202 Species on this Custom List
To upload the attached Custom list and Quiz yourself on birds that may be seen on this VENT Tour, right-click HERE and select "Save Target As.." (You may want to rename the file Winter_RioGrande.xml)
Feb. 23 - Mar. 1, 2009
A Relaxed and Easy Tour.In addition to all the regular Rio Grande Valley specialties, which are absent elsewhere in the U.S., the potential for strays from Mexico--the possibilities too numerous to mention--is probably strongest at this time of year.
The Rio Grande Valley—from the barrier beaches of South Padre Island through the subtropical forested corridor along the river, to the more arid uplands around the Falcon Dam and Reservoir—is one of the two or three best birding areas in the United States, home to a long list of birds which are absent or rare outside of South Texas.
Among these famed “Valley specialties,” we can expect to see Least Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, White-tailed Hawk, Plain Chachalaca, White-tipped Dove, Green Parakeet, Red-crowned Parrot, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed and Green kingfishers, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Tropical and Couch’s kingbirds, Green and Brown jays, Black-crested Titmouse, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira and Audubon’s orioles.
With luck, we should also see some of the more difficult Mexican species that are recorded every year; for example: Hook-billed Kite, Red-billed Pigeon, Groove-billed Ani, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Clay-colored Robin, Tropical Parula, and White-collared Seedeater. Of course, we could also encounter a real rarity on the order of a Muscovy or Masked duck, Northern Jacana, Rose-throated Becard, White-throated Robin, Blue Mockingbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, or Blue Bunting—all of which have been seen at least once on previous tours.
Only one motel change; an ideal escape from cold winter weather, with average highs in the 70s (though cool and windy days also possible); mostly short to moderate walks on level terrain.
To Get (upload) a Custom List from this Forum and add it to your computer:
1. Open the Posting of the Custom List you want to upload to your computer.
2. Right-click on the word "Attachment" at the bottom of the post -- it will be a hyperlink and underlined.
3. Select "Save Target As..." and save to your desktop. (You may want to rename the file - but do not change the .xml file extension)
4. Open your Thayer Birding Software birding program version 3.5 or 3.9.
5. Click the Custom List icon
6. In the upper left corner of the Custom List screen, click on the word File.
7. Click Import. Select the file you just uploaded to your desktop. Click Open.
8. The Custom List will now appear on your computer with your other Custom Lists. (You may rename the Custom List if you like.)
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