Region 7
Spring 2000
Tim Brush
Department of Biology
University of Texas - Pan American
1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539
956/381-2921
tbrush@panam.edu
For the fourth year in a row, the drought continued to be quite severe in the LRGV (although significant rain fell in the second week of June, perhaps boding a change for the better for the summer months). Temperatures seemed above average, and fruiting and flowering were minimal away from areas right along water-courses or those which were watered.
A storm caused a major fall-out occurred on North Padre Island on 2 May, with "thousands of birds" reported. Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Magnolia Warblers, Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts were particularly abundant (Mel Cooksey).
All observations for which there are no initials are those of the author.
Grebes - Wrens
Least Grebe: Two full-grown juveniles plus one adult in little pond in floodway near entrance to Anzalduas County Park on 3 May (first record for this particular location).
Anhinga: 45 at Santa Ana on 28 March (undoubtedly a migratory flock).
Least Bittern: probably nested at Edinburg Wetland Area.
Glossy Ibis: One at Port Aransas, 29 May (Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: 60 at Edinburg Wetland Area on 3 March 2000 (indicating migration in progress).
Fulvous Whistling-Duck: 45 at Llano Grande, near Weslaco, on 2 April (Brian Gibbons)(good number for LRGV!).
Muscovy Duck: Four below Falcon Dam on 29 April (Mike Rogers). Two at San Ygnacio on 1 May (Mike Resch). ?? in Laredo on 14 May (Lily Engles and others). Two at Chapeņo on 29 May (Mark Adams).
Wood Duck: 3 pairs along the Rio Grande at Santa Margarita Ranch (Starr Co.) on 18 March by John Arvin.
Masked Duck: Female at Santa Ana (Cattail Lake) on 30 April (Mike Resch) and 2 May (Jane Kittleman). Male reported accompanying female in late April (?).
Purple Gallinule: One at Santa Ana on 2 May (Jane Kittleman).
Hook-billed Kite: At least three birds seen regularly throughout the period at Bentsen (many observers). One reported at Santa Ana on 2 May (Jane Kittleman). Pair at Chapeņo on 29 May (Mark Adams).
Harris' Hawk: Nest in old HQ area at Santa Ana apparently abandoned (no activity in spring)--not known if due to drought.
Short-tailed Hawk: one at Santa Ana on 16 March (Fr. Tom Pincelli).
Gray Hawk: Pair at Anzalduas County Park on 4 April 2000: one gave territorial call while other "screamed." Both adults, plus immature (Pat Culberson) in park later in day (4 April). On 6 April one sat on nest, high in Mexican ash near one of the park roads (last year's nest about 200m away--looks okay but not used). Also observed sitting on nest, apparently incubating, on 11 and 18 April. No apparent activity at nest on 24 April (day after Easter Sunday, an extremely busy day in the park), but back on nest on 28 April, 3 May. On 24 and 27 May, adult attended one recently-hatched nestling. [later two nestlings reported in nest, so evidently I missed one]
Peregrine Falcon: adult on water-tower along Military Highway (Rte. 1016) in McAllen Free Trade Zone, in southern McAllen, on 28 March, 4 April.
Aplomado Falcon: One seen at Laguna Atascosa on 22 April.
Vega Gull (Larus argentatus vegae): one photographed at the Elliot Landfill in Corpus Christi on 6 March (Martin Reid). Still present on 1 April (Wilie Sekula). (While Vega Gull is currently considered a subspecies of Herring Gull, many of the Old World gull experts are giving it full species status).
Red-billed Pigeon: Good numbers along the Rio Grande near Falcon Dam, Salineņo, and Santa Margarita Ranch on 16 and 18 March (John Arvin).
Mangrove Cuckoo: One in Corpus Christi on 3 and 4 May (first Coastal Bend record--details said to be submitted to TBRC; Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Elf Owl: 1 heard singing at Santa Ana on 20 March (Chris Hathcock)[pretty typical arrival date].
Red-crowned Parrot: Two in McAllen on May 1 (Russell Graham).
Green Parakeet: At least 50 seen dispersing from roost on morning of 6 April, in McAllen (with Mike Overton). At least one pair seemed interested in a cavity in a dead Washingtonia palm.
Green Violet-ear: One photographed (Robert Benson) and seen by others at the Simons' feeder in CalAllen section of Corpus Christi, 7 May (another was reported in same location on same day).
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker: 1 in Edinburg on 3 March. One at San Ygnacio on 14 March, another at Santa Margarita Ranch on 18 March (both by John Arvin).
Black Phoebe: One sang at Anzalduas on 4 April. Two seen and heard at Anzalduas on 13 April (singing male and possible partner). Two singing males at Anzalduas on 24 April (both above dam; one on each side of river).
Vermilion Flycatcher: One heard singing on Edinburg Municipal Golf Course on 23 April (late date for this winter resident in the LRGV).
Alder Flycatcher: 5-6 singing at Packery Channel on 20 May (morning after front with thunderstorms; Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Eastern Kingbird: One (early?) at Boca Chica, easternmost Cameron Co., on 24 March (John Arvin).
Tropical Kingbird: Pair calling near Progreso Lakes on 2 April (Brian Gibbons).
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: One on 29 April below Falcon Dam (Mike Rogers).
Rose-throated Becard: Adult male at Anzalduas County Park: on 4 April, in morning (7:15-7:45) gave "spit-chee" song, while elevating crest and throat feathers in apparent mating display, while in evening visit just called "tsee." Not seen by others in mid-day of 4 April. Old nests, built in 1999, still up, but one was dismantled by Great Kiskadees, which used material in building their own nest. Seen and heard briefly on 6 April at No sign of female (that I know of) since late last summer. Song and display again early (7:15-7:30) on 11 April, again bird just gave "tsee" in evening of same day. Seen on 2 May, and then apparently absent for remainder of period (but--male and female seen at Anzalduas on 17 June, by Charles Easley, indicating that the species may yet try to breed there).
Purple Martin: Pair frequently visit cavity in top of light tower at municipal baseball fields in southern McAllen--by frequency of visits, apparently feeding young in nest (a common nesting bird in the LRGV but I've never seen them nesting in anything other than nest-box apartments or gourds).
Cliff Swallow: One fledgling noted at Anzalduas Dam on 2 May (colony of Cliff and N. Rough-winged here). No Cave Swallows noted nesting here, despite wintering flock.
Bank Swallow: about 50 nests at the Salineņo dump in late April (Russell Graham).
Rock Wren: Two pairs at Falcon Dam on 16 March (John Arvin).