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
Gnatcatchers - Finches
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher: Territorial male seen on 8 May near the intersection of TX 16 and FM 1962, about 5 miles south of the Nueces River (Ted Eubanks).
Blue Jay: Confirmed nesting in Edinburg, 6 April nest-building)--21 May (last day adults brought food to nest (Anne Toal). Adults brought food to nest regularly, and she saw at least 2 nestlings with some blue feathers. The parents took turns guarding the nest, and evidently chased Great Kiskadees, Plain Chachalacas (probably not really a threat), other birds and cats from the nest tree and the surrounding area. I have pictures of the adults in her yard, guarding the nest and pecking into Texas ebony seeds. [first nesting in Lower Rio Grande Valley].
Brown Jay: Two (adult and immature) at Chapeņo on 29 May (Mark Adams).
Clay-colored Robin: One at Anzalduas on 3 Jan. Heard one calling at Santa Ana on 28 March (Willow 1, the woodland pond along the tour road). Sang in same location on 31 March. One sang and briefly chased a second bird on 4 April, at Anzalduas. Pair seen at Anzalduas on 2 May, one carrying nesting material (looked like mud) from riverbank toward pavilion. Saw apparently completed nest near pavilion at Anzalduas on 3 May (discovered by Jane Kittleman on 30 April)--pair present in area. On 24 May, that Anzalduas nest was abandoned, but there were two singing males in the park--one in central area (near the main bathroom and equipment yard), the other moving around the eastern part of the park. At Santa Ana on 26 May, adult chased Bronzed Cowbird from near nest over Willow 1 (discovered 11 May by Bruce Stevenson), while partner sang softly nearby. Adult sitting tightly on nest at Willow 1 on 27 May (with Mark Adams).
Black-and-White Warbler: At least 50 seen in Rose Hill Cemetery, Corpus Christi, on 19 March (after front passed through; Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Tropical Parula: singing male seen well at Bentsen on 25 March. Two singing males at Anzalduas on 6 and 11 April. Three singing males and one female at Anzalduas on 13 April (with Tony Gallucci and Erik Breden). Mated pair plus apparently unmated singing male at Anzalduas on 24 April.
Worm-eating Warbler: One seen at Laredo 2 May (Susan Foster and others).
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler: male at Edinburg Wetland Area on 20 March. Male at Anzalduas on 13 April. Male (said to be likely first-year male) at Packery Channel, 13 May (Mel and Arlie Cooksey). Townsend's Warbler: Male at Packery Channel Co. Park on 4 April (Brian Gibbons). Male in same loc. on 21 April (Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
MacGillivray's Warbler: Male at Santa Ana on 3 April (Brian Gibbons). Two females--one at Blucher Park and the other at Packery Channel--on 20 May (Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat: Singing male first seen on 24 March at Santa Ana; eventually seen by many. I have seen two good photos taken by Ray Bieber on 26 March. I saw the bird first on 28 March: noted strong bill with decurved culmen, upper mandible mainly dark except for pale line along lower edge, lower mandible light-colored (dull "fleshy" color); lores black, eye-crescents whitish, upper looking a bit shorter than what is shown in Howell and Webb. forehead and lateral crown grayish, but top of head brownish. back and tail olive with greenish-yellow tinge. wings same color, with edgings of yellowish-green. throat and chin yellow, indistinct band across upper breast a bit duller, yellowish lower breast, with flanks and abdomen dusky or off-white (not seen in good light). tail long and narrow. no wingbars, tail-spots, or barring. general shape of bird more "elongated" or slender than Common Yellowthroat, and head is not as proportionately large as in Common Yellowthroat. song "warbling", with two softer notes at beginning. call note "chee", softer than "chee" of Red-winged Blackbird or "tsee" of Rose-throated Becard. Did not see it in afternoon of 28 March, but it was seen as late as 3:00 p.m. today (Petra Hockey). On 31 March, saw bird in same location--with scope, noticed grayish streaks coming into brownish crown. On 27 May, saw and heard bird again at Santa Ana (perched more in trees than on earlier visits, but still no sign of female). (The bird is still present as of mid-June, as I write this report; but there are still no signs of mating).
Varied Bunting: One seen at Laredo on 2 May (Susan Foster and others).
Lazuli Bunting: female seen at Bentsen (Eagle Pond) on 6 April.
Blue Bunting: Singing male on 1 April below Falcon Dam (no April Fool joke; Brian Gibbons--details submitted). Not reported again.
White-collared Seedeater: Two just below Falcon Dam on 19 March (John Arvin). Pair at Zapata on 4 April (Hanna and Art Richard).
Eastern Towhee: One at Packery Channel on 22 April (Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
Seaside Sparrow: Three singing males along the lowermost 3-4 miles of the Rio Grande on 23-24 March (John Arvin). "Several" on territory at Port Aransas on 29 May (Mel and Arlie Cooksey).
White-throated Sparrow: Three at Laguna Atascosa vis. center on 22 April (my personal high count for the LRGV).
Altamira Oriole: Two nearly completed nests at Bentsen on 6 April. On 18 April at Bentsen, I briefly saw the unusual Altamira (with more extensive black on the face and a somewhat decurved bill) seen for several years. Again it has paired with a typical Altamira.
Audubon's Oriole: 3 were banded at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area (near Cotulla) on 10-13 March (Brent Ortego and others)
Orchard Oriole: Adult male in Edinburg on 11 April (first of year for me).
Lesser Goldfinch: Recent fledgling (very short tail, weak flyer) attended by male and female in residential neighborhood in Edinburg on 24 March (first report, at least known to me, of successful nesting in the LRGV. Species has become fairly common during warmer months in towns, riparian forests and wetlands area in the LRGV). Adults seen again on 25 and 26 March, apparently looking for nestling.