Trips

The Owls of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas

May 11, 2018 by Angela Minor 4 Comments

In the very back of my first bird identification field guide (Audubon, green, Eastern US) there were several blank pages. Since neither the Internet nor eBird were even a thought, that’s where I collected the place names of my birding bucket list. Along with Hawk Mountain and the Platte River, there were two destinations in Texas near the top of the page – Padre Island National Seashore and the Rio Grande Valley.

Specifically I was headed for the 797-acre Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park; part of the World Birding Center. There are an additional 1,200 acres of surrounding protected refuge, supporting a documented 525 bird species! In the park proper, 358 species have been recorded.

One of the highlights of birding in this Texas state park is the chance to see five owl species that breed here. This is made even sweeter by the hope of seeing two extremely rare US visitors – the Mottled Owl and the Stygian Owl. Both of these have been documented in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

As I am only a word herder with miniscule picture-making skills, my favorite wildlife photographers have graciously shared their work with us. Let’s enjoy the owls of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Barn Owl. Photo by © KS Nature Photography

Eastern Screech-Owl. Photo by © Zach

Great Horned Owl with owlet and dinner. Photo by © KS Nature Photography

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Photo by © Michael Todd

Elf Owl. Photo by © Dominic Sherony

Specialty Sightings: Green Jay, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Great Kiskadee, Altamira Oriole, Plain Chachalacas, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and the two owls below (with a little luck!).

Mottled Owl. Photo by © Dominic Sherony

Look in the mid-level to upper branches of trees during the day for roosting birds. This species hunts at night from low to mid-level perches, such as fence posts, in open areas adjacent to forests and woodlands.

Stygian Owl. Photo by © Hector Bottai

Watch for this species roosting in shady and fairly open woodlands. The Stygian Owl hunts the same type habitat as the Mottled Owl.

Where to Go: There are many guided birding tours for exploring the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. If you’re a wanderer, be sure to catch the view from the two-story observation tower; step inside the enclosed bird blinds; visit the birding wall; enjoy up-close sightings at the 10 stocked feeding stations; and put your feet on the seven miles of trails.

Insider Tips: For trail exploration, there are two particularly excellent hiking/birding paths. The Rio Grande Hiking Trail at the eastern side of the park is a loop. The 1.9-mile trail wanders down to the river; perfect for leisurely viewing. A second hiking loop, the Singing Chaparral Nature Trail starts close to the entrance. It is a mile in circumference, and is a favorite of birders.

More Info: Birds of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Field Checklist

(Featured image – Great Horned Owlets. Photo by © KS Nature Photography)

Written by Angela Minor
Angela Minor’s first avian adventure involved a 1000-mile road trip just to look at hummingbirds. As a lifelong vagabond, she has lived, traveled, and birded across the continental U.S., Alaska, the Caribbean, and seven European countries over the past three decades.Freelance travel writer is her third career, following teacher and small business owner. She’s a regular contributor to several travel publications including Blue Ridge Country and Smoky Mountain Living, and writes feature articles for Ft. Myers Magazine, 3rd Act, and international cruise sites. She serves as a field editor with Birds & Blooms, the “Park Watch” Beat Writer for 10,000 Birds, and authors the state park birding series for Bird Watcher’s Digest.