April 13th: Up at 6am again for breakfast, pull out at 6:35am, drive towards Brownsville arriving at Fort Brown in time to hear and get scope views of a pair of GREEN PARAKEETS.

After a brief gas, pop and ice stop we drove north on 4 then south on 511 to Utah street. At the end of this street we located at least three TAMAULIPAS CROWS including one nest building! After some congratulations, we drove west to Old Port Isabel road. Here there was not much going on despite the early hour. We did hear Cassin’s Sparrows singing and Andy managed to get a scope view of one bird before it flew. Also along this road we added two flyby APLOMADO FALCONS, two BOBWHITES, plus our first WHIMBREL and LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.

Then we took 48 to 100 through Port Isabel and then on to Padre Island. Our first target was just over the causeway where we made a quick stop to get our only AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER plus many ROYAL and SANDWICH TERNS, and BLACK SKIMMERS, plus one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. We then drove due north to the convention centre. This site proved to be very effective despite the low numbers of migrants. With patience we added WARBLING VIREO, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, OVENBIRD and several INDIGO BUNTINGS.

Then it was on to the boardwalk proper where we quickly added CLAPPER RAIL (seen several times) plus several shorebirds including MARBLED GODWIT. Things really started to heat up when Andy spotted some motion nearby that turned out to be a LEAST BITTERN. Not to be outdone Barbara soon spotted what was likely a different bird nearer the water. Out in the bay we added several COMMON LOONS, plus several RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Tom worked hard to get us trip birds, though it was a challenge to get everyone interested in SWAMP SPARROW (seen) and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (not seen well enough to make the official list). A little farther on Barbara spotted another LEAST BITTERN - this time in a better spot and being much more showy. On our trip back Tom spotted a nice PURPLE GALLINULE right below the boardwalk.

We then drove north to a pull off where a SNOWY PLOVER soon settled on its nest scrape about 40 metres north of the parking area. We got good scope views of this bird, and also nice binoc views of an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. Across the road we checked out the beach and were rewarded with several RUDDY TURNSTONES, plus a single PIPING PLOVER. It was especially nice out on the beach with the sunny skies and nice cooling breeze off the ocean. Compared to previous visits here it was very pleasant weather wise today.

After this we drove south to check the Valley Land Fund site on Sheepshead Rd. Here we found our first ORCHARD ORIOLES, plus BALTIMORE ORIOLE, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and others. Then it was time for lunch at the Padre Is Brewing Pub which turned out to be a hit with everyone despite our server who seemed to be struggling with the noon hour rush. Still despite her initial slow reactions (due to other customers) the food came quickly and we got out in good time. Driving south off the island the only thing of note was a swirling flock of FRANKLIN’S GULLS soaring low over our heads as they moved northwards. We then drove to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. The feeders at the visitor centre were great, providing good photo opps for WHITE-TIPPED DOVES, GREEN JAYS, CHACHALACAS, GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES, BRONZED COWBIRDS, CARDINAL and several others. Again we had ORCHARD ORIOLES feeding in the Mexican Olive blossoms, this time including an adult male (only briefly seen).

We then drove the refuge loop and found virtually NO water in any of the sloughs. The only good thing was that this saved us some time. Driving south on the north south road continuation to Hwy 100 we stopped several times and added some nice birds such as a perched co-operative GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Along 100 we tried for the falcon but it eluded us. We drove west jogging over to 281 via some ponds and side roads which netted our first GREATER YELLOWLEGS (along side lesser). Hwy 281 took us over several ponds which had birds but none that were new for the trip. Our last stop was near La Feria sod farms along a ditch beside a reservoir. Here Barbara made an amazing spot of her second LEAST BITTERN in the ditch as we drove by at about 45 kms an hour! We then returned home to the hotel. All in all a superb day with 128 species for the day and 241 species for the trip - a new trip record and still a day and a half to go!