With nearby National Wildlife Refuge closed due to the Government Shutdown over “the Wall”, we changed plans and headed an hour west to Quinta Mazatlan, A 1930’s country estate in the heart of McAllen, Texas.

Quinta Mazatlan is an historic Spanish Revival adobe hacienda surrounded by lush tropical landscaping & native woodland. A unique conference & events center, close to airports & hotels, Quinta Mazatlan is also an urban oasis, where quiet trails wind through more than 15 acres of birding habitat. 

It was a great decision as we got 12 lifers including the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird, the Plain Chacalacha and Green Jay.

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”181″ display=”pro_mosaic”]

Then we headed to the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse where we got a Ringed Kingfisher . . . an incredible bird . . . twice the size of the Belted Kingfisher we regularly see . . . and a huge bill.

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”182″ display=”pro_mosaic”]

Finally we made a mad dash for Oliveria Park in Brownsville where we saw hundreds of Parrots fly in and roost in the Eucalyptus Day.

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”183″ display=”pro_mosaic”]

We end the day with 325 birds for the year and have upped our ABA life list to 409.