Short get away to Texas for Tropical Parula and Mangrove Yellow Warbler

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

I just made a brief down to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas starting on Wednesday and continuing through early Saturday.  I made the trip mainly to try to track down a couple warbler species with the main one being a Tropical Parula for me in the US (I have seen the species many times in the tropics) and the other being a Mangrove Yellow Warbler.  I arrived into Harlingen in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday and then made the drive down to my Airbnb in Brownsville.  The weather was very windy and warm when I arrived and these conditions unfortunately continued every day.  By the time I drove down, did some shopping and dropped off my stuff at my Airbnb it was late afternoon.  Although I didn’t think I would have much luck so late in the day with the wind I made a trip down to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to try to locate one of two male Tropical Parula known to be at the site.  As expected the wind was just too strong and there was little activity during my stop.  At least I was able to recon the area a bit so I would know how to get around on the following morning.

Tropical Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Yellow throated Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Northern Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Northern Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

American Redstart, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Black and White Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Nashville Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

On Thursday the 19th I was out before dawn and headed back down to the UTRGV campus. The wind was still strong before the sun came up and continued for my entire time there. Once it brightened a bit I started getting some warblers with the first being Common Yellowthroats and then Yellow rumped Warblers (mainly Myrtle’s with one Audubon’s) plus some Orange crowned Warblers and a Yellow throated Warbler.  I then caught sight of a male Tropical Parula and then a Yellow rumped chased it away and I got just a few poor photos.  One target down and my 51st warbler species ever in the US.  I then spent the next two plus hours trying to relocate the bird with no luck with that.  However I did keep finding warblers and eventually had a dozen species including other notables for the area like American Redstart and Tennessee Warbler as well as a female Tropical Parula x Northern Parula hybrid.  The small area was really great for warblers with a dozen species and I can only imagine how much better it would be when there is no wind.  With my target Tropical Parula seen and not reappearing for photos, I decided to make the 45 minute drive out to South Padre Island and try my luck in finding a Mangrove Yellow Warbler. Once again I had some great tips from Aidan on where to try for the bird and most importantly where to park.  Once I crossed over the causeway to the island I quickly found multiple Mangrove Yellow Warblers and got some photos of this recently split species.  There were at least three present with a couple singing occasionally and I got some crappy recordings.  I have seen the species extensively in the tropics but only once before in the US and that was in Florida where the species does not have the full rusty head like the subspecies in far south Texas.  I also added a Northern Waterthrush for the day in the mangroves and my total number of warblers for the day finished at 14 with four of those new for the year for me….my best warbler day for the year so far.  I considered heading back down to the campus to try to get photos of the Tropical Parula late in the afternoon once I was back at my Airbnb but honestly I did not relish dealing with the absolutely shitty roads of Brownsville. The roads in Brownsville are a mess with poor conditions and signage and reminded me more of driving in a third world country than the US.

Orange crowned Warbler, Estero Llano Grande SP, Westlaco, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Nashville Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

For my last full day in Texas on Friday I headed west to visit a few spots away from Brownsville.  There had been a female Tropical Parula seen at Estero Llano Grande SP so that gave me a good excuse to head there.  During previous trips to the valley I found the park to be very productive and it once again produced some good stuff.  I arrived before dawn and was able to start exploring the park right away.  I walked a variety of trails before making it to the area where the Tropical Parula had been seen.  It was overcast with fairly light winds early on and was a nice break from the winds…the mosquitoes unfortunately loved the conditions too and they were a bit of a bother.  The parula had been reported coming into a water drip set up so that is where I waited for it.  After about 15 minutes a group of birds were moving through the dense vegetation near the drip and included two Orange crowned Warblers, a Nashville Warbler and the Tropical Parula.  I got brief looks at it and I hoped it would come down to the drip but that was not to be.  Eventually the Orange crowned Warblers came down and enjoyed the water.  I waited for over 45 minutes and then checked some nearby areas without every seeing the parula again.  The park produced five species of warblers during my time there.  The sun was breaking through as I was leaving to make a stop at Santa Anna NWR and the temps jumped into the 80’s quickly and the damn wind picked up.  The refuge was very quiet so I left to work my way back toward my Airbnb.  With the slightly less windy conditions present I decided to drive directly back to the UTRGV campus to try to relocate the Tropical Parulas there.  Despite spending three hot hours looking and listening I never did see the Parula for certain…I had a brief view of a warbler getting chased by a Yellow throated Warbler and Black throated Gray Warbler that may have been the parula.  It was still worth the stop even without getting the parula as I had eleven species of warblers including a couple unusual species including American Redstart and Tennessee Warbler.  By the end of the day I found a dozen species of warblers.

Orange crowned Warbler, Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen, TX, Feb 21, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen, TX, Feb 21, 2026

I had a late morning flight out of Harlingen on my way to Arizona on Saturday and I was only able to get a little birding in before heading to the airport.  I decided to try my luck at Hugh Ramsey Park which is not too far from the airport.  I arrived there before dawn and during my two and a half hours there I found four species of warblers.  

Overall for the trip I found a total of 15  species of warblers with five of them new for me in Texas (Yellow throated Warbler, Tropical Parula, Black throated Green Warbler, Mangrove Yellow Warbler and Northern Waterthrush).  The short trip produced four new warbler species for the year for me and brought that total up to 25 species.

Week three in Florida

Cape May Warbler, Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

Palm Warbler 'western', Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

Yellow throated Warbler, Ward Park, Orlando, FL, Jan 19, 2026

The third week in Florida started off cold with another frosty morning on Monday.  Although cold it was still much better than the weather at home which featured snow, cold and wind.  At least the sun was out here in Florida although the slight breeze and temps that never got out of the 50's made it less than a great day.  Nonetheless I still was out and about although I still needed to stay fairly close to home to take care of Wilson.  I started off the morning at Gemini Springs Park before deciding to head into Orlando with a visit to Ward Park to see if I could find a Cape May Warbler that is overwintering among a few bottlebrush trees.  I found the Cape May Warbler incredibly fast and got some photos of the stunning male.  This added another warbler species for the year (#13).  There were other warblers around the area too and by the end of the morning (with the addition of another trip to Gemini Springs Park, this time with Wilson) I had found eight species.

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 20, 2026

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 20, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 20, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 20, 2026

It was yet another frosty morning on Tuesday and I decided to head north to Lake Woodruff NWR as I had just part of the morning free.  It was a cold walk and as the breeze picked up at ties it was downright uncomfortable.  I walked a variety of trails over the course of almost two and a half hours with the highlight being a continued Northern Yellow Warbler I found last week.  I had half a dozen warbler species at Lake Woodruff NWR and then added three more species when I took Wilson for a walk at nearby Blue Heron Nature Park.  Not a bad day considering the cool temps and the wind.

Louisiana Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Palm Warbler 'western', Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Northern Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

American Redstart, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Ovenbird, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Northern Parula with leg band, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

For Wednesday I had the full morning and part of the afternoon available and took advantage by getting up early and heading well south in search of a very rare in winter Swainson's Warbler.  I had seen the species in the tropics before but had never seen it in the US so it was worth trying for it.  It was found about a week and a half before at Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, a small park in Vero Beach.  I wanted to try for it before but the weather and other factors would not allow it.  I left well before dawn and made it down there around 7AM and started looking and listening.  I had a few other warblers around including my first Black throated Blue Warbler for the year as well as a banded Northern Parula.  After about 45 minutes I had brief looks at the Swainson's Warbler and added a new warbler to both my US list (warbler species #50) and a new one for Florida (#28).  I tried and tried to get more looks and a photo but all I managed was another fleeting glimpse as it interacted with an Ovenbird.  Since I was so far south I decided to try another area nearby that featured a lot of warblers for a fellow birder.  My time at Fort Drum Conservation Area was very productive with a dozen species of warblers including two rare for the area (Louisiana Waterthrush and Magnolia Warbler) as well as multiple American Redstarts and loads of Black and White Warblers.  I really wish I had more time and the wind was a little lighter as I'm sure I could have turned up even more stuff.  Overall for the day I had 16 species of warblers...my best day by far for the year.  More on this days adventure can be found at the following link:  Swainson's Warbler. 

Orange crowned Warbler, Gemini Spring Park, Deltona, FL, Jan 22, 2026

Pine Warbler, Gemini Spring Park, Deltona, FL, Jan 22, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Gemini Spring Park, Deltona, FL, Jan 22, 2026

After a long drive the day before I decided to stay very local on Thursday and made trips to just the local parks (Gemini Springs Park, Thornby Park and Mariner's Cove Park).  Just a half of dozen species of warblers for the day.

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 23, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 23, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Jan 23, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Blue Springs SP, Orange City, FL, Jan 23, 2026

Friday I stayed somewhat local (within a half hour drive) and started the morning before dawn at Lake Woodruff NWR where I had the continued Northern Yellow Warbler as well as lots of Common Yellowthroats, Palm Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers.  A few Common Yellowthroats were singing which they were not doing several days ago when I was there.  We then took Wilson for a walk at Gemini Springs Park and then we headed off to Blue Springs Park.  Overall the day produced eight species of warblers.

Northern Yellow Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Jan 24, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Jan 24, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Jan 24, 2026

Palm Warbler 'western', Apopka Birding Park, Apopka, FL, Jan 24, 2026

Saturday found me heading southwest to Lake Apopka where I spent most of the morning.  I drove the entire wildlife drive again plus birded before and after near the start of the drive at Apopka Birding Park.  It was foggy to start the morning and windy at times (certainly windier than predicted).  The number of warbler species was just four for the day but did include one of the Northern Yellow Warblers I have had at the location as well as large numbers of Common Yellowthroats and Palm Warblers.  I attempted to find a reported Nashville Warbler in the area where the wildlife drive starts without any luck...again the wind was certainly a factor plus the area was busy with people.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Audubon Park, Deltona, FL, Jan 25, 2026

To end out the final of the third week and what will likely be the warmest day for a week plus I stayed local with visits to Gemini Spring Park and Audubon Park.  Once the fog burned off it warmed up quickly with highs in the mid 80's.  I had a total of eight species of warblers with most early on when it was foggy so few photos for the day.  The next week will be much colder if the forecast holds true.

This week was my most productive by far for overall diversity with 18 warbler species.