A Message from Jim Hailey,
President, Monte Mucho Audubon Society

"Birding in the Monte Mucho (Brush Country) is a unique experience. To the highway motorist passing through, it appears to be desert-like and devoid of life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The area is teeming with birds and other wildlife. In just over two years, I have recorded over 200 species of birds in the area. In addition, I have seen ocelot, fox, bobcat, badger, mountain lion, whitetail deer, feral hogs, turkey, quail and many other species. The area offers birders an opportunity to discover new wintering, migrating, or nesting species to add to the region's growing list. This is truly one of the last birding frontiers left in Texas.

La Mota Ranch offers the birder a chance to enjoy a unique opportunity to bird on private property with more than 200 species possible. With access to nearby Zapata/Falcon Dam, this region's combined bird list exceeds 300 species, including some rare Mexican birds found only in this habitat. The Hellen family is eager to host birding field days on their unique and diverse ranch and will provide you with great South Texas Hospitality".

Good Birding,

Jim Hailey

A Message from Sean Smith
Director,
World Birding Center
Texas Parks and Wildlife

Dear La Mota Ranch,

What a great day birding at your lovely ranch! Lots of sparrows, from Vesper to Grasshopper, stunning looks at perched and soaring Swainson's Hawks, arms length Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Green Jays, Pyrruloxias, and much, much more. Combined with the highest point in Jim Hogg County, stunning views of the Sierra Picachos in Mexico, and Bill Hellen's intimate knowledge of area flora and rich human history, this was the South Texas day everyone dreams about. Oh, and I kinda hate to let this secret out, but lunch was the real ranch fare that can't be found elsewhere. In otherwords tasty, right down to the coffee-can brownies, worth the trip all by themselves.

Straddling the Bordas escarpment where it blends into Tamaulipan brushland La Mota combines the best of both avifaunas. It attracts South Texas specialities like Couch's Kingbirds and Green Jays, but also provides much habitat for "Winter Texans", like open-country hawks, grassland sparrows, Lark Buntings and other species that are much less numerous farther south.

Although our day on the was the last blustery norther to come through, the day was still sunny and decidely tropical with lots of Giant and Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies, Vermilion Flycatchers and Hooded Orioles. The deceptive "deserty" portions of the ranch actually harbor impenetrable brush and scattered grassy meadows where Scaled Quail, Curve-billed Thrashers, Caracaras, and newly arrived Ash-Throated Flycatchers were numerous. Water features added specifically to attract many of these species also, judging from the many mammalian tracks, were where White-tailed Deer and Bobcat made many nocturnal visitations. Some shallow ponds with larger trees were an obvious oasis for migrant birds and looked good as a "warbler rest stop", if the Northern Waterthrush present was any indication.

Around ranch headquarters Vermilion Flycatchers, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Hooded Orioles and Barn Owls were all obvious. The highlight of the day for many of us, (beside double-digit sparrow species), was the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers who used Bill's old Chevy Suburban as a beater to stir up insects for their dining pleasure. Stunning looks.

The Hellen's hospitality at La Mota is already legendary. With birding added to their ranch itinery of South Texas history, vaquero culture and cattle-king color this is a must stop location within two hours of Texas' Hill Country or the Rio Grande Valley.

My only disappointment was at the bottom of the coffee can!

Sincerely,

Sean Smith