phil jeffrey:: Texas, April 2017 trip report
Galveston-Bolivar ferry wait times.
(RGV = lower Rio Grande Valley)
Exit Houston at 0630 with some rush-hour traffic snarls toward Anahuac - nothing significant on the road due to driving toward the rising sun. Turned down towards Anahuac and had Pileated Woodpecker across the road. Into the town of Anahuac (a first visit ?) I noticed that the boat ramp had UTC birding trail sign. Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican there and Killdeer nearby. Barn Swallows overhead. This site appears to be at the outflow from Lake Anahuac and worth checking again.
Paralleling the river to Fort Anahuac Park: Blue Jay, Yellow-rumped Warbler, heard Carolina Wren, American Robin and the inevitable Eurasian Collared-Dove. The river's edge area looked moderately extensive but not explored on this brief visit: Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican seen at range. Clapper Rail and Marsh Wren were heard in the phragmites. Exiting Anahuac town, came across a pasture with 15+ Upland Sandpipers, also Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark.
I drove via FM-1985 and FM-124, passing Anahuac NWR, directly to High Island since time was marching on. Chimney Swift along the road, Green Heron on wires. Very quiet with nothing along the road between the High Island parking lot and the entrance to Boy Scout Woods - the Inca Doves appear to not be around this year - and in Boy Scout Woods migrants limited to Gray Catbird, 2 immature male Orchard Orioles, Swamp Sparrows, Northern Parula, Purple Martin, (heard) White-eyed Vireo. The relatively dense Boy Scout Woods is very, very quiet if there's no migration happening. In the face of no land bird migration, let's go shorebirding: Rollover had very extensive mud flats and super low tide with birds deep in the heat haze, but fortunately things like American Oystercatcher can be identified even in the shimmer. I deferred more challenging ID (e.g. Semipalmated vs Western) for better light, but there were a lot of shorebirds and terns out there. Surrounding areas were relatively dry with no ephemeral pools as was the case last year. Willet, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Dowitcher sp, American Oystercatcher. Tricolored and Great Blue Herons, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy and Great Egrets, Royal, Sandwich, Forster's, Black Tern. And undoubtedly more in the haze.
Bolivar Flats had Dunlin, Sanderling, Willet, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers along the drivable part of the beach. I took the (often larger) peeps to be Westerns when they had long bills in conjunction with streaking into the flanks. Shorter-billed individuals with more restricted streaking to the breast sides were deemed to be Semi. In each case nothing was in full alternate plumage - most of them were in some version of pre-alternate molt. Beyond the barrier Wilson's Plover were obviously holding territory, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plovers fairly numerous and Snowy Plover in the minority.
After back-tracking through High Island and on towards Anahuac NWR, South Pear Orchard Road (se corner): Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, several Wilson's Phalarope. Long-billed Dowitchers and smaller unidentifiable peeps. Several Gull-billed Terns. The first Tree Swallows for the trip. Eastern Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers on the wires. Several of the flooded farm fields in the area between S. Pear Orchard and Anahuac NWR were very good indeed and could pull in large numbers of shorebird, but the actual numbers varied radically day to day as the fields changed their water levels rapidly.
Anahuac NWR: many American Coots and Common Gallinules, with a kekking King Rail. Black-bellied Whistling Duck with fewer numbers of Fulvous. Good numbers of Blue-winged Teal. Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret were numerous but as yet no Night-Herons. Dark ibis were apparently nest-building on Shoveler Pond and were almost certainly White-faced, but a few reports of Glossy made me defer definitive ID for better looks. Marsh Wrens were singing in not entirely spectacular numbers but one actually showed itself, for a change. Savannah Sparrows were numerous in the road side grass. No flooded fields surrounded the Shoveler Pond drive so shorebird sightings were limited.
I checked High Island for late afternoon migrant arrivals but came up with nothing. At the TOS site (Hooks Woods) some bozo tour group were idling their tour bus right outside the sanctuary. These jackasses drove the same tour bus down Bolivar flats, but fortunately got stuck in the sand. Swallow-tailed Kite was the main highlight on the short walk from lot to Boy Scout Woods but essentially nothing in the dark interior or the edge habitat facing the Gulf. I had noticed an uptick of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and especially Eastern Kingbirds during the day so some migration had been occurring (or they were shuffling up the coast). At the Smith Oaks rookery, I thought I heard (but did not see) Great Crested Flycatcher but the action was at the rookery itself with Neotropic Cormorant with many fledgelings (up to 5 in one nest), immatures hanging out at the nesting site, Roseate Spoonbill, Great and Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron. Alligators were lurking for the incautious juv herons and there was at least on huge bullfrog that looked like it could give most small birds a scare.
I returned for one last spin around Anahuac NWR at dusk, where there was some shorebird action in the flooded field at the entrance gate, including Long-billed Dowitcher and Hudsonian Godwit - the HUGO got flagged in eBird as atypical but this was the second sighting of the day (same group?). The evening made for more active herons and rails, although of the 4 kekking King Rails I saw precisely none. I did find one Sora out on the mud. Herons were somewhat more cooperative - as they frequently are at dusk - with 3 American Bitterns, one Least Bittern, 4 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and several Black-crowned Night-Herons. Usual suspects otherwise.
At the large gas storage-like structure on Bolivar: Tuna Road which heads due south into the saltmarsh: Sedge Wrens (1 seen, several singing), Little Blue Heron flyover, Seaside Sparrow, Nelson's Sparrow, (h) Clapperish Rail. Chimney Swift and Barn Swallows. The Nelson's weren't definitively separated from Le Conte's since they weren't that cooperative but it's a question of likelyhood - they're in Seaside Sparrow habitat not Sedge Wren habitat.
Rollover Pass - water levels a little higher but still acres of exposed mud and the same species, with the addition of Spotted Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone. High Island - quiet again, saw White-eyed Vireo, male Indigo Bunting, small flock of Gray Catbirds but passerine movement was minimal.
In the face of very limited migration I decided to execute the "Boykin Springs option" which involved driving via Beaumont north past Jasper. This plan was aided and abetted by 75 mph roads to Jasper. Denser foliage at the start of the road leading to Boykin Springs gave way to more open piney woodland. Heard Carolina Wren, heard White-eyed Vireo, saw male Hooded Warbler. Further in, singing Bachman's Sparrow at the small power line cut and fortuitously nearby quiet pecking and contact call of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Of the 2-3 woodpeckers that were present I saw one well, but at range. Pine Warbler with fledgelings was at an adjacent lake. At the Bachman's site there was a small Broad-winged Hawk overflight (1 or 2). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, another Pileated Woodpecker, American Crow were along road leading back toward Beaumont.
Returned to Beaumont and then via Port Arthur, Sabine Pass to Sabine Woods. Relatively quiet there too with a few species eked out: Yellow-rumped Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush were the only warblers, Summer and several Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker (no Red-bellied-ish heard or seen). Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, Red-eyed Vireos (in that order), Sharp-shinned Hawk flyover. Common Yellowthroat and Clapper Rail in the saltmarsh on the south side of the road.
Further west along the road at the end of the pavement: Eastern Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager and probably more migrants lurking in the few shrubs on the coastal swath. These little shrub patches would be good to check on subsequent trips.
After eventually exiting Anahuac I Checked out S. Pear Orchard Rd to no avail - I'd suggested to a birder it was a good shorebird spot but within 48 hours much of the water had been drained from that field. Green Heron and (h) kekking King Rail were in an adjacent ditch.
After checking out of the hotel, Sabine Woods was relatively quiet, although there was a locally rare Great Kiskadee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Return to Anahuac NWR to donate the boots I had bought for the the rail walk but instead of birding I really just repacked the car and left. A few Swainson's Hawk and one or two Broad-winged-like Hawks around Winnie and Anahuac.
Southwest were fast in executing the quick flight from HOU-HRL and I did the car rental paperwork while waiting for bags to appear - this let me make it to Oliveira park in Brownsville to see a large # of Red-crowned Parrots as the sun set (behind clouds) with the associated shrieking cacophany.
Overnight at the Super 8 in Harlingen which was adequate but had more than a few door lock issues. They need to do a little maintenance.
Exiting South Padre Island north to Laguna Atascosa NWR I didn't find the desired White-tailed Hawk. Did find one Harris's Hawk, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Bronzed Cowbird, Lark Sparrow, singing Eastern Meadowlarks in the grassier bits. At the visitor center the RGV specialities were well-represented: Green Jay, White-tipped Dove, Plain Chachalaca, Altamira Oriole, Clay-colored Thrush (shy), Long-billed Thrasher, Couch's Kingbird. That's a bit better than I had expected. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was perched in a bare tree.
Out toward Osprey Overlook (Greater Scaup, Little Blue Heron, Whimbrel were the most interesting) I added Verdin and Olive Sparrow, Ladder-backed Woodpecker. And on exiting the NWR Greater Roadrunner was on the road side and more (displaying) Bronzed Cowbirds. Still looking for White-tailed Hawk and when stopping car to try and see a probable one that set down in a field I got a Northern Bobwhite contact call w/o seeing birds - this on a section of road where I've seen them before.
Old Port Isabel Road - drivable with care, and dry - Eastern Meadowlark, Whimbrel, a few singing Cassin's Sparrows. Tio Cano marsh north of La Feria - Black-necked Stilt, other shorebirds, but no King Rail kekking - not a huge surprise since it was the middle of the day. This marsh is moderately extensive and would be more interesting on a quieter road with larger pull-outs but as it stands you're likely to manifest as the idiot birder that blocks traffic.
Progreso Sod fields - a windy Sunday afternoon let me search for shorebirds without getting in anyone's way - Sprague's Pipit seen first in drier grassy areas, then Killdeer, Upland Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover and subsequently an elaborate tripod setup within the car (the sort of setup I used with Gunnison Sage-Grose) allowed me to parse Pectoral Sandpiper from Buff-bellied Sandpiper from Baird's Sandpiper despite strong wind buffetting that made it very difficult if I set the scope up outside the car. That sod field visit had pretty much everything desired. In contrast there was nothing at all at grain silos nearby - no blackbirds at all. I assumed Sunday would be best due to quiet conditions but perhaps a weekday has more action due to spilled seed.
Estero Llano Grande - Inca Dove at parking lot, as was Couch's Kingbird. The "Tropical Zone" had more Couch's, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch. Common Ground-Dove on trails between the ponds. The ponds themselves had much less water than last year - boardwalk crossing Dowitcher pond traversed drying mud not water. Nevertheless there was some water in the pond and Stilt Sandpiper, peeps (Semi), Long-billed and possible Short-billed Dowitchers, Avocet, Black-necked Stilt. Green-winged Teal with Blue-winged Teal and Shoveler. One Spotted Sandpiper. Grebe marsh partly dry with restless Alligator but Blue-winged Teal, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Gadwall, Stilt and Least Sandpiper, one White-faced Ibis, Coot, Common Gallinule. Alligator Lake had Alligators and a bit more water, but Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Tricolored Heron were it. One Pauraque was seen roosting after looking around a bit. Ibis Pond from the visitor center platform: Blue-winged, Green-winged Teal, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Least Grebe, Least Sandpiper but generally getting rather restricted in water. Curve-billed Thrasher on exiting at the parking lot with the lone Orange-crowned Warbler for the entire trip. Red-crowned and Yellow-headed Parrots were munching quietly in the parking lot - for once completely silent.
The finale for the evening was Green Parakeet (10th/Dove in McAllen).
Overnight at Texas Inn in Pharr - same hotel that masqueraded as an ABVI in last year's booking. Decent low cost option close to the interstate.
A brief visit to Estero Llano Grande got me a visible singing Tyrranulet, the same Least Grebe on Ibis Pond but I didn't wander around. I was looking for info on Eastern Screech-Owl that I ultimately didn't act upon.
I made the trek to South Padre Island via detour north of Los Fresnos which netted me 3 White-tailed Hawks. South Padre Island: Indigo Bunting, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole. Red-breasted Merganser at boardwalk, heard Clapper Rail. Otherwise the usual suspects. A second Valley Land Fund visit netted Summer Tanager, Ruby-throated Hummingbird female, House Wren, Kentucky Warbler. I had to wait 40 minutes to see that Kentucky. The next time I was there I got it within 30 seconds.
Evening at Bentsen: Inca Dove, Cave Swallow and Elf Owl, heard Clay-colored Robin singing at HQ, and a brief sighting of a Nighthawk sp. I'd loaded up on insect repellent but only as I was unpacking the supertelephoto into the trunk of the car did it become obvious that I was surrounded by 50+ mosquitos hungrily waiting for the DEET to wear off. After dark in native habitat in the RGV is nowhere to be without repellent.
Salineno Dump Road/Falcon Cutoff Road was thankfully dry and mostly quiet but stopping to ID an Ash-throated Flycatcher (the call helped), I also got Pyrrhuloxia and singing Bewick's Wren. On to Falcon Heights where along the first section of the entrance road for the state park that runs alongside the county park fence line I got several Lark Sparrows and one or two Bullock's Orioles, despite nearby mowing. In Starr/Falcon County Park I did fairly well: quite a few Lark Sparrows and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Hooded Orioles building nest inside a light fixture, Western Kingbird, Vermilion Flycatchers, Cactus Wren (but it's favorite agave stalk blew down), Curve-billed Thrasher. A kettle of Swainson's Hawks emphasized the ongoing raptor migration. I decided not to visit Falcon State Park because Black-throated Sparrow was the only additional thing needed at that point.
A brief stop in Roma didn't add anything from the Bluffs. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were even in McD's parking lot. A similarly brief stop at Bentsen - no Black Phoebe at bridge, no raptors in the air and since it was mostly overcast this wasn't a good raptor-spotting day so I didn't enter the state park. Virtually no time was spent at Bentsen on this trip.
I made the almost ritual stop at Anzalduas County Park with no expectations - no Sprague's Pipit but Pied-billed and Least Grebes at the spillway, Couch's and Tropical Kingbirds, Brown-crested Flycatcher, singing Northern Parula in the main body of the park. Frontera Audubon at first seemed quiet, then I flushed Chuck-will's-widow(s) from trailside, eventually finding one roosting on the ground that was far enough back from the trail, although clearly quite wary of me. These birds really a huge when flying close to you. Usual suspects White-tipped Dove, White-winge Dove, Plain Chachalaca, Olive Sparrow, Clay-colored Robin, but also Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Great Crested Flycatcher. But the Chucks were the best find.
On to South Padre Island where Sheepshead/Valley Land Fund was quiet-ish but the Kentucky Warbler showed well, Orchard Oriole female, Summer Tanager male, House Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Convention Center: Indigo Bunting flock, Wood Thrush, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, Hooded Warbler female, Orchard Orioles, Dickcissel, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow. On the flats: Dunlin, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Black Skimmer, Royal Tern etc. At the Valley Land Fund lots once more: White-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak female.
Stayed on South Padre Island at Super 8 where I did a little laundry
South Padre Island - Valley Land Fund lots had some storm damage, 2 Tennessee Warblers and a Northern Parula but otherwise quiet. Convention Center felt as if it had more or less the same birds as in the previous afternoon - not a huge shock there - namely same two Lincoln's, flock of Indigo Buntings, Orchard Orioles. Boardwalk had Yellow-rumped Warbler, female Baltimore Oriole, a few Redhead at end but not a lot going on. Scarlet showed me the Green Heron nest and indicated that the mangrove growth along the boardwalk edges was a natural phenomenon and a combination of regrowth after hurricane damage and the effects of global warming. Either way it does give valuable habitat for passerine migrants, at the expense of sight lines over the saltmarsh. Out on the boardwalk there was also a fly-over female Common Nighthawk, Meadowlark sp. in flight, two Kiskadees acting like a pair. I added Swainson's Thrush and Common Yellowthroat at the Valley Fund lots before heading off the island.
I found another White-tailed Hawk en route to Laguna Atascosa where the visitor center was closed (Tue,Weds) and there's currently no fee because of poor condition of entrance road (as of Feb 2017). So feeders were not filled but optimistic birds scratched around (White-tipped Dove, Bronzed Cowbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Plain Chachalaca) and a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker came in to drink. The Kiskadee trail held no surprises.
On to Frontera again, dodging rain showers that were passing over the mainland. The sightings board advertized Prothonotary and Worm-eating and I actually saw saw 2 Hooded Warblers (m+f), 2 Kentucky Warblers (m+f), Worm-eating Warbler, Black-throated Green male, Black-and-white female, Northern Parula, Tennesse Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher but missed Prothonotary. Snowy Egret, Green Kingfisher (v. briefly), Inca Dove, both Hummingbirds, singing Clay-colored Thrush rounded out the total.
Returned to South Padre Island where a little migration had happened in the mid afternoon. Convention Center had Veery, male Baltimore Oriole, otherwise much the same in terms of species. Did the usual rush-pack, rinse car, return just in time to check into flight which then had to wait for the gate to clear on arrival into HOU. Jesus, Southwest - get your act together. Another late hotel arrival exacerbated by Southwest.
Overnight ABVI Winnie for two nights.
The most active tree on the entire visit was at the entrance to Sabine Woods, near the fee kiosk - Blue-winged, Prothonotary, Worm-eating Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The group of 4 Brits had also spied a Swainson's Warbler earlier but I couldn't refind it. Elsewhere: Hooded Warblers, Ovenbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler (singing), Yellow-throated Vireo (singing), Indigo Bunting, Great Crested Flycatcher. Later on a perched Merlin might have subdued activity somewhat. Not super birdy despite higher species tally than last week - rather a lack of birds in the canopy. Only 2 thrushes - both of them Wood Thrushes, and one Brown Thrasher. High Island Hooks Woods: Worm-eating Warbler, Prothonotary, Hooded Warbler male, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Summer Tanager. At Boy Scout Woods: 2 Prothonotary Warblers and 2 Summer Tanagers were around the pond at the bleechers, a singing but unseen Tennesee Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler. The Gulf-side field area had a calling Indigo but relatively few migrants in general.
Anahuac NWR: Purple Gallinule around Shoveler Pond. Usual suspects from the previous week including both Whistling Ducks, abundance of Coot and Common Gallinule, a little light on herons, no rail vocalization. One duck grouping held Gadwall, American Wigeon, a pair of Cinnamon Teals and Fulvous Whistling-Duck. No passerine activity at the Willows although Eastern Kingbird were in increasing evidence along the wires along the entrance road, and one Orchard Oriole flushed from roadside.
Along FM-1985 0.5-2 miles west of S. Pear Orchard Rd, (i.e. between S.Pear Orchard and the entrace to Anahauac NWR) had a number of flooded fields holding many shorebirds - particularly many hundreds of Whimbrel and quite a few Gull-billed Terns. This is further west than the previous week. Fields along (and west of) S. Pear Orchard Road also held shorebirds - more American Golden-Plover on this stretch. I was just doing a skim rather than trying to scope the fields full of shorebirds since I had done so well the previous week. One drier field north of the oil production pad had multiple Upland Sandpipers (~6). Other evidence of migration were yet more Eastern Kingbirds, a few Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and one of your less common bird-on-wire sightings - a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Since the Hummingbird was obviously resting after a long trans-Gulf migration I made no attempt at a record shot.
After an a/c and ice water break I returned to High Island where I took a number of shots at the Smith Oaks rookery and checked out Boy Scout Woods - the latter was quiet with only a Scarlet Tanager to add to the total. Back to Anahuac NWR for 45 minutes before sunset: interesting and moderately aggressive snake at the entrance to Shoveler Pond might have been Speckled King Snake. More herons (typically, since it was near dusk) a couple of kekking but invisible King Rails, and one smaller rail (Sora?) vanishing into the reeds. A Least Bittern found by call (a first for me) and a female Ring-necked Duck resting on one of the berms again. Three Solitary Sandpipers were together along one of the ditches - the first and only ones for the trip. At dusk shorebirds were still leaving the FM-1985 flooded fields to go to roost.
Overnight: America's Best Value Inn, WinnieHigh Island was even more comatose than the previous day - one singing male Painted Bunting was heard but not seen and an Indigo Bunting or two called from the Gulf side of Boy Scout Woods. Hooks Woods had nothing except that wan-looking Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen the previous day.
A little afternoon light shooting at Smith Oaks for more heron/cormorant/spoonbill shots and then near-sunset visit to Anahuac for one last try at rails. Not much King Rail vocalization at Shoveler Pond, although I was lucky to have brief looks at two Least Bitterns and a Purple Gallinule. I headed down the dirt road towards the Yellow Rail Prairie and saw a King Rail roadside, where they'd mowed the verge. This was far enough above the hybrid zone that it was a bona fide King and was certainly brown enough in the neck and face for one. A little later (near "Crab Corner") a Sora was out foraging too, and a Least Bittern was hunting at the edge of the reeds nearby. An American Bittern was at the roadside ditch. I stopped at the Yellow Rail Prairie to listen, out of curiosity to see if I could hear a Black Rail vocalizing at dusk but all I heard was a distant Clapper-ish Rail. The last bird of the trip was that same American Bittern on the return drive up the dirt road.
Overnight: America's Best Value Inn at Creekview, Houston, where Hotels.com seemed to try and screw up the reservation and Apple maps put the hotel on the other side of the interstate (a third attempt by the manager fixed the first issue, and using the Google Maps app fixed the second one).
| Species | Scientific | Seen? | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Least Grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | Anahuac NWR | |
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | Rollover Pass | |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | ||
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | Anahuac town | |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | Anahuac NWR | |
| Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | Anahuac NWR | |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | Bolivar penin | |
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | ||
| Reddish Egret | Egretta rufescens | South Padre Island, Rollover | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Anahuac NWR; EWR | |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | Anahuac NWR | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | ||
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | Anahuac NWR | |
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi | Anahuac NWR | |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | ||
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | High Island | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | Anahuac NWR area | |
| Fulvous Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Anahuac NWR | |
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | Anahuac NWR | |
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | Anahuac NWR | |
| Mottled Duck | Anas fulvigula | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | Anahuac NWR | |
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | Estero Llano Grande | |
| Redhead | Aythya americana | South Padre Island | |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | Anahuac NWR | |
| Greater Scaup | Aythya marila | Bolivar Flats | |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | South Padre Island | |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Bolivar Flats, Port Arthur | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | High Island | |
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | Anahuac NWR | |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | Quite a few - several in one day at Salineno/Falcon | |
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | Brownsville at Oliveira Park | |
| Gray Hawk | Buteo plagiatus | ||
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | Boykin Springs | |
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | s. of Winnie | |
| White-tailed Hawk | Buteo albicaudatus | Anahuac and Laguna Atascosa | |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | Santa Ana NWR | |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Houston at I-45 | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | Falcon/Starr CP | |
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis | TX-100 | |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | Anahuac NWR, Sabine Woods | |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | North of High Island | |
| Plain Chachalaca | Ortalis vetula | RGV | |
| Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus | heard near Laguna Atascosa, seen Salineno | |
| Yellow Rail | Coturnicops noveboracensis | RAIL WALK ANAHUAC | |
| Black Rail | Laterallus jamaicensis | RAIL WALK ANAHUAC | |
| Clapper Rail | Rallus crepitans | heard coastal saltmarsh | |
| King Rail | Rallus elegans | saw one and heard several Anahuac, Cling rail Anahuac | |
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | Anahuac NWR | |
| Sora | Porzana carolina | Anahuac NWR | |
| Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinicus | Anahuac NWR | |
| Common Gallinule | Gallinula galeata | Anahuac NWR | |
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | Rollover | |
| American Golden-Plover | Pluvialis dominica | S. Pear Orchard Road (Anahuac) | |
| Snowy Plover | Charadrius nivosus | Bolivar Flats | |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | Bolivar | |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | Bolivar | |
| Piping Plover | Charadrius melodus | Bolivar | |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | Rollover Pass | |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | Anahuac NWR | |
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | Rollover Pass | |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | Rollover Pass | |
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | Anahuac town | |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | ||
| Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | S. Pear Orchard; Anahuac NWR | |
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | Rollover Pass | |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Rollover Pass | |
| Red Knot | Calidris canutus | Bolivar Flats | |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Bolivar Flats, Rollover Pass | |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | Bolivar Flats | |
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | Bolivar Flats | |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | Bolivar Flats | |
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | Progres(s)o Sod Farms | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | Bolivar Flats; Anahuac area | |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | Bolivar Flats; Rollover Pass | |
| Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | Anahuac NWR | |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | Anahuac area | |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | Rollover Pass | |
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | Anahuac NWR | |
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | Anahuac area | |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | South Padre Island | |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | UTC | |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | Bolivar Flats | |
| Gull-billed Tern | Sterna nilotica | Anahuac area | |
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia | Anahuac town; Anahuac NWR | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | Anahuac town; Bolivar Flats; Rollover Pass | |
| Sandwich Tern | Sterna sandvicensis | Rollover Pass | |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | Bolivar Flats | |
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | Rollover Pass | |
| Least Tern | Sterna antillarum | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | Rollover Pass; Bolivar Flats | |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | Rollover Pass | |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | ||
| Red-billed Pigeon | Columba flavirostris | Salineno | |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | ||
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | Estero Llano Grande | |
| Common Ground-Dove | Columbina passerina | Estero Llano Grande | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | RGV | |
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | High Island, RGV | |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| Green Parakeet | Psittacara holochlorus | McAllen | |
| Red-crowned Parrot | Amazona viridigenalis | Oliveira Park Brownsville | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Sabine Woods | |
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Elf Owl | Micrathene whitneyi | Bentsen | |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | South Padre Island Convention Ctr | |
| Common Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | Estero Llano, Bentsen | |
| Chuck-will's-widow | Antrostomus carolinensis | ||
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Amazilia yucatanensis | Laguna Atascosa, Estero Llano Grande | |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | UTC, South Padre Island | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Megaceryle torquata | Salineno, Santa Ana | |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | UTC | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | Frontera Audubon | |
| Golden-fronted Woodpecker | Melanerpes aurifrons | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | heard at Sabine Woods and town of Anahuac | |
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Picoides scalaris | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | Sabine Woods | |
| Red-cockaded Woodpecker | Picoides borealis | Boykin Springs | |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | n. of Anahuac | |
| Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Camptostoma imberbe | Bentsen, Anzalduas, Santa Ana - Santa Ana Willow 4/5 | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | Salineno | |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | ||
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | ||
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | Santa Ana NWR, Anzalduas, South Padre Island | |
| Couch's Kingbird | Tyrannus couchii | Widespread RGV | |
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | High Island | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | Sabine Woods | |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | Sabine Woods | |
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | Sabine Woods | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Sabine Woods | |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Anahuac town park | |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas | ||
| Chihuahuan Raven | Corvus cryptoleucus | TX100/Laguna Vista | |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Coastal | |
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | High Island | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Anahuac area | |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | Estero Llano Grande | |
| Cave Swallow | Petrochelidon fulva | Bentsen at bridge | |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Black-crested Titmouse | Baeolophus atricristatus | ||
| Verdin | Auriparus flaviceps | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Cactus Wren | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus | Starr/Falcon SP | |
| Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | heard at High Island | |
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | Salineno | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Sedge Wren | Cistothorus platensis | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | Anahuac NWR, heard elsewhere | |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | Anahuac NWR | |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | South Padre Island-Conv | |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | South Padre Island-Valley Land Fund | |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | ||
| Clay-colored Thrush | Turdus grayi | Laguna Atascosa | |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Anahuac town | |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | High Island | |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Sabine Woods | |
| Long-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma longirostre | various | |
| Curve-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma curvirostre | various | |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | ||
| Sprague's Pipit | Anthus spragueii | Progres(s)o Sod Farms | |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | Sabine Woods | |
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorus | Frontera | |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Parkesia motacilla | Sabine Woods | |
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera | Frontera | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | South Padre Island, Frontera | |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | Sabine Woods, High Island | |
| Tennessee Warbler | Oreothlypis peregrina | South Padre Island-Valley Land Fund, Frontera | |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Oreothlypis celata | Estero Llano Grande | |
| Nashville Warbler | Oreothlypis ruficapilla | Frontera | |
| Kentucky Warbler | Geothlypis formosus | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | Boykin Springs (!) | |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | High Island | |
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | High Island | |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | Boykin Springs | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | Anahuac town, South Padre Island | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | Frontera | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Sabine Woods | |
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Sabine Woods | |
| Olive Sparrow | Arremonops rufivirgatus | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Cassin's Sparrow | Peucaea cassinii | Old Port Isabel, Falcon | |
| Bachman's Sparrow | Peucaea aestivalis | Boykin Springs | |
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | Laguna Atascosa area | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow | Ammodramus nelsoni | Bolivar-Tuna Rd (inferred but extremely likely given habitat and appearance) | |
| Seaside Sparrow | Ammodramus maritimus | Tuna Road | |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | South Padre Island | |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | High Island | |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | Salineno | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | High Island, South Padre Island | |
| Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | heard singing on High Island | |
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | South Padre Island | |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | High Island | |
| Boat-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus major | UTC-Anahuac | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | High Island | |
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | Falcon/Starr CP | |
| Altamira Oriole | Icterus gularis | Laguna Atascosa | |
| Audubon's Oriole | Icterus graduacauda | Salineno | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | South Padre Island-Convention Center | |
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | Falcon/Starr CP (edge) | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria | Estero Llano Grande | |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Family | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip Dates | 4/8-16 | 4/13-20 | 4/5-15 |
| Loons+Grebes | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pelicans+Cormorants | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Herons,Egrets etc | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Vultures | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Waterfowl | 12 | 9 | 13 |
| Raptors | 16 | 18 | 18 |
| Quail,Chachalaca | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Rails etc | 6 | 5 | 9 |
| Shorebirds | 32 | 32 | 33 |
| Gulls,Terns | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Pigeons,Doves | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Parrots | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cuckoos | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Owls | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nightjars,Swifts | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Hummingbirds | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Kingfishers | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Woodpeckers | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Flycatchers | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Shrikes | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vireos | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Corvids | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Horned Lark | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swallows | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Titmice,Chickadees | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Verdin | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wrens | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Kinglets,Gnatcatchers | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Thrushes | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Mocks/Catbird/Thrashers | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Starling,Waxwing | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Warblers | 21 | 26 | 17 |
| Tanagers | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sparrows | 14 | 18 | 12 |
| Buntings,Blue Grosbeak | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Icterids | 12 | 16 | 14 |
| Finches, House Sparrow | 2 | 2 | 2 |