Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

January 21-27, 2011

 I recently went on a rarity chase to the lower Rio Grande valley area in southern most Texas. David Patick joined me for a few of the days. The weather was in the 60's and 70's which was a marvelous break from the 20's and 30's in West Virginia. Highlights of the trip included 5 life birds (Whooping Crane, Black-vented Oriole, White-throated Thrush, Hook-billed Kite and Groove-billed Ani). The Kite and Ani were nemesis species missed on many previous trips...but no longer. They were both seen within 15 minutes of each other!

Below is a selection of photographs from the trip. (I'll add newer ones as I can...). It is only a small sampling of the total number of species but it includes most the rarities being seen during that time. There are only a handful of Black-vented Oriole records in the lower 48 and less than 15 records for White-throated Thrush. Others are rare and some are more common...it's all relative.

Black-vented Oriole  (Near Bentsen State Park)

White-throated Thrush  (Estero Llano Grande State Park)

Crimson-collared Grosbeak  (Pharr, TX)

Whooping Crane  (Aransas County, TX)

Clay-colored Thrush  (Bentsen State Park)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Estero Llano Grande State Park)

Ringed Kingfisher  (Salineno, TX)

Green Kingfisher  (Estero Llano Grande State Park)

Great Kiskadee  (Estero Llano Grande State Park)

Orange-crowned Warbler  (Pharr, TX)

Least Grebe  (Estero Llano Grande State Park)

Sora  (Estero Llano Grande State Park)