A FATHER’S DAY BIRDWATCHING TRIP TO THE RIO GRAND VALLEY

As the great Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020 wore on, I found myself needing to get out of the house for a few days.  Father’s Day has become a holiday that I dread, so I decided the best way to divert my attention from the increasing sadness of that day was to take a little road trip in search of birds.  Armed with A Birder’s Guide to the Rio Grande Valley from the American Birding Association, I headed out early on the morning of  Sunday, June 21, 2020, otherwise known as Father’s Day.  My goal for this little trip was two-fold.  First, I wanted to find, watch, and photograph, several targeted species for which the Valley is famous.  Among the birds on my target list:  Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, Plain Chachalaca, Tropical Kingbird, and Great Kiskadee.  My second goal was to get better photographs of birds that are already in my gallery and on my Life List.  I had an enjoyable and successful trip, accomplishing the goals I had set for myself.  And, perhaps most importantly, I returned home refreshed and renewed.  It is hard to feel sorry for yourself when surrounded by the beauty of God’s natural world!

I left my home around 5 a.m., planning to arrive at the South Shore Unit of Choke Canyon shortly after sunrise.  The drive was uneventful, and I arrived as scheduled.  I first headed over to the dam and spillway, where I saw a few birds at the base of the spillway (Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Common Gallinule, Great Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret).  As I walked the fence line south of the spillway, I was delighted to spot a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  As I was driving from the dam area to the boat launch/picnic area of the park, I also spotted a pair of Northern Bobwhite.  I parked and attempted to get close, with marginal success.  I was able to get a photo of the pair, before heading to the boat launch area. 

I drove and parked near the Bird Trail, which is near the boat launch and picnic areas in the South Shore Unit.  Prior to walking the Bird Trail, I walked the road which loops through the area, as well as a braided trail along the edge of the reservoir.   I saw a number of Crested Caracaras, Northern Cardinals, Northern Mockingbirds, Great Egrets, a female Boat-tailed Grackle, a female Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, a number of Black Vultures, a Turkey Vulture, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and a Greater Roadrunner along the long straight section of the Bird Trail.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough to get a picture of the Roadrunner!

After spending several hours at Choke Canyon, I pulled out, heading for the Brooks County Safety Rest Area (the Falfurrias Rest Stop), which is located 9 miles south of Falfurrias, Texas, on Highway 281.  This location was not in any of my guide books but, as I looked at my proposed route of travel on the eBird Hotspot Map, I ran across this little gem.  I really enjoyed this place!  I saw lots of birds, including a Brown-crested Flycatcher, Green Jays, Yellow-fronted Woodpeckers, an immature Summer Tanager, a Blue Grosbeak, Altamira Orioles, and Lesser Goldfinchs.  If you ever find yourself driving south on Highway 281 below Falfurrias, I highly recommend a stop!

After spending about an hour and a half at the Falfurrias Rest Stop, I headed south to Edinburg and the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands site, which is part of the collective known as the World Birding Center.  Before walking the Scenic Wetlands loop trail, I explored a little in the adjacent city park.  It was a disappointing place — threadbare and worn.  The World Birding visitor center was closed, but the Scenic Wetlands trails across the street were open.  I saw a number of Cormorants and Egrets in the main lake body, and a number of birds along the trail that circles the lake, including Tropical Kingbirds, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Great Kiskadees, Northern Cardinals, and the ever-present Northern Mockingbirds.  It was very hot but I enjoyed my stroll around the lake, visiting with the birds that chose to reveal themselves that afternoon.

From the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, I drove to Brownsville and checked into my accommodations at the La Quinta North, near Highway 77 and Alton Gloor Boulevard.  (This location turned out to be a good home base for my explorations over the next two days.)  One of my guidebooks suggested that just before dusk was a good time to see Green Parakeets near Fort Brown and the downtown international crossing point.  So I headed down there and set up my chair amidst the palm trees, hoping to see Green Parakeets.  I enjoyed relaxing at that spot, and did see another Tropical Kingbird and a very young Golden-fronted Woodpecker, but nothing resembling a parakeet.  At dusk, it was time to head back to my motel, pick up a salad at Wendy’s, and call it a night!  All in all, it was a Father’s Day well spent.

I was excited as I set off for Sabal Palm Sanctuary early on the morning of Monday, June 22, 2020.  Sabal Palm is a 527-acre refuge located about nine miles southeast of Brownsville on the Rio Grande River.  In fact, the sanctuary lies between the border wall and the river, and you have to pass through an opening in the border wall to get there.  The heart of the sanctuary is a 32-acre relict forest of old-growth sabal palms.  Upon arrival, I checked in and paid the daily fee at the Visitor Center, which is housed in a grand old house that was built as part of the 20,000 acre Rabb Plantation in 1892.  I then set out to enjoy the trails, blinds, and overlooks of this beautiful place. 

I had the sanctuary all to myself that morning.  I walked almost all the trails and spent time in each of the blinds.  I saw a number of species that were new to me, and that was exciting.  The highlight of my morning was watching two Gray Hawks that I spotted along the Wetland Bridge portion of the Resaca Loop Trail.  Below are a few of the photos of birds that I took during my visit to Sabal Palm Sanctuary.  

After finishing up at Sabal Palm Sanctuary, I made the 20-mile drive down to Boca Chica Beach.  I didn’t see many birds down there, but did get a peek at Elon Musk’s new spaceport being built by his company SpaceX.  I am glad I got to experience this peek into the future!

On the drive back from Boca Chica Beach, and before heading over to South Padre Island, I detoured and drove Palmito Hill Road.  I learned some Texas history and saw some birds on this little detour.

After a pleasant detour along Palmito Hill Road, I headed toward South Padre Island.  I stopped in Port Isabel and walked around for a bit before crossing the causeway to South Padre Island.  I pulled over and took a few pictures of birds that I noticed in a tidal flat just past the end of the causeway.  It had been many, many years since I had visited South Padre Island, and it didn’t appear much had changed in my absence. 

My first stop on the island was the South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Sheepshead Street, toward the bayside from Padre Island Drive.  This is a small site (six residential lots) that attracts birds during the spring migration.  It was dead on my visit —  all I saw were Grackles and a lone Yellow-fronted Woodpecker.  So I continued down Padre Island Drive to the glitzy South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center.  While it is a bit touristy for me, I have to admit I did enjoy their beautiful boardwalks, and I saw a few nice birds.  I then went next door to the  South Padre Island Convention Center.  They too have a boardwalk, as well as a nice “Warbler Rest Stop” which reportedly sees lots of migratory songbirds in the spring.  I would like to visit both of these sites during the spring migratory season…maybe next year!  I found a restaurant and got some boiled shrimp and baked flounder for dinner.  Then it was back to Brownsville to rest up for my final day of birdwatching.  

I was up early on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 and left my motel in Brownsville before dawn.  I was anxious to get to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and begin my last day of birdwatching.  As I neared the the refuge, I saw what I took as a good omen…

I arrived at the Laguna Atascosa visitor center and parked in the parking lot farthest from the center.  As I was getting my gear together, I saw a Plain Chachalaca perched in a nearby tree and, as I walked toward the center, I saw a Yellow-fronted Woodpecker working a nearby tree.  I spent some time at the feeder, where the Green Jays were definitely the stars of the show!

I walked the trails around the visitor center (The Kiskadee Trail and the Mesquite Trail), and spent some time watching an Altamira Oriole nest.  What fun to watch the Orioles bring food back to their unique nest!

Before leaving Laguna Atascosa NWR, I drove out to Osprey Point, and did some hiking on the Lakeside Trail (Alligator pond was dry!).  I headed out shortly after noon and drove up to Port Mansfield.  I made stops at the Mont Meta Cemetery as well as the Rio Hondo Cemetery on the way.  I had hoped to drive the levee and see the Santa Monica Wetlands, but the road was closed.  I look forward to visiting these areas again some day when things are back to normal!

I next drove to Harlingen, Texas and made my way to the Harlingen Arroyo Colorado Unit of the World Birding Center, also known as the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park.  The late afternoon turned cloudy with a little sprinkle of rain here and there, but I managed to walk almost all of the trails at this park.  I saw some nice herons at the Lily Pad and Kingfisher Ponds, and an assortment of valley birds I had enjoyed on this trip, including the Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee, and White-tipped Dove.  

After finishing up at Hugh Ramsey Park in Harlingen, I made my way back to the La Quinta North in Brownsville, where I spent one last night.  I left the next morning at 5:00 a.m. (Wednesday, June 24, 2020) and headed for home.  On the way, I made another stop at the Falfurrias Rest Stop, where I enjoyed watching the cast of usual suspects seen at that site.  I did see a new bird that morning, a stunning little immature Eastern Bluebird.  I made it home safe and sound early that afternoon. 

I enjoyed this little birdwatching trip.  I got lots of exercise, saw and photographed 19 species of birds that were new to me, and saw some beautiful landscapes and historical structures.  And, I paid a visit to the spaceport of the future!  I am grateful that I have the resources, health, and energy to have made this little trip, and I look forward to visiting the Rio Grande Valley again at some future date.   Tom McCoppin,  July 1, 2020.