March 2022 – Texas Bat Falcon

This was our first birding trip to look for a specific bird – the Bat Falcon being seen at the Santa Ana NWR since mid-December. This was our first flight since the pandemic began and we had a late flight out on a Thursday. Did not realize how hard it would be to get an Uber in Harlingen Texas at midnight.

Santa Ana NWR

Friday morning we went straight to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. We knew our chances of seeing the Bat Falcon were slim other than at dawn and dusk, but we had to try. Quickly picked up some of our Texas target birds. These included Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, Inca Dove, White-faced Ibis, Golden-fronted and Ladder-back Woodpeckers. Had a nice list of 35 species within 1 and a half hours.

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Estero Llano Grande

On the path in, we saw Long-billed Thrasher and Plain Chachalaca. Soon we met up with a guide and group on the way to see the nesting White-tailed Kites. Many other great birds by the Resaca include Long-billed Curlew in the farm fields, Black-necked Stilt, and American Avocet. There is a nice rookery with many Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Herons. Another guide took us around the wooded area where we saw the McCall’s Eastern Screech Owl. He then showed us the Common Pauraque which is almost impossible to find unless it is pointed out. We added several birds in the blind including Black-crested Titmouse, White-tipped Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Curve-billed Thrasher.

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After checking in at the Fairfield Hotel in Weslaco it was time to head back to Santa Ana. Approximately 15 birders scouted from 6:00 to 7:30 pm without success. American Kestrel and Merlin gave us something to look at anyway. Saturday morning we were up at 5:00 to make sure we were at the stake-out before dawn. This time there were 25 birders searching the area, but no Bat Falcon. Later we hiked several miles to the known daytime location of the Bat Falcon at Cattail Lake. Several birders also made the trek and witnessed a Peregrine Falcon flush the many ducks in the lake. We saw the target Cinnamon Teal, Least Grebe, Harris Hawk, and Gray Hawk at this location.

Bentsen-Rio Grande

Since it is getting hot as we drove west towards Bentsen-Rio State Park we stopped for a cold drink and a couple of Laredo tacos. Border security is everywhere along this part of the Rio Grande. When came across Border Patrol with detainees while on the tram ride it was sad to see, but not a surprise. Our first birds at the park welcome center were Wild Turkey and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. Olive and Lincoln’s sparrows at the #4 feeder were enjoying peanut butter scraps on the ground. The Rosy Becard had been seen by others but did not show up for us. A little further down is the Green Jay blind where many Altamira Orioles, Great Kiskadees, and Green Jays hang out along with an Immature Audubon’s Oriole. You really need a full day at Bentsen-Rio, but we had a few more stops before sunset.

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Valley Nature Center

Got a hot tip about a Golden Crown Warbler being seen at the Valley Nature Center which would be a Lifer for both of us. Ran into Chrissy and Alec who quickly put us on the bird and a Clay-colored Thrush too. The easiest life bird ever took all of 5 minutes. Unfortunately no pictures of this skulky warbler.

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands

This is another World Birding Center that is a 40-acre wetlands oasis with several viewing ponds and short trails. Plain Chachalacas were scurrying about and sitting in the trees near the entrance. The North pond had over 200 Cattle Egrets, American White Pelicans, Belted Kingfisher, and a variety of ducks. The South pond across the street has a small boardwalk where we found some Black-necked Stilts, Eastern Phoebe, and several Mottled Ducks.

Santa Ana NWR

We really want to see this Bat Falcon so we meet the usual birders at the power pole stakeout just before sunset. After a few minutes, a car pulls over with a local woman who tells us she just saw our Falcon down the road. Directions were somewhat confusing and while some of the group walked over to where she indicated a few others went to search by car. Alas, it was found about a mile away on another pole and we raced over only to find it had just flown away a couple of minutes before. Disappointed, but not about to give up we headed for the hotel to make plans for the next day.

Sunday morning we arrived before sunrise at Santa Ana again to meet our group. Sharon waited by the entrance pole with the main group while Mike took the car to the spot where the Bat Falcon was sighted the night before. After just a few minutes she called with the great news that the Bat Falcon had arrived at the park entrance. We all jumped in our cars and rushed over in plenty of time to see our Texas target bird enjoying his breakfast bat. Great photos were taken while he fed on a pole. The group stayed back to make sure all had good looks. It was then flushed by a pesky Prairie Merlin to a nearby tree where we still had an awesome view. This was definitely the hardest bird to find that we have ever chased, but the reward was worth all the effort.

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The University of Texas -RGV

On the way southeast to Brownsville we drove past some farm fields near Los Indios and spotted a small flock of Snow Geese. Very close to the road a Northern Harrier was soaring low and looking for its next prey. UT-RGV is another great birding hotspot that is right on the Mexican border. This beautiful campus has a Resaca running through it with a land bridge dividing a portion of it. This is where the Social Flycatcher has been seen and it would be a US life bird for us. Right away a pair of Green Kingfishers flew in and a little later a Tropical Kingbird that is verified by the call. Other birds include Least Grebe, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wilson’s Warbler, and Red-shouldered and Zone-tailed Hawk. We did not find the Social Flycatcher although we heard that it was seen there later in the afternoon.

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Laguna Atascosa

Before visiting Laguna we took a short ride down Old Port Isabel Road and saw Roseate Spoonbills, shorebirds, and Great Egrets in the salt marsh. Lots of Long-billed Curlew marching through the cow pastures with a Caracara keeping watch. Just off Highway 100 in Laguna Atascosa, there is a viewing area for the Aplomado Falcon nesting site. For good reason, they keep you well away from the site, so it is necessary to have a spotting scope. A little disappointed that the Wildlife drive is no longer in use, but there are still many good birding trails for hikers and bikers to enjoy. Nice birds include Harris’s Hawk, Osprey, Loggerhead Shrike, and Eastern Meadowlark.

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Weslaco

Weslaco being centrally located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley makes it an ideal place to stay when visiting the many birding areas in this part of Texas. The town is also a great place to find Parrots and Parakeets. On our last night, we went in search of them. Luckily came across a flock of over 150 Red-Crowned Parrots near the intersection of Indiana Ave. and 10th street. It seems to be a nightly sunset event and the homeowners in the neighborhood seem to enjoy it as well.

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Hugh Ramsey Nature Park

Our last stop on the way to the airport was the gardens and trails of Hugh Ramsey. This is a Texas tradition for us when either arriving or before departing Harlingen. In just a few minutes we saw Altamira Orioles, Common ground doves, and Purple Martins. Surprisingly, there was another lifer for us hanging around the feeder, the Javelina.

Update: The last time the Bat Falcon was seen in Texas is March 7, 2022, the day we left.

Trip Birds: 109 Year Birds: 51 Life Birds: 2

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