I was greeted by this magnificent Great-horned Owl upon my arrival at Choke Canyon State Park early on the morning of January 4, 2021.

Megaticks & Dips — A Return To The Rio Grande Valley


PROLOGUE…

As Christmas 2020 approached, I began to see rare bird alerts that indicated an extremely rare bird, the Spotted Rail, was seen and continued to be seen, at the Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Park in McMullen County, Texas.  Although I had visited the South Shore Unit of this park on an earlier birding trip, I had never been to the Calliham Unit, and I had certainly never met a Spotted Rail.  So, the outlines of a little trip started to take form.   On December 9, 2020, I had retired my faithful F-250 (“ARTIFAC”) and purchased a 2021 Subaru Outback Onyx XT, which I was anxious to take on a little roadtrip.  I decided to head out early on the morning of Monday, January 4, 2021 and stop by Choke Canyon on the way to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).  I made reservations for three nights at the Alamo Inn B & B, known as a comfortable and quirky place for birders.  While researching ebird and formulating a target list for the trip, I ran across the blog of a young South African PhD, who used the term “megatick”.  I looked it up, and, in a dictionary of Birding Jargon, I found this:

▪ Megatick – n. An extremely good tick for novice birders to expert veterans.

▪Tick – n. A new bird added to one’s life list.

▪ Dip – n. An attempt to see a reported (often rare) bird and fail to see it.

So, a trip and a title for that trip began to take on a defined shape, complete with an itinerary and checklists.  After a most wonderful Christmas with my new grandson JD, I was raring to go birding!


DAY ONE, MONDAY JANUARY 4, 2021:  A FRUITFUL DRIVE TO THE VALLEY…

As planned, I left my home early on Monday morning and made it to the Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Park not long after dawn.  After entering the park, I headed toward 75 Acre Lake in search of the Spotted Rail and my first real megatick.  As is my custom when birding, I was driving very slow with all my windows down.  About 75 yards from the turn off to the road to the 75 Acre Lake, I spotted something suspicious high in a tree on my right.  I stopped the car, turned on my camera and got out to investigate.  As I crept closer I realized I had stumbled upon a Great Horned Owl.  The owl was kind enough to let me visit with him for about ten minutes and take some pictures as the light slowly got better.  What an exhilarating experience!

Signage at the entrance to the Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Park. I took this pic on the way out, after the fog had burned off.
This was one of the first pictures I took of the Great Horned Owl, before the light got a little better (see the header picture for this blog post).

After my visit with the Great Horned Owl, I headed on to 75 Acre Lake to see if I could find the Spotted Rail.  I didn’t know what to expect, or if I would even see any other birders.  When I got there and parked, it was not hard to find the spot where the bird was–  there was a large group of twitchers patiently waiting for him to show.  I headed over to join the group.  After about 20 minutes the Spotted Rail decided to show.  He was near a large clump of reeds, and would feed and preen for a while then disappear into the reeds.  It was still very foggy and the light was not great, but I got some decent pictures of my first megatick. 

Part of the group of twitchers that were patiently waiting for the Spotted Rail at Choke Canyon on the morning of January 4, 2021.
My first Megatick-- the Spotted Rail at Choke Canyon S. P. on January 4, 2021.

After spending about an hour at the 74 Acre Lake, I drove some of the park roads and stopped at the bird blind near the main campground.  I spent about an hour there, and saw a large number of colorful and entertaining birds.  One of these birds, the Audubon’s Oriole, was a new bird for me, and thus another “tick”. 

My new Subaru Outback at the bird blind near the main campground of the Calliham Unit. You can see it was still foggy when I arrived at the blind.
My second tick of the trip, an Audubon's Oriole at the campground blind. January 4, 2021.
The Audubon's Oriole was not happy sharing his orange with a Green Jay!
One of three Golden-fronted Woodpeckers I saw at Choke Canyon that day.
I really enjoyed watching birds at this blind-- lots of activity and lots of colorful birds!

I finished my time at the Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Park by heading over to the boat launch area.  I walked around and enjoyed the views of the main body of the lake and the birds in the area.  My eBird Checklist showed that I had enjoyed watching 25 species and 331 individual birds that morning.  I hated to leave, but it was time to head on south.  Here is one of my favorite pictures from the boat launch area– a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron perched near each other in the same tree. 

Great Egret and Great Blue Heron standing watch over the boat launch area at the Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Park.

After leaving Choke Canyon I headed south on Highway 281 and stopped at the Falfurrias Rest Area, which is a fine place to watch birds.  This rest area has good bathrooms and good bird habitat, including a nice water feature.  I spent 35 minutes there and my eBird Checklist shows that I watched 10 species and 45 individual birds.  I saw lots of colorful woodpeckers and bluebirds, as well as the other usual suspects.  I love the Eastern Bluebird, and here is a photo of one I watched at the Falfurrias Rest Stop water feature. 

Eastern Bluebird at the Falfurrias Rest Area on January 4, 2021.

From Falfurrias, I continued south towards McAllen, Texas and the Alamo B & B, where I would be spending the next three nights.  On the drive from Three Rivers to McAllen, I must have seen 25 or 30 hawks along the highway, dutifully scouring the agricultural fields for prey.  I stopped and photographed a couple of them, but stopped when I realized if I photographed every one I saw I would never make it to my destination! 

A Golden-shouldered Hawk, one of many Hawks I saw on my way to the Valley. January 4, 2021.

I arrived at the Alamo Inn Bed a& Breakfast about four p.m. Monday afternoon.  It is actually located in Alamo, Texas, a small town just east of, and contiguous with, McAllen, Texas.  I had read on the internet that this small Bed and Breakfast catered to Birders and was very well regarded in the birding community.   Well, it lived up to it’s reputation as far as I am concerned and, if you are a Birder, I would not hesitate to recommend this establishment to you.  If you are looking for a swimming pool, cable TV, and a newer facility, this is not the place for you.  But the accommodating and friendly owner, as well as the other Birders you will meet, make it a wonderful place to stay.

Sign at the Alamo Inn B & B in Alamo, Texas.
I stayed in the McAllen Suite, located in the main building. It had a living room (seen here) and a separate kitchen/bedroom. I found it quite comfortable for my needs!
The main office, gift shop, and breakfast seating at the Alamo Inn B & B, Alamo, Texas.

After getting settled into my suite and stretching my legs a bit, I headed out in search of some Red-crowned Parrots.  On my last trip to the Valley, I was disappointed that I did not get to see any parrots.  I headed over to 2nd Avenue and East Houston Avenue in McAllen, and arrived there a little after 5:00 p.m.  I had done some research on eBird, and found that Red-crowned Parrots were observed at this location just a couple of days ago.  When I arrived, I found there was a small linear park at this intersection, with a number of palm trees that might make for a likely parrot roost.  I found a spot that had a good view of all the trees in the area, and began to wait and watch, sitting on my little stool.  After about 25 or 30 minutes, I saw a small flock of parrots approach, then fly a circle around the area and leave.  About this time I noticed a large Gray Hawk in one of the palm trees and figured the parrots had seen the hawk and flew away.  About 20 minutes later the hawk flew off.  Soon after, a large flock of about 90 Red-crowned Parrots approached and landed high up in a tree, allowing me to get a few photographs in spite of the poor light.  The flock stayed only about 5 minutes before flying off. When I got home and carefully examined my photographs, I discovered there was one Yellow-headed Parrot mixed in with this group of Red-crowned Parrots.  Two more ticks, making a total of four for the first day of my trip–  not bad for this old birder!  To see my eBird Checklist for my sighting of the parrots, look here. 

The Gray Hawk hanging around 2nd and Houston in McAllen on the evening of January 4, 2021, hoping to have parrot for dinner.
A few of the Red-crowned Parrots I saw on the evening of January 4, 2021 in McAllen, Texas.
The only Yellow-headed Parrot I saw, mixed in with the flock of Red-crowned Parrots on January 4, 2021.
The linear park at 2nd and Houston in McAllen where I saw the parrots. The red box is the area where they briefly perched.

DAY TWO:  MORE DIPS THAN TICKS AT QUINTA MAZATLAN AND BENTSEN-RIO GRANDE S.P. 

I was excited to be headed to Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen on the morning of Tuesday, January 5, 2021.  Quinta Mazatlan often appeared in rare bird alerts for the following birds, which were my targets for my visit:  Crimson-colored Grosbeak, Blue Bunting, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Pacific-slope Flycatcher.  Alas, I saw none of these birds and they turned from targets into dips.  I did have four ticks at Quinta Mazatlan however, as follows:  Clay-colored Thrush, Olive Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Northern Flicker. I really enjoyed my time at this beautiful place.  I walked all the trails, and enjoyed bird watching and relaxing at the amphitheater and the ponds.  My eBird Checklist for this visit reflects that I observed 27 species and 85 individual birds at Quinta Mazatlan.  There are also interesting and beautiful sculptures all over the property, not to mention meticulous landscaping.  I also enjoyed spending time in the mansion that now serves as a visitor center and a wedding venue.  If you are ever in the Valley, I would highly recommend this birding venue–  in fact, I hope to go back some day.  Here are a few photos from my visit to Quinta Mazatlan.

The front gate at Quinta Mazatlan guards the beautiful mansion and gardens within.
The foliage is so lush, it is hard to get a clear view of the mansion at Quinta Mazatlan.
One of several beautiful areas within the mansion at Quinta Mazatlan.
A little about Jason Matthews the writer and adventurer who built Quinta Mazatlan in 1935.

A few more photos from the beautiful urban oasis in McAllen, Texas,  known as Quinta Mazatlan.  

Some of the sculptures at Quinta Mazatlan were quite large and complex, while others were small, and you really had to look for them.
An American Goldfinch, a Tropical Kingbird, a Vermillion Flycatcher, and a Lesser Goldfinch sharing a tree near Ebony Pond at Quinta Mazatlan.
Yawning or singing? Tropical Kingbird at Quinta Mazatlan.
Another of the large sculptures along one of the trails at Quinta Mazatlan.
Immature Vermillion Flycatcher at Ebony Pond.
I was delighted to see this Pyrrhuloxia at Quinta Mazatlan. It was the only one of this species I saw on this trip.

After spending the morning at Quinta Mazatlan, I decided to head over to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (“Bentsen”).  There had been numerous reports of a rare bird, the Ruddy Dove, being seen there recently.  The Ruddy Dove was reported as being seen near the main Visitor’s Center  and the blinds at the La Familia Center, so I began my time at Bentsen by spending about an hour at the La Famila blinds without success.  While there, I met a very nice fellow birder from Dallas, Texas, named Steve J., and we cooperated in watching the two blinds.  It turns out that Steve was also staying at the Alamo Inn B & B, and we had a very nice visit.  That is one of the things I most enjoy about birding– you meet some of the nicest people.  After spending time at the La Familia Blinds, I walked into the interior of the park and visited the two blinds near the Resaca, and the blind off of the Kiskadee Trail.  I saw lots of Altamira Orioles, Blue Jays, and other common birds, which are fun to watch, but added no ticks during my time in this park.  My eBird Checklist shows that I saw 19 species and 126 individual birds at Bentsen.   As I walked back out from the interior of the park I ran into Steve again, and we spent some time together at the Main Visitor’s Center looking for the Ruddy Dove, but it was a dip!  Here are a few photos from Bentsen.

To get from the parking area and Visitor's Center to the main part of Bentsen you have to walk past part of the new border wall under construction.
The main gate guarding the interior portion of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
Altamira Oriole hanging out near one of the La Familia feeders at Bentsen State Park.
I can never see enough Golden-fronted Woodpeckers. This one was at La Familia in Bentsen S. P.
Saw this Great Kiskadee as I walked in the interior of Bentsen State Park.
An Altamira Oriole and a Green Jay having a chat at the blind off the Kiskadee Trail in Bentsen State Park.

I was a little disappointed with Bentsen State Park.  The feeders in the interior of the park did not look like they were well taken care of– two of them had no water in the water features.  I think the combination of the Covid Pandemic and the border wall construction have probably hurt this park.  It is certainly prime bird habitat, and I look forward to visiting it again sometime in the future.  I hit a massive traffic jam on the way back to the Alamo Inn, and was pretty tuckered out by the time my head hit the pillow that night!

DAY THREE:  ESTERO LLANO GRANDE STATE PARK DOES NOT DISAPPOINT…

I decided to spend my last full day of birding by getting an early start at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. I was very excited to spend time at this park–  eBird had consistent reports of a continuing Elegant Trogon at the park, as well as rare bird reports of  a Tropical Parula and a Crimson Colored Grosbeak.  My new friend Steve had already visited this park and said he enjoyed a wonderful day of birding there, with much success.   So I was raring to go.  After arriving at the park and checking in at the Visitor’s Center, I headed down the main road/path to the Tropical Area and the Indigo Blind.  I had been in the blind for a short while when a Buff-bellied Hummingbird made a brief appearance.  After spending about 45 minutes at the Indigo blind, I began to search in earnest for the Elegant Trogon, which was supposed to be continuing in that area of the park.  I soon ran into a small group of birders that was staked out on an area to the southwest of the Indigo Blind.  I joined the group, and after about thirty more minutes, Keith (a birder from North Carolina that I had met while checking into the Alamo Inn B & B) spotted the female Elegant Trogon.  She stayed put for about 20 minutes and although she was pretty well hidden by the density of limbs and leaves, I was able to get some photographs.  A short while later I spotted a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, perched high in a tree in the Tropical Area.  In short order I ran across two Common Pauraque, well hidden, but close to a path.  So my time spent in the Tropical Area yielded four ticks (Buff-bellied Hummingbird; Elegant Trogon; Cedar Waxwings; and Common Pauraque).   

Buff-bellied Hummingbird at the Indigo Blind in Estero Llano Grande S. P. on January 6, 2021.
Female Elegant Togon at Estero Llano Grande S. P. on January 6, 2021.
One of the 31 Cedar Waxwings I saw in the Tropical Area of Estero Llano Grande S. P. on January 6, 2021.
One of two well hidden Common Pauraque I saw at Estero Llano Grande in the Tropical Area. January 6, 2021.

After spending several hours birding in the Tropical Area of Estero Llano Grande and emboldened by my four ticks, I set out to walk and bird the rest of the park, which is much more open.  I walked the Wader’s Trail and visited Ibis Pond, Curlew Pond, the Levee overlooking the Llano Grande River, Alligator Lake, Grebe Marsh, and Dowitcher Pond.  I was delighted to record four more ticks in this area of the park.  I saw three Anhingas in Alligator lake, one of which had speared a fish.  I also saw a number of Black-crowned Night-Herons at Alligator Lake.   In  Dowitcher Pond I saw a small group of White-faced Ibis and in Ibis Pond I saw thirteen Green-winged Teal.  The walk around the ponds and levee pretty much tuckered me out, but I wasn’t finished yet– there were two more ticks to come.  My friend Steve told me he had seen some great birds at the Park Host’s feeder, so I stopped by there and spent 45 minutes on my stool.  While there, I spotted a cute little Bewick’s Wren.  From the Park Host’s feeder, I hiked the Green Jay trail on my way to the parking lot.  At the water feature on the Green Jay trail, I met my last tick of the day (tick #10), a Hermit Thrush.  At Estero Llano Grande, I saw many other birds besides the ten ticks I have told you about.  My eBird Checklist for my visit to that park records that I saw 36 species and 215 individual birds that day.  I wish I had room to post pictures of all the birds I saw, but I don’t.  But, you can see many of my pictures on the Checklist referenced above.  Here are a few more pictures from Estero Llano Grande State Park. 

Saw these guys on a snag on the south end of Ibis Pond-- Vermillion Flycatcher and Red-winged Blackbirds.
This is where the Wader's Trail intersected with the trail up to the top of the levee, overlooking the Llano Grande River.
I saw twelve Great American Pelicans in the Llano Grande River.

Alligator Lake was a beautiful and fascinating part of the park.  I counted 7 Black-crowned Herons, 9 Yellow-crowned Herons, 3 Anhinga, and three alligators.  

Signage and one of the observation decks at Alligator Lake, Estero Llano Grande State Park.
Two of the Black-crowned Herons I saw at Alligator Lake.
Anhinga with his lunch at Alligator Lake.
Fishing buddies at Alligator Lake-- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Anhinga.
I wonder why they call it "Alligator Lake"???

Estero Llano Grande State Park was a wonderful place to visit.  A perfect combination of different habitats, pleasant park employees, and a very nice Park Host added to the many wonderful birds that live and visit there.  Just a few more pics from there, I promise!

Norther Shoveler and American Coot at Dowitcher Pond, Estero Llano Grande S. P.
A stunning White Ibis at Estero Llano Grande State Park.
Tricolored Heron at Estero Llano Grande State Park, January 6, 2021.
eBird likes you to post mileage on your checklists, so, if I am not carrying a GPS, I figure the mileage using Google Earth Pro. Here is how I came up with 3.14 miles on my visit to Estero Llano Grande State Park.

A LITTLE BONUS–  MORE PARROTS!

By the time I left Estero Llano Grande State Park it was about 3:30 and I was pretty tired.  But, the day before my new friend Steve told me about a parrot roost at 10th and Indiana in Weslaco, so I decided I would hang around Weslaco and try to see more parrots.  To kill time I went to Frontera Audubon and walked some of the trails there.  There was not much bird activity, but I enjoyed walking the 15 acre property.  About 5:00 p.m. I made my way over to 10th and Indiana to wait for the parrots.  Not long after I arrived, Steve showed up too.  So we sat on his tailgate and visited until the parrots arrived.  It seemed to be a larger, and noisier flock than the one I had seen two nights before.  A young man from the neighborhood came over and visited with us and said that his family used to have a large tree that the parrots would roost in, but they cut it down because they couldn’t sleep because of the noise the parrots made when roosting.  Anyway, a large flock of Red-crowned  Parrots flew in just before sunset and Steve and I both had just enough light to get a few pictures.  A nice way to end the day!

Some of the Red-crowned Parrots my friend Steve and I watched at 10th and Indiana in Weslaco, Texas, on the evening of January 6, 2021.

EPILOGUE…

I enjoyed this little trip.  My new Outback was comfortable and performed well.  I found a very cool place to stay next time I head to bird in the Valley.  I met some nice people whom I hope to run into again.  I had a few dips, but I had a total of 18 ticks, one of which I consider a megatick.  For those of you that didn’t read the fine print, that means some of the birds I targeted I did not see, but that I added 18 birds to my Life List, and one of them was very, very rare.  Funny thing about that Life List…the more you add the tougher it gets!  Well, I am having fun trying.  Thanks for taking the time to read my post.  Tom McCoppin, January 18, 2021. 

My new 2021 Subaru Outback Onyx XT, parked by the side of Highway 281 on the morning of January 7, 2021 as I photograph a hawk on the way home from the Valley.