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The forecast was much improved for our last day in the Valley. Winds were down, temps were to be in upper 50s’, and the skies were clearing.
Eric birded on his own. Our car went first to Buena Vista Cemetery in Brownsville with hopes of finding the Hermit Warbler. We did, and I wondered, “Could it be the same one seen a year ago?” Also there was a Blue-headed Vireo, new for the year.
Clare wanted seafood, so off to Pirate’s Landing in Port Isabel, with a stop at the Shrimp Basin/Zapata Boat Ramp. The tide was out, Saturday fishermen were in. Many of the birds seen before had moved to better roosting sites. New for the year was a lone Little Blue Heron.
After lunch we returned to the Laguna Vista Nature Trail, looking for Ani. We dipped on them, but were very pleased to see the Tropical Parula, and Barb got several year birds, including the Hooded Oriole on the hummingbird feeder.
We cruised Hwy. 100 going west, knowing that wasn’t our best option for Aplomado Falcon, so made a U-turn at the blue shed and searched with no luck until turning into the nest platform viewing area. A birder had it in her scope, sitting on a utility cross-bar across the highway. We got satisfying looks and then watched it fly to our side of the road. As we drove toward Port Isabel, the falcon flew to the highway in front of us, circled and headed back toward the platform.
We’d spent enough time at Laguna Vista that we figured we’d be too late to Oliveira Park to have a chance for the Grace’s Warbler, bit decided to go anyway so we could see the parrot fly-in.
We didn't expect to see the Grace's Warbler because we got to the park so late, so didn't even look for it. Two of us saw an immature Vermilion Flycatcher and two missed it, so we looped back to give them a second chance. I parked in the corner slot, facing the Tip O Texas sign and fence, and caught warbler-like movement in the tree beside us. I got out to get a good look. I first saw the dark flank streaks and thought, "Probably Black-and-White." Then it turned to face me. I was very surprised to see the yellow throat of the Grace's in a tree away from the line of trees where it was reported often. The others piled out of the car and we watched it feeding, often gleaning from the trunk and branches. What a treat!
