South Texas
April 4-13, 2008 - Bird/Species Trip List
Compiled by Tony Beck
Guide, Tony Beck with 8 participants

BIRDS
Common Loon - a few in Aransas Bay, and Intercoastal Waterway
Least Grebe - dozens found in small ponds near Mexican border
Pied-billed Grebe - small ponds
Eared Grebe - one in breeding plumage found in Little Bay, Rockport Beach Park
American White Pelican - small numbers still migrating along coast and Estero Llano Grande Park
Brown Pelican - common and highly visible in coastal areas
Double-crested Cormorant - fairly common along coast and Rio Grande River
Neotropic Cormorant - less common than previous species
Anhinga - small numbers around Aransas Park and Estero Llano Grande Park
Least Bittern - very cooperative at the World Birding Center wetland, South Padre Island, and Santa Ana
Great Blue Heron - Several along coastal areas
Great Egret - wetlands, ponds, ditches and coastal areas
Snowy Egret - wetlands, ponds and coastal areas
Little Blue Heron - wetlands and ponds
Tricolored Heron - wetlands, ponds and coastal areas
Reddish Egret - coastal areas
Green Heron - wetlands and ponds
Black-crowned Night-Heron - wetlands and ponds
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - immature along river in Hazel Bazemore Park
White Ibis - wetlands, ponds and coastal areas
White-faced Ibis - flocks flying overhead and various wetlands
Roseate Spoonbill - wetlands, ponds, ditches and coastal areas
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - wetlands, ponds and coastal areas
Muscovy Duck - one bird flying west along Rio Grande River at Saleneno
Green-winged Teal - Port Aransas Birding Center
Mottled Duck - wetlands and ponds
Mallard - coastal ponds and lagoons
Blue-winged Teal - widespread in wetlands and ponds throughout
Cinnamon Teal - a few males in Port Aransas Birding Center
Northern Shoveler - wetlands and ponds
Gadwall - Coastal wetlands
Redhead - Coastal shoreline
Lesser Scaup - Rockport waters
Common Goldeneye - Rockport waters
Red-breasted Merganser - coastal waters near World Birding Center, South Padre Is.
Ruddy Duck - wetlands and ponds
Black Vulture - common overhead throughout
Turkey Vulture - common overhead throughout
Osprey - uncommon overhead and along shores of coastal areas
Hook-billed Kite - one female flying over Rio Grande River at Salineno
White-tailed Kite - a few individuals seen hovering over open areas
Mississippi Kite - an impressive flock of about 140 birds observed rising early morning from Frontera Sanctuary
Northern Harrier - a few seen hunting over salt flats, grassy fields and farmland
Sharp-shinned Hawk - one bird seen flying over Santa Ana Refuge
Cooper's Hawk - one bird flying over Hazel Bazemore Park
Harris's Hawk - fairly regular roadside hawk south of Corpus Christie, one pair at Santa Ana
Gray Hawk - heard calling, seen at dusk, at Bentsen State Park
Broad-winged Hawk - small flocks migrating over Aransas and Santa Ana
Swainson's Hawk - small numbers seen migrating over open areas
White-tailed Hawk - a few seen in coastal areas and open fields
Red-tailed Hawk - a few around Aransas and Corpus Christi
Crested Carara - a few seen, usually flying low over open fields
American Kestrel - several seen perched on utility wires beside open areas
Merlin - one seen hunting shorebirds at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Peregrine Falcon - two seen along coast
Plain Chachalaca - common and noisy in Mesquite parklands
Wild Turkey - a few seen along edges of oak woodlands
Northern Bobwhite - scarce, except for a covey of tame birds coming to El Canelo Ranch property
Clapper Rail - Rockport Beach along the vegetated shoreline and World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Sora - often heard, a few seen in various marshes
Common Moorhen - wetlands and ponds
American Coot - very common in wetlands and ponds
Whooping Crane - Aransas Refuge - one pair doing bonding/courtship display at close range
Black-bellied Plover - small numbers, usually with other shorebirds, especially in coastal areas
Wilson's Plover - South Padre Island mudflats
Semi-palmated Plover - coastal mudflats
Piping Plover - Port Aransas Causeway and South Padre Island beach
Killdeer - various open areas throughout
American Oystercatcher - a few seen at Oyster beds along coast
Black-necked Stilt - wetlands and ponds
American Avocet - wetlands and ponds, mainly north of Corpus Christi
Greater Yellowlegs - small numbers seen in coastal areas, wetlands and ponds
Lesser Yellowlegs - several seen in a variety of wetland and coastal habitats
Solitary Sandpiper - a few seen in small ponds
Willet - fairly common, vocal and highly visible in a variety of wetland and coastal habitats
Spotted Sandpiper - only a few seen along shorelines, river banks and wetlands
Upland Sandpiper - a few seen in a plowed field west of Aransas Refuge
Whimbrel - only a few seen flying over Aransas Bay and Laguna Atascosa
Long-billed Curlew - a few seen, usually in pairs, feeding around costal shorelines or lawns
Marbled Godwit - only a few seen in coastal waters
Ruddy Turnstone - coastal beaches, oyster beds and rocky shorelines
Sanderling - only a few seen along shorelines of Corpus Christie and South Padre Island
Semipalmated Sandpiper - Hazel Bazemore Park and Aransas Bay
Western Sandpiper - Hazel Bazemore Park and South Padre Island shoreline
Pectoral Sandpiper - wetlands and ponds
Dunlin - Hazel Bazemore Park and South Padre Island shoreline
Short-billed Dowitcher - a small flock observed at Hazel Bazemore Park
Long-billed Dowitcher - fairly common at wetlands, ponds and coastal shorelines
Laughing Gull - abundant near coastal areas and waterways
Franklin's Gull - several small flocks migrating along coast of Aransas Refuge
Ring-billed Gull - a few young birds observed with Laughing Gulls along coastal wetlands
Herring Gull - several individuals of various ages in coastal wetlands and shorelines
Gull-billed Tern - small numbers observed over shorelines and ponds near coast
Caspian Tern - small numbers seen with other terns around coastal shorelines
Royal Tern - fairly common around coastal shorelines
Sandwich Tern - uncommon, around coastal shorelines
Forster's Tern - several seen around wetlands, ponds and coastal shorelines
Least Tern - small flocks around beaches and Oyster beds
Black Skimmer - coastal areas and large colony at Rockport Beach
Rock Pigeon - fairly regular in urban settings
Collared Dove - fairly regular in urban and agricultural areas
White-winged Dove - fairly regular in a variety of open, or semi-open areas
Mourning Dove - common in a variety of open, or semi-open areas
Inca Dove - fairly common in open areas
Common Ground-Dove - a few seen in open arid settings
White-tipped Dove - fairly regular in thick Mesquite and Oak woodlands near Rio Grande River
Green Parakeet - one colony in Brownsville, others seen in suburban Pharr and cemetery
Red-crowned Parrot - a pair seen in suburban Weslaco
Greater Roadrunner - arid thorn scrub and roadsides near Salineno
Common Barn Owl - a pair hiding in palm at Canelo Ranch
Eastern Screech Owl - about 4 pair, mostly heard, some seen at Bentsen Park, after dusk
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl - one seen in back yard of Canelo Ranch
Elf Owl - one heard calling, and seen briefly at Bentsen Park, after Dusk
Lesser Nighthawk - one bird seen flying over Bentsen Park near dusk
Common Paraque - several heard and seen at Bentsen, and along old Military Road
Chuck-wills-widow - roosting during day at Estero Llano Park and Williams residence, several heard & seen at Bentsen
Chimney Swift - a few seen migrating over parkland around Rio Grande River
Buff-bellied Hummingbird - a few coming to feeders near Rio Grande parkland
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - fairly common, especially in coastal areas
Black-chinned Hummingbird - one coming to feeder at William’s residence, spotted by George
Ringed Kingfisher - Rio Grande near Salineno
Belted Kingfisher - fairly common in coastal areas
Green Kingfisher - Estero Llano Park
Golden-fronted Woodpecker - fairly common in Mesquite and Oak woodlands throughout
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - fairly common in Mesquite and Oak woodlands throughout
Northern Beardless Tyrannulet - a couple heard at Santa Ana Park
Eastern Wood-Pewee - one at Sable Palm Sanctuary
Black Phoebe - one over irrigation ditch just outside Bentsen Park
Vermillion Flycatcher - Falcon State Park picnic ground
Ash-throated Flycatcher - Falcon State Park and surrounding areas
Great-crested Flycatcher – William’s residence
Brown-crested Flycatcher - a few found in riparian vegetation along Rio Grande River parks
Great Kiskadee - fairly regular in areas with lush semi-open vegetation throughout
Tropical Kingbird - seen and heard outside hotel on South Padre Island
Couch's Kingbird - fairly common in semi-open areas south of Corpus Christi
Western Kingbird - one on fence at schoolyard in Pharr
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - fairly common and obvious in open areas throughout
Horned Lark - a small loose flock of resident birds along roadside near Boca Chica
Purple Martin - seen and heard every day overhead
Tree Swallow - small numbers seen a few times migrating near Rio Grande River
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - a few seen feeding over ponds
Bank Swallow - a few seen migrating over open areas
Cliff Swallow - several seen, often over water or at colonies
Cave Swallow - several seen over Cavasso Creek
Barn Swallow - fairly common, seen every day
Green Jay - fairly common in Mesquite forests throughout
Chihuahuan Raven - a few seen over open and semi-open areas south of Corpus Christie
Black-crested Titmouse - fairly common in oak Woodlands
Verdin - one seen and heard at Laguna Atascosa, heard near Falcon area
Cactus Wren - Desert Scrub near Salineno
Carolina Wren - often heard, occasionally seen, especially north of Corpus Christi
House Wren - a few in suburban McAllen and around Rio Grande parkland
Sedge Wren - heard a few times in coastal marshes, seen at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Marsh Wren - heard and seen in coastal marshes
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher - Goose island oak woods
Clay-colored Robin - uncooperative in Santa Ana, a few seen at William’s residence
White-throated Robin - one visiting Mulberry Tree at William's residence
Gray Catbird - Goose Island campground feeder
Northern Mockingbird - very common throughout
Brown Thrasher - Goose Island campground feeder
Long-billed Thrasher - Mesquite, and occasionally oak, woodlands south of Corpus Christi
Curve-billed Thrasher - one along Old Port Isabel Road, several in Desert Scrub toward Falcon area
Loggerhead Shrike - fairly regular perched along utility wires throughout
European Starling - common urban species
White-eyed Vireo - heard frequently, seen occasionally in Oak woodlands
Warbling Vireo - one at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Red-eyed Vireo - a couple at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Tennessee Warbler - two or three at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Orange-crowned Warbler - one at World Birding Center, South Padre Island, and at Williams residence
Nashville Warbler - one at World Birding Center, South Padre Island, and at Frontera Center
Northern Parula - a few at World Birding Center, South Padre Island and Frontera Center
Yellow Warbler - Goose Island
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Myrtles, several at World Birding Center, South Padre Island and a couple at Frontera Center
Black-throated Green Warbler - Frontera Center
Black-and-white Warbler - a few at World Birding Center, South Padre Island and Frontera Center
Common Yellowthroat - only a few, mainly heard, south of Corpus Christi
Yellow-breasted Chat - Weslaco area and Williams residence
Summer Tanager - one observed by leader only, Frontera Center
Northern Cardinal - common in a variety of habitats, seen every day
Pyrruloxia - only a few seen in desert scrub at Laguna Atascosa and around Falcon area
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - a few at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Indigo Bunting - cemetery beside Frontera Center, and William’s residence
Painted Bunting - one male at William’s residence, spotted by George
Olive Sparrow - thick understory and around feeders south of Corpus Christi
Cassin's Sparrow - Old Port Isabel Road
Chipping Sparrow - small flocks in Hazel Bazemore Park and Goose Island
Clay-coloured Sparrow - one seen with Chipping Sparrows at Hazel Bazemore Park
Vesper Sparrow - seen flying off roadside while driving through coastal prairie of Laguna Atascosa and Boca Chica Road
Lark Sparrow - fairly common in arid, open scrubland
Savannah Sparrow - fairly common in low vegetation along coastal parkland
Seaside Sparrow - coastal wetlands during Aransas Boat Tour
Lincoln's Sparrow - fairly common in thick understory and around feeders
Red-winged Blackbird - abundant, often with grackles and cowbirds at feeders
Eastern Meadowlark - fairly regular along grassland edges
Brewer's Blackbird - one along Highway 77, after Kingsville
Boat-tailed Grackle - a few near Corpus Christie and Cavasso Creek
Great-tailed Grackle - abundant, often with grackles and cowbirds at feeders
Bronzed Cowbird - uncommon in open country, usually with other blackbirds, occasionally solitary, or in pairs
Brown-headed Cowbird - fairly common, especially south of Corpus Christi
Orchard Oriole - fairly common in various thickets, coming to feeders, south of Corpus Christi
Hooded Oriole - a couple at World Birding Center, South Padre Island, and along Rio Grande near Falcon
Altamira Oriole - fairly common in wooded parkland along Rio Grande River
Audubon's Oriole - Roma Bluffs and Salineno
Baltimore Oriole - a few at World Birding Center, South Padre Island
Lesser Goldfinch – William’s residence
House Sparrow - very common in urban settings

MAMMALS
Hispid Cotton Rat - Estero Llano Park
Fox Squirrel - fairly common in oak woodlands
Mexican Ground-Squirrel - Hazel Bazemore Park and Laguna Atascosa
Nutria - a few at Port Aransas Birding Center
Nine-banded Armadillo - several in Aransas Refuge
Raccoon - several in Aransas Refuge
Eastern Cottontail - a few seen in desert scrub, and around feeders
Collared Peccary - several in Aransas Refuge, a few in other parklands
Feral Pig - several in Aransas Refuge
White-tailed Deer - several in Aransas Refuge
Nilgai - (introduced/feral) a few small herds and individuals around Canelo Ranch
Bobcat - one individual seen very briefly along boardwalk in Aransas Refuge
Bottle-nosed Dolphin - several seen in deeper waters during Boat Tour of Aransas

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
Bull Frog
Texas Spotted Whiptail
Brown Anole
Green Anole
Red-eared Slider
Indigo Snake
Diamond-backed Watersnake
American Alligator

BUTTERFLIES
Queen
Monarch
Viceroy
Giant Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
Red Admiral

 

Close This Window