April 12th: This morning we were up for the opening of the restaurant for breakfast at 6am. We met Harriet Shearer and Ann Overall this morning. They would bird with us all day today and then again on the 14th. Harriet and Ann joined us for breakfast and after introductions we all enjoyed a nice breakfast and some lively conversation. The ladies followed us in their own vehicle to make sure we all lots of space. After breakfast we drove due south on 1015 to Progresso Lakes where our target was red-crowned parrot. Within minutes of hopping out of the car we found two pairs of RED-CROWNED PARROTS which co-operated by provided great scope views. Also nearby were a WHITE-TAILED KITE in the distance and a flying adult YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.

From Progresso we made our way west on 281 to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. After tuck and spray for chiggers we walked south along the paved road towards the old managers residence. No sign of Clay-coloured Robin but we did bump into a singing TROPICAL PARULA and two Ottawa residents that Tom knew - Bernie Ladouceur and Bob Cirmak. Bob and Tom shared information on locations for various specialties and we were all soon headed towards the Pintail Lakes area. The lakes were almost bone dry and the bird numbers and activity were way down from last year - in fact the contrast was shocking. The main highlight of this walk was a distant but easily identifiable SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Not much was lifting so we headed back to the visitor centre. As it happened not long after small numbers of both MISSISSIPPI KITES and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were beginning to lift off providing some great views. Back at the visitor centre we added our first BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders.

We then drove west towards Pharr stopping to pick up ice and liquids as it was clearly going to be a hot day. Our next destination was Allen Williams home at 720 W. Sam Houston in Pharr. Allan is a landscaper who had replanted and restored his property to attract birds. There are misters, water drips, fruit and other foods, and great habitat. In the main feeding and drinking area there is good shade to sit and lots of chairs. There is an entrance fee of $10 which is good value. We spent several hours here and had a fabulous visit. Highlights included multiple views of a female CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK, a female ROSE-THROATED BECARD, and a CLAY-COLOURED ROBIN. Other species present included BULLOCK’S ORIOLES, SUMMER TANAGERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, NASHVILLE and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, LONG-BILLED THRASHER, GRAY CATBIRD, INDIGO and PAINTED BUNTINGS (males), and a perched CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW!

After this great experience we headed for a great lunch at Chilis where Tom and Bill enjoyed some thick creamy chocolate shakes. After lunch it was hot but we decided to keep birding and next headed to Frontera Audubon on Hwy 88 (1101 South Texas Blvd) in Weslaco. This was another nice spot with admission only $2.50 each, and a nice little store, although the staff could use some meet and greet training to be sure. On the trails we managed to find a male CRIMSON-COLLARED GROSBEAK (though only about half got decent views) but missed the trogon by a few minutes. At 4pm we were ushered out of the reserve by the park groundskeeper. Seemed early but we had no choice. We got back to the hotel at 4:15pm and while we took a break until 5:15pm, Harriet and Ann kindly shopped for some supplies for a picnic supper in Bentsen State Park. At 5:15pm we drove east towards Bentsen on Hwy 83 and after some confusion with exits we finally wound our way down to the park. The tram was no longer running so we found a spot next to the restaurant at the World Birding Centre with outdoor tables and set up for our picnic dinner, complete with table towels and wine! This was a really pleasant way to spend the early evening, with the only low point being when a COMMON GROUND DOVE crashed into the restaurant window right next to us, killing itself. Still we enjoyed seeing the beautiful cinnamon wing linings and purple wing spots up close. After supper we packed up and were surprised (gee, we don’t understand this service approach yet do we??) to find the bathrooms locked. Now with the pressure of needing a bathroom stop, Tom forced marched the group 3/4 of a mile to the bathrooms in the old trailer loop (some folks estimated this at 3 miles) and were amazed to find these bathrooms open (actually we were relieved more than amazed). We then walked around to the other side the loop to get to the elf owl nest tree. Along the way we enjoyed several hundred MISSISSIPPI KITES dropping in from a days migration, and a nice perched GRAY HAWK. At the owl roost site we got ourselves into position around 7:35pm to wait for the owl to emerge. Tom noted that the previous year the owl popped out around 8:05 pm. Only two other birders joined us whereas in other years there would have been as many as forty or more others waiting for the owl to appear. While we waited the kites played around overhead and an ARMADILLO shuffled around in the scrub nearby. At around 8:08 pm the owl popped out into the lower hole in the dead tree and provided superb views sitting at the hole for at least five minutes before departing. Everyone was delighted to get such good views of the world’s smallest owl. We then departed for the hike back to the car. Along the way we heard many birds of the night sounding off including EASTERN SCREECH OWL, FERRUGINOUS PYGMY OWL, ELF OWL, CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW, LESSER NIGHTHAWK and PAURAQUE.