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Field Guides Tour Report
South Texas Rarities II 2015
Jan 24, 2015 to Jan 30, 2015
Chris Benesh


An adult Crested Caracara eyes us. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

Our second 2015 Rio Grande Rarities trip had the benefit of mostly excellent weather and a few bona fide rarities. Certainly the rarest in the bunch was the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, with just a handful of US records in the past hundred years. The "Western" Flycatcher was also super rare for the area, though not something to get the heart racing too fast. It was instead some of the regulars that really got us excited. Our group favorites for the tour included Gray Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Aplomado Falcon, Sora, Altamira and Audubon's orioles, Northern Bobwhite, Ringed Kingfisher, Zone-tailed Hawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Parula, and Olive Sparrow.

Thanks to all of you for coming along on the tour! I had a good deal of fun.

--Chris


KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant


BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)


A flight of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks over the Edinburg Wetlands (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons) – A big mixed flock of geese consisted of these and Snow Geese.
SNOW GOOSE (Chen caerulescens)
WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa) – A gorgeous male on his favorite perch at Estero.
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)
MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
PLAIN CHACHALACA (Ortalis vetula)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)


A Clapper Rail tucked away at South Padre Island (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

NORTHERN BOBWHITE (Colinus virginianus) – Good views of this species on a couple of occasions.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – Five spotted across the river in Mexico north of San Ygnacio.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)


A cryptic Pauraque at Estero (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nyctanassa violacea)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – Some nice views of this species at Estero and near Brownsville.
NORTHERN HARRIER (AMERICAN) (Circus cyaneus hudsonius)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)


A young Aplomado Falcon made an appearance near Laguna Atascosa. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Buteo lineatus)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus) – Some nice sightings of this species earned it a couple of votes as trip favorite.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – Good scope views of one perched along the Rio Grande in Salineno.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
CLAPPER RAIL (GULF COAST) (Rallus crepitans saturatus) – Nice looks at one from the boardwalk at the South Padre Island convention center.
SORA (Porzana carolina)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Gruidae (Cranes)
SANDHILL CRANE (Grus canadensis) – Five seen in flight in the open fields north of the Rio Grande.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)


A wire-perching Merlin was an unusual sight! (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (Tringa semipalmata)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) – A lone one hanging out near other terns at SPI.
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)


The "Western" Flycatcher spotted at Resaca de la Palma; it was silent, but the most likely species of the group is Cordilleran. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – A big day for roadrunners with six seen.
GROOVE-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga sulcirostris) – Seen on each of our visits to Laguna Atascosa.
Strigidae (Owls)
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL (MCCALL'S) (Megascops asio mccallii) – Roosting bird at Estero.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) [*]
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – We connected with one at a traditional site in the valley.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) – What amazing camo!
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia yucatanensis) – Nice study of one at the Edinburg Wetlands.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)


The super cooperative Groove-billed Anis near Laguna Atascosa (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) – One well seen at Estero and two more along the river in Salineno.
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana) – A great show of this species at Edinburg Wetlands.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes aurifrons)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
MERLIN (Falco columbarius) – Some good studies including a feeding bird in Harlingen and one perched on a wire (which is seldom the case).
APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis) – An amazing show with three birds interacting over our heads! Another perched bird seen a couple of days later.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – We did eventually find one.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
RED-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona viridigenalis) – Quite a few coming to roost in Brownsville.
RED-LORED PARROT (YELLOW-CHEEKED) (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis)


Documentation shot of the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

YELLOW-HEADED PARROT (Amazona oratrix)
WHITE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona albifrons)
GREEN PARAKEET (Psittacara holochlorus) – About 200 seen in McAllen.
MITRED PARAKEET (Psittacara mitratus) – One mixed in with the Greens.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) – Certainly not the most exciting bird of the trip for most, but an exciting one for your leader. This "Western" Flycatcher (Cordilleran being the most likely) that turned up at Resaca de la Palma represents the first winter record for the lower Rio Grande Valley where it is rare at any season.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – Always a crowd pleaser!
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
COUCH'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus couchii) – Good numbers around this winter.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) – We refound the one seen a week earlier in La Joya.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)


The sun came out and so did the Tropical Parula. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
GREEN JAY (Cyanocorax yncas)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus atricristatus)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
WINTER WREN (Troglodytes hiemalis) [*]
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris) [*]
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus) [*]
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)


The amazing Green Jay! (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) – A handsome flock at Anzalduas.
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH (Turdus grayi) – About four seen in total.
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
GRAY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis poliocephala ralphi) – An actual rarity, we did have this one pop up for us at Estero Llando Grande. Despite its rarity, it was outvoted in the best bird competition.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)


Warmer temperatures brought out some butterflies, like this Zebra Heliconian. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

TROPICAL PARULA (Setophaga pitiayumi) – We had great looks at this species at Resaca de la Palma.
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus) – One at Anzalduas.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Setophaga dominica)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila torqueola) – We had a male in Zapata and a female in San Ygnacio.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
OLIVE SPARROW (Arremonops rufivirgatus)
CASSIN'S SPARROW (Peucaea cassinii)
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (Spizella pallida)
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)


Resaca de la Palma had an obliging Nine-banded Armadillo. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana) – One hanging out in a weedy field was a bit of a surprise.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
ALTAMIRA ORIOLE (Icterus gularis)
AUDUBON'S ORIOLE (Icterus graduacauda) – Good views of this species along with its orange cousins.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) – One at Anzalduas was noteworthy as they are rare this far south in Texas.
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Spinus tristis)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)


The super awesome Long-tailed Weasel! (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]

MAMMALS
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus)
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger)
LONG-TAILED WEASEL (Mustela frenata) – The best critter of the trip for me was this handsome weasel hanging out near the visitors center at Laguna Atascosa.
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS


Totals for the tour: 188 bird taxa and 6 mammal taxa