RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley, November 5, 2009

[Mary Gustafson-2]

I got permission from the photographer to post the photos of the Masked Ducks and Rose-throated Becard, they can be seen here -
http://marybirds.blogspot.com/2009/11/larry-therriens-photos-masked-duck-rose.html


Transcript follows.

Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas

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RBA
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* Texas
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* November 5, 2009
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+ (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us)
http://www.texasbirds.org/tbrc/reviewsp.htm lists Texas review species
http://www.texasbirds.org/tbrc/TBRCform.rtf suggests what to include in
details
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Our rare bird alert this week includes...
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Migration Update
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+Masked Duck  
Bald Eagle
Hook-billed Kite
Mountain Plover
+Rose-throated Becard  
Rock Wren
Tropical Parula
Mangrove [Yellow] Warbler
+Blue Bunting (possible)
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Hotline Number: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley
Birding Hotline number: [phone]
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To report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or [phone] option
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- Transcript
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Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline
sponsored by Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife,
and the World Birding Center. This hotline is normally updated Thursdays by 5 PM. Please send observations to Texbirds or to the hotline email address. Thank you to those who sent reports!
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This is a general reminder that tapes are not allowed in Texas State Parks and many LRGV birding sites. All State Park visitors must stay on trails. Thank you for not disturbing the wildlife or damaging the vegetation.
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Birding site closures:
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Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in Weslaco *REVISED* is now closed on Sunday morning, Monday and Tuesday without a prior appointment.  
Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen is closed on Sunday and Monday;
Valley Nature Center in Weslaco is closed Sunday mornings and Mondays.
Audubon's Sabal Palm Sanctuary is closed-- *REVISED* - access is restricted to pre-arranged groups until further notice. Audubon is working towards a re-opening early in 2010.  Watch their website for additional information.
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Rare birds
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Two Masked Ducks – one a near full-plumaged male – were photographed at Santa Ana NWR on November 1 and continue to be seen at Cattail Lakes sporadically.  They are missed more often than seen, and there are many Ruddy Ducks present.  
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A female-plumaged Rose-throated Becard was photographed at Bentsen RGV State Park on October 30.  
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A Blue Bunting female was reported from Bentsen RGV State Park on October 28. Indigo Buntings are in the area. The location was near the start of the Kiskadee Trail.  
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Migration reports
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Winter residents continue to arrive. Ring-necked Ducks are appearing at several sites.  Ruby-throated Hummingbirds remain in good numbers across the LRGV.  A few Dickcissels remain as always in early November.  Groove-billed Anis are getting scarcer as winter approaches.
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The Valley from East to West
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At Lake Tiocano near La Feria, White-fronted Geese were resting on October 21.  Also present were a variety of shorebirds, egrets, herons, and Roseate Spoonbills.  
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Shorebirds continue at Sugar House Pond with Snowy, Semipalmated, and Black-bellied Plover.  Good numbers of more expected species were also present.
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A Rufous Hummingbird was photographed in Alamo during the week.
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A Rock Wren was an unusual find at the UTPA campus in Edinburg on October 30.
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At Estero Llano Grande State Park, Waterfowl are increasing in numbers.  A Lark Bunting was an unusual find at Estero Llano Grande on Wednesday October 28.  
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A Northern Beardless Tyrannulet was found at Frontera Audubon Center in Weslaco, most recently on October 12. They are rare away from the Rio Grande in Hidalgo County.  Migrant warblers continue in good numbers at this site.
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At Valley Nature Center, Red-crowned Parrots were feeding in the park on Saturday October 24.  A Rose-breasted Grosbeak continues to be present at the feeding station.  
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A Mountain Plover was reported by a single observer from a sod farm on Texas 88 but could not be relocated on Monday November 2.
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Also at Santa Ana NWR THREE Hook-billed Kites were seen and photographed on Wednesday November 4.  Large flocks of Turkey Vultures and Anhingas were moving south, and Gray Hawks were vocal.  A Wood Duck was at Pintail Lakes.
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Quinta Mazatlan has Clay-colored Thrushes, migrant warblers, and hummingbirds.  
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At Anzalduas County Park, a Tropical Parula was found and photographed on November 2, and two Sprague’s Pipits were found in the entrance fields. Sprague’s Pipits were found near Penitas on November 1.
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Nearby at the North American Butterfly Association park, Clay-colored Thrush come to the water features and feeders.  
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At Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in Mission, a Hook-billed Kite was seen soaring over the resaca area on Tuesday October 27. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet can be found within the park, and Gray Hawks are present and vocal. More second hand unverified reports included a Rose-throated Becard at Eagle Pond on October 30 and a Blue Bunting on October 28. This is a TBRC review species.
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Mangrove Warbler, a well-marked subspecies of Yellow Warbler that may be distinct enough to warrant full species status, can be seen by contacting the Sealife Center at [phone].
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Red-crowned Parrots wander widely to feed and to roost and are not always easy to find in the summer, as their locations are more unpredictable. They are most often seen in flight. Red-crowned Parrots are sometimes seen in the areas of Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, and Valley Nature Center in Weslaco.
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Green Parakeets are readily seen at Quinta Mazatlan, in the vicinity of Oklahoma Street in Weslaco, and hundreds often stage before going to roost in McAllen on North 10th Street between Violet and Dove in the evening. Both Green Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots have been seen in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park), Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and Brownsville near Fort Brown.
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Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are also heard (and rarely seen) at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the pre-dawn hours. Remember, the use of tapes is not allowed at Bentsen or many LRGV sites. Always ask before using tapes.Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are at San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north of Raymondville, easiest seen February through May. There is a fee to access this site, and prior arrangements are required (Leticia Tijerina, 956-369-3118 or buny55ATaol.com). Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are found on the King Ranch and often at El Canelo, as well.
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Salineno is the the traditional site for seeing Red-billed Pigeons and Muscovy Ducks (last reported September 20).
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White-collared Seedeater can be found the San Ygnacio County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary at the south end of 9th Street and Laredo. Another good site is behind the library at the county park in Zapata.
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The Wikibird guide provides birding site information for the Rio Grande Valley at http://wikibird.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Valley_birding_guide 
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Thanks to Tim Whitehouse for this great service!
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Please report sightings to rgvbirdsAThotmail.com (Replace AT with @) or [phone] option 3. Thanks to everyone who reported their sightings to Texbirds or the compilers!
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Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas