Most Recent Texas Rare Bird Alerts

Big Bend National Park: FLAME-COLORED TANAGER* --
first report: June 13; last update: June 23
In the early morning hours of June 12 a FLAME-COLORED TANAGER* was seen and photographed in the vicinity of the Boot Spring campsites in Big Bend National Park by Canadian birders Malkolm Boothroyd, Wendy Boothroyd, and Ken Madsen. (Photo) Malkolm, a high school sophomore, found the bird. He is doing a Big Year by bicycle, accompanied by his parents. (Read about their "Bird Year" on their website). The bird was calling actively in the early morning and there may be a male in the vicinity as well, but it was never seen well enough to confirm the sighting. Malkolm and Dan Jones refound the bird on June 15 at Boot Springs campsites #3 and #4. This bird was bright yellow, but Malkolm believes the first bird he saw was orange, so there may be two Flame-colored Tanagers present. On June 21 Mike Austin refound the bird photographed by Malkolm at the same location and confirmed it to be a first spring male (based on the orange around the base of the bill and its enthusiastic singing). He believes it is roosting near campsites 3 and 4, and then roams for the rest of the day. He saw and heard it for about 10 minutes beginning at 7 am. He also cautioned about bears, as one attacked his gear at campsite 2 while he was birding. Read Mike's report
Cautions: It is very dry and hot at this time with highs in low 100s in Big Bend. Dehydration is a real concern for hikers making the 10+ mike round-trip hike to Boot Spring.

off Coastal Bend: LEACH'S STORM-PETREL* -- first report: June 24
Over the weekend of June 21-22 Jon McIntyre had very good looks of a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL* from the Gulf Eagle fishing boat when they were about 32 miles offshore. Also seen during the last week was a MASKED BOOBY.

Big Bend National Park: DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER* --
first report: June 16; last update: June 17
Mark Flippo reported that on June 15 a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER* had been found just below the Pinnacle's Pass in Big Bend National Park. Dan Jones, the discoverer of the bird, wrote that he found it at the cool, shady spot just below the Pinnacles.