2007 Tour Narrative
This years Spring Rio Grande Valley trip was with out a doubt a memorable one. Those memories include unseasonable and unprecedented cold, wet weather, to our witnessing an amazing fallout and having unbeatable views of North America’s most dramatic birds. Where else can one experience and see breeding plumaged Spoonbills, Purple Gallinule, Swallow-tailed Kite, Green Jay, Red-billed Pigeon, Altamira Oriole and Green Kingfisher all within an hours drive? Add in 21 species of Warblers, 5 Vireos, 6 Orioles, and 30 shorebirds and you have a recipe for a truly great trip. A great asset of the lower valley is the dedication of so many locals, the Texas Parks Dept. and various other private groups who are trying (and succeeding) in protecting and restoring a truly unique habitat in the United States. Our group had eight nominations for favorite bird, from Brown Jay to Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl to the catch all phrase “fallout”. For me, after a bit of reflection I would have to pick the hunting Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, landing on the lawn at Bentsen State Park and then flying up and above our heads to eat a large caterpillar. The memory of this owl will be with me for a long time. I’ve seen this species, several times, in many countries, but never as well as that special morning. This valley will not fail to reward the visiting naturalist and if someone had told me I would have 41 Write-in’s this year, I would never have believed it. I’ll have to scramble next year to keep up and match our experience of 2007!
Gavin Bieber
Updated: June 2007