two days.

Red-bellied Woodpecker     Melanerpes carolinus
Two birds at WG Jones was the only sighting.

Downy Woodpecker            Picoides pubescens
Singles at WG Jones, Boy Scout Woods & at Sabine Woods.

Hairy Woodpecker     Picoides pubescens
A single in the Boy Scout Woods was the only sighting.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker     Picoides borealis
At least six birds seen in a family party at WG Jones.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker     Picoides scalaris
Pairs and up to three at San Ignacio, Bentsen & at Santa Ana.

Pileated Woodpecker         Dryocopus pileatus
One at WG Jones & two at Brazos Bend.

Eastern Wood-Pewee          Contopus virens
Common in small numbers in the High Island area, up to six at Lost Maples on the Edwards Plateau & several along the Rio Grande.

Acadian Flycatcher     Empidonax virescens
A single in Boy Scout Woods & another at Neal’s Lodge.

Willow Flycatcher     Empidonax traillii
A single bird at Boy Scout Woods was the only sighting.

Black Phoebe     Sayornis nigricans
Four at Lost Maples was the only sighting.

Eastern Phoebe     Sayornis phoebe
Up to four in the Neals Lodge area on two days.

Vermillion Flycatcher     Pyrocephalus rubinus
One at the Garner State Park near Concan on the Edwards Plateau, another at Frio & a third along the highway south towards the Rio Grande.

Ash-throated Flycatcher     Myiarchus cinerascens
Up to four birds seen each day on the Edwards Plateau.

Brown-crested Flycatcher     Myiarchus tyrannulus
Pairs at San Ignacio & Santa Ana.

Great Crested Flycatcher     Myiarchus crinitus
A single at Boy Scout Woods was the only sighting.

Eastern Kingbird     Tyrannus tyrannus
Common in the High Island area & also at Brazos Bend

Tropical Kingbird      Tyrannus melancholicus
A single bird at San Ignacio was the only bird identified as this species, others were probably overlooked.

Couch's Kingbird     Tyrannus couchii
Common on the Edwards Plateau & along the Rio Grande with up to 40 seen on one day.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher     Tyrannus forficatus
Probably the most common flycatcher. Seen on roadside wires along every highway with up to 100 seen on several days.

Great Kiskadee     Pitangus sulphuratus
Common along the Rio Grande with up to 20 seen on one day.

Loggerhead Shrike     Lanius ludovicianus
Up to three seen on several days in the High Island area & along the Rio Grande.

Warbling Vireo     Vireo gilvus
Three seen on one day, one at the Willows & two at Boy Scout Woods. Also one at Sabine Woods the next day and another in Boy Scout Woods the following day.

Red-eyed Vireo     Vireo olivaceus
Singles at High Island, Sabine Woods & up to four at Neal’s Lodge & Lost Maples on one day.

Philadelphia Vireo     Vireo philalephicus
A single at Boy Scout Woods was the only sighting.

Bell's Vireo     Vireo bellii
A single near a bird feeder at Neal’s Lodge was the only sighting.

*Black-capped Vireo     Vireo atricapillus
Near endemic to Texas, A bird heard singing at Lost Maples was impossible to tempt out into the open even when a CD was played. After a break we tried again but to no avail.

White-eyed Vireo     Vireo griseus
Singles at High Island on two days and at least two at Lost Maples & Santa Ana. Also two at Frontera.

Blue-headed Vireo     Vireo solitarius
Two at Boy Scout Woods on one day.

Blue Jay     Cyanocitta cristata
Fairly common in the High Island area.

Green Jay     Cyanocorax yncas
Pairs at San Ignacio, up to 10 at Bentsen & one at Santa Ana.

Brown Jay     Cyanocorax morio
Two birds on a feeder at the El Rio RV Park at Salineno.

Common Raven     Corvus corax
Three at Lost Maples & possibly several the next day at a highway rest stop.

Chihuahuan Raven     Corvus cryptoleucus
Up to 20 at San Ignacio & four at the Brownsville airport.

American Crow    Corvus brachyrhynchos
Not particularly common, five at Anahuac & four in the Houston area.

Horned Lark        Eremophila alpestris
Two at Bolivar flats near the beach.

Purple Martin     Progne subis
Fairly common in all areas.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow     Stelgidopteryx serripennis
A single bird at Lost Maples was the only sighting.

Sand Martin     Riparia riparia
Small numbers except at Santa Ana where at least 20 birds were seen.

Tree Swallow     Tachycineta bicolor
Fairly common in the High Island area & also two in the Rio Grande area.

Cliff Swallow     Petrochelidon pyrrhonata
Common & widespread everywhere, often seen from the car in large numbers by bridges and river banks.

Cave Swallow     Petrochelidon fulva
Common & widespread with up to 500 seen in one day around highway bridges & river banks as we reached the Edwards Plateau. Also at the Frio Bat cave.

Barn Swallow     Hirundo rustica
Seen in reasonable numbers almost every day.

Tufted Titmouse     Baeolophus bicolor
Two at WG Jones & two also at Brazos Bend.

Black-crested Titmouse     Baeolophus atricristatus
Up to six at Neals Lodge & Lost Maples & one at Frontera.

Carolina Chickadee     Poecile carolinensis
Up to four at WG Jones with several seen on subsequent days in the High Island area.

Verdin     Auriparus flaviceps
A single male at Falcon was the only sighting.

Bushtit     Psaltriparus minimus
A single bird at Lost Maples was the only sighting.

Brown-headed Nuthatch     Sitta pusilla
A family party of up to six at WG Jones was the only sighting.

Carolina Wren     Thryomanes ludovicianus
Single birds at Boy Scout Woods on three days.

Bewick's Wren        Thryomanes bewickii
Fairly common on the Edwards Plateau & along the Rio Grande.

Sedge Wren         Cistothrous platensis
Common at Anahuac.

Marsh Wren        Cistothrous palustris
Several seen on the Rail Walk at Anahuac.

Cactus Wren        Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
A single bird singing from roadside electric wires near Zapata & one the next day near McAllen were the only sightings of this stunning bird.

Canyon Wren     Catherpes mexicanus
Two birds at Lost Maples was the only sighting.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     Polioptila caerulea
A single at Lost Maples and another the next day at Neals Lodge.

Eastern Bluebird     Sialia sialis
Up to seven birds at WG Jones were the only birds for the trip.

American Robin     Turdus migratorius
A single bird at Boy Scout Woods was the only sighting.

Clay-colored Robin     Turdus grayi
A single bird at Bensten and one at Santa Ana.

Wood Thrush       Hylocichla mustelina
Fairly common in Boy Scout Woods & Sabine. Singles also at Bentsen and Santa Ana.

Veery     Catharus fuscescens
Up to three at Boy Scout Woods, one at Sabine & two at Frontera.

Swainson's Thrush     Catharus ustulatus
Common in the Boy Scout Woods, & also Sabine.

Gray-cheeked Thrush        Catharus minimus
Common in the Boy Scout Woods & at Sabine.

Hermit Thrush     Cathares guttatus
A bird glimpsed at Neal’s Lodge was probably this species.

Gray Catbird        Dumetella carolinensis
Fairly common in small numbers in Boy Scout Woods & at Sabine.

Northern Mockingbird     Minimus polglottos
Common and widespread in small numbers.

Blue Mockingbird    Melanotis caerulescens
A single bird at Allen William garden..

Brown Thrasher     Toxostoma rufum
Singles and pairs in the Boy Scout Woods & on the Edwards Plateau.

Long-billed Thrasher     Toxostoma longirostre
Singles at Neal’s Lodges & up to six birds one day along the Rio Grande.

Curve-billed Thrasher     Toxostoma curvirostre
Singles on two days near Carrizo Springs & three in an arid area alongside the highway in the Rio Grande area.

European Starling     Sturnus vulgaris
Fairly common in all areas.

Northern Parula     Parula Americana
A single at Smith Oaks & another at Santa Ana were the only birds for the trip.

Tennessee Warbler     Vermivora peregrina
Two in Boy Scout Woods & up to six several days later.

Golden-winged Warbler     Vermivora chrysoptera
A single bird at Frontera was the only sighting.

Nashville Warbler     Vermivora ruficapilla
A single male at Frontera was the only sighting.

Yellow Warbler        Dendroica petechia
Singles and pairs at Boy Scout Woods & one at Frontera.

Chestnut-sided Warbler     Dendroica pensylvanica
Singles in Boy Scout Woods & Smith Oaks.

Magnolia Warbler     Dendroica magnolia
A single at Frontera was the only sighting (Chris & Trevor only).

Cerulean Warbler     Dendroica cerulea
A single male at the reserve in First St, High Island.

Blackburnian Warbler     Dendroica fusca
Up to three seen each day in Boy Scout Woods & Sabine.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (ss. Audobons)    Dendroica coronata
A single at Lost Maples was the only sighting of this sub-species.

Black-throated Green Warbler     Dendroica virens
A single in Boy Scout Woods, three at Frontera & a single at Brazos Bend.

*Golden-cheeked Warbler     Dendroica chrysoparia
Endemic to Texas, At least five seen at Neals Lodge & Lost Maples on one day.

Palm Warbler     Dendroica palmarum
A single at The Willows was the only sighting (Chris & Trevor only)

Pine Warbler     Dendroica pinus
Common in good numbers at WG Jones.

Bay-breasted Warbler     Dendroica castanea
Two at Boy Scout Woods & a single at Brazos Bend.

Blackpoll Warbler     Dendroica striata
A male in Boy Scout Woods & a female at the Willows.

Worm-eating Warbler     Helmitheros vermivora
At least four in Boy Scout Woods & another the next day.

Prothonotary Warbler     Prothonotaria citrea
A single in the Sabine Woods was the only sighting.

Black-and-White Warbler     Mniotilta varia
Two in the Boy Scout Woods & a single there two days later. Also one at Frontera.

American Redstart     Setophaga ruticilla
Up to three at Anahuac & one the next day at Sabine Woods.

Ovenbird     Seiurus aurocapilllus
A single in Boy Scout Woods & two at Frontera were the only birds for the trip.

Northern Waterthrush     Seiurus noveboracensis
Several in the Boy Scout Woods on two days.

Lousiana Waterthrush      Seiurus motacilla
A single at Sabine Woods was the only sighting.

Kentucky Warbler     Oporornis formosus
Singles on three days, two in Boy Scout Woods & one in Sabine Woods.

Common Yellowthroat     Geothlypis trichas
Two each day at Boy Scout Woods & Sabine, four at Neals Lodge & Lost Maples & three at Frontera.

Canada Warbler     Wilsonia canadensis       
A single at the Frontera was the only sighting.

Wilson's Warbler     Wilsonia pusilla
A single bird at Frontera was the only sighting (Wendy only).

Hooded Warbler     Wilsonia citrina
Three in Boy Scout Woods on two days.

Yellow-breasted Chat     Icteria virens
Common in ones & twos  in all areas except Brazos Bend.

Summer Tanager     Piranga rubra
Common in pairs in the High Island and Edwards Plateau areas & a single at Frontera.

Scarlet Tanager     Piranga olivacea
Common in pairs in the High Island area.

Pyrrhuloxia     Cardinalis sinuatus
A single on the roadside near Zapata & up to six the next day at Falcon & along the roadside.

Northern Cardinal     Carinalis cardinalis
Common & widespread with up to six birds seen each day.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak     Pheucticus ludovicianus
Common in family parties in Boy Scout & Sabine Woods.

Blue Grosbeak     Guiraca caerulea
Singles & pairs at WG Jones, Boy Scout Woods & Sabine.

Crimson-collared Grosbeak     Rhodothraupus calaeno
A single male seen at Frontera was an exciting find – only a few come across the border.

Indigo Bunting    Passerina cyanea
Singles & pairs in the High Island & the Edwards Plateau areas.

Painted Bunting     Passerina ciris
A small party in the open field at Boy Scout woods, several at Neal’s Lodge & a single female at Frontera.

Dickcissel     Spiza Americana
At least 20 in a field at Anuhuac & a flock from the roadside near Kingsville.

White-collared Seedeater     Sporophila torqueola
A single male seen singing in the San Ignacio Sanctuary was an excellent find. We were able to locate the bird by its song because the local warden had identified it for us.

Canyon Towhee     Pipilo fuscus
A single bird near the Frio Bat Cave & one the next day at the Neal’s Lodges feeder.

Olive Sparrow      Arremonops rufivirgatus
Common in small numbers at Neal’s Lodge & along the Rio Grande.

Le Conte’s Sparrow     Ammodramus leconteii
A single bird at Bolivar was the only sighting.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow     Aimpohila ruficeps
At least two at Lost Maples & one at Neal’s Lodges.

Black-throated Sparrow     Amphispiza bilineata
Two at a feeder at Neals Lodge & one near Falcon the next day.

Field Sparrow     Spizella pusilla
A single at Boy Scout Woods & another at San Ignacio.

Clay-colored Sparrow     Spizella pallida
A single on a hillside at Neals Lodge & another the next day at Lost Maples.

Chipping Sparrow     Spizella passerina
Common around feeders and the café at Concan & on the Edwards Plateau.

Seaside Sparrow     Ammodramus maritimus
Common at Anahuac.

Savannah Sparrow     Passerculus sandwichensis
Several at Anahuac on three days.

Lark Sparrow      Chondestes grammacus
Common at Neals Lodge & the nearby Garner.

White-throated Sparrow     Zonotrichia albicollis
Singles in the Boy Scout Woods on two days.

White-crowned Sparrow     Zonotrichia leucoprys
Several in fields near the beach at Bolivar.

Lincoln Sparrow     Melospiza incolnii
Singles at Anahuac & Lost Maples.

Eastern Meadowlark     Sturnella magna
Several at Anahuac on three days.

Brown-headed Cowbird     Molothrus ater
Common & widespread.

Bronzed Cowbird     Molothrus aeneus
Common on the Edwards Plateau & along the Rio Grande.

Yellow-headed Blackbird     Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
A single at Anahuac & several in a field alongside Highway 59/77.

Red-winged Blackbird     Agelaius phoeniceus
Common & widespread in good numbers in all areas.

Common Grackle     Quiscalus quiscula
Common & widespread.

Boat-tailed Grackle     Quiscalus major
Common in the High Island area.

Great-tailed Grackle     Quiscalus mexicanus
Common & widespread.

Bullock's Oriole     Icterus bullockii
Four at Falcon was the only sighting.

Baltimore Oriole     Icterus galbula
Common in Boy Scout Woods on two days. Also singles at Bentsen  & Brazos Bend.

Hooded Oriole     Icterus cucullatus
A single male at the feeders at Neals Lodge & four the next day were the only birds for the trip.

Orchard Oriole     Icterus spurious
Several birds at Anahuac on two days..

Altamira Oriole     Icterus gularis
At least six at Falcon.

Audubon's Oriole     Icterus graduacauda
A pair at San Ignacio & a single the next day at Frontera.

House Finch     Carpodacus mexicanus
Up to 10 birds seen at bird feeders at Neals Lodge on two days.

Pine Siskin     Carduelis pinus
Up to eight seen at feeders at Neals Lodge on two days.

Lesser Goldfinch     Carduelis psaltria
Up to eight at feeders at Neals Lodge.

American Goldfinch     Carduelis tristis
A single bird at the feeder at Neals Lodge was the only sighting.

House Sparrow     Passer domesticus
Common & widespread around human habitations.

Mammal Species for the Trip

Raccoon     Procyon lotor
Armadillo     Dasypus novemcinctus
Opossum     Didephis marsupialis
Peccary     Pecari angulatus
Porcupine     Erethizon dorsatum
Black-tailed Jackrabbit      Lapus californicus
Eastern Cottontail     Sylvilargus floridanus
White-tailed Deer     Odocoileus virginianus
Mexican Free-tailed Bat     Tadarida brailiensis
Cave Myotis Bat     Myotis velifer

References

Holt, Harold R (1993) A Birders Guide to the Texas Coast (ABA).

Kaufman, Kenn (2000) Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Hillstar)

Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1988) Wildfowl: An Identification Guide to the Ducks & Geese of the World (Helm).

Sibley, David (2003) Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America. (Helm).

Sibley, David (2003) Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America (Helm).

Zimmer, Barry R & McKinney, William B (1999) A Birders Guide to the Rio Grand Valley of Texas (ABA).

Maps

American Automobile Association Road Map of Texas (2003 Edition)