Corpus Christi & Rio Grande Valley
The Great State of Texas
April 16 ~ 26, 2004

Yucca, Laguna Atascosa, Texas, by Derald Lary

Texas is one of the most bird-rich areas of the United States, especially along the Rio Grande where Mexican vagrants abound. The state certainly lived up to its avian reputation. Eighteen birders from across gathered for a ten-day, bird-until-you-drop trip to Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. It proved to be a wonderful combination of work/study and play. Corpus Christi charmed us with coastal species while its interior revealed desirable swamp, marsh, and grassland birds. The Rio Grande Valley dazzled us with its tropical species, some of which were longed-for Mexican vagrants found in this extreme southern region of Texas.

Continue on to read trip highlights and see wonderful photos of some of the regional birds. Don't forget to read the species list at the end of the report. It will make you drool.

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 Painted Bunting by John Westbrook
Corpus Christi
Leisure Club Village

~ The infamous "Corpus Christi" winds blew and nearly halted the songbird influx we expected. We scoured birding hotspots like Paradise Pond, Blucher Park, and Paradise Island Birding Center, but came up short. Finally, we discovered their hideout. The songbirds weren't foraging in any of the well-known hotspots, but outside the front door of our condo! Weirdly, each morning and evening, even when the winds blew, darling songbirds dotted the lawns and trees of our condo village. It became a running joke. "Meet at Eva and Arleen's place for songbirds at six." A contingent of binocular-clad people would descend on the village. The locals hadn't seen anything like it. "What y'all looking at?" they'd ask, grinning and curious. We told them their village struck avian gold. They felt proud. We felt lucky. We discovered a birding vortex. It was filled with: Dickcissels, Lark Sparrows, Northern Parulas, Yellow-breasted Chats and Tennessee, Blue-winged, Nashville, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cerulean, Black-throated Green and Common Yellowthroat Warblers. There were also Western Kingbirds, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings and their colorful cousins, brilliantly colored Painted Buntings.

Corpus Christi
Residential Area

~ On the eve of our trip to the Rio Grande Valley, two birders, Linda & Bob, who live in the area, hosted a party in their lovely Corpus Christi home. We sipped wine and enjoyed their tranquil garden. During the party, Linda took my friend, Eva, and I to see something special. We walked a few doors down to a driveway. A branch swayed in the Corpus Christi winds. Towards the end of the branch lay a tiny nest with a mama Black-chinned Hummingbird protecting her eggs while the wind whipped her up and down like a roller coaster ride. Thanks to mama hummingbird's vigilance, her nestlings would eventually grow and fledge.

Black-chinned Hummingbird Nestlings Swaying In Corpus Christi Winds
by Linda Alley

Rio Grande Valley
Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge

~ A debate ensued. An owl had peeked out from its hole but not long enough to clinch a positive identify for some. However, I was sure it was an Elf Owl. "Think of its location. Think of its behavior. Consider those arching eyebrows." Not everyone was convinced. A few thought for sure that it was a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. Eventually, the mosquitoes ended the controversy as sunset approached. Only the hardy or the foolish remained. I guess I was one of three fools that didn't opt for a shower and dinner after a full day of "working the birds" in the tropical heat. But hey, birding is my job and my passion. So three of us, Eva, Kathy, and I watched a seemingly empty cavity nest while mosquitoes gorged our legs and whined at our ears. Under the cover of the jungle, the light dimmed as our anticipation grew as thick as mosquitoes. Then it happened. Two beady eyes and a round head with arching white brows peeked out repeatedly into the promising twilight - a bona fide, confirmed Elf Owl and worth every bloodsucking minute.

Elf Owl by Chantal Sakay

Rio Grande Valley
Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge

~It sounds like a story book title: The Search for the Clay-colored Robin. However, that is what we did. We scoured the refuge for this plain, but desirable Mexican vagrant. So desirable a species was it that we learned that a week prior former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, traveled to the refuge and found the bird. So, as we were getting neck cramps listening and watching a Tropical Parula, some of us heard robin-like caroling. We froze then ran. A Clay-colored Robin hopped along a branch in the jungle understory and gave us close views. We also discovered that the Clay-colored Robin had a mate and a nest, but evidently neither had their passports or visas.

Clay-colored Robin by Rich Miller

Rio Grande Valley
Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge

~ As we drove along the stunningly beautiful refuge - zipping here, zipping there - we saw hundreds of flashes of blue and cinnamon. Everywhere we looked, male and female Indigo Buntings were dropping down into the trees and shrubs. It was a bunting fallout. We bumped into another birder who said he had seen them coming in at daybreak, most likely after the storm front had passed. "Hundreds and hundreds," he said. They were a dark quilt patch in the sky that split into hundreds of threads dangling in bushes and trees.

Indigo Bunting by Steven Wayne Rotsch                                       Female Indigo Bunting by Chuck Musitano

Rio Grande Valley
Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge

~ I heard the nervousness in Kathy's voice -- a bird watcher for sure, but new to the world of birding. "Gals, it's getting very dark," she warned. Yes, it was headlight time as we wound our way through Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge. I felt a bit guilty knowing what Kathy had in store. We had just finished our free day -- a day without the birding group. Kathy was quickly learning just how possessed Eva and I can be about the business of birding. However, there were Common Pauraques to be found and we were going to find them. By Kathy's uneasy looks, I could see she believed us. As the truck inched forward, Kathy asked: "Do you know how to get back?" "No, not really," Eva and I laughed. Kathy swallowed. Soon it was pitch black except for thousands of mosquitoes swarming in the headlights. "This isn't funny." "Ah, don't worry, we have plenty of room to sleep plus we have lots of water and food in the back," I tried reassuring her. Kathy groaned. Then she jumped when Eva screamed: Pauraques!

Common Pauraque by Steve Metz

Like giant moths with big eyes, these strange creatures of the night jumped from the ground snapping moths and other insect morsels into their gaping mouths. In the headlights, their eyes glared hauntingly while they busily foraged, fluttering up and down in their characteristically weird way. I figured the site of them would send Kathy over the edge. I turned. A look of total fascination crossed her face. "Those are about the strangest birds I've ever seen." "Yeah, aren't they great? Wanna' stay awhile." "Oh, yes. Definitely, yes," she said.

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Birding Hotspots & Complete List of Species
Corpus Christi Area & Rio Grande Valley
April 16 ~ 26, 2004

Bird Joy Author, Cattle Country, Sandia, Texas, 2004, by Eva Scripps-Callahan

We birded 20 separate hotspots within the Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley regions. We saw many "roadside" birds as we drove the wide, empty roads of Texas. Crested Caracara and White-tailed Hawks were some of the most spectacular, particularly traveling to and from Port Aransas. Yeah, there is nothing like the excitement of pulling over, jumping out, and seeing a great bird, especially if it's a life bird. Here is a listing of the 20 locations you might want to consider for a future trip. Thanks goes to my Texas friend, "Old Cop," who reviewed the list to be sure I included them all.

Corpus Christi and Surrounding Areas
~ Bird Island Basin, Blucher Park, Hazel Bazemore County Park, Lake Corpus Christi, Indian Point, Mustang Island, Packary Channel, Paradise Pond, Polliwog Pond, Port Aransas Birding Center, Sandia

Rio Grande Valley
~Anzalduas County Park, Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Boca Chica Beach, Falcon Heights (just below Falcon Dam), Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Sabal Palm Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Valley Nature Center, Weslaco

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Species of Corpus Christi & Rio Grande Valley Areas
April 16 ~ 26, 2004

Here are some more pictures of the 251 species tallied by the entire group. After enjoying the photos, take a gander at the incredible species list. Once again, a thanks goes to my friend "Old Cop," who reviewed the list to be sure that no infractions occurred (grin).

(For larger and clearer pictures, click onto these thumbnails images.)
Photos by Derald Lary

 
~ Greater White-fronted Goose, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Muscovy, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck
~ Plain Chachalaca, Helmeted Guineafowl, Northern Bobwhite
~ Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe
~ American White Pelican, Brown Pelican
~ Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant
~ Anhinga
~ Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
~ White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill
~ Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Osprey, Hook-billed Kite, White-tailed Kite, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Gray Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon, Peregrine Falcon
~ Black Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot
~ Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Plover, Wilson’s Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope
~ Laughing Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black- backed Gull
~ Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Forster’s Tern, Black Tern, Black Skimmer
~ Rock Pigeon, Red-billed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove
~ Green Parakeet, Red-crowned Parakeet
~ Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
~ Greater Roadrunner
~ Groove-billed Ani
~ Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Elf Owl
~ Lesser Nighthawk, Common Nighthawk, Common Pauraque, Chuck-will’s-widow
~ Chimney Swift
~ Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird
~ Ringed Kingfisher, Belted Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher
~ Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker
~ Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Eastern Wood-pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
~ Loggerhead Shrike
~ White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo
~ Blue Jay, Green Jay, Brown Jay
~ American Crow, Fish Crow, Chihuahuan Raven
~ Horned Lark
~ Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged, Cliff Swallow, Cave Swallow, Barn Swallow
~ Tufted Titmouse, Black-crested Titmouse
~ Verdin
~ Cactus Wren, Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren
~ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
~ Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Clay-colored Robin, American Robin
~ Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher
~ Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Tropical Parula, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Canada Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat
~ Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager
~ White-collared Seedeater, Olive Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow
~ Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia
~ Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel
~ European Starling
~ Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, Altamira Oriole, Baltimore Oriole
~ House Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch
~ House Sparrow

"I rejoice that there are owls."
Henry Thoreau

 

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