Arrived at McAllen airport around 3:18pm. By 3:54pm, trip member Dolores had already gotten her first life bird of the trip (Great-tailed grackle) while on the way to the Best Western in Harlingen. We stopped there only briefly, then ran down to Laguna Atascosa NWR for picnic supper and birding. It was really wonderful to see so many of the highlight birds right away on the first day.

Mammals: mexican ground squirrel, collared peccary.